Singapore News Channel, Singapore News Network

President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed profound sadness over of loss of lives at the All Progressives Congress, APC Presidential Campaign Rally in Jalingo, Taraba State on Thursday.

Reacting to reports of the tragic death of some APC supporters due to the overwhelming crowd at the Jolly Nyame Stadium, the President said:

“I always feel very sad and distressed when ordinary Nigerians who love me and our party because of what we stand for and have done, make personal sacrifices by taking the pains to show their support, end their lives tragically.”

While appreciating the massive support he is receiving all over the country, President Buhari calls for restraint on the part of his supporters to avoid such tragic incidences, and improved crowd management at rally grounds.

“I want them to stay alive and witness the dividends of purposeful governance that the APC administration will unfold when they renew our mandate,” he said.

Commiserating with the families of the victims and the APC family, the President prays Almighty God to grant peace to the souls of the departed and speedy recovery to the injured.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 7, 2019

The All Progressives Congress has said that attempt by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party to demonise the party and President Muhammadu Buhari will not affect his victory in the forthcoming elections.

Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the APC National Publicity Secretary, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja, while criticising the PDP over its failed attempt to demonise the President Buhari-led administration.

Issa-Onilu said that the PDP had been deploying intimidation and blackmail tactics against the Independent National Electoral Commission particularly, and other state institutions ahead of the general elections.

“The PDP’s line of attack cannot affect President Buhari’s emphatic victory in the coming Feb. 16 presidential election.

“We have watched how panicky leaders of the PDP have become, having realised that they are heading for a crushing and humiliating defeat in the forthcoming general elections.

“In their confused and pitiable state, they have unconscionably hurled pedestrian allegations of partisanship and partiality against INEC and other state institutions.

“The PDP leader’s strategy is to regularly call out INEC and allege partiality towards the APC, thereby creating doubts in the minds of Nigerians and international community about the independence and credibility of the electoral body, “he said.

This, the APC spokesman said, was one of the odious antics of a desperate party that wanted to hijack presidential power, not on the strength of having a credible alternative, but on the strength of selfish propaganda.

According to him, the PDP has with such propaganda, masked its real motivation for seeking a return to power which is plundering of the public treasury.

Issa-Onilu called on Nigerians to judge between the APC and the PDP, who could be said to have been favoured by INEC.

This, he said, was especially when considering how the commission initially barred the APC from fielding candidates in Zamfara and Rivers States for the forthcoming elections.

He added that less than two weeks to the elections, the APC was still in courts to seek justice from INEC to enable it field candidates in the two states.

“Notwithstanding our protests, calling INEC’s attention to the fact that the PDP didn’t conduct any primaries in Kano State, the electoral body has opted to look the other way even in the face of glaring evidence,” Issa-Onilu noted.

He added that it was clear that the PDP was only interested in getting to power on a stolen mandate.

He said it was not surprising that the PDP celebrated INEC’s initial decisions on Zamafara and Rivers because it knew they stood no chance against the APC candidates in a free and fair election.

The APC spokesman, however, expressed shock at PDP’s allegation that the distribution of Permanent Voter Cards was being hampered by INEC to disenfranchise its supposed supporters.

He wondered how anyone could know the political party affiliations of those who were yet to collect their PVCs, let alone disenfranchise them.

He, however,  stressed that the PDP and its leaders could not hold the APC responsible for their electoral misfortunes.

Issa-Onilu added that the PDP administration’s antecedents of treasury looting, mismanagement of the economy and widespread insecurity had put a big wedge between them and Nigerians.

“There is no doubt that the PDP will be roundly rejected at the forthcoming general elections. On our part, we are confident that Nigerians will renew our mandate, “ he said.

He maintained that the APC mandate would be renewed on the basis of its verifiable and multi-sector record of performance under the leadership of President Buhari.

(NAN)

President Muhammadu Buhari Wednesday promised to invest all looted funds to improve the nation’s infrastructure, assuring that he would also provide security to ensure peaceful elections in Benue State and other troubled parts of the country.

