₦airaland Forum

Happy birthday to him.

President Muhammadu Buhari, who marked his 76th birthday today has penned an appreciation note to all Nigerians thanking them for the show of love and prayers on his special day.

He also seized the opportunity to renew his pledge to serve Nigerians diligently and take the country to greater heights or as his re-election campaign will put it, the Next Level.

Read the personal letter of President Buhari:

Dear Nigerians/Friends –


It’s been my joy and honour to serve our country, Nigeria, for most of my life.

As I turned 76 today, I am deeply grateful for all the prayers, goodwill messages and encouragement from Nigerians and friends, at home and abroad.

Life is better lived together in peace, unity and prosperity.

In all, I give glory to almighty Allah for mercies, and thanks to Nigerians for counting me worthy to serve them. It is something I have rededicated myself to, and will do to the very best of my ability.

Nigeria has all the potentials for greatness. Our greatness as individuals will only derive from Nigeria’s greatness. So, on this special day, I commit myself again to the task of taking our country to greater heights, and invite you to partner with me in that worthy cause.


http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/im-deeply-grateful-buhari-tells.html?m=1

Nice one.

That would be good if he can do it.

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has restated its resolve that President Muhammadu Buhari will hand over power to an Igbo person in 2023 and urged Ndigbo to embrace the party.

This is contrary to the position credited to Works and Housing MinisterBabatundede Fashola that President Buhari would hand over to a Yoruba in 2023.

Speaking weekend in Umuahia, at the inauguration of the South East chapter of the Presidential Support Committee, PSC, the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr. Boss Mustapha assured Ndigbo that President Buhari does not hate them.

According to him, the shortest route to producing a president of Igbo extraction is by supporting and voting for APC in 2019. He urged them to ensure that President Buhari is returned in 2019.

Represented by Mr. Gideon Sammani, Mustapha who was happy over the acceptance the party has gained in the South East, urged the people to work hard to ensure that the President is re-elected in 2019. He said that what he saw has shown that Ndigbo have changed their opinion on APC.

He said: “President Buhari has demonstrated love to Ndigbo by works going on in the zone and on the second Niger Bridge. Buhari has done a lot for Ndigbo.”

Speaking, the South East Zonal Coordinator, Chamberlain Adiaso urged the Igbo to support President Buhari’s re-election bid, saying that the President has proven to be “a man of integrity and honour.

“The 2023 Igbo Presidency agenda is not only realisable by sticking with President Muhammadu Buhari, but will also be a watershed in the lives of the Igbo. The opportunity has never been this bright and inviting since the return of democracy in 1999. It is absolutely your choice to make,” Adiaso said.





Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buhari-will-hand-over-to-igbo-in-2023.html?m=1

Is that true?

The Presidency has blamed former President Goodluck Jonathan for causing the delay in the formation of President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

Buhari was inaugurated on May 29, 2015 but formed his cabinet on November 11 of the same year.

Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Monday, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said Jonathan did not give Buhari handover notes until 48 hours before his departure.

He said, “That President Buhari took 166 days to form a cabinet is absolutely untrue. It took him time to form a cabinet because the outgoing administration in 2015 did not cooperate with the transition committee.


“The President was given handover notes 48 hours to the handover of power and for whatever reason, the President at that time determined that two governments would not operate at the same time.”

However, a Spokesman for the Atiku Abubakar Campaign Organisation, Mr. Phrank Shuaibu, said Buhari had a penchant for blaming others but himself.

Shuaibu said it was laughable that Buhari who had contested the Presidency for 12 years could take over 160 days to set up a cabinet.

He added, “Saying Mr President had to wait for handover notes from his predecessor before forming a cabinet is an admittance of lack of preparedness for the office of the President and the onerous responsibility of managing a country like Nigeria.

“For an office you sought election for four times, obviously you should be able to identify eggheads that can help you manage the country. He didn’t need to wait for handover notes before being able to form a cabinet. He had no working plan. He was practically what El-Rufai would refer to as an accidental public servant or an accidental President.”





Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/jonathan-to-blame-for-delay-in-forming.html?m=1

Do you agree with his points?

By Femi Adesina


‘That’s him, that’s him,” the two old women, wrinkled and bent with age, exclaimed. You could see wonderment and fulfillment in their eyes. And as if on cue, they both began to cry.

