TheNewsGuru

Tag: Muhammadu Buhari

  • PDP tackles Buhari over stolen IDP funds

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to recover over N28 billion meant for the rehabilitation of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the northeast but allegedly stolen by members of the Presidency cabal and certain Interests in his All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The party said the presidency and the APC are not being sincere with the IDPs by providing cover for those who have been frittering away billions of naira donated for the well-being of victims of insurgency.

    The PDP, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Sunday, said the President cannot in all honesty claim not to be aware of reported sharp practices, involving billions of naira in the management of funds in the Presidential Initiative on the North East, since the issues came into the public domain.

    Indeed, the Presidency cannot, in any way imaginable, claim not to be aware of reports that sometime in August 2017, a cabinet minister and a high ranking Presidency official were alleged to have diverted N18 billion from the N48 billion approved by the National Assembly for the rehabilitation of millions of IDPs and rebuilding of six northeast states ravaged by insurgency in the 2017 budget.

    The APC and the Buhari Presidency cannot claim to be unaware of the damning report by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), a public document which detailed how officials were using bulk of the resources meant for the IDPs on contracts that were found to have immensely benefitted officials of the APC Government including the sacked Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal.

    The Buhari Presidency and the APC cannot also claim to be unaware of the motion by Senator Baba Kaka Garba from Borno Central, who exposed how persons known to have connections with the APC, fraudulently cornered N1.2 billion from the Federal Government under the guise of supplying items to IDPs.

    Despite the open allegations, the Presidency has not taken any firm step towards an open investigation into the alleged involvement of a cabinet minister and top Presidency in the stealing of N18 billion IDP fund, not to talk about recovering the stolen funds.

    The PDP recalled that it took immense pressure from Nigerians before President Buhari could even sack his indicted former SGF, who, hitherto, was enjoying the cover of the Presidency.

    All the IDP’s had got from the APC and Buhari-led Presidency are excuses, false assurances, cosmetic condolence messages and crocodile tears, while the cronies and cabal who are frittering away their funds enjoy the protection of the government.

    Perhaps, this explains why Mr. President’s handlers, in all his visits to troubled states, has ensured that he had no direct interaction with the IDPs probably to avoid being directly taken to task on the stolen fund.

    It is clear to Nigerians that the APC government swims in corruption and concealment of sleazes, but stealing from the IDPs is what they least expected. That, for majority of Nigerians, is the worst form of man’s inhumanity to man.

    The PDP therefore stands in solidarity with those deprived victims and we demand an end to this concealment of fraud and cosmetic concern for the victims.

    The PDP also challenge Buhari Presidency to live true to its 2015 elections probity campaign by making the report of its administrative investigations on sleaze involving the Cabal and other APC interests public.

    The PDP also urge all Nigerians and the international community to join hands and ensure that the funds are recovered from APC interests and immediately released to the IDPs.

     

  • UPDATE: Reps Spokesman says House’ll override Buhari on these 10 bills

    The House of Representatives has said it will override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto power on ten bills including the Peace Corps of Nigeria Establishment Bill, but excluded the controversial bill amending the 2010 electoral act.

    Spokesman of the House, Abdulrazak Namdas, made this known during a press briefing after plenary on Wednesday.

    “We are in the process of overriding the veto of the president on ten bills, excluding the electoral act, but which includes the Peace Corps bill,” Namdas said.

    Buhari had rejected the Peace Corps bill, citing duplication of functions and lack of funds as his reasons.

    He listed the 10 bills to include a bill for an act to establish the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management, a bill for an act to establish the Nigerian Council for Social Works, a bill for an act to amend the currency conversion, freezing orders act to give discretionary powers to the judge of high court to order for forfeiture of assets of affected persons, and a bill for an act to establish the police procurement fund.

    Others are a bill for an act to amend the environmental health officers council registration act, a bill for an act to establish the Chartered Institute of loan and risk management of Nigeria, a bill for an act to establish the Chartered Institute of Public Management of Nigeria.

