I’ll Hand Over Boko Haram-Free Nigeria To Buhari, Jonathan Promises

April 30, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has promised to hand over a country free of Boko Haram to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari on May 29. He made it lear that he will also do all within his powers to ensure that all Nigerian territory still held by the insurgents are totally liberated before the handing over.
The President who received a delegation of Heads of Customs from the West and Central African Region of the World Customs Organisation led by the Secretary-General of the organisation, Mr. Kunio Mikuriya at the Presidential Villa, Abuja today, emphasized his determination to hand over a country completely free of terrorist strongholds to General Buhari.
The President said that ongoing military operations in the North-East had already recorded huge successes, with two states completely freed from the control of terrorists, while operations in the third state had reached a concluding stage.
“We can now say two states are completely freed from terrorist control, while in the third state, it is only in one Local Government Area that they are still present. That is in the Sambisa Forest.”
President Jonathan noted that the military had already moved into the forest to seize the remaining camps of the terrorists, adding that the recent rescue of about 300 abducted girls and women was further evidence of the success being achieved in the ongoing operation.
On his decision to concede victory to the President-elect, General Buhari, before all the results of the presidential elections were announced, President Jonathan said that elections must be approached from a nationalistic point of view.
“Our elections should be about where Nigeria is going. If Nigeria is moving forward, it is for the good of all Nigerians. My children and grandchildren will live and grow in this country and contribute to it.
“I always tell my colleagues to leave office when their time is up. We are trying to encourage African leaders not to remain in power as kings until death.”
Leader of the delegation, Mr. Mikuriya commended the President for supporting the reform of the Nigeria Customs Service, saying that other African countries had already started emulating the vision, strategy, adoption to new technology and result- oriented training of officers that were captured in Nigeria’s reforms. [myad]

Buhari Laments Poor Living Standards Of Nigerian Workers Amidst Vast Oil Wealth

Greenbarge Reporters

April 30, 2015

“Nigerian working class are among the worst hit social groups on account of poor living standards, a situation that is inconsistent with Nigeria’s vast oil wealth.”
The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress (APC), who made this lamentation today in a solidarity message to Nigerian workers who celebrate May-Day tomorrow, added that the hardships being encountered by the Nigerian working class, is being compounded by poor governance and large-scale pervasive corruption in the country.
The President-elect, who extolled the sacrifices of the Nigerian working class in the face of economic tough times in their everyday struggle to survive also expressed dismay at the paradox of Nigeria’s oil wealth, characterized by rising poverty while a few corrupt officials are making themselves very rich at the expense of people’s wealth.
General Buhari equally regretted the fact that honest labour has been relegated to the background even as he warned that a country that sacrifices honesty in favour of quick wealth by whatever means cannot expect to achieve progress and respect in the eyes of other nations.
He reassured the Nigerian workers that his incoming administration would be fully committed to boosting the morale of the Nigerian workers in order to increase productivity and their income.
He explained that productivity is directly related to the development of the country’s economy, adding that his incoming administration would increase incentives for the Nigerian workers in order to boost their income.
He, however, appealed to the Nigerian workers to cooperate fully with his incoming administration in order to tackle the monster of corruption, which he said is the greatest enemy of development.
General Buhari advised civil servants against connivance with corrupt politicians and other public officials to divert public resources to private use. [myad]

Jonathan Blames His Electoral Downfall On Wrangling In PDP

Greenbarge Reporters

April 30, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that his defeat at the March 28 Presidential election by the opposition All Progressives (APC) Candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari was as a result of internal wrangling amongst the leadership of his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)
He said however that if the members of the party would remain committed to the vision of its founding fathers and work very hard, the party will return to power at the Federal level in 2019.
The President spoke today after receiving the report of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organization at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
President Jonathan said that the electoral losses were most likely as a result of problems within PDP in many states of the federation.
“Let us not judge PDP by the results of the presidential elections, because in some of the states where we saw the PDP score so low, it was probably due to problems within the PDP.
“We must continue to be united as a party. And continue to work hard so that as we move towards subsequent elections in 2019 and 2023, PDP will come out stronger.”
The President said that the party already had all that it will require to win the 2019 elections, but needed to return to the drawing board to re-strategize for the future.
“Whatever happened was like a slip. You don’t need to travel to America to know how power moves from the Republicans to the Democrats and from the Democrats to the Republicans.
“You can even go to Ghana that is very close to us. The present administration lost some years back and of course they came back, and won the elections. So the problem is not whether we lost or won elections, which is already history, but how we can reconsolidate our party.
“If we are committed and we work hard, definitely the PDP will spring back.”
He said that the outcome of future elections will be determined by the party’s preparedness, even as he advised members of the party to be more united and remain loyal to the party.
“The party will come back stronger. PDP is still the most organized party. PDP is still the party that nobody owns. PDP is still the party that whoever you are, you can get to any level that you aspire to through competence. I encourage members of our party to remain faithful and not be disillusioned.”
In his remarks, the Director General of the PDP Presidential Campaign Organisation, Senator Ahmadu Ali, commended President Jonathan for putting the nation before his personal ambition.
“Our great party will emerge from this debacle stronger, wiser and prouder. Even in defeat, we are able to impart some valuable lessons to the Nigerian electorate.
“This is the first time in the history of this country that a sitting Government has handed over power peacefully to an opposition party after an election. We are proud of you.” [myad]

