Buhari may have rejected ‘push’ for another term in office
Buhari may have rejected ‘push’ for another term in office
There are indications that Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari will not seek a fresh term after the end of his second tenure in 2023.
Although handlers of the President have said he would not elongate his tenure, there have been speculations that some political elements who are huge beneficiaries of Buhari’s name as the President are suggesting for him to “give tenure elongation a try”.
On Monday, Buhari was quoted to have urged other African leaders to stop elongating their stay in office. “President Buhari asks West African leaders to stop elongating their tenure in office, saying it is becoming a source of trouble”, a President’s media aide, Garba Shehu told tweeted @GarShehu.
Mr. Shehu’s tweet may have put paid to speculations that Buhari is interested in staying in Aso Rock beyond 2023.
By the unwritten power sharing agreement of the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress, power has been scheduled to return to Southern Nigeria in 2023. However, strong power brokers have indicated that the North may not be willing to let go of power in 2023.
Magu’s probe shows my true position to fight corruption—Buhari
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari has said the decision of his administration to investigate the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu, was an indication of his resolve to fight corruption.
In a statement by Garba Shehu, his senior special assistant on media and publicity, Buhari said never in the history of Nigeria had a torchlight of this sort been directed to government functionaries. He also explained why he approved the suspension of the anti-corruption fighter from office.
PRESIDENCY STATEMENT ON THE SUSPENSION OF MR. IBRAHIM MAGU
A series of documented allegations were made against the Ag. Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Following a preliminary review of the allegations leveled against the Ag. Chairman and several other members of his staff, there were grounds for a detailed investigation to be conducted.
Hence, an investigative panel was constituted in compliance with the extant laws governing the convening of such a body.
As is the proper procedure, when allegations are made against the Chief Executive of an institution, and in this case an institution that ought to be seen as beyond reproach, the Chief Executive has to step down from his post and allow for a transparent and unhindered investigation.
The EFCC does not revolve around the personality of an individual, and as such cannot be seen through the prism of any individual.
Therefore, the suspension of Mr. Ibrahim Magu, allows the institution to continue carrying out its mandate without the cloud of investigation hanging over its head.
The EFCC has many good, hardworking men and women who are committed to its ideal and ensuring that the wealth of our country isn’t plundered and wherein there is an act of misappropriation such person(s) are brought to justice.
Meanwhile, Mr. Magu is being availed the opportunity to defend himself and answer the allegations against him. This is how it should be, as is the fact that under the Laws of Nigeria every citizen is presumed and remains innocent until proven guilty.
We must realize that the fight against corruption is not a static event, but a dynamic and ever evolving process, in which the EFCC is just one actor; and as we continue to work towards improving our democratic process so shall every institution of ours also embark on that journey of evolution.
What is however important is that there must be accountability and transparency and our people must realize that they would be held to account. This is the building block in the fight against corruption, the establishment of the concept of Accountability and the recognition of the Rule of Law.
Those who see Mr. Magu’s investigation, as a signal that the fight against corruption is failing, have unfortunately, missed the boat.
There is no better indication that the fight is real and active than the will to investigate allegations in an open and transparent manner against those who have been charged to be custodians of this very system.
Under this President and Government, this is our mantra and guiding principle. There are no sacred cows, and for those who think they have a halo over their heads, their days are also numbered.
Mr. Magu was not immune – and regardless of the obvious embarrassment that potential acts of wrongdoing by him, given the office he held, may appear for the government.
No other administration in the history of Nigeria would have moved to bring into the light and public domain such an allegation.
Buhari throws absolute weight behind Adesina’s re-election in AfDB
Buhari throws absolute weight behind Adesina’s re-election in AfDB
Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari is not convinced that Akinwunmi Adesina, the embattled President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) is culpable of corruption charges levelled against him by unnamed members of staff of the bank.
During a meeting with Adesina on Tuesday, Buhari said his administration would stand solidly behind Adesina in his bid to get re-elected as AfDB President.
16-point allegations against Adesina bordering on corruption is threatening his re-election for another five-year term in the continental institution. But Adesina who is currently a sole candidate for the election has denied all charges, saying they are trumped-up.
The president spoke at the State House, Abuja, Tuesday, while hosting Mr Adesina.
“In 2015, when you were to be elected for the first term, I wrote to all African leaders, recommending you for the position. I didn’t say because you were a People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Minister, and I belonged to the All Progressives Congress (APC), so I would withhold my support. I’ll remain consistent with you, because no one has faulted the step I took on behalf of Nigeria,” said Mr Buhari.