    Also included are a bill for an act to establish the Chartered Institute of Exports and Community Brokers of Nigeria and a bill for an act to establish the Federal University, Wukari.

    Regarding the bill on the amendment of the electoral act which Buhari also rejected, Namdas said the lawmakers will address areas of the bill the President disagreed with and re-introduce it for passage.

    He said the House agreed with the President that Section 138 of the amended electoral act unduly limits the right of the candidate to a free and fair election.

    He also said the lawmakers agreed with the President on his position on Section 152 of the act regarding the competence of the national assembly to regulate local government elections.

    “We will re-gazette the electoral act and expunge the areas which the President mentioned and which we are in agreement with the President and in line with the constitution. We will then bring it back for debate and re-transmit it to the president for assent,” he said.

     

  • Reps to re-gazette, re-transmit Electoral Act Amendment to Buhari

    The House of Representatives has said it will re-gazette the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 to expunge certain areas of it and re-transmit to President Muhammadu Buhari for assent.

    Spokesman of the House, Abdulrazak Namdas, made this known during a press briefing after plenary on Wednesday, and after Buhari declined to assent to the amendment earlier forwarded to him by the National Assembly (NASS).

    Buhari declined to assent to the Electoral Act amendment citing Section 25, Section 138 and Section 152 Subsection 325 of the Principal Act, and referencing Section 15(A) of the Nigerian Constitution.

    “The amendment to the sequence of elections in Section 25 of the principal act, may infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize, undertake and supervise elections provided in Section 15(A) of the third statue to the Constitution.

    “The amendment to Section 138 of the principal act to delete two crucial grounds upon which an election may be challenged by candidates, unduly limits the rights of candidates in elections to a free and fair electoral review process.

    “The amendment to Section 152 Subsection 325 of the Principal Act may raise Constitutional issues over the competence of the National Assembly to legislate over local government elections,” he stated.

    Namdas said the House agreed with the President that Section 138 of the amended electoral act unduly limits the right of the candidate to a free and fair election.

    He also said the lawmakers agreed with the President on his position on Section 152 of the act regarding the competence of the national assembly to regulate local government elections.

    “We will re-gazette the electoral act and expunge the areas which the President mentioned and which we are in agreement with the President and in line with the constitution. We will then bring it back for debate and re-transmit it to the president for assent,” he said.

     

  • JUST IN: House of Reps to override President Buhari’s veto on 10 bills

    The House of Representatives is to override President Muhammadu Buhari’s veto power on ten bills including the Nigerian Peace Corp bill.

    This was made known at the House plenary session on Wednesday after Buhari declined to assent to the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act forwarded to him by the National Assembly (NASS).

    A second look at why Buhari declined to assent to the Electoral Act amendment indicates the President cited Section 25, Section 138 and Section 152 Subsection 325 of the Principal Act to give reasons why he withheld assent.

    “The amendment to the sequence of elections in Section 25 of the principal act, may infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize, undertake and supervise elections provided in Section 15(A) of the third statue to the Constitution.

    “The amendment to Section 138 of the principal act to delete two crucial grounds upon which an election may be challenged by candidates, unduly limits the rights of candidates in elections to a free and fair electoral review process.

    “The amendment to Section 152 Subsection 325 of the Principal Act may raise Constitutional issues over the competence of the National Assembly to legislate over local government elections,” he stated.

    However, it is yet to be known if the House will override Buhari’s veto power on the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018 as well.

    Meanwhile, a professor of law at the Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli in Enugu state has said that Buhari’s decision to withhold assent to the Electoral Act as amended by the National Assembly is in order.

    Professor Osita Ogbu said that the prevailing circumstance needed not be misconstrued as a constitutional crisis, and that there was no cause for alarm as the president acted within the law.

    He said that if the NASS felt undone by the action of the president, they would have to muster third-majority of their members to veto such presidential decision.

