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The Federal Government on Monday alleged that the opposition had started lobbying some countries to discredit the outcome of the February 16 presidential election if President Muhammadu Buhari wins.

The President is the candidate of the ruling party , the All Progressives Congress .

As part of the alleged arrangement , the government equally said that the opposition was planning to send a 10 -member delegation to some countries to sell the idea that the Buhari Presidency was not going to hold credible elections .

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohamed , made these allegations at a press briefing in Abuja.

The minister was , however , silent on the actual political party that he said was behind the actions .

When asked to be specific , the minister said, “If you are talking about opposition, we know of the PDP and CUPP” ( Peoples Democratic Party and the Coalition of United Political Parties .

Mohammed said the government and Nigerians must not allow those he described as “desperate politicians ” to scuttle the nation’ s democracy .

Part of the contrive , he alleged, was the plan by the opposition to send a 10 – man delegation to some western countries, including Brussels, London and Washington DC .

Recall that on Monday , January 21 , 2019, the minister had also alleged that some opposition politicians were planning to scuttle the 2019 general elections by allegedly instigating widespread violence across the country .

He said the alarm by the Federal Government was based on what he described as credible intelligence .

He also said then that the plan to scuttle the polls was part of moves to push the nation into a constitutional crisis, with the alleged plotters hoping they could leverage on that to push for an interim government .

While saying when the alarm was raised, the opposition dismissed it because they were shocked that the government got a wind of their actions.

However , on Monday , he said government also had a fresh intelligence report on the alleged new plan by the opposition.

The minister said, “Today , still based on credible intelligence , we can reveal that the opposition is moving a step further .

“They are working hard to discredit the forthcoming election before , during and after the polls.

 Specifically , they are sending a delegation to some Western capitals, including London, Brussels and Washington DC, to push the concocted line that the Buhari Administration has perfected the plan to rig the polls .

“They are therefore pushing for a rejection of the results if the President wins re – election . They are also predicting carnage in the event of the President’ s victory.

“Already , they have started flying the rigging kite domestically . They have been engaging in incendiary rhetoric and in making outlandish claims using several fronts, including the nebulous CUPP which , by the way , is nothing more than a reincarnated Association for Better Nigeria.

“Of course you all know the role that the ABN played in the failed 1993 political transition process . ”

Our correspondent reports that ABN was used by some anti – democratic Nigerians to scuttle the 1993 presidential election which led to its annulment by the infamous regime of the military dictator, Gen . Ibrahim Babangida ( retd .).

Punch

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday said even President Muhammadu Buhari’s enemies could testify to his incorruptibility, urging Nigerians to return him at the February 16 presidential poll.

Osinbajo asked Nigerians to resist temptation of returning those he called thieves into government in order not to plunder the nation’s economy again.

He spoke at the Palace of Olota of Ota in Ogun state as part of the Buhari/Osinbajo Presidential ticket campaign tour to the state.

Osinbajo attributed the myriads of challenges and low level of development in Nigeria to corruption.

“It is not that we don’t have budgetary allocations for all projects, but the problem we have is corruption.

“If you look at our budgets in the last ten years, the government had made provisions for them. For instance, Lagos/Ibadan road and Lagos/Kano railway projects were awarded ten years ago and yet, nothing were done. The contractors that handled them, collected money and did nothing.

“So, let us cast our votes for Buhari for re-election. Even the enemies of President Muhammadu Buhari know that he is not corrupt. So, don’t elect thieves to come and plunder the economy of the country again.

 Because their electoral promises are lies and all they intend to do again is to come back and ruin the economy.”

The Vice President expressed concern over underdevelopment in Aworiland despite possessing crop of educated elites and location as an industrial hub of the country.

The Olota of Ota, Oba Adeyemi Obalanlege inundated the Vice President and his entourage with numerous problems facing Aworiland.

“Aworiland is accommodating. And we are in both Lagos and Ogun states. I want to seize this occasion to tell you that we have been relegated and which should not be.

“We have massive votes in Aworiland and which ought to translate to political power but rather, we have been marginalised”, the monarch lamented.

daily Trust

President Muhammadu Buhari sends warm greetings to former editor, and later member, Board of Directors and

President Buhari joins the media industry and communication strategists in celebrating the former spokesman of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, his family and friends, while commending his dedication to a profession that has consistently shaped the history of Nigeria, even before  independence.

The President congratulates Muhammed’s doggedness as a journalist, penchant for strong and insightful analyses as an editor and consultant for many years, and willingness to serve his state, Kano, as an adviser on many committees, before moving to the national and international levels.

