Tag: Muhamamadu Buhari

Buhari to Candidates: Treat your opponents with dignity

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged political parties candidates to continue running issue-focused campaigns and to treat opponents with dignity, saying politics should never be seen as ”do-or-die” affair.

The president made the appeal in his 2022 Democracy Day broadcast to the nation on Sunday in Abuja.

The Nigerian leader commended the leaderships of the nation’s political parties for the smooth conduct of their parties’ primary elections.

”I will therefore take this opportunity on this very special day to ask all candidates to continue running issue-focused campaigns and to treat opponents with dignity.

”As leaders, you must all showcase high character and never forget that the world is watching us and Africa looks up to Nigeria to provide example in governance.

”The tone you set at the top will surely be replicated in your followers,” he said.

The president particularly noted with delight the significant increase in women and youth participation in the primaries, saying this trend should be sustained and improved upon in forthcoming electoral exercises, inluding the 2023 general elections.

”Another positive that came from the 2022 party primaries was the significant increase in women and youth, particularly across all parties. I was very pleased to see this development.

”This augurs well for the future. These trends clearly show the level of maturity our democracy has achieved in the last 23 years.

”As we move into the general election campaign season, we must sustain this mature attitude to campaigning and ultimately, voting. We must never see it as a ‘do-or-die’ affair.

”We must all remember democracy is about the will of the majority. There must be winners and losers,” he maintained.

The Nigerian leader reassured voters that adequate measures had been put in place to safeguard their votes during the forthcoming elections in the country.

He said his administration had made significant investments to reform and enhance nation’s electoral laws, systems and processes to safeguard their votes.

The president, therefore, expressed the commitment of the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary to ensure the successful implementation of the ongoing reforms of the electoral laws.

”For the voters, I am pleased to inform you that in the last 7 years, our government across all tiers, has made significant investments to reform and enhance our electoral laws, systems and processes to safeguard your votes.

”The Executive, Legislature and Judiciary were and still remain united and committed to ensure these reforms are fully implemented in the 2023 general elections.

”Fellow Nigerians, your right to choose your government will be preserved and protected.”

June 12, 2022
We love Buhari, but he shouldn’t stay a second longer – By Owei Lakemfa

Many of us love President Muhammadu Buhari, so we cannot wait to see him leave office on May 29, 2023. This primarily is because he has done his best for the country. But as all honest Nigerians can see, his best is not good enough.

It is like piling a load even a lorry should not carry on a car, only to turn round to complain about the car being slow. So, Buhari deserves to rest after six decades of labour.

Besides, every negative happening in the country is ascribed to him or he is blamed for it. This cannot be correct. For instance, a crowd of able-bodied youths, training as professional educators, ‘gallantly’ engaged a fragile, unarmed lady, Miss Deborah Samuel, in a deadly combat, killing her and burning her corpse, is not a failure of leadership, but of followership. Even if this is proven to be correct, there are those who will argue that Buhari’s body language encourages this type of impunity.

Despite this situation, it is surprising that some are campaigning that he should stay beyond his eight-year tenure. One of such chorus leaders is an elder statesman and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Robert Clarke, who is campaigning that Buhari stays an extra six months in office supposedly to give the retired General enough time to fix our serious security problems. His primary argument is that the next 12 months are not enough to put in place the security measures necessary to ensure smooth general elections next year.

The arguments of the senior lawyer appear quite strange. What difference will six months make for Buhari who was well apprised of the security situation in the country before coming to power and has spent the last seven years as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces?

Then, the learned gentleman and grandpa tried to frighten Nigerians, telling us: “Because I swear to God Almighty, without stability in Nigeria, without security, Nigeria is going nowhere… God forbid, this country will go down in flames.”

So what do we make of this Arthur Nzeribe-like outburst? To me, a wise man is he who does not deceive himself; I do not think Buhari should be taken in by such admonitions.

We need fresh hands to run government and the politicians seem to agree; which is why some four dozen of them, mainly from the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, are speeding up the highway to the Presidential Villa as aspirants.

