TheNewsGuru

Tag: Nigerians

  • Rats invasion: Buhari, cabals taking Nigerians for a fool – Ozekhome

    Human rights lawyer, Mike Ozekhome (SAN) on Tuesday said the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration was taking advantage of Nigerians’ patience by regularly dishing out flimsy excuses for its non-performance since coming to power in 2015.

    Reacting to a statement credited to one of the presidential spokesperson (Mallam Garba Shehu) that the invasion of the president’s office by rodents and rats for the 103 days that he was abroad made him (Buhari) work from home, Ozekhome said Buhari’s presidency carelessly disrespects Nigerians, describing it as the worst since amalgamation by Lord Lugard and his wife, Flora Shaw.

    Speaking in an interview with Thisday, Ozekhome said: “It is a very shameful and disgraceful statement that emanated from the presidency to the effect that PMB, after a whole 104 days abroad on medical grounds, cannot work from his office because of rats and rodents.

    “So, a whole Julius Berger, the German construction giant has to be called in to drive them away and repaint the office!

    “This statement further derides and shames Nigeria as a country. Why didn’t the same, or similar rodents pursue Obasanjo, Yar’Adua, Jonathan during their presidency?

    “There is another mini office at the villa quite different from the official residence and main office. Let Buhari work from there. Let’s see our president working, not through still photo shopping. For how long will this government take the Nigerian citizens for a ride and for robots?

    “Who told the image makers we are as brainless as they are? Don’t they know that lies have expiry date and that propaganda cannot substitute for image making? Goebel was a fantastic World War propagandist, but failed woefully as information minister.

    “Let this opaque government of barefaced misinformation, lies, deceit and cluelessness know that its directionlessness and incapacity to govern are hurting this country badly.

    “The economy is in horrific tatters, image bald-battered, security shattered, governance mangled and transparency and accountability interred. Nigeria is today more divided, more hate-inebriated, more crisis- ridden and more dangerous precipice-prone than ever before.

    “Nigeria is today more derided, more excoriated and more corrupt than it has ever been. Nigeria has never had it so bad since her forced amalgamation on January 1, 1914, by imperious Lord Lugard and his wife Flora Lugard”, he told Thisday.

  • Expect strong leadership now that Buhari is back – Osinbajo tells Nigerians

    Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on yesterday said the return of President Muhammadu Buhari to the country would yield double growth for the Nigerian economy.

    The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, disclosed this in a statement in Abuja.

    Osinbajo said: “The President, of course as you know, is very committed to everything we have done. I mean, as much as it was possible, we worked together on most of these issues. And what we are doing essentially was executing a plan, the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and we intend to continue to execute it as efficiently as possible.

    “So, I think we should expect double efforts as opposed to single effort now that the President is back. And I’m sure that you are going to see very strong leadership.”

    According to him, the common man on the street will soon begin to see and feel the real growth of the economy.

    “So I think the common man would begin to see, because we are talking about real growth, we are talking about growth in jobs, and a lot of that is going to start with actual production dealing with agriculture first.

    “We are hoping that the agro-processing would catch up. We are hoping that resource manufacturing also would catch up, all of the resource manufacturing. We are hoping that even the innovation and technology-led manufacturing will also catch up.

    “But in all of these, you know we are at a point where I think we are taking off quite well and we will soon see significant improvement in the lives of the people.”

    He said the Nigerian domestic market is large enough to create the kind of opportunities that other countries would salivate about.

    “So, I think we are in a good place. We are certainly behind the curve in terms of realising the potential in agriculture, the potential in agro-processing. But in the past year and a half, I think that more and more innovation and opportunities are arising and more people are going into farming. More and more investors are coming into farming, so we think we are in a very good place,” the vice president stated.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country on Saturday, August 19 from a medical trip in London after spending 103 days. The Vice President acted in his stead throughout the period.

     

  • Dogara welcomes Buhari, urges Nigerians to pray for full recovery

    … Says ‘you can always count on our support’

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari back to the country after three months of medical vacation in the United kingdom.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Mr. Turaki Hassan, the Speaker, expressed gratitude to almighty God for granting the President healing and journey mercies back home.

    Dogara, noted that the President’s recovery and safe return home attests to the healing power of God owing to the fervent prayers of Nigerians who prayed day and night for the President.