    “The president has the constitutional right to veto the document but if the NASS can muster two- third majority against that decision, it can be overridden. This is a democratic process and part of checks and balances in the art of governance,” Ogbu said.

     

  • Electoral Act Amendment: Buhari’s decision to withhold assent in order — Don

    A professor of law, Osita Ogbu says President Muhammadu Buhari’s decision to withhold assent to the Electoral Act as amended by the National Assembly is in order.

    TheNewsGuru reports both chambers of the NASS had amended sections of the Electoral Act, prominent among which was the alteration of election sequence as fixed by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The president had after receiving the amended act declined to assent and also communicated his position and reasons to the NASS.

    Ogbu, who is the Dean, Faculty of Law, Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli told NAN in Enugu on Wednesday that the prevailing circumstance needed not be misconstrued as a constitutional crisis.

    The former chairman of Enugu State branch of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), said that there was no cause for alarm as the president acted within the law.

    He said that if the NASS felt undone by the action of the president, they would have to muster third-majority of their members to veto such presidential decision.

    According to him, the president has dully exercised his constitutional discretion by not assenting.

    “The president has the constitutional right to veto the document but if the NASS can muster two- third majority against that decision, it can be overridden.

    “This is a democratic process and part of checks and balances in the art of governance,” he said.

    The university don said that mischief makers needed to be properly guided and not cash in on the situation to cause panic among Nigerians.

    “This is a constitutional process and I do not think anything that is constitutional will overheat the polity,” Ogbu said.

     

  • Breaking: Buhari fires Amnesty Coordinator, appoints Prof. C. Q. Dokubo in stead

    President Muhammadu Buhari has fired Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.), the Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants, and approved the appointment of Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo in his stead.

    This is contained in a statement by Buhari’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina.

    In addition to the firing, Buhari also directed the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, to carry out a full investigation into the activities of the Amnesty Programme from 2015 to date.

    The President said the investigation should focus on allegations of financial impropriety and other acts that are allegedly detrimental to the objectives of the programme.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Professor Charles Quaker Dokubo as the new Coordinator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme for former Niger Delta militants. He replaces Brig.-Gen. Paul Boroh (retd.).

    “Meanwhile, the President directs the National Security Adviser to carry out a full investigation into the activities of the Amnesty Programme from 2015 to date, especially allegations of financial impropriety and other acts that are allegedly detrimental to the objectives of the Presidential Amnesty Programme,” the statement read.

    TheNewsGuru reports Prof. Dokubo is currently Director of Research and Studies at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs.

    He holds a PhD in Strategic Studies from the University of Bradford, United Kingdom, and hails from Abonema, Akuku-Toru Local Government of Rivers State.

     

  • President Buhari formally launches ERGP focus labs [Full speech]

    I am delighted to be here today to formally launch the Focus Labs for our Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP). Many will recall that almost a year ago, I made a promise that this Administration will be committed to its full implementation.

    2. The Labs we are flagging off today constitute one of the many strategies this Administration is taking to ensure that the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan is effectively implemented.

    3. Our key goals in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan are focused on: achieving sustainable, diversified and inclusive growth, becoming self-sufficient in basic commodities to curtail our food imports, diversifying our economic base from crude oil dependence, empowering local businesses to create thousands of jobs and, improving the general wellbeing of our people.

    4. Focus Labs have been successfully used in other countries. The Labs in Nigeria are designed as closed-door investment platforms to identify and accelerate high-impact projects with significant impact on GDP and job creation.

    5. In the past ten months, we have achieved several noteworthy milestones. As you are aware, economic growth returned in second quarter of 2017 due to a clear follow-through of some of the economic initiatives we set out to implement. Since then, we have consolidated on the recovery path reaching a Real GDP growth of 1.92% by the fourth quarter of 2017.

    6. We have also restored stability in foreign exchange market and have recorded improvements in our foreign reserves which have grown from 24 billion US dollars in September 2016 to 42 billion US dollars by mid-February 2018 and now 46 billion US dollars. This has been achieved partially because of the recovery of oil prices on the international market.