Some, of course, are rough drivers who neither traffic ate before hitting the highway nor indicated they want to stop, before applying the break. So we need to check the driver’s licence of people like His Excellency, Senator(Dr.) Chris Nwabueze Ngige, MD, OON, the Honourable Minister of Labour.

After blowing a lot of hot air, he drove to the Presidential Villa on May 11, 2022 to intimate an otherwise busy President Buhari about his running for the presidency. Two days later, the same Ngige was back in the Villa to tell Buhari he is out of the Formular One Race to the Nigerian Presidency.

Rather than just go home or worry how to resolve the on-going three-month strike in our public universities, he chose to disturb our peace by shouting in the media: ”It is my pleasure to announce the withdrawal of my interest and earlier decision …”.

In his usual theatrics, he told Nigerians: “I took this momentous decision firstly in the overall interest of the nation, in order to enable me concentrate on my job, and assist the President and the government, weather the difficult last lap in the life of the administration…” So he is just waking up to this realisation? Ngige has not stopped amazing me since 2003 when he and a gang hijacked the governorship of Anambra State and then fought publicly over the sharing of the loot.

Another rough driver is the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, who suddenly swerved on the road to the Kebbi State Government House with the intent of occupying it in 2023.

After failed attempts to change the Electoral Law which would have allowed him remain in office while running for the gubernatorial election, he made an emergency stop on the highway and began reversing against traffic to his office. He must have reasoned, like Ngige, that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush.

Again like Ngige, Malami did not quietly return home or to his desk, he thought he had to disturb us with some childish excuse. The reason he gave was worse than Ngige’s as he claimed to have withdrawn from the race based on “patriotism”.

How is offering to serve as a state governor an unpatriotic act? To be fair to Malami, I am not sure that was what he meant. But as usual, his speech writers who issue statements on his behalf are famished on the English Language road.

For instance, what do you make of this last sentence in the statement from his office stating that his withdrawal from the gubernatorial race “is a commendable posture worthy of admiration coming from paragon of virtue”. Is it any wonder that the Office of the Attorney General loses a lot of cases?

Like I wrote on President Buhari, I cannot wait longer than the constitutional handover date of May 29, 2023 to see the Ngiges and Malamis of this government leave office, for they have done their best.

However, I must place Nigerians on notice that there are key officials of this administration that may stay in office beyond that date. One of them is the Central Bank Governor, Godwin Emefiele. He is one of the luckiest technocrats in our history.

He was the bridge between the policies of the Jonathan administration which the in-coming Buhari said were a disaster, and the new administration. Under Buhari, he took us to the dizzying heights, getting brand makers to design all sorts of programmes.

Today, he wants to again build the transition bridge between the dying Buhari administration and a planned resurrection of the ‘clueless’ Jonathan administration. Who knows, if Jonathan who had been blessed with power, wealth and apparent good health returns to power, Emefiele might simply continue his beautiful work as an undertaker to 2027.

Many have asked me why Jona is sleepwalking into the APC primaries and possibly the 2023 presidential election. The truth is that I am as baffled like the rest of us; those who know are the honoured gentleman himself and the puppeteers behind the curtains.

May 17, 2022
Buhari hosts Tinubu, other APC founding fathers to dinner

Barely 24 hours to the much postponed All Progressives Congress, APC convention, President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday night continued his wide consultations with critical stakeholders to give the ruling party a sense of direction.

To this end, the Nigerian number one citizen hosted the founding fathers of the party to a dinner at Aso Rock, apparently to forge ahead on agreed consensus candidate for the party’s Chairmanship position being contested by others despite his directive.

In attendance were the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; the first Interim Chairman Chief Bisi Akande; Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbomnaya Onu; former Imo Governor Senator Rochas Okorocha; former Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau; and former Sokoto Governor Aliyu Wamako.

Others were: Governors Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna); Aminu Masari (Katsina) and Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi.

