Singapore News Channel, Singapore News Network

The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari has so far created seven million jobs.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Mr Ngige said the administration had substantially fulfilled its promise to provide jobs.

“We promised jobs when we came on board, but what has happened is that people tried to quantify jobs in terms of white-collar jobs for graduates from universities, polytechnic but they don’t want to look at the ‘blue-collar’ jobs.

“Agriculture and its chains alone have created more than five to seven million jobs. Talk in terms of rice; from rice tilling, harvesting, sending to the paddies, mills, and even where people are making the jut bags, transportations, people are getting jobs. So, that value chain alone from agric is enormous.

“Take the N-Power, we have created millions of jobs from here. Skill acquisition from the NDE and other agencies of government, jobs are being created.

“We give them tools as plumbers, electricians, cosmetologists, shoemakers, tilers and several other areas. We have created several jobs.

“We had to look at where we are and also look at where we are in terms of job creation, labour administration and the issue of national minimum wage, which labour has been asking the government to set in motion,” he said.

 Daily Nigerian –
November 3, 2017

Those who specialize in a deliberate twisting of information have wailed and raged endlessly on the news item credited to the World Bank Group President, Jim Yong Kim, who disclosed in Washington DC, United States of America, that President Muhammadu Buhari had requested a concentration of the Bank’s intervention efforts in the northern part of Nigeria, particularly in the North-east.

The ignorant and mischievous people, who twist everything for their vile purposes, are making it seem that it was a calculated attempt to give the North an unfair advantage over other parts of Nigeria.

The truth of the matter is that President Buhari, right from his first week in office in June, 2015, had reached out to the G-7 in Germany that Nigeria needed help to rebuild the North-east, which had been terribly devastated by insurgency. He said the country would prefer help in terms of rebuilding of infrastructure, rather than cash donation, which may end up being misappropriated. In concert with Governors of the region, a comprehensive list of needed repairs was sent to the G-7 leaders.

Also, during a trip to Washington in 2015, and many other engagements that followed, President Buhari sought the help of the World Bank in rebuilding the beleaguered North-east, which was then being wrested from the stranglehold of a pernicious insurgency. It was something always done in the open, and which reflected the President’s concern for the region.

Those ululating over the disclosure by the President of the World Bank should be a bit reflective, and consider the ravages that the North-east has suffered since 2009, when the Boko Haram insurgency started. Schools, hospitals, homes, entire villages, towns, cities, bridges, and other public utilities have been blown up, laid waste, and lives terminated in excess of 20,000, while widows and orphans littered the landscape. The humanitarian crisis was in monumental proportions.

President Buhari simply did what a caring leader should do. He took the battle to the insurgents, broke their backs, and then sought for help to rebuild, so that the people could have their lives back. Should that then elicit the negative commentary that has trailed the disclosure from the World Bank? Not at all, except from insidious minds.

President Buhari has a pan-Nigerian mandate, and he will discharge his duties and responsibilities in like manner. Any part of the country that requires special attention would receive it, irrespective of primordial affinities, which narrow minded people have not been able to live above. This President will always work in the best interest of all parts of the country at all times. Let ethnic warriors sheathe their swords.

FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
October 13, 2017

For the nearly two and half years of being in office, President Buhari’s leadership has been considerably fledging. The president is been continuously challenged from all directions, by even members of his governing party and cabinet. Over this period, his popularity has visibly ebbed and waned; and public support for his government has correspondingly crumbled and dwindled significantly. He has greatly demoralized his supporters who are daily growing disappointed and frustrated, and compatibly energized his opponents who are increasingly becoming vindicated and emboldened. The reason for this unpleasant trend is that his regime has so far failed to make any appreciable impact in the dire developmental needs of the country; and the reason for the failure is evidently borne out of his leadership style.
 
Like President Franklin Roosevelt of the United States 80 years before him, President Buhari ran for office and was elected president on a set of principles, and not on a set of policies. The overriding factor in his campaign was Buhari himself; his assumed integrity, incorruptibility and forthrightness! The entire 2015 presidential campaign was about Buhari; it was Buhari the person– not his policies, nor his programmes, nor even his political party, but Buhari the man – that had received the drumming endorsement of the Nigerian people, particularly the northerners. That is why sagacious political strategists would draw up and hand to him sophisticated electoral blueprint after 3-failed attempts without asking him for something in return. That is why an old woman of over 80 years would sit out in the scorching sun of the northern desert for a whole day just to see Buhari the person and donate her life-long savings towards his election bid without expecting anything back from him. That is why poor wretched wheel barrow pushers, nail cutters, shoe shiners, hewers of woods and fetchers of water, literally the wretched of the earth, would starve themselves to buy cards and donate their meager earnings towards his election without any hope of ever meeting him. And that is why someone would trek from Lagos or Yola to Abuja in joyous celebration of Buhari’s electoral victory without a price tag.

