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Tag: President

  • Ogah has regretted his actions, says LP after lawmaker praises Tinubu

    Ogah has regretted his actions, says LP after lawmaker praises Tinubu

    The Labour Party, LP, has reacted to the comment of one of its House of Representatives members-elect, Hon Amobi Ogah, for praising President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s level of intelligence.

    Ogah, while speaking with journalists after a meeting with Tinubu on the 10th National Assembly leadership in Abuja on Thursday, said “Today is my best day. Today, I’m so happy that I’m an elected member seeing my president talking. In fact, I never knew this man is so intelligent.

    “I never knew that this man is so prepared to serve this country. I saw the love, character, and charisma. The belief that Nigeria can be a better nation. So I’m so glad that the meeting we had today is going to take us a little bit to a more stabilised house.

    “Now, even without talking to us again, we have agreed that we are going towards the government’s decision.”

    Reacting to Ogah’s interview on Friday, in a statement issued by its acting National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, LP stated that Ogah’s position on President Tinubu’s leadership is his personal opinion and not that of the party.

    “Though as a first time and newly elected lawmaker, the member-elect made the utterance which is clearly within his rights as an individual as enshrined in the laws of the land; however, the party has a view quite different from what the honourable member was quoted to have said.

    “As an individual, he does not have the mandate to speak for the party and therefore cannot claim to be standing on the platform of the LP to do the same, giving views that are diametrically opposed to what our party stands for.

    “Labour Party is presently in the tribunal hoping to retrieve our mandate which was expressively given to our presidential candidate on February 25, and every testament emanating from the tribunal points to the fact that the Labour Party clearly won the election but was robbed. We have remained resolute to our belief that justice will be done so soon.

    “We as a party insist that the route to His Excellency must be excellent and anything other than that amounts to a mockery of democracy.

    “We urge millions of our party members who are offended by Hon Ogah’s interview, which has since gone viral, to maintain their cool as the lawmaker has regretted his actions and has tendered unreserved apologies to the party.”

  • Nigerians have been waiting for a President like you – Group hails Tinubu

    Nigerians have been waiting for a President like you – Group hails Tinubu

    A group known as “the natives” has hailed president Bola Tinubu over his swift action, engagements and coordination on very thorny issues of the country, saying “Nigerians have been waiting for a president like him.”

    The group in a world press conference on Thursday in Abuja, thanked the president for giving Nigerians the sense that hope is truly around the corner.

    Hon. Olalekan Smart Edwards,
    supreme leader of natives remarked that, Nigeria as a country deserves the best when it comes to leadership and good governance from any administration.

    “President Bola Ahmed TINUBU, who told the world that we are all Nigerians and that he would govern with prejudice towards none and compassion towards all, has brought to bear his tested ability to strike the right cord on issues that bedeviled our nation for years, sending the right signal to security chiefs,putting together a formidable team to engage labor on fuel Subsidy, appropriately identifying his administration as Pro people via an open door policy.

    “Nigerians have been waiting for a President like you, your swift action, engagements and coordination on very thorny issues, give us the sense that hope is truly here.

    “We are therefore emboldened to see and ensure that a robust, inclusive , a creative and harmonious National Assembly is promoted for executive and legislative relationship”

    “There is a Partner in TINUBU, hence we wish after due consideration of the fundamental issues of national interest, legacies and visionary leadership, it has become imperative, instructive, equitable that a competent, pragmatic and effective leader be  supported and elected the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly”

    Speaking further on the National Assembly’s tussle, Edward called on all senators across party lines to key into the wisdom of the president to  promote balance, encourage and ensure inclusion, national unity, love for country, to create harmony that would endear the parliament to the Nigerian people.

    “Leadership in the 10th National Assembly must translate to Jobs, Infrastructure , Economic Prosperity, Educational Invested, rural development, rule of law and the upliftment of a people, a character and testament which Sen  AKPABIO posses in full dose”

    “Nigeria is a secular state and the Senator Godswill Akpabio/ Barau Ticket represents the consideration of the mood of the country, an evidence of healing rather than the braggadocios display of strength or the coronation of religious dominance.

