₦airaland Forum

Nigerians would not use the political party as a deciding factor in the choice of a candidate to succeed the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), in 2023, the Christian Association of Nigeria said on Sunday.

According to the organisation, Nigerians have gone beyond voting based on the political party presenting candidates.

The President of CAN, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, stated this while delivering his sermon at the 2022 men’s conference of Christ Holy Church International, titled, ‘By faith, give leadership.’

He insisted that the electorate, particularly the Christians, would vote for candidates in the next general election using their current capacities and antecedents as criteria.

Okoh said, “It is important that people of God at this time should have their eyes open. Before casting your votes, make sure you know the people you are giving your votes.

“In Nigeria, things are beginning to change. Gone are those days when people vote based on the political party fielding the candidate; when once you have the ticket of a particular party, you are covered.

“Today, people are looking at individuals, their credibility, character, experience, capacities and antecedents in relation to the positions they want to occupy.”
The CAN President decried the menace of vote-buying in the country’s electoral system, saying the people must begin to interrogate the plans and programmes of politicians before deciding who will get their mandate for the next four years.

He, however, cautioned politicians against making false promises to amass the people’s vote.

The CAN President said, “Nigerians have come to a point where they feel that they need to sit down and negotiate with the presidential and governorship candidates.

“We must ask them: ‘What is our portion in your administration (if elected)?’ They should be able to convince you before you can cast your votes for them. Nobody should take away your future from you. Don’t let anyone give you money to buy your conscience and four years of joy.

“To the people who are in politics, when you are making promises, make sure you are telling the people what you can fulfil.

“There’s no need promising us you can give us heaven on earth when you know that given the realities on the ground, you cannot be able to fulfill it.”

He also raised the alarm over the use of youths for political thuggery, noting that the development portended danger for the nation’s democracy.

He said, “Our youths should not allow themselves to be used as political thugs. The era of thuggery in our electoral system is over.

“They must positively participate in the political process. I am saying with a sense of duty that our youths must not give in to electoral violence.

“We must expand the space to inject new ideas into the systems. The world is moving on, and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind.”

The CAN President described Nigeria as one of the best places to live in, because of the liberties the people enjoyed compared to the citizens of other nations.

“Nigeria, for me, is one of the best places to live in. I love Nigeria, and we must put our collective freedom to good use,” he said.

The cleric said that the problems facing Christians were not peculiar to Nigeria.

He tasked the body of Christ to demonstrate leadership by providing hope to the rest of the country by faith in God.

Okoh said, “The Church is under attack, but not only in Nigeria. Globally, the truth is under attack.

“There’s no generation that had not had its own challenges. We are facing ours and must find a way to wriggle ourselves out of it.

“Some many things polarise the people at this time, but as Christians, we need to always stand together, knowing that we serve the same Lord and share in the same heritage.

“It is our unity and oneness that gives us the force to contend with whatever that opposes our very existence. When we are together, as people of God, there’s nothing we cannot conquer. Together, we can give a sense of security to our nation.

“In this (election) season, the Christians are going to provide leadership by faith, but with our two eyes opened.

“There is a miracle waiting to happen in this country and it will surely become a reality. We should not put our trust in man.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

The recent surge in terror attacks in Abuja has sparked fresh security fears across the country’s main cities over the large number of undocumented foreigners who are mainly engaged as guards and other domestic hands.

Residents and security experts say such foreigners could turn easy tools in the hands of terrorists.

The concentration of the aliens is pronounced in the highbrow parts of Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kaduna, according to an investigation by our reporters.

In Lekki, Ikoyi, Victoria Island, Banana Island, Ikeja GRA and Magodo in Lagos as well as Maitama, Asokoro and Guzape in Abuja, for example, the gates of many of the houses are manned by such foreigners.

Some uncompleted houses and those under construction in those areas are also largely occupied by them.

When they are less busy, those on a particular street will usually gather in groups discussing or eating.

Some of the foreigners serve as maids and servants. But because many of them speak passable English or pidgin English, have accent similar to what obtains in some parts of Nigeria, and seem to have assimilated the Nigerian culture, it is sometimes difficult to identify them.

A civil servant, John Adeyemo, who lives in Asokoro, Abuja is not comfortable with the disposition of some of them.

He said he knows a lot of other residents of the area who live in fear on account of the security situation in the FCT and the vulnerability of the foreigners to be used as tools by terrorists.

Adeyemo charged the government to document such people and monitor them.

“The security situation in Abuja calls for concern and the security agencies need to double up. We are living in fear and no one knows who,” he said.

A resident of Maitama, Abuja, who does not want his name in print, said though some of the security guards are good, some are not living up to expectations in line with their security job.

He said: “The security situation is worrisome. Imagine employing a security guard that is not a Nigerian and you do not know where he comes from. Government should intervene and we should have their data for records purposes.

“When residents of the capital city of a country not only move around with a sense of foreboding and fear but also feel uncertain about the capacity of the authorities to deal with the challenge, there is a problem.”

A resident of one of the estates at Atamkpe, Abuja, who preferred to be called Jane, said the foreigners in that part of the FCT usually start with looking for menial jobs especially at building sites, and once they succeed would move into any uncompleted building they can find around.

She said: “Their numbers continue to swell. Although they are not constituting any nuisance, we need to be careful now in view of what is currently happening in the country. It is very important to know who your neighbour is.”

Mr. Ola Oyewole, a business man who lives in Asokoro, Abuja and employed a Ghanaian as security guard, had nice things to say about his employee of 10 years.

But he expressed support for documentation of foreign guards, saying: “The issue of having the data of security guards especially foreigners is a welcome development for security purposes. I am also very careful with my security guard. I don’t expose him to my secrets.”

Some residents of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, charged security agencies to beam their searchlight on the activities of men from Niger whose wives and children beg for alms in day time.

A lady, who identified herself simply as Nengi, said they could be found around Agip, Waterline and other parts of Port Harcourt insisting that in view of the security situation in the country, such persons should be monitored.

She said: “During the day, you see their children and wives begging for alms but you won’t see their men. The men only surface in the night. I feel that their activities should be monitored.