It was in Bauchi earlier this year. President Muhammadu Buhari was visiting to commiserate with the people on the ravages of windstorm, which had destroyed many homes and other property. As he waved at the tumultuous crowd, the two women saw him, perhaps for the first time in their lives. And so great was their satisfaction, their pure joy, that they began to cry.

That is the kind of emotion that courses through millions and millions of Nigerians when they behold their President, the honest man (mai gaskiya), the man of integrity, man of accountability, one who’s word you can take to the bank. The man who loves them, and they love and trust in return.

Don’t misunderstand me. Not all estimated 196 million Nigerians share this sentiment.  Not possible. There are those who are passionately opposed to the President. They are a very vocal minority, who abhor his integrity, hate his sense of accountability, and even want him dead. But we are not talking about those who Fela Anikulapo-Kuti called “opposite people.” On this day of his 76th birthday, we are talking of the teeming masses who love Buhari, and who can go to the ends of the earth for him.


Why they love Buhari

Why do they love Buhari? Or better still, why do we love Buhari? The old, the young, men, women, boy, girl, the strong, the infirm. Why do we love the  tall man from Daura? For many reasons.

I have said it before, and say it again. It will take awhile before Nigeria will see another political leader with such ability to pull an unsolicited and uninduced crowd like Muhammadu Buhari. Anywhere he goes, he doesn’t have to procure the crowd. They turn out in their numbers to see and hear him. They will trek from Africa to China, walk from Cape Town to Cairo, all to see, hear and cheer the man they love.

Why?

Many reasons. He is an honest man. My father, that stern educationist, who ran the home and the schools he administered with an iron hand, used to tell us: “Honesty is the best policy.” That was true over 50 years ago when he drummed it into our ears, and it is still true today. And will remain true tomorrow, and forever. That is why we love Buhari. He is an honest man, who will tell the truth to his own hurt.

At a recent meeting with governors, while discussing the seemingly knotty issue of minimum wage, the President told them to level with him. He said he knew that general elections were by the corner, “but I don’t like to lie to anybody. I will still like to tell Nigerians the truth, and nothing but the truth, as to what we can truly afford to pay.” Consultations are still ongoing.

Some people will give you fibs, just because they want to hoodwink you, and get your votes. They will announce that they’ve increased the salaries of fictitious workers, even when truly they are owing many of their employees. But not President Buhari. Nothing for him is a matter of life and death. Truth is the best thing in a man’s keeping. Make yourself an honest man, and there is one rascal less in the world. That is why we love the man.

Accountability. I will never forget a promise Buhari made to the crowd at a campaign rally in Lagos in 2011, when he ran with Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Assembly. Two honest men. “Every kobo that comes into the treasury will be used for the good of Nigerians.” That’s the accountable man, who would not dip his hands into the treasury for private gains, who will not line his pocket at the expense of the people. That is why we love him.

Just over a week ago, I met a man who was an accountant at the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), when the then Gen. Buhari was chairman. Executive Chairman, who could do anything he wanted, since the place was awash with billions of petrol money.

“I told him his salary would be N200,000 monthly,” the man recounted. “He said it was too much, since he still drew pension from public coffers as a retired General and former head of state. I don’t know how he calculated it, but he said he would rather be paid N84,000 monthly. And that was what he earned.”

Yet some people say don’t follow this honest man. Till he has one tooth left in his mouth, and is bent double over his walking stick, we will, no matter what they say. Honesty is still the best policy. Today, tomorrow, and forever.

See all the positions he has held in this country. Governor of North-east, then made  up of what is now six states. Minister of Petroleum for over three years. Head of State for 20 months. Chairman of PTF for many years. Yet he remains a man of modest means. That is why we love him.

In the early days of this administration, when oil prices had crashed to as low as 39 dollars per barrel (from as high as 115 in preceding years, stabilizing at over $100 for a long time, yet we had no savings, no reserves), it was usually a spectacle to see the President and the then Finance Minister, Kemi Adeosun, seated and apportioning funds for the week. Depending on what was in the coffers, they prioritized spending, just like traders with low capital base.

