The Presidency has expressed anger over allegation by the Supreme Council for Sharia that President Muhammadu Buhari failed to attend the emergency summit of Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), called by Turkey to discuss the US declaration of Jerusalem as the official Capital of Israel.
Speaking on the BBC Hausa radio news on Friday afternoon, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on media and publicity, Malam Garba Shehu
said that the allegation was totally misleading and baseless.
Malam Garba said that President Buhari had to go to France to attend the Climate Change Summit because he had earlier given a firm commitment to President Macron. He said that Buhari sent the Minister of Education Adamu Adamu to represent him at the OIC meeting in Turkey.
“The Paris summit on climate change wasn’t a junket. It was also about the problem of the Lake Chad region which affects Nigeria as well as the neighboring countries. About 30 million lives are involved. “Without the drying up of the lake, we would probably not have had the acute poverty that nurtured the environment for Boko Haram terrorism.”
Garba Shehu recalled that countries such Saudi Arabia and Egypt, which sponsored the UN General Assembly Resolution to condemn the US President, Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as the official Capital of Israel, didn’t also attend the Turkey meeting for various compelling reasons.
“As a respectable religious organization, an organization that we hold in high esteem, the Supreme Council for Shari’ah could have helped themselves and the nation by checking the facts before the outburst, which sadly, was repeatedly aired by the international radio.
“By the time the President Erdogan summit was called, the Presidential advance team was already in Paris, ready to receive him.
“At that point, the best President Buhari could do was to send a representation. He called President Erdogan and explained the circumstances and the Turkish leader expressed his understanding and appreciation. We are signatory to the final resolutions,” the Presidential Spokesman said.
He explained that at every available opportunity, including his addresses at the UN General Assembly sessions in the past, 2015, 2016 and 2017, President Buhari had always spoken passionately and forcefully about the Palestinian issue and the necessity and urgency of finding a just solution to their case.
Garba Shehu said that it is very uncharitable, under the circumstance, for any religious organization to accuse the President of abandoning Muslims as alleged.
“As can be seen from the UN vote on Jerusalem, the issue of Palestine is for all men of conscience; Muslims, Christians, Jews and even nonbelievers.
“Besides, the President has shown consistency in his support for the Palestinian cause.
“In his address at the General Assembly in 2015, President Buhari said ‘as we engage in these annual debates, we need to remind ourselves of the principles that led to the founding of the United Nations. Among those are peaceful coexistence and self determination of peoples. In this context, Mr. President, the unresolved question of self-determination for the Palestinian people and those of Western Sahara, both nations having been adjusted by the United Nations as qualifying for this inalienable right must now be assured and fulfilled without any further delay or obstacle.’
“‘The international community has come to pin its hopes on resolving the Palestinian issue through the two – states solution which recognises the legitimate right of each state to exist in peace and security. The world has no more excuses or reasons to delay the implementation of the long list of Security Council resolutions on this question. Neither do we have the moral right to deny any people their freedom or condemn them indefinitely to occupation and blockade.”
In his address at the UN in 2016, he said ‘Mr. President…the Palestinian issue, despite years and years of international efforts is no nearer to being resolved. Nigeria in company with member States of the African Union, firmly support the Two-State solution with Palestinian rights to statehood in conformity, with numerous Security Council Resolutions beginning with Resolution 242 of 1967.
“‘Let me seize this opportunity to once again thank all UN and other aid agencies and development partners currently deployed in North East Nigeria. I reaffirm Nigeria’s commitment to collective action towards an effective global response to address the root causes of refugee flows worldwide.’ “
In September this year, he took the issue Palestine to the UN General and spoke the minds of Nigerians and many in the world that“ ‘new conflicts should not make us lose focus on ongoing unresolved old conflicts. For example, several UN Security Council Resolutions from 1967 on the Middle East crisis remain unimplemented. Meanwhile, the suffering of the Palestinian people and the blockade of Gaza continue.’”
The Presidential Spokesman advised religious organizations to avoid jumping to conclusions and making unfounded allegations without adequate knowledge and facts of the reality surrounding certain decisions and actions of the government.
Garba Shehu expressed the appreciation of the Presidency for the support and prayers for the President from all religious organizations and assured that the President is committed to the promotion of peace and harmony in the country.
The Presidential media aide advised all religious leaders to recognize the sensitivity of some of their utterances on the unity and peaceful coexistence of the country. [myad]

