₦airaland Forum

2023 ELECTIONS: FORGET RIGGING, PRESIDENT BUHARI VOWS TO RESOLUTELY DEFEND THE WILL OF NIGERIANS

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday in Abuja advised those planning to rig the 2023 general elections to perish the thought, vowing to use every legitimate means to protect the votes of Nigerians.

‘‘Those planning to rig the forthcoming elections should think twice because I intend to resolutely protect and defend the sacred will of the Nigerian people, to be expressed through the ballot box,’’ the President declared at an Iftar dinner with members of the Diplomatic Corps.

President Buhari also cautioned against foreign interference in the forthcoming elections.

‘‘As you are all aware, the tenure of this Administration ends on 29th May, 2023. Typical of election years all over the world, the tempo of political activities is often high.

‘‘That is the nature of democracy. I am committed to bequeathing a stronger culture of credible elections to Nigeria than I met.

‘‘As Nigeria goes through this trajectory, I urge our friends in the global community, represented by you the Diplomatic Corps, to adopt a positive role that reinforces the doctrine of respect for our internal affairs and respect for facts and devoid of pre-conceived notions and bias,’’ he said.

Addressing the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Nigerian leader called for greater consideration for humanitarian conditions in the affected areas in the ongoing crisis, warning that the conflict will get worse, if an immediate resolution is not found.

‘‘The war has lasted too long, cost so much and hurt too many people, well beyond the immediate theatres.

‘‘The rest of the world is progressively facing the impact of the conflict and this will certainly get worse, if an immediate resolution is not found, not least in the area of food security.

President Buhari welcomed the recent initiative of UN Secretary-General, Antonio Gutteres, of visiting Moscow and Kyiv, commending his efforts in search of a ceasefire, as a prelude to other enduring solutions.

‘‘The United Nations must continue to actively lead the way for engagements that could ultimately unlock peace through diplomacy,’’ he said.

The President urged the world, especially the Muslim community, to use the solemn and rewarding month of Ramadan, and especially these last days of the fast, to intensify prayers for de-escalation of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and for the return of peace to the world.

President Buhari also used the occasion to apprise members of the international community on some of the critical issues that are currently on the front burner of this Administration’s agenda and spirited efforts in handling them.

‘‘We continue to make steady progress on the daunting tasks of combating insecurity; fighting corruption; diversifying the economy; promoting good governance; and containing the COVID-19 pandemic.

‘‘Despite the many challenges we faced, and continue to face, we have instituted measures to plug leakages, improve the economy and enhance the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

‘‘These include: Renewal of vital infrastructure, including rail and roads; Implementation of the N2.3 trillion Economic Sustainability Plan to create jobs and provide support to Small and Medium Scale Enterprises; and Launch of the National Development Plan (2021-2025) to spur economic growth, leverage science, technology and innovation.

‘‘Other measures include: Establishment of the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the President on SDGs with the responsibility for ensuring coherence between development policies, plans and strategies;

‘‘Launch, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme, of the Nigeria Sustainable Development Goals Implementation Plan (2020-2030), to prioritise and mainstream the SDGs into their medium and long-term development policies and plans.’’

On COVID-19, the President, who restated Nigeria’s demand for vaccine equity and waiver of patents for manufacturing vaccines and approved drugs to treat the highly infectious disease, said the country would continue to expand its capacities for managing the pandemic.

On regional security, the President told the diplomats that the impact of the Libyan crisis on the countries in the Sahel, Lake Chad Basin, West and Central Africa is still enormous and catastrophic.

He expressed concern on the free circulation of small and light arms in these regions, made worse by the uncontrolled expulsion of foreign fighters from Libya without adequate consultations with the countries of the region.

‘‘The world needs to work together to combat these common challenges and I call on all your respective countries to reflect on this and collaborate with countries in these regions to combat this consequential spread of violence.’’

On the fight against Boko Haram, the President said:

‘‘As you know well, Nigeria has made significant progress in combating the Boko Haram group in the North East.

‘‘We are, however, recently confronted with new tactics deployed by the enemy to threaten our democratic values, as well as the common peace and freedom we enjoy in this country.’’