    It is now time for us all to continue to pray for the President for the perfection of the healing and divine rejuvenation to enable Mr. President steer the affairs of the Nation in the right direction.

    On our part, the House of Representatives, wish to assure Mr. President of our determination, support and commitment towards delivering on our promises to the Nigerian people as members of the same government. Mr. President can always count on our support in this regard.

  • APC welcomes Buhari, thanks Osinbajo, Nigerians

    Nigeria’s ruling party, the All Progressives Congress said it welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari back home to Nigeria after his medical vacation to the United Kingdom.

    In a statement by Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, the publicity secretary, the Party thanked the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for his competent leadership in the absence of President Buhari.

    The party especially commends him for his effort to unite the country and drive the recovery of the national economy.

    The APC also thanked all Nigerians who had prayed ceaselessly for the speedy recovery and safe return of the President, assuring them that the APC-led Federal Government is poised to fulfil all the electoral promises the Party made to Nigerians.

    President Buhari who went on a medical vacation since 7 May, is scheduled to return home today.

     

     

    NAN

     

  • Millions of Nigerians will welcome Buhari at the airport when he returns – Presidency

    Millions of Nigerians will welcome Buhari at the airport when he returns – Presidency

    The presidency has reiterated the love of Nigerians for the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari who is currently on medical vacation in London, United Kingdom.

    This was revealed by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Babafemi Ojudu.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that some pro-Buhari protesters had since last week staged several protests across the country in solidarity and support to the Buhari led administration.

    The presidential aide noted that as a way of showing their love, millions of Nigerians will gather at the airport to welcome the president back home when his doctors release him.

    Ojudu said this while fielding questions from State House correspondents shortly after addressing the pro-President Buhari protesters at the Federal Secretariat/Supreme Court Junction of main entrance of the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.

    Ojodu noted that the president was well loved by the people and that was why they have staging protests to register their loyalty and support.

    He said the presidency was not in the habit of hiring people for protest marches, saying that all those who participated in the pro-Buhari protest were die-hard supporters of the president.

    “I was working in my office when I was called to go and receive them, just the way we also received the BringBackOurGirls’ protesters last time.

    “This presidency does not give money to anybody. This is not our tradition, it’s not our culture to buy protest or induce people to do any.

    “You will be surprised the day President Buhari is coming back to see the millions of people that will go to the airport to welcome him,’’ he said.

    Ojudu denied that the presidency deliberately shunned the coalition of civil society organisations demanding that Buhari “resumes duty or resigns.

    The presidential aide, however, expressed the readiness of the presidency to talk to the coalition if they indicated interest to do so.

    “If they decide to talk to us we talk to them. This group has a special message for the acting president and they wrote to us that they were coming and we received them.

    “Those ones never informed us of anything. They were just doing their own protests and that was it,” he said.

    Ojudu charged the pro-Buhari protesters to join hands with other well meaning Nigerians to stand up against those elements who are bent on frustrating the ongoing developmental efforts of the federal government.

    “President Buhari stands for anti-corruption. Buhari is not selfish, is not fighting for himself and the elements who are selfish; who are greedy and corrupt they are standing up and are coming together against him.

    “You have to mobilise and educate people across Nigeria to stand up against these people,” he said.

    Ojudu, however, challenged members of the pro-Buhari group on the need to conduct themselves peacefully and shun any act capable of causing social unrest.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the protesters, who were in their hundreds, presented a letter of solidarity to the acting president through Ojudu.

     

  • FG evacuates 170 Nigerian refugees from Cameroon

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has evacuated another batch of 170 Nigerian repatriated refugees mostly Women and Children from Cameroon.

    The Director-General of the Agency, Alhaji Mustapha Maihaja, disclosed this at Mubi International Transit Camp, Adamawa, on Sunday.

    Maihaja, who was represented by Idris Garga, NEMA Coordinator in charge of Adamawa and Taraba, said that the evacuation exercise was the second in three months.

    “Today, we are evacuating another batch of 170 Nigerian repatriated Refugees from Cameroon Republic ,the first evacuation was conducted in May 2017 and involved about 300 Nigerians.

    “The refugees were intercepted along Nigeria-Cameroon boarder by teams of Nigeria security operatives and after thorough investigation and screening they were confirmed to be Nigerians.

