TheNewsGuru

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • 2019: Buhari assures UK Prime Minister of credible, free, fair elections

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja assured UK Prime Minister Theresa May of his commitment to conducting free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, in a statement, said Buhari gave the assurance during a bilateral meeting with the visiting Prime Minister at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Buhari welcomed UK’s support toward strengthening democratic institutions in the country.

    ‘‘I assure you that I’m all out for free, fair and credible elections.

    “I’m very pleased that my party is doing very well. The High Commissioner will brief you more.

    “The recent successes in polls in Katsina, Bauchi, and Kogi have boosted our morale greatly.

    ‘‘Nigeria has accepted multiparty democracy and that is putting politicians on their toes, forcing them to work harder.’’

    On the anti-corruption campaign, the President applauded Britain’s support to the country, noting that the success of the fight was very important to ordinary people in the country.

    He recalled that Nigeria had great opportunities and resources between 1999 and 2014 due to high oil prices.

    “But when we came in 2015, oil prices plunged to as low as 37 dollars per barrel.

    ‘‘What we have been doing since 2015 is to focus on infrastructure development, despite low earnings. Work is ongoing on roads, rail, power, and many others,’’ he said.

    On Brexit, Buhari noted that it provided an opportunity to strengthen the historic ties between Nigeria and the UK.

    ‘‘We are nervously watching the development about Brexit because we know that the relationship had been on for a long time.

    “I assure you that I am prepared to strengthen the relationship between our two countries.’’

    The president also thanked the UK government for the support on security and the fight against insurgency in the North-East, as well as the improved trade relations between both countries.

    ‘‘I am very grateful to the British government under you leadership for the help in security, particularly your training team that is in our institution in Kaduna,’’ he said.

    Earlier in a remark before the bilateral meeting, Buhari underscored the need for UK support toward reviving Lake Chad, which is a source of livelihood for millions of people.

    The president told the visiting prime minister that Europe and China were already conducting an indepth study on recharging the Lake through inter-basin transfer from the Central African Republic.

    In her remarks, Prime Minister May said she was pleased to be in Abuja to continue the ‘‘excellent discussions’’ she started with Buhari in London in April, particularly on security, trade, asset recovery and the fight against corruption.

    May welcomed the assurance by the Nigerian government on credible elections in 2019.

    ‘‘Security and defence cooperation are very important steps to address Boko Haram and Islamic State in West Africa,’’ May said.

    On asset recovery, the prime minister said:‘‘We do not want to hold anything that belongs to Nigerian people; but we follow the judicial process which can be slow.’’

    She appealed to Buhari to use his position as ECOWAS Chair to keep the issue of human trafficking on the front burner in the sub-region.

    Buhari and May witnessed the signing of two agreements an Security and Defence Partnership and Economic Development Forum Agreement.

     

  • Uduaghan’s defection: ‘We are Stronger,’ Gov. Okowa’s aide reacts

    Uduaghan’s defection: ‘We are Stronger,’ Gov. Okowa’s aide reacts

    Personal Assistant to Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa has reacted to the recent defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC) of Emmanuel Uduaghan, immediate past governor of the State.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Uduaghan defected from the Peoples’ Democratic Party (APC) on Tuesday and immediately attended with President Muhammadu Buhari the APC national caucus meeting that held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    “Politics is a game of interest, no permanent friend and no permanent enemy. On the current defection, there is no panic because we are Stronger,” Ossai Ovie Success, PA to Gov. Okowa on Media, stated on Wednesday.

    Uduaghan, who served two terms as governor of Delta State after former Governor James Onanefe Ibori, made his defection to the APC known in a statement he personally signed and exclusively sent to TNG before his meeting with Buhari.

    Ibori and Okowa had intervened to convince Uduaghan to remain in the PDP to no avail.

    In the statement, Uduaghan revealed that he is going into APC as “John the Baptist” to the numerous Deltans that are coming in soon, very soon, behind him.

    He said that since the inception of the current APC administration at the federal level, there has been an encouraging interest and activities by Buhari to bring a permanent solution to the Niger Delta question.

    “This has pointed in a direction that is at once progressive and developmental. Rather than using the military to harass our people, the Buhari administration has embarked on various engagement processes that have led to agreements and brought hope to the people of the Niger Delta,” Uduaghan said.

    Read Uduaghan’s full statement below:

    The toughest challenge for any leader in the Niger Delta since 1997 has been the issue of Peace and Security. For over 12 years, I was deeply involved in the management of the issues of the region, first as Secretary to State Government, SSG, and then as Governor of Delta State for 8 years.