Also in attendance were Chairman, Caretaker and Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee of the party Mai Mala Buni and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha.

The get-together, it was gathered, was hosted by the President to show appreciation to the critical stakeholders for their continued support, understanding and cooperation with his administration.

The engagement was also in furtherance of efforts by Buhari at ensuring a rancour-free and successful National Convention of the party on Saturday.

March 25, 2022
2023: Of Buhari, Governors and Aso Rock as major Corruption enablers – By Mideno Bayagbon

By Mideno Bayagbon

(mideno@thenewsguru.ng)

NIgeria has been one hectic hell hole to live in in the last three weeks. If it is not the impunity of unpunished adulterated fuel and its contrived scarcity, it is the corrupt national grid collapsing, for the one millionth time. Marry that to the uncouth drama happening in the two main buccaneering parties: the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. And for good measure, mix these with the issue of climate change which some people still see as oyibo people talk. The dramatic hotness in the weather in Abuja and across the country, especially in the northern part in the last two months, should make them have a rethink. With no fuel, no light, no food, the heat has made night rest for most people an aggravated nightmare.

From his London luxury pad, the President sent us a make una no vex press release! Finally, for a moment, but temporarily so, joy and hope swelled in the hearts of Nigerians. Some even started a premature jubilation that perhaps the London doctors have succeeded in fixing the painful ears of the President which have prevented him from hearing the loud wailings of Nigerians over the devastating impact of the abysmally managed economy. For a delusional moment I joined in hoping that perhaps things are about to turn the corner, for better. For a fleeting second, I thought the President was about taking the bull of leadership by the horns. That he was about to stem this tide on the road to Golgotha. But it was an unreasonable hope.

The President returns. He gets drowned in the contrived crises of his party which he helped foment before jetting off to yet another medical tourism in the United Kingdom. Recall that he had hurried back from Kenya three weeks ago to militarily dismiss the Yobe state Governor, Mai Buni, from the interim headship of the All Progressives Congress. He forgot he was now a civilian not a military dictator. He didn’t know that was power the law does not allow him. He imposed a new head, from whose feet the carpet was easily pulled off, before resuming his medical trip to the United Kingdom.

Since his return, he has put the euphoria of make una no vex into the dustbin. He is his usual self: ensconced in Aso Rock but yet to remember that he is President over Africa’s largest country. None of the myriad of problems which are the daily lived reality of Nigerians is seemingly of any concern to him. He is consistent in this, however.

Consistent too have been the Governors of both parties. Whether in APC or PDP, the Governors are breaking heads, crushing every opposing bone to their demand to have the final say in their parties. They are unabashedly, pompously usurping the leadership powers of their parties and want to be the final voice and authority in taking critical decisions. In this, there are no APC or PDP. They are behaving exactly alike. They are the engine rooms of funds for their parties and want to dictate the tune all their members, including President Buhari must dance to.

It did not start today. As we say in Waffi: it has taeyed! Remember how powerful PDP Governors were and how their say so must be obeyed? Remember the Ibori’s, the Sarakis, the Tinubus, and the Amaechi’s? Their overlordship was the beginning of wisdom for their party. Even with a strong man President, Olusegun Obasanjo, they forced the PDP to present mostly themselves as the Presidential aspirants and eventually candidate of their parties. Or be the ones to decide who the candidates should be.

That accounts for all the brickbats, the name callings, the fighting and the commotion in the two front-line parties. That, for example, explains the indecorous tongue lashing the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike gave first the deputy Governor of Edo state, Phillip Shuaibu and his principal: Godwin Obaseki. As everyone knows, Wike says he has carried the party on his head, funding it and leading it for the past seven years. He expects to be the final authority, on every issue in the party. This is more so now that he is beginning to think that he too can be President.

Even Obaseki, a new comer in Edo PDP, is lording it over all. All the prominent chieftains have been running from pillar to post, trying to hide their heads from Obaseki’s slammer.