Nigeria had been run into a hole. No reserve for the rainy day, and we were being badly beaten by the rain. Yet salaries must be paid as at when due. At least 27 states could not meet their obligations, till President Buhari gave them a lifeline. And then, one day, a counsel was given at a meeting: “This is the time to ideally cut the strength of the federal civil service by at least half, as we may not be able to carry the load for long.” It made a lot of fiscal sense. But to the President, it was nonsense. “If it lies within my powers, I will ensure that no single person loses his or her job. Yes, it may be the right thing to do, looking at the state of our finances, but I won’t do it,” President Buhari said.

And you say we shouldn’t love this President? We will love him till Africa and China meet.

A confederacy has arrayed itself against the honest man. A crooked confederacy. Anybody that is anybody in the pantheon of questionable character is there. Are Nigerians fools? After their eyes have been opened, will they willfully afflict themselves with blindness again? Not on their lives! The country will never go back to the slave market. Not after we have known prudence, experienced accountability, and we are are inching out of the morass in which we were soused and marooned.

For more than five decades, mere lip service was paid to diversification of the economy. But we remained a mono-product country. Oil. So, whenever the price of oil crashed in the international market, we simply crashed with it. Now gradually, and inexorably, we are on the road to a diversified economy. Wonders are being done in agriculture. Mining is flexing muscles. Manufacturing is showing prospects. All in less than four years.

What of infrastructure? The sum of N2.7 trillion spent in two years. The roads are roaring to life. The rail is snaking in. Power is powering back. Wonders are being unfolded in different parts of the country. And we shouldn’t love this President? We will, no matter what the naysayers say.

Hear pensioners rejoice: This is the best administration we’ve had since the advent of Contributory Pension Scheme 14 years ago.

Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State spoke at a meeting of governors with the President last Friday. He said since the creation of the state, this was the first time pensioners were being paid, adding that pension liabilities have been cleared by about 40%. Just because there is a President that cares.

Former Nigeria Airways workers. Railway workers. Former Biafran policemen. And many others, have had their pensions paid. And we shouldn’t love the ‘birthday man?’ They should tell it to the marines.

When you have a heart for men, it is God himself that keeps you alive. We have seen a practical demonstration in President Buhari. From the brink of death early 2017, there is now an unmistakable glow in him, evidence of good health from the inside. It is God at work. No wonder wicked people came with the idiocy of Jubril of Sudan. Otiose. Hollow. Products of addled minds. That was why we ignored them, till the President himself responded to a question from Nigerians in Poland two weeks ago.

And you know what? Our love for this President is at no cost. No charge. Whether we work for him, and for him, or we don’t, the real cost of our love is no charge.

Do you know that classic song, No Charge, made popular by Shirley Caesar and Sonia Spence? It told the story of a small boy who decided to charge his mum for all that he considered favours he had done her.

“For mowing the yard, five dollars and for making my own room this week, one dollar for going to the store, 50 cents and playing with little brother while you went shopping, 25 cents taking out the trash, one dollar and for getting a good report card, five dollars for raking the yard, two dollars total owed, fourteen seventy-five.”

The woman looked at her son, standing there expectantly. Then she collected the paper from him, and wrote on it: “For the nine months I carried you,  growing inside me, no charge for the nights I sat up with you doctored you, prayed for you, no charge for the time and tears, and the cost through the years, no charge When you add it all up, the full cost of my love is no charge.”

For millions upon millions of Nigerians who love this President, it is an unconditional love. The full cost of our love is no charge. Happy birthday, Mr President.






Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buhari-at-76-why-we-love-this-president.html?m=1

What do you think?

In February 2019, Nigerians will vote their next leader in the sixth presidential elections since the end of the military rule in 1999.



The incumbent, President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress is running for a second term. His main competitor is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the opposition People's Democratic Party.



Which of them is best-placed to lead Africa's biggest economy?



When asked why Buhari travelled overseas for medical treatment without informing the Nigerian people what that treatment was for, his campaign spokesman, Festus Keyamo, says there is "no political templates and booklets" that require Buhari to disclose his medical records.





President Buhari has been to the United Kingdom several times for unspecified medical treatment, despite claiming during the campaign that he would end 'medical tourism' for government officials when treatment was available in Nigeria.



"In matters of health, you have to rebuild infrastructure. Because health is number one," Keyamo adds. "And you don't expect people to die, not only him [Buhari], any other person at all in a state of health that may be terminal."



Abubakar's spokesman Segun Sowunmi was pressed about the $40mn sent to the United States via offshore wire transfers. Sowunmi says the money was an attempt "to fund an American University in Yola."