“Besides, there is hunger in town and such condition can make them become willing tools to persons who want to breach the security.”

While employment of foreigners as mai guard is not particularly new in the Lagos metropolis, the large presence of such people, especially in the highbrow areas, is causing anxiety.

There is hardly any street in such places that does not have up to 12 foreign guards.

Some landlords in the densely populated areas of the city also have such foreigners guarding them and their families all day. But some of them are already having a rethink.

Alhaji Hakeem Owolabi, who has a property at Meiran, Alagbado said: “Many of us who are landlords are skeptical about giving our houses or frontage to aliens because of the reports linking them to violent attacks.

“Also, we no longer hire them as security guards to stave off a situation whereby things would get out of hand or go beyond control.”

A resident of Ikeja, Adewale Johnson, bemoaned the influx of some foreign nationals in places like Oregun, Ogba, Ojota, Alausa and Maryland among others.

“The number of these people has increased significantly over the years. If you want to verify my claims, please visit Oregun, Ojodu, Ojota, Ogba, Maryland and Alausa, among others.

“Most of them work as guards in companies, residential buildings and sleep in open spaces and shelter provided by their employers and benefactors.

“With threats of attack by Boko Haram in Lagos, residents and property owners feel that the large presence of these people may be inimical to peace and security of the environment because they cannot be traced in the event that they perpetrate heinous crime and flee.”

Its severe security threat —Security experts

A security expert and retired Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Emueze Onyema, called the development a severe security threat.

He believes the porous nature of Nigeria’s borders is largely responsible for the continued influx of foreigners into the country.

Onyema, who is also the Chairman of Clinfex Security Firm, said: “When you understudy the manner these terrorists carry out attacks on innocent Nigerians without any iota of feeling, you will know that they are not Nigerians.

“Have you ever bothered to know how they stash the hundreds of millions of naira they collect as ransom from their victims? It is easy for them because some of them live in the cities, among us.

“They help them keep the money while the terrorists stay in the forest and continue with the abduction of hapless travellers. Government needs to rise to the occasion.

“Let’s hope that the coming national census will help weed out these illegal foreigners.”

A retired official of the Department of State Security (DSS) who does not want to be named blamed poor data gathering and lack of willpower by the government to act on credible intelligence on the movement of foreigners as a major challenge to Nigeria’s security.

“If you look at some of the terrorists that have been arrested or neutralised, you will discover that a sizeable number of them are foreigners.

“You have also heard about how some foreigners working as house helps have murdered their employers in cold blood and fled with their monies,” the DSS official said.

Asked about the way out of the problem, he recommended strong surveillance at the borders and other entry points into the country, to check the influx of illegal immigrants.

Another security expert, Senator Iroegbu, said the issue of foreign security guards has been a source of concern in the FCT, especially in Asokoro, even before now.

His words: “I think it is time to reactivate our counterterrorism level, and our intelligence agency should be at work. In fact, it is more of their work now.

“The Federal Ministry of Communications should also play an active role in this. We should also know the data of foreigners, especially those security guards in this country.

“We must know who they are, and for security measures, security agencies must work in synergy and also step-up tracking of phones.

“For example, if you travel outside the country, from the airport you have already been tracked and your data is also with them.

“The FCT administration should continue to look into this. We also must know the registered security guards in FCT.”

Comrade Abdullahi Jabi, Secretary General of the International Institute of Professional Safety, said: “The criminals are being emboldened that they haven’t been apprehended in the course of their activities and government inaction that they now attack at will.

“Now that they are threatening Abuja, I think the government would sit up and do what is expected of them.

“The security agencies are overwhelmed and have no motivation. They lack adequate training and capitalization of equipment, and these need to be addressed. The security agencies are short-staffed because there are not enough men to face these terrorists.

“A series of recommendations regarding security have been made to the government. The government needs to be decisive enough to implement these recommendations.

“The government also needs to make efforts to recruit more manpower in the security sector to meet strength to strength of the terrorists.”

Security expert Tony Ogbeche advised community leaders to show circumspect when giving out their apartments to people for hire or hiring people for menial jobs and as private guards.

“It is important that property owners deploy tact in accommodating people, especially people rushing to Lagos, so that they don’t end up accommodating criminals who have the tendency to reenact their violent past.”

Dr Bala Husaini, an expert in International Relations and Defence and Security, wondered why government has not been engaging in aggressive prosecution of arrested bandits and their sponsors.

He said: “There have been numerous arrests of these bandits but till today, their sponsors are not known.

“These bandits are foot soldiers, they have sponsors and these people have disclosed their sponsors, the Federal Government said they know them.

“It is now an irony for the government to say these people are faceless and they cannot arrest them, because the policy makers are benefiting from it.”

All hands on deck to ensure safety —Police

The FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, told The Nation that all hands were on the deck to ensure that the city is safe and that there is no breakdown of law and order.

Babaji said he was personally involved in the patrol of the city.

He said security work is everybody’s business, adding: “We are not leaving any stone unturned to ensure safety in Abuja. People should always disregard misinformation and rumours.

“Security guards are being monitored. They are regulated and there is no cause for alarm.”

Presidential candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Sen Rabiu Musa Kwankwanso, has congratulated His Eminence, Most Rev Daniel Okoh, for emerging president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), urging him to maintain his tolerance and compassion.

In a letter to the CAN president, Kwankwanso said he was very pleased to write and congratulate him on his deserved ascension to the position.

“As you are commissioned into your new position, I join all Nigerians of goodwill to wish you every success in your new offices. Needless to add, and as Your Grace is, no doubt, already aware, we consider this as one of the most important offices in the world of faith; and we are indeed very delighted that the most-deserving of all is called upon to serve. Congratulations.

“We are even more pleased that the competitive selection process has produced a president who is a renowned scholar, a detribalised Nigerian patriot, a hero of interfaith dialogue with international track record in reconciling people, especially of different faiths, and a champion of peace, unity and the rule of law,” Kwankwanso said, adding, “Nigeria will undoubtedly be a better place if all men of God of all religions approach pastoral work with the tolerance, compassion and faithfulness to higher principles that you have exhibited in the various offices that you have occupied in the past.”