Almost all the umbrella party Governors are underground soliciting support to emerge their party’s candidate.
Even an Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta state, unbelievably is wasting state resources on this gambit. So are Aminu Tambuwal, Udom Emmanuel and others. Patent failures at the state level want to bring their monumental incompetences to the federal level. They have their state resources to plunder for their vaunting ambitions. Unfortunately, their ambitions are dead on arrival.

In the APC, it even got to a ridiculous extent that one of the Governors, who says he has 18 others on his side, called four others Yahoo Yahoo Governors for siding with the trouble Governor Mai Buni. Again, like in the PDP, each of the Governors either want to be his party’s candidate for the Presidential election next year or have a huge voice in choosing who should be.

The questions to ask is simple: why are Governors so powerful in the two parties? Why do they always want to cast the deciding votes in each of the parties? The answer is simple. At the centre of the fight over who should control the parties, is to ask a follow up question: who has been funding the parties, and where will the parties get the monies they are going to use to fund the 2023 elections? The answer again is simple: the Governors. They are the ones funding the parties. They are the ones who are going to fund the elections next year.

Let’s amend that. The APC is in power and Buhari, despite his pious mouthing of anti-corruption, is a willing collaborator in the slush funds that were used to fund his re-election in 2019. Does anyone remember how EFCC and other agencies were used to harangue Atiku and the source of his funds? Was that ever replicated for the Buhari re-election campaign team? That will be the day when the President will come out, Koran in hand, and swear, that it was not corrupt or money from the CBN, MDAs, parastatals and so on that were used to fund his re-election.

The APC already has its “funding formula” and Governors are not going to be major players in it. That’s what makes President Buhari the sole proprietor of the APC currently. His handlers will handle the funding. He will decide and undecide. He will choose and pick. He will in real terms decide who will fly the APC flag next year. That is why the 19 Governors suddenly found that their victory in instigating the throwing out of Mai Buni turned pyrrhic.

Nevertheless, ask yourself, when Governors say they are the funders of their parties, is it their personal monies they use or state resources? Where for example, with all his loud mouth and posturing, did Wike get the monies he has been using to fund the PDP in the last how many years? Which job or major business has he done, all his life, which gave him the humongous monies he has spent on the PDP? Replicate this for all the Governors and you will find that most have been career politicians without any major pedigree in business or economy. Most are politics and office billionaires: appropriating their state resources for their personal and political party usage.

In all of this, it is clear that Governors are the major enablers of corruption in Nigeria. In APC, there is the added fact that Aso Rock handlers are the chiefest enablers of corruption in the land today. That accounts for who they are backing to replace President Buhari. They want the sweet lollipop of free federal monies to continue beyond the Buhari Presidency. They will try to ram through their desire but the APC with its three contending blocs will implode.

That is a major reason why it makes more sense today to go back to the Parliamentary system. It will kill these centres of corruption and the nation and people will be the better for it.

March 23, 2022
Buhari mourns ACF spokesman, Emmanuel Yawe

President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) over the passing of its National Publicity Secretary, Emmanuel Yawe.

The president’s condolence message is contained in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Femi Adesina, on Friday in Abuja.

Buhari commiserated with family members, friends and associates of Yawe, particularly in the media, where he served meritoriously as a reporter and editor of various publications for many years.

He prayed that the almighty God would receive the soul of the departed and comfort all his loved ones.

March 12, 2022
Buhari felicitates Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi at 61

President Muhammadu Buhari has felicitated Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, on the occasion of his 61st birthday.

In a congratulatory message issued by his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu, on Friday in Abuja, the Nigerian leader recognised His Highness’ steadfast commitment to Nigeria’s economic development, peace and stability.

The president noted that the crown prince had demonstrated compassion to the Nigeria’s humanitarian needs and lending a helping hand to deal with the impacts of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

He also saluted the leadership and visionary foresight of the crown prince which, he said, had brought economic development and prosperity to the people of United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The president affirmed that this had made the Middle East country an important voice and strategic player in the regional and international sphere.

According to the president, the crown prince is also reckoned globally to have worked tirelessly to promote religious tolerance and harmony.

