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Tag: President Buhari

  • EFCC: PFN commends President Buhari on Bawa’s nomination

    EFCC: PFN commends President Buhari on Bawa’s nomination

    The Patriotic Front of Nigeria (PFN) has welcomed President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Abdulrasheed Bawa as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

    The group said the president has again confirmed his commitment to rid the nation of corruption by entrusting a youth to lead the war.

    In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Kolawole Emmanuel, on Wednesday, the pro-democracy group said that Bawa is tailormade for the job, assuring that as tsar, he will revamp the anti-corruption agency.

    The statement further noted that the rush with which looters and wailers set out to taint the nominee’s image even before screening by the Senate is a confirmation that Mr President got his act right as always.

    The group, however, urged Nigerians to disregard the fake news promoted by Peoples Gazette, urging them to inoculate themselves against the series of other lies that those behind this campaign of calumny will attempt to use to mislead the nation in the days ahead until the Senate confirms the nominee.

    While congratulating Bawa on his nomination, the PFN assured him that “Nigerians, particularly the youth whose future corruption threatens, are with him”.

    Read the full statement below:

    The Patriotic Front of Nigeria (PFN) commends President Muhammadu Buhari for strengthening the anti-corruption war with the nomination of Abdulrasheed Bawa as Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), subject to confirmation by the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    This appointment has confirmed that Mr President never for a moment shifted his focus from ridding Nigeria of the cankerworm of corruption, which has been the greatest threat to Nigeria’s march to greatness and the root cause of the other problems besetting the country.

    Bawa’s profile as an anti-corruption investigator showed that he had consistently shown mettle for the role that has now been thrust upon him while his last posting as a Deputy Chief Detective Superintendent as the head of the Lagos zonal office of the EFCC testify to the revamp coming to the anti-graft agency.

    We, therefore, see President Buhari’s choice of Bawa as EFCC Chairman as another commendable feat meant to impact the younger generation and take the anti-corruption war to the next level. It showed Mr President’s responsiveness to the demand that the younger generations in the country should be allowed to lead.

    The rush with which looters and wailers have set out to taint the nominee’s image even before the Senate has properly screened and confirmed him is confirmation that Mr President got his act right as always. This haste to disparage Mr President’s appointments has become customary for the enemies of Nigeria who persistently try to compromise anyone they see as an asset to Mr President success in fighting corruption.

    We find it reassuring that the EFCC has come out as an institution to debunk the fake news that was deployed against Bawa upon the announcement of his nomination. The lie that the nominee sold off impounded trucks to cronies became laughable the moment the EFCC was able to swiftly establish that Bawa was no longer at the Port-Harcourt office of the Commission as at the time the forfeited truck was auctioned and that even if he was still the head of that office a specialized department of the EFCC was responsible for managing impounded or forfeited assets.

    It is of note that Peoples Gazette, which published the fake news, has lately been at the forefront of a malicious campaign to malign public office holders that are positively contributing to the success of President Buhari’s government. It was therefore not surprising that the publication attempted to tarnish Bawa’s reputation with an alleged crime for which the actual culprits have been sanctioned.

    We urge Nigerians to disregard the fake news being promoted by Peoples Gazette while seeking out correct facts to inoculate themselves against the series of other lies that those behind this campaign of calumny will attempt to use to mislead the nation in the days ahead until the Senate confirms the nominee. Other platforms will be deployed to strengthen the unfolding disinformation and misinformation campaign that is meant to divert attention from the desperate attempts by looters to set the country back.

    PFN remains grateful to President Buhari for the consistent manner in which he has resisted the pressure from looters and wailers that want him to abandon the war on corruption. They desire to return to the regime of business as usual, when they were able to corner the commonwealth for personal gains without anyone challenging them. We are confident that such an era is past and can never again return to Nigeria with a young person like Bawa set to entrench an anti-corruption legacy that has sight in the future.

    As we congratulate Bawa on his nomination, we assure him that Nigerians, particularly the youth whose future corruption threatens, are with him and he should not be swayed by the antics of those that are already in dread of the bite he is bringing to the anti-corruption war.

