By Omeiza Ajayi

THE Presidency said, yesterday, that President Muhammadu Buhari was home sick, noting, however, that he would return from his medical vacation in London anytime from now.

The assurance came against the backdrop of earlier reports that said the President would return to the country, last weekend, but didn’t happen, as his doctors were said to have refused to clear him to return.

The Presidency’s declaration came on a day Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, said those wishing the President dead would die before him and that Nigeria would not go back to the days of former President Goodluck Jonathan after his eight years in office.

Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Garba Shehu, during an interview with Channels Television in Abuja, yesterday, said the President was no longer enjoying his stay in London.

He said: “As a matter of fact, we should be getting ready to see the President flesh and blood and that will be as soon as possible. The President (himself) is looking forward to being home to be with his people. I don’t think he is enjoying any longer an extended vacation outside the country.”

Meanwhile, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir David Lawal, gave indications that President Buhari will seek for re-election in 2019 and win, adding that those wishing the leader dead would die before him. He added that by the end of Buhari’s second term, he would have put the country on a sound economic footing that it would be difficult for anyone to return the country to the Dr Goodluck Jonathan era.

It’s undiplomatic to make public Buhari/Trump’s phone conversation —Shehu

On calls in some quarters that the video recording of the telephone conversation between Presidents Buhari and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, be made public, the presidential spokesman said it was an undiplomatic thing to do.

According to him, releasing an audio containing the telephone conversation between two presidents is highly unethical and against modern civilisation. “I don’t think it is permitted in international diplomacy. I think if we had recorded Mr. Trump in this conversation, it would have offended our diplomatic relations.

I think the Americans themselves would not have recorded this conversation of president to president,” he said. Shehu said there was not enough time for the two Presidents to have discussed other continental and international issues, especially those bothering on Nigeria-US relations, stressing that explained the reason President Buhari was invited to the US by President Trump.

His words: “There wasn’t enough time to talk about everything. I think the point at what will follow is in the invitation that President Trump has extended to our President (Buhari) to come over. That is the kind of opportunity that was presented to Nigeria to put all the issues on the desk.

As for their immigration policy, I think our President has been clear about one thing – the choice made by the Americans as to who to lead them, in this case, Mr Trump, is entirely their own choice. We have no business interfering with their domestic affairs. “As for the countries that have been barred, it has been clearly specified and Nigeria did not feature on the list.

Addressing hundreds of pro-Buhari protesters, who locked down a section of the Three Arms Zone in Abuja in demonstration against some partisans they accused of trying to derail the administration, the SGF said those fighting the Buhari administration benefited immensely from past proceeds of corruption.

The protesters, who walked unmolested from the popular Unity Fountain in Maitama to the entrance of the Presidential Villa said, “Nigeria can only change when we support the government and do our bit and not allow ourselves to be used as agents of destruction and political thuggery”.

Babachir David Lawal told the protesters that though some of Buhari’s critics wanted the President dead, they would instead die before him, adding that by the time Buhari finished his eight-year tenure of two terms, nobody would be able to take Nigeria back to 2015.

Shamelessly, they accused the President of not performing. And, in fact, some of them wished him dead. But I can assure you that by the grace of God, he will outlive all of them,” Lawal declared.

While stating that government was on top of the current situation in the country, the SGF said, “as much as we understand the challenges that we are facing, there is no cure without medicine. It is for no reason that quinine is very bitter, but after you have taken it, you get well”.

He, however, conceded that the President never envisaged the challenges that plagued the country in the last dispensation, promising an economic turn-around in the next one year.

“Baba Buhari did not anticipate the problem that we are in. I am sure you are all aware. The people who caused this problem are the ones challenging the government. I tell you that they will fail in the name of God.

‘’In fact, they have failed. You are aware of the economy that the President inherited, the economy in which revenue has virtually collapsed. The infrastructure is no where to be seen. The roads were dilapidated; the schools were dilapidated. The hospitals were abandoned. The people who caused it are not worried at all.

“I assure you that by the grace of God, in the next one year, Nigeria will have a booming economy. We know what they are doing to sabotage the activities of government to bring Nigeria back to economic prosperity but the President is also aware. They will fail,” he said.

Implying that the President would contest and win the 2019 presidential elections, the SGF said no one would be able to take Nigeria back to the days of ex-President Jonathan, at the completion of Buhari’s second term of office in 2023.

He said: “Nigeria will never go back to the position it was before 2015. The foundation being laid by the government is solid. And nobody, even after the President has finished his eight years, can ever take us back to the pre-2015 days.

‘’This, I can assure you. I assure Nigerians that the President is aware of the temporary suffering we are going through. It pains him, but the pains have to be borne this way for prosperity and goodness to return to our country.” Also speaking, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu, apologised for the initial obstruction by security agents at the main gate of the presidential villa.

He said: “There was a communication gap at the Villa gate because the police there did not know who was coming and I hope we will learn from this. You people put this government in place and you want to show support for what the government is doing, nobody has a problem with this. ‘’So, we welcome your demonstration; we welcome your support because this is what will keep the government strong.