Now that Buhari has won the contest and sworn-in as president, it was expected Buhari the man would solve the numerous problems of the country; to better the lot of the over 40 million Nigerians who have no employment; solve the problems of the employed but who’s wages cannot feed them through the days of the month; solve the problems of those living in abject poverty across the land, of those who go to bed on empty stomachs; solve the problem of parents who stay awake late into the night thinking of how to feed the family the next day, how to pay the children’s school fees already due and how to settle the landlords their housing rents; solve the problems of those who are frightened by the mere thought of illness either of themselves or members of their families for reason that they cannot afford to pay hospital bills; solve the issue of those people to whom electricity, good roads and portable water are unaffordable luxuries; of children who drop out of schools or go without school all together merely because their parents cannot afford to pay their school fees; of youth who have gone wayward, left their homes, turned to thuggery, crime and drugs, killed or sent to jail while their parents and relatives looked on helplessly; of young girls who, forced by social difficulties, go astray just to earn the extra kobo to help in the upkeep of their households, and parents and relatives look the other way; solve the problems of corruption, terrorism and insurgency in our towns and villages. One can go on and on and on as the issues are uncountable. And these are a mere fraction of the numerous difficulties, agonies and frustrations being faced daily by the vast majority of Nigerians.

Other than these problems of individual survivals President Buhari is been expected to resolve, there are also along with them daunting challenges threatening the very survival of the nation. In his campaigns, Buhari summed these concerns up into three – insecurity, corruption and economy. In other words, the resolution of these three would resolve both the individuals’ and collective developmental challenges of the nation; to create sense of belonging and forge functional unity to a desperate and despairing nation torn apart by cries of marginalization, agitations and separatist tendencies. These are the problems President Buhari was expected to solve. And he could very well have done so if he had adopted the right approach of running an all-inclusive government. This means he would solve problems not as a person but as a leader of a government. But when Buhari took over power and astonishingly refused to set up a governing team of any sort to formulate and channel solutions to these daunting problems, his actions – or inactions – tended to reinforce a viewpoint that he wanted to solve the problems not as a government but as a person – that he could do it alone even without any set of policies and governing teams in place. Hence, his refusal to appoint key advisers, political and economic; and it took him over six months before he was pressured by public outcry to form even a constitutionally required ministerial cabinet.

Yet, it is a standard universal norm that no leader leads without a team of advisers. A consultative body representing different viewpoints exposes errors, debunks assumptions and gives alternative policy options, perspectives and strategies. Time has not only ascertained that the collaboration of several minds is more illuminating than the insights of a single man, but history has also proven that a leader who acts solely on his own judgment is sure to fail. That is why governance has always been a collective project and never a one-man-show in any clime. Consultations and taking of advice are therefore composite foundational elements of good leadership. Institutional offices and their functions are therefore vital in the due discharge of governance. Underscoring this point, the 1999 Constitution (as amended) creates at the federal level the Council of Ministers and Offices of Special Advisers for the good purpose of executing the powers and functions due to the Office of the President. The capacity for good and effective leadership therefore starts with the ability of the leader identifying and selecting competent persons to form a governing team. Indeed, the success or failure of a regime rests as much on the ability of the leader as on the competence or otherwise of his team. Whosoever fails in this is doomed to fail in leadership.

This invariably means that the stability and good governance of the country are dependent on the sound character, right practice and good judgment of the president; while the well-being and quality judgment of the president depend on the knowledge, skill and honesty of his officials. Blessed therefore is the president with truthful, knowledgeable, intelligent and right-doing officials to remind him if he forgets, to assist him if he remembers, to correct him if he is wrong, and to always lay before him the complete facts, circumstances and implications of every issue that may come to him to decide. If the president is able to appoint suitable men, then he is most likely going to succeed, for a good official is like the ornament of the leader; but if he is unable and appoints unsuitable men, or refuses to appoint any at all, then his regime is most likely going to fail. Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, said that when a leader has unsuitable [ignorant] officials, ‘his reign will be like a cloud which passes on without dropping rain’, warning that since what is most important in the polity is the leadership institution, no effort must be spared in getting the right officials to help protect it. Aristotle then compared a leader without ‘competent advisers’ to a man leading a regime in his sleep. The president may well need to heed to Aristotle’s admonition, as ‘good advisers are needed to help the King spare his reign’.