"It was investigated. It was clearly shown not to be of crime," he continued. "We must be careful that we do not take small queries to mean grand larceny or grand indictment."





http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/who-will-be-nigerias-next-president.html

Quite interesting.

Details of how President Muhammadu Buhari applied and got bank loan of N260, 000 to build his first and only house in Kaduna, have emerged, with some Nigerians questioning whether his Spartan life of 1984 when he served as head of state is still the same as the current Nigeria’s president.

The bank document shows clearly that Buhari had resorted to taking a bank loan to be able to build his first house in Kaduna, having not been able to raise enough cash for such a project through all other means.

After applying for the cash, which came with interest, Buhari, a Major General in the army at the time, accepted all the terms and conditions imposed by Union Bank, which provided the N260,000 loan to him and laid out the conditions attached to the offer.

In the loan document dated June 1, 1984, and addressed to Major General Muhammadu Buhari, Head of State and Commander-in-Chief, Dodan Barracks, Lagos, the bank made it clear that the loan was approved for the building of his house.

The letter signed by one M. D. Yusif, who was the manager of Union Bank at the time, the bank said: “Dear sir, we are pleased to advise that the bank has agreed to renew your facility as follows: Building Loan-N260,000, has been marked for review on the 2nd of March 1985 but in accordance with the normal banking practice; it is repayable on demand and subject to review or withdrawal at any time the bank’s option.

“Interest will be charged for the time being, at the rate of 11 percent per annum with monthly rents. Commission on turnover will be charged at 20 percent.

“The facility has been renewed subject to the following conditions: All the security items have been holding before now continue to support this lending and ordinary account should be kept strictly on creditor’s basis while loan outstands.

“Kindly signify your acceptance of the terms and conditions of the renewal by signing and returning the duplicate copy of this letter,” M. D. Yufif, said.

But as it appeared that Major Gen. Buhair was desperately in need of the loan, he quickly signed and returned the letter to Union Bank, which immediately released the cash to him for the building project in Kaduna.

Although this gesture has given out Buhari as a man of Spartan nature, many Nigerians are unconvinced if he would have take the loan today, given that he has made a lot of money from being the president of Nigeria for almost four years and surrounding himself with people who are said to be money-conscious and ready to do anything to get rich quick.

However, those who claim to know Buhari very well, praised him for his Spartan nature, saying he remains the same man that he was many years ago despite presiding over billions of Nigeria’s cash.

A Kaduna-based politician, Aliyu Musa, who claims to have know Buhari from childhood, told newsmen in Kaduna on Friday that Buhari remains incorruptible despite all the posts he has held and the passage of time given his austere background and fear of God not to dip his hands into public till.

“We, who are Buhari’s friends, are proud of him and we will continue to vouch for him as an honest, contented and sincere leader who is not driven by ill-gotten wealth and that is why he went for commercial bank loan to build his first house instead of looting the public treasury as most leaders would have done.

“We know that despite being Nigeria’s president at a time when everybody wants to steal and enrich themselves, Buhari will remain steadfast to his creed not to steal a kobo from the peoples treasury,” Musa stated.

But second republic lawmaker, Junaid Mohammed, told Saturday Vanguard that Buhari might not be corrupt by taking money from the public till but has thrown himself into the ring by surrounding himself with questionable elements, who do not believe in his anti-corruption war.

“We want Buhari to do away with nepotism and retainership of a cabal that does not work in the interest of Nigeria because corruption extends beyond stealing public funds to conferring undue advantage on a particular set of people and tribe at the expense of other groups,” Junaid said.





Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/how-president-buhari-got-n260000-bank.html?m=1

Let's hope things don't get hard for us.

President Muhammadu Buhari has, Friday, warned governors and other leaders in the country to brace up for tougher times ahead, especially as regards the economy and infrastructural development of the country, saying things will be harder than before.

President Buhari gave the statement in a message to the 36 state governors during a closed-door meeting with them in Abuja.

The president’s message was made known to newsmen by the Governors’ Forum, Gov. Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara shortly after the meeting.

According to the governor, president Buhari also told them that the country’s economy is in bad shape, challenging them to brace up on way forward to salvaging the dwindling economy.