President Buhari believes Muhammed has left his footprints indelibly on the sands of time, and commends his diligence and forthrightness to younger generation of media professionals.

The president prays for longer life, good health and more wisdom for the veteran.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 3, 2019

Protocols:

 Let me congratulate you, Mr. Chairman and Members of the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission Board for being found worthy to serve our country on this most important assignment.  Your appointment is a call to service in an important sector and segment critical in our government’s agenda.

2.Today’s occasion is the continuation of this Administration’s fight against corruption.  It is a cardinal programme in the three point agenda that I promised to pursue and will continue to pursue as I seek the mandate of Nigerians for a second term.

3.The fight against corruption is an existential issue for Nigeria.  This is why I have often said – if we do not kill corruption, corruption will kill Nigeria.

4.We are all witnesses to the damage that unbridled corruption has inflicted on our development aspirations.  Apart from deliberate and wanton looting of our national wealth and common patrimony, corruption has eroded our values and ethical foundation as a nation.

5.Corruption has negatively affected our political, economic and social life.  Those opposed to our fight against corruption berate us for our focus, determination and single mindedness.  They pretend that they do not know what corruption is. But Nigerians know what corruption is.  Ordinary people know what corruption is and they support our effort and determination to fight it.

6.The abuse of public office for private gain represents corruption in its worst form.  The circumvention of public policies and processes for competitive advantage and profit is another form of corruption.

7.The abuse of public office for personal benefit even if no bribery occurs is also corruption.  The diversion of State revenue or misapplication of budgeted funds falls into the same category.

8.I am particularly delighted that the ICPC law under which you will operate is robust enough to assist government to sanitize the public sector of corruption in service delivery, public procurement, diversion of public revenue, deliberate misuse of public funds, and so on.

9.As I have noted in recent times, despite our anti-corruption drive, some agencies of government still divert or refuse to fully account for revenue generated.  Rather than obey constitutional provisions and extant rules and regulations, such agencies continue as if nothing has changed.

10.We are determined to ensure that every agency of government account for public revenue generated or expended.  I am looking forward to ICPC’s support both for enforcement of anti-corruption laws and submission of policy measures and directives to prevent revenue leakage and diversion.

11.In this regard, I urge you to collaborate with other government agencies such as the Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation towards mitigating wrong-doing in public expenditure.  Furthermore, I look forward to receiving anti-corruption recommendations linked to e-Government standards and principles.

12.As the old saying goes – “Prevention is better than cure”.  Your statutory mandate recognizes this principle.  Therefore, I encourage you to come up with strong preventive policy measures and strategies for government’s endorsement to take us to the NEXT LEVEL in the fight against corruption.  I am aware that the ICPC laws empower you to make proposals to assist government in this fight.

13.Just about a month ago, I opened your Corruption Risk Assessment training for anti-corruption agencies in Africa.  That initiative, in support of my role as the AU anti-corruption champion is welcome, and I Iook forward to seeing ICPC distinguish itself as a leading institution in Africa in building capacity to conduct and implement corruption risk assessments.

14.But charity must begin at home.  Therefore, your skills and expertise must be demonstrated in identifying MDAs highly prone to corruption and what must be done to bring about better governance.

15.I am also aware that you have set up Anti-Corruption Transparency Units (ACTUs) in Ministries, Departments and Agencies.  This is an important step towards corruption prevention and ensuring full compliance with government’s anti-corruption measures and our laws.

16.I encourage you to make effective use of our ACTUs in MDAs by receiving reports directly from such Units and taking enforcement measures to assist government realize its objectives of a cleaner public service.

17.Once again, I congratulate you on your appointment. My resolve to fight corruption remains unshaken.  I assure you of my full support in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.

18.Thank you and God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday assured the people of Kogi that the Ajaokuta Steel Complex would soon come alive and be running for the benefits of the people. Osinbajo made the statement at the Palace of Attah of Igala, Dr. Idakwo Michael Ameh-Oboni, as part of the administration’s campaign for February 16 elections. According to Osinbajo, the Federal Government had gone very far on processes that would revive the complex “unlike the previous government, we have gone beyond our promises.”