    7. We have made remarkable strides in creating a conducive business environment for investors, earning the World Bank’s ranking as one of the Top 10 most improved economies in 2017. This has encouraged both local and foreign investments in the last few months.

    8. We remain committed to working hard to attain our target of moving up in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings by 2020.

    9. We are also investing billions of naira in fixing infrastructures across the country. Significant progress has also been made in the Agricultural sector with the expansion of the Anchor Borrower’s program to more beneficiaries to boost our local production.

    10. We plan to build upon the success of the Presidential Fertilizer Initiative to double the 500,000 metric tons of fertilizer delivered to States, agro-dealers and farmers in 2017, by achieving production output of 1 million metric tons in 2018.

    11. Today, our local food production, particularly rice, has witnessed a remarkable growth and has saved the nation millions of dollars of foreign exchange.

    12. However, we are not relenting on our efforts until these improvements in economic indices translate to visible improvements in the lives of our citizens.

    13. Our labour force growth rate exceeds our population growth. We must therefore continue working to attract both local and foreign investments to ensure we continue expanding economic activities thereby creating additional jobs for our people.

    14. The Labs will also enable pre-screened private sector investors to have access to senior government officials, regulators, and cabinet ministers. The goal is to efficiently and effectively resolve the most pressing bottlenecks delaying their proposed investments.

    15. Accordingly, I have directed the relevant Ministers and heads of government agencies to be available to the participants at the labs to respond to their inquiries and issues.

    16. Let me commend the Ministry of Budget and National Planning and other relevant agencies for piloting this process, which is being used for the first time in Nigeria. I am confident that the Labs will open up new investments to complement our existing efforts in agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructural development across the country.

    17. I look forward to receiving regular updates on the progress of the Labs. On this note, I am pleased to launch the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan Focus Labs formally.

    I thank you for your attention.

     

  • Electoral Act amendment: PDP criticizes Buhari for withholding assent

    The Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has criticized President Muhammadu Buhari for withholding assent to the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act that reordered the sequence of general elections in the country.

    The PDP in a statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said it is no surprise that the President withheld his assent, “particularly given the tendencies he has continued to display as a politician”.

    “The PDP believes in democracy and subscribes to all its tenets including the respect for the powers of the National Assembly to make laws and to amend such laws as occasion demands.

    “In the light of this development, the PDP, and indeed all well-meaning Nigerians, now eagerly await the final decision of the National Assembly on this amendment,” the statement read.

    “As a party, we are not afraid of the 2019 general elections because we know that Nigerians have already rejected President Buhari and his dysfunctional All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “Against this backdrop, the PDP assures to provide all the members of our great party a level playing ground to choose a Presidential candidate in a National Convention that promises to be open, free, fair, credible and transparent.

    “We know that with the support of Nigerians, any candidate that emerges on our platform ahead of 2019 will clinically defeat President Buhari at the polls and lead our nation back to the path of progress, national cohesion and a vibrant economy,” the statement further read.

     

  • Second look at why President Buhari declined assent to Electoral Act amendment

    President Muhammadu Buhari has presented reasons why he declined to assent to the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act forwarded to him by the National Assembly (NASS), but here is a second look at the reasons he cited.

    The reasons President Buhari presented for declining to assent to the amended electoral act are contained in a letter he addressed to both chambers of the NASS, which was read on the floor of the Senate House by Senate President Bukola Saraki today.

    Buhari in the letter stressed that a section of the amendments conflict laws establishing the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    “The amendment to the sequence of elections in Section 25 of the principal act, may infringe upon the constitutionally guaranteed discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to organize, undertake and supervise elections provided in Section 15(A) of the third statue to the Constitution,” he stated.

    TheNewsGuru reports the NASS amended Section 25 of the Principal Act seeking majorly to provide for the re-ordering of the sequence of polls during general elections.