  • Farmers/herders crisis: Group cautions Ortom over constant attacks on President Buhari

    Farmers/herders crisis: Group cautions Ortom over constant attacks on President Buhari

    Some middle-belt leaders have denounced Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State over his persistent attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The group, under the auspices of the Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG), warned the governor to focus on governance rather than habitually incite Nigerians against Fulani herders.

    The MBCG, at a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, described Ortom‘s assaults on President Buhari and Fulani herders as “uncomplimentary, satanic and a grand plot to orchestrate widespread public violence in Nigeria”.

    In his address, Alex Samuel, the Secretary of MBCG’s Board of Trustees, said the governor’s antics is aimed to divert attention from public funds being looted in his state.

    Samuel noted that Ortom capitalizes on the slightest opportunity to criticise Buhari whereas in his state people die daily of hardship and starvation.

    According to him, while President Buhari has entrenched durable peace between farmers and herders, Ortom continues to fuel hatred amongst the people due to political benefits from the crisisd create using Fulani herdsmen.

    The MBCG advised the governor to concentrate on providing genuine leadership to the people who elected him.

    The group added that Ortom who has displayed zero capacity to lead people uses President Buhari to cover his own failures in leadership.

    Mr Samuel, however, warned the governor to stop dancing on the graves of innocent citizens with his persistent onslaught on Buhari and Fulani herders.

    He said Gov. Ortom has been tolerated enough and he should purge himself of the anti-Buhari and Fulani herders’ sentiments and face genuine governance.

    Read the full statement below:

    We are pained to pencil down these feelings at a time Nigerians are celebrating the Christian feast of St. Valentine; which is a day globally set aside for the expression of love and brotherhood.

    But it has become expedient for us to let out our feelings known to all Nigerians, which are in stout disagreement and stiff opposition to Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom’s habitual and consistent incitement of Nigerians against the Fulani herders. We are equally vexed by his unrestrained verbal assaults on President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, which shows scant regard for the person and office of Mr. President.

    In the last few days, as done in the past, Gov. Ortom has decided to revive his penchant, umbrage, hate against the Fulani ethnic group and outright incitement of other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria against Fulani herders. He has accused the Fulani herders of various unsubstantiated misdemeanours against crop farmers, including bloodshed and sought very foolishly to terminate the traditional occupation of the Fulanis, which is cattle rearing from the face of the earth.

    Middle Belt Conscience Guard (MBCG) finds Gov. Ortom verbal assaults on President Buhari and Fulani herders very uncomplimentary, satanic and a grand plot to orchestrate widespread public violence in Nigeria. We find this very unacceptable, especially, as the hateful campaigns are mounted by Gov. Ortom  a supposed leader of the people and who by his status ought to be the father of all Nigerians domiciled in the state he governs.

    Those in Benue state or the people Gov. Ortom governs knows that each time the demand for the Governor’s stewardship accountability comes up, he resorts to the antics of the sentimental resurrection of the issue of Fulani herders to divert and distract focus on his disastrous leadership of the state.  This trick is conveniently used by Gov. Ortom to gain undeserved political milage and favours’. It is what is known to us and Benue people are not deceived either.

    We understand Gov. Ortom’s actions and he stops dancing on the graves of innocent citizens of Nigeria.  His constant and senseless vociferousness on the issue of Fulani herders and crop farmers for very personal and selfish reasons. Ortom created and natured to blossom, the conflict between idyllic herders and crop farmers in Benue state. These two groups co-existed and practised their occupation in peace and commonality until Gov. Ortom decided to thrust a knife on the fraternity between these twin traditional brothers and friends.

    Gov. Ortom is very skilful in deceitfulness and manipulation of the people for his political and economic interests.  That’s why he has deliberately refused to address the root causes of the herders-farmers crisis in Benue State because of his political and economic interests. His inactions laced in propagandism have worsened the fragile relationship between Fulani herders and crop farmers across the country.

    Gov. Ortom kick-started the farmers-herders crisis with the so-called anti-open grazing law. And since the law came into effect through an Act of the Benue State House of Assembly more than three years ago, Gov. Ortom’s Livestock Guards have seized or confiscated thousands of cattle from Fulani herders under the pretext that they have violated the law.  A clause in the anti-open grazing law, which Ortom knows very perfectly, makes provision for the public auctioning of seized cows on the strength of the anti-open grazing law.