Buhari recounted that he had shared a number of special moments with His Highness over the years, which had further strengthened the relations between Nigeria and UAE.

He, therefore, wished the crown prince more years of health and happiness, and prayed for the progress of both countries.

March 12, 2022
What Buhari, Obasanjo said about late Wayas

President Muhammadu Buhari and former president Olusegun Obasanjo have opened up on the death of former Senate President Joseph Wayas.

President Buhari condoled with the family of Wayas on the passing of the elder statesman, whose “influence and contributions to Nigeria’s democracy remain indelible.’’

The president’s condolence message is contained in a statement released by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Thursday in Abuja.

President Buhari noted the sacrifices of Wayas, who started taking up leadership responsibilities at an early age, turning a Senate President at 38, and remaining vibrant and dynamic in mentoring leaders long after he retired from politics.

The president joined the National Assembly, Government and people of Cross River, his friends and associates in mourning Wayas, believing his legacies would be approximated for posterity.

He prayed that his soul would find rest with the Lord.

Meanwhile, Obasanjo has disclosed that the late Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, lived for the welfare and security of the common man.

The late senate president died early hours of Wednesday, in the United Kingdom after illness at age 80.

Obasanjo, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, on Thursday in Abeokuta noted that Wayas would be sorely missed in view of his giant political strides.

The former president noted that Wayas contributed to the building of the Nigerian nation, starting from his birth place, Bassang, in Cross River to every nook and cranny of the country.

“Dr. Wayas was a special breed who contributed immensely to the development of the country and became a parliamentarian in the second republic.

“He was such a great patriot who had contributed his own quota to the legislative governance and overall development of Nigeria.

“He always pitched its tent with the truth. He maintained a cordial relationship with his colleagues in the Senate and well-groomed in legislative practices and procedures,” Obasanjo said.

His knowledge of practices and procedures of the senate, according to Obasanjo helped him greatly in running the affairs of the upper chamber of the parliament.

Obasanjo explained that Wayas demonstrated high level of maturity and level-headedness, saying his disposition towards effective nation building remained unparalleled.

“He lived for the welfare and security of the common man. His passion about a better and safer society was exceptional.

“His steadfastness, commitment to the cause of one Nigeria and optimistic spirit towards national development will continue to inspire us both now and in the future,” he said.

The former president described the death as painful and commiserated with his family, Gov. Benedict Ayade, the entire people of Cross River and all associates of the late statesman.

Obasanjo prayed the Almighty God to grant the late leader a place among the righteous ones in paradise.

“May God also grant members of his immediate family the people and government of Cross River, the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.

December 2, 2021
Buhari snubs Atiku as Okowa, PDP celebrate former Vice President @75

As Atiku Abubakar marks his 75th birthday today, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has snubbed the former Vice President.

Notwithstanding, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Delta Governor, Sen. Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, and a host of other high profile Nigerians have celebrated with Atiku.

The PDP in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr Kola Ologbondiyan in Abuja on Thursday, said it was proud of Abubakar.

The PDP described him as an irrepressible democrat, who remains untiring in his efforts and sacrifices toward the unity, stability and development of the nation.

“Abubakar is a remarkably committed leader, a strong epitome of our national cohesiveness, a statesman to the core and an excellent administrator, who spared nothing, as a leader and businessman, in the pursuit of the overall good of the nation.

“Indeed, the overwhelming support and solidarity he received from Nigerians across the divide in the 2019 general election is a resounding testimony of the confidence the people have in him as a leader.

“Moreover, the outcome of that election did not in any way diminish the trust Nigerians have on him and the PDP,” the statement reads.

The party prayed God to grant Abubakar many more years in good health to His glory and service of humanity.

In the same vein, Governor Okowa has congratulated Atiku

In a congratulatory message by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, in Asaba, the governor lauded the former Vice President for his remarkable commitment to the unity and progress of the nation through his remarkable economic and political activities.

