Thousands of Friends and supporters of former vice president Mohammed Namadi Sambo thronged the Kaduna International Airport yesterday to receive him back to Kaduna after dis-engaging as the country’s number two man. Those who welcomed him include the immediate past deputy governor of Kaduna state, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga, former ministers, former and serving members of the state and federal legislature, People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains in the state, former local government chairmen. They alls defied the heavy down pour and deafening thunderstorm as they jubilated when he alighted from the presidential aircraft which landed at about 7:00pm. The friend and supporters then drove him in a long convoy to his Link road, Kaduna residence, singing and dancing in solidarity. Namadi Sambo, who was apparently overwhelmed by the reception accorded him, expressed his gratitude to the people of Kaduna state for their show of love and affection and Nigerians for the mandate given to him and former President Goodluck Jonathan to serve the country for five years. He wished the new administration success even as he assured that he would continue to make his contributions to the development of the country. The former Vice President also prayed for peace, progress and development of the country and called on his followers to continue to respect the tenets of democracy and be law abiding and to always toe the path of peace and dialogue. Namadi Sambo was sworn-in as Vice President on the 10th of May 2010 following the demise of the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua and the subsequent swearing-in of President Goodluck Jonathan. Before then, he was the executive governor of Kaduna state, elected in 2007.
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo vowed that the administration, being led by Muhammadu Buhari and him as second-in-command, will stop at nothing to eradicate corruption in Nigeria. Speaking today at a Thanksgiving Service at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, to mark the inauguration of President Buhari and him, Vice President Osinbajo said that God has a plan for this nation and as a God of time and season, it is time to set things aright. He said that corruption would be eradicated and there would be rule of law, stressing that anyone who breaks the law would be punished as God is no respecter of persons. Vice President Osinbajo was full of praises to God who controls all things and rules in the affairs of man. He said God plans to set things right and to make Nigeria a nation to be respected among the nations of the earth. The service was laced with series of worship sessions and prayers; prayers of thanksgiving were made on the peaceful campaigns, release of the election results and acceptance of it and ultimately, a peaceful inauguration of the administration. There were four Bible readings with the first two readings taken from Daniel 2 : 20 – 23 and the second from Psalm 124 : 1 – 8. Delivering his sermon, Bishop Wale Oke of the Sword of the Spirit Ministries, extolled the impeccable record of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who rose to the peak of his career at a tender age. He took the text of his sermon from 1Samuel 2: 13, reminding of the life of Prophet Eli and his children. Bishop Oke recalled that Eli was punished not because he was unrighteous but because of the sins of his children whom he did not correct and by implication, he Eli committed sin by proxy and God punished him. He urged the Vice President not to condone corruption by anyone who works with him, noting that he should set standard and with this he will remain a friend of God like Abraham. Wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, thanked the Almighty God for being with them throughout the campaign period. She also thanked all the friends and well-wishers as well as the clergymen who came for the thanksgiving service. Those who attended the thanksgiving service were former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, All Progressive Congress (APC) Chairman, Chief John Oyegun, former Governors of Ekiti Segun Oni and John Kayode Fayemi: former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi as well as Dr. Ogbonaya Onu. Others were Commandant of Civil Defence, Dr. Ade Aboderin, FRSC Corps Marshall, Boboye Oyeyemi, and members of the Diplomatic corps as well as other dignitaries and clergymen.