    “The refugees are indigenes of Gomboru- Ngala in Borno who escaped Boko Haram attacks and ran to Cameroon for safety in 2013,” he said.

    Terry Igue, the Yola office Head of Search and Rescue of the agency, said the refugees had undergone several medical check-ups at Mubi camp and had been “well taken care before their evacuation to their local government and state of origin to meet their relatives”.

  • Only PDP can lead Nigerians to greatness

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has faulted critics of his administration and the Peoples Democratic Party, saying the party is back and is the only one that can lead the country to greatness.

    Jonathan made the statement yesterday at the PDP’s non-elective national convention in Abuja, one month after the Supreme Court resolves the prolonged leadership tussle in the party.

    “I am here to reassure you that nobody should intimidate PDP. PDP is the only party that can take Nigeria to greatness. I believe in the PDP. Even God believes in the PDP,” he said.

    The PDP has attracted heavy criticism for its 16-year rule, especially in the build up to the 2015 general elections and since the All Progressives Congress replaced it as the ruling party with the current administration levelling serious allegations of corruption against the Jonathan administration.

    But Jonathan dismissed the allegations, insisting that the party did well.

    “I read the papers and people always want to diminish the PDP. It is difficult to beat us; you cannot beat us. And I tell us, PDP members, that from the days of (Olusegun) Obasanjo through the days of (Umaru) Yar’Adua to Jonathan, we have done well. Nobody should intimidate you,” he said.

    The Jonathan administration has also been blamed for the current economic crisis in the country, which has seen inflation soar, led to the loss of jobs and as companies and governments have battled to pay salaries.

    But the former President would have none of that even though he admits that the PDP is not perfect.

    He said, “As a human institution we cannot claim to be perfect, but obviously as a political party, our accomplishments up till 2015 are clear for everybody to see. Our giant development strides are there for all Nigerians to see. There is ample evidence to show that our party has indeed proved to be a party of vision and accomplishment.”

    On the political front, he used the elections conducted as examples of his party’s success.

    “The elections we conducted, especially from 2011 to 2015 general elections and other elections – senatorial and governorship elections – were accepted globally that they met global standards because PDP is a party that wants to place Nigeria globally to compete favourably with other countries. We don’t look back and we have done well. We succeeded in doing that because of the leverage and autonomy we gave to INEC,” he said.

    “Also, even on the economic front, we provided focused leadership through institutional and sectoral reforms which impacted positively on the fundamentals for growth especially in the last four years of my time in power.

    “The effect was that we tamed inflation at single digit, maintained price stability, grew the economy to become the largest in Africa with a GDP of over half a trillion dollars and the number one foreign investment destination on the continent.”

    He took a swipe at the APC’s handling of the economy, particularly the high food prices, claiming that despite heavy flooding in 2012, which affected many farms across the nation, his administration was able to keep food prices stable.

    He said, “I want to give you a simple example, an example that all of us know because you don’t have to be an economist or engineer to know.

    “In 2012, we witnessed the largest flood that no Nigerian alive has ever seen. And the bulk of the food we eat in this country is produced along the flood plains of the River Niger and the River Benue. All the flood plains were devastated. More than 50 percent of our farmlands were devastated and the whole world was alarmed, not just Nigerians.”

    The former President, however, said his administration was able to react to the disaster and save Nigeria from hardship because it had a strong economic team, contrary to claims.

    “Did we see food price increase in 2012? We had a major national disaster, still food prices were stable under the PDP,” he said.

    “I won’t go too far, I was told that some people are insinuating that if PDP had continued in power, the economy would be worse off and I laugh. We had a strong team that was managing the economy of this country. That is not talking for today, but definitely, we will talk one day.

    “If we say that we rekindled hope in our country and regained international goodwill, it is because we pursued a number of policies and programmes that were not only richly rewarding for our people but were also being copied by many other countries across the globe.”

  • ‘Nigerians entered one chance with APC, PDP will regain Aso Villa in 2019’ – Fayose

    ‘Nigerians entered one chance with APC, PDP will regain Aso Villa in 2019’ – Fayose

    …Unveils 2019 presidential ambition

    Governor of Ekiti State and Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Mr. Ayodele Fayose, has said that those who are currently in Aso Rock are one chance people who don’t know what they are doing there.