    But in truth, can Gov. Ortom tell Nigerians where and when he has ever auctioned the cattle confiscated from Fulani herders? There are no such records anywhere. Rather, the seized cattle end up in Gov. Ortom’s Oracle Farms Limited as his personal possession and treasure.  We challenge Ortom to publicly disprove us.

    Gov. Ortom is a mere opportunist, propagandist and leadership accident on the people of Benue. He has become an emergency herder because there are free cows of Fulani herders to impound through the instrument of state power. Ortom should have been contented with the illegal use of state power on innocent Fulani herders. But to further defame or malign the Fulani herders by labelling them killers and bloodsuckers is very unconscionable.

    If herders necessarily kill as propagated by Gov. Ortom, it means, he is also a chief killer himself. Why has Gov. Ortom not explained to the people of Benue and the Nigerians, the identity of the six suspects, including his kinsman and political associate, Alhaji Aliyu Tashaku arrested in connection with the murder of two catholic priests and 17 parishioners at St. Ignatius Quasi Parish, Ukpor-  Mbalom community in Gwer-East local government area of the state? Were they Fulani herders? Why is Ortom silent over this incident?

    The suspects were charged to a magistrate court in Makurdi.  Nobody has heard about the case anymore. Gov. Ortom himself does not talk about it. The principal suspect, Aliyu Tashaku, the former leader of Ortom’s Livestock Guards is a free man now and we cannot determine whether the courts discharged and acquitted him together with the other suspects.  There is obviously something which Ortom is trying to hide from the people by making Fulani herders his scapegoats.

    Gov. Ortom is a master of doublespeak! Just yesterday, he praised President Buhari for intervening in the farmers/ herders’ crisis. Today he is vilifying the same President and accusing him of complicity in the Fulani herders and crop farmers hostilities. But  Ortom has forgotten in his narrow senses that he told Nigerians repeatedly that  President Buhari’s intervention through the  Nigerian Army’s  “Exercise  Ayem Akpatema” and “Exercise Whirl Stroke,” which is still in progress brought relief to troubled communities and quenched the conflagrations between herders and farmers.

    It’s simple reasoning that if President Buhari is really sponsoring Fulani herders to unleash violence on crop farmers in Benue or anywhere else in Nigeria, he wouldn’t bother to order Military intervention.  Let leaders like Gov. Ortom begin to think with their brains; let him wear his thinking cap properly. A leader who reasons and behaves like an infantile is a curse to his generation and the people he is leading.

    Whilst President Buhari is doing all within his powers to entrench durable peace between farmers and herders, the likes of Ortom have continued to fuel hatred amongst the people because they gain political benefits from the crisis they create, using Fulani herdsmen.  Fulani herders have become targets of attacks everywhere in Nigeria, particularly in Benue because the likes of Gov. Ortom have decided to light the candle of hatred and discrimination against them.

    We advise Gov. Ortom to listen to the voice of his colleague-governor, Alhaji Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state. He told Gov. Ortom the gospel truth. He was very articulate and his reasons have no contradictions; it’s a voice of wisdom. If Fulani herders do not make preliminary arrangements for their protection, incensed vampires like Gov. Ortom would finish them.

    Ortom has deceived Benue people and Nigerians enough. Let him concentrate on providing genuine leadership to the people who elected him. Leading people is not done by tricks. The person entrusted with the responsibility must commit his mind and soul to it. It is not propaganda; leadership is not a world of fantasy and personal enrichment as promoted by Gov. Ortom in  he almost six years of his tenancy in Government House Makurdi.

    MBCG finds it incompatible that Gov. Ortom is vocal on traditional and social media platforms about the protection of his people, yet allows the same people massively die every day because of hunger and starvation. Ortom should explain why his personal businesses as symbolized by Oracle Farms Limited are performing maximally, but private businesses of other Benue people are dying or have closed up because of high taxations and other unfriendly government policies.

    We want Ortom to tell Nigerians why Benue people are dying of hunger or swimming in poverty while himself and members of his family are buying every land in Benue and building personal fiefdoms. MBCG wants the world to know the insidious evil Gov. Ortom is doing to Benue people but diverts attention from it by playing the card of Fulani herders.