The president pledged that Nigeria would work with all other leaders and stakeholders in AfDB to ensure that Mr Adesina was elected for a second term built on the record of his achievements during his first term.
Mr Adesina is facing allegations of corruption at the bank and is being investigated.
He denies the allegations and had earlier been cleared of the claims raised by a whistleblower group, but the United States, the bank’s second-largest shareholder after Nigeria, has called for an external probe.
The Nigerian government and other African leaders have been rallying support for Mr Adesina who is seeking a second five-year term.
Giving a background to what was happening in the bank, Mr Adesina, a former Nigerian Minister for Agriculture, said the 16 allegations raised against him were trumped up, “and without facts, evidence, and documents, as required by the rules and regulations of the bank.”
He added that the Ethics Committee of the bank cleared him of all the allegations, and calls for fresh investigation by the United States of America, were against the rules.
Mr Adesina is facing allegations of corruption at the bank and is being investigated.
“My defense ran into 250 pages, and not a single line was faulted or questioned. The law says that report of the Ethics Committee should be transmitted to the Chairman of Governors of the bank. It was done, and the governors upheld the recommendations. That was the end of the matter, according to the rules. It was only if I was culpable that a fresh investigation could be launched. I was exonerated, and any other investigation would amount to bending the rules of the bank, to arrive at a predetermined conclusion,” Mr Adesina said.
Stressing that the motive was to soil his name, and that of the bank, the AfDB president said he was proud to be Nigerian, and thanked President Buhari for his unflinching support.
“You helped me to get elected in the first place, and you have supported me robustly all along, and the African Union unanimously endorsed my re-election” he declared.
While commiserating with President Buhari on the death of the former Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, Mr Adesina described Professor Ibrahim Gambari, new Chief of Staff as “a man of integrity, and of global standing.”
Angry youth attempted to salute Buhari, not to hurt him—Presidency
Angry youth attempted to salute Buhari, not to hurt him—Presidency
Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has said the report on attack on the President in Kebbi State on Thursday was a handiwork of contortionists who wanted to turn a good intention into a bad report.
Adesina said the young man who was reported to have attempted to attack Buhari was actually trying to pay homage to him.
President Muhammadu Buhari was in Kebbi State on Thursday to declare open the Argungu Fishing and Cultural Festival. It was the first time the international tourism event would hold in eleven years, as security considerations had rendered it impracticable.
As the President went round the arena to inspect rice pyramids on display, and take photographs with farmers, a young man was so very excited to see his President so close. He made an attempt to get to him.
World over, such would not be allowed by security details. The young man was prevented, and he protested that he should be allowed to greet his President. Now, professional contortionists are making mischief of the event. They are passing the video clip off on social media as an attempt to attack the President.
Malicious people always twist things to give a negative narrative. But they simply dash their heads against the wall. The country moves on”, Adesina said.
Video clips that emanated from Kebbi State, North-West Nigeria On Thursday showed an angry Northerner pounced on Buhari during a photo section. The angry man was obstructed by Buhari’s aides.
Buhari is from Katsina State, also in the North-West geopolitical zone.
A couple of weeks ago when Buhari visited Borno State, North-East Nigeria, a state where he enjoyed tremendous support in 2015, the President was booed by citizens who chanted war songs saying Buhari was not welcome.
Also in Kebbi today where Buhari went for official duty, angry youths burnt down billboards bearing Buhari’s photos.
Insecurity challenge in Nigeria is growing out of proportion while the Federal Government seems to be more interested in protecting the Boko Haram terrorists and bandits who are mainly Fulani Herdsmen. Buhari is also a Fulani man.
Angry Northerner attempted to kill President Buhari in Kebbi
Video: Angry Northerner attempted to kill President Buhari in Kebbi
Popularity of Muhammadu Buhari, President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria seems to be waning as his Northern compatriots who ensured his re-election in 2019 have taken arms against him.
Video clips that emanated from Kebbi State, North-West Nigeria On Thursday show an angry Northerner pounced on Buhari during a photo section. The angry man was obstructed by Buhari’s aides.
Buhari is from Katsina State, also in the North-West geopolitical zone.
A couple of weeks ago when Buhari visited Borno State, North-East Nigeria, a state where he enjoyed tremendous support in 2015, the President was booed by citizens who chanted war songs saying Buhari was not welcome.
Also in Kebbi today where Buhari went for official duty, angry youths burnt down billboards bearing Buhari’s photos.
