TheNewsGuru

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Nigerian woman commits suicide in Ghana

    Nigerian woman commits suicide in Ghana

    Following the closure of her shops by Ghanaian authorities, a Nigerian woman and mother of three children has committed suicide, the National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs), Ghana Chapter, reported in Abuja on Tuesday.
    The association made the development known when the leadership visited the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa, to seek the intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari on the matter.
    The President of NANTS, Ghana, Chief Chukwuemeka Nnaji, said Mrs Stella Ogonna Okpaleke, a Nigerian whose shops were locked for her failure to meet strict trading conditions put by the Ghana Government committed suicide on Sept. 22.
    Nnaji, armed with a petition to Buhari, called for the intervention of the Federal Government over the alleged maltreatment of Nigerian businessmen in Ghana.
    “Regrettably on Saturday, Sept. 22, one of our female members, Mrs Stella Ogonna Okpaleke, whose shop has been under lock and key by the Ghana authority committed suicide.
    “She committed suicide based on her shop and that of her husband that were locked; the information we gathered was that when they locked the shop she lost hope of reopening it.
    “She is from Nnewi Local Government (Area) in Anambra; we actually don’t know how much she owed, but we learnt that she took loan for her business,” he said.
    According to him, the harassment on the Nigerian community and traders in Kumasi, Ghana, is so severe.
    “It is unfortunate that that very woman decided to take her own life,” Nnaji said and called on Buhari to urgently intervene to avert similar incidents in the future.
    He said Nigerian traders were being unnecessarily stressed by Ghanaian authorities.
    In her remark, Dabiri-Erewa expressed the Federal Government’s condolences to the union and the family of the deceased.
    She appealed to members of the union to remain calm and assured them that the president would intervene in their case to ensure a lasting solution to the problem.
    “I am just going to start by appealing to you, I know it is painful, it is emotional, it is deep but I just urge you to remain calm.
    “I appeal to you to remain calm and may the soul of Stella rest in perfect peace.
    “When she is about to be buried, let us know so that we may send our condolence message to the family,” she said.
    Recall that Nigerian traders were shut out of their business premises in line with an eviction order of July 27.
    The Ghanaian authority is demanding that traders must have one million dollars as minimum foreign investment capital to do business in Ghana as stipulated in its Ministry of Trade and Industry Act, 2013.
     

  • Breaking: Again, Gov. Amosun meets Buhari

    Breaking: Again, Gov. Amosun meets Buhari

    Gov. Ibikunle Amosun on Tuesday visited the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he met behind closed door with President Muhammadu Buhari for about two hours.
    Amosun had on Thursday met separately with President Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo over political developments in his state.
    Though agenda of today’s meeting between President Buhari and the governor was not made public, the Governor may update the president on political happenings that trailed the conduct of All Progressives Congress primaries in Ogun.
    The APC National Working Committee panel sent to Ogun State for the conduct of the governorship primary had on Wednesday night declared Prince Dapo Abiodun as the party’s governorship candidate in the 2019 general elections.
    This declaration came some hours after the state chapter of the APC also declared the Gov. Amosun’s preferred candidate, Adekunle Akinlade, as the governorship candidate of the party.
    The governor had at the weekend allegedly accused some political interest group of `misinforming’ President Buhari about `political equation’ in Ogun.
    Amosun, who made the accusation on a national television during the live coverage of the APC senatorial primary in the state, vowed that his preferred candidate for the governorship seat, Akinlade, would emerge victorious at the end of the political dispute.
    The outcome of the closed door meeting was still being awaited as of the time of filling this report.
     

  • 2019 election: Atiku can’t stop Buhari’s victory – UK APC

    UK chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) says the emergence of Atiku Abubakar as presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has made the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari easier.
    Mr Ade Omole, leader of APC UK, who made the assertion in a statement on Monday, stated that President Buhari remains the best candidate for the 2019 presidential election among the array of presidential candidates being paraded by other political parties.
    He maintained that Atiku’s candidature would not stop the victory of the APC.
    “The task for 2019 election has just been made easier by the leading opposition party by electing a presidential candidate who was part of the country’s problem in the 16 years of PDP rule.
    “Nigerians should be wise enough to know, therefore, that he has nothing new to bring to the table.
    “While I want Nigerians to vote wisely in 2019, I assure that as we did in 2015, we will work hard again to ensure that President Buhari is re-elected.
    “On behalf of Nigerians and the progressives in the Diaspora, I congratulate President Buhari for accepting his nomination to be the APC presidential candidate for 2019 election.
    “His election by over 14 million registered members of the party during the APC presidential primaries held across the federation speaks volumes,”Omole said.
    He further said that Nigerians in the Diaspora were delighted at the enormous recovery tasks undertaken by the Buhari-led administration in securing the country, growing the economy and curbing corruption within the polity.
    The leader of the APC UK chapter commended Buhari and his cabinet for laying the foundation for a better Nigeria.
    He however urged APC members across the world not to be distracted, but continue to work hard to ensure the party’s victory at all levels of government in 2019.
    President Buhari scored a total of 14,842,072 votes at the party’s recent direct primaries held in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory to pick the APC presidential ticket.
    His candidacy was affirmed by 7,000 delegates from 36 states of the federation and the FCT at the APC National Presidential Convention on Saturday.
    Aside the statutory delegates, three delegates were drawn from 774 Local Government Area of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT, who got elected at the party’s Congresses held earlier.
    Atiku, a former Vice President beat 11 contestants to secure the PDP ticket with 1,532 votes during the party’s presidential primaries held in Port Harcourt.
    A total of 3,274 delegates participated in the election, with his closest challenger, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, having just 693 votes.
    Other presidential candidates seeking to upstage Buhari include, Mr Donald Duke of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Dr Oby Ezekwesili of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria among others.
    The presidential election will hold on Feb. 14,2019.
     

