Obasanjo Is Enemy Of Everyone Except Himself, Atiku Hits Back

August 5, 2018

Frontline Presidential aspirant on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has hit back at his former boss, ex President Olusegun Obasanjo, describing him as enemy of everyone except himself.

Atiku, former Nigerian Vice President said: we will continue to wish Chief Olusegun Obasanjo well and we would want to say that nothing can be further from the truth (that) if Obasanjo follows his Christian dictate he would understand that God that he expects to judge him would not expect him to be a permanent traducer of every other person apart from himself. He has enjoyed the benefits of other people; other people must also enjoy his benefits. Obasanjo cannot be an enemy to every person except himself.”

Atiku, who responded to Obasanjo’s vow not to support him for the 2019 Presidential aspiration with a proviso: “God will not forgive me if I support Atiku” prayed that Obasanjo would reconsider his stand in line with the wish of the majority of Nigerians.

In a statement by his 2019 Presidential Campaign Organisation’s spokesman, Segun Sowunmi, Atiku said: “I still believe that in the course of this journey, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo may have to reconsider his stand in line with the wish of the majority of Nigerians, which, in my opinion now, is that of all the aspirants for the office of President, that I have the experience, the democratic credentials, the vision, the workable programme and in sync with what the Nigeria nation needs now and can leapfrog it to higher levels of development.”

The statement goes thus:

“The first is to say it upfront that HE former Vice President Atiku Abubakar holds former President Olusegun Obasanjo in very high esteem, just as he holds every other leader in Nigeria high esteem.

“The esteem that President Obasanjo enjoys is premised on two things; one, being the former president, Atiku also understands that he cannot and should not desecrate anybody that has sat in the office that he aspires to.

“The second is the fact that they had worked together on a joint ticket as president and vice-president towards the 1999 and 2003 elections, for those two reasons, HE the former vice-president does not want to join any issues with him and respects him and understands that as an individual Obasanjo is within his right to have his point of view.

“It is a little bit suspect what Obasanjo means, that God will not forgive him if he supports Atiku. I think that is really a personal relationship between him and his God, and it will be better for him to use his later years to tidy up relationship between himself and his God, instead of hanging his judgement with God on things that concern him and Atiku.

“Having said that, we are completely convinced that the (Atiku’s) decision to run for the presidency is premised on the condition that this country can benefit from the God-given talents and the experience he has garnered.

“There is nothing that has not been thrown in the way of Atiku to cow him, to break him, to harass him, to intimidate him or to just make him uncomfortable. He has demonstrated that he has the tenacity to withstand it and he has the robustness of mind to remain calm.

“We still believe that in the course of this journey, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo may have to reconsider his stand in line with the wish of the majority of Nigerians, which, in my opinion now, is that of all the aspirants for the office of President, that H.E. Atiku Abubakar has the experience, has the democratic credentials, has the vision, has the workable programme and is in sync with what the Nigeria nation needs now and can leapfrog it to higher levels of development.

“All the same, we will continue to wish Chief Olusegun Obasanjo well and we would want to say that nothing can be further from the truth (that) if Obasanjo follows his Christian dictate he would understand that God that he expects to judge him would not expect him to be a permanent traducer of every other person apart from himself. He has enjoyed the benefits of other people, other people must also enjoy his benefits. Obasanjo cannot be an enemy to every person except himself.”

Senator Akpabio Meets Buhari In London

Greenbarge Reporters

August 5, 2018

The Minority Leader in the Senate, on the platform of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Godswill Akpabio met with President Muhammadu Buhari in London today, Sunday, where the President is enjoying his vacation that will last for 10 working days.
Senator Akpabio, who is also the former Governor of Akwa Ibom under the same PDP, had earlier in the week, held a similar meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Nigeria, even before the President flew to London for a rest.
The content of the meetings have not been made public, but there are indications that Senator Akpabio is making moves to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), just as the bigwigs in the APC have been crossing over to the PDP in recent time. [myad]

Surging Crowd That Welcome Wamakko Into Sokoto

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2018

Chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator Aliyu Wamakko stormed Sokoto today with surging crowd welcoming him.

Security: Don’t Turn Traditional Rulers Into Fire Brigades – Emir

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2018

The Emir of Potiskum in Yobe State, Alhaji Umaru Bubaram Ibn Wuriwa Bauya has warned against turning traditional rulers in the country into mere fire brigades, without defined roles for them in the constitution regarding the security of their respective domain.

The Emir, who spoke in an interview with news men in his Palace, called on members of the National Assembly to recognize them by inserting specific roles for them in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to him, traditional rulers are the bedrock of the society to whom people look up for proper leadership without the encumbrance of politics, saying: “if you consider the traditional institutions right from Inception before the colonial administrators came to Nigeria, the traditional institutions have all the security ramifications in their palaces.”