Instructively, in our presidential system of government, all officials are solely appointed by the president. This means that the quality of advice is also solely dependent on the kind of advisers the president assembles to himself. In appointing advisers, the president’s skill or lack of it to distinguish the great disparity that exists between men who are suitable and men who are not itself can decide the ultimate destiny of his regime. To this extent, therefore, President Buhari must necessarily think deeply, consult widely and select carefully in matters regarding the appointment of his officials; and thus when ultimately making these appointments to ensure that only competent and very skillful ones are chosen. So far we have not seen that happening in this regime and that, to me, is the explanation of why President Buhari’s leadership is fledging. And, undoubtedly, it will continue to fledge till it collapses if the necessary changes in approach, attitude and personnel are not immediately effected. Again, to me, this is the only way to save Buhari’s leadership from an inevitable complete collapse.

A hearty Welcome Back
A happy Sallah Congratulation
A patriotic appreciation for
Mr. President’s Stewardship
And a Clarion Call to Nigerians

On behalf of the Emerging Leaders Forum (an association of the Next Generation of political and corporate leaders drawn from all parts of Nigeria, and from varied professional, business political, and demographic backgrounds), I wish to convey our compliments and heartily welcome His Excellency, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Muhammadu Buhari back to Nigeria after a period of medical vacation.

We join all well-meaning citizens in thanking Almighty God for blessing our President a quick and healthy recovery. We also pray that Almighty God give Mr. President greater stamina to continue with the good works he has started for the overall advancement of the country and humanity in general. We are delighted that Mr. President’s return has not only ignited new hopes of national renewal but invigorated the confidence of the citizens in the nation’s leadership.

We thank and appreciate all Nigerians, the State Governors, government officials, political leaders such as Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, religious leaders, the family members, as well as close associates and confidants of Mr. President, notably Mallam Mamman Daura, who prayed, sent messages of goodwill and kept faith alive for our dear President.

It is also appropriate that we seize this opportunity to send our very best wishes to His Excellency, Mr. President on the occasion of the Eid-el-Kabir celebrations. There is nothing as beautiful and joyful as to celebrate the Sallah alongside the family members, friends, and close associates. It is our ardent prayers that God Almighty who made us to celebrate this year’s Eid-el-Kabir will bestow on us His blessings of good health, sound faith and absolute peace as a nation.

A PATRIOTIC APPRECIATION
Like the World War II American President FDR Roosevelt, President Muhammadu Buhari inherited a battered nation in every sense of the word. No other challenge in recent history has been so severe and extensive.

Every discerning mind knows that turning things around is not going to be easy. However, as a tested General that he is, Mr. President has never left any one in doubt about his optimism in Nigeria’s capacity to overcome its challenges.

In a matter of two years, we must acknowledge that there were significant improvements even in several facets that Nigerians had given up. To have a President that is leading by example and above board; to have the many parts of Nigeria secured from insurgency, militancy, and criminality; and to reign in high-level corruption were things that were things many people had in the past considered wishful thinking.

It is pertinent at this juncture to elaborate on some of the significant strides, for which we in the Emerging Leaders Forum are quite appreciative.

TACKLING IN SECURITY
Tackling insecurity has been a major priority of every administration. However, there is now a clear definition of where we are going. What has been missing before was leadership. The aero plane was all right but never has a good pilot. Now a focused and motivated pilot is on board. Moreover, the results are clear.

In less than two years, Nigeria’s territorial integrity has been secured; relative security and peace have returned to the Northeast, once ravaged by insurgency; oil theft and pipelines vandalism have abated, and high-end criminals are being apprehended by the day.

Regular activities that were almost impossible to undertake in some parts of the Northeast two years ago have effectively resumed: air flights, sporting events, local and international conferences, cultural and religious ceremonies, etc. Also, thousands of citizens displaced by the insurgency are reuniting with their families and going back to their homes and communities. Farming, fishing, trading and commerce, and inter- and intra- state movements of people and goods have all resumed in earnest.

In equal measure, more than 100 of the 267 abducted Chibok girls that most people have lost hope that they may never return have regained freedom, while concerted efforts are being put to save the remaining numbers still in captivity. However, security is never a finished business anywhere in the world. Hence, we hope that our security agencies will not rest on their oars towards the full realization of this key campaign promise of the President.

