Buhari Looks Beyond His Second Tenure, Asks Leaders To Position APC For The Future

September 13, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has stressed the need for leaders and governors on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to invest more into positioning the party for the future.

“We really need to institutionalize the party so that when we leave, the party will continue to lead.”

The President spoke today, September 13, when the APC leaders and Progressives Governors’ Forum, paid him congratulatory visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on the outcome of the judgment of the Presidential Election Tribunal which affirmed his re-election in the February 23, 2019 election.

President Buhari said the victory at the tribunal was collective as it affects all the party members, governors and Nigerians, pointing out that a contrary judgment would also have affected all members of the party.

Buhari said that he joined the military immediately after secondary school and that the reality of discipline carried through his years of serving the country, including fighting in the war front.

This was even as the Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said that the judgment was eloquently and analytically delivered to clear all doubts on the veracity of the President’s school credentials, assuring him of the party’s loyalty and support.

“We never had any doubt. We were convinced of our victory. It is of particular interest that the only asset that the President has invested and continues to invest is his integrity. And we saw some people trying to throw mud at that integrity. On personal integrity, the opposition party does not have in their rank any man or woman who has your integrity.’’

The Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, Alhaji Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Governor of Kebbi State, congratulated President Buhari on the victory at the tribunal, noting that his dedication to duty and serving the country kept him at FEC meeting at the crucial moment.

Describing the judgment as clinical, with surgical precision in dealing with all the issues raised, Governor Bagudu assured the President of the support of all APC governors, and other governors that had benefited from his leadership.

Media Is Our Partner, Conscience Of The Nation, SGF, Boss Mustapha Says

Editorial staff

September 13, 2019

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha has made it clear that media will remain the partner in progress with the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

“To our media partners, I want to stress that in the determination of this (Buhari’s) administration to place Nigeria on the path of rapid growth and sustainable development, we will always count on your role as the watchdog of the society, partners in progress, and the conscience of the nation.”

Speaking last night, September 12 at special dinner organized by the Presidential Communication Team (PCT) for media chiefs invited from across the country, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Boss Mustapha said that the Buhari Administration will not muzzle the Press as its practitioners perform the important work of providing the public with reliable and quality information.

“We acknowledge that no real democracy can exist anywhere in the world without freedom of the press.”

According to the SGF, the appreciation Dinner with Media Partners is a manifestation of the fact that Buhari’s government values the contributions of the media in nation building, which is why in the past four years, the PCT has provided a platform for key government officials to regularly engage Editors and Media Managers in-camera briefing sessions to exchange views on some pressing challenges facing our dear country

“The quarterly briefing sessions have provided an opportunity for us to showcase our agenda to the Nigerian people and forge stronger partnerships and synergy for the benefit of our people. I make bold to say that since I assumed office as Secretary to the Government of the Federation, we have run a government that is accountable to the public by all standards.

“The Buhari Administration has laid a solid foundation for Nigeria’s economic development through massive investments in agriculture, power, transportation infrastructure and manufacturing. We believe that tangible investments in these priority areas will drive nation economic diversification programmes, curb inflation and shore up foreign reserves.”

Minister Sympathizes With Media Aide Over Death Of His Wife

Editorial staff

September 13, 2019

Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has expressed sympathy to the family of his Special Assistant on Media, Alhaji Sani Abubakar over the death of his wife, Hajiya Sa’adatu Abubakar.

Malam Musa Bello, who was one of the earliest callers at the residence of the bereaved in the early hours of today, September 13, joined members of the family in prayers and prayed to God for the repose of the soul of the deceased.

Other visitors at the residence of Alh. Abubakar include the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Malam Bashir Mai-Borno, members of the FCT Press Corps, FCT based journalists as well as several heads of agencies and departments of the FCTA.

Sani Abubakar was the Chairman of the FCT Press Corps until his appointment as the Special Assistant on Media by the minister in 2015. He was re-appointed in August 2019.