He blamed the colonial administrators whom he said affected both the administrative and military powers of the traditional stools, saying: “they strategically changed the way things are done.

“Therefore, the constitutional arrangements as of now have rendered the traditional institutions helpless.

“Council Chairman is the chief security officer of the local government, he is protected by the constitution; there should had been the traditional institutions to be recognized and protected by the constitution.

“This would have given power, recognition to the traditional institutions instead of living them unrecognised by the constitution.

“As partners maintaining law and order and security, traditional rulers deserve to be recognized and be given certain roles and responsibility backed by the constitution besides the preservation of culture and tradition. The constitution should recognize traditional institutions under national responsibility

“We are not competing with the executive, legislative or judiciary, but traditional institutions should also be given the opportunity to fill other constitutional roles as I said earlier, particularly in ensuring peace and security of the people in their domain and not that when there is problem they are asked to come in, only then and forgotten whenever certain peace is achieved.”

Bayelsa Gov, Dickson Gives Political Appointees Quit Notice

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2018

Bayelsa state governor, Seriake Dickson has given all political appointees and civil servants in the State who are interested in contesting for any elective position up to August 15 to resign their appointments.

The Governor said that he wanted a level playing field for the forthcoming PDP national convention, even as he advised all interested candidates to work together with their leaders and people at the grassroots. [myad]

Nigeria May Be First African Country To Host World Athletics Championship

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2018

There are indications that Nigeria will be the first African country to host the 2025 International Athletics Federation (IAAF) Championship competition.

The President of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), Shehu Gusau, who dropped this hint today, Saturday at a press conference in Asaba, capital of Delta State, said that already the IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, had given such indication when he arrived in Asaba today to witness the 2018 African Senior Athletics Championships.

He quoted the IAAF President as that the world body was working to ensure that Africa hosted their first World Championships in 2025, saying that African continent would be awarded the rights to host the world in 2025.

Shehu Gusau commended the Delta State government for hosting the African Championships thereby rescuing Nigeria from embarrassment after Lagos failed to concretize plans for hosting after being awarded the rights.

“I want to thank the Delta State government for putting this together and making sure that it succeeded despite the challenges faced. Every competition comes with its own ups and downs and this is no different but we must pick the positives which have been more than the negatives.

“The Delta State government saved Nigeria after there was a mix up following the award of the rights to another state. Delta with this competition has created a conscious effort to instill an athletics culture in the youth with the hosting of this competition.

“We are however announcing that Nigeria will be bidding to host the 2025 World Championships. The IAAF president Lord Seb Coe when he was leaving was convinced that Africa could host the competition in 2025.

“Six host countries were identified and I as well as the AFN board members have told the sports minister that it will be a bold step for the country. I am happy to say that we are bidding to host the World Championships in Abuja in 2025.

“Abuja Stadium will be renovated very soon and there is a new railway system while hotels are not problems. We believe that by 2025 Nigeria will be ready to host the world if we are able to put this together and host Africa in Asaba in 2018.”

2019: I Will Contest For PDP Presidential Ticket – Gov Dankwambo

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2018

Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has formally declared his intention to contest for the presidency in 2019.

“I have shown interest and counting on your support I will contest for the PDP presidential ticket come 2019,”

Governor Dankwambo told delegates of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the north-east sub region who met him today, Saturday, that he decided to vie for the ticket, after numerous calls and wide consultations with various stakeholders from the zone.

“There have been calls for me across the country to contest for the presidency in 2019, however I feel it is pertinent to seek the consent of you the delegates from my zone before I throw my hat into the contest.”

Those Who Defected From APC Will Regret – Wamakko

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2018

A Senator, representing Sokoto North in the red chamber of the National Assembly, Aliyu Wamakko has said that those who defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other political parties from the All Progressives Congress (APC) will regret their actions.

Senator Wamakko, who spoke today, Saturday at a special rally in support of President Muhammadu Buhari and APC leadership, organized by party loyalists, described PDP as a dead political party.

According to him Governor Aminu Tambuwal’s exit from the APC to PDP cannot threaten the APC, saying that the party still had two Senators, seven House of Representatives members and 12 state Assembly members, besides high percentage of political elders, youths, women and others in the state.

He extended President Buhari’s goodwill message to the people of the state, saying that the Federal Government had executed many projects in the state contrary to the false assertion by Tambuwal.

The senator thanked Sokoto people on the warm reception, as well as solidarity in support of President Buhari and urged them to sustain the support to ensure victory of the APC in the 2019 elections.

“The present political situation in Sokoto is not between Wamakko and Governor Tambuwal but between APC as a political party and the dead PDP,” he said.

