TheNewsGuru

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • Buhari approves agency for robotics and AI for South East

    Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu said President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the establishment of an agency on robotics and artificial intelligence(AI) for the South East.

    Onu revealed this at a grand rally of the All Progressives Congress in Abakaliki, capital of Ebonyi state. The rally which received defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party, was attended by the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole.

    Some of the defectors who were received include, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, former Minister of Power and Steel, Chief Goddy Ogbaga, former Secretary to the State Government, Bernard Odoh and former attorney general and commissioner for justice, Chief Augustine Nwankwegu.

    Onu told the rally that in 2015 he pleaded with South-East not to put its eggs in one basket but his pleadings fell on deaf ears.

    “In 2015 I pleaded with the zone not to put our eggs in one basket. Today I want them to compare the 16 years of PDP and relate it with just 3 years of APC.

    “The three years of APC is greater than the 16 years of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); the second Niger bridge is nearing completion, the Enugu – Port-Harcourt and Enugu – Onitsha highways are in various levels of completion,” he said.

    “The time has come for the South East to be in the mainstream of Nigerian politics by voting for President Buhari and APC in 2019”.

    APC chairman Adams Oshiomhole said that the current security challenge in the country was devoid of religious or ethnic colouration.

    Oshiomhole therefore urged Nigerians not to allow themselves to be deceived by the antics of selfish politicians in the country who are trying to give the security challenges in the country an ethnic colouration to score cheap political points.

    According to Oshiomhole, there is a plot to paint the government of President Muhammadu Buhari in bad light by portraying all the killings in some states in the country as the handiwork of herdsmen.

    “Let me urge you to be more careful because in this season people are spreading untruth. People are being hired to turn the gospel upside down. They want us to believe that every problem should be explained in ethnic and religious terms.

    “We have a problem and we must confront those problems. Criminals must be dealt with individually as criminals. Government at all levels must work hard to protect every Nigerian regardless of tribe or religion, ” he said.

    He said Buhari and the security agencies are working hard to put an end to the security challenges facing the country.

    Oshiomhole urged the people of the South-East to vote for APC and President Buhari in the 2019 general election as he has delivered democracy dividends to the zone.

    ” If Buhari has remembered the South-East which did not give him more than 10 percent in 2015, imagine what he will do if you give him 85 per cent in 2019″.

    Former Governor of Abịa State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu said the new River Niger bridge, which the PDP could not construct in 16 years, has now reached 53 per cent completion.

    According to him, the South-East will give the President and APC majority of its votes in 2019 in appreciation for all the projects and democracy dividends he has given the zone.

    The rally earlier scheduled to hold at the Pa Oruta Ngele Stadium Abakaliki was later moved to a a playground near the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway following the refusal of the state government to grant the APC permission to use the stadium.

     

  • How troops neutralised 20 bandits in Zamfara – Buhari’s aide

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s Personal Assistant, Bashir Ahmad, has explained how troops of the Nigerian military were able to neutralise 20 bandits in Zamfara.

    TheNewsGuru reports the Nigerian military conducting Operation Sharan Daji to flush out bandits in Zamfara, on Saturday neutralised 20 bandits and freed their captives.

    “During the recent clearance operation along Mashema, Kwadi, Kalage, Gambiru and Kagara axis in Maradun, Tsafe and Zurmi LGAs of Zamfara State, heavy fight ensued between troops and bandits, Nigerian troops captured top bandits, destroyed their camps and freed captives,” Bashir stated.

    According to Force Information Officer of the operation, Col. Muhammad Dole, the encounter at DABAN-DOKA village near Dansadau, troops laid ambush along bandits’ identified routes where 20 bandits were neutralised.

    “Some bandits escaped with gunshot wounds and several motorcycles were burnt. In one of the troops’ encounter with the bandits, 2 notorious bandits, Bello Danboko and Sani Maza, were eliminated in Yanwari ward near Yankuzo and Mai Tukunya village near Dansadau all in Zamfara,” Muhammad said.