REBUILDING THE ECONOMY
We are most pleased that the Nigerian economy is steadily finding its bearing and stabilizing towards sustained growth and prosperity. The PMB administration, as we all are aware, came in at the most inauspicious of times, when global oil prices were crashing southwards, and the national treasury was bankrupted technically.

To its credit, the administration has navigated the severe economic downturn and save the country of economic collapse and social upheaval, the unfortunate fate that had befallen many of its peers across the world.

Also, the country did not have to go through the pains of mass retrenchment of workers, reduction in wages and cutting of social provision, even in the face of serious adjustment to the economic downturn. Inflationary pressures that have initially dogged policy makers have been tamed somewhat, while the introduction of N-Power and other social programmes to support the poor have also helped to empower the poor and small-scale oriented businesses.

We commend the CBN and its leadership under Governor Godwin Emiefele, CON, for weathering the storm of the exchange rate and interest rate turbulence at the inception of the administration, as well as prioritizing domestic economic revival. Remarkably, despite low oil prices, Nigeria is building its external reserve, with consistent accretion, something almost unheard of, in macroeconomic theory. Today, we are beginning to witness overall macroeconomic stability and a far-reaching turnaround in manufacturing activities and output.

We are delighted by the administration’s significant economic diversification push that has so far engendered a most unprecedented agricultural boom in Nigeria’s history since the discovery of oil.

This development has not only served to raise rural incomes; it has opened the eyes of the citizens to the opportunities and possibilities in the once neglected agricultural enterprise, drawing in substantial local and foreign investments, driving down food imports and food prices and conserving foreign exchange.

It is also noteworthy that the oil sector, the most abused sector in recent past has been thoroughly sanitized and repositioned to deliver value to Nigerians. For two good years, Nigeria has experienced stable fuel supply, again, an unprecedented feat in recent history.

The NNPC has been turned around from bankruptcy to solvency. Now green investments are coming into the downstream sector such as the Dangote 650,000 barrel per day Refinery under construction in Lekki, Lagos, a reflection of the renewed investor confidence in the industry, all thanks to the determination and focus of the NNPC management under Dr. Maikanti Kacalla Baru.

For good measure, the relentless push towards infrastructure expansion in power, roads, railways, and housing is praiseworthy. Vladimir Lenin, the builder of the former Soviet Union (USSR), once said that development is simply the arithmetic sum of Electricity plus Railway. This approach made the USSR to in a matter of one to two decades caught up with Western Europe that was almost a century ahead regarding industrialization and infrastructure.

It is against this background that we especially congratulate Mr. President for his recent approval to kick-start the abandoned 3,050 Megawatts Mambilla power project in Taraba State at the cost of about $6 billion.

In the same vein, we appreciate the forging of a partnership with General Electric (GE) to upgrade key railway lines that will link the North and South and East and West of Nigeria.

Naturally, with all these efforts and the measures put in place to improve the business climate ably driven by the Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, we expect the Nigerian economy to experience significant recovery and wean the country from a self-inflicted over-reliance on oil and costly exposure to oil price volatility.

FIGHTING CORRUPTION
It is, indeed, unprecedented in our history that there should be a leader in Nigeria whom we feel obliged, no matter how reluctantly, to conclude that the man is simply above board. In the recent past, many people have come to accept corruption as a default position that nobody can do anything about. Now Nigerians see with their very eyes that yes, something can be done to stamp out high level, large scale corruption in Nigeria.

We firmly acknowledge the commitment of the administration to fight corruption, as well as the significant progress so far made in the war against corruption. The Treasury Single Account (TSA) in which about N4trillion has been husbanded has served to plug loopholes through which government officials siphon public funds; the whistle blowing policy had also yielded some results with billions recovered; the EFCC under Mr. Magu has been making miraculous recoveries.

It is remarkable that not only that proceeds of corruption and looting are being retrieved, but that some individuals hitherto considered untouchables are being prosecuted in the courts of law for fraud. For the first time in Nigerian history recovered looted funds are being put back into the budget to finance development programmes.

OUR CLARION CALL
Nigeria is definitely on a long journey of recovery and reconstruction. The PMB administration in the last two years has made an enduring difference regarding good governance. In fact, all indications on the ground point to the fact that PMB has gone beyond “foundation laying” to “block setting” towards restoring to Nigeria its lost glory.

For these strides to be sustained and not derailed by forces of retrogression both within and without, we call on the Nigerian people to be vigilant and be always prepared to pay the ultimate price of change. Change always comes about incrementally, not as a big bang, and we have started seeing its fruits in all facets of the nation’s life.