According to him, “Mr President, as usual, responded by telling us that the economy is in a bad shape and we have to come together and think and rethink on way forward.

“So, Mr President talked to us in the manner that we have a task ahead of us. So, we should tighten our belts and see how we can put Nigerian economy in the right direction and how we can address the nation’s infrastructural decay.

“So, all of us as leaders, especially those that are coming to the National Assembly and those coming back as governors and the president who will be re-elected by God grace, we should not think that things are going to be easy.

“They are going to be harder than before, this was the message of Mr President.’’

On the meeting of the National Economic Council, the governor disclosed that the Council deliberated extensively on new ways state governments could generate additional revenues for speedy economic growth and development.






Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/things-will-be-harder-than-before.html?m=1

Do you agree with him that it's an achievement?

The minister of state for petroleum resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has said President Muhammadu Buhari-led government has not spent a penny on the country's four refineries since the inception of the administration in 2015.

Kachikwu, who made the statement in Abuja on Thursday, December 13, said not spending a dime on the four refineries was an achievement not many have paid attention to, Daily Trust reports.

It was gathered that Kachikwu made the assertion during a presentation of three years key achievements of the ministry and award to its staff.

He said: “What is important is that for the first time, the president had been able to say that he would repair the refineries without government money. Nobody had been able to give attention to that. No government one penny had been spent on any refinery.

“This is because every Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) that we have done in the past has always come up with stories. Wrong contracting models, wrong delivery, wrong work, and we don’t want to go that way."

According to Kachikwu, the target of the current administration is to bring in private sector investors to finance the repairs of the refineries.

The minister added: “NNPC have struggled to find the financiers, now financiers have finally been found but to agree on terms have been difficult. I am hoping that by the end of this year and first quarter next year we would have completed the commercial aspect of this financial undertaking which is in the excess of over $2 billion.”

Report has it that more than N264 billion was spent on turn around maintenance of the refineries by previous administrations but the plants have failed to deliver.

Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the minister of state for petroleum, Ibe kachikwu, on Thursday, October 4, revealed that it would be saddening if the nation’s refineries were not functional by the end of 2019.

According to him, the present administration is committed to ensuring that the importation of petroleum products is curtailed.

Kachikwu stated this in Ibigwe-Ohaji in Ohaji\Egbema council area of Imo during the ground-breaking for construction of the 5,000 BPD modular refinery by Walter Smith petro-chemical limited.

The report said the project was being partnered by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB).






Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buhari-has-not-spent-penny-on-nigerias.html?m=1

You think he's right?

Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN and Director of President Buhari 2019 Presidential Campaign has said that President Muhammadu Buhari is revamping economy by diversification, building infrastructure.

Keyamo on his Twitter handle said ‘those who say they want to revamp the economy, see the true picture they left behind.

‘They want to deceive the masses, but we shall continue to stick to facts.’

‘These reports were in 2012-13. Now, PMB is revamping the economy by diversification & building critical infrastructure’.

Those who say they want to revamp the economy, see the true picture they left behind�. They want to deceive the masses, but we shall continue to stick to facts. These reports were in 2012-13. Now, PMB is revamping the economy by diversification & building critical infrastructure pic.twitter.com/EdUQTP8XzZ

— Festus Keyamo, SAN (@fkeyamo) December 12, 2018

For anybody to say we have not move since 2015 will be lying – Keyamo




Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buhari-revamping-economy-by.html?m=1

Do you agree with it?

Some of President Muhammadu Buhari’s achievements are listed below according to Buhari center.

A] Under President Buhari the N-Power Volunteer Corps has engaged and trained over 200,000 youths, 300,000 more are going to be engaged in a few months.

Women stand by candidates they believe in all the way, so politicians do a lot to gain their confidence. I thank Nigerian women who put their confidence in me and voted for me in 2015; …seeing this gathering. I am confident that the confidence is still there.” — Pres. @MBuhari

B] Under President Buhari 10,000 non-graduate in the N-Build category are being trained in 23 states
on vocational skills.

C] The Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) MarketMoni scheme has empowered 350,000 MSMEs across 36 states of the Federation.


D] NITDA has trained Persons Living with Disabilities on ICT skills.

F] The President Buhari administration has approved N10billion Youth Entrepreneurship Support Project (YES-P) to empower youth with loans to start businesses.

G] The President Buhari administration has established 8 Innovation hubs to promote youth entrepreneurship and innovation.