    According to him, during the clearance operation, heavy fight ensued between troops and bandits, and that due to overwhelming military fire power, a reasonable number of bandits were neutralised and their camps were set ablaze.

    This successful feat has created relative peace and spurred massive returns of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) to their villages in Zurmi Local Govt Area, according to the military.

    Muhammad said the troops had begun aggressive day and night fighting patrols around Kyaranke and Giwabawa villages in Kanoma District of Maru area, following a tip-off on imposition of one million Naira levy each on the 2 villages.

    “Another tip-off led to the rescue and recovery of kidnapped victims and the sum of N500,000 ransom from kidnappers in Subulu forest,” he said.

    He also said the troops in their recent exploits, apprehended 2 notorious bandits, known for terrorising Maradun town and its environs.

    He identified the alleged abandits as Muhammad Aminu and another one popularly called Yellow at Tashan Udda in Maradun. They are undergoing interrogation.

    He said some weapons, ammunitions, motorcycles, phones and large herds of cows were recovered.

    He said the Force Commander, Maj-Gen. Mohammed Mohammed, “wishes to assure the law abiding citizens that the troops are poised to ensure quick restoration of peace and safety in all the vulnerable areas in Kaduna and Zamfara States”.

    Muhammad urged the populace to continue to give credible information for the success of the operation.

    The commander said recent successes recorded were due to collaborative efforts between the troops and the communities.

     

  • PDP highlights pitfalls of Buhari’s administration

    PDP highlights pitfalls of Buhari’s administration

    Opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has highlighted some pitfalls of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    TheNewsGuru reports National Publicity Secretary of the opposition party, Kola Ologbondiyan gave the highlights on Friday.

    He highlighted the shortcomings of the administration to include political intolerance, complaints, and harassments.

    Other pitfalls Kola listed include intimidation, corruption, certificate forgery, blame games and dodging responsibility.

    “Presidents elected on the platform of PDP established EFCC, ICPC, YouWin,TSA, etc….

    “While the president elected on the platform of APC established nothing and introduced political intolerance, complaints, harassments, intimidation, corruption, certificate forgery, blame games, dodging responsibility,” Kola stated.

    PDP, APC, Muhammadu Buhari, Kola Ologbondiyan

  • JUST IN: Aisha Alhassan finally speaks on resignation reports

    Hajiya Aisha Alhassan, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development says she has not resigned her position as a member of the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

    TheNewsGuru reports Alhassan disclosed this while speaking in a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria on Thursday.

    “Contrary to insinuations especially in the social media, I only sought for permission from President Muhammdu Buhari to begin consultations.

    “This is preparatory to my seeking nomination from our great party the All Progressive Congress (APC) to contest for the office of the governor of Taraba state in 2019, which he has graciously accepted,” she said.

    Alhassan added: “The letter in circulation in the social media does not in any way mean or suggest resignation. The letter is straight forward and unambiguous.

    “Our esteemed supporters and loyal party men and women in Taraba should please disregard any rumour of my resignation. When the time comes for me to resign, I will do so in accordance with the laid down procedure and regulations’’.

    Alhassan said she is presently preoccupied with the task given to her by President Buhari as Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development.

    “I am also helping in mobilising support for him and the APC for the 2019 election,’’ she said.

     

  • Breaking: PDP unravels plans by APC Senators to reconvene Senate

    Breaking: PDP unravels plans by APC Senators to reconvene Senate

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has said the party is privy to plans by All Progressives Congress (APC) Senators to reconvene the Senate with the view to impeaching Senate President Bukola Saraki.

    TheNewsGuru reports the Senate on Tuesday last adjourned plenary until September 25 given the current uncertainty in the nation’s political environment.

    Saraki made announcement of the long adjournment through an adopted motion by majority of the lawmakers at plenary.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari’s two-week vacation in London was designed as an alibi to exonerate him from planned political illegalities, forceful invasion and mayhem about to be visited on the polity and particularly, the National Assembly.

