Nigeria Vice President Namadi Sambo (M), on his way to perform the lesser Hajj (Umrah), at the Al-Masjid –Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia today, Monday. With him are his personal physician, Dr. Salifu Ibrahim Kwaifa; a Nigerian business man, Alhaji Ibrahim Nasidi (2ND L); Senior Special Assitant on media, Umar Sani ( R), and another person. [myad]
At last, President Goodluck Jonathan, today, held a close-door meeting with parents of female students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno state who were kidnapped by members of Boko Haram on April 14.
Those who were at the meeting, held in the Banquete Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, were some of the female students that escaped from their captors in Sambisa forest. Others at the meeting were the Senate President, David Mark, Governors Isa Yuguda and Ibrahim Geidam of Bauchi and Borno states respectively, as well as some Chibok traditional rulers and Principal of the affected school.
Speaking to newsmen shortly after the meeting, where newsmen were carefully kept away, special adviser to President Jonathan, Dr. Reuben Abati said the President assured the victims that when Boko Haram is eventually defeated, his government would rebuild Chibok and other structures which its members destroyed.
Dr. Abati said that the President also assured the affected students that their education would not be truncated, saying that everything would be done to ensure they complete their education.
The special adviser said that over 200 people, representing various interest groups travelled all the way from Chibok to Abuja to attend the meeting, adding that after the meeting, “everybody’s spirit was high because the President gave them something practical to hope for.” [myad]
Chairman of the Rosehill Group, Suleiman Yahyah has described late Dr. Rilwan Lukman, former Nigeria minister of Petroleum resources who died in Austria on Monday morning, as a visionary leader.
Suleiman said that the death of Lukman was a monumental loss to Nigeria.
In a condolence message, the Rosehill Group boss said that the former petroleum minister lived a life of principle and service to his fatherland worthy of emulation.
The deceased, he said, was chairman Advisory Board of Asokoro Island Limited (AIL), a hospitality hotspot founded by Rosehill Group.
“He was highly principled; he abhorred corruption and was the defender of the interest of Nigerians,” he said.
Suleiman said that Dr. Lukman would be remembered as the architect of the original Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).
The statement said the Group will miss the statesman’s wise counsel which he used to give freely, as chairman of the Advisory Board of AIL.
He prayed for the repose of his soul while wishing the family and Nigerians the fortitude to bear the monumental loss. [myad]
Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has prayed to God to remove the evil ones from amongst Nigerians so that the country will enjoy peace, progress and development.
The Vice President who joined millions of other Muslims to observe lesser hajj (Umrah) at the Holy Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia today said: “We prayed for our nation’s peace, progress and development. We pray to Almighty Allah to remove all the evil that are within us so that the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President will succeed.”
Namadi Sambo offered the prayer shortly after the completion of circumbulating (Tawwaf) the Holy Ka’abah.
Amongst those that performed the pilgrimage alongside the Vice President were Nigeria’s ambassadors to Saudi Arabia Ambbassador Abubakar Bunu and the PDP National Organizing Secretary, Alhaji Abubakar Mustapha.
The Umrah (Lesser Pilgrimage) is performed by Muslims from all over the world by converging at the Holy city of Makkah to observe the ritual. The ritual can be undertaken at any time of the year but preferred during the month of Ramadan.
The pilgrims perform a series of worship, the same way Prophet Ibrahim and his second wife Hajara did.
Pilgrims usually use the Umrah to pray to God mercy and forgiveness, as well as requesting Him to grant them earthly and heavenly wishes. [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has taken serious exception to General Muhammadu Buhari’s attempt to link him to the haze of impeachments that are now ringing bell across the country, saying that Buhari is just reeling in idle scapegoating.
The President wanted General Buhari and others who have resorted to blaming him for their self-inflicted political troubles to stop their inexcusable partisanship and show greater regard for the truth, democracy, constitutionalism, the rule of law, peace, security and the well-being of the nation.
In a statement by his spokesman, Dr. Reuben Abati, responding to General Buhari’s accusation of him being the brain behind the impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state and other impeachment processes ongoing, Jonathan expressed surprise and regret for such statement coming from General Buhari.
He said that Buhari’s statement, titled: “Pull Nigeria Back From the Brink,” was full of wild and totally unsustainable allegations.
“There can be no doubt that General Buhari has sadly moved away from the patriotic and statesmanlike position he recently adopted on national security, which I publicly commended, and has now reverted to unbridled political partisanship.
“There can be no other explanation or justification for the completely unwarranted and very uncharitable assault on the conduct and integrity of President Jonathan which the statement he issued today represents.
“General Buhari’s main grouse which clearly motivated his ill-considered statement appears to be what he called “the gale of impeachments or the utilization of desperate tactics to suffocate the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state.”
The President considered it most unfortunate that instead of working to put their house in order and resolve the leadership crises and internal contradictions that have plunged their party into a downward spiral, General Buhari and his opposition allies have resorted to blaming a blameless President for their woes.