    “We say No to Sen. Yari”s Ambition and in the name of country , we appeal to him in the name of our dear country to please shelve this ambition for all and become the hero.”

     

     

  • Tunde Bakare reveals only way he can address Tinubu

    Tunde Bakare reveals only way he can address Tinubu

    General Overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, Pastor Tunde Bakare, has said that he will never call the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his president, will only address him as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The clergyman said this during a webinar on Saturday, May 27, after delivering his speech on the Zoom programme titled, ‘Building the New Nigeria: The Role of the Diaspora.”

    Bakare had said the 2023 elections were below acceptable standards.

    When asked if he would be happy to work for the new government as a ‘Minister of Diaspora Engagements,’ the clergyman laughed and spoke about how he addresses President Buhari.

    Bakare said he recently told Buhari that sometimes he called him President of Nigeria and other times, he called him “My President.”

    He however said he would never refer to Tinubu as “My President.’”

    “Last Wednesday, I was at the Glass House where he (Buhari) has been restricted now because the main house is being renovated. I said I have done that for you. I want you to know that, because of the circumstances of your flying into power on the wings of integrity and incorruptibility, but you’re now passing onto someone who does not have that value,” the cleric told the participants.

    He continued;  “at any public lecture anywhere, before this mess is cleared off, I will address Asiwaju as a President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but I will never call him my president.”

    He said he didn’t participate in the elections, therefore, no one would say he lost in the exercise.

    Bakare, who participated in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election on June 14, 2022 and polled no vote, said; “I participated in the primary, and there were hundreds who participated only by stepping down, so there is no shame in what we have done. We spoke truth to power within seven minutes. I wasn’t there when they voted, I wasn’t there when they scored (me) zero, but we won that badge of zero and badge of honour.”

  • Buhari drops another charade, says I will fly from Eagle Square to Kaduna before relocating to Daura

    Buhari drops another charade, says I will fly from Eagle Square to Kaduna before relocating to Daura

    …says opposition parties gave the impression that our govt was in a mess

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Friday another charade saying that immediately he hands over to the next President on May 29, he will take off from the swearing-in venue to Kaduna before proceeding to Daura, his hometown.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports the president had earlier declared that he would relocate to Niger Republic to avoid disturbance from anybody.

    He said he has been counting the days and was looking forward to Monday very desperately, adding that he would use the weekend to sign some of the papers so that from Eagles Square he will take off.

    President Buhari also said that before the concluded general elections, the opposition political parties had created the impression outside the country that the All Progressives Congress-led administration was going into a mess because it has incompetent leadership

    The outgoing President spoke at his Book launch with the title, “A promise kept, a compendium of significant achievements of Muhammadu Buhari Administration 2015-2023,” at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    said, “I think by my profession, I spent most of my time that is the military for 20 years, there wasn’t this surprise. If you allow yourself to be taken by surprise you will be virtually overwhelmed. I wasn’t expecting this honestly. Especially today when I need to sign a few papers because I know on Monday, from the swearing-in venue I will fly directly to Kaduna and then I will go to the other side of Nigeria.

    Thank you for surprising me with your generosity and kindness. I think the achievement we wanted is to make we developed a firm political culture. I think I was expecting too much. When I was in Doha, meeting some heads of state, I was getting calls from Europe, America, and Nigeria, congratulating us on the success of the elections.

    The opposition has created the impression outside the country that we are going into a mess because we have incompetent leadership of the party. They were overwhelmed that the election came and went and both at the center and at the states, fantastic.”

    He further said, “How can ten sitting governors of states lose their constituencies, this has been unprecedented. So I congratulate you the national working committee (of the APC) and others here, that we have really proved that democracy is worth defending.

    “Nigerians have understood it now, otherwise how can they vote against their sitting governors stopping them from going to the senate to rest?

    So they were really overwhelmed and I congratulate our political development. Please congratulate your constituencies, it means that even though you have excess money, they will collect and put it in their pockets but they will elect the person they trust from any constituency, either House of Assembly, House of Representatives, or Senate until it comes to the president itself.

    Today, we prayed together with Asiwaju (Bola Tinubu) and I congratulated him and I said I am eager to go to the other side of Nigeria. I wish him the best of luck. I said his Vice President is experienced, a two-time governor in his state, and then the senate. And this is how we got the chairman of our party, two-time governor in his state and also he has been in the Senate.