    “We are aware of plots already perfected in a meeting, on Wednesday night, between the President and some compromised APC Senators, who are now in the minority, to forcefully reconvene the Senate with protection from security agencies, with a view to impeach Senate.

    “We know that the desperation to illegally take control of the National Assembly is part of the design to undermine our democratic institutions and completely foist a dictatorial regime on our nation,” the PDP said in a statement on Thursday.

    ALSO READ | MBuhari holds high-level security meeting with Service Chiefs, other heads of security agencies

     

  • Resignation: Mama Taraba, Aisha Alhassan remains in Buhari’s cabinet

    Resignation: Mama Taraba, Aisha Alhassan remains in Buhari’s cabinet

    Minister of women affairs and social development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, aka Mama Taraba, has been said to still be a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

    Alhassan has been reported to have written to President Buhari to resign her position in order to contest the 2019 governorship election in Taraba state.

    TheNewsGuru reports Bashir Ahmad, Personal Assistant to Buhari, confirmed that contrary to reports of her resignation, the Taraba Senator is still member of the president’s cabinet.

    Bashir Ahmad on Mama Taraba, Aisha Alhassan’s resignation

    “If you have the letter read it again please. She notified Mr. President on her intention to contest for governorship in 2019 and he replied to her,” Bashir stated.

    Buhari, in his response to the Senator on her quest to contest the governorship seat of Taraba, raised a condition of supporting her so long as she vies on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “I have today received your letter notifying me of your intention to contest for the governorship of Taraba State in the 2019 election.

    “Let me thank you on behalf of the Federal Executive Council and Nigerians for your services as minister under this administration.

    “I note with passion your past contribution to our great party APC during and after the 2015 elections.

    “As you are aware I am totally committed to free and fair elections. Our policy is to support all APC candidates.

    “I wish you well in your ambition to be governor of your state.

    “Rest assured that all security agencies as well as INEC will have my full support to conduct free, fair and transparent elections in 2019,” Buhari stated in his acceptance of Alhassan’s resignation letter.

    Alhassan had in last September vowed that she would not support Buhari’s second term bid on the claim that he had promised to serve only one term and that she would only support former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.

    Abubakar who was at that time in the APC has now defected to the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP). It was yet unclear if she would follow Abubakar to the PDP.

    Alhassan was the candidate of the APC in the 2015 governorship election and lost it by the whiskers.

     

  • Benue Saga: President Buhari will never be part of unconstitutional act – Presidency

    Benue Saga: President Buhari will never be part of unconstitutional act – Presidency

    The Presidency has condemned attempts in some quarters to drag the name of President Muhammadu Buhari into the on-going political saga in Benue State House of Assembly.

    Mr Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, in a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, dissociated the president from the developments.

    Adesina described as paranoia the statements issued by different interest groups, insinuating that the president might have a hand in the developments.

    “This is paranoia at its worst, coming from people who have wittingly positioned themselves against the clean-up of the country and the way we do things,’’ he said.

    The presidential aide noted that the allegation was being made against Buhari when he was attending the ECOWAS/ECCAS Summit in Togo.

    He added that strident attempts were being made to drag Buhari into the unfolding drama between the executive and the legislature in Benue.

    Adesina said Buhari would never be part of any unconstitutional act and any attempt to link him with the inglorious past when minority number of lawmakers impeached governors would not stick.

    He said “It will simply be like water off the duck’s back. Those with open minds know this, but those who cavil would rather source everything untoward to the president.

    “It is murky ground in which they are now marooned as fallout of their resistance to change in the country.

    “When it suits them, they preach separation of powers and true federalism, and in another breath, they call on the president to interfere brazenly in affairs at state level.

    “President Buhari will always stand by all that is noble and fair and will reject attempts to drag him into infamy.

    “People who stoke fires by deliberate acts of omission or commission, and then summon the president to come and put it out will find that this president will be guided by the Constitution at all times, no matter the attempt to entangle him in unwarranted controversies.’’

     

  • Buhari meets Nigerian Community in Togo, discusses defection woes

    President Muhammadu Buhari said Sunday night that he was not bothered about the defections in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The President made his feelings known while responding to a question during an interactive session with the Nigerian community in Togo at the Nigerian Embassy, Lome, Togo.