“And today, as you ascend to the Presidency of CAN, the scope has expanded and the horizon has broadened; and it is our prayer that, in your new position, God Almighty uses you, with the power of His Grace, to counsel and move the Nigerian Christendom towards a deep understanding of the Other, towards a sympathetic dialogue with the Other and towards building a sincere fellowship with everyone.

“As you take up this new responsibility today, I pray to God to continue to guide and protect you. May He make the task of steering the affairs of the CAN easy and successful for you,” Kwankwanso added.

Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, has accused the 2023 presidential candidate of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, of peddling “lies” against him in the aftermath of the party’s primary.

Mr Wike, who said since he lost out in the presidential primary, had been quiet, faulted the television interview granted by Mr Abubakar on the crisis rocking the party.

He vehemently noted that Mr Abubakar had been using chieftains of the opposition party, whom he described as “attack dogs” to spread falsehood against him.

“Since after our primaries, I have decided to be quiet because PDP is a party I love so much. I have never said anything and I decided to go back home (to Rivers state) and focus on fulfilling the promises I made to the people but there comes a time when the truth has to be told.

“Thereafter; he (Atiku) appeared before Arise television. So many lies were told, and you said I should not react to some of those issues, that is not fair enough.

“What he has said would be accepted as the truth. Look at his attack dogs; Sule Lamido, Babangida Aliyu and Abubakar Waziri, look at the statement they issued,” Mr Wike told journalists while arriving at the Port Harcourt International Airport, on Thursday.

Mr Wike had been aggrieved since the fallout of PDP’s presidential primary and subsequent nomination of Delta governor Ifeanyi Okowa as Mr Abubakar’s running mate.

The governor said posterity would not forgive him if he failed to speak up on the crisis rocking the PDP, explaining that Mr Abubakar had not been magnanimous in victory.

The Rivers governor said that despite the former vice president’s claim in the media, he was yet to send any delegation to him since the presidential primary ended.

“But there comes a time that people will understand and know the true facts of things. So, obviously, whether I will speak or not, I will let Nigerians know the actual truth.

“Having known the truth, whatever they decide with it, is left for Nigerians because you can imagine when the presidential candidate of the PDP, Atiku Abubakar unveiled his vice presidential candidate,” Mr Wike said.

He added: “Look at the abuses they hauled on me. So, it is important for me as a person to react line by line, to the statement made by Atiku himself and his attack dogs.

“Look at a presidential candidate who believes he wants to win the election but someone who contested fairly with him has never raised any issue.

“I just kept quiet, I mind my own business and see how my state can move forward. Everyday people come up and they attack me. It is quite unfair I should let Nigerians know at the appropriate time so that posterity would be on our side that we have been able to keep the record straight.

“Nigerians would know what happened, they would know those who love this country,” Mr Wike added.

The Rivers governor, who also revealed that Mr Abubakar was in his house before the presidential primary to solicit a vote and his support, wondered why he could no longer visit him after winning the exercise.

He added that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki, reaching out to him to support the party, was done in a personal capacity and not for the party.

“It’s most unfortunate when people tell lies; I was in Spain when Bukola (Saraki) came to me that, how do we settle this problem, and I asked him if he was sent by Atiku and he said no.

“I asked what does he want me to do, I told him the issues and Atiku came to my house and said I should support him. So he doesn’t know my house again.

“People are now calling me on the phone to support him, those I don’t even know. They have reduced me to a ” guy” when calling and start begging.

“Atiku cannot say he has sent anybody to me. Let one person in the party say he came to see me and was sent by Atiku. Forget about those who are running around looking for what they have to survive,” the Rivers governor added.

No fewer than 71.1 per cent of the 11.011 million potential voters registered at the on-going exercise are youth, INEC has mentioned.

INEC’s spokesperson in Cross River, Tonia Nwobi, who spoke in Calabar on Thursday, said the figure represented those who registered between June 28, 2021 and July 25, 2022.

She said that out of the figure, 295,018 registered in Cross River.

She said the national figure included the physical registration of 7,619,179 persons and online registration of 3,391,940 others.

“Youths between the ages of 18 years and 34 years formed the majority of registrants with the figure of 7,828,570.

“Those between the ages of 35 years and 49 years numbered 2,192,897; those between the ages of 50 years and 69 years numbered 871,690.

“Registrants who have clocked 70 years of age and above were 117,962.

Ms Nwobi gave the top five states with the highest figure of registrants to include Lagos, 508,936; Kano, 500,207; Delta, 481,929; Rivers, 436,459 and Kaduna with 417,427.

The states with the least number of registrants are Ekiti (124,844); Yobe (134,002); Imo (164,835); FCT (170,828) and Ondo (202,419).

Ms Nwobi said female registrants had the higher figure of 5,558,048 (representing 50.5 per cent) while males had 5,453,071 (representing 49.5 per cent).

She gave further breakdown of the distribution to occupational distribution with students having the highest registration of 4,003,348 representing 36.4 per cent of the total figure.

They are followed by business, farming and housewives: 2,012,312; 1,390,813 and 1,299,409 representing 18.3 per cent, 12.6 per cent and 11.8 per cent, respectively.

“Others are civil servants, 342,685; artisans, 592,339; trading, 612,048; public servants, 113,331 and others, 644,834,’’ she stated.

INEC has fixed July 31 as the closing date of the exercise.

The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), Thursday in Abuja, said the unbefitting welfare and working conditions of the nation’s judiciary, are “serious and would be treated as such.”

He also noted that although the government is willing to act, it can only do so within the limits of its resources considering the dire state of the country’s economy “currently battling insecurity, corruption and economic challenges,” aggravated by the COVID-19 and the war in Ukraine.

According to a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, Buhari was responding to an appeal by the chairman and representatives of the Body of Benchers, a body of legal practitioners of “the highest distinction in the legal profession.”

The statement is titled ‘President Buhari: We will ease the difficult conditions under which judges work.’

President Buhari claimed that a democratic government like the one he leads, “standing on a tripod comprising the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, cannot stand where one of its three pillars, the Judiciary, is not properly nurtured, maintained and sustained to deliver on its very pivotal constitutional duties.”