The war against corruption has enemies, very powerful enemies. Enemies who have resources; the kind of money that even the government does not have. So, we need popular support like your own otherwise the war against corruption would be defeated.

Earlier, Convener of the Citizens Support for Good Governance in Nigeria, Comrade Moses Abdullahi, said the country was passing through a difficult phase as a result of bad governance. “Nigeria is going through a difficult phase, a phase not of the making of this administration, but rather a consequence of decades of bad governance, decay and maladministration by a few, under a banner now synonymous with corruption.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2017/02/completion-buharis-2nd-term-2023-no-one-able-take-nigeria-back-jonathan-days-sgf/

Certainly

I agree completely with you sir

Nigeria can never go back to its position in 2015

Dollar was #214 in 2015 but it's #503 and increasing in 2017

Fuel was #87/litrs in 2015 but it's #145 as at today and the marketers are still complaining

Nigeria had the strongest economy in Africa in 2015 but as at today. ...

Inflation rate, unemployment and the rest has never been this high since 2015. But when we complain, we hear stories of how we are trying to destroy the good intentions of Buhari


I quite agree with you. Nigeria can never go back to the era of 2015

hahaha.buhari is a specialist in failure. anything he touches spoils

this statement sha... plz he should explain in details to us cuz the last time they made comments like this we misunderstood them, they were saying chain and we thought it was change.

Babachir should not be talking anymore on behalf of the government

The ideal thing to do for him is to resign

Baba fire babachir, Heads of Agencies lagging behind and non performing ministers

Hmmmmm

sarrki:
Babachir should not be talking anymore on behalf of the government

The ideal thing to do for him is to resign

Baba fire babachir, Heads of Agencies lagging behind and non performing ministers

And then fire himself because he's the most incompetent of them all.

I can't agree less that all these many talks are just blame games on the past administration. How long are we going to be doing this? We need solution not infeasible economic policies.

OK...
I guess the campaign for 2019 has kicked off...

They should continue. I'm most interested to see how this ends. If anything happens to buhari now, people would start saying that he might actually have changed things if he had continued. Just like people would have said Buhari would have been an excellent president if Jonathan had won the election. So let us see how this ends.

Only time will judge - Abraham Lincold

sarrki:
Babachir should not be talking anymore on behalf of the government

The ideal thing to do for him is to resign

Baba fire babachir, Heads of Agencies lagging behind and non performing ministers

Don't you dare wail

Don't even think of it



Just keep following your paymaster. He knows the way

After 8yrs .

Abey ooooh, 2yrs is OK for us, we can't go back again self with 2yrs we already know

This corrupt slowpoke should stop giving public speech

Has anyone noticed this graceful calm in the country since Osinbajo took over as acting president.

This is the first time any APC man has said the truth.


Come has anyone noticed that there is no immunization programme for Nigerian children since 2016?

We where scammed into believing that buhari will be better but he is much worst than the devil himself.





Just imaging this...

[s]

izzou:
I agree completely with you sir

Nigeria can never go back to its position in 2015

Dollar was #214 in 2015 but it's #503 and increasing in 2017

Fuel was #87/litrs in 2015 but it's #145 as at today and the marketers are still complaining

Nigeria had the strongest economy in Africa in 2015 but as at today. ...

Inflation rate, unemployment and the rest has never been this high since 2015. But when we complain, we hear stories of how we are trying to destroy the good intentions of Buhari


I quite agree with you. Nigeria can never go back to the era of 2015

[/s]
Fueled by Billions of petrol-dollars which have since dried up.

PassingShot:
[s][/s]
Fueled by Billions of petrol-dollars which have since dried up.

Hahahahahahahahah

But your Savior buhari started from the scratch baa?

How much longer will you continue to remain in gullibility?

[s]

izzou:


Hahahahahahahahah

But your Savior buhari started from the scratch baa?

How much longer will you continue to remain in gullibility?

[/s]
GEJ or PDP is NEVER returning to governance in Nigeria. Nigerians are not as dumb as some of you think, to allow the "stealing is not corruption" regime return. Deal with that fact!

n

PassingShot:
[s][/s]
GEJ or PDP is NEVER returning to governance in Nigeria. Nigerians are not as dumb as some of you think, to allow the "stealing is not corruption" regime return. Deal with that fact!

I dont need pdp to come back. I just need Tambuwal, Saraki, Dogara, Ogbeh, Amaechi, Attah, Kalu and the rest to occupy change and keep zombies busy.

Isn't it clear that pdp still rules?


You guys can be dumb when it get to issues pertaining to
politics

izzou:


I dont need pdp to come back. I just need Tambuwal, Saraki, Dogara, Ogbeh, Amaechi, Attah, Kalu and the rest to occupy change and keep zombies busy.

Isn't it clear that pdp still rules?


You guys can be dumb when it get to issues pertaining to
politics

Kid, you're too naive to engage in political discussion with me.

You can masturbate as you like with past PDP politicians in APC, na your headache.

The issue you refer to was dealt with by me in 2015 in this thread here https://www.nairaland.com/2709859/claim-pdp-responsible-16-years and it's no longer a thing to bother me. Keep wallowing in your ignorance.

PassingShot:
Fueled by Billions of petrol-dollars which have since dried up.