Politically, PMB has displayed uncommon maturity and tolerance in appreciation of the nuances that the democratic order entailed. He has restored total trust in governance and respect for due process and the Constitution. He has indirectly built an inclusive government by allowing even appointees of the previous administration to complete their tenures in line with the existing legislation.

We, however, observed with utmost disquiet the manner in which the National Assembly (NASS) relates to the Presidency in the last two years, and there seems no definite shift in NASS’s attitude towards the President. In this regard, we fear that frustrating plans of the President for the good of Nigeria could backfire with unpalatable personal and political consequences for the National Assembly members.

We call on the NASS to move away from its uncooperative attitude towards the executive. We are in a democracy, and we hope that NASS members will, going forward, assure the citizens that they are committed to the nation’s welfare and that nobody is doing anything to undo Mr. President in whom the majority of our citizens have so much confidence.

We were, indeed, scandalized that while Mr. President was away, some politicians and political office holders were more engaged with the politics of 2019 and restructuring of the country. In line with our slogan of putting Nigeria first, we find this a disservice to the nation, the obsession with power by the political class, the needless, unproductive brickbats (for instance, the recent Governor El-Rufa’i versus Minister Jummai Al-Hassan altercation as reported in the media); as well as futile efforts to undermine the nation’s peaceful coexistence

Our view about the clamour for restructuring is that it is diversionary. We believe that the task ahead of us is strengthening the Nigerian citizenship in the context of a united nation. We want to see an end to indigene/settler dichotomy, and not going back into our regional or ethnic larger.

At a time the country is recovering politically and economically, from the battered state, it was thrown into by the former administration, the minimum we expect from our political class is putting all hands on deck to consolidate the gains of the last two years and bring succour to the masses.

While it is okay to agitate or protest on whatever subject that fancies individuals or groups, there is a problem when these agitations become discordant and a source of national distraction or border on the subversion of the nation’s sovereignty.

It is against this background that we urge all those engaged in one form of agitation or the other to pursue their agitations democratically, constitutionally and peacefully. Anything short of that amounts to an affront to the constitutional order.  

It is apt at this juncture to call on our workers and professionals, particularly the academics in ASUU and the Resident Medical Doctors to be careful not to allow the right cause they fight for to be hijacked by frustrated politicians. We call for patriotism and constructive approach to issues since it is the well-being of our people that is at stake.

HURRAY TO KATSINA STATE @30

On September 23, 2017, Katsina State will be 30 years old. We write in advance, to felicitate with the people and government of Katsina State under the able leadership of His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Aminu Bello Masari, Executive Governor of Katsina State, CON, for coming this far, as one of the most progressive States in the Federation.

We must not forget to pay our esteemed tribute and gratitude to Gen. Hassan Katsina, the inspiration behind the creation of Katsina State, and former President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, GCFR, for his vision and courage to create Katsina State to bring about even development and balance the Nigerian federalism.

We also salute former Governors both military and civilian alike such as Gen. Yahaya J. Madaki (rtd), Alhaji Saidu Barda, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’adua (of blessed memory), who laid a good foundation that our amiable Governor Masari is busily working hard to consolidate.While we acknowledged that much had been achieved in the last 30 years, we believe that with unity and common purpose in supporting the policies and programmes of the present administration of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari at the centre and of Governor Masari, the State can achieve even more. Divisive politics will not yield any positive outcome.

This is why we find it utterly contradictory and subversive against the Katsina people, the recent clandestine meetings in Kaduna of some political renegades and sore losers from Katsina, at the behest of some well known external forces that had been in the game of political treachery since 2003.

They should know that times have changed; the people are now more conscious, and indeed, they would be waiting for them to surprise them when they are man enough to approach them with their dastardly agenda. A word to the wise is sufficient.

CONCLUSION
Nigeria is destined for greatness. The country is now focused on the “big picture” of what makes nations great. There are, and there will be teething challenges always. These cannot be the basis for throwing the baby with the bath water.

We are lucky that today, we have a leadership that embraces responsibility towards lifting the nation up. Indeed, the most enduring thing about the steps so far taken by PMB and his team is that they have set in motion an irreversible movement towards building a Nigeria of our dreams: a land of equal opportunities where hard work pays, a robust and competitive economy; and a united and stable polity.

We in the Emerging Leaders Forum, as an ensemble of patriotic Nigerians, would always identify with genuine efforts to lift the nation higher and higher. And with dedication and commitment to the larger good, we are confident that we will arrive at the Promised Land.