He therefore promised to act quickly on the report of the committee he set up on his own back in 2018 to review the welfare and working conditions of the judiciary.

“Let me assure you that the issues would be given due and urgent attention within the resources available to government,” he said.

In his presentation, the chairman of the Body of Benchers, Wale Olanipekun, SAN, described the condition under which judges, especially the Justices of the Supreme Court work as pathetic, appalling and below the minimum standards that are required.

“We want to plead with you. We need to bail out the Judiciary. The situation is bad. Let us sympathise with the Judiciary. I know you to have respect, feelings for the Judiciary. You have sympathy, empathy and consideration. The Body of Benchers as elders of the legal profession makes these recommendations to Your Excellency, with a plea that they should be attended to urgently,” he said.

In his introductory remarks, the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, SAN, made a case for collaboration of the Executive and the Judicial arms, to “open the books to enable both sides see the depth of the decay and know how far to go in putting in place the necessary remedial measures.”

The National Security Adviser (NSA), retired Major General Babagana Monguno, has said the nation is currently “in a very difficult situation” which requires the cooperation of all stakeholders.

He said this while briefing State House reporters on the outcome of the National Security Council (NSC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

The NSA, who was joined by the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali, said the NSC was working on new strategies to tackle the worrisome insecurity in the country.

Monguno said the President was aware of the people’s concerns about the growing insecurity, adding that Nigerians were tired and gravitating towards self-help.

He gave an assurance that there would be a renewed momentum against terrorism.

Monguno said council was in the process of winding up special investigation on Kuje Correctional Center attack in order to hold those found negligent accountable for their actions.

He urged the political elite to always take into account the consequences of their utterances which might have wider society.

Monguno said: [b]“Today’s meeting was convened by the President, as a continuation of the meeting that took place last week to discuss the technical issues and the tasks that were given to the various security agencies. The meeting deliberated on all those issues, after the brief by the National Security Adviser, which is usually the procedure. Again, council deemed it necessary to inform the general public, that fighting this type of asymmetric conflict is a collective effort. It’s not something that should be confined to only the security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

“When we keep saying whole of society approach, whole of government approach, to get a whole of nation approach, what it means is that everybody has to partake in this enterprise. The truth is that no country can ever overcome the difficulties of an asymmetric conflict by virtue of the fact that the enemy of the state is embedded within the population within the wider society. It is true that the local people are averse, they’re scared, they’re worried and there’s no confidence. That is understandable. But without their support without the cooperation in terms of giving information, it makes it very hard for the operational elements.
[/b]
“A few days ago, troops of the guards brigade were ambushed and decimated. Had there been a collective effort by way of just snippets of information we might have averted that incident, that is not to say that the responsibility is for those outside the security domain. It’s a collective responsibility. Council is also concerned about the nature of media reporting incidents with regards to insecurity. It is important for the media to understand that certain reports being generated by the media, either the way the manner in which they report can also aggravate this delicate situation.

“We are in a very difficult situation. And Council understands. Mr. President understands people’s concerns about the growing insecurity. But I can assure you that there’s no straight cut and dried method of dealing with this thing unless all of us embrace each other. I know people are wary, people are tired people are beginning to gravitate to other places for self-help. The truth is that help is rooted in everyone working for the other person.

“Again, the members of the armed forces have also made a commitment that in the coming weeks, they have already started working on a new strategy to deal with these snippets of violence. And they’ve given their word, their commitment to the President, that there will be a change in momentum, regardless of the fact that there might be certain institutional limitations which they face. But they understood the enormity of the responsibilities that they have.

“Again, Council is in the process of winding up the special investigative panel on the Kuje incident. And the idea is to come up with recommendations, hold those who are supposed to be held accountable for their deeds and to ensure that this type of thing never ever, ever happens again in this country.

So, that, in a nutshell, was what Council deliberated on.”

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the Federal Government to prepare for another people’s uprising akin to the #EndSARS protest in 2020 if quick steps are not taken to resolve the ongoing industrial actions by staff unions in the nation’s tertiary institutions.

The warning was issued, yesterday, by the Chairperson of NLC Lagos Council, Funmi Sessi, during the solidarity rally organised by Congress in support of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other varsity unions.

She said: “Our statement is simple. This is just a warning action. If the government fails to conclude all the negotiations and agreements with all the workers in our tertiary education within two weeks, they will witness more protests and rallies all over the country, they will also witness the annoyance, anger and frustration of Nigerians. This government has pushed so many Nigerians into depression. We say enough is enough, we can no longer bear this hardship again.”

Rights activist, Femi Falana (SAN), who joined labour in the protest at Ikeja, said the fight is for quality education in Nigeria. He described President Muhammadu Buhari as a president, who is junketing around the world, while the masses are suffering after the administration has brought unprecedented depression and hardship into the country.

He said the living standards of Nigerians are getting worse, adding that the incumbent administration has left the citizens in a state of frustration. Falana also made reference to the President’s statement that he is eager to leave office.

“As we are gathered here today, terrorism has taken over our country; hardship has taken over our country; depression has taken over our country; the recession has taken over our country, but President Buhari is junketing all over the world. He’s already told Nigerians that he’s tired and he’s anxious to go home. We are therefore saying today that Buhari must go.

“For lecturers in our tertiary institutions and other workers, we are full with you. Like our comrades have said, this is a warning protest, #EndSARS protest will be a child’s play because we’re tired and frustrated and disenchanted. And I join our comrades in saying that enough is enough.

“Don’t let them deceive you by saying there is no money in our country. It’s a lie. We reject the dubious economic programmes of this regime. We reject the neoliberal policy of this regime. We can’t continue promoting poverty in the midst of plenty.”

Receiving the letter presented by Sessi to the Lagos State government, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Ajibola Ponnle, said the state is in solidarity with lecturers and students, who have been at home for more than five months.

Ponnle, who said the governor is someone who is focused on ensuring there are peaceful industrial relations, as well as peace in the state and at the national level, promised to convey the letter to the governor to address labour concerns.