    Strategically, we had ENGAGEMENT as our major tool. This involved government officials, with me in the forefront (sometimes personally going into the creeks without security at nocturnal hours), community leaders, traditional rulers, religious leaders, our youths, retired military officers, activists, etc. Of course, ensuring that Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, was active was also part of the engagement process.

    Since the inception of the current All Progressives Congress, APC, administration at the federal level, there has been an encouraging interest and activities by President Muhammadu Buhari to bring a permanent solution to the Niger Delta crisis. This has pointed in a direction that is at once progressive and developmental.

    Topmost in these activities are the ENGAGEMENT PROCESSES. Rather than using the military to harass our people, the Buhari administration has embarked on various engagement processes that have led to agreements and brought hope to the people of the Niger Delta. In the last years, Mr. President has personally engaged several regional leaders and youths.

    Senior officials of his administration also engaged many Niger Delta leaders and youths. Very significant is that Mr. President mandated the Vice President Prof Yemi Osibajo SAN, to visit virtually all the oil producing states, engaging various stakeholders. This is unprecedented in the history of the region. Such engagement processes have brought some measure of peace in the Niger Delta. Things can only get better.

    Beyond the engagement processes, however, the Buhari administration has embarked on some infrastructural and human capital development activities in the region. In Delta State, the opening of a Maritime University; the setting up of a steering committee for the EPZ (GAS CITY), the plan for a deep sea port, the dredging of the Escravos-Warri River; the opening of the railway line to Delta Steel Company, the soon to be flagged off, by Mr.

    President, the Omadino-Escravos Road that will pass through many riverine communities; the various road construction works by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), the various TCN projects across the State are some of the positive activities in the region.

    There are also various human capital development programmes especially the school feeding and the “social security net” that is making 5,000 Naira available to the poor, the continuation of the YouWin programme, the various SME programmes, and several other projects across the region have brought hope to the people.

    Indeed, once Mr. President was able to set his priorities pursuant to creating an environment for peace in the region, it became incumbent on every well-meaning Niger Deltan and Nigerian to assist the process of building an economically prosperous nation.

    In this era of partisan politics, it is necessary for the people of the Niger Delta, and Delta State in particular, to identify more with the Federal Government led by the APC. By so doing, we can push some of the agreements between our leaders and the Federal Government through, and also engage the government to do more.

    Politics is about interests. The Niger Delta is a major area of interest for me, because I staked my life going into the creeks severally without security and sometimes coming back at night negotiating peace. I will, therefore, give the strongest support to any President that shows commitment in the affairs of the Niger Delta. I call on, and enjoin, other well-meaning leaders in the region, who have very useful contributions to make, to come on board and join hands in helping this Federal Government to pursue a robust development agenda that would uplift our people. Whatever milestone that appears not to have been achieved yet is not for lack of efforts. Joining hands with and supporting the process will lead to a faster delivery on expectations.

    It is in the pursuit of this noble objective that I’m offering myself to help drive a process that would give the lives of our people in the Niger Delta more meaning. President Muhammadu Buhari needs people who will join hands with him to uplift our people. From my political experience, you have to be well represented and actively so at the “board room” when decisions are being taken. Delta State must be well represented. Niger Delta must be well represented.

    It is noteworthy to state that some organisations have been deeply involved in efforts to develop the Niger Delta and can always be relied on to collaborate with our President. It is also noteworthy to add that some previous administrations made significant efforts to develop the region. The current administration made such a significant impact in spite of the fact that apart from Edo State, President Buhari did not score the required 25% in the entire Niger Delta in the election that brought him into government in 2015. This speak volumes of his genuineness to uplift the Niger Delta. Such an administration should be encouraged by the people of the Niger Delta. We can never be sure of the genuiness of another person who becomes the President.

    I have, therefore, after series of consultations and prayers, taken the decision to leave the PDP and join the APC. In doing this, I want to thank the numerous leaders, supporters and interest groups that have been urging me to remain in PDP. I am happy that after explaining some of the deeper issues to you, some of you that are politicians have agreed to join the APC in the near future. So I am going into APC as “John the Baptist” to the numerous Deltans that are coming in, soon – very soon.

     

  • Obaseki accompanies Buhari on investment tour in China

    The Edo State Governor is scheduled to accompany President Muhammadu Buhari on an investment tour in China following the federal government’s listing of several Edo State government’s projects which are backed by Chinese investors, on its itinerary.