Buhari Grieves Over Boko Haram Killing Of Nigerien Soldiers

Greenbarge Reporters

April 30, 2015

The President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has expressed deep sorrow over the killing of 10 soldiers from Niger Republic by the Boko Haram terrorists.
In a statement issued in Abuja on his behalf today by his media team, the President-elect said he was deeply saddened that soldiers from other African countries that came to help Nigeria to fight terrorism were targeted and killed by the terrorists.
According to him, Nigeria could never forget the sacrifices of soldiers from other African countries, mainly Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic, who are part of the African Union Multinational Joint Military Task Force.
The President-elect said that the sacrifice of the soldiers from Niger Republic was a demonstration of their commitment to African peace and stability in the spirit of good neighbourliness.
General Buhari warned Boko Haram that targeting Nigerien soldiers and troops from other African countries would only toughen the resolve of his incoming government to fight terrorism with all the resources at its disposal.
He conveyed his heartfelt sympathy to the families, government and the people of Niger Republic over the murder of their soldiers by the Boko Haram bandits. [myad]

Amanze Obi And His Gang, By Yusuf Ozi-Usman

Greenbarge Reporters

April 30, 2015

With the 2015 general elections over and winners emerged, it seems that some so-called senior journalists in some media houses are yet to get over the repulsive campaign hang-over. They not only continue to display their personal sentiment, via hate writing, but refuse to accept that Nigeria is still within the confines of democracy.
And above all, some of these hate writers have even gone beyond the ordinary, of calling the leaders names and using insultive words on them.
A back page columnist, Amanze Obi, with Broken Tongues as title of his column in the Sun newspaper, unfortunately falls in this gutter language usage category.
Of course, like I said, in democratic environment under which Nigeria exists, Obi has all the rights to defend the current minister of Petroleum, Alison Diezani-Madueke, as he did in his write up in the newspaper’s edition of April 30 (today), over the alleged missing N20 Billion as floated by the former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. He has all the rights too to question and even attack the pronouncement by the President-elect, General Muammadu Buhari, as he also did in the same write up, to the effect that he (Buhari) will probe the missing money (N20 Billion).
But, Obi went wild and was obviously livid not only with anger, in the write up titled “Sticky Tales Around Diezani” but called Buhari all sort of names.
One feels ashamed that a highly rated and respected writer like Obi would allow his sentiment and hatred to protrude like sore thumb from his thought, by referring to the President-elect as “Buhari and his gang,” and “Buhari and his cohorts.”
It is obvious that Obi has lost touch with some vital aspect of African culture which prescribes respect for elders and of course, leaders. Or it is obvious that Obi does not know the meaning of “gang” and “cohort”? If he does and still went ahead to make such derogatory reference as “gang” and “cohort” on a man old enough to be his father or at least uncle, or his leader, pray, where is the sense of decorum?
And, in any case, what is wrong in General Buhari saying that he will revisit the issues surrounding the alleged missing N20 Billion? What offense has the General committed by saying so and even doing so? Does mere move to probe the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) amounts to, as Obi said, witch-hunting?
It is high time Obi and his gang of hate writers and or cohorts, began to understand that in democracy, there is limit to which freedom of expression can be used, beyond which you either incur the wrath of human and or God or drag one’s reputation as a writer into the mud.
That exactly is what Obi is courting. [myad]

Jonathan Consoles Governor Yuguda Over Mother’s Death

Greenbarge Reporters

April 30, 2015

President Goodluck Jonathan has sent a condolence message to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State and members of his family on the death of his mother, Hajiya Hauwa Yuguda.
In a statement today by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan also consoled the entire Yuguda family as they mourn Hajiya Hauwa.
He noted that the deceased’s modest, cheerful and compassionate disposition and lifestyle will remain a source of inspiration for her offspring and all who knew her.
The President believed that Governor Yuguda, his siblings, members of their families and all others whose lives were positively touched by Hajiya Hauwa will forever treasure memories of her exemplary motherliness as well as her benevolence to the less privileged.
The President then prayed to God to receive Hajiya Hauwa’s soul and grant her eternal rest. [myad]

Nigeria Demands Bodies Of Four Executed Nigerians From Indonesia For Burial

Greenbarge Reporters

April 29, 2015

Nigeria has asked Indonesia to urgently return the bodies of the four executed Nigerians to their families for proper burial even as it expressed “deep disappointment” at the execution for drug offences in Indonesia.