He went on: “We have come to the point where we are implementing and I am sure that very soon you will see for yourself that Ajaokuta has come to life. “This will make the business activities at Itobe area to come up actively and many people will be employed. “We have finally completed the Itakpe- Warri Rail road in preparation for the revitalisation of Ajaokuta steel. “Unlike the previous government, President Muhammadu Buhari is not only a honest man, but also a doer that gets things done. “You will need to see for yourself that we are going to test-run the Itakpe- Warri rail road in few days time, and you will see everything that is being put in place. “Similarly, on our Marketmoni for market women and artisans, tradermoni for traders with the target of two milion people, our desire is that every Nigerian should live a good livelihood and ability to put food on their table and other intervention.” Meanwhile, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state said what happened on Saturday had shown that God had vindicated us in Kogi. According to Bello, Kogi was for Buhari and the APC, “I am very confident that our prayers have been answered and we are cruising to victory come Feb 16, because Buhari has fulfilled his promise.”

President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday in Abuja hailed Sweden for its humanitarian assistance to victims of insurgency in the country.

Speaking during a farewell visit to the State House by the outgoing Swedish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Inger Ultvedt, the President said Nigeria can today speak of the well-known humanitarian spirit of the Swedes, helping the poor and assisting displaced Nigerian communities to return to their normal lives.

“You are well-known for helping the poor. You should extend our gratitude to your country for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us in helping the victims of insurgency in their moment of suffering,” he said.

President Buhari wished Ambassador Ultvedt, who is leaving Nigeria ahead of the scheduled end of her tour due to health reasons, quick recovery.

The Nigerian leader expressed the hope that given her active duty tour and knowledge of Nigeria, Ambassador Ultvedt would upon full recovery, come back one way or the other to help in deepening bilateral relations.

The outgoing Ambassador, who said she found her two-and-a-half-year stay in Nigeria very interesting and rewarding, listed the highlights of her achievements to include, assistance to Internally Displaced Persons in 10 camps in the North-east paid for by Swedish taxpayers, as well as other forms of humanitarian and technical support all over Nigeria.

GARBA SHEHU
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
February 4, 2019

President Muhammadu Buhari has reiterated his main objective in contesting elections four times and ending up in Supreme Court three times, before he finally won the election in 2015.

Receiving retired army generals, admirals, marshals and former military governors/administrators in a courtesy call at State House, Abuja, on Monday, the President declared:

“God has made this country great. We have human and material resources, and may God continue to give us the right leaders. My objective is very clear, and I will continue to do my best.”

Recalling what he said in his days as military head of state that; “We have no other country but Nigeria. We will stay here and salvage it together,” President Buhari noted that even if one was blessed enough to send children for training abroad, “after such training, they will still have to come back here. We must, therefore, give our best for our country. The patriotism imbued in us by the military will ever remain relevant. Let’s do our best for this country.”

Describing Nigeria as “a fabulous country,” the President said if it were not so, “the country could not have survived the damage done to it materially and morally in the past,” glorifying God that after 30 months civil war, with over two million lives lost, “we are still one country.”

President Buhari prayed that Nigeria would not lack people who can exploit its human and material resources, adding: “The higher you go in Nigeria, the hotter it becomes, and not the other way round. But I can’t complain. I tried so hard to be here three times, ending up at the Supreme Court. So, I can’t complain over anything I am going through now.”

He described the military as an institution that gives amazing opportunities to know the country, its different peoples and cultures, “and I am very grateful that you have claimed me back as one of your own. I was governor of North-east, which is now six states, Minister of Petroleum for over three years, head of state; I was arrested and detained, but did not lose my rank, because nothing was found against me.”

Leader of the delegation, Brigadier-General Buba Marwa, who was military governor in Borno, and later military administrator of Lagos State, said the retired top officers thought it right to visit the President, “to say that you have represented your constituency very well. You announced a simple three-point agenda upon assumption of office namely security; fighting corruption, and the economy. You have kept your words as an officer and a gentleman.”

Gen Marwa added: “We the retired armed forces officers, representing 99.9% of our colleagues say that we are proud of you; proud to be associated with your administration; and proud to witness this era of Nigeria rising again under your able leadership. We support you fully and totally in the presidential elections next week and will do whatever we can within the law to contribute to your emergence as the victor in the election in order to take Nigeria to the next level.”

The most senior of the retired officers, Vice Admiral Jubrila Ayinla, a former Chief of Naval Staff, who said future generations would acquit President Buhari “most creditably,” added: “On behalf of the generals here today, I congratulate you on the tremendous work done by this administration, and wish to state unequivocally that we are proud of you and fully behind you in the presidential elections next week. We pledge our full support and continued loyalty.”

The delegation was made of one Vice Admiral, two Lt-Generals, 15 Major Generals, two Rear Admirals, eight Air Vice-Marshals, 12 Brigadier-Generals, three Commodores, nine Air Commodores, and 17 former military governors/administrators, among others.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
February 4, 2019

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