Senator Dino Melaye Predicts Chaos In PDP: Turns Down Party Appointment

Editorial staff

September 13, 2019

Senator Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has predicted chaos for the party even as he rejected his appointment as the Director-General of the Kogi State Governorship Campaign Council for the Party.

Senator Melaye, in a tweet and his Facebook wall today, September 13, wished PDP all the best, saying: “when truth is a casualty, there is chaos. Let me wish PDP all the best.”

He stressed categorically that he had turned down the position of the Director-General of the Kogi State Governorship Campaign Council.

The PDP National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan had, yesterday, September 12, told journalists that Melaye has been appointed the Director General of PDP Kogi State Governorship Election Campaign Council.

Wike, PDP’s Rivers Governor, Warns His Party: We’ll Fight You To Standstill

Greenbarge Reporters

September 12, 2019

The Rivers State Governor, Nyeson Wike has warned the party on which platform he is ruling the State, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) not to toy with the interest of the state.

“We are warning PDP to be careful not to toy with Rivers State. The state has all it takes to withstand the PDP and fight the party to a standstill. Rivers governor is not one of those governors that anyone can cajole. He is not one of those governors that will kowtow to illicit activities.”

Governor Wike’s attack of his PDP came on the heels of a committee set up by the party to investigate Ndudi Elumelu’s emergence as the minority leader of the House of Representatives.

“The committee set up by the PDP on the illegal emergence of Ndudi Elumelu is the most corrupt committee ever set up by the party. We thank our worthy son, Austin Opara, for withdrawing from that committee, so that he is not entangled in the illegal activities of the tainted committee.”

Wike further warned: “nobody should dare Rivers State any longer. Enough is enough. PDP should know that we are not a punching bag. We are not a people you can use and push. We are not harlots. Whenever you want, you come. When you finish, you push us aside.”

Group Asks PDP To Stop Discrediting Judiciary, Challenges It To Go To Supreme Court

Editorial staff

September 12, 2019

A group, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) has asked the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to stop discrediting the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal (PEPT), challenging the party to proceed to the Supreme Court if it is not satisfied with the judgment.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, group said that encouraging its minions to cast aspersions on the Tribunal would not help the party to go anywhere..

“As expected, PDP has opted to reject the verdict of the five-member panel, but what is baffling is the manner the party is seeking to discredit it by describing it as a ‘barefaced subversion of justice.’

“Even after the painstaking manner that the Tribunal showed that the President was eminently qualified for the job, this party is still claiming that he was not qualified to contest the 2019 election.

“If PDP leaders are still holding on to the jaded claim that Buhari does not have the requisite qualifications, then they were either not paying attention to the points raised by Justice Mohammed Garba who read the lead judgement, or they are just out to continue to malign members of the panel.

“Because the courtroom was thrown open to the media, many Nigerians across the country had the rare privilege of hearing how the verdict was rendered in an unambiguous way, but as usual, opposition elements are twisting it to suit their fancy.

“Or how else would a reasonable party deliberately misquote the Tribunal as saying that ‘one need not provide a copy or certified true copy of educational certificate’, when indeed it held that the fact that President Buhari did not attach his certificate to the form CF001 and the affidavit he submitted to INEC, did not imply that he did not possess the documents as claimed by the petitioners.

“Everyone who listened to the judgement, probably aside from the PDP, must have heard how the presiding judge then explained that ‘there is evidence before the court that the 2^nd respondent (Buhari) went for military training after his secondary school education’.

“The judge also added that ‘the 2^nd respondent has more than secondary school certificate having attended further courses while in the Army before concluding that President Buhari was not only qualified but also eminently qualified,” the group said.

BMO also had strong words for PDP elements pushing online memes and jokes about affidavits on the basis of what they claimed the panel said.

“There was nowhere in the judgement that the panel said a person seeking elective positions does not need to tender educational certificates.

“What is clear from the verdict rendered by Justice Garba is that although there is no constitutional requirement for candidates to attach certificates to INEC form, they still have to swear to an affidavit detailing personal information, including academic qualifications and professional attainment.

“We wonder how people who claim to be defenders of the justice system would be making a mockery of an aspect of the system by encouraging others to swear a false affidavit of their qualification.