The government said it was deeply disappointed over the execution of Messrs Martin Anderson, Okwudili Oyatanze, Jaminu Anashin and Sylvester Obiekwe by the government of Indonesia for drug related offences.

The four men were executed early Wednesday along with two convicts from Australia, one from Brazil and an Indonesian, despite repeated appeals for mercy from foreign governments and the men’s families.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry made the formal request in a statement released in Abuja last night and expressing regret that despite numerous pleas by President Goodluck Jonathan and other world leaders at several fora Indonesia still went ahead to carry out the execution.

The government however warned Nigerians across the globe to steer clear of drug trafficking even as it expressed it condolences to the families of the four Nigerians killed by Jakarta.

“The Federal Government seizes this opportunity to once again, warn all Nigerians to desist from drug trafficking and other offences that attract maximum punishment in several countries of the world.

“The Federal Government will continue to promote the welfare and protect the lives of Nigerians abroad, no matter their circumstances.

“Furthermore, Government is committed to engage the Government of Indonesia and other friendly countries regarding the conclusion of Prisoner Transfer Agreements and other bilateral means of safeguarding the interest and welfare of Nigerians.”

The statement said that President Goodluck Jonathan and Foreign Minister, Aminu Wali had made “spirited appeals for clemency” most recently at an Asian-African summit in the Indonesian capital Jakarta last week.

In the face of a storm of international criticism, Indonesia has defended its actions, saying they were a key part of its “war on drugs.”

There had been confusion about the nationalities of the four Africans, with Nigeria‘s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) saying last week that Anderson was Ghanaian.

Abashin meanwhile was also known as Raheem Agbaje Salami, according to the NDLEA, and was travelling on a Spanish passport when he was arrested with heroin in his suitcase at the airport in Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, in September 1998. [myad]

Atiku Hails Soldiers For Rescuing 293 Girls, Women From Sambisa Forest

Greenbarge Reporters

April 29, 2015

Former Nigeria Vice President and chieftain of All Progressives Congress (APC), Atiku Abubakar has commended the Nigerian soldiers for the rescue of nearly 300 girls and women from the Sambisa forest, the strong hold of Boko Haram.

The former Vice President said in a statement by his media office in Abuja today that it is unacceptable that hundreds of women, girls and boys have been abducted by Boko Haram over the last couple of months.

“While we rejoice in the rescue of the women and girls yesterday, we urge that our military continues steadfastly in the operations until all abducted Nigerians have been rescued and territories recaptured.”

Atiku who is also the turaki Adamawa expressed his unwavering support to Nigeria’s military forces in its ongoing mission to restore peace and sovereignty. [myad]

I Never Ordered Anybody To Stop AIT From Covering My Activities, Buhari Clarifies

Greenbarge Reporters

April 29, 2015

Nigeria’s president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, has denied the news making the round that he barred the reporters of Africa Independent Television (AIT) from covering his activities even as he gave personal instruction to all his staff, including the personnel attached directly to him, to steer clear of all dealings with the media.

In a statement by the Directorate of Media and Publicity of the APC Presidential Campaign Council, General Buhari insisted that all issues that have to do with media affairs should be left to his official media team.

He threw his support behind his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) which had earlier expressed disagreement with the temporary barring of the African Independent Television (AIT) from covering his activities.

“I would like everyone to henceforth stay within his/her defined area of responsibility.”

general Buhari made it clear that he was neither consulted nor informed about the AIT reporters being barred and that he only became aware of the matter after the public uproar it generated.

“The time of CHANGE has come,” he said, adding: “we must avoid making the same mistakes that the outgoing government made.” [myad]

Federal Capital Minister Challenges Buhari: Probe Me If You Can

Greenbarge Reporters

April 29, 2015

The Minister of the Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Bala Mohammed has challenged the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to probe him, saying that he entertained no fear facing his government to account for his actions in office.

According to him, he has all the documents and records to account for his actions in office in the last for five years.

He spoke to newsmen today at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while reacting to statements credited to All Progressives Congress (APC) that he was embarking on last-minute award of projects and recruitment despite that the government he is serving winds down on May 29.

“For someone, who has stayed in FCT for five years, definitely I must be accountable for all my actions, and I am ready with all the records and documents that we have with all modesty to justify my actions while I superintended over the place.”

The minister said that APC was wrong to accuse him of panic recruitment when indeed the exercise was approved by the board of the FCDA, saying that all laid down procedures for recruitment were complied with in recruiting the workers.

Bala Mohammed said the incoming government is however at liberty to sack the workers if it found them not useful after taking over on May 29, adding: “the fact that we have lost election does not mean we should just abandon something at the point of conclusion.

“Of course, we will make sure that we are accountable for anything that we have done, and we are in compliance with the federal character principle and the template established.

“Certainly, we have learnt from other MDAs, where we have stampeded some Nigerians because of the test we have carried out under due diligence.

“This time around we want to ensure that we comply with all the requirements for due process in order to employ, we have not concluded them and I hope to conclude before we go.” [myad]

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