    Governor Fayose also said that the Peoples Democratic Party has bounced back fully to life and is going straight back to the Aso villa.

    Fayose who officially unveiled his presidential ambition at the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP’s National Convention currently taking place at the Eagles Square, Abuja also said that Nigerians entered one chance in the All Progressive Congress, APC, party. He, however, said that the APC has done one year and must, therefore, go so that PDP will take over and deliver to Nigerians.

    Governor Fayose who arrived the arena wearing his 2019 presidential campaign shirt and cap equally had his entourage carrying his 2019 presidential campaign posters while the crowd gave him a roaring welcome.

    According to him, “Nigerians have entered one chance in this government. But we can assure you that the APC has entered one term and they have to go,” he said.

    “The PDP is now a religion, a belief that we are going back to our villa. God will be with us. Those people there, at Aso Rock, they don’t know what they are doing.

    “Out of that one chance, we will give you plenty chances. We make mistakes but our ability to correct them is what is important. It is time to arise and shine.

    “Shake the persons next to you and tell him or her congratulations for 2019. I don’t know about you but as for me, I am in Aso Rock already.

    “I want to congratulate our great party and to assure Nigerians that we are going to deliver them from all they are passing through.”

  • ‘We are back with a bang, never to disappoint you’, PDP assures Nigerians

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has said it is back with a bang and won’t disappoint the teeming Nigerians that prayed for its restoration while its internal crisis lasted.

    This was revealed by the Executive Governor and Chairman of the 2017 Special Non-Elective National Convention, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa while addressing delegates and leaders of the party.

    Okowa noted that the party had been through a lot and has also learned from its mistakes. He noted that if given a second chance come 2019, Nigerians will not regret it.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the former ruling party which held sway in power since the nation’s return to democracy in 1999 was kicked out in the 2015 general election by the then opposition party, All Progressives Congress, APC.

    See his unedited speech below:

    ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, SENATOR, DR. IFEANYI OKOWA, GOVERNOR OF DELTA STATE AND CHAIRMAN, PLANNING COMMITTEE, PDP SPECIAL NON-ELECTIVE NATIONAL CONVENTION, ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 12, 2017.