    The Chinese investors-backed big ticked projects in Edo State include the Benin River Port in Gelegele, the Benin Industrial Park and a modular refinery in Benin City, for which the Edo State Executive Council has approved a N700 million, as initial investment.

    Sources familiar with the progress of the Edo-China investment collaboration, said “all these projects which Chinese investors have committed to, will receive final nod during the visit of president Buhari.”

    Governor Obaseki was at the Chinese Embassy during the week for more consultations with officials of the People’s Republic of China, preparatory to the Buhari-led investment tour of the Asian country.

    To further demonstrate the state government’s readiness to kick-start work on the modular refinery in Benin City, Obaseki on Friday at the weekly EXCO meeting, approved the release of N700 million as redeemable preference shares (investment) in the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company Limited.

    According to Obaseki, “the company will be involved in the production of petroleum and petrochemical products and other related businesses.

    “The venture will enhance the local refining capacity, thereby increasing the volume of nahtha, kerosene, diesel and residual fuel oil products available in Edo State.”

    He added that the venture “will create legitimate employment opportunities thereby reducing poverty and providing job opportunities for teeming youth in the communities and facilitate the establishment of a fabrication yard as proposed by the promoters, thereby creating basis for expertise, professionalism and further training in oil and gas industry.”

    The take-off of the Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company follows series of groundwork by the Obaseki administration that led to the setting up of Edo Investment Scheme Limited, a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to hold N2 billion investment funds in which the Ministry of Finance Incorporation (MOFI) and the Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) which are to hold shares of 20 per cent and 80 per cent respectively, would facilitate the state’s investment in various initiatives across the oil and gas services, petroleum exploration, drilling and filling station, sales and supply of gas, oil agro allied products, petroleum and petrochemical products and other related businesses.

    In the transaction design, the investment funds will be repaid in three years after the execution of the projects, besides the interest that will accrue to the state within the interim. The project will, in essence fund itself.

     

  • Update: Femi Fani-Kayode’s invitation purely for fact findings – Police

    The Nigeria Police Force says its invitation to former Aviation Minister Femi Fani-Kayode was purely for fact findings.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the aviation minister was on Friday evening served notice to appear at the Force headquarters for charges bordering on conspiracy, criminal defamation, inciting publication, injurious falsehood, and conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

    According to the letter, Fani-Kayode was given the deadline of Tuesday 28th August to interview with CP Huba A. Sani, Commissioner of Police, IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja through SP Usman Garba to shed light on the allegations raised.

    “This office is investing the above mentioned case reported to the Inspector-General of Police, in which your name featured.

    “In view of the above, you are kindly requested to interview the undersigned through SP Usman Garba, on 28/8/2018 by 1000hrs, to shed light on the allegations raised.

    “You are to however note, that the invitation is purely for fact findings and your cooperation in this regard is highly solicited, please,” the letter read.

    Fani-Kayode had earlier on Monday published a lengthy article outlining alleged desperate agenda of President Muhammadu Buhari, whom he called “an evil tyrant”.

    Read full publication by Fani-Kayode:

    Much has been brewing in the circles of power of our nation in recent weeks. Permit me to share some of my findings with my readers today. The rest wll come later.

    Key players and leaders in the international community have warned President Muhammadu Buhari not to run for a second term but he has refused to listen. That is why he was in the United Kingdom for 16 days.

    He was not ill and he was not getting treatment for any ailment but he was consulting with and trying to convince the representatives of various foreign governnents, including the American, British and French, that he can still run in 2019 and win.

    My sources have confirmed ro me that those he interacted with are not convinced but he has resolved to run regardless of their skepticism.

    They have asked him to probe and jail Godswill Akpabio, Tunde Fashola, Rotimi Amaechi, Rochas Okorocha and Bola Tinubu and they claim that these five, together with a number of others in his own party and government, are very corrupt. He has promised to do that after getting a second mandate.

    It is at that time that he will also move against President Olusegun Obasanjo, General Ibrahim Babangida, President Goodluck Jonathan, General Aliyu Gusau, General T.Y. Danjuma, Vice President Atiku Abubakar and many others who have dared to oppose his second term bid.

    As regards Governor Ayo Fayose his plan is to arrest him immediately after he steps down as Governor in October, literally during the handover ceremony, and lock him up until after the 2019 election. He intends to give him the Sambo Dasuki treatment.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki, Senator Dino Melaye, Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso and all the others that decamped and left the APC with them to return to the PDP will not be spared.