Okowa said Atiku’s wise and consistent admonitions on national issues had been outstanding and impactful.

He commended the ex-Vice President and Presidential Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 elections for his inspiring role in the defence and promotion of democracy in Nigeria.

He stated that the Wazirin Adamawa was a detribalised Nigerian, whose benevolence had impacted many lives beyond tribe, religion, gender, social status and partisan frontiers.

“On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I congratulate our great leader and patriot, former Vice-President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, as he celebrates his 75th birth anniversary.

“As a respectable leader and elder statesman, you have genuinely provided opportunities for people to eke out a living from their God-given potential with your massive investments in education, agriculture, media, hospitality, water and oil and gas.

“You have made outstanding contributions to the socio-economic and political growth of Nigeria and we will continue to be inspired by your patriotism and love for this great country.

“Over the years, you have remained a large-hearted, philanthropist and a people’s leader with mass followership across the country.

“You bestrode Nigeria’s political landscape like a colossus and as you clock 75 years today, it is my prayer and that of millions of Deltans and every Nigerians that God will continue to strengthen you in your service to God and humanity,” he said.

Also, the Northern Governors Forum has felicitated with former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on his 75th birthday.

Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Plateau State Simon Bako Lalong said the former Vice President is an accomplished politician, businessman and a philanthropist who has used his opportunities in life to serve the nation and assist people in need.

He said the Forum recognises and appreciates his contributions to resolving some of the nation’s challenges including those peculiar to the northern region such as illiteracy, poverty, insecurity, unemployment and lack of unity.

While wishing the elderstatesman many more years of peace and good health, the Forum urged him to continue to serve the people and also avail the region and Nigeria as a whole, his experience, wisdom and goodwill.

November 25, 2021
APC Governors make moves for party’s National Convention

Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have agreed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari, to discuss the way forward for the party’s upcoming national convention.

The governors under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) reached the agreement at the end of their meeting on Sunday night in Abuja.

Gov. Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi and Chairman of the PGF, disclosed this while briefing newsmen at the end of the closed door meeting.

Bagudu, however, said he did not know when the party’s national convention would hold.

“We agreed as a forum to seek an appointment to meet with President Buhari and discuss the on-coming national convention of the party.

“Mind you, we are just one organ of the party, and since we are making suggestions to both the party and our leaders, I think it is not fair to preempt or disclose it before the meeting holds.

“We hope to secure that appointment as quickly as possible.

“We are seeking the appointment as soon as possible, maybe in the next few days,’’ the PGF chairman said.

Bagudu said the forum would keep the public informed on its decision on zoning of elective offices after its meeting with President Buhari.

He, however, said that insinuations in some quarters that the governors’ planned meeting with Buhari was to discourage him from assenting to the amended electoral bill should be disregarded.

“That is not correct. I just told you what we are meeting the president for, it is to discuss the on-coming national convention of the party,’’ he stressed.

Bagudu said that the forum also discussed issues of good governance, development in the polity and other issues that were pertinent to the progress of the party and the country.

He said the forum passed a vote of confidence on the party’s Gov. Mai Mala Buni-led Caretaker Committee and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee.

“We passed a vote of confidence on the caretaker committee that has done a wonderful job, chaired by Gov. Buni of Yobe and two other governors who are members of the committee,’’ he said.

Bagudu lauded the committee for successfully organising congresses for the party at the ward, local government and state levels.

He noted that the committee had been making efforts to carry every party member along, including those that were aggrieved or felt dissatisfied by the outcome of the congresses.

The governor said that such individuals were invited and persuaded to support the party in the interest of all.

“Sometimes, electoral processes are not without annoyance, but we are happy with the conduct of the caretaker committee,’’ he said.

The PGF chairman assured that the APC would not implode anytime soon as was being speculated in some quarters, adding that those expressing such fears were not representing reality.

Bagudu said the APC had brought into its fold three outstanding governors, the Deputy Governor of Anambra, members of the National Assembly and distinguished Nigerians from all walks of life.