............that was shared by the 36 state governors, most of whom are APC chieftains now.
And the "only saviour" has given these states even more bailouts from the "dried up" vault
Stop taking us all for zombies, abeg.

FG, States, LGs Share N568.4 Billion for Oct
15 NOVEMBER 2013






Also, $1billion was proposed for distribution to complement shortfall in expected revenue." The $1billion is a compromise by the FG over its words in September not to augment shortfalls anymore.

Responding to the presentation, the chairman of the States Commissioners of Finance and Ebonyi State Commissioner of Finance, Mr Timothy Odaah, lamented that the statutory allocation was getting smaller and smaller. "It appears this is the worst in terms of returns. This is the least in allocations as far as this year is concerned. We are mourning the dearth of funds and this is a wakeup call for states and local governments to buoy up their internally generated revenue."

While appreciating the "magnanimity" of President Goodluck Jonathan to approve the $1billion from the excess crude account and to be shared among the federal, state and local governments, Odaah expressed disappointment with the returns made by the NNPC.

He said that the states had requested for $2bn to complement for the shortfall in revenue but got only $1billion. In September, Odaah and fellow commissioners had walked out of the Accountant General of the Federation (AGF) when the federal government said that the framework of the 2013 budget was no longer realistic and it won't augment shortfall in revenue. Odaah raised issues with the statutory allocations of previous months.

More from: http://allafrica.com/stories/201311150323.html

PassingShot:

Kid, you're too naive to engage in political discussion with me.

You can masturbate as you like with past PDP politicians in APC, na your headache.

The issue you refer to was dealt with by me in 2015 in this thread here https://www.nairaland.com/2709859/claim-pdp-responsible-16-years and it's no longer a thing to bother me. Keep wallowing in your ignorance.

I was expecting this line from you.

I understand how it feels when you now know the difference between custard and akamu

I hope the zeal to support buhari in you never dies.

Sai

anonimi:


............that was shared by the 36 state governors, most of whom are APC chieftains now.
And the "only saviour" has given these states even more bailouts from the "dried up" vault
Stop taking us all for zombies, abeg.

I guess it was same reason GEJ/NOI had to borrow to pay FG workers in Nov 2014 till March 2015?

PassingShot:

Kid, you're too naive to engage in political discussion with me.

You can masturbate as you like with past PDP politicians in APC, na your headache.

The issue you refer to was dealt with by me in 2015 in this thread here https://www.nairaland.com/2709859/claim-pdp-responsible-16-years and it's no longer a thing to bother me. Keep wallowing in your ignorance.

I was expecting this line from you.

I understand how it feels when you now know the difference between custard and akamu

I hope the zeal to support buhari in you never dies.

Sai Baba till 2023

izzou:
I dont need pdp to come back. I just need Tambuwal, Saraki, Dogara, Ogbeh, Amaechi, Attah, Kalu and the rest to occupy change and keep zombies busy.

Isn't it clear that pdp still rules?

You guys can be dumb when it get to issues pertaining to
politics

Very clear, bro.
The worst of PDP are the angelic saints of change in the Association of ProgreTHIEF Criminals, APC.


www.nairaland.com/attachments/2102459_apcteam_png6dc9407cdcc2b68174c445361fc3e4c9

Obasanjo shared $74million Halliburton bribe, Okiro Panel says: • OBJ also pocketed another $5 million with PDP • Interim Panel report disappeared in Aso Rock
MAY 18, 2010

President Olusegun Obasanjo, who led Nigeria from 1999-2000, during which time he swore to fight corruption in the country, obtained considerable helpings of the infamous Haliburton bribe money, the Special Investigation Panel headed by Inspector-General of Police, Mike Okiro, has declared in an interim report.


More from: http://saharareporters.com/2010/05/18/obasanjo-shared-74million-halliburton-bribe-okiro-panel-says-%E2%80%A2-obj-also-pocketed-another

PassingShot:
[s][/s]
GEJ or PDP is NEVER returning to governance in Nigeria. Nigerians are not as dumb as some of you think, to allow the "stealing is not corruption" regime return. Deal with that fact!

Only if you are God then I will believe you but you are a farking mortal just like the rest of us. Don't speak with so much certainty on something you have no control over.
GEJ and PDP have been gone for nigh on two years now but still every govt issue centres around them, is that how dumb Buhari and APC are? Buhari claimed to have solutions to Nigeria's problems which he says Jonathan wasn't doing well, on the basis of that about 15 million people voted for him against the 12 million who did for Jonathan. From where we were with Jonathan, he has taken us over 50 years back with his crude and archaic policies, with his cluelessness and incompetence, with his knee jerk approach to issues and now forming sick.

Yes GEJ and PDP won't come back to power because there won't be anything left of Nigeria by the time Buhari' s time is up.

anonimi:


Very clear, bro.
The worst of PDP are the angelic saints of change in the Association of ProgreTHIEF Criminals, APC.


www.nairaland.com/attachments/2102459_apcteam_png6dc9407cdcc2b68174c445361fc3e4c9

Zombies will quietly avoid this. Just watch them

shut up thief that clear grass with millions and billions of Niara