By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA - President Muhammadu Buhari, yesterday, dubbed Rivers State as Nigeria’s most deadly state, even as he offered profuse apologies for the ill-tempered elections conducted under his watch in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
Speaking at the first National Executive Committee, NEC, meeting of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja this year, the president said the administration had so far raked N3 trillion into the Treasury Single Account, TSA.
President Muhammadu Buhari, APC
National Chairman, Chief John
Odigie-Oyegun, Speaker Rt Hon Yakubu
Dogara and APC Deputy National
Chairman North, Senator Lawal shuiabu
during APC NEC meeting at the
Headquarters in Abuja. PHOTO: STATE
HOUSE.
President Muhammadu Buhari, APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, Speaker Rt Hon Yakubu Dogara and APC Deputy National Chairman North, Senator Lawal shuiabu during APC NEC meeting at the Headquarters in Abuja. PHOTO: STATE HOUSE.
The president, who spoke amid a tight security cordon mounted at the APC national secretariat, urged party supporters to stay the course, saying that progress was being made on all fronts, from the economy to the security situation in the country.
Buhari nevertheless charged Nigerians to rise to the situation as he particularly charged militants in the Niger Delta that continuous sabotage of oil facilities was doing the people more harm than good. The president, who appealed for understanding from party members also dismissed allegations from critics that he had turned a globetrotter.
Earlier in his welcome address, the national chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun said challenges facing the administration were inherited from the preceding administration and the collapse of the price of oil in the international market. He charged party faithful to stand boldly with the administration in facing the challenges.
Odigie-Oyegun also disclosed that a committee had been constituted to reorganise the membership of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the party, a sign that inevitably indicated that the scheduled inauguration next week would be put on hold.
The tight security around the meeting venue was also not unconnected to alleged plans by some members of the NEC to disrupt the meeting upon claims of marginalisation of some members of the NEC.
Giving notice of the progress made in security, the president commended the party for recommending the removal of the military hierarchy inherited from the preceding administration, saying the decision helped to raise the morale of the military.
Noting that the decision helped to ensure complete control of all 774 local government areas in the country, he admitted that though the insurgents do not hold any local government, they still have the ability to strike at soft targets.
Niger Delta
On conflicting signals from Niger Delta militants, the president said: “Some have said they are ready to drop their arms and join the rest of the nation to build it. But part of them are still sabotaging installations which is making investments in that lucrative area of Nigeria difficult because nobody will submit his riches to financial institutions, get money only to suffer huge loss.
“So, the environment for investment is being sabotaged by ourselves, Nigerians. We are doing our best with the military by trying to persuade them to join the rest of the country because in unity lies our strength.
Charging Nigerians to sustain the democratic enterprise through maintaining their Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, the president offered profuse apologies for the ill-tempered elections held in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers states.
“I am afraid I did not succeed in the election in Kogi, Bayelsa, Rivers. I think that more Nigerians are killed or killed themselves in Rivers than in any particular state. At this stage of our political development, to remain brutal is shameful and as a government, I promise we will do something by the next general election.
PRESIDENT BUHARI ATTENDS APC NEC
MEETING
PRESIDENT BUHARI ATTENDS APC NEC MEETING
Noting the crash in oil prices and how it led to the failure of 27 of the nation’s 36 states to pay salaries, he faulted the failure of the preceding administration to make adequate arrangements for the rainy day even as he gave the readiness of the administration to make amendments through diversification and other cost saving measures.
One of the measures he said that has reaped huge benefit was the decision to fully implement the TSA.
He said: “The Central Bank Governor, will tell you that in the TSA, we have more than N3 trillion. Where would this money have been if TSA was not in vogue? I was made to understand that vouchers would have quickly been raised towards the end of the financial year and cheques made. Whether they are going into projects or private pockets, nobody can prove it to you. But that money is there, it is identified, it is quantified and when the budget comes back eventually, the Ministry of Finance will see how to allocate it to the rest of the country.”