Speaking in Aper Aku Stadium, Makurdi, the Benue State capital, in continuation of his nationwide presidential campaign, Buhari said he would remain consistent in the war against corruption.

He recalled that when he went to the state in 2014 to canvass for votes, he promised to tackle three key issues, which included economy, security and war against corruption.

He said: “You will recall that when I came to canvass for your votes in 2014, l promises three things which is to improve economy, security and fight corruption. I have been able to stop importation of foreign foods.

“Although fighting corruption has remained a major challenge of this government, I will not change but be consistent and steadfast in fighting corruption and all looted funds will be used to improve infrastructures, build roads, and construct rail lines and improved power.

“We have been able to rescue 17 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the North-east states from the hands of Boko Haram.”

He added that his administration has been able to stop importation of foreign foods particularly rice and encouraged the farmers by making fertilizers available, thereby promoting large-scale farming across rural areas in the country.

On his part, the leader of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Senator George Akume, described PDP-led government in the state as a failed one that had refused to improve the welfare of the people of the state.

According to him, Buhari has taken a bold step to rescue Nigeria from the hands of corrupt leaders who had completely milked the country’s resources.

Akume said: “Monies meant for fighting Boko Harm were shared mercilessly among these corrupt leaders. Today, many of these people are running away from their money kept in their banks. Buhari does not love money; he was a governor in two states; a former head of state and a minister of petroleum resources, yet he has no oil well.”

He explained that the people of the state have no problems with Fulani herdsmen, saying that he was a governor for eight years and no farmer had problem with any herder.

Akume said: “We have no problem with Fulani people and therefore, nobody should hide under incompetence, lack of purposeful, senselessness and underperformance to lament.

“The most notorious problem facing Benue today is the use of livestock guards. These people have been killing Benue people because they were armed with AK47. Just on Friday, we were on governorship campaign to Guma Local Government Area (LGA) and these guards ambushed our campaign train, shot and killed one person.”

He said Benue people are fully prepared for the general election and appealed to the president to deploy more security to the state to conduct the elections.

Thisday

The Social Democratic Party (SDP) has adopted President Muhammadu Buhari as its consensus candidate for the February 16 presidential election.

The party made the decision on Thursday during its national executive council meeting in Abuja.

Buhari is the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

SDP NEC, however, explained that the adoption does not herald a merger with the APC.

Prior to the development, Donald Duke, former governor of Cross River, was the flagbearer of the SDP.

Duke was declared the presidential candidate of the party in January following a ruling by the court of appeal in Abuja which set aside the judgment of an Abuja high court declaring Jerry Gana, former information minister, as the party’s presidential flagbearer.

Donlad Duke left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2018 to pursue his presidential ambitions on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).

Moshood “MKO” Abiola won the 1993 presidential election on the platform of the SDP. He was recently honoured with the first-ever posthumous GCFR in Nigeria history in 2018.

This was done by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) had also in January, endorsed Buhari’s re-election.

The party made the move after Oby Ezekwesili, its presidential candidate, withdrew from the race.

The cable

Mrs Olubisi Osinbajo, Mother of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday said that President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had done enough and deserved another term.

Mrs Osinbajo, an 85 -year-old widow, disclosed this when his son, Prof. Osinbajo, visited her during the vice resident’s house-to-house campaign in Somolu area of Lagos State.

“They have tried. If anybody says they have not done anything, then you can say that man or woman is not in this world, such is in another world because they have tried.

“What they (Buhari/Osinbajo) did in three years, people couldn’t do it for 16 years. We are praising God and we shall praise God after the elections.

Mrs Osinbajo thanked God for sparing the life of his son, following the helicopter crash in Kogi on Saturday.

“I am overwhelmed with this visit and I must thank God for everything that He is doing in my life.

“Do you know that on Thursday (Jan. 31), I was busy thanking God and praising God. I didn’t know what was going to happen on Saturday (When Osinbajo Helicopter crashed in Kogi).