F] Under the President Buhari administration, two (2) ICT innovation Hubs were established in the Northern-central region (Abuja), and the Southern region (Lagos) of the country

Training of Niger Delta Youths

A] Under the President Buhari administration, Several Niger-Delta youths have acquired skills in different areas of business, trade and craft.

B] Under President Buahri 130 youths in the Niger-Delta have been trained on poultry, aquaculture, crop production and N1 million naira each to each person.




Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/some-of-buharis-achievements-on-youth.html?m=1

Do you agree with him?

Senator representing Delta Central senatorial district, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, has said described the three years administration of President Muhammad Buhari as success story for Nigerians when compared to the 16 years rule of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The lawmaker made the disclosure at Ughelli, Delta State during the inauguration of his 400 man campaign council headed by Chief Francis Atanoneyovwin.

Omo-Agege while applauding the APC led government explained that the government has wedged relentless war against corruption and insurgency in the North East and is winning the war.
He said: “Through the government’s laudable N-Power, TradersMoni and School Feeding programmes many Nigerians have been empowered hence we need to reelect the APC government to continue these programs.

“Here in Delta, Buhari has performed well through the intervention of the NDDC as it has constructed more roads than the state government who call themselves roads master.”


Chairman of the party in the state, Jones Erue while urging members of the party to be united and tolerant of one another, said: “I will be the chairman that will lead the opposition to Delta State Government House in 2019 and I believe in the prophecy but we must forgive and tolerate ourselves and work in unity to win all positions.”







Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/buharis-achievements-outshines-pdps.html?m=1

You think he's right?

Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi has said those opposed to the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari are eyeing the nation’s resources which they intend to loot.

Fayemi said Nigerians should ignore the people he described as enemies of the country and cast their votes for Buhari, who he said would continue to work for the development of the country and liberation of the masses.

The governor, represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Biodun Oyebanji, spoke in Ado Ekiti, the state capital on Tuesday while receiving members of the Ekiti State Private Sectors Union who are drumming support for Buhari’s re-election.

“Those who are against Buhari’s re-election are the enemies of the country who want to continue to loot the nation’s economy after their 16-year rule,” he claimed.


While appreciating their support for the President, Fayemi assured members of the union that they would be allowed participation in governance in the state.

He said there would be no development when the private sector was paralysed.

The union’s chairman, Mr Gbenga Abiodun, said they embarked on the rally for Buhari because of the President’s fight against corruption, which he said had blocked leakages in all sectors of the economy.

Abiodun urged people of the state to re-elect Buhari “so that the state could benefit from the laudable programmes of the Federal Government such as the extension of the proposed rail project to Ekiti which will in no small measure boost the economy of the state when completed”.

He also identified the government’s Social Investment Programmes and the rehabilitation of Akure-Ado Ekiti-Ikare Road among other programmes which the state would gain from Buhari’s second term.

“We are requesting more federal presence in terms of loan/grant for the private sectors union, infrastructural development, tourism, agriculture and more dividends of democracy and more importantly refund of the funds expended on federal roads in Ekiti State.

“We are assuring President Buhari of his re-election into office in 2019 and we are pledging our support for the project,” he said.


Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/president-buharis-opponents-out-to-loot.html?m=1

poscabafash:
It is a good bill but, the timing is wrong

Yeah. It looks like that.

Time will tell if he will in 2019.

The governorship candidate of the Action Alliance (AA), Uche Nwosu, has restated that no amount of cheap blackmail will dissuade him and his followers from supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s reelection.

Nwosu who left the All Progressives Congress (APC) after the controversial governorship primaries, stated that the circumstance that forced him to dump the APC has nothing to do with President Buhari.

He said that his support for the President is beyond personal considerations or party and religious inclinations.

Nwosu argued further that those fighting to get the attention of the President by blackmailing him cannot deliver him in their booths because “they are not popular”.

According to him, “Whether they blackmail us or not, the truth is that we have made up our minds to support President Buhari. If I will not be supporting President Buhari, I won’t be putting his pictures on my billboards and campaign posters, otherwise who am I deceiving. We have together with the governor of the state, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, made up our mind to support President Muhammadu Buhari in 2019 and nothing can change that.