    So they are people are really from the bottom of the system to the top. When you get experienced people to be in charge, taking important decisions, they will always reflect on their experiences and they can hardly go wrong. So I congratulate you and our party.

    “I thank you very much for this major surprise, I think now when I go back I will have time to read some books not just about myself but about other issues. I assure you, I have been counting the days, I am looking forward to Monday very desperately. I will use the weekend to sign some of the papers so that from Eagles Square, I will fly to Kaduna and eventually go to Daura. Thank you very much.”

  • Four days to vacate office, Buhari approves fresh appointments

    Four days to vacate office, Buhari approves fresh appointments

    Barely four days before hand over, President Muhammadu Buhari has announced fresh appointments.

    On Thursday, President Buhari approved the appointment of Garzali Abubakar as the Executive Secretary of the National Agricultural Development Fund, a presidential spokesperson said.

    “The president also approved the appointment of the following as Chairman and members of the Board of the organisation,” Garba Shehu wrote.

    Those appointed include Aduke Hussain as Chairman, Hussaini Mohammed (North Central Representative), Mohammed Umar (North West Representative), Abdulsalam Ahmed (North East Representative), Stella Uzokwe (South East Representative), Stephen Ikata (South-South Representative) and Olufunlayo Oluwole Faloye (South West Representative).

    The latest appointments are the latest in a series of actions taken by the outgoing president a few days before his exit; actions criticised by observers.

    “They are supposed to allow the new government to make its plans. They can propose to the new government and tell them this should be the best for the state. If the new government deems it fit, it can look into it as part of its major priorities and implement it for the benefit of the state. I believe this is what the president should have done – to advise the incoming government,” Jamilu Abdussalam, a senior lecturer at the Department of Political Science at Ummaru Musa Yar’adu’a University, Katsina, said of the last-minute appointments and actions taken by the outgoing government.

  • 7 days to go: Buhari assents Bills on Investment, education, 6 others

    7 days to go: Buhari assents Bills on Investment, education, 6 others

    Barely seven days to vacate office, President Muhammadu Buhari has assented to the National Social Investment Programme Agency, National Senior Secondary Education and six other Bills, passed by the National Assembly, in furtherance of the provisions of the Acts Authentication Act Cap. A2, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

    The National Social Investment Programme Agency is established to assist and empower the poor and vulnerable in Nigeria. The objective of the Act is to provide a legal and institutional framework for the establishment and management of the National Social Investment in Nigeria.

    The National Senior Secondary Education Act establishes a Commission, prescribes minimum standards for senior secondary education in Nigeria and the management of National Senior Secondary Education Fund.

    The Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria Act establishes the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria and is charged with the responsibility for determining the standard of knowledge and skill to be attained by persons seeking to become chartered power engineers.

    The President also assented to the Federal University of Health Sciences Ila-Orangun (Establishment) Act, the Federal University of Health Sciences, Azare (Establishment) Act, the Chartered Institute of Development Studies and Administration of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, the Federal Institute of Industrial Research (Establishment) Act, and the Institute of Strategic Management of Nigeria Act, respectively.

    Signed:
    Senator Babajide Omoworare CON
    Senior Special Assistant to The President on National Assembly Matters – Senate

  • Just In: ASUU re-elects Osodeke as National President

    Just In: ASUU re-elects Osodeke as National President

    Members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities in the early hours of Monday re-elected Professor Emmanuel Osodeke unopposed as their National President to pilot the affairs of the union for another two years.

    It was learnt that apart from Osodeke of the Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Abia State, the union members also re-elected Chris Piwuna, a Consultant Psychiatrist and Associate Professor in the College of Medicine, University of Jos, as Vice President.

    They were re-elected during their 22nd National Delegates Conference of ASUU which was hosted by the University of Jos, Plateau State between May 19 and 21, 2023.

    Other National Officers of ASUU who were also re-elected during the conference include Prof. Siji Sowande (Treasurer); Prof. Ade Adejumo (Financial Secretary); Dr Austen Sado (Investment Secretary); Dr Adamu Babayo (Internal Auditor) and Dr Aisha Bawa who replaced Dr Stella-Maris Okey as the Welfare Secretary.