AMINU BALELE KURFI (DAN-AREWA)
Executive Chairman
Governing Council and Convener
EMERGING LEADERS FORUM
+234 803 301 4135
shugabares@yahoo.com

Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo has said the administration of the country’s current leader Muhammadu Buhari has not disappointed him.

“President Buhari, I have said, has not disappointed me because the areas which we knew he was strong, he has performed fairly well,”

Obasanjo told BBC’s Focus on Africa, singling out Buhari’s scorecard in the fight against corruption and the Boko Haram insurgency.
Pp
But the former leader conceded that not “everyone will be satisfied” with Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

In spite of his vote of confidence in President Buhari, Obasanjo, who was one of Buhari’s supporters in the build-up to the 2015 election, insisted he would only support the current leader for re-election in 2019, should Buhari seek it, after he must have reviewed his performance towards the end of his current four-year term.

While appreciable progress has also been recorded in the fight against Boko Haram in northeast Nigeria, former president Obasanjo said the fight against the jihadists cannot be totally won until the government addresses the root causes of the insurgency.

“The remote causes of Boko Haram, which [are] under-development in the area, lack of employment opportunities, lack of education [and] lack of infrastructure have to be addressed,” the former president said.

BBC

The North West Zonal Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Inuwa Abdulkadir has caution members of the party to be careful of their public utterances And not hide under the guise of freedom of speech to undermine the party or bring the party and the leadership to disrepute.

Abdulkadir who was reacting to the statement credited to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that he has been sidelined by both the President and the party describe the statement as an “unguided statement” which should not be coming from a statement of his repute.

Abdulkadir who spoke with selected newsmen at the APC national secretariat on Friday also said that the Minister of Women Affairs was practically blackmailing the President with her statement which has attracted public comments in recent times, pointing out that while she was entitled to her own opinion, she was morally bound to either keep quiet or resign from the government, rather than creating the impression that things were not working well within the government.

He said the former Vice President gave the impression of failure on the side of both the party and the government formed by the party, pointing out that as a statesman who contributed to building the party, statements of fact were expected from him.

He said: “Atiku Abubakar is a very important member of this party. He is one of the leaders of this party and I have no doubt about his contribution to building this party. He has also added value by his personality during the last election

“People of such statue and reckoning in this country, particularly being a former Vice President, of this great nation, he has attained the position of a statesman and what we expect from him is nothing less than that. By virtue of former his office and his age, he is qualified to be a statesman.

“But when you reach that statue and age there are certain things you have to come to terms with, most important of which is to exhibit a high sense of decorum in your conduct. What I mean is that you have to guard what you say, how you say it and when you say it because what is expected of you as a statesman is nothing but factual.

“Secondly, the majority of the people look up to you to provide leadership in the sense that from what you say people can learn a lot.

“Of recent Atiku has made some statements to the effect that or create an impression of the failure of the party and the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government. At that level, good party members, especially of his status should not be seen to be making such public statements even if those criticisms are factual, whereas in this case some of these statements were misleading and incorrect.

“These statements give an impression as if there is a crack in the house and in the party or that the party is not doing all that which it ought to. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have  been here to responded to certain statements because as leaders, we shouldn’t be seen as joining issues in the public domain. But since he has made a public statement, the public is entitled to get the other side or be told the truth.

“Yes, Atiku like many others made certain contributions in the 2015 elections and in building the party. But the bigger picture which he gave is not correct. I know that in the north west zone which I represent, we had eight presidential campaign rallies and Atiku did not attend any.

“Yes, he added value by his personality, but there are so many other members of the party, who made financial contribution and added electoral value. North West is the most populous zone in terms of the APC membership and in terms of electoral victory, not only to the president, but we have seven state governors and 20 out of the 21 senators in the zone are from the APC.

“I think we are critical and  major stakeholders in this party. So one of the reasons why I am making this statement is to calm our members in these states and not to be distracted and that APC is well on ground as all efforts are being made to solidify those gains and we shouldn’t be distanced by such unfortunate statements which are suggesting that the party is neglecting a particular person or group persons.

“Some of these things are processes and you don’t expect everything to happen at the sametime. More importantly, there should some decorum in what we do. People who have attained those high privileged positions should know that they have attained certain status in the society and so, they cannot afford to talk any how.

“On the issue of consultation by the Mr. President, though I don’t work in the Villa, it is an open secret that whoever visited the president is no longer a secret. Whoever is meeting the president of Nigeria more than 20 people will know and the information will be shared.

“As a matter of fact, several times, Atiku Abubakar has visited Mr. President and what they discussed, we don’t know but we know that he has visited. I am sure he is not just there to greet him. Those two leaders will meet without discussing one thing or the other.