“When the governor comes back, he will attend to every single matter in accordance with the power that he holds as governor of Lagos and I’m sure he will convey your letter to President Buhari accordingly.

Also speaking, the Zonal Coordinator of ASUU, Lagos State, Dr Adelaja Odukoya, said: “ASUU does not like the incessant strike but the body needs to press home its demands to make the nation’s universities competitive with global standards.

“The struggle is in the interest of our children. Enough is enough; government must fund the education system. If Nigeria must develop, attention must be paid to our university education,” he said.

SOME Nigerians on Twitter, yesterday, expressed displeasure as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, resumed at a university in the United States of America despite the lingering strike action by ASUU. Academic activities in government-owned universities have been put on hold in the country since February 14.

In development to rally support for the lecturers, NLC yesterday began a two-day protest across the country over the failure of the Federal Government to meet the demands of the union.

Ironically, Gbajabiamila had on the same Tuesday tweeted via his verified Twitter handle, @femigbaja, that he had gone back to the Harvard Kennedy School.

“Back to class. In a leadership course @havard @Kennedy_school. Forget the number of grey hairs, one is never too old to learn.”

Reacting to his post, Nigerians expressed displeasure, anger and frustration as Gbajabiamila was seen in a pose with a white man in one of the photos posted alongside the tweets.

@daemperor007 said: “You know they keep showing us they don’t care about the masses even in the midst of campaigning for Tinubu. You’d think Gbajabiamila would see this as insensitive but you’d be kidding if you think they care.”

“All I wanna say is that they don’t really care about us,” @Arinzethegreat said. According to @larybeny: “These people are stylishly telling us that they don’t care for us. Meaning we have to fight for our rights.”

A Twitter user, Halidu Adamu, tweeted: “The irony. These guys are completely desensitised. Tweeting about attending classes in a foreign university while ours at home have been locked for months. ASUU needs to wake up and smell the coffee, this action is not leading anywhere constructive.”

Another Twitter user, Akintunde Babatunde, also tweeted, “If universities in the USA were to be on strike, how will you be able to experience a working system? Walk around and see how basic things work in a normal university? Let’s hope you’ll return and use your influence to make our educational institutions work.”

Recall that under the tenure of Gbajabiamila as Speaker, ASUU has embarked on strike for more than a year, nine months in 2020 and close to six months in 2022.

IN Oyo State, members of NLC, Trade Union Congress (TUC), students unions and unionists, including the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), joined in solidarity, storming strategic places in Ibadan to register their displeasure over the protracted shutdown of tertiary institutions across the nation.

The protesters, who sang various solidarity songs and also appealed to citizens of the state to understand the reasons they were forced to hit the street, demanded President Buhari’s resignation, insisting that the political class, led by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) did not mean well for Nigerians.

Speaking, Chairman, Oyo State chapter of NLC, Comrade Kayode Olusegun Martins, said: “The union has issued a statement giving us the go-ahead to support this protest and if the government fails to do the needful, there will be a warning strike to shut down the economy for three days. It may be an indefinite strike for as long as the government remains recalcitrant.”

Presenting the letter of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to the deputy governor, Martins said: “We will like to solicit your support and intervention in the dispute between the Federal Government and the unions in the tertiary education sector.

“On our part, we have taken various initiatives to end this strike, including writing to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, although this elucidated some response it wasn’t sufficient. The response to the nonchalance of government has led to escalating our intervention in protest across the 36 states.”

IN Kano State, NLC threatened to declare an indefinite strike should government fail to find a lasting solution to end the ASUU strike. Besides, labour accused President Buhari of lacking genuine interest in developing the education sector, the reason it allowed the industrial dispute to linger for over five months.

NLC Chairman in Kano, Comrade Kabiru Ado Minjibir, described the continued sit-at-home of students of public universities across the country as a shameful act of embarrassment to the nation.

NLC demanded immediate release of five months salaries of ASUU members withheld by the Federal Government on the invocation of the ‘No-work-no-pay’ policy, just as they urged replacement of the controversial Integrated Personnel and Payroll System (IPPS) with the indigenous system designed by ASUU.

ENUGU State governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, yesterday, told protesting members of the organised labour that he was concerned about the prolonged ASUU strike.

Ugwuanyi, who was represented by the Secretary to the Enugu State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, commended the organised labour for the peaceful manner in which they conducted the demonstration.

“We share in your concern. We have always known that education is the foundation of the society. We urge you to continue to engage with the Federal Government. We will effectively deliver your message to the President,” he said.

Earlier, the state NLC chairman, Comrade Virginus Nwobodo, lamented that the Federal Government had taken education for granted.

“For every great nation, education is taken seriously. If these children are not well nurtured, the country is doomed. Every day, we hear the government borrowing trillions and yet it can’t meet ASUU’s demand. They get involved in white elephant projects that have no bearing on the citizens. We want to see them implement the ASUU agreement,” he said.

AS the NLC, Gombe State chapter took to the streets in solidarity protest with ASUU, former Assistant Social Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abdullahi Jalo, advised the protesters not to be deceived that the government can ever assuage their plight, saying: “No government can ever solve ASUU problem.”

Jalo said: “Let’s be sincere, as far as Nigeria is concerned, ASUU strike is legal, but no government will have the resources and political will to solve the problem.”

Jalo said: “Let’s be sincere, as far as Nigeria is concerned, ASUU strike is legal, but no government will have the resources and political will to solve the problem.”

THE National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) joined the solidarity protest by NLC in Anambra State to block the ever-busy Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, to express their grievances over the Federal Government’s stance on ASUU.

NANS’ spokesman in the zone, Obinna Okafor, called on the government to implement the demands of ASUU, including adopting UTAS, rather than the controversial IPPIS, provide infrastructure, funding and other conditions of service for effective research, teaching and learning.

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, has reacted to impeachment threats made by some legislators against President Muhammadu Buhari over insecurity security issues in the country.

Recall that Senators from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), have given Buhar a six-week deadline to address the security challenges or face impeachment proceedings.

However, Mohammed, speaking to State House correspondents following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, stated that the impeachment threat is unnecessary as the Presidency is not taking the insecurity issues lightly.