    Malam Garba Shehu, the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, who disclosed this in a statement in Abuja on Monday, quoted the president as saying that most Nigerians appreciated the performance of his administration.

    President Buhari said: “I am not bothered about the defections. Ordinary Nigerians have developed confidence in us and are defending us.

    “I assure you, majority of Nigerians back home are appreciative of our efforts.”

    While expressing delight in seeing the Nigerians who had travelled from the five regions of Togo to welcome him in Lome, President Buhari said he was pleased to hear them commend the performance of his administration.

    He assured them that his administration had remained steadfast in keeping to its three campaign promises of providing security, improving the economy and fighting corruption.

    The President noted that if past governments had utilised even 25 per cent of the huge oil revenue available to them, Nigerians would not be complaining today.

    He cited the 16 billion dollars reportedly spent on electricity and yet Nigerians could not see the power.

    He, however, restated his administration’s commitment to providing critical infrastructure, providing loans to farmers thereby cutting rice importation by more than 90 per cent.

    President Buhari said all recovered illegally acquired assets would now be sold and the money paid into the treasury in the administration’s renewed anti-graft campaign.

    “I assure you that we are making progress in security as some displaced farmers are returning to their farms.

    “We will continue to work very hard for our dear country,” he stressed.

    In his welcome address, the Nigerian Ambassador to Togo, Joseph Olusola Iji, said the close to two million Nigerians in Togo were law-abiding and peaceful.

    He, however, drew the president’s attention to the inability of the Nigerian Mission in Lome to issue Nigerian passports, making applicants to go to Ghana or Benin Republic.

    Representatives of top bank executives, who spoke at the event, commended the economic policies of the Federal Government especially the Ease of Doing Business, agricultural revolution and anti-corruption campaign,

    According to the presidential aide, other leaders of the Nigerian Community at the event also lauded the discipline, transparency and accountability that the current administration has introduced into governance.

    “They also called for government assistance towards the completion of community’s on-going school building project in order to overcome the lack of good English schools in that country,’’ he said.

    On its part, the APC Togo Chapter, told President Buhari not to be worried about the defections from the party, assuring him of its support in the 2019 presidential election.

    The meeting with the Nigerian Community was the President’s first official engagement on arrival in Lome ahead of the Joint ECOWAS/Economic Community of Central African States Summit,

    President Buhari will also be participating in the 53rd Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government, among others.

     

  • How Gov. Wike acquired neighbours’ properties under threat – APC

    The APC chairman in Rivers State, Hon. Ojukaye Flag-Amachree has called on President Muhammadu Buhari, EFCC and ICPC to investigate the source of money used by governor Wike in acquiring the sprawling properties the governor now owns on Ada George Road in Obio/Akpor LGA, Rivers State.

    The chairman who made the revelation to select journalists in his office lamented that never since the creation of Rivers State has any Governor recklessly acquired or built properties while in office the way Wike is doing.

    According to the APC State Chairman, “It is no news that the Gov. Wike-led administration has failed woefully in governance of Rivers State. A critical assessment of the Educational, Health, Agriculture, Social Infrastructure, Job Creation and Security Sectors leaves a pitiable testimony and a soured taste in the mouth save for the charade of projects commissioning displayed to insult the sensibilities of Rivers people.

    “Three years and counting, Wike has consistently lavished the resources of the poor people of Rivers State on choice properties on Ada-George where he owned only a single structure before he took the oath of office to protect lives and property. While Rivers people languish in poverty, tuition fees of their wards abroad are stopped, workers of Timariv disbanded and so on, Gov. Wike is acquiring more properties running into billions of Naira with threats to revoke the Certificate of Occupancy of those who have refused to sell their properties to him.