Commending Nigeria’s defence and security service men and women for their recent successes in routing the terrorists, the President said he was confident that the security situation would soon be brought under control.

He also acknowledged the support of Nigeria’s friends and partners in the global community, particularly the European Union and the United States ‘‘for their understanding, support and agreement to allow us to procure vital equipment and resources to successfully propagate this war.’’

The President added that ‘‘this cooperation and collaboration need to be intensified in spite of other major challenges confronting the international community.’’

Dean of the Diplomatic Corps and High Commissioner of Cameroon to Nigeria, Amb. Ibrahima Salaheddine, pledged that the international community would continue to support Nigeria before, during and after the forthcoming general elections.

‘‘As Nigeria enters another electoral year, we pray almighty Allah to put the electoral process under divine guidance for peaceful, free and fair elections,’’ he said.

Amb. Salaheddine, who described this year’s Iftah as special, noted that due to COVID-19 the tradition of meeting the President for the breaking of fast did not hold for two years.

He, therefore, congratulated the Nigerian government for curtailing the spread of the pandemic, saying the ‘‘enlightened leadership’’ of President Buhari has largely brought its spread in Nigeria under control.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
April 28, 2022

HAPPENING NOW

President Muhammadu Buhari hosts to Break of Fast, Members of Diplomatic Corps in State House on 28th April 2022

President Buhari with Dean of Diplomatic community and High Commissioner of Cameroon Amb. Salaheddine Abbas as he hosts to Break of Fast, Members of Diplomatic Corps in State House on 28th April 2022

President Buhari with Ambassador of Columbia to Nigeria Mrs Maricel Romero Cantilo and Spouse Mohammed Jammal as he hosts to Break of Fast, Members of Diplomatic Corps in State House on 28th April 2022

President Buhari with Ambassador of USA to Nigeria Mary Beth Leonard as he hosts to Break of Fast, Members of Diplomatic Corps in State House on 28th April 2022

PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI OBSERVES THE CLOSING OF RAMADAN TAFSIR AT THE STATE HOUSE MOSQUE, ABUJA. PHOTO; SUNDAY AGHAEZE. APRIL 28TH 2022.

pharmagba:
Simple analysis
Some people thought Buhari will pass on in 2018
They quickly made the law to prevent other regions from ruling for longer periods

Lo and behold they became the ones that want to find a way to extend their rule as president, they found themselves falling in the same pit they have dug

Who says the One that seat in the Heavens is not in control

derecho:
Who she dey deceive?

TheCOAS:

chiboyz1:
The All Progressive Congress (APC) ward secretaries forum in Rivers State has adopted Rt.Hon.Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi and Mr Tonye Cole as its Presidential and Gubernatorial Candidates for the 2023 general elections in Rivers state.

The forum made the disclosure in a Press briefing held in PortHarcourt on Thursday,April,28,2022.

In a communique signed by David -Nelson Ordu,Sokari Minapakate,Felix Onyeukwu,Barikpe Iniah,Chairman, Secretary, Publicity Secretary and Administrative Secretary of the forum respectively,the group said after x-raying aspirants vying for the position of President in Nigeria and Governor in Rivers state,it was discovered that Rt.Hon.Chibuike Amaechi is most qualified to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari and Tonye Cole as the Governor of Rivers State in 2023.

The forum also pledged to support campaign organizations of Rt Hon.Chibuike Amaechi and Tonye Cole with the sum of fifty million naira as a show of love and commitment .