He reminded the General that the processes for impeaching an elected Governor are clearly stipulated in the National Constitution which Nigeria has operated since 1999, adding that President of Nigeria is not assigned any role in that process and therefore he has not played any role in the recent impeachment of Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa or in the impeachment drama currently being played out in Nasarawa State.
“For the record, President remains fully committed to upholding the letters, principles and spirit of the Nigerian Constitution as he has sworn, and defending the rule of law and integrity of the democratic process with all his might.”
On the General Buhari’s statement about anarchy, the President reminded him that from his humble beginnings as a Deputy Governor in Bayelsa state to date, he has never in his acts, or utterances, recommended or promoted violence as a tool of political negotiation.
“Contrary to whatever General Buhari and his new friends may imagine, I fully respect the rights, powers, authority and independence of elected representatives of the people, including the members of the state assemblies who have concluded or initiated impeachment proceedings against their state governors on grounds which they consider justifiable.
“The constitution does not give the President any power to intervene in such proceedings and I have never arrogated such powers to myself
or sought to exert any nefarious and unconstitutional influence on state assemblies in Adamawa, Nasarawa or anywhere else in other to secure undue political advantage for my party as General Buhari unjustifiably alleges.”
President Jonathan said that he remain true to his declaration that no political ambition of his is worth the life of a single Nigerian, adding that he has definitely not declared war on his own country or deployed federal institutions in the service of partisan interests as General Buhari falsely claims. “Neither have I been using the common wealth to subvert the system and punish the opposition, as the former Head of State inexcusably asserts.”
The President made it clear also that he has never at any time ordered that any Nigerian should be kidnapped or that anyone should be crated and forcefully transported in violation of decent norms of governance.
“We therefore urge General Buhari to tarry a while, ponder over his own antecedents and do a reality check as to whether he has the moral right to be so carelessly sanctimonious.” [myad]
The National Security Council has sent a serious warning to state governments that have planned to register and issue identity cards to non indigenes in their states to stop it forthwith.
The Council, which held a meeting today, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, also insisted that no state government should involve in the deportation of non-indigenes.
Imo and other states in the South Eastern part of the country have lately been quoted as planning to register and issue identity cards to Hausa/Fulani people doing businesses in their states, all in an attempt to check the activities of Boko Haram.
Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the meeting at the Presidential Villa today, the Director General of State Security Service (SSS), Ita Ekpeyong, said that such deportation and registration are more dangerous than Boko Haram itself.
Ekpeyong, who was accompanied by the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, said that Nigerians are free to settle anywhere they like.
He said that the Council of State meeting will be held next week to discuss the issues.
“The IGP has told us what was discussed at the meeting, the fight against Boko Haram, the efforts made by government to rescue the Chibok girls and the issue of deportation, registration of Nigerians in states of the federation. We regard this as even more potent than Boko Haram.”
“The Council discussed in detail the issue of registration of Nigerians in any part of the country, being subjected to registration, being subjected to deportation, being taken away from one part of the country to the other.
“The Council discussed the reaction by some groups in Kano State and other parts of the country. We observe that this threat was more potent than Boko Haram and could disintegrate the country.
“And we take this very seriously, for people to deport people, for people to take people from one place to the other, for registration of indigenes no matter where they are. No matter where they are they are free to settle anywhere they like.
“The Council resolved that the issue of registration of Nigerians anywhere in the country and deportation should stop forthwith. To re-emphasis the importance, the President has attached to this that is why he asked the IGP and myself to address the press. This must stop forthwith.” [myad]
President Goodluck Jonathan has praised God for making the former Nigeria minister of Petroleum resources, Dr. Rilwan Lukman, who just passed on at the age of 75 in Austria, a Nigerian.
This is even as former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described the departed Rilwan Lukman as the best oil minister Nigeria ever had “given his unmatched knowledge of the industry and the integrity with which he ran the ministry.”
In a statement by his special adviser on media and publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan said: “We give thanks to God Almighty for bestowing him on the nation and for the great intelligence, integrity, competence and humility with which he distinguished himself in all his national and international assignments.”
President Jonathan said that he received the news about the death of Dr. Lukman with sadness and a feeling of great national loss.
The President comforted his family, the Government and people of Kaduna state, as well as his friends, associates and all those he mentored over the years in the domestic and global oil industry.
The President said that he shared in their sorrow as they mourn the brilliant engineer, technocrat and administrator who spent almost all of his working life serving his country and the global community in various capacities, including Minister, Special Adviser, Secretary-General and President of the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The President acknowledged the significant contributions which late Dr. Lukman made to the development of the country’s oil and gas industry and his service with acclaimed distinction as the nation’s representative at the helm of OPEC affairs for many years.
In his statement, issued by his media team in Abuja, former Vice President Atiku recalled that Lukman’s contribution to the management of the nation’s oil and gas sector provided the impetus for his elevation as Secretary General of Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
Atiku who is also the Turaki Adamawa described his death as a monumental loss and prayed that Allah will grant his family and the nation the fortitude to bear the loss. [myad]
A helicopter belonging to the Nigerian Air Force crashed today South of Bama, Nigeria’s Defence authorities have said.