    His plans for them are equally reprehensible. He has resolved to break them, humiliate them and teach them the lesson of their lives.

    And those of us that have been on the receiving end of their cruelty for the last three years will not be left out.

    He has more plans for this writer as well as others like Olisa Metuh, Sambo Dasuki, El Zak Zaky, Nnamdi Kanu and all his other traducers and critics.

    I gather that even Church leaders and clerics like Bishop David Oyedepo, Apostle Suleman, Bishop El Buba and others have been marked down for persecution and destruction whilst visible and loud players, commentators, writers, politicians and activists like Senator Ben Murray-Bruce,

    Pastor Reno Omokri, Prince Deji Adeyanju, Hon. Boma Goodhead, Mr. Charly Boy Oputa, Mr. Yemi Adebowale, Mr. Shaka Momodu and others have also been added.

    I have been reliably informed that they intend to rig the Osun, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Kwara, Plateau, Benue and Kogi state governorship elections through a perfected method and ensure that the APC wins those states regardless of the choice and preferences of the people.

    After Buhari has finished with all these individuals and effecting this agenda and there is no-one left to challenge him he will turn on the Nigerian people themselves with all his vindictiveness, bitterness and venom.

    He will reduce them into servitude and turn them into slaves and zombies. He will impose his Fulanisation and Islamisation agenda, bury the idea of restructuring and destroy its proponents, enthrone and empower the Fulani herdsmen and Miyetti Allah, enter a peace accord with Boko Haram and accomodate some of their demands.

    He will also reduce CAN and Christians to nothing, bring the Church to its knees, wipe out Shiite Muslims and decimate IPOB members, silence all dissent, establish cattle ranches in every state of the Federation, change the constitution to make himself life President and turn Nigeria into a North Korean-style totalitarian state where his word is law and where he must literally be worshipped as Nigeria’s third and final Muslim Mahdi.

    Those that applaud Buhari as he violates the rights of others and inflicts pain and injury on them are naive and shortsighted.

    They forget that those of us that are his critics, that oppose him, that are in the opposition and that he seeks to destroy are the only ones standing between them, the establishment of a police state and total destruction.

    By the time he has finished with us he will strip the Nigerian people of all their dignity and all that is dear to them and turn them into broken souls, street urchins, filthy almajiris and the biggest beggars in Africa.

    Poverty, tyranny, evil, ethnic cleansing, genocide and mass murder will stalk the land whilst the judiciary, the legislature and the fourth estate of the realm (the media) will simply do his bidding.

    He will bring the entire nation to heel and Nigeria will end up being a worse place to live than Hitler’s Germany and Stalin’s Soviet Union.

    In all this there is only one consellation and that is the fact that Buhari is not God. As they say, “man proposes and God disposes”.

    Buhari’s plans will fail, his evil agenda will be thwarted and by the time this is all over he will know that we serve a mighty God who rules in the affairs of men.

    His word says “who is he that sayeth a thing and it cometh to pass when the Lord of Hosts has commanded it not?”

    As long as God has not commanded it or permitted it Buhari’s purpose will not stand and his evil intentions will melt like an iceburg approaching the tropics. That is why the righteous and those of us that are the children of light and the sons and daughters of the Most High God need harbour no fear.

    Those that need to fear are those that have shed innocent blood, betrayed the counsel of the Living God, tormented and robbed the Nigerian people, bowed before the tyrant and dined at the beasts table.

    Those that need to fear are the useful idiots and accursed slaves that have sold their heritage for a mess of pottage and that have opted to assist the tyrant in his ungodly and unholy mission of slaughter, decimation and destruction.

    As long as Jesus sits on the throne Buhari’s evil plans for all those that have taken a leap of faith and have courageously opposed him shall not stand.

    Those of us that have been the voice of the voiceless and stood for truth must not relent. We must continue to stand firm and strong because we have a divine obligation to resist the tyrants evil.

    And no matter the price that has to be paid, that is precisely what yours truly intends to do. I urge you to join me. Together we shall bite the bullet, take the pain and endure in the knowledge that, though our oppressors may have today, we shall have tomorrow.

    Dark may be the night but joy comes in the morning. Our joy will surely come, God shall prove Himself mighty and, in the end, He will make all things beautiful.