“In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari won with a wide margin in my Eziama-Obire Ward and in the 2019 election, despite being the governorship candidate of the Action Alliance, I will deliver President Buhari in my Ward but those running to Abuja to blackmail me cannot convince a single person to vote for President Muhammadu Buhari.

“All those carrying the blackmail should come out and show us their supporters that will vote for President Buhari all they are interested in is to use the President’s name and compromise the election because they know that they don’t stand a chance in a free and fair election but that will not work in Imo State”.

He added that those relying on rigging the 2019 governorship election will be disappointed as the people of the state will resist any such attempt.

In his words, “We have implicit trust in the leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under Marmood Yakubu to deliver a credible election. So those relying on rigging and other malpractices will fail. Imolites will resist any attempt to steal their mandate, the people’s vote must count.

“In fact anybody thinking of rigging the 2019 election is making a big mistake because we will resist it, the youths of Imo state will resist it, the women and the leaders of the state will resist, if you are not popular, you are not popular and INEC knows that it is not possible to write result in Imo state. People should know that the era of sitting at home and writing results is gone.





Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/no-amount-of-blackmail-can-stop-my.html

Do you think his reason is justifiable?

President Muhammadu Buhari has written the Senate, explaining why he refused to assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, read the President’s letter at the Tuesday Plenary.

President Buhari’s letter to the senators reads: “Pursuant to Section 58 (4) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), I hereby convey to the Senate, my decision on 6th December 2018 to decline Presidential Assent to the Electoral (Amendment) Bill, 2018 recently passed by the National Assembly.

“I am declining assent to the Bill principally because I am concerned that passing a new electoral bill this far into the electoral process for the 2019 general elections, which commenced under the 2015 Electoral Act, could create some uncertainty about the applicable legislation to govern the process.

“Any real or apparent change to the rules this close to the election may provide an opportunity for disruption and confusion in respect of which law governs the electoral process.

“This leads me to believe that it is in the best interest of the country and our democracy for the National Assembly to specifically state in the Bill that the Electoral Act will come into effect and be applicable to elections commencing after the 2019 General Elections.”

Continuing, Buhari explains, “It is also important for the following drafting amendments to be made to the Bill:

”A. Section 5 of the Bill, amending section 18 of the Principal Act should indicate the subsection to which the substitution of the figure ’30” for the figure “60” is to be effected.”

“B. Section 11 of the Bill, amending Section 36 should indicate the subsection in which the provision is to be introduced.

“C. Section 24 of the Bill which amends Section 85(1) should be redrafted in full as the introduction of the “electing” to the sentence may be interpreted to mean that the political parties may give 21 days’ notice of the .. intention to merge, as opposed to the 90 days provided in Section 84(2) of the Electoral Act which provides the provision for merger of political parties.”

“D. The definition of the term “Ward Collection Officer” should be revised to reflect a more descriptive definition than the capitalized and undefined term “Registration Area Collation Officer.”

The President concluded his letter with greeting to the lawmakers: “Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, the assurances of my highest consideration.”

After Saraki finished reading the President’s letter, Senate Leader moved that all items on the Order Paper be stood down to another legislative day.

Minority Leader seconded the motion and the Plenary adjourned to Wednesday, 12th December, 2018.





Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/why-i-refused-to-sign-electoral-bill.html?m=1

R.I.P, General.

Nigeria’s president, Muhammadu Buhari, has sent his condolence to the family of Salihu Ibrahim, who was the nation’s Chief of Army Staff (COAS) from 1990 to 1993.

It was gathered that the 93-year-old died on Monday, in Kogi State.

In a message to the family, the government and the people of Kogi State on Monday evening, Mr Buhari said the news of Mr Ibrahim’s death had left him “sad and devastated”, but he was consoled by the fact that the general will remain immortal and never to be forgotten.

“It is a matter of great pride that outstanding officers like General Ibrahim served the Nigerian Army. He served the nation with all his heart; with full dedication and commitment to duty. His service represents the hallmark of our Armed Forces.

“On behalf on my family, the government and the people of our country, I extend deepest condolences to General Ibrahim’s family, loved ones and the government and people of Kogi State,” Mr Buhari said, in a message by his spokesperson, Garba Shehu.

The president also prayed that “Allah grants him Al Jannatul Firdausi”.





Source: http://www.nigerianeye.com/2018/12/president-buhari-consoles-family-of.html?m=1