    It’s shameful to know that more Benue persons have been killed under Gov. Ortom’s very nose due to lack of salaries and pensions than any other state in the country or even the alleged killings by herdsmen. But he hardly talks about it. He lies freely and thinks, everyone is fooled by his local antics.

    We have tolerated Gov. Ortom enough and he should purge himself of the anti- Buhari or Fulani herders’ sentiments and face genuine governance or else, we shall not hesitate to begin to match him word for word, henceforth.  Its clear, Gov. Ortom cannot lead people, but we find it repulsive for him to keep using President Buhari to cover his own failures in leadership.

    Thank you all and journey mercies back to your various destinations.  Happy Valentine’s day to all couples.

  • Associating President Buhari with killer herdsmen a disservice to Nigeria – Northern Christian youths

    Associating President Buhari with killer herdsmen a disservice to Nigeria – Northern Christian youths

    The Northern Christian Youth Forum (NCYF) has frowned at some section of Nigerians linking President Muhammadu Buhari with killer herdsmen in parts of the country.

    The group said those behind this are ignorant and are out to heat the polity unnecessarily with their despicable diatribe.

    According to the group, this is the handiwork of enemies of Nigeria that are desirous of an ethnoreligious war by casting aspersion on the image of President Buhari.

    Speaking at a press conference on Thursday in Abuja, Secretary-General, Rev. Josiah Adam, said from all interactions, President Buhari is leading with the fear of God.

    Rev Adam noted that the president is not head of a religious or ethnic group but the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and this much he has exhibited in his actions and inactions since he assumed office.

    The group, however, advised “those at the forefront of this dishonourable campaign to discontinue forthwith and seek forgiveness from Nigerians for attempting to promote religious tension in the country”.

    It noted that instead, they should preoccupy their minds on how to extend support to the Buhari administration in delivering the dividends of democracy at this critical point of the country’s existence.

    Read the full statement below:

    The Northern Christian Youth Forum receives calls by some segment of the country associating President Muhammadu Buhari with the activities of killer herdsmen in some parts of the country with absolute disbelief.

    The allegations are most uncharitable and an indication that indeed there is more than meets the eye in the news making the round with regards to the frequent clashes between herdsmen and farmers in parts of the country.

    The Northern Christian Youth Forum as a body of youths of Northern extraction conversant with the happenings in the region wishes to emphasize that those associating President Muhammadu Buhari with acts of violence are ignorant and out to heat the polity unnecessarily with their diatribe which from all indication is despicable and a disservice to his noble efforts in putting Nigeria on the right track.

    President Muhammadu Buhari from all indications cannot be associated with killer herdsmen in any form for the fact that it defeats common sense. It remains baffling that some individuals and associations would make such allegations in this age and time.

    The Northern Christian Youths Forum from all our interactions and engagements is aware of the efforts of Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in leading with the fear of God and how he has been fair to all concerned as the President of the country.

    We wish to inform members of the unsuspecting general public that President Muhammadu is not the president of a religious group or an ethnic group, but the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and this much he has exhibited in his actions and inactions since he assumed leadership of the country.

    The Northern Christian Youths Forums is alarmed that the slander campaign against President Muhammadu Buhari has assumed a dangerous dimension that requires sober reflection on how we got it wrong in the country.

    This is on the heels that the various instruments of governance in Nigeria provide for checks and balances and there is no way such an anomaly can stand if at all it exists. We are tempted to state further that the allegation remains a figment of the imagination.

    As a body that is conversant with the happenings in the country, we wish to state in unequivocal terms that this remains the handiwork of enemies of Nigeria that are desirous of an ethnoreligious war in the country by casting aspersion on the image of President Muhammadu Buhari and his commitment to a strong and united Nigeria for all Nigerians regardless of ethnic and religious affiliations.

    We consequently wish to advise those at the forefront of this dishonourable campaign to discontinue forthwith and seek forgiveness from Nigerians for attempting to promote religious tension in the country.

    It is our considered opinion that what should preoccupy our minds is how to extend our support to the Muhammadu Buhari administration in delivering the dividends of democracy towards achieving sustainable growth and development in this critical point of our existence as a country.