“On party meetings, I know that immediately after convention where Buhari was nominated as the party flag bearer, there were a number of leadership meetings which he participated. Also, there were formal party meetings, some of which were held in the Villa and he was present.

“There were some meetings here at the National secretariat including two NEC meetings which he attended and other functions of the party. So the claim that the party only met once is not correct.

“On his criticism of the President in the area of security and the fight against corruption, I want to say that if you critically listen to what he said, you will discover that it is not correct because we know where we were in 2015 and where we are now especially in terms of security and what the situation is now.

“This is just a sign of caution. As a party, we caution our members from making unguarded statements that are capable of ridiculing the leadership of the party and the leadership of the government formed by this party. I think that we as a party, we will not relent in our effort in installing discipline and ensuring decorum among our members.

“We should always remember that this party is an institution and it is not a personal enterprise belong to one person, a group of persons or a class of people. It has its own rules and regulations. People should not hide under the freedom of speech to undermine the party or bring the party and the leadership to disrepute. We all appreciate the efforts of members of this party in producing the president.

“So, the party has a duty to ensure that party members e committed to the party and its principles. APC respects the right of all its members and the citizens from this country to make constructive criticism and we embrace such.

“At the same time, we have a responsibility to ensure that those privileges, those rights being exercise by the members does not encroach into the reputation of the party or the party as an institution.”

Speaking on the statement credited to the Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Jummai Alhassan, Abdulkadir said the action of the Minister could be interpreted to mean that she was either blackmailing the President or boxing him into a corner.

He said while she was entitled to her opinion, she is morally bound to resign her appointment if she is not satisfied with events in the cabinet, pointing out that her statement were suggestive of things not working well within the cabinet.

He said: “People have rights to express their opinions and express their views. But those rights are morally suspended if you found yourself in a situation where you find yourself as a member of the cabinet or as a member of the party.

“There are certain things that are expected from you because it sends wrong signals of your commitment to the party as well as the person you are serving. However, some of these things are within the discretion of the Principal of that Minister who is the President.

“The situation is that her statement is capable of creating an impression that even at the cabinet level, things are not well. As far as the party is concerned, everything is well in terms of the cabinet. But there is personal responsibility on that minister to do the right thing.

“As a leader and somebody who has accepted to serve in a government formed by the party, the right thing to do if you think otherwise is to honourably quit. What we have right now is a situation of blackmailing the President or boxing him which will not be accepted by the party.

“These two issues have come to the public domain and it is part of our responsibility as leaders of this party to ensure that the current things are known and to correct whatever wrong impression that would have been created.

“You are making such suggestuon in respect of your principal in public, this is something that she can discuss with her principal to express to him so that he (President) will know her position. And if you feel like it should be public then you are saying that I’m no longer comfortable with this situation, if this situation should continue I’m not comfortable with it.

“Whether Buahri has said that he will recontest or not is immaterial, what is material as serving Minister should not be seen to be making public statement that suggest that they are not on the same page with the team because she is a more mber of a team.

“In order places the right thing is for her to resign, that she can no longer continue to be in this thing because my spirit ir my thought is not in conformity with this team, so we can no more work together. She is entitle to that. So, you can not you eat your cake and have it, that is the situation.

“As high as that office is people resign and leave on principle that if not that I’m a member of APC I would not have accepted to serve but I’m not convince still, so I think giving an opportunity to somebody else I will support him not you”.

The Nation

Lawmaker representing Bauchi Central Senatorial District, Senator Isah Misau, has denied the allegation by the Nigeria Police that he deserted. He insisted that he resigned from the service.

According to Misau, who spoke to journalists in Abuja on Monday, he is not on the run as the police authorities claimed.

He challenged the police authorities to address the issues he raised against the leadership of the security agency rather than diverting attention to his alleged removal from the police force.

Misau said, “I am not surprised that the Police Force left unaddressed the weighty issues raised and my concerns over the unwholesome practices in an institution I dedicated the active part of my youthful years to attack my integrity.

“It only goes to affirm my worries over the current leadership of the force. For the avoidance of doubt, I strictly followed the provisions of the Police Act and Regulations in resigning my position with the Nigeria Police.

“Not wanting to take issue with the rambling incoherence of the Force spokesman, the police have always known my whereabouts since my resignation.

“Moreover, I have been in the Senate for about two and half years without any mention of my deserting until my innocuous caution against practices capable of destroying the Police Force.