     

  • Sen. Bruce joins Atiku in tongue-lashing Buhari

    Bayelsa East Senator Ben Murray Bruce has danced in tune with former vice president Atiku Abubakar to accuse the presidency of trivializing governance by asking Nigerians to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term next year because he did 800m walk.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports President Buhari on Tuesday shunned protocol and opted to walk some 800 metres from the Eid-el-Kabir praying ground in his hometown Daura to his residence.

    The Presidency said Buhari demonstrated his fitness to run for a second term by trekking 800 metres from the Eid praying ground in Daura to his private residence.

    “Nigerians do not need a President that can walk,” Senator Bruce said in reaction, stressing “There are over 180 million Nigerians that know how to walk. Walking is not special. Walking is not a criteria for leadership. What this nation needs is a President that can work”.

    Also reacting, former vice president Atiku had said jogs more than 1600 metres regularly and that he would rather work to create jobs than walk to create an illusion.

    “I regularly jog more than a mile and exercise, but it will be pedestrian of me to ask Nigerians to vote for me because of that.

    “I want my party – the PDP, and Nigerians, to vote for me because I work not because I walk. I will work to create jobs. I won’t walk to create an illusion,” Atiku stated.

     

  • I jog more than 1600 metres regularly – Atiku

    Presidential aspirant under the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP), Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said he jogs more than 1600 metres regularly and that he would rather work to create jobs than walk to create an illusion.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Atiku stated this in reaction to President Muhammadu Buhari’s 800 metres Sallah day walk.

    Buhari on Tuesday joined thousands of Muslim faithful to observe the two raka’at Eid el-Kabir prayer in Daura, Katsina State.

    The president, who arrived the Eid Praying Ground in company of his aides and relatives at about 9.48 a.m, performed the annual sacrifice of slaughtering of the ram immediately after the prayer session, and thereafter trekked for over 800 metres from the prayer ground to his private residence amidst chanting of `Sai Baba’ by well- wishers.

    Given the 800 metres Sallah day walk, the Presidency said Buhari has now demonstrated his fitness to run for second term.

    “I regularly jog more than a mile and exercise, but it will be pedestrian of me to ask Nigerians to vote for me because of that.

    “I want my party – the PDP, and Nigerians, to vote for me because I work not because I walk. I will work to create jobs. I won’t walk to create an illusion,” the former vice president stated.

     

  • Buhari treks home after Eid el-Kabir prayer in Daura [Video/Photos]

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday joined thousands of Muslim faithful to observe the two raka’at Eid el-Kabir prayer in Daura, Katsina State.

    The president arrived the Eid Praying Ground in company of his aides and relatives at about 9.48 a.m. He performed the annual sacrifice of slaughtering of the ram immediately after the prayer session.

    He trekked for over 800 metres from the prayer ground to his private residence amidst chanting of `Sai Baba’ by well- wishers.

    Earlier in his sermon, the Chief Imam of Daura, Safiyanu Dansanwai, who led the prayer, stressed the need for peace.

    He called on the Muslim ummah to pray for peace, harmony and development of the country.

    The Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar was among the thousands of faithful who performed the two raka’at prayer.

     

  • Eid-ul-Adha: Current economic challenges are temporary – Buhari

    Presiden Muhammadu Buhari has said the current economic challenges facing Nigerians are temporary, stressing that the welfare of the people is the main thrust of the change agenda of his administration.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Buhari made this known on Tuesday in his Sallah message to Nigerians marking 2018 Eid el-Kabir celebrations.

    He urged Nigerians to rise above personal, group, sectarian and other interests, and promote harmony and tolerance in dealing with one another at all times.

    In his Sallah message, President Buhari urged all Muslims to use the occasion for sober reflection and self-examination, and strive to be good ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values.

    He reminded Muslims that this felicitous occasion of Eid-ul-Adha is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to nation-building.

    “We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the President declared.

    President Buhari explained that religion is a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and actions.

    He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption have overwhelmed human souls to the extent that people abandon their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.

    The President stressed that fighting corruption is a task that must be done in order to protect the larger interests of the ordinary Nigerians who are the worst victims of diseases, poverty, malnutrition and other afflictions.

    He said surrendering to corruption is not an option because it destroys society and progress of nations.

    According to President Buhari, “Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust.”

    On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the President reassured that such are temporary because the welfare of the people is the main thrust of the change agenda of the administration.

    To buttress this point, President Buhari cited the many initiatives unfolded by the administration under the Social Investment Programme (SIP).