    It suffices to add that since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed leadership of the country he has through his actions displayed that he belongs to nobody and belongs to everybody and as such it behoves on all well-meaning Nigerians to continue to extend support to the efforts at making Nigeria great for all of us.

    The Northern Christian Youth Forum is aware that the plot to assassinate the character of President Muhammadu Buhari is real and as such wishes to inform the generality of Nigerians to be circumspect with the activities of individuals and groups hiding under various nomenclatures to perpetrate evil in the country.

    It remains a statement of the fact that those at the forefront of this campaign are not happy with the gains recorded in critical sectors of the Nigerian economy and as such, they have been vehement in their resolve to make the country ungovernable because it is no longer business as usual in the conduct of government business.

    The position of the Northern Christian Youth Forum is hinged on facts on the ground and we consequently encourage Nigerians from all walks of life to continue to disregard the diatribe against the Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    There is no doubt with regards to the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring that all acts of crime and criminalities are adequately addressed using the instrument of the law and in conformity with the relevant constitutional provisions.

    The Northern Christian Youth Forum is using the occasion of this press conference to pledge our continued support to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari in the various reforms introduced that have been impactful and beneficial to all sectors of the economy.

    Nigerians must also do well to ensure that they continue to support the president by ensuring that acts of religious and ethnic incitement are vehemently rejected in the interest of peace and tranquillity.

    Nigeria belongs to all and as such it behoves all of us to see the progress of Nigeria as a collective concern as we march towards sustainable growth and development. We must not succumb to cheap blackmail and character assassination from any quarters.

    Thank you all and may God continue to bless us all.

    Long Live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

  • Wole Soyinka: I don’t believe that President Buhari is in charge

    Wole Soyinka: I don’t believe that President Buhari is in charge

    Professor of Literature and Nobel laureate, Oluwole Soyinka on Thursday said he does not believe that President Buhari is in charge of the country.

    The Nobel laureate said the manner the President has so far handled insecurity, suggests that he doesn’t have a full grasp of how bad it is.

    This statement was made by the professor while speaking in an interview with Arise TV.

    Soyinka said he doesn’t see any proof that the president understands how much needs to be done in terms of improving security.

    “I have said this before and I wish to repeat this. Buhari does not appreciate the situation; he doesn’t understand. I see no evidence that he understands how grave the situation is. I have said it again and again, I don’t believe that he is in charge, because it is not possible in my view for a head of state, commander-in-chief of the armed forces, to say he is presiding over a nation and things get to this level.

    Something is critically wrong within the leadership of this nation and that is where we civilians must come in. You must pick up this slack for our own situation, our own salvation, and this is one of the things we engaged in and that is why I resent this becoming individualised. Wole Soyinka is just another individual, just like another farmer, another student and I wanted people to understand this.

    What happened to me with this incident is just typical of what is happening to millions of people all over the country and we cannot just sit still” he said.

  • Ken Nnamani: It may be difficult for APC to produce a candidate like Buhari in 2023

    Ken Nnamani: It may be difficult for APC to produce a candidate like Buhari in 2023

    Ken Nnamani, former senate president and chieftain of the All Progessive Congress (APC) has stated that the party may find it difficult to produce a good candidate like President Buhari to carry on with its legacy in 2023.

    This statement was made by the former senate president, Nnamani during an interview with Channels TV.

    According to the former senate president, Mr. president believes in leaving a strong legacy and I understand from all his actions so far that he wants to live a strong party long after he has left office.

    We are doing all we can to reposition the party because the party was more of… I wouldn’t like to say the word shambles. The constitution of the party is being reviewed. There is so much to be done, he stated.

    It may be difficult to find a candidate of his caliber because he comes into election with 10 million votes in advance. He has core followers.

    We will look hard and see if we can get people or somebody in that category. It will not be easy, however, he is trying to lay a strong foundation; that is this registration and revalidation exercise going on. So it is meant to strengthen the party and make it more attractive. So, I think if the party is attractive enough, it has future”, he said.

  • Nigerians in Diaspora hail President Buhari on Buratai, others’ Ambassadorial Nominations

    Nigerians in Diaspora hail President Buhari on Buratai, others’ Ambassadorial Nominations

    The Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for the nomination of former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd) and three other immediate past service chiefs as non-career diplomats.