A statement by the Director of Defence Information, Major General Chris Olukolade, said the Mi-35 helicopter was on a training mission, and crashed South of Bama, in Borno State, “due to technical fault.”
He did mention any causality in the crash. [myad]
Africa’s richest person and the continent’s top donor Aliko Dangote has announced that he is upping his philanthropic works across Africa, starting from his home country Nigeria.
A statement from the Group said that Dangote has alreadu made whooping donations of over N30 Billion across Africa. “Africans must begin to take responsibilities by shaping the condition of its people,” the kindest man in Africa was reported to have said.
The statement explained that just in two years, the Dangote Group through its Foundation, churnned out about N30 billion in humanitarian gesture.
“This is includes the Dangote Academy that is worth about a N1billion, through which manpower is developed across various disciplines.
“Only last month, the Dangote cement, Ibese, through the Dangote Foundation, announced a scholarship for some Yewa community 50 students of various secondary and tertiary institutions.
“The Group had donated $500,000 to victims of explosion in Republic of Congo.
“Dangote Foundation also contributed a staggering $2million to flood victims in Pakistan and N120million to cushion the effect of famine in Niger Republic.”
The statement recalled that two years ago, Dangote made a staggering donation of N2.5billion to cushion the effect of flooding in Nigeria, making that the single highest donation by a private body in the history of Nigeria.
“Dangote also donated N430million to flood victims, unemployed youths and women in Kogi State in the same year. Three years back, the Dangote Foundation gave out about a billion naira for the economic empowerment of women in Kano State.
“Only recently, the Foundation donated N540 million to vulnerable women as a result of insurgency in the North East of Nigeria.
“The group had pumped over N1billion into the rehabilitation of some Nigerian universities, as part of its contribution to the educational sector.
“Two months ago, the Dangote Foundation donated 12 trailer-load of relief items worth N40million to support the government in bringing succour to victims of communual clash that displaced people.
“The Group had also donated N100million to victims of Lagos flooding, another N100million to those in Sokoto and N60million to victims of flooding in Oyo State, two years back.”
The statement quoted Alhaji Dangote as saying: “About this philanthropy, I think from this year, I personally want to take it very seriously. I want to be much more aggressive than what we have had in the past.
“We already have a foundation which will do all these things, but I am trying to see what we can do to encourage, not only Nigerians, but other Africans.
“I am not going to give all my money to charity, but I am going to try my best and give part of that money to charity. I am working hard on it.”
The statement said in Benue State alone, the Group has been running an annual scholarship scheme worth 10million to indigenes of Gboko communities.
It said that in Benue State, 15 villages were electrified at the cost of N115million, adding that 14 blocks of classrooms have been constructed for the community around the company at the cost of N84billion.
It added that 19 boreholes were constructed for the communities, and that an earth dam valued at N50million was also constructed.
It said that apart from the monthly payment of allowances to traditional rulers, a vigilante contract to ensure N2million regular income to the community was also instituted.
“We have also donated N15million to the community’s development foundation, and we are helping through the community empowerment scheme, while our one hundred bed hospital has been approved for construction within the community,” Dangote was quoted in the statement as saying.
The statement said that in addition to N78million compensation paid during the takeover of the company, N60million inconvenience allowance has been paid to families. [myad]
General Buhari’s Problem, By Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba
General Muhammadu Buhari was quoted as saying: “…Yes, I am a politician. Yes, I am in the opposition. Yes, there is the tendency for my statement to be misconstrued as that of a politician rather than a statesman. But I owe it as matter of duty and honor, and in the interest of our nation, to speak out on the dangerous trajectory that our nation is heading…”
General Buhari’s problems are contradictory words in politics. One is either a politician or a statesman but not both at once, especially when one is almost a candidate for office.
If one is about to run for office, it is hard to distinguish when he speaks as a candidate for office and when he is telling it as it is.
Among the living Nigerian statesmen such as Shehu Shagari, Alex Ekwueme, Jim Nwobodo, the Sultan of Sokoto Muhammed Abubakar and Olusegun Obasanjo, to some extent, as well as Wole Soyinka, et al: we listen to them when they speak.
Although they might still retain their political affiliations, they have each made it clear that they would no longer run for office. So we have to assume that they are speaking for the love of country. Not to gain any advantage. This cannot apply to Buhari who is trying to live in Aso Rock. What Buhari should do now is to either chose to be a politician and his words would be considered as political statement or retire from politics and his words would automatically be assumed to be statesmanlike.
One cannot have it both ways. Each word that President Goodluck Jonathan utters is considered as an effort to position himself better for 2015. When he serves out his term and has no more aspirations for Aso Rock, I will change my perspectives.
I wrote earlier that OBJ positions would be seen as statesmanlike only to some extent because he was quite recently itching to be the chairman of PDP BOT, a political position.
As for the rest of Buhari’s statements, I have no position one way or the other. But I would not accept them as coming from anybody but a politician vying for office. And I hope nobody is lured into believing that they were made for any reason other than to place him or his party in a better position come 2015.
As they say around here: “they are all the same.”
Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba wrote in from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. [myad]