“We are seeking for Nigerians to join us so that we can unify and serve Nigerians.

“While other parties are sending people away, we are, in spite of our strength, inviting them to join us so that together we can reposition and keep the progressive agenda going,’’ he said.

On the outcome of the Nov. 6 Anambra governorship election, Bagudu said Nigeria had won and President Buhari had made a statement about that.

He said the forum was proud of the conduct of the country’s security agencies before, during and after the election.

“The party candidates in all elections have the pride of place to determine their views about the outcome.

“But we are proud that under the APC that an election that hitherto people thought will be impossible had taken place,’’ he said.

November 22, 2021
Why Buhari is in South Africa

President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday arrived in Durban, South Africa, from Paris as part of his ongoing socio-economic diplomatic missions aimed at enhancing security and economic transformation of the country.

The Nigerian leader is in Durban at the special invitation of President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, to attend the inauguration of the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) 2021 on Monday.

The theme of the Fair, ”Building Bridges for a Successful AfCFTA”, aims at boosting trade and investments across the African continent, Mr Femi Adesina, the presidential spokesman, said in a statement in Abuja.

Adesina stressed that the event would also seek to create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive across the continent.

The event is expected to generate market information needed to connect buyers and sellers throughout the continent.

”Global businesses, including non-African international brands, are expected to key into opportunities generated by the fair, thereby attracting to continental trade investment deals worth $40 billion dollars,” the president’s media aide said.

The president was earlier in Paris on Nov. 9 on an official visit as guest of President Emmanuel Macron at Palais de l’Élysée.

He also attended the three-day Paris Peace Forum (PPF) from Nov. 11 to 13.

Buhari and his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, met and discussed issues of mutual interest for both countries.

The discussions focused particularly on strengthening economic ties, improving partnership on security, and working jointly on education, health and halting the threats of COVID-19 to the global economy.

While in Paris, the president also attended the Nigeria International Partnership Forum (NIPF), which brought together the Nigerian and French governments as well as their private sectors in wide-ranging discussions.

On Nov. 10, Buhari attended a working lunch at Palais Elysee in Paris where he appreciated efforts of President Macron in expanding opportunities for business between Nigerians and French citizens, while committing to partnership to degrade international criminal networks.

The president also in Paris, met with the President of Islamic Development Bank (IDB), Dr Mohammed Al-Jasser, and the Minister of State Foreign Affairs of United Arab Emirate, Sheikh Shakboot Alnahyan.

Buhari, who also attended the 75th anniversary of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) in Paris, France, on Friday, saying Nigeria remains proud of its close association with the organisation since its establishment, 75 years ago.

According to the Nigerian leader, the world has an opportunity to count gains of the UNESCO in the last 75 years, while exploring the historic moment for building solidarity and enthroning peace.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo had earlier on Nov. 8 presided over a high-level meeting on Nutrition attended by United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Mrs Amina Mohammed, State Governors, and representatives of development partners, including UNICEF.

Others at the meeting included the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, and convener of the UN Food System Dialogue, Mrs Olusola Idowu, who is also the Permanent Secretary, Budget and National Planning Ministry.

Osinbajo also represented president Buhari at the ECOWAS Extraordinary Summit of the Authority of Heads of State and Government held in Accra, Ghana, during the week.

The meeting review the political situations in Guinea and Mali, and decided to maintain the sanctions imposed on Guinea and imposed similar ones against the Mali Transitional Government.

In the week under review, Buhari also congratulated Prof. Charles Soludo, the candidate of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), for winning the gubernatorial election in Anambra.

He praised the security agencies for their determination to ensure that the election went on as smoothly as possible.

The president equally commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the successful conclusion of the exercise despite the initial challenges encountered.

Buhari, who is expected back in Nigeria on Nov. 16, ended the week under review in a shock and sadness, following the demise of Brig.-Gen. Dzarma Zirkusu and three soldiers who paid ”the supreme sacrifice while fighting terrorists in the Northeast zone of the country.

November 14, 2021