Read The Statement In Full


THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) WARD SECRETARIES FORUM, RIVERS STATE ADOPTS RT. HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI KSJ. & TONYE COLE, AS her PRESIDENTIAL & GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES RESPCTIVELY.
PROTOCOLS
1. Thank you all for joining us in this epoch making conference.
2. All Progressive Congress (APC) Ward Secretaries Forum, Rivers State, which is an umbrella body of all Ward Secretaries of Rivers State APC, comprising different ethnic groups, had x-rayed many aspiring candidates who showed interests either publicly or otherwise in joining the 2023 presidential and guber race.
3. The result of the x-ray shows Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi is “most qualified” to take over from President Muhammadu Buhari and Tonye Cole as Rivers State Governor
4. At our enlarged meeting held in Port Harcourt on the 27th day of April, 2022, we unanimously endorsed Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, current Minister of Transportation and ‘‘Dan Amana Daura” as our candidate for the top job of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Tonye Cole as Rivers State Governor for the 2023 general election.
5. For the future of Nigeria, we firmly believe that the man, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, KSJ, is the best qualified for the office of the president, especially with his intellectual accomplishment, empathy for the younger generation, understanding of the economy and the fact that he has the experience of being a former Speaker (for 8 years) of the Rivers State House of Assembly and Chairman of all Speakers of the Houses of Assembly of the 36 States of the Federation, Governor of Rivers State (for 8 years) and Chairman Nigerian Governors Forum, Director General, Buhari Campaign Organization, current 2 tenure Hon. Minister of Transportation with uncompromised passion to consolidate on the achievements of the past twenty-four years.
6. THE MAN, RT. HON. CHIBUIKE ROTIMI AMAECHI IN THE PAST 24 YEARS
Amaechi (as he fondly wants to be called), was first appointed a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in November 2015 by President, Mohammadu Buhari and assigned to the Ministry of Transportation, where he superintended over the transportation sector (road, rail, maritime and aviation transportation), until recently when aviation was severed from his portfolio.
7. He was reappointed to the same position in 2019 by the President. There is no doubt that as the man in charge of driving the policies of President Mohammadu Buhari and the Federal Government of Nigeria in the transportation sector, he has discharged that responsibility with the full admiration and commendation of the ordinary Nigerians. We are sure that his passion, zeal, commitment, and determination to set goals and deliver on the goals would have counted in his favour, in earning him the prestigious award: ‘‘THE MINISTER OF THE DECADE AWARD’’ on Thursday, 16th of January, 2020, by THISDAY Newspaper, during the hosting of its Awards Ceremonies.
8. With the established goals and roadmap, it was easy, for instance, for the Ministry to identify Abuja-Kaduna railways and to set for itself a deadline for the Commissioning of that project in 2016. Today, we all can also see and evaluate the level of advancement and achievements made by NIMASA, NPA, NRC, and Shippers Council in Nation Building. These are all evidence of well-coordinated supervision, motivation, and support by a progressive and committed superintendent (Team Lead).
9. On record for all to see and why we are proud to front for the Presidential candidacy of the man, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is the fact that he had been a Governor, who not only did exceptionally well in terms of infrastructural development but also knew how to drive growth and development. Between 2008 to 2015, the period when Amaechi held forth in Rivers State, the State was described by both national and international observers as “huge construction site”, with the construction of over 200 Health Centres, 3 Hospitals, 500 Primary Schools, 9 Secondary Schools etc, all state of the art, and went on at the same time. These were outside the Roads (including a dualised network 1500km of roads, 23 bridges, 2 major flyovers, 2 interchanges, etc), Agriculture (including rehabilitation of over 30,000 hectares of Rivers State Oil Palm plantation -moribund RISONPALM, the Songhai Farm, over 2,000 hectares of Banana Farm at Tai; commercial-scale Fish Farm at Buguma, etc), Waste Management, Entertainment infrastructures all of which went on simultaneously.
10. Within the period as Governor, Amaechi also ramped up the 350 Megawatts (MW) total capacity generation assets investment commenced by the former administration in Rivers State from its previous 70MW (20 percent in 2007) to a record high of 77 percent, and injected another brand new 360MW, leaving the State with about 700MW in 2015. By so doing, he raised the bar for Rivers State as the Highest Independent Power Generation in Nigeria, second only to the Federal Government.