“It is beyond curiosity that the Police would be looking for someone clearly in plain sight for these past years. Little wonder the proliferation of crimes in the country and the police apparent ‘cluelessness’ especially under the current leadership of Inspector General of Police (Ibrahim Idris).

“The real issue is the illegal promotion in the Police Force and its potential to undermine the operational capacity of the Force. The IGP and the chairman of the Police Service Commission (PSC) should prove me wrong and not embark on voyage of discovery,”

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Navy, Isah Misau, has said that he followed the provisions of the Police Act and regulations in resigning from the Nigeria Police Force, NPF.

Mr. Misau stated this on Monday in Abuja, in reaction to a statement by the police that he did not follow due process in exiting the force, and was therefore, a deserter.

He said in a statement that rather than concentrate on the issue of corruption in the force, the police decided to embark on a “voyage of discovery.”

He said that the allegation of the police against him was a “propaganda” aimed at distracting Nigerians from the real issue.
“Not wanting to join issues with the incoherence of the Force Public Relations Officer, the police have always known my whereabouts since my resignation.

“Moreover, I have been in the Senate for about two and half years without any mention of my desertion until my innocuous caution against practices capable of destroying the Police Force.
“It is beyond curiosity that the police will be looking for someone clearly in the plain sight for these past years.

“Little wonder the proliferation of crime in the country and the police apparent cluelessness, especially under its current leadership,” he said.

In the statement on Sunday against Mr. Misau’s claim of corruption in the promotion process in the police, the authorities said that the allegations against the Inspector General of Police and the Force were unfounded.

It said “Sen. Isah Hamman Misau dubiously absconded and deserted the Nigeria Police Force on September 24, 2010 when he was redeployed to Niger State Command.

“He refused to report, consequent upon which he was queried in line with the Public Service Rules Sections 030301(b)(g)(m) &(o) and 030402(a)(b)(c)(e) &(w).
“This is in addition to the previous queries and disciplinary process he was facing when he refused to proceed on Junior Command Course (JCC) 49/2008 at Staff College, Jos, between January 5, 2009 and June 19, 2009.

“The retirement letter presented to journalists by DSP Mohammed Isa Hamman is suspiciously forged and dubiously obtained.

“The Force base postings, transfers and deployment of Commissioners of Police, Police Mobile Force Commanders, SPU Commanders and other Commanding Officers on merit and competence. Not on monetary, ethnic or religious consideration.
“Postings and transfers are routine administrative tools to ensure the best performance of Police Officers toward optimum service delivery for the benefit of the public.

“The Inspector-General of Police cannot compromise his integrity by receiving money before officers are posted. This allegation is also baseless, unfounded and so should be disregarded and discountenance by the public.”

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The National President of Buhari Youth Organization,Ubale Yusuf Nalado welcome President Muhammadu Buhari back to the Country.

Comrade Nalado stated this during a brief meeting with other executives members of Of Buhari Youth Organisation at BYO national Headquarters in Abuja on Saturday, August 27th 2017.

Comrade Nalado urges all Buhari Youth Organisation,executives members nation wide and other Nigerians to engaged in special prayers and rallies for Mr president

Comrade Nalado caution unpatriotic groups who engaged in hate speech’s against the president to stop it and join hands with BYO to Support president Buhari’s Administration.

“we must eschew away from any thing that can break the existing peace and unity in our country” he said

“it is our collective responsibilities  to maintain a great level of faithful coexistence  and achieved the spirits of unity in our cultural diversity” he added

** Nigeria is going to recover, we are on the path to sure economic recovery and this is a good sign

ACTING PRESIDENT, YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, SPOKE TO REPORTERS AT THE PRESIDENTIAL VILLA  AFTER RECEIVING PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI ON HIS RETURN TO THE COUNTRY LONDON, ON AUGUST 19, 2017.

Below are the transcripts:

“I am excited and extremely happy that the President is back, in good health and rearing to go. It is so good to see him!

Well I think many Nigerians as you could see from just coming from the airport, many people are so excited to see the President.

People have prayed, people have hoped and it is just a natural reaction that seeing him and hearing that he is around, was just spontaneous.

Most people had only a few hours, but as you could see, the response was so spontaneous.

So I think that people are just very excited and happy that he is back.

The message to Nigeria is that the recovery and recuperation of the President is in some sense symbolic of the recovery of Nigeria.

Nigeria is going to recover, we are on the path to sure economic recovery and this is a good sign, it is an excellent sign that our country is on the right path, there is great hope, there is great excitement and we are going to make it as a nation.”

RELEASED BY LAOLU AKANDE
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity Office of the Vice President
20 August 2017