    In a statement signed by its Secretary-General, Raymond Egule, on Thursday, the NDMG said it is elated at the development, noting that it is a reward for hard work, diligence and dedication.

    According to Egule, this has confirmed that no amount of mudslinging and campaign of calumny can tarnish good names that are built on service to humanity.

    The group noted that the nomination of ex-COAS Buratai, in particular, will boost multi-national coalition against terrorism.

    The NDMG assured that with their experience, exposure and new challenge, the reign of Boko Haram will come to an end in the country.

    The Nigerians in Diaspora, however, urged the Federal Government to post the former military heads to the United States of America, United Kingdom, Russia and France to ensure that Nigeria and other nations benefit immensely from their wealth of experiences and passionate dedication to securing the country against destabilizing influences.

    The group also charged the nominees to again surpass Mr. President’s expectations as they did with their just-concluded military assignments.

    Read the full statement below:

    Nigerians in Diaspora Monitoring Group (NDMG) is elated at President Muhammadu Buhari’s nomination of Gen Abayomi G. Olonisakin (Rtd), Lt Gen Tukur Y. Buratai (Rtd), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar (Rtd), and Air Vice Marshal Mohammed S. Usman (Rtd), all immediate past military chiefs of the Armed Forces of Federal Republic of Nigeria as ambassadors designate.

    Their appointments are affirmation that Nigeria continues to cherish hard work, diligence and dedication to the fatherland while validating the axiom that the reward for hard work is more work. The appointments have confirmed that there is no amount of mudslinging and campaign of calumny that can tarnish good names that are built on service to humanity.

    NDMG is especially pleased that retired General Buratai’s nomination for the ambassadorial position will boost multi-national coalition against terrorism as we envisage that he will continue the war he had waged against terrorists on a higher plane by leveraging his new appointment to starve Boko Haram, ISWAP or whatever brands they chose to operate under of the foreign support that has made it possible for the terrorists to regroup each time they are degraded and defeated.

    We anticipated that the international awards -across Europe, the USA and even Brazil – as well as the enduring networks that Buratai has built in the course of his career and particularly during the years he led the charge against terrorism in Nigeria, are national assets that would come in useful at a time that those who stepped into the shoes of the erstwhile service chiefs could use all the international leverage they could get.

    The former Chief of Army Staff had also sufficiently demonstrated that he has the firmness to relate with foreign counterparts in a manner that asserts Nigeria’s status as an equal partner to whichever country is being related with. This is something that is much needed at a time that President Buhari has boosted Nigeria’s status as a nation that is strategic to global decisions.

    Our group is of the strong view that the diplomatic value that General Buratai and his counterparts are coming on board should not be wasted. We consequently urge the Federal Government to post them to the United States of America, United Kingdom, Russia and France to ensure that Nigeria and the rest of the country benefit immensely from their wealth of experiences and passionate dedication to securing the country against destabilizing influences.

    They have prosecuted the war against terrorism to a point where what is needed is the buy-in of these identified strategic nations to starve off the foreign support that has sustained the terrorists’ insurgency. It is an interface that the country urgently needs to move the war against Boko Haram/ISWAP to the next phase of building international consensus against the terrorists.

    While appreciating President Buhari for these strategic nominations and saluting his doggedness in identifying reputable citizens to serve the country, we urge the nominees to again surpass Mr. President’s expectations as they did with their just-concluded military assignments.

    We wish them resounding success in their new roles.

  • President Buhari approves establishment of one oxygen plant in each state

    President Buhari approves establishment of one oxygen plant in each state

    The establishment of at least one oxygen plant in each of the 36 states of the federation has been approved by president Muhammadu Buhari.

    This was announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and  Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha during the press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday January 5.

    Mustapha said;

    “Approval has been given to rehabilitate five oxygen plants across various tertiary health institutions in Abuja. 

    “The President has alsojhjl that at least one oxygen plant should be established in each state of the

    “The PTF is progressing on the issue of accessing vaccines for Nigerians. Additional information will be provided to Nigerians on accelerated vaccines introduction and deployment plan.

    “What is currently confronting us is a critical phase of infections globally. We are constantly reviewing our strategy to emerging situations especially in risk communication, vaccine hesitancy, fake news/disinformation.”