President Muhammadu Buhari has lamented over what he called “collateral damage” done to Nigeria’s economy by the successive governments. Buhari who spoke yesterday at the inauguration gala night held at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja called on Nigerians to bear with his administration, adding that he and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo are earnestly working to reconstruct the country. The President said the enormous damage inflicted on the country could easily be appreciated by comparing the nation’s infrastructure in 1999 with what currently prevails. “I ask Nigerians to please bear with us. A lot of damage has been done. You can look at our infrastructure in 1999 and now and you will appreciate this.” Buhari regretted the high rate of unemployment among youths, who he said represented about 60 per cent of the country’s population. The President said that the nation is sitting on a keg of gun powder with the prevailing unpleasant situation, adding that his administration would focus on agriculture and mining to engage some of the unemployed youths. He asked Nigerians to pray for the country more than they are currently doing. “Nigerians pray a lot; we need to even pray the more for luck so that the expectations our people have, especially the youth, would be met.” Buhari promised to seek the supports of Europe, America and Nigeria’s neighbours in tackling the unemployment and security problems confronting the country. The President noted that if Nigeria is enmeshed in crisis, the backlash on neighbouring countries would be monumental, stressing that Nigeria has to be well secured and efficiently managed. “This was why the legacy parties made the sacrifice of jettisoning their personal ambitions, tried to come together and took the bull by the horn and therefore brought it down and slaughtered it literally.’’ He said the new party in power, All Progressives Congress (APC) had realised its problems and made the sacrifice, even as he added that his administration would articulate the nation’s requirements after studying the handover notes from the past administration and consult the immediate neighbours, Europe and US to help the nation. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Nigeria and democracy as the winners of the last general elections. “Democracy is the winner and Nigeria is the winner. I cogratulate all who made the election possible. I also congratulate former President Goodluck Jonathan for deepening democracy.” Atiku believed that the path of honour Jonathan took would not be forgotten even as he advised the President to recognise the diversity of the country and accommodate all, realising that the nation’s diversity remained its strength. A National Leader of APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu said that a new era had come for Nigeria, saying that a commitment to build a new Nigeria had been consecrated. He described President Buhari as principled, passionate and determined to develop the country. “The challenge is yours. We that are looking up to you will continue to do so with great commitment, perseverance and we have to show that Africa can compete, Nigeria must lead.”
The British Prime Minister, David Cameron has asked President Muhammadu Buhari to come before the Group of seven industrialized nations, known as G7, with a “wish list” when he attends its meeting, scheduled to take place between June 7 and 9 in Berlin, Germany. Delivering this message to the new President at a meeting on Friday shortly after the inauguration, British Secretary for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Philip Hammond said his Prime Minister had requested for a list of which of the Nigeria’s challenges that would need urgent attention of the body. “We are waiting for your own list,” said the minister on behalf of Cameron. The meeting was a follow-up to an earlier one between the then President-elect and Prime minister Cameron, at which commitments were given to the in-coming administration in several areas, including the fight against terrorism, power and energy and such matters of common concerns of migration challenges facing the continent as well as what he called “intelligence fusion” to secure Africa from global terror. He also raised the issue of “free trade” between the EU and Africa, a proposal he said enjoyed the support of several countries on the continent and in support of which he sought to enlist the backing of President Buhari. The President in turn promised to prepare the government’s aspirations for the summit which he said he will attend. Mr. Han Changfu, the leader of the Chinese delegation, who is that country’s Minister of Agriculture at a similar meeting, asked President Buhari to open avenues for Chinese investments in Nigeria. China promised to help Nigeria out in several areas including agriculture, power, railways and other infrastructure. The President of Congo Brazaville, Dennis Sassou Nguesso was also among the several leaders who had audiences with the President after the inauguration on Friday. The Congolese leader said he had been mandated by other leaders in Central Africa to seek a meeting with their counterparts in the ECOWAS with a view to tackling common challenges especially the one posed by terrorism. Nguesso also requested President Buhari to assume his rightful place as the leader of Africa. President Buhari agreed that the meeting should hold before the nest African Union in South Africa as suggested. The current Somali president, Sheikh Hassan Mohamoud asked for Nigeria’s help in its bid to conquer terror and establish control over the country’s territory. Speaking while receiving Jacob Zuma, President of South Africa, President Buhari expressed his wish to work with Zuma to fight terrorism in Africa and outside the continent. The two leaders agreed to come to meet and exchange state visits to deepen the existing bilateral relationships.
President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that he would not spare members of Boko Haram whom he described as criminal elements that are bent on causing anarchy. The President condemned the latest terrorist attack on Maiduguri, stressing that his administration won’t tolerate wanton and wilful destruction of life by members of the sect. The President, who reacted to the latest attack, which left scores of people dead, injured and maimed, said in a statement issued by his media team that his administration meant business in its determination to tackle terrorist violence with all the resources available to his government. Describing terrorists as cowardly murderers that target innocent people, President Buhari said that as the Commander-in-Chief, he has sworn to protect the security of Nigerians everywhere. The President called for increased vigilance by local communities, even as he assured that his administration would give security close attention, and that his government is committed to boosting the morale of the armed forces by effectively funding them and attending to their welfare. He condoled the families of the victims of the latest terrorist attack on Maiduguri and assured them that the worst days of these criminal elements will be over soon.
