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]
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]
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 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]
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]
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]
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]
The federal government of Nigeria has said that though it did not feel happy with the execution of four Nigerians in Indonesia following their conviction for drug trafficking but that they should know that violation of any country’s law would attract deadly penalty.
The nation’s minister of information, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki told newsmen today after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja that the execution of Nigerians among other nationals was unfortunate and unacceptable.
“The Foreign Affairs ministry has been on it before the execution. It is unfortunate that any of our citizens will have to be killed like that. We do not agree with what Indonisia did like any other person.
“And we also ceased this opportunity to advise Nigerians travelling abroad that these countries made it clear when they issue visas- it is there in red- that ‘penalty for drug trafficking is death.’
“Please let us beware; it is respect because that is their law, they will not bulge; they will not shift. In as much as we condemn we also advise and we plead with Nigerians outside to desist from carrying drugs, the ultimate end is firing squad.”
President Goodluck Jonathan has sounded a warning to the incoming administration of General Muhammadu Buhari to stop what forming what he called a parallel government when he is still in charge until May 29.
The President whose position was made known to newsmen shortly after the weekly Federal Executive Council (FECT) meeting today, expressed dissatisfaction with the way some functionaries of General Buhari’s side have been going about as if his government has come to an end after March 28 election.
Minister of National Planning, Dr. Abubakar Suleiman and his Information counterpart, Mrs. Patricia Akwashiki spoke the mind of President Jonathan when they jointly briefed newsmen after the FEC meeting that was presided over by the President himself.
They said that President Jonathan insisted that his magnanimity should not be interpreted by General Buhari to mean he is a coward even as he raised an objection to some terms of reference tabled before it by the transition committee of the incoming All Progressive Congress (APC) government.
The ministers said that in opposing the terms of reference of the incoming government’s transition committee, FEC advised its members to comply strictly with “the terms of reference as formatted by our (federal government’s) transition committee.”
The minister said that FEC observed that the terms of reference of the incoming government’s inauguration committee looked as if the outgoing Jonathan’s government was being intimidated, adding that the council warned against parallel government.
“We did receive from in-coming government transition committee some terms of reference which we looked at critically. And council did agree that the Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan government remains the current government of this country.
“The incoming government should avoid creating a parallel government while the government is still on. We take exceptions to some utterances of some of the terms of reference that look as if the current government is being stampeded or intimidated.
“Council frowned at most of the statements and most of them mm l provisions and council members are advised to work in line with the terms of reference of the current government.
“The magnanimity of Mr. President should not be taken to be cowardice and that is why Mr. President and indeed council members enjoined Nigerian people to see the olive branch extended to Nigerians and international community as a way of keeping this country intact, as a way of ensuring peace in Nigeria and as such whatever the outcome of the election, what is important is Nigeria’s national interest and that national interest should be protected, enhanced and promoted at whatever level we are.
“When the incoming government takes over government they can come out with their programmes, they can come out with their own agenda; they can decide to come out with policies the way they feel like.
“This government remains resolute to the various programmes and projects it is pursuing and the government will continue to do that until morning of May 29th.
“While Council enjoined members to be steadfast, Mr. President also enjoined members to come out with programmes, projects to be commissioned, that needs to be inspected and members in council should work as government, should perform their work without intimidation and that government especially civil servants, directors, director generals should see this government as the current government and not do anything that will rock the boat so as not to put this country in a bad light.
“These are issues before the transition committee, these are issues that were raised on transition programme.”
The ministers said that FEC further discussed the state of the transition programme and as chairman of sub-committee of transition committee, he and others were asked to update council on the progress report.
“We did mention to council that as at yesterday 28th April, almost all the MDAs that were advised to submit briefs, handing over notes have compiled except for one or two ministries.
“The committee is having on ground right now two versions of presentations. We have the executive summaries of all the MDAs hand over notes and the entire hand over notes from almost all the MDAs. The transition process is on course in terms of hand over notes and briefs. We have covered almost 80 per cent of our assignments.
“I want to tell you that as at yesterday, the chairman of the incoming transition committee Mallam Ahmed Joda conferred with the chairman of the transition committee of the current government, Vice President Namadi Sambo, they had a very robust discussion and they are working together as a family and I want to believe for the good of this country things will work.” [myad]
President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari has listed eight ills that have held down Nigeria for a long time, even as he sought the support of members of the National Assembly to tackle them within the shortest possible time. Buhari, who addressed the newly elected of the National Assembly today at their induction in Abuja made it clear that these eight development challenges are the mission of his presidency, adding: “I need the support of the Members of National Assembly on the battle front. I need your support in many respects.” The induction was organized by the National Institute for Legislative Studies General Buhari named what he called general insecurity and insurgency as the first ill, that has caused extreme human hardship and destruction of lives, livelihoods that may take Nigeria over a decade to rebuild across most of North Eastern Nigeria and some parts of North western Nigeria. The second one, he said, is the devastation and environmental degradation in the Niger Delta area which he said must be attended to. The third, according to the President-elect, is the decline in revenues due to fall in oil prices which he said, posed a threat to Government’s capacity to deliver on reconstruction of devastated areas and the new government development agenda. Others, he said, are endemic corruption that has crippled human and infrastructure development for decades, unacceptably poor provision of power supply that has had a crippling effect on development of small businesses and indeed the wider economy. General Buhari noted that de-industrialization for the past three decades has led to the closure of many industries and migration of many to other African countries. “Unacceptably high levels of unemployment and especially Youth Unemployment reaching over 40%. “High cost of governance that has been crowding out capital and human development. “Erosion of public social services such as infrastructure, health and education. “Lack of development in the agricultural and solid mineral sectors.” General Buhari said that appropriate policies needed to be put in place and that such policies might have to be translated into laws, adding that the oversight functions of the legislature is critical in ensuring that policies are implemented effectively and transparently. “Therefore, my mission to bring integrity into governance would better succeed if complemented with a strong culture of transparent oversight.” He stressed the need for the executive and the legislature to collaborate on the budget process and restructuring of the public sector so as to collectively tackle the menace of high recurrent cost at the expense of capital and human development. He also stressed the urgent need for the two to contain the high state of insecurity, adding: “all of you are representing various communities. We need to work together to address the problem from both its roots and manifestations. The strongest mitigating forces at this point are to redress the power sector deficits, encourage investments that are job creating and focus on human development and reconstruction. We also need to deploy efforts in conflict resolution and peace building in all our communities. “Together, we can make this nation great and as a role model in Africa and other emerging economies and democracies.” The President-elect reminded the lawmakers that they are standing on the threshold of history saying that for the first time in the nation’s post independence history, power is going to be transferred from an incumbent ruling party to an opposition party. “This is in spite of predictions of calamitous outcomes. Nigerians have indeed proven once again that they are a united people and stand resolute to protect its growing democracy. “I wish to specifically acknowledge and laud the maturity exhibited by the political class, the professionalism of our security agencies, the competence and resilience of INEC, but above all the doggedness of Nigerians and their commitment to ensuring that their wishes are represented and respected. “I dare say, it is equally a victory for all political parties and their leaderships for according due respect to the electoral process and accepting the results in most cases. I wish to specifically acknowledge the role played by the President, H.E Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for accepting the results of the election before final announcement was made.” [myad]
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