No reason has been adduced by official sources immediately as to why Buhari was attacked. However, there are insinuations that Nigerians are getting impatient with the way Buhari’s government is handing security concerns. Insecurity in Nigeria is growing out of proportion while the Federal Government seems to be more interested in fashioning protective measures for the Boko Haram terrorists and bandits who are mainly Fulani Herdsmen. Buhari is also a Fulani man.
Nigeria’s President, Buhari is 77 years old—official
Nigeria’s President, Buhari is 77 years old—official
Official sources have confirmed that Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari turned 77 years on Tuesday. “He was born on 17 December 1942”, official reports noted.
Although two years ago, Buhari said he was not sure of his age, Governors of northern states on Tuesday congratulated Buhari.
The Forum in a congratulatory message by its Chairman and Governor of Plateau, Simon Lalong, said “President Buhari had demonstrated unparalleled leadership skills, patriotism, integrity and courage in bringing change to Nigeria.”
Buhari said he was not sure about his date of birth. It is the same with Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
When Nigeria’s Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) paid Buhari a Christmas visit same period in 2017, the President made some confusing and controversial statement about his real age: “I am thinking I am 75. I thought I was 74 but I was told I am 75.
At Obasanjo’s 80th birthday in March, he confessed that he did not know his true age. Obasanjo said his illiterate mother only told him that he was born on an Ifo market day.
However, the two leaders who had held important public positions before they became presidents at different times submitted or attested to a birthday certificate, which, according to their testimonies now, are all false.
He said the quest to know his actual date of birth took him to an astrologer in India, and that even though he could not achieve his aim, the man told him that he would live long.
“I do not know the date of my birth, when I started school, we were asked to give our date of birth. I used to ask my mother, and she would say ‘You were born on Ifo Market Day’,” he said.
“All my mother, an illiterate woman, could remember was that it was an Ifo Market Day and before the people who went to the market returned, she had fallen into labour and I was delivered.”
Obasanjo said since he could not tell his age, he decided to choose a date after considering the age of his peers.
“I’ decided to choose a date. At least if I don’t the exact date of my birth, I know my age group,” he said
On Tuesday, the Northern Governors Forum (NGF) said: “The revival of the economy, industries, railways, agriculture and other sectors by the “Change Government” under your leadership has brought back confidence to the nation.
“You are putting the economy on the path of productivity and self sufficiency,” Mr Lalong said in a statement by his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Simon Macham.
He said that the future of Nigeria is secured with the honest and transparent leadership of President Buhari.
The forum said Mr Buhari’s achievements in the fight against corruption meant that the world would continue to give the country its rightful place in the comity of nations
It assured the president of renewed loyalty and cooperation of Northern governors to his administration, assuring him of their prayers, support and goodwill as he leads the nation to the next level.
The governors wished the president long life, good health, God’s protection and wisdom. (NAN)
Compliance with Digitisation Blue-Print not optional, says Buhari
Compliance with Digitisation Blue-Print not optional, says Buhari
At the opening of the 2019 eNigeria Conference in Abuja on Thursday, Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari, has said that Ministries, Departments and Agencies must comply with the “ongoing transition of all government operations to digital platforms”.
Buhari who attended the event spiritedly said digitisation of the country’s econ0my will enhance efficiency and effectiveness in service delivery, and promote more inter-agency synergy.
The event is being anchored by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) under the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy.
Declaring the two-day workshop open, Buhari said the transition to digital economy was no longer optional for the MDAs, but “an absolute necessity,’’ following the launch of the e-government master plan which will drive and guide the process.
President Buhari noted that a directive in 2018 that all government funded ICT projects must be reviewed and cleared by National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) saved the country over N16.8 billion.
“Our recent introduction of the Nigerian E-government Masterplan will further consolidate our successes to date and increase interoperability among the different Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.
“A key requirement of the e-government Master plan is for all government institutions to create a Digital Transformation Technical Working Group that will work with the Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to ensure seamless and coordinated implementation of projects, programs and policies.
“Furthermore, the Nigerian e-Government Interoperability Framework, the Enterprise Architecture and the Nigeria Data Protection Regulation are in place and all Ministries, Departments and Agencies are expected to comply with these policies,’’ he said.
President Buhari said that the digitisation of key operations in public service such as the use of the Bank Verification Number (BVN), Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) has enabled the government to save cost and fight corruption.
The President said the Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy will develop training and sensitization programs which will be rolled out across all key MDAs with immediate effect to ensure seamless implementation of the master plan.