” I, have been praising God and I told my people I wanted to praise God on that Thursday until evening of that day not knowing that something would happen on Saturday.

“That gift was given to me by Jesus Christ that I should be praising Him and that I will never be sorrowful. That was what God told me,” Mrs Osinbajo said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo on Thursday moved his house-to-house campaign to Somolu to feel the pulse of the residents and seek support of the people for Buhari’s re-election.

The Vice President, who visited some houses in Gbagada, Igi Olugbin and Ladi Lak areas of Solmolu, also engaged in “Road Show” on some streets to seek support for the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates.

Osinbajo was companied by APC chieftains, including Sen. Anthony Adefuye, Ademorin Kuye, APC candidate for Somolu Federal Constituency and Rotimi Abiru, APC candidate for Lagos State House of Assembly, Somolu Constituency II.

The team also visited the Palace of Oba of Somolu, Oba H.O.A Kassim-Bashua (Odu I).

Pmnews

The Consul General of the United State ( US ) to Nigeria, Ambassador John Bay on Thursday said the United States was only interested in free, fair and credible elections in the country.

Bay, who restated the commitment of the US to violence-free electoral process, insisted the US was not supporting any candidate in the February 16 Presidential election in the election country.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the Governor òf Bayelsa State on Media Relations Fidelis Soriwei, quoted the US Consul General to have made the comment while paying a courtesy call on the Governor at the Government House, Yenagoa, on Wednesday evening.

He noted his delegation was on a tour to the southern states in the country to interface with civil society organisiations, traditional rulers and other political stakeholders on the need for peaceful conduct before, during and after the elections.

He said: “The US does not have a candidate in this election. We are looking for a free, fair, credible and peaceful process, a process that allows the choice of the Nigerian citizens to come through.

“So, we are going to spend some time with the governor and chat about different things we might be able to do to better the situation and anything we can do to help before leaving here for Port Harcourt tomorrow.”

Bayelsa State Governor Seriake Dickson commended the efforts of the International community to peaceful, free, fair and credible elections in the country.

Dickson reiterated his call on the political class to respect the will of the people and make efforts that would renew their confidence in the unity and peaceful coexistence of the different ethnic nationalities.

Describing Nigeria as a critical member of the international community, he cautioned politicians to be wary of utterances and conducts that could throw the country into avoidable crisis which could truncate the nation’s democracy.

The governor commended the United States and other members of the international community for living up to expectations by taking proactive measures to forestall breakdown of law and order as well as strengthening the electoral process.

“We want to thank the US Mission in Nigeria for your services, contributions and for the building of peace as well as promotion of our nation’s democracy.

“We also want to thank you for always thinking of us and caring about what is going on here in the Niger Delta.

“I have read about the statements made by your Mission and other international partners concerning the forthcoming general elections. For me and our state, we welcome these interventions. We believe that our country is and should be a responsible member of the international community.

“As practicing politicians, all of us should conduct the politics and affairs of our country in such a way as to respect the due processes of the law and the elections so that in the end, what we do and say should continue to promote peace and stability in various communities across the country.

“Nigeria is a critical member of the world community. It is the largest and most populous black nation in the world.

“So what goes on in Nigeria should rightly be of interest to the rest of the world; and the world is right by not standing by to watch things go bad in Nigeria”.

The nation

Meet Up Point : Unity Fountain, Maitama, Abuja
Date : Saturday, 9th February 2019
Time : 7:00am

Please come in comfortable outfit, as we will be walking from Unity Fountain to Eagle Square in solidarity with President Muhammadu Buhari.               Announcer:                   Brig. Gen. Mohammed Buba Marwa (Rtd)     Chairman, Central Working Committee (CWC) of APC Women and Youth Presidential Campaign Team

The Presidency said on Wednesday night that Governor Nasir El- Rufa’ i of Kaduna State spoke in defence of national interest when he warned the United States, the United Kingdom and the European Union against interfering with the internal affairs of Nigeria.