“For the avoidance of doubt, President Buhari did not only complete his secondary education before joining the Nigerian Army, but his overall educational background is also on a far higher level than that of PDP’s former Presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar.

“It is baffling that people questioning the President’s credentials are backing an individual whose Secondary School Certificate was too poor to earn him a place in a Police College, while the man they love to hate not only entered the Army but also underwent officer cadet training at Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot in England after completing preliminary training at the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC).

“We also know that President Buhari was also at the Defence Service Staff College Wellington, India between 1973 and 1974 as well as US Army War College, Carlisle in 1980.

“It is no longer news that President Buhari eventually had a distinguished army career that saw him attaining the rank of Major General and later Nigeria’s military Head of State”.

The group then urged the PDP and its leaders to consider apologising to all Nigerians for wasting everyone’s time with their frivolous petition

“This is the best path of honour, even if the party itself cannot take a cue from one of its key leaders Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers state who was quick to break ranks and congratulate the President.

“But instead, they have chosen to subject the country to more insults with their poorly framed reaction to a judgement that some of Nigeria’s best lawyers have hailed.

“And just like the Information Minister Lai Mohammed has said: ’PDP and its candidate should be thanking their stars that they are not being prosecuted for coming to court with fraudulently-obtained evidence’ which the tribunal easily dismissed.”

How I Made Millions From Kidnapping On Abuja-Kaduna Road – Suspected Kingpin Confesses

Editorial staff

September 12, 2019

A 40 year old suspected kidnapping kidnap, Bello Abdul, alias Yellow, has confessed to have made millions of naira from his trade, murdered over ten persons and abducted more than 50 victims, especially on the notorious Abuja-Kaduna highway.

Bello Abdul, who spoke today, September 12 after he was arrested by operatives of the Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT), said: “I was into armed robbery and kidnapping. I have kidnapped about 50 times. I have collected N3 million like six times. I have collected N10 million, N17 million and N19 million from different places.

“I operate along Abuja-Kaduna road. I use small boys and those from my village in Maidaro. My boys are in Katsina and Zamfara. They are in nine places. I used AK47 rifles and I bought them N50,000 each from one Yaro Alhaji at Kajori. I buy like a container of ammunition. A single ammunition is N1,000.

“I have killed like 10 people. I killed one because the family insulted me on phone when I called them. Others were killed because their families did not pay ransom. I have rustled about 200 cows.

“I did all these things before but I have stopped them now. I have calmed down. If I call my brother Alhaji Abu, he will bring those weapons I used for kidnapping.”

Yellow was arrested at his hideout in Niger State by detectives, who have been on his trail following allegations of operating an armed robbery, cattle rustling and kidnapping syndicate that spanned across Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

The suspect who spoke Hausa said: “Yes I am married with five children. I was in Niger State. I was in Kajuru before but I moved to Niger Republic in Iyamadamakwa. I live in Kara.”

Buhari, Women-Friendly President Surrounded By Women

Greenbarge Reporters

September 12, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari, obviously, a women-friendly President, is hereby surrounded by a delegation of National, Zonal, State and Federal Capital Territory Women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Presidential Villa today, September 12.

I’m Determined To Lift Millions Out Of Poverty In Next 4 Years – Buhari

Editorial staff

September 12, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has vowed to use the opportunity of his second term to lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.

He said that he used his first term to prepare ground for the next level and that there is nothing that will stop him and his government from attaining the planned Eldorado for the majority of the citizens, especially the poor ones.

The President, who spoke today, September 12, when he received in audience, the new executive of Trade Union Congress, led by its President, Comrade Quadri Olaleye, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, said that his government embarked on the most ambitious infrastructure development and rehabilitation projects this country had never seen in decades.

“We also introduced the largest Social Investment Program in Sub-Saharan Africa.

“Although these programs and many more successfully lifted Nigeria out of recession, the full impact is yet to be felt. In the next four years, we shall sustain this momentum and by the grace of God, lift millions of Nigerians out of poverty.”