The Minister said, “I want to assure you that the President is aware of all these and as a matter of fact, I think tomorrow there’s going to be another Security Council meeting.

“So, it’s not a matter the President is taking lightly and like I’ll always say, some of the measures we’re going to take are not measures that you can discuss openly here, but we’re as concerned as you are, we’re not going to abandon our responsibility.”

paulolee:
but he is not too big to take a team to Europa, same team dt finished second place o, he came n landed them in Europa n now e wan japa..
no problem, maybe na sporting go Gv am UCL football bcoz I still no see dt big club dt would be very clueless to sign him..
so called mr UCL n haven't won any since he left Madrid..
failed woefully wit 2 different teams, madrid winning the last UCL simply means dt cr7 needed dt star studded Madrid to win the UCL more than Madrid needed him

Boko-Haram and ISWAP terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and weapons which they intend to use for an attack in Katsina State. Other terrorist groups are preparing to attack other parts of the country including Lagos State.

This is according to a memo sighted by Nigerian Tribune and addressed to all state commands of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

Dated July 25, the memo signed by one DD Mungadi, the DCG Operations stated that the terrorists have already acquired weapons including Rocket-propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, anti-aircraft (AA) guns which can take down aeroplanes to attack President Muhammadu Buhari’s home state.


The memo titled, Re: Heightened Plots By Terrorists To Stage Coordinated Attacks in Parts of the Country, reads:

“We have received credible intelligence that Boko-Haram and the ISWAP Terrorist groups have mobilised fighters and high calibre weapons particularly Rocket-propelled Grenade (RPG) launchers, Anti-Aircraft (AA) guns and General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGS) which they intend to deploy for the offensive in Katsina State.

“In another development, two separate bandits groups are plotting coordinated attacks on North-West, North Central and South West. (Katsina, Zamfara, Kaduna, Kogi, FCT and Lagos) respectively.

“Consequently, the commandant general has directed you to scale up deployment in all strategic places including: schools, worship centres and critical national assets in your respective states to checkmate any possible threats by these criminal elements.”

Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps, Ahmed Idris Wase, on Tuesday revealed that president Muhammadu Buhari received 44 different warning reports from the Department of State Service, DSS, over expected attacks across Abuja.

Wase was speaking while presiding over plenary at the Lower House in the aftermath of the killings of about six soldiers who were members of the Brigade of Guards.

The soldiers were reported to have been ambushed few days ago while returning from the Nigerian Law School after visiting the school following a distress call.

Reports said the school authority had made a distress call for protection after receiving a letter from terrorists that the assailants were attacking the school.

It led to the deaths of some of the soldiers with reports saying more than a dozen were kidnapped during the ambush.

Wase said, “You can imagine what is happening today in Abuja. I will be frank with you. I went through DSS reports. 44 reports were given before the attack on Kuje.

“I want to say so, I want to confirm to you, 44. I went through all the reports. And it all has to do with this,” he said during plenary.

Speaking during a motion presented by Abubakar Makki Yelleman (APC Jigawa) to stop the proposed ban on motorcycles across the nation, Wase said security agencies have always received intelligence regarding any attack, including the Kuje jailbreak where DSS operatives presented 44 reports to warn the government.

“There is no community that one attack or the other will happen and we will not have an intel, and this is part of the intel that they have given as what is going to happen, what is happening and what is not going to happen,” the Deputy Speaker said.

He pointed out that the government needs support to enforce ban across communities on motorcycles.

VeryWickedMan:
You mean there are 13m yahoo boys

The Presidency, on Sunday, reacted to recent terrorist activities being publicised through the social media, maintaining that the war against terrorism requires public participation for success.

Terrorists who attacked the Kaduna-bound train in March posted videos of their kidnapped victims being tortured over the weekend on social media.

They also threatened to kidnap President Muhammadu Buhari and Kaduna Governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai.

However, reacting to recent activities of terrorists, the Presidency, in a statement by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Buhari, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, has done everything to fight the war and is only waiting for the Armed Forces to deliver victory to Nigerians.

While it tasked the general public to help security forces with needed support, the Presidency also charged the mainstream media to help the administration to curb the abusive exploitation of the social media by terrorists.

“The Presidency, in the meantime, wishes to reassure the public that the President has done all, and even more than what is expected of him as Commander-in-Chief by way of morale, material and equipment support to the military and expects nothing short of good results in the immediate.

“Terrorist activity using propaganda and the use of violence to force governments to accept or submit to political demands is not new all over world.

“The country’s security and defense forces are not clueless or helpless. They have their plans and ways of doing things which they will not display in the media.

“The dilemmas in dealing with the specific case of train terrorists are manifold: punitive action like the popular call for carpet bombing of the known locations may assuage the desire of an angry public for revenge, but what about the hostages? They have committed no offense. All they did was to board a train.

“It suffices to say that the security forces are not relenting. They are acutely aware of their duties, responsibilities and what the nation expects of them. Whenever they embark upon those actions, they expect that the public should provide them with the needed support.

“Terrorism is a global scourge that must be fought by all actors- the military, the civilian population and the communication service providers. This is the only way safe havens of terrorists are eliminated in every part of the world.

“To help the nation against ongoing situation, the media must increase their support for the fight against the exploitation of the internet and social media for terrorist purposes,” the statement reads.

Peter Obi National Support Group (PONSG) has vowed his supporters are poised to take over the grassroots in the country after conquering the social media where the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate has a perceived dominance.

The National Coordinator of the group, Ambassador Churchill Enyia made the declaration at the Inauguration Ceremony of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) chapter of PONSG in Abuja on Saturday.

He affirmed that no Nigerian is in doubt that the supporters of Obi have taken over social media adding that they are now moving to the grassroots, to the rural dwellers to mobilize them for the task ahead.

Addressing the FCT Executives and supporters made up of many members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had joined Obi “because he is the symbol of change” that Nigerians want, he said that the grassroots just like the Social media will soon feel the impact of the Obi campaign.

Enyia criticised opponents of the former Anambra State governor who claim that he has no structures, saying “the structure of Labour party are unemployed youths, Nigerians who are hungry and tired of this administration are our structure.