    “Irrefutable records provide evidence that while Wike spends whooping sums of money to pay off the property owners, expatriate personnel have been contracted for the design, building, furnishing and securing of the latest property he acquired for himself. As I speak, he has closed down and paid off a school, which formerly was about five properties from his known residence. This governor has succeeded in completing more projects for himself as compared to projects in his own Local Government Area – Obio-Akpor in the last three years,” Ojukaye alleged.

    The APC in Rivers State is therefore calling on Mr. President to, without delay, direct the Inspector General of Police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission to investigate the Governor to curb his incessant mismanagement of the common wealth of Rivers people. We empathize with those whose property Gov. Wike has forcefully taken and for those who have refused to yield to the temptation and pressure being mounted on them by the governor. Our promise is simple: come 2019, Governor Wike will give account of his service to Rivers people.

     

  • President Buhari returns to Abuja from Netherlands

    President Buhari returns to Abuja from Netherlands

    President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after a successful 3-day official visit to The Hague, Netherlands, where he delivered a Keynote Address at the 20th Anniversary of the International Criminal Court (ICC).

    Alhaji Bashir Ahmed, President Buhari’s Personal Assistant on Social Media, confirmed this development on his twitter page on Wednesday in Abuja.

    While addressing the ICC on Tuesday, President Buhari assured the international community of a free, fair and peaceful 2019 general elections in Nigeria.

    He maintained that under his watch, the tragic incidents that characterised the 2011 general elections, necessitating preliminary investigations by the ICC would not happen again in Nigeria.

    He also met with Shell CEO and discussions focused on investments in deep water and gas projects in Nigeria, toured the Port of Rotterdam and the Shell Refinery Pernis, Hoogvliet, a borough of Rotterdam, Netherlands.

    The President had on July 17 met with Prime Minister Mark Rutte of the Netherlands and the two leaders restated their commitment to growing trade partnership between Nigeria and the Netherlands.

    During the talks, Rutte described Nigeria as the Netherlands’ most important trading partner, noting that in the field of modern agriculture, there were opportunities for Dutch companies and knowledge institutes.

    The two leaders also discussed issues relating to the fight against insurgency in the North-East, climate change, particularly the shrinkage of Lake Chad.

    Buhari welcomed the interest of the Dutch Prime Minister on Lake Chad and commitment to establish a technical committee to work with the Nigerian side on the best approach to address the issue of the receding Lake.

    In pursuit of one of the cardinal themes of his administration, the President also met with over 20 Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Dutch-owned companies.

    Buhari assured them of a secured Nigeria where their investments would be safe and yield handsome returns.

    The president said: “Stability was the first thing in our campaigns. You have to secure a country first, before you can efficiently manage it.

    “Before businesses can thrive, security is paramount. That is why we lay so much emphasis on securing the country.

    “After security, our next emphasis is reviving the economy and then, fighting corruption.’’

    He commended the many Dutch-owned companies operating in Nigeria for dealing fairly.

    The President noted that with many of them, “the relationship dates back more than two generations, and it is now almost a blood relationship rather than commercial.”

    In the course of the three-day official visit, the President also met with members of Nigerians in Diaspora Organization (NIDO), the Netherlands Chapter.

    He lauded them for their professional and intellectual achievements and contributions to the development of their motherland.

    “I am pleased with the quality of people I am seeing. You are high quality people. Congratulations on your personal achievements.”

    Among those that met the President was Julius Nnamdi Nwankpa, Chairman NIDO and Dr Mustapha Gidado, a specialist in tuberculosis.

    Gidado has oversight over management of the disease in 22 countries and Lola Visser Mabogunje, a performance monitoring expert.

    Dr Peter Ngene, a research scientist and Assistant Professor at Utrecht University and Cornelius Obot, a software expert.

    Toyin Loyo, an artist and culture enthusiast of international repute also attended the meeting with the President.

    On the sidelines of the President’s visit, the Nigerian Foreign Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama and his Dutch Counterpart, Stef Blok, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on bilateral consultations at Schedeldoekshaven, The Hague.

    The MoU aims to promote and facilitate relations between Nigeria and the Netherlands in the key thematic areas of security, trade, investment, agriculture, political dialogue and education.