President Buhari pointed out that the push for more job creation and diversification of the economy received a boost in the second quarter with the ICT sector contributing 13.85 per cent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), quoting figures from the National Bureau of Statistics for 2019.
“This clearly shows the importance and potential of the ICT sector to our job creation and economic diversification agenda.
“Already, Nigerian ICT startups are leaving their mark on the global stage. For example, at the Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX), a Nigerian Artificial Intelligence solution provider, Chiniki Guards, took first place, beating 750 contestants from 73 countries. We shall continue to encourage and support such digital entrepreneurs to develop innovative solutions for local and global challenges,” he added.
The president said the Federal Ministry of Communications was re-designated Federal Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy to refocus on the emerging value of digitalization all over the world with a mandate to develop and implement a harmonized and well-coordinated digital economy policy and strategy for Nigeria.
President Buhari, however, warned:
“Of course, as we celebrate the successes and explore the opportunities in this sector, we must remain mindful of its threats. We all know how the use of unregistered and improperly registered SIM cards by terrorists is a key national security threat.
“Today, I am informed that over 9.2 million SIM cards have either been normalized, blocked or deactivated in less than 40 days due to improper registration. We encourage all Nigerians to ensure that their phones are properly registered. As a Government, our priority is to protect the lives and properties of all Nigerians.’’
Garba Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media & Publicity.
OPINION: Buhari’s ‘many travels’ is plus, not problem, By Garba Shehu
Roughly three years ago, President Muhammadu Buhari visited the Kingdom of Morocco. He asked King Mohammed VI to give Nigeria from their rich phosphate mineral so that fertilizer can be produced here at home for the teeming farming population. Agreement reached, President Buhari set up a Presidential Fertiliser Initiative in his office.
Three years down the road, 24 moribund blending plans are now working, providing 100,000 direct and indirect new jobs to Nigerians. The cost of fertilizer is down by more than 50 percent. Nigeria makes a saving of USD 200 million used for its annual import and a further N60 billion in budgeted annual subsidy.
Nigeria wanted to build a power plant at Mambilla in the Northeast. The plant design had been made in 1959, a year before independence. We have dreams of modernizing our railway system because, without power and railroad, National development will continue to be a pipe dream.
In planning for his trip to Beijing for a meeting with President Xi Jinping, President Buhari rightfully chose to prioritize his requests, put Lagos-Kano railway and Mambilla power plant on top: President Xi’s word is the silver bullet. Today, China is giving these projects together with the finance and many more.
On the recent trip to Russia, President Buhari had a wish list that included railways, power projects and military procurements. He had a wish to get the Russians who own the Aluminum smelter plant, built at a whopping USD 4 billion to operationalize it; Ajaokuta Steel plant built at a similar cost, with 20,000 engineers trained to operate it, many of whom are now dead from hunger and lack of engagement is another 40 year – old problem. To these and others, President Putin held the keys to the solutions. President Buhari asked, and he was given. It will take volumes of books to document the achievements of these trips.
When I go through the media, including today’s edition of the Daily Trust, the social media blogs and those jokes, through funny cartoons, there is a mistaken sense that active diplomacy is the cause of some kind of governance deficit, assuming there is any. Channels Television, last night confronted me with a litany of countries the President visited this year and the number of days he spent abroad. The mistaken opinion among many is that the President spends too much time abroad and this is affecting his domestic responsibilities.
The reality is very different. The success of the visits to Morocco, China and Russia reported here represent just a fraction of the achievements recorded. Many countries and major corporations have listened to our leaders and agreed to come here and put their money in the economy in win-win deals.
In the last few years, global giants like Siemens, Toyota, Hyundai, General Electric (GE), among others are talking to Nigeria about their commitment to investing billions of dollars through manufacturing and other forms of Foreign Direct Investment. Add these to the many Chinese companies that are involved with us in the construction of railways, roads, airports and power plants. These Chinese engagements are coming, complete with succession plans in which thousands of Nigerians are being trained over there, to ultimately manage the new projects.
Other global giants are talking to the government at the centre and the States, with declared interests in projects like highways, metro rail networks, roads, railways and investment in the clusters of manufacturing hubs, the Special Economic Zones, in each of the geopolitical zones. In the coming years, the Qatari and Saudi sovereign wealth funds, the Russians and the Americans amongst the world’s richest are working with Nigeria towards investments in oil and gas and other infrastructure.
President Buhari’s strategy of selling Nigeria’s infrastructure priorities to countries with economic clout is paying off handsomely is in reality, doing Nigeria proud by tackling the gaps in infrastructure deficit.