“Nigerians are really tired of the status quo and want things to change. Many people that ordinarily will not be interested in politics are joining us. We have the North East Academic community, the South-South Academic community and all these people are part of our support group.

“We are moving to the grassroots, that is our next assignment, we have captured the social media, you know the middle class, the working class Nigerians are all Obi-Dient.

”We are now targeting the rural dwellers that is where we are moving to. Some people in the villages don’t understand how to differentiate between the party logos, that is our assignment now and we will succeed by the grace of God.”

The support group Coordinator also called on other Nigerians to join the support group, noting,”as we work for Obi, let us look at the situation in the country, the battered economy, hunger, poverty, insecurity and the free fall of the Naira, as we do that it will ginger us to work for Obi, because we believe he has what it takes to change the situation of things.’


Also speaking, the chairman of the ceremony Dr Chris Chukwukamuo stated that the youths are ready to take over the country now.

He added: “The youths can no longer wait to be leaders of tomorrow. The PVC is very important, youths should disregard those that said their votes don’t count. Votes do count, that is why the other parties buy votes. Vote buying thrives Because politicians believe and know that votes count.”

Lalasticlala, Mynd44

The Presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, has debunked the notion that he's a stingy politician, saying he prefers to use public money for public good.

This is as he appealed to Nigerian politicians to be accountable with the public funds they've been entrusted with.

The former Anambra State Governor made this known at the Matter Dei Catholic Church on the occasion of an interdenominational Prayer Meeting organized by the Catholic Action of Nigeria, Umuahia Diocesan Chapter on Saturday, July 23, 2022.

According to The Punch, the event had in attendance dignitaries which include; Abia State governorship candidate of Labour Party, Dr. Alex Otti, Sen. Victor Ume of Anambra State; the Methodist Prelate, Kalu Uche; Christian Association of Nigeria, Abia Chairman, Apostle Agomuo; and Abia State chairman, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria among others.

While making his speech, Obi said, “I am not stingy. I use public money for public good”.

The former governor also urged Nigerians to subject all the presidential candidates in the 2023 election to proper scrutiny, warning that failure to do that may result to anarchy.

Obi described as unacceptable that despite the huge resources God has deposited in Nigeria, many people still endure hunger and “don’t know when the next meal will come.”

He reiterated that he never took anything nor receive anything from anybody while he was governing Anambra State, adding that he preserved the state funds for the Anambra people.

Obi also harped on the need to transform the Nigerian economy from consumption to production, noting that as a President, “within two years, massive development will span across the states and make border cities to be one”.

In his speech, Otti said the time has come for Nigeria and Abia state to be taken over by a fresh political party.

He said, “Obi shares and practices frugality. If we want to fix this country, we must have to cut the cost of governance”.

Obi had earlier made a stop at the residence of Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, before proceeding to the event.

The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has said that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has lost his moral compass.

Tinubu stated this in a statement issued by his Media aide, Mr. Tunde Rahman.

He said Atiku in his desperate attempt to win the election by stoking religious bias reduced himself to uttering baseless lies during his exclusive interview with Arise TV.

Tinubu said: “We are saddened to see such a man become unhinged from the truth. So obsessed is he with his quest for office, Atiku is willing to render any form of untruth if he thinks it might gain him a single vote. Atiku may want to be president. However, all he has shown is that he is pathological,”

“Whatever moral compass he had has been lost. During a 22 July television interview, Atiku assaulted historic truth by lying that he did not name Tinubu as his running mate in 2007 on the Action Congress ticket because Atiku did not want a Muslim as his running mate.”

Responding to the false account of Atiku, Tinubu set the record straight, saying the former Vice President Atiku was not among those who founded the Action Congress.

He added: “It was the actual founders of the AC who offered the party’s flag to Atiku because of the need to fight the authoritarian designs then President Obasanjo and the PDP had on Nigeria’s democracy.

“At that moment, Atiku had been unceremoniously pushed aside if not out of the PDP by Obasanjo. We needed to rally all forces to confront the one-party state Obasanjo had in mind. Atiku was simply a beneficiary of this collective duty to fight the attack on multi-party democracy the PDP had launched.

“I feel sorry for dear old Atiku. Love of his own ambition has eclipsed his relationship with the truth and an honest account of the past. We formed the AC without his knowledge. When President Obasanjo virtually exiled him from the PDP, we lent him our support by giving him the AC platform for the 2007 election.

“Let me say openly that Atiku offered me the vice presidential ticket in 2007. Let me also say that my religion has not changed. When he offered the position to me, I was a Muslim and I believe he was aware of my religious faith at the time.”

Tinubu noted that Atiku’s calculations and deceit had nothing to do with religion or his sensitivity to it, adding that his conduct has everything to do with what they discovered about his paucity of character and love of intrigue.

He said: “True to form, Atiku, fifteen years later, promised HE Governor Nyesom Wike the same thing this electoral season and similarly reneged. Governor Wike is a Christian.

“When it comes to intrigue, we can say that Atiku is without bias. He will attempt to lie and deceive both Christian and Muslim with equal vigour.

“Atiku has no business raising the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket except as a hypocrite. Perhaps he believes people have forgotten his antics during the 1993 election. After he woefully lost his bid to be the presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, what did he do? He canvassed and lobbied harder than anyone to become the running mate to late Chief MKO Abiola. When it benefitted him personally, Atiku did not see anything wrong with Muslim-Muslim ticket. He saw everything right in such a ticket as long as he was on it.

“Now, Atiku criticizes my selection as running mate based on religion. He does so because he cannot criticize it on other grounds. If Atiku were to have one of his rare moments of honesty, he would admit that the person I selected as my running mate is more qualified for the position than the man who joined him. And this conclusion has nothing to do with religious faith. It has everything to do with competence, experience, ability, and vision.”

“My running mate and I are here to build a more just and prosperous society for all Nigerians, be they Christian, Muslim or adherents of other faiths. It seems that Atiku is here trying to build an edifice of lies and call that the house into which Nigerians should walk and reside. He will fail in this sad attempt to trick an entire nation.