Buhari said that during his first term, he secured the nation’s territorial integrity and continue to protect the lives and properties of the citizens.

“We introduced various economic stimulus packages that support businesses and traders at all levels, promoted backward integration programmes especially in the agricultural sector to enhance our food security while creating jobs.”

He stressed that most of the inherited challenges were avoidable, if some previous governments had been keener on investing on infrastructure and human capacity.

“The points you raised are all interconnected. The lack of power and infrastructure due to decades of under-investment led to the closure or inefficient operations of a number of factories across the country. This meant the private sector was unable to create jobs fast enough to cope with our increasing population.

“You will agree with me that, all these challenges and many more were long ago left unattended to, thereby leaving the country in the mired state we inherited. You all will also testify to having seen and experienced what we have put in place as an administration to address these challenges.”

He concurred with the union leaders on the need to eliminate corruption and inefficiencies in the oil sector, assuring them that his government will continue to wage war on corruption in all sectors even as it had no intention of inflicting any additional hardship on Nigerians.

The President also assured the union leaders that his government is committed to the implementation of the national minimum wage, adding that the inaugural Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held yesterday, September 11 focused on the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework, which included discussions around the new minimum wage.

In his remarks, the President of TUC advised the Federal Government to pay more attention on the welfare of Nigerians by avoiding increase of fuel price and ensuring implementation of the National Minimum Wage, which had been delayed by negotiations on the consequential adjustments.

“We are, however, disturbed that the enthusiasm is turning into a nightmare,’’ he said, urging the President to focus on poverty reduction and improving security.

Olaleye assured the President that TUC will support the government as it tackles challenges facing the country, commending him for increase in Internally Generated Revenue, steps on the xenophobic attacks on Nigerians and signing of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement.

Why I Entrust Budget And Finance Ministry In Hand Of Woman – Buhari

Editorial staff

September 12, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has explained why he has placed women in strategic positions of his government, especially the ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning so as to ensure effective management of limited resources available, and promote a stronger sense of inclusiveness.

President Buhari emphasized that he preferred women to oversee the economic and financial hub of the country as they can readily deploy their experience in aligning resources with the needs of the country, even as he said that Nigeria is blessed with many female technocrats that have local and international experiences on economy and finance.

The President gave the insight into his preferred choice for Ministers of Finance while receiving a delegation of National, Zonal, State and FCT Women leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the party Women Leader, Hajiya Salamatu Umaru Baiwa at the State House.

“I am happy that I can defend myself very effectively on this issue. The APC party leader is my witness. Since the coming into power of this administration I have handed over the treasury to women.

“Even at household level, you hand over the money to women to manage. It can be taken to the level of managing the country’s treasury as well. I have consistently given it to women. It is strategic.

“I am conscious of the leadership roles of women in the society and by my action I have justified my belief,’’ President Buhari said.

The President reiterated that his administration will ensure inclusiveness for women and youths, especially in the second term, by providing more access to facilities that will enable spread of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, and encourage more interest in agriculture.

President Buhari said the traditional and subsistence style of farming should be replaced with commercialized and business oriented techniques.

“We have to move away from the traditional ways of farming that were practiced in the pre-colonial and colonial era,’’ he added.

The President said he instructed the ministers to work with traditional institutions to encourage interest in farming, with the Central Bank of Nigeria readily providing loans at low interest rates and longer periods of repayment.

“On unemployment, I know there is no able bodied person that went back to the farm in the last three years that regretted the action,’’ he added.

In her remarks, the APC Woman Leader congratulated the President for his victory at the polls and the tribunal, commending the administration for its efforts in managing the affairs of the country, which provided the impetus for the vigorous campaigns.

Baiwa said women were particularly pleased and willing to vote for the President because the government deliberately formulated some policies to favour and empower women, like the social intervention Trader Moni.

She said the APC had many resourceful and loyal women that would contribute to the success of the administration, while commending the President for giving women strategic positions in the government.

“Our prayer is that God will give you the tenacity to overcome all obstacles,’’ the Woman Leader said.

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