Referring specifically to the February 16 polls, the Presidency said President Muhammadu Buhari ’ s administration would guarantee free , fair elections and would not let the international community down.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity , Mr Garba Shehu , the Presidency said El- Rufa’ i, having made a clarification on the comments he earlier made on the role of other countries and bodies in elections , there was no need dragging the issue further .

“We have taken note of the clarification to a reported earlier statement by the Governor of Kaduna State , Nasir El -Rufa’ i, concerning opposition call for foreign interference in our domestic affairs and to say that latest statements by him should rest the issue for good.

“There is nothing more to sneeze at.

 The governor spoke strongly in defence of of national interest . It is clear that El- Rufa’ i, our party the All Progressives Congress , and all its candidates have reposed their faith in democracy through general elections .

“They are all of the view that there is no place for violence against local people or foreign citizens in our midst ”, the Presidency stated .

On free and fair polls , it added , “The Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari will cooperate with election observers and will not let the international community down in the conduct of the coming elections .

“The Presidency assures Nigerians and the international community that the President will do everything within his power to ensure free , fair and credible elections in the country .”

However , it hit at the Peoples Democratic Party , saying that it “ought to owned up to the mistakes of their own policies for 16 years, which have led the country to a sorry pass that has cost lives, jobs and growth instead of dwelling on diversionary issues.”

Punch

Samuel Ortom, governor of Benue state, says Benue belongs to President Muhammadu Buhari and he can do whatever he likes there.
Ortom said this at the Nigerian air force base, Makurdi, the state capital, while speaking with journalists on Wednesday.

The governor was at the base to receive the president for the state’s All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential rally.

“He is the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and whatever he is doing, it is our responsibility to give him adequate protocol,” he said.

“He is our president, and this is beyond party… so I am doing all the needful. There is no special thing in what I am doing, it is what I am supposed to do as governor of Benue state irrespective of party because he remains my president and I respect him.

“I have no personal issues with him; we talk about policies and issues there is no personal grudge. So, I am here to receive him, and I have made adequate arrangement. This state belongs to Mr President. So he has access, he can be here and do whatever he wants.”

Ortom defected from the ruling APC to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in July and fell out with the federal government.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had frozen the accounts of the state but the restriction was lifted few days after.

In August 2018, Terver Akase, spokesman of Ortom, had alleged that the federal government was planning to cage his principal with a flight ban.

The governor had earlier said there would be no campaign for elections in Benue if there is no solution to the clashes between herdsmen and farmers.

The cable

Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari government has “strong plans” for the creation of an additional state in the South-East.

Obiano stated this when the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Lagos branch, paid him a visit at the Governor’s Lodge, Amawbia, Anambra State, on Wednesday.

The governor said, “I’m in good terms with the President. He has good plans for the South-East, contrary to the perception of some people. He has emotional feeling that the South-East ought to have an additional state.

“I’m also hopeful that the Federal Government would set aside November 16 as a national day in memory of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first president of this great country.”

Obiano condemned the decision of the Ohaneze to fix a meeting on a day President Buhari was in the state to commission a mausoleum in honour of the late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe who, the governor said, “remains a world hero of the Igbo.”

He counseled the Igbo socio-cultural body to maintain the objective for its creation as a nonpartisan organisation with the principal aim of pushing Igbo agenda.

Speaking, the Ohanaeze delegation led by its branch president, Nnamdi Nwigwe, said they were in the state to show solidarity to the Obiano-led government.

The group extolled what it called “Obiano’s negotiating power and think-home philosophy,” among other initiatives.

Nwigwe said, “We are particularly happy with your position on appreciating President Mohammadu Buhari-led administration’s good gestures to the people of the South-East region and Anambra State in particular.

“The completion of Zik Mausoleum, which is a national monument, the ongoing Second Niger Bridge, road projects and other infrastructures lay credence to the fact that the Buhari administration has not forgotten the region,” the Igbo group stated.

Punch