President Muhammadu Buhari has made it clear that he has not authorised anybody to stop any Nigerian from travelling outside Nigeria. The President who was today, responding to some cases of “V.I.P stoppages” at the airports which he said was reported to him emphasised: “we have not banned anyone from travelling.” President Buhari directed all agencies under the government to run their affairs in full compliance with extant rules, regulations and the constitution of the country. “Unless otherwise directed by the courts, no law-abiding citizens should be barred from travelling abroad. We must treat fellow citizens with courtesy and respect. “Officials at the borders and other points of entry and exit should conduct their affairs in strict compliance with due process. No one has my permission to bar anyone from travelling abroad.” The President stressed that officials of the past administrations including ministers are entitled to their full rights and privileges under the constitution and must not be subjected to any undue harassment and intimidation at the airports or at other points of entry and exit.
The Official Portrait of Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo
Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have declared their assets, as required by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Code of Conduct Bureau on Friday acknowledged the submission of President Buhari’s and Vice President Osinbajo’s assets declaration form submitted separately on May 28, and signed for by the organisation’s Chairman, Sam Saba. President Buhari’s Declarant ID was given as: ‘President: 000001/2015.’ The Nigerian Constitution states in Chapter VI Section 140, that a person elected to the office of President shall not begin to perform the functions of that office until he has declared his assets and liabilities as prescribed in the Constitution. By declaring their assets, President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo may have not only fulfilled the requirements of the Nigerian Constitution, but also fulfilled the first of their many campaign promises. While seeking election into the highest office in the land, the President had promised Nigerians that he would publicly declare his assets as soon as he took over government.
Some angry youths, who disrupted the swearing in of Kaduna State Governor Mallam Nasir El-Rufai by hauling stones, sachets of water and other objects at the venue yesterday have confessed that their target was the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris, whom they accused of being the agent of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
They said that the Emir had shown open hatred for governor Nasiru el-Rufai, citing an example of when the emir refused to grant audience to the governor on three occasions during the campaigns. “He is a supporter of PDP and we don’t expect to see him here because during the campaigns, El-Rufai visited him three times but he refused to grant him audience. His presence at the swearing in is out of hypocrisy,” one of the youths said. The youths started throwing stones and shoes at the Emir when he was invited to the podium to present his address shortly after the governor took his oath of office.
The Murtala Square, venue of the event was thrown into confusion as the security agencies struggled to control the situation. The rioting youths had a running battle with the police as they continued to throw stones and shoes directed at the emir who was seated at the VIP stand among other guests. The police pursued the hoodlums who were throwing stones from different directions, but when such effort became fruitless, they threw teargas at them. The emir was immediately taken to one of the guest waiting rooms at the Murtala square by armed police men where he was kept before he was eventually smuggled out of the place. The programme which started on an exciting mood suddenly came to an abrupt end as people quickly left the venue. It was learnt that youths took advantage of the relaxed security at the venue of the event. They smuggled in stones in their pockets with a view to attack the former governor of the state, Alhaji Mukhtar Yero and the emir. However, Yero did not turn up for the event. [myad]
Kaduna state governor, Nasiru el-Rufai has pledged that he and his deputy would avoid ostentation and foolish bigmanism in the governance of the state.
Speaking shortly after he was sworn in yesterday by the Chief Judge of Kaduna State, Justice Tanimu Zailani, the governor acknowledged that fact that leadership by example is the most persuasive way to demand sacrifices from all of us as citizens, adding: “We pledge to avoid ostentation and foolish bigmanism, and to value transparency, modesty and accountability. “In recognition of the difficult challenges we face, our deputy Governor and I have concluded that the sacrifices that change requires must begin with us. We have decided to take a pay cut and donate 50 per cent of our salaries and allowances, until our fiscal situation improves. “We will obey the same rules that we demand of all of you. After all, the law is the difference between civilization and anarchy. We submit ourselves to the principle that all are equal before the law.”