  • Presidency to El-Rufai: You are on your own

    The Presidency has distanced President Muhammadu Buhari from a letter in circulation, which alleged that the President had authorized Gov. Nasir el-Rufai to “deal with traitors and disloyal members of APC, especially Sen. Shehu Sani.
    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, made this known in a statement in Abuja on Sunday.
    According to the presidential aide, the president is not aware of any such letter, let alone authorising anyone to deal with any party member.
    The statement read: “The presidency wishes to distance President Muhammadu Buhari from a letter currently in circulation, which alleges that the President had authorized a governor or anyone else for that matter to deal with traitors and disloyal members of APC, especially Senator Shehu Sani.
    “We wish to confirm that the president is not aware of any such letter, let alone authorising anyone to deal with any party member.
    “Given President Buhari’s record, it is inconceivable that he would usurp the role of the party leaders and instruct anyone to punish a party member.
    “In the light of above, we would like to appeal to the general public, especially members of the press, to ignore false or unauthorised information intended to attribute to the president any action which is not in line with his character.’’
    It would be recalled that Gov. El-Rufai of Kaduna State had last week visited the Presidential villa twice over political developments in his state.
    El-Rufai, who vehemently opposed the decision of the APC National Working Committee (NWC) to clear Sen. Shehu Sani as the sole candidate in the race for APC-Kaduna Central, said the fate of the senator “lies in the hands of the party delegates in the state”.
    The national body of the APC had on Sunday reiterated that Sani remained its only senatorial candidate from Kaduna Central.
    The Acting National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mr Yekini Nabena, confirmed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja.
     

  • APC primaries: Buhari begs losers to show sportsmanship

    APC primaries: Buhari begs losers to show sportsmanship

    President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated winners of All Progressives Congress (APC) primaries across the country, urging losers to demonstrate sportsmanship by accepting the outcomes without bitterness or resentment.
    The president stated this in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday.
    All political parties are expected to conclude all their primaries before the 12.a.m (Monday) deadline issued by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
    The president said: “In every competition, someone has to win and someone has to lose, but those who lost should not abandon the party or lose their enthusiasm for the advancement of the party.’’
    He, therefore, advised Nigerian politicians to learn from several aspirants like Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State “who despite his loss didn’t abandon APC for another party because he was angry over the outcome of the gubernatorial primaries.’’
    The President, who happened to be one of the winners of the APC primaries, said that: “the larger interest of our party is greater than our individual ambitions, and we should therefore work together for its success, despite our losses.’’
    According to him, “in politics, we shouldn’t lose hope permanently because tomorrow could present another opportunity for us to contest again and win.’’
    He advised the losers of the primaries “to always put the party first because we are in it together to serve the country, and I am always proud of our members who demonstrate sportsmanship and a good party spirit.”
    President Buhari also enjoined the winners “to show grace in victory instead of mocking the losers, as such action is capable of destroying party unity and cohesion. The tent is large enough for us.”
    He added that “those elected should see their positions as a public trust instead of abusing their mandates to amass personal wealth at the expense of the ordinary voters who voted them into power.’’
     

  • Buhari’s campaign Spokesperson welcomes PDP’s choice presidential candidate

    Buhari’s campaign Spokesperson welcomes PDP’s choice presidential candidate

    Festus Keyamo, Spokesperson of President Muhammadu Buhari 2019 presidential campaign‏ has welcomed the choice presidential candidate of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 general election.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports former vice president Atiku Abubakar on Sunday emerged the choice presidential candidate of the PDP in the party’s presidential primary election held at the Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in Port Harcourt, capital of Rivers State.
    “We welcome H.E, Atiku Abubakar to d 2019 campaign trail. Nigerians would now decide b/w a candidate with a history full of CREDIBILITY crises, damning reports on CORRUPTION, both home, abroad & from his former boss & another candidate with an unblemished record in public service,” Keyamo said.