  • Buhari to sign 2021 budget today – Presidency

    Buhari to sign 2021 budget today – Presidency

    The Presidency has announced that President Mohammadu Buhari will today December 31, sign into law the 2021 appropriation bill.

    The bill was passed last week by the National Assembly.

    The Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmad Lawan, Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila of the House of Representatives, principal officers of National Assembly and chairmen of the appropriations committees of both chambers are expected to attend the event.

    Also, the members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) expected to grace the occasion, include the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clement Agba, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Godwin Emefiele, and Director General, Budget Office, Ben Akabueze among others.

    Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President on National Assembly (Senate) and Umar El Yakub, his counterpart in the House of Representatives will be presenting the 2021 budget to President Buhari.

  • Kankara Boys: Nigerian women hold one million rally to appreciate President Buhari

    Kankara Boys: Nigerian women hold one million rally to appreciate President Buhari

    Nigerian women in their hundreds, on Monday, thronged the streets of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, singing and jubilating in appreciation of President Muhammadu Buhari for the safe return of over 300 schoolboys in Kankara, Katsina State.

    The group, under the aegis of Women For Buhari (WFB), said they are proud of the president for again acting like a “true father and leader” who has the nation’s interest at heart.

    The president of WFB, Princess Ajibola, speaking on behalf of the women at the Unity Fountain, noted that as wives, mothers and sisters, they are the greatest  beneficiaries of this quick intervention by President Buhari and the security agencies.

    Recalling the trauma families of the Chibok girls went through, Ajibola said her women broke down in tears when the news of the abduction of the schoolboys surfaced.

    But she recounted that the cheering reports of their release brought uncontrollable joy and sense of pride.

    According to Ajibola, President Buhari’s swift approach ensured the release of the children.

    Commending the president, she added that his patriotism and concern for the lives and property of the citizens is second to none.

    While also applauding the Service Chiefs for their cooperation, the women hailed the efforts of the troops who put their lives on the line several times to ensure saftey of Nigerians.

    Read full statement below:

    I am delighted to address the world on this auspicious occasion of the release of the over 300 secondary school boys abducted by bandits in Kankara, Katsina State.

    We as wives, mothers and sisters wish to say that we are the greatest  beneficiaries of this quick intervention by President Muhammadu Buhari and the security agencies.

    As wives, we know how painful  it would feel for a house to experience the absence of a child.

    As mothers, we know what it means for a child carried in the womb for nine months to go missing in one day.

    While God has imbued our men with the strength to bear such emotional breakdowns with restrain, for us as mothers,  that pain is doubled by the bond we have with the children and our tendencies to be highly emotional in the face of tragedies.

    When the incident happened, we put ourselves in the shoes of the biological mothers of those children and we felt the exact pains they.were going through.

    We recall how many parents of the Chibok girls who could not withstand the psychological trauma of losing their children to unknown persons gave up and breathed their last as a result of the despondency.

    As the nation is yet to recover fully from the Chibok incidence, the news that over 300 teenage boys have been abducted again, but this time.at a science secondary in Kankara, Katsina State was too much for us to bear.

    This is because these are promising children who like the Chibok girls, were abducted from their schools while studying.

    When we saw the video of some of the boys with one of them pleading to the government to intervene on their behalf, most of us broke down and wept as we couldn’t take it any more.

    To us, the video confirmed our worst fears that the Kankara school boys may have gone the way of the Chibok girls whose rescue dimmed from the day the Boko Haram terrorists started parading them in videos and using them to bargain.

    But alas! On Thursday night, barely a week after the abduction took place, we received the good news that the Kankara school boys have been  released.

    We asked ourselves whether we were dreaming or it was sone mischief makers at work. But it turned out that it is true that the over 300 boys abducted by bandits at the Government Senior Science Secondary School, Kankara have been released.

    We followed the story up to the point that they were taken to the Government House, Katsina and we leapt for joy!

    This is why we have called for a rally today to show appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to serving our nation.

    This is someone who has seen it all and could have chosen to retire and enjoy his perks as a former head of state and a retired General.

    But his sense of patriotism and concern for the lives and property of the citizens has made him to offer to serve us we say without fear of contradiction that it is his leadership style that has made is recover these intact because we remember how a previous administration had handled the matter when faced with a similar challenge.