    Osodeke who spoke on his way to Abuja after the National Delegates Conference described it as successful.

    He said “We have finished with our national delegates conference in Jos. It was successful. We are on our way back to Abuja. We will issue a statement regarding the conference and my re-election and other national officers when we get back to our station . Thank you”

    Punch

  • Few days to go: Buhari presides over FEC meeting, to consider 60 memos

    Few days to go: Buhari presides over FEC meeting, to consider 60 memos

    President Muhammadu Buhari is presiding over the Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting.

    Buhari, on Tuesday, returned from a two-week vacation to the United Kingdom.

    This meeting is a precursor to the forthcoming valedictory session for cabinet members next week.
    The Council, as learnt, will deliberate on approximately 60 memos, as the administration rapidly approaches the end of its tenure.

    In attendance are the Vice-president Yemi Osinbajo, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha; and the National Security Adviser, Major General Babagana Monguno (retd).

  • Italian president welcomes Zelensky

    Italian president welcomes Zelensky

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been welcomed by President Sergio Mattarella to his official residence in Rome during Zelensky’s visit to Italy.

    Zelensky was driven up to the Quirinal Palace shortly after 12.00 p.m. (1000 GMT) on Saturday, where Mattarella welcomed him in the courtyard.

    After anthems of the two countries were played, the politicians went into the building for a private conversation.

    Mattarella has always shown solidarity with Ukraine in its defensive struggle against Russian invaders.

    Zelensky is expected to ask Italy for further support.

    The meeting with Mattarella is due to be followed by meetings with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and with Pope Francis.

  • Just In: I am not in a hurry but I know I must become president – Obi

    Just In: I am not in a hurry but I know I must become president – Obi

    The presidential candidate of Labour party, Peter Obi has revealed that he is not in a hurry but knows he must become president of Nigeria.

    Obi asserted that he will continue to fight it until justice is served, while declaring that he must become president of the nation.

    Obi, who came third in the 2023 presidential election, said this at the presentation of a book entitled: “Peter Obi: Many voices, one Perspectives”, in Awka, Anambra State capital, on Friday.

    The book presentation was designed to raise fund to enable Mr Peter Obi pursue his ongoing election court case.

    “Anyone who thinks I’m on transit is wasting his time. Let me tell you, I must be the president of this country. I’m sure of that. If it is not today, it must be tomorrow.”

    “Other people who want to be, should come and tell us what they want to do, and how to do it. This is my country, I don’t have dual citizenship. If anyone thinks I am going to run away from Nigeria, they are lying.

    “I have three engagements in Anambra and Lagos today. I will be speaking in Lagos tonight. We will not leave Nigeria. I am not in a hurry to become the president, but I know it must happen.

    “For three years I was in court in Anambra to reclaim my governorship, just to challenge the process. Many people tried to discourage me, but I said even if the entire four years tenure elapsed for us to prove a point and correct the process, I will be fulfilled.

    “I was in an event yesterday in Abuja, and it was World Food Organisation. I listened to report that stated that Nigeria will face intense hunger in years to come.

    “It is Nigeria that will face hunger, not Peter Obi. The report listed Borno, Adamawa and Yobe as the states that will be worse hit, but those three states put together are five times larger in land mass of Israel, yet Egypt exports food, but Nigeria cannot feed itself.

    “So we must cultivate a habit of doing the right thing. If we don’t do the right thing, it will consume us some day.”

    “I must be the president of this country; if not today, it will be next time. I’m not desperate; I’m not in a hurry. I’m committed to cause of better Nigeria,”
    said.

    Obi also said he would respect the decision of the court in the ongoing electoral dispute.

    “We are peaceful, we are not going to quarrel with any politician. Don’t be discourage about my apologies to people. As youth, we cannot fight our fathers, even when we are right.”

    “We are not going to riot . I am in Nigeria; I don’t not have dual citizenship; I will not run away; we must be here to right the wrong in the country,” he stated.

    Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Afred Achebe, Catholic bishop of Awka diocese, Most Rev. Paulinus Ezeokafor, were among dignitaries at the event.