Wamakko enjoined Nigerians to shun detractors and continue supporting the good leadership of President Buhari and APC at all levels.

Also, the State APC Chairman, Alhaji Sadiq Achida, said the party was still in control in the state and will continue to do so.

Goodwill messages were also received from former Kebbi Governor, Nasamu Dakingari, and representative of Governor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Wamakko was received by mass crowd of supporters which delayed the landing of his aircraft for hours at the Sir Abubakar Airport, Sokoto.

Mammoth supporters cheer Senator Aliyu Wamakko as he arrives Sokoto today

2019: Why Igbos Should Show Buhari They Don’t Hate Him – Okorocha

Greenbarge Reporters

August 4, 2018

“And why the Igbos should and would support the person of Muhammadu Buhari and understand what the name Buhari actually means, because there has been a lot of misrepresentations and misunderstanding of the person of Buhari.

“The political jobbers have tended to give him all types of interpretations but the truth remains that President Buhari is a good man, a leader and a man who stands by the truth and is not a man who believes in the primitive accumulation of wealth.

These were the words of Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, when he addressed the South-East APC Women and Youth leaders for Buhari at the Government House, Owerri, the State capital today, Saturday.

The Governor told the APC women and youths that the political elite have not been comfortable with President Buhari and have, therefore, ganged up against him, adding that Buhari had done nothing wrong except that the elite, for fear of molestations for corrupt practices, had risen against him.

He said that Buhari believes in the masses and also believes strongly that the wealth of the nation must be managed so that the masses could benefit from it.

“Having realized that our voting powers lie on the youths and women, we want to make them vital instruments for the pursuit of this expected victory for President Buhari come
2019.

“In the election of 2015, Igbo never gave him the support he deserved. We were the least in the Six geo-political zones in the support for Buhari in 2015 and that has left a political vacuum for ndi Igbo both locally and at the centre.

“So, we want to correct that story and change the narratives that Igbo do not hate Buhari but actually love him. Igbo this time around will support President Buhari.

“A victory for PMB is a victory for ndi Igbo and we shall not be found wanting in the political equation of Nigeria anytime, any day. Our bad politics in 2015 left a very big gap yet to be filled and we must fill it. To do so, the youths and women must take up their responsibilities if this journey must be completed.

“Igbo play a major role in the unity of this nation. And as long as there is peace in Igbo land, Nigeria will remain an indivisible entity because there is no nook and cranny of the nation you will go without finding an Igbo man. So if you ask, who is a true Nigerian, it is the Igbo man.”

Buhari Addresses UN General Assembly In New York, September 25

Greenbarge Reporters

August 3, 2018

File Photo: President Muhammadu Buhari delivering speech at UN General Assembly meeting in New York

President Muhammadu Buhari is scheduled to address the 73rd Session of the high-level General Debate of the United Nations (UN) General Assembly at the UN headquarters in New York on September 25.

According to Femi Adesina, special adviser on media and publicity, in a statement today, Friday, the Nigerian leader, who proceeded on 10-day vacation in London today would deliver Nigeria’s National Statement on the first day of the general debate of the General Assembly high-level events.

The statement said that Buhari is placed as the number 20 on the list of the speakers out of the 193 world leaders that would address the Assembly.

It said that he would deliver the address to the Assembly during the afternoon session on the first day between 8.00 p.m. and 9.00 p.m. (between 1.00 a.m. and 2.00 a.m. Nigerian time).

It said that the President of Brazil would be the first world leader to present his address to the 73rd session followed by the U.S. President, Donald Trump, the traditional second speaker, being the host country.

Adesina recalled that during the 2017 Session of the General Debate of the Assembly, Buhari was the eighth speaker out of the 193 world leaders who addressed the Assembly.

His address made it one of any Nigerian leader’s earliest address at the annual general debate of the intergovernmental organization.

The 2018 General Assembly would be Mr Buhari’s fourth outing at the annual general debate of the Assembly since becoming president in 2015.

The Nigerian leader’s address during his first outing in 2015, in part, outlined his three cardinal agenda – security, economy and anti-corruption.

His two subsequent addresses in his outings in 2016 and 2017 also highlighted some of his achievements so far in these areas.

The 73rd session of the Assembly would open on September 18, 2018, till October 5, while the General Debate would commence on September 25 to October 1.

The session would be presided over by María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés of Ecuador.

The theme of the general debate would be, “Making the United Nations Relevant to All People: Global Leadership and Shared Responsibilities for Peaceful, Equitable and Sustainable Societies”.

In accordance with rule 1 of the rules of procedure, the General Assembly shall meet every year in regular session commencing on the Tuesday of the third week in September, counting from the first week that contains at least one working day.

Source: NAN.

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