    1. I welcome you all to this Special Non-elective National Convention of our great party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
    2. I begin this short address by thanking the National Caretaker Committee for the confidence reposed in us to serve as Chairman/Members of the Planning Committee for this Special Convention. This noble call to service of our great party is humbling and uplifting, as well as tasking and rewarding at the same time. On a personal note, I reckon it a thing of great joy and privilege to be saddled with the responsibility of heading one of the Committees created to kick-start the process of rebuilding and rebranding our great party, the PDP.
    3. Let me also offer special thanks to all the members of the Planning Committee/Sub-committees for their sacrifice and hard work to make this day a reality. To all of you, I say congratulations for a job well done. I am greatly inspired by your desire, drive and commitment to the PDP course. We look forward to more of your hard work and commitment as we all embark on the journey of recapturing the lost glory of our great party, the PDP.
    4. I must not also forget all the Nigerians who are desirous for the PDP to get its act together and play the role of a strong and vibrant opposition, which is critical for sustainable democracy in the country. The prayers of these Nigerians were answered with the heart-warming Supreme Court judgement that thankfully halted the drift into chaos and bifurcation of our great party. Today, let it be known to all Nigerians who prayed for us during our time of travail that the PDP is back with a bang. We shall NOT disappoint you!
    5. No doubt, the last two years have been the greatest test that our great party has faced. The loss of the 2015 presidential election, the gale of defections that ensued and the leadership crisis that factionalised the party were enough to sink the PDP ship. That the party survived this baptism of fire is an eloquent testimony to the resiliency of its grassroots structure, organisation and appeal. Ours is a party firmly anchored to the grassroots, connected to the people in a unique way that recognises that power truly belongs to the people. We are rebounding back. We must realise that there is a champion in each and everyone of us in the party, and that a collective leadership and partnership, resolved to do things right is all that we need to build the strength to recapture power.
    1. We cannot shy away from the fact that there are lessons to be learnt also. For with our defeat at the presidential election, the loss of many States at the governorship election, and the slide into minority in the National Assembly came the sobering lesson that the PDP had become a victim of its own success. Internal democracy took a backstage, aggrieved party members were disregarded and impunity became the order of the day at various leadership levels in the party. In short, we cut short the hopes of Nigerians with our failure to manage our success. The travail of the last two years, I am persuaded, is our divinely ordained chastisement for this pitfall.
    1. I am convinced that our wilderness experience may well be a blessing in disguise, for two reasons. First, it afforded us the rare opportunity to look inwards and do some soul searching. In life, you do not always have the opportunity for a second chance. But to God be the glory, we have had the marvellous opportunity of understanding ourselves better, identifying our mistakes, suffering the painful consequences of defeat and learning the lesson of a lifetime. The wilderness experience has refined us, sharpened us and made us stronger. Like the saying goes, “sometimes you have to go through the wilderness before you get to the Promised Land.”
    1. The second advantage of our wilderness experience is that Nigerians have had the opportunity of experiencing another party govern at the national level. They can now compare and contrast. As leaders we must read the times and take responsibility. We must condition our hearts for a new beginning. We must root out the past mistakes and model the right attitudes. It is time for self re-examination and a return to what is right. To build a solid team, we must be warm and inviting; the love for impunity and exclusion must cease. There must be integrity and discipline in our democratic system at all levels of party governance, and we must put to fore those things that add value to the growth of our party.
    1. As we gather here today to chart a new course for our great party, we shall do well to stay true to the vision and mission of the founding fathers of our great party.
    1. On this day, we need to reaffirm our commitment to the democratic ideals of internal party democracy, sovereignty of the people, majority rule and minority rights, the rule of law and good governance, respect for civil and political rights, and inclusive participation of all in party administration.
    1. On this day, we must understand that our nation is at a cross road. Therefore, our emphasis must be about building a party focussed on fashioning a better society founded on the principles of fairness, equity and justice. We must commit to making the needs – and aspirations – of the Nigerian people the centrepiece of our party’s democratic agenda.
    1. On this day, we must call for a paradigm shift in our party leadership style. Too often, we have demanded service – and worship – from the very people we have been called to serve. That must change. We need leaders, sincere leaders, strong leaders who understand that power is held in trust for the people and, therefore, must be administered for their good and advancement.
    1. Finally, on this day, we call on all true PDP faithfuls to return home. It’s time to forgive. It’s time to heal the wounds of the past. It’s time to get over the hurts of the past. It’s time to embrace love and reconciliation. It’s time, brothers and sisters, to come back home!
    1. My dear party leaders and delegates, as we move forth into the next few months firmly resolved that we need to bounce back to power in 2019, we must refuse to get distracted from our mission and priorities. We need to stay the course of our goals with planning, passion, pursuit, partnership and perseverance. We are who we think we are, so we must think the best for ourselves.
    1. It is on this note that I welcome our party leaders, delegates and all observers to this Non-elective, but yet very important convention of our party. Obviously, we have set the tone and sent a clear message that our party, PDP is back, strengthened, reformed and refocused to win all elections in partnership with Nigerians.

    Thank you distinguished party men and women, ladies and gentle men for your time and attention.

    1. God bless us all.
    2. God bless the PDP.
    3. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Senator, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa

    Governor of Delta State and

    Chairman, Planning Committee

    PDP Special Non-Elective National Convention

    August, 2017

  • Return us to power in 2019 to consolidate gains of democracy – PDP tells Nigerians

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said on Saturday that it would consolidate the gains of democracy should it return to power in 2019.

    A member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Nicholas Ossai (Delta-PDP), made this disclosure in an interview with the newsmen in Abuja.

    Ossai said that the PDP non-elective national convention would provide a platform to further unite members of the party.

    According to the lawmaker, this is a new era for the country’s political journey.

    “PDP has come to consolidate on the gains it achieved over the years because it has experienced people, and this is the time to come together in order to move the country forward.

    “The regional agitations and economic challenges being witnessed in the country should not continue.

    “The PDP is made up of a highly intellectual political class, that has the capacity to turn things around and manage the country’s economy well,” Ossai said.

    He urged youths to aspire to leadership positions and refrain from activities capable of truncating the nation’s democracy.

    Ossai also advised the youth to explore the opportunity provided by the party’s convention to contribute to national development.

    He said that internal party democracy was crucial to sustaining the party’s growth, adding that PDP would intensify efforts to woo aggrieved members back to the party.

     

     

    NAN