Governor el-Rufai disclosed that Kaduna is the second most indebted state in the country, adding that the state cannot meet its obligations without handouts from the federal government. He called on the people to make sacrifices for a better tomorrow and for the future of their children, saying: “I say to you today, my fellow citizens of Kaduna State, that the time has come for us to face up to our responsibilities as citizens. We must take many difficult decisions. We have no choice but to postpone immediate gratification and sacrifice the fleeting comforts of today for a better future for our children. “This is what change means. You have spoken loud and clear that the time is now to stop the madness, and to live up to our fullest potential as human beings in the 21st Century. The governor said that although the problems are many but that priorities would be focused on the few key things that would allow all people the chance to fulfill their highest aspirations. “We pledge to you today to focus on jobs, security, education, and healthcare. We made these promises to you during the campaign, and we fully intend to fulfil them.” The governor decried the security situation in the state, noting that insecurity is an obstacle to progress. “Too many of our communities have suffered from communal violence, cattle-rustling and armed robbery, assuring that his administration will work with law enforcement officials to drastically reduce violent crime. “By choosing us to lead all our people— man and woman, adult and child, Christian and Muslim— on the difficult road to our freedom from soul-crushing poverty and human degradation, I pledge to you today to work day and night to make Kaduna great again. Together, we shall make this corner of our country a state worthy of our children.” [myad]
The inaugural speech of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29 is a good study in careful choice of words, whose import many people in a haste may find difficult to understand. It is indeed, a speech that showed the President as having long prepared for this job and knew clearly what direction he would take to actualize his dream for a better Nigeria for Nigerians. Of most germane in the speech is where he said that he is for everybody and he is for no body. This portion symbolizes the truism in the leadership context that a leader is he who is lonely even if he is surrounded by loved ones, friends and associates. This is because, in the case of President Buhari, it is only him that held the Holy Quran aloft on May 29, and swore with it that he would lead the nation with honesty and fear of God. “Having just a few minutes ago sworn on the Holy Book,” President Buhari said with emphasis and seriousness, “I intend to keep my oath and serve as President to all Nigerians.” And when he was doing the oath taking and swearing, no minister, no friend, no political associate, not even his wife assisted him in seeking for God’s help. And therefore, it is only him and no other that God would ask questions hereafter as to how he led his people. It is only him that Nigerians would eventually hold responsible and no other person, if anything goes wrong. He may have learnt a bitter lesson from his first encounter with power, as military Head of State between 1983 and 1985, when every other thing that happened, even outside Lagos, the then Federal Capital of Nigeria, was attributed to him, ala the incidence of Tunde Thompson and co. He may have, indeed, been taught a lesson of how the immediate past President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, was blamed for every other thing that happened during his government even though he might not know what was happening everywhere. This lessons may have informed his decision to streamline the government from the federal right to the council levels, as he stressed: “constitutionally, there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the states and local governments. Not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government cannot interfere in the details of its operations, it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me, I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch.” He might have added that even if a council member in a local government embezzles the council’s money, the people in the council would still blame it on him as the President. And of course, often, that is what happens. The President was magnanimous and quick-witted to acknowledge the fears being expressed in many quarters that his government would go after those who were suspected to have been neck-deep in corruption in the recent past, but went on to allay such fears (of probe), describing such fears as groundless. According to him, there would be no paying off old scores and that the past is prologue. The President acknowledged that, no matter how well organized the governments of the federation are, they cannot succeed without the support, understanding and cooperation of labour unions, organized private sector, the press and civil society organizations. He appealed to employers and workers alike to unite in raising productivity so that everybody will have the opportunity to share in increased prosperity. In carrying out the burden of leadership, Buhari also called on the Nigerian media which he described as the most vibrant in Africa, including the social media, to exercise its considerable powers with responsibility and patriotism. “My appeal for unity is predicated on the seriousness of the legacy we are getting into. With depleted foreign reserves, falling oil prices, leakages and debts, the Nigerian economy is in deep trouble and will require careful management to bring it round and to tackle the immediate challenges confronting us, namely; Boko Haram, the Niger Delta situation, the power shortages and unemployment especially among young people. For the longer term we have to improve the standards of our education. We have to look at the whole field of Medicare. We have to upgrade our dilapidated physical infrastructure.” President Buhari’s “I am for everybody and I am for nobody” should therefore be understood in the context of the loneliness of true leaders, which may translate into a warning to anybody who will work for him (and not with him), to be strictly in tandem with the path he has charted. That means therefore that he has no friend, no relation, and no enemy in this leadership venture of his. But on the other hand, everybody who is honest and want to work for him to attain his dream, is his own. [myad]
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