He said that at the advent of the present administration, there was no proper account of the amount of crude exports, even as he said the administration was now putting facts together to push the prosecution of those who benefited from illegal exports.
Recovered loot
The president said efforts were being made to articulate a comprehensive list of recoveries of ill-gotten loot which he said would be published in due course.
“We have to get credible evidence to carry out successful prosecution and get judgement from the Judiciary. But effort is being made to give a list of recoveries in whatever currencies so far so that Nigerians will know that it is not all about long stories.”
The president also appealed for understanding from party members, saying where mistakes were made in governance like in the sacking of university governing councils that he had no qualms apologising.
“So, please, try to bear with us as we reflect on where we found ourselves,” he said.
Concluding, the president rebuffed assertions that he had turned to a globetrotter saying: “Sometimes, you need to present your case on personal basis to your economic colleagues and neighbours. Nothing is better than personal touch and I believe that we are learning a lot and eventually, the nation will realize so. I don’t envy you on the harassment you are going through from your constituencies. Take it with a lot of determination and we will be all right, God willing.”
In his remarks following the NEC meeting, Odigie-Oyegun said the party has resolved to frame a budget for the party, and to organise congresses to fill vacant positions including that of the National Publicity Secretary.
Fuming at developments in Rivers, the national chairman said: “It is a disgrace. That is the only thing one can say. Some of the things that happened and some of the killings that happened would never have been able to happen in this country. But the assurance we can give you and the assurance Mr President has given us is that these issues will be vigorously addressed. People must not get away with that level of dastardly act and killings of the most bestial act and in no circumstance must this be allowed to spread to the rest of the country because unless you address it, you are in fact inviting other states to set up their own military wings.”
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Former national security adviser of
ex-president Goodluck Jonathan,
Sambo Dasuki (R), speaks with his
lawyer Ahmed Raji, during his trial at
the federal high court in Abuja, on
September 1, 2015. Nigerian
prosecutors on September 1, 2015
slapped a charge of unlawful
possession of arms against Dasuki.
Dasuki was arraigned on a
"one-count charge of being in
possession of firearms without
licence," Prosecutor Mohammed Diri
told the federal high court in Abuja.
AFP PHOTO
Corruption: Dasuki Awarded Over 300 Phony Contracts – Presidential C’ittee
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OliverBishopAnosike
OliverBishopAnosike
15 minutes ago
fight and fight govt since this man came on board , even using our tax pay money to fight his enemy even dassuki becos of 1983 coup . people are suffering cost of living is too high and ur flying from one muslim country to another becos Britain and America u ran to have seen that u have no agenda but noise making, that made u come to rule 2003, u came out 2007 till 2015 still no single agenda but to grab power to fight ur enemy.where is that change u talk abt, let me remind u that crrude oil price was 9dollar during obj first time and people still live good life, get out there now before the anger of God will be much on u.Honestly this govt has noting good to offer than fight and fight his enemy, killing people in rivers and other parts of eastern state is ur hand work, oil war.GET OUT NOW FOR GOOD


www.vanguardngr.com/2016/03/rivers-nigerias-most-deadly-state-buhari/

APC and PDP caused it because they want power. God punish everyone that supported the violence in Rivers

Amen!

Apc caused it, u don't try to grasp what isnt yours, must APC win all d States in Nigeria? They r controlling more States, n they came struggling in rivers, causing the deaths of so many people.

Bornu, Nigerias most safest place

NwaTeacher1:
Bornu, Nigerias most safest place

That man is dull, walahi.

buhari you & your cohort caused it, you send amechi & his puppet to kill so that you can win Rivers for apc knowing full well that Rivers don't want you & your devilish party.

Benue and Taraba are 1st and 2nd safest cities-Buhari 2016

So borno and benue state is Nigerian safest state. This man is just a confirm dullard

Deadly place for you greedy politicians. Not for the others.

Buhari is a dullard from Daura,Amaechi is a lizard of Ubima,Osinbande is a Midget from Ogun state.
The Zombies are free to quote me.

Borno state, the haven of tourism

Buhari is a disgrace to this nation.

Hehehehe, some people "would rather died than committing suicide" upon my president's comment.

okay na