    Atiku polled 1,532 votes to beat his closest rival, Aminu Tambuwal to emerge as the Presidential candidate of the PDP for the 2019 general elections.
    Declaring the result, Chairman, Planning Committee for the Special National Convention, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, stated that Alhaji Tambuwal got 693 Votes.
    Other aspirants who contested at the Convention otherwise known as the PDP Presidential Primary election were, Senate President Bukola Saraki (317 votes), Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso (158 votes), Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo (111 votes), Dr. Datti Baba-Ahmed (05 votes), Senator Ahmed Makarfi (74 votes), Senator David Mark (35 votes), Alhaji Sule Lamido (96 votes), Alhaji Attahiru Bafarawa (48 votes), Senator Jonah Jang (19 votes) and Kabiru Tanimu Turaki (65 votes).
    Speaking shortly after declaring the winner at the Convention witnessed by former President Goodluck Jonathan and his Vice, Alhaji Sambo, Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, among other prominent Nigerians, Governor Okowa stated, “all the agents have endorsed this document and signed, I wish to declare that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been elected the Presidential Candidate of our party in the 2019 general elections.
    He congratulated the winner, those who participated in the Convention and the Chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, adding, “we thank God for His grace; our National Chairman will invite our Presidential candidate to make his acceptance speech.”
    Alhaji Abubakar in his acceptance speech, said, “today, we are witnessing a landmark event, I thank the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Governor Okowa – this is the most credible, transparent and fair primaries; let me also commend my co aspirants for the display of a sense of unity, a sense of purpose, they have shown that the interest of this party and interest of our country is paramount to personal interest.”
    “I cannot do it alone, I need your support, I need your assistance, it is not a one man job, it is a collective responsibility, together we will succeed and after we succeed, we will be partners in the success story,” he said, adding, “this is the most innovative electoral process this party has had since 1998 and we have learnt a lot from this exercise.”
    He continued, “we cannot afford to fail Nigerians at this point, because Nigerians are yearning for the PDP to return to power, they have seen the mismanagement of the government of the APC government, through collective efforts, PDP shall return to power in 2019.”
    The Presidential candidate disclosed that it was not just enough to identify the challenges of the country but, the PDP shall proffer solutions to those challenges.
    Senate President, Bukola Saraki on behalf of all the Presidential aspirants congratulated Alhaji Abubakar, pledging to work with him to achieve results.
    According to Saraki, “today is a great day for this party because it has shown that the interest of this party is more than our personal interest; we thank Governor Okowa for organising a free and transparent election; we congratulate Alhaji Abubakar for the victory, we are here to work with you (Alhaji Abubakar) to achieve success because we all know what Nigerians are yearning for.”
    Prince Secondus, said, “for the first time in the history of our country, a political party have conducted a free and fair election; with all of us here, we want to let the All Progressive Congress know that we are set to take back our country; we expect the Independent National Electoral Commission to learn from this process; I believe the PDP is now united to carry the most civilised campaign to reclaim our mandate in 2019.”
     

  • Buhari specialist hospital commences full operations in Kano [Photos]

    Buhari specialist hospital commences full operations in Kano [Photos]

    The Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital at Giginyu in Kano state has been said to commence full operations.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Salihu Tanko Yakasai, Special Adviser Media, Government House, Kano, made this known on Friday.
    “This is to inform the general public that Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital Giginyu & Sheikh Khalifa Isiaka Rabiu Pediatric Hospital Zoo Road have commenced 100% operations this week.
    “Patients can now be attended to in both hospitals and receive full services,” read a tweet by the media aide that was endorsed by Bashir Admad, Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media.
    See photos shared by Salihu Tanko Yakasai:




     