“Let me restate my position on religion and politics. When I decided that Senator Shettima was the best selection as my running mate, I listened to and weighed in serious balance the advice received from a broad and representative array of wonderful Nigerians who deeply care about this nation and the path it must go.

“Some people counselled that I should select a Christian to garner support of the Christian community. Some said I should select a Muslim for a similar reason. I clearly could not do both. Both positions had merit and right on their side. But neither position expressed what was most right and needed for the moment in which we find ourselves and the nation.”

inoki247:
Abi himself go lobby for appointment even if na Okada Park appointment since he like driving Okada up nd down

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the unity, security and prosperity of the country would matter most to him, beyond his days in office as President.

The President said this while speaking with stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.

Buhari, who expressed delight that the party was on towards that eventuality, thanked the delegation “for the kind words on my role in processes leading to the emergence of our candidate, and his running mate, for the Presidential election in February, next year.

‘‘I want to thank you all for the roles you played in the build-up, first to our national convention earlier this year, and later, to the primary elections.
‘‘You were all of one mind, wanting the best for the Party, with the candidate emerging in a free and fair manner.

‘‘For us all, the cohesion and unity of the Party was the first priority, and ambition was second. I am glad that you all saw the larger picture, rather than narrow, self-serving interests.’’

Buhari recalled that when the presidential running mate, Senator Kashim Shettima, was presented to him a couple of days ago, he had said he would reserve his comments till the handover ceremony on May 29, 2023, at the Eagle Square.

‘‘I still maintain that same position,’’ the President said, lauding party members for acknowledging the many virtues that qualify the Vice Presidential Candidate for the noble position.

The President, in a statement issued by his spokesman, Femi Adesina, expressed confidence that Shettima would not disappoint the party, and Nigerians at large.

He also commended the party for resolving to further mobilise more Nigerians, particularly youths, to register, and get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVCs), saying ‘‘It is the way to go.’’

The National Chairman of the party, the Chairman, the Progressives Governors Forum and Governor of Kebbi State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, and Shettima, in separate remarks, expressed gratitude to the President for his exemplary leadership which had strengthened the party in the aftermath of the convention and primaries.

Adamu said: ‘‘Our main goal is to see the success of the APC in the forthcoming general elections. There’s no better parting gift than to ensure that the APC produces the next President.’’

Bagudu told the President that he had set a worthy precedence on internal democracy in political parties, saying: ‘‘Under pressure to dictate or suggest, you were determined that the democratic process should be given the opportunity to work and what we have seen is that democratic processes can produce very excellent results.

‘‘We have a Presidential Candidate and a running mate, whom we are all proud of.’’

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the outcome of recent governorship elections shows his commitment to violence-free and credible polls.

According to him, the elections in Anambra, Osun and Ekiti States have proven that.

Buhari stated this, on Friday, when he received a delegation from Nasarawa led by the Governor of the State, Abdullahi Sule, in Abuja.

The President noted that his desire is to bequeath “an irreversible political process” that will be “democratic and acceptable” to Nigerians.

“Recent elections in Anambra, Ekiti and Osun are proof of my administration’s irreversible commitment to credible and violence-free polls in Nigeria,” he said.

“This is also why I made sure I signed the new electoral act. We will always be committed to the tenets of the rule of law.

“On the issue of credible, free and fair elections in the country, I have always reassured my listeners both at home and abroad, my personal desire and indeed the priority of this administration is to bequeath to our nation an irreversible political process that continues to be both democratic and acceptable to the people.

“My desire for our nation is that the 2023 elections should clearly mark the commencement of the institutional strength of our electoral body in conducting acceptable, credible and violence-free elections,” he added.

The Federal Government has said it will make provision for subsidy in 2023 to the tune of N6.72 trillion.

Minister of Finance Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed made this disclosure in Abuja on Thursday during the 2023 – 2025 Medium Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategic Paper (MTEF and FSP) Public Consultation.

Zainab Ahmed stated the government has projected fiscal outcomes in the medium term under two scenarios based on the underlying budget parameters/assumptions.

Under the first scenario, the Minister said that “the subsidy on PMS is estimated at N6.72 trillion for the full year 2023”. This amount she said “will remain and be fully provided for by the NNPC on behalf of the federation”.

The second scenario the minister explained is that “petrol subsidy will remain up to mid-2023 based on the 18-month extension announced early 2021, in which case only N3.36 trillion will be provided for”.

The Minister cautioned that “both scenarios have implications for net accretion to the Federation Account and projected deficit levels”.

Zainab Ahmed noted: “There will be tighter enforcement of the performance management framework for Government Owned Enterprises (GOEs) that will significantly increase operating surplus/dividend remittances in 2023”.

President Muhammadu Buhari has told Kashim Shettima, the running mate of the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu, that he will respond to him when he is handing over to them in 2023.

According to a statement signed by Garba Shehu, the President’s aide on Media and Publicity, Buhari was responding to a flowery speech by Senator Shettima.

Shettima was picked as the running mate to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in a controversial Muslim-Muslim-Muslim ticket of the APC and was unveiled before the party’s leadership on Wednesday.

“I will respond to your speech when I am handing over to you and your boss. God willing, you are going to win,” Buhari told Shettima.

Buhari said this when he received Shettima and Tinubu at the Presidential Villa shortly after he(Shettima) was unveiled, adding that he is very happy with the choice of the former Governor of Borno State as running mate.

“I wish you the best. Your consistency in the party is very respectful. You served your two terms as Governor and finished well.

“You have kept touch with your base. At every important occasion or event, you are maintaining support for the one who succeeded you. This is commendable,“ he said.

Tinubu and his party went ahead to select Shettima as the vice presidential candidate despite the resistance from Nigerians against a Muslim-Muslim or Christian-Christian ticket.

Buhari, who could not pick Tinubu, a Southern Muslim as as his running mate in 2014, said he is strongly optimistic that the former Lagos State Governor and his running mate will emerge victorious in 2023.

The selection of Shettima has received a wide range of mixed reactions from Nigerians. While some believe that competence should be the focus, others say that Nigeria at this point does not need a same-faith presidency.