    Among which was the recent decision to distribute recovered stolen funds to the poor against the past practices of re-looting such funds by some people in authority.

     

  • Eid el-Kabir: Buhari slaughters Sallah rams, as Saraki observes rites in Kwara [Photos]

    President Muhammadu Buhari in the spirit of Sallah celebrations on Tuesday slaughtered his Sallah rams himself to mark the Eid el-Kabir ritual in Daura even as Senate President Bukola Saraki took to Kwara state to mark the celebrations.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports Buhari observed this year’s Eid el-Kabir at the Daura Eid ground and that Saraki observed the Eid el-Kabir at the Eid Praying Ground, New Eid Road, Ilorin, Kwara State.

    “Eid-ul-Adha offers an opportunity to remember the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Alaihis-Salam to Allah, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another,” Buhari stated at the Sallah celebrations.

    The President urged Nigerians to rise above personal, group, sectarian and other interests, and promote harmony and tolerance in dealing with one another at all times.

    In his Sallah message, he urged all Muslims to use the occasion for sober reflection and self-examination, and strive to be good ambassadors of their religion by upholding high moral values.

    He reminded Muslims that this felicitous occasion of Eid-ul-Adha is a remembrance of the submission of Prophet Ibrahim Allaihis-Salam to Allah, his Creator, by which he taught the world the value of sacrifice in relating with one another, and when it comes to nation-building.

    “We must sacrifice for others and remember always those who are less fortunate than ourselves,” the President declared.

    President Buhari explained that religion is a major factor in influencing human behaviour towards good conduct and actions.

    He, however, regretted that selfishness, greed and corruption have overwhelmed human souls to the extent that people abandon their religious beliefs in pursuit of their greed.

    The President stressed that fighting corruption is a task that must be done in order to protect the larger interests of the ordinary Nigerians who are the worst victims of diseases, poverty, malnutrition and other afflictions.

    He said surrendering to corruption is not an option because it destroys society and progress of nations.

    According to President Buhari, “Even if some people hate you for fighting corruption, you should not chicken out from the task as a leader because doing so is a betrayal of public trust.”

    On the current economic challenges facing Nigerians, the President reassured that such are temporary because the welfare of the people is the main thrust of the change agenda of the administration.

    Saraki had in his Sallah message urged Muslims to remember the sacrifice and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to the will of Allah, and always submit themselves, fully, to the will of the Almighty and in service of all mankind.

    “As we mark the festivities, let us remember the sacrifice and obedience of Prophet Ibrahim to the will of Allah, and always submit ourselves, fully, to the will of the Almighty and in service of all mankind,” Saraki said.

     

  • Fact check: Do President Buhari’s Aides tell lies?

    Personal Assistant to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, on Sunday stated that President Muhammadu Buhari has less than 100 Aides, including Ministers.

    TheNewsGuru (TNG) reports the Presidential Aide stated this in reaction to concerns that Sokoto State Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is aspiring to become Nigeria’s President, was ‘unnecessarily’ having over 250 aides.

    “Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has less than 100 aides, including Ministers,” Bashir tweeted in resonance to a Twitter user who tweeted “A Governor seeking to be President has over 250 aides and nobody is shouting”.

    Bashir on Buhari’s numbers of Aides, including Ministers

    This is coming after the Sokoto State Governor, in what appears like a political earthquake, lost 252 Special Advisers and Special Assistants to the All Progressives Congress (APC) after he himself defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

    After considering certain documents, TNG can confirm Bashir totally faltered, but we cannot by this immediately generalize that all President Buhari’s Aides have caught up with lies.

    TNG reports President Buhari has in his portfolio 7 Special Advisers, 49 Senior Special Assistants, 46 Special Assistants and 16 Personal Assistants, bringing the total to 118.

    Special Advisers Senior Special Assistants Special Assistants Personal Assistants
    7 49 46 16

    Buhari also is having 22 Honourable Ministers and 14 Honourable Ministers of State, resulting to an overall total of 154, as against Bashir’s claim of Buhari having less than a 100 Aides, including Ministers.

    Ministers Ministers of State
    22 14

    This number is also inclusive of office of Wife of President and Vice President that President Buhari, contrary to his electoral promise, appointed 10 Aides for.

    Meanwhile, out of this number, the President enjoys massive support of a Vice President in Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, and the support of Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, and Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari.

    Well others are Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita, FCA and Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of Vice President), Mr. Adeola Rahman Ipaye.

    Bashir either goofed or blatantly told a lie.