11. Amaechi’s Security Architecture for the State was also second to none, as the State became a Security Model in the country: kidnapping, armed robbery, cult-related activities all reduced to less than one percent. Under his watch, Rivers State established and set up an integrated Security Network, with a central Command, Control, Communication, Computer and Intelligent (C4I), a 24hours Camera System that watched over Port Harcourt City. And to close the final loop, the Rivers State Government had ordered for the delivery of two Civilian Security Bell Helicopters before he exited from Office in May 2015.
12. As Governor, Amaechi’s vision and achievements in Rivers State were ground-breaking, trailblazing and unprecedented. One of his major strides was in the Education sector. Upon assumption of Office, He declared State of Emergency on Education in Rivers State and from a near-ground-zero, he lifted Education Infrastructure and Standard to a state where Rivers State became a reference point on Education Development in Nigeria, and twice, it won the UBEC Award for Best State in Education Development. And to boost teacher-pupil ratio, a little over 13,000 teachers were employed in one single process. He understood the role of Education and Human Capacity building in national growth and development. Thus, by the time he left office, he had records of over 3,500 Rivers State indigenes and residents sent all over Europe, America, Asia, etc to acquire knowledge in ICT, Medicine, Science, Engineering, etc.
13. Amaechi’s efforts in governance received international accolades and endorsements, especially what was referred to as “unprecedented development” in Rivers State. No sooner, his efforts in improving Education was recognized by UNESCO, and in 2012, Port Harcourt City was voted, WON and declared “World Book Capital 2014”, and became the first City in Sub-Saharan Africa to win World Book Capital, beating 10 others contenders including cities like Oxford, Moscow, Lyon etc
14. Amaechi is tenacious, passionate and always committed in his drive for the development. He is like a golden fish in that “sea of development”. Indeed, those who knew Amaechi’s drive were not at all surprised that THISDAY Newspaper spotted him and his modest contribution to President Buhari development efforts and agenda and that the ordinary Nigerians voted him the Minister of the Decade.
15. In the same vain, we seek to seize this medium to Pass Vote of Confidence on the Decision of the Leadership of Rivers State APC on the choice of Tonye Cole as our Consensus candidate come 2023 general election. Impressively, Tonye Cole, who co-founded and as former Group Executive Director of Sahara Group, an energy Conglomerate, operating in 38 countries around the world with over 4,000 employees yielding an annual turnover of $11Billion, whose direct responsibility was successful in building this global brand. As a result, we are therefore hopeful that the zeal and wisdom these achievements will be replicated in governing the affairs of our dear Rivers State.
16. CONCLUSION
We conclude this press conference by congratulating the Honourable Minister of Transportation on his auspicious and numerous achievements thus far in the last 30 years and our gubernatorial candidate on his unprecedented antecedence. We hope that they will not relent in their drive and zeal in nation-building; even as we say many thanks to President Mohammed Buhari for the opportunity given to the Minister to be part of this great team, driving national development and growth at this time. Like the African proverbs goes: “No matter how full the river, it still wants to grow.”, which is why we call on all Nigerians to join us and rally support for the man, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi for the office of the President, Federal Republic of Nigeria and Tonye Cole as Governor of Rivers State, as to drive development, economic stability and security of lives and property amongst other panting yearnings of all Nigerians.
In achieving the foregoing and in supporting further the Presidential candidacy of Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi & Tonye Cole, the ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) WARD SECRETARIES FORUM, RIVERS STATE hereby pledges the sum of Fifty Million (N50,000,000.00) Naira to Amaechi & Tonye Cole Campaign Organization as our token of love and seriousness to see the man, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chinuike Amaechi sworn in as President and Commander in Chief, Federal Republic of Nigeria, and Tonye Cole as Rivers State Governor come 29/5/2023.
We have no atom of doubt that, God being our side, this is achievable and an expectation come true already and we congratulate all Nigerians for joining the winning train ably piloted by ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) WARD SECRETARIES FORUM, RIVERS STATE.

midep:
BREAKING: Nigeria business coach and entrepreneur, Stephen Akintayo, proposes to buy Nairaland for the sum of 1Billion naira. This is coming after Elon Musk recently purchased Twitter.

Nairaland is an online community and public space that serves as a meeting place for Nigerians at home and in the diaspora. The online platform generates 1.5m daily, reportedly.

Seun is this tru ??

SmartProf:
Is that what you were told during the last national meeting of all zombies?
While sane Nigerians are Keen on engaging in intellectual discussions as 2023 unfolds, you are still soaked in banters meant for beer parlour customers.

tsdarkside:
Permanent Secretary....??
does it mean,they stay their till they die....??

christejames:
Please guys, my calculator is faulty...



How many more days are we left with to endure this administration?