    In simple words, we have gathered to say thank you to our father, President Buhari for not letting us down in our time of trial.

    We thank him for acting swiftly using the right approach which have seen our children back home without a single shot fired.

    We are grateful to Mr. President that not only have the boys returned, but all of them are in good shape and high spirits.

    We cannot but feel the joy of their mothers who like us, must be shedding uncontrolled tears of joy.

    President Buhari has always acted like a true father and as a leader who identifies with the youths.

    It was this love for children that he has that had made the President to introduce the school feeding programme in primary schools.

    He was the first President to approve a one hundred percent increase in the allowances of our youth corpers.

    He also introduced many welfare schemes to cater to young persons and give them opportunities of fresh starts in life through such programs like the N-Power etc.

    We pray for wisdom and guidance to our President as call on all Nigerians to pray for his good health and long life.

    We cannot also forget the efforts of our military men who have put their lives on the line several times to ensure we live safely and peacefully.

    We can see their hands everywhere and we know that if not for them the terrorists would have done their worst.

    We thank the Service for the level of cooperation between them which has negated the bid for unnecessary rivalry and helped in fighting insecurity.

    Again we say without fear of contradiction that a wise team does not change a winning coach.

    These set of service chiefs have been outstanding and any call for the removal would be resisted as it is not in the interest of Nigeria.

  • European Union Human Rights Forum Commends President Buhari on release of abducted students

    European Union Human Rights Forum Commends President Buhari on release of abducted students

    The European Union Human Rights Forum (EUHRF) has commended President Mohammadu Buharinfor the release and safe return of the 344 students of Government Science Secondary School, Kankara, Katsina State.

    The European Union in a statement by Joseph Cullen, Special Rapporteur, Lake Chad, West Africa, said the release of the students is a deserving relief to see that everything ended without bloodshed.

    According to Cullen, measures must be put in place to ensure that such actions do not repeat itself again.

    ”The abduction had sent shockwaves across the entire international community because of the similarities it shared with the kidnap of the schoolgirls in a secondary school in a town of Chibok in Borno State of Nigeria which took place on the night of Monday, the 14th day of April 2014 under the previous administration.

    ”EUHRF commends President Muhammadu Buhari and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for this cheery outcome even as it is now apparent that measures must be implemented to ensure such actions do not occur in the first place. This will ensure that the priority that President Buhari gives to matters pertaining to women and children continues to remain in place since these are vulnerable people that must be given extra protection in view of the complex security situations that Nigeria is having to deal with owing to an unhealthy mix of internal, external, state and non-state factors that Nigeria is contending with.

    ”We commend President Buhari for the swiftness and efficiency with which the lads were rescued from their abductors. Such swiftness would have made all the difference had such occurred in 2015 when school girls were similarly abducted from their school in Chibok, Borno state. It is commendable that critical time was not lost in returning the school boys back to their families.

    ”EUHRF’s one major concern from the entire incidence is the tenacity with which some key players wanted to chalk up the abduction as credit to Boko Haram, which had criminally claimed credit for the development that it knows nothing about. This goes to confirm the concerns that some indigenous groups had expressed in the past that there is much of political coloration to the security breaches in Nigeria”, the organisation said in a statement.

    Cullen said the EUHRF is committed to lending support in any way possible for the government to deal with terrorist propaganda that encourages those with criminal intentions to commit these kind of acts.

    The organisation expressed shock that at the result Nigeria was able to achieve in dealing with the situation before external support could be factored in.

    EUHRF further commended other stakeholders in Nigeria who made the feat possible.

    ”The outcome could not have been possible without President Buhari providing the needed leadership but the collaborative inputs of the other layers of the government is remarkable. We therefore commend the Governor of Katsina State, Aminu Bello Masari and the Nigerian Army for their valiant and cooperative efforts towards ensuring the release of the schoolboys.

    ”It is imperative that Nigeria now gets similar support from governments of the world in order to deal with a problem that has manifested its spread across national boundaries. The evil menace of insurgency that the abductions were meant to feed must be urgently addressed by stakeholder-nations so that those who plot to gain from this kind of criminal enterprise would know that they have no future.”