    According to the Section as amended, general elections shall be held in the following order: (a) National Assembly election (b) State Houses of Assembly and Governorship elections (c) Presidential election.

    This amendment, which is at variance with INEC elections time-table earlier published in accordance with the Principal Act, and which stipulates Presidential and National Assembly elections were to hold first, while governorship and state assembly would follow, did not go down well with President Buhari.

    The President also stated that “The amendment to Section 138 of the principal act to delete two crucial grounds upon which an election may be challenged by candidates, unduly limits the rights of candidates in elections to a free and fair electoral review process”.

    He also stated that “The amendment to Section 152 Subsection 325 of the Principal Act may raise Constitutional issues over the competence of the National Assembly to legislate over local government elections”.

    While Buhari was not specific about the “two crucial grounds” in Section 138 that were deleted, Section 152 states that, “Without prejudice to the other provisions of this Act, the Commission may delegate any of its powers and functions to any National Electoral Commissioner, Resident Electoral Commissioner, Electoral Officer, any other officer of the Commission or any other officer appointed under the provision of this Act subject to any conditions or limitations which it may consider necessary or expedient to impose and no such delegation shall be construed to limit the right of the Commission to exercise such power itself”.

    However, Section 152 Subsection 325 President Buhari referred to in the Principal Act was not immediately clear after due consultation of it.

    TheNewsGuru reports the NASS also amended section 87 by adding a new section 87(11) with a marginal note: “time for primaries of political parties”.

    “The primaries of political parties shall follow the following sequence (i) State House of Assembly (ii) National Assembly (iii) Governorship, and (iv), President.

    “The dates for the above stated primaries shall not be held earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days before the date of elections to the offices,” the marginal note read.

    The NASS also amended section 36 to allow for running mate of a candidate that dies before the conclusion of elections to inherit his/her votes and continue with the process.

    Section 35 that states if before an election a candidate dies he will be replaced by the next contestant with the highest vote was also amended.

    The amendment indicated that if a nominated candidate died in the election process, the next person from the same political party with the second highest votes in the primary election should replace the deceased.

    It stated that the name of the new person should be submitted to INEC, which should accept such replacement as if the deceased was alive.

     

  • Breaking: Buhari declines assent to 2010 Electoral Act amendment

    President Muhammadu Buhari has declined to assent to the amendment of the 2010 Electoral Act forwarded to him by the National Assembly (NASS).

    TheNewsGuru reports the amended 2010 Electoral Act seeks, among other objectives, to re-order the sequence of polls during general elections.

    NASS amended section 25 of the Principal Act and substituted it with a new section 25(1).

    According to the section, the elections shall be held in the following order: (a) National Assembly election (b) State Houses of Assembly and Governorship elections (c) Presidential election.

    This amendment, which is at variance with Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) elections time-table that stipulates Presidential and National Assembly elections were to hold first, while governorship and state assembly would follow, did not go down well with President Buhari.

    The NASS also amended section 87 by adding a new section 87(11) with a marginal note: “time for primaries of political parties”.

    “The primaries of political parties shall follow the following sequence (i) State House of Assembly (ii) National Assembly (iii) Governorship, and (iv), President.

    “The dates for the above stated primaries shall not be held earlier than 120 days and not later than 90 days before the date of elections to the offices,” the marginal note read.

    The NASS also amended section 36 to allow for running mate of a candidate that dies before the conclusion of elections to inherit his/her votes and continue with the process.

    Section 35 that states if before an election a candidate dies he will be replaced by the next contestant with the highest vote was also amended.

    The amendment indicated that if a nominated candidate died in the election process, the next person from the same political party with the second highest votes in the primary election should replace the deceased.

    It stated that the name of the new person should be submitted to INEC, which should accept such replacement as if the deceased was alive.

    President Buhari, in a letter addressed to both chambers of the NASS, and read on the floor of the Senate House by Senate President Bukola Saraki today, declined assent to the amendments stating it conflicts laws establishing the INEC.