  • Dangote more influential, powerful than Buhari – Senator

    Dangote more influential, powerful than Buhari – Senator

    Following his withdrawal from the race to represent the people of Bayelsa east senatorial district in the National Assembly, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has said Aliko Dangote is far more influential and powerful than President Muhammadu Buhari.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Bayelsa politician queried why politicians think power only comes from political offices and stressed: “Our politicians need a paradigm shift”.
    “Why do politicians think power only comes from political offices? Buhari isn’t the most powerful Nigerian. Aliko Dangote is far more influential and powerful than him.
    “Our politicians need a paradigm shift,” Bruce, who gave way to allow for someone else from his constituency to fly the banner of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in 2019, took to his official Twitter handle to say.
    Dropping his senatorial ambition, Bruce said “It is without doubt that I have tried to discharge my duties as a legislator and representative of my people creditably to the best of my ability so far. My voice has been very loud on the issues that matter to our people and our country at all time”.
    In his recent comments on Thursday after his withdrawal statement, he advised politicians to emulate him and not hold on to power, stressing that holding on to honour is more profitable.
    “Don’t hold on to power. Hold on to honour and power will ever follow you,” he said.
    Recall, TNG publisher, Mr. Mideno Bayagbon had in an editorial called on Nigerians to prevail on Dangote to rein in and salvage the lot of the nation.
    “The question may be asked, why Aliko Dangote? First, he is interested; but afraid. Secondly, he is one Nigerian who stands the biggest risk of losing the most in a collapsed Nigeria.
    “He has the most investments. He is tried and tested in business and in, wait for it, politics. Has there been a government in Nigeria in the last thirty years that did not have to deal with Dangote?
    “He is humble, detribalized, shrewd, ambitious; a hard nut capitalist. He has friends and investments across the nation.
    “Though he, at a time, tested the waters before hurriedly rushing back into his business cocoon, there is no doubt that if a credible platform adopts him and the juggernauts back him, he stands a credible chance of leading Nigeria out of the abyss.
    “His fear of what happens to his businesses if he loses, is real but surmountable. A time like this demands a man of Dangote’s pedigree,” the editorial read.
     

  • Google marks Nigeria Independence Day 2018

    Google marks Nigeria Independence Day 2018

    Internet giant, Google on Monday joined Nigerians in marking the nation’s 58th Independence celebrations with a Doodle on the homepage of its website.
    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports a Google Doodle is a special, temporary alteration of the logo on Google’s homepages that commemorates holidays, events, achievements, and people.
    “Today’s Doodle celebrates the Federal Republic of Nigeria (Africa’s most populous country) which is a place as big as it is culturally diverse.
    “Mixing cultures is one of the hallmarks of this West African country. Over 500 languages are spoken here, some dating back more than 4,000 years.
    “Independence Day is all about national integration, as the nation commemorates its declaration of independence from the British Empire in 1960.
    “The green and white flag flies in all 36 Nigerian states: green standing for agriculture, white for peace and unity,” Google noted.
    Nigeria marked the 58th Independence in colourful parade at the Eagle Square, Abuja, after a 7-year hiatus.
    President Muhammadu Buhari took the salute as military and para-military organizations held a colourful parade in commemoration of the nation’s Independence.
    The event was the first full-fledged Independence Day parade since the celebration was marred by an explosion, which occurred near Eagle Square on October 1, 2010.
    Google also send best wishes to Nigerians with the message: “Happy Independence Day to Nigeria and to the Nigerian diaspora worldwide. Long may you march to your own beat(s)! Happy 58th Independence Day Nigeria!”
     

  • Presidency explains why Buhari withheld assent to PIGB

    The Presidency has explained why President Muhammadu Buhari withheld assent on the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang, made the fact known to State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday.

    He maintained that none of the reasons for the president withholding his assent adduced by the media was true.

    Enang said the president had since communicated why he declined assent to the bill although the communication had yet to be read in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

    “By Presidential communication of July 29, 2018 (one month ago) addressed to the Senate and House of Representatives, Mr President did communicate decline of assent to the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill, 2018, for constitutional and legal reasons stated therein.

    “By convention, it is inappropriate to speak on the content of Executive Communication addressed to the Legislature until same has been read on the floor in plenary.

    “But I plead for the understanding of the legislature that due to the misrepresentations in the public domain and apparent deliberate blackmail which if not promptly addressed may set both the executive and the legislature against the public and even the international investment community, this be excused,’’ he said.

    Enang some of the issues raised related to provision of the bill permitting the Petroleum Regulatory Commission to retain 10 per cent of the revenue generated.

    He said such provision unduly would increase the funds accruing to the Commission to the detriment of the revenue available to the federal, states and local governments as well as Federal Capital Territory.

    The presidential aide also said that there were “some legislative drafting concerns, which if assented to in the form presented will create ambiguity and conflict in interpretation.

    “In deference to the National Assembly, I please state very limited of the rationale communicated to the legislature, to wit:

    “That the provision of the Bill permitting the Petroleum Regulatory Commission to retain as much as 10 per cent of the revenue generated unduly increases the funds accruing to the Petroleum Regulatory Commission to the detriment of the revenue available to the Federal, States, Federal capital Territory and Local governments in the country.

    “Expanding the scope of Petroleum Equalisation Fund and some provisions in divergence from this administration’s policy and indeed conflicting provisions on independent petroleum equalisation fund.

    “Some legislative drafting concerns which if Assented to in the form presented will create ambiguity and conflict in interpretation.’’

    Enang expressed the hope that the above explanation might have offered answer to some of the issues raised “until the communication is read on the floor”.