The records of some of his predecessors in office bespeak a greedy trail, when they go abroad they first ask: what is in it for me? What is there for my family? President Buhari is different. Understood correctly, he is an opportunity manager who knows the worth of person to person contact in a working relationship.
Given the possibilities of economic development and jobs creation, no sensible critic will ever say that there is anything wrong with this government’s efforts at attracting foreign investment
The problem many of the critics have is that they are more interested in scoring cheap headlines and generating a gossip on social media. Many in the opposition are a frustrated lot. We understand that when they express their frustrations, they become happy.
For one thing, President Buhari’s travels have not been excessive by the standards of this country’s past leaders and those of his counterparts in other countries. Given advances in modern travel and technology, a leader can maintain communication and govern from the air, on the road or at the sea. Given the advances made with satellite feeds, a leader needs not to be tied to his desk to make important decisions. The days of frequent travel by leaders is the new norm, it is not something that will go away no matter the volume of crocodile tears shed by a critical opposition.
In today’s interconnected world, international engagements of nations are calendared in specified times of the year. No nation will fail to take advantage of the important international gatherings to make their views known and express their concerns. Not many leaders will ignore invitations to the meeting of the United Nations General Assembly, the Commonwealth, the African Union or that of Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). The attendance at these meetings is not mandatory. But it is an established norm, the absence from which, by an important country like Nigeria, will obviously be an issue of its own.
Finally, to all those who say these visits must bring quick, tangible returns. Yes, quick returns are possible as we have with fertilizer. The breaking of the age long fertilizer jinx by the Buhari administration has brought good fortune to the farmers who now produce about all that is needed to feed the nation. The achievement by the Buhari administration on food self-sufficiency is the real independence after flag independence. So too for the President, who handsomely won the February 23 election with a margin of four million votes, most of it cast in his favour by farmers in full appreciation of his policies. This is clear evidence that facts and results, not social media following convince voters when it comes to making choices.
But it is equally important that Nigerians accept the fact that, although active diplomacy as pursued by President Buhari fetches instant results, there are many instances where results take months, sometimes years to manifest.
Garba Shehu is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity.
Opposition’s petition to sack Buhari filed at Supreme Court
The presidential candidate of the main opposition party in Nigeria, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Atiku Abubakar and his party have formally filed their appeal against the judgement of the presidential election petitions tribunal at the Supreme Court.
Atiku is asking the court sack president Muhammadu Buhari and declare him and the PDP as the rightful winner of n the 2019 general elections.
The election petition tribunal a fortnight ago dismissed Atiku’s petition and uphold the victory of Buhari at the polls. The appellants want the apex court to hold that the tribunal erred in its decision to dismiss their petition against the election of President Buhari.
The disclosure was made by Mike Ozekhome (SAN), a senior lawyer in the legal team of Atiku and PDP.
According to Ozekhome, the appeal was predicated on 66 grounds, insisting that the tribunal erred in its verdict on Atiku and PDP’s petition against the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.
On Wednesday, September 11, a five-man tribunal led by Justice Mohammed Garba dismissed the petition filed by Atiku and PDP for being incompetent and lacking in merit.
The PDP and Atiku want the Supreme Court to hold that the tribunal erred in its decision and consequently set the tribunal’s judgment aside and go ahead to declare them winner of the February 23 presidential election.
Lying on oath: Supreme Court rules in favour of Buhari on technicality
Lying on Oath: Supreme Court saves Buhari on technical ground
Nigeria’s Supreme Court has rested the case brought against President Muhammadu Buhari bothering on false self-declaration during the electioneering process.
The Suit brought against Buhari, which sought his disqualification, travelled from the lower court up to the Supreme Court and all the courts dismissed the case on technical ground asserting that the case was statute-barred.
The appellants, Kalu Kalu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris, had approached the Supreme Court to nullify the candidacy of President Buhari in the February 23 presidential poll over allegations that he lied under oath.
They claimed that Buhari lied on oath in the form CF001 he submitted to the electoral commission, INEC, for the 2019 election.
In its ruling on Monday, the Supreme Court agreed with the Court of Appeal and the federal high court which had earlier ruled that the suit was statute-barred.
The Federal High Court had on May 2 declined to grant the request of the appellants on the grounds that the suit was not filed within the time allowed by law and therefore sustained the preliminary objection raised by Mr Buhari at the hearing.
The Supreme Court ruling by a five-member panel was read by Mary Odili.
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