Former Nigeria Vice President, Atiku Abubakar has asked Christians to spare a thought on what they can give to Nigeria as they celebrate Christmas, beginning from tomorrow, Sunday night.
“Nabi Isa (Jesus Christ) taught that it is more blessed to give than to receive. So this Christmas, spare a thought for what you can give back to Nigeria.”
In his message to felcitate with Christians in Nigeria, Atiku suggested that they should give patriotism, loyalty and fidelity to the unity of the Nigeria that had given them so much.
Atiku stressed that since Christmas is a time of love, it has become imperative for Christians to emulate the essence of the season and unite for the greater good of Nigeria.
“Let us also remember our fellow citizens, the men and women of our armed forces, many of whom lost their lives this year fighting to protect us from terrorists and other threats to our national security. We ought to also spare a thought for our brothers and sisters who faced and are facing perils in Libya and the Mediterranean Sea.”
Atiku, who is the chieftain of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said that as we unite in celebration of this season, and in reflection of the months past, “we must never forget, that to get Nigeria working again is the responsibility of each and everyone of us.
“Therefore, let us be intentional in thinking good thoughts and sowing even better actions to make Nigeria greater today and for all times.”[myad]

Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi ll has regretted that a new crop of journalists in Nigeria have resorted to what he called ‘Yellow Journalism’ which does not speak good of the image of the country to the world.

The Emir, who spoke today, Friday, at the opening ceremony of a two-day workshop for Media Practitioners organized by Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (KRPC), said that modern journalists have resulted to yellow journalism which is very bad to the development of this country.

The Emir, who was represented by Turakin Kano and the District Head of Dala, Abdullahi Lamido Sanusi, emphasized that journalist must desist from publishing or reporting anything that will paint the country black globally.

“We must desist from Yellow journalism which is now the trend in the country. Most of our reportage today is about portraying the country negatively instead ‎of positively. We are not doing the country any good.

“We are not supposed to publish everything that will paint our nation bad because whatever we publish is respected by the public. We should try not to cause chaos but peace in the country. We are aware that the government is trying to fix some of the crisis in the country and it’s not easy doing that particularly in the Oil and Gas industry which is the backbone of our nation’s economy.

“We should soften things. What is bothering me is how we are showcasing the country badly which you hardly find in other part of the world. We must learn to report positively; that is the kind of journalism we want to see in this country.”

Earlier, the Managing Director KRPC, Adewale Ladenegan, said the role of the media in the development of this country cannot be over emphasized.

“It is in tandem with this that KRPC resolved to ensure that media practitioners have the required knowledge and capacity to effectively report the oil and gas industry.”

KRPC’s Managing Director who was represented by the Executive Director (Services), Abdullahi Idris, said the company has cordial relationship with its host communities saying, in the first half of the year 2017, KRPC produced and delivered to Nigerians 236.48 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).

“87 Million Litres of household Kerosene, 197.51 million litres of Automotive Gas Oil‎ and 66.39 million litres of Low Pour Point Fuel Oil(LPFO). The crude Distillation Unit was streamed on 4th December, 2017 and is still in operation. Likewise, the Naptha Hydro Treating Unit which was also re-streamed on the same day.

“The re-streaming of the plant could not have come at a better time considering the recent scarcity of the petroleum products in parts of the country. Within this shot period of operation, KRPC has been able to release 16.1 million litres of PMS which is over 480 trucks and counting) into the market thereby cushioning the effect of the scarcity in especially the northern States and Abuja.”

This year’s theme of the workshop which has 27 journalists in attendance was: “Towards Enlightenment Reportage Of The Oil and Gas Industry.”

 [myad]

The Emir of Minna, Dr. Farouk Bahago has paid court fines for freedom of twelve inmates from prisons in Niger State.
The Controller of Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) in Niger State, Baba Gana, released the information during a courtesy visit to the Palace of the Emir in Minna.
He commended the emirate for the gesture even as he said that the freed inmates included elderly persons and prisoners that had exhibited high moral standard and exemplary conducts while in the detention facility.
“Your Highness, we are in your palace to welcome you back from medical trip and to commend your efforts in paying fines for the release of elderly inmates and prisoners who have exhibited high moral conduct while in the detention.
“We must also commend the provision of borehole by your Emirate to the prison which ensures adequate water supply to the inmates among other gestures you have extended to us. We are immensely grateful.”
In his response, the emir, Dr. Farouk Bahago appreciated the visit of the controller and assured him of a sustained cordial relationship and continuous support to the prison service from the emirate.[myad]