Singapore News Channel, Singapore News Network

Former Nigerian Minister of Information and Culture, and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Tony Momoh, has said that President Muhammadu Buhari will run for the 2019 presidential elections.

In an interview with VINCENT KALU, the veteran journalist noted that nothing will change between now and 2023,as Buhari remains on ground.

President Buhari’s administration will be two years in office, what is your assessment of the government?

In an interview, I said if we don’t perform at the end of four years that Nigerians should stone us, and I later stated in another interview that in two years they should stone us, if we don’t perform.

May 29, we will be two years, and unless you have people who are ideologically opposed to this government, what we are entitled to is accolades, not stoning, because we have delivered, in spite of the recession.

Nobody foresaw the recession, but we have delivered on security, and no place in Nigeria do we have a foreign flag as Boko Haram hoisted flags in some areas in the North East before we came to power.

We have delivered in the area of corruption, because everybody knows that anybody who has anything to hide when there is a knock on their doors, they are apprehensive.

In fact, the aura of the president is all over the place.

The next one is the economy, which we have addressed. The economy is improving. There is diversification, and people who are into agriculture are smiling to the banks.

Because of what we have done, in this second anniversary, Nigerians will not stone us.

What has been his greatest challenge?

The greatest challenge has been in these areas of security, corruption and economy because if we have all hands on deck and everybody cooperating, we wouldn’t have the challenges that I have just mentioned.  You know, in security, you have lots of people, in kidnapping, lots of people in armed robbery, lots of people in all sorts of crime.

Then corruption is fighting back. Only in Nigeria will you see people crying because someone is taken to court for corruption. It is unfortunate that Nigerians defend what is ignoble, as long as they have their pay for it.

Of course, for the economy, Nigerians will do anything to get money even if it is to spoil Nigeria. You have lots and lots of 419. Look at Nigerians going abroad because they feel there were greener pastures over there, instead of facing the challenges here. Our people are dying, while crossing the deserts and the Mediterranean Sea; even when they reach Libya and other European countries, they are deported.

People at home are facing the same challenges and they are seeing what they can do to earn a living, and things will be better.

We have problem of communication; we have a duty to explain to our youths the dangers of crossing the desert.

Given the history of elections in Nigeria, as an incumbent, his supporters are eager to know whether he will re-contest or not, they are also confused, as nothing is being heard from associates like you, what are you telling them against the background that some other aspirants like Atiku, Kwakwanso are doing some underground work?

After May 29, 2015, politics ended and governance started, and governance continued till 2019. INEC has programmes for elections and timetable for electioneering, time for election and time for results.

Buhari didn’t sit down with anybody to say that, ‘I will do one term, or I will do two terms.’ There was a primary election and he defeated other aspirants.

For instance, if the time for 2019 elections comes, he has to show his interest, all the other things being equal, and if the party gives him the ticket, he will contest.

Those making some underground mobilisations are entitled to do so, and 2019 is for everybody.

Those who want to contest can do so; in APC there is no bar. If you enter APC today, you are entitled to all the privileges, and you don’t need waiver.

So, those who are interested can show their interest, but there is no doubt that Buhari is entitled to two terms and all the other things being equal, there is nothing that stops him from running again unless God decides otherwise.

Buhari’s supporters are worried that if he is not re-contesting, would they support power to shift to South or retained in the North. What is your take on this?

Politics is dynamic, active. I don’t believe in judging anything. Buhari is on ground and in my way of calculating; I don’t see anything coming between now and 2023 that will dismantle what is already on ground. I don’t argue over 2019, because he will contest.

Why are we not seeing any moves by some of his supporters like you?

There is no confusion, as this is not yet time for election. INEC will release timetable that will tell you when party primaries hold, and other details of the elections, and that should be when people should begin to show interest, but for those who are already preparing, it is left for them. You know Nigerians prepare from one election to the other.

If he is going to re-contest, where will the funds come from because we know that his associates like you don’t have the financial war chest to oil his campaigns, and those who funded his campaign last time may not do so this time around?

We have never had money, but we ran and won the election because Buhari has very loyal supporters. Don’t forget that INEC has limit on the amount of money you can spend for election.

In fact, it is illegal to spend certain amount of money for election. It is illegal to bring in large sum of money. So, the money anyone spends should be monitored.

So, election is not all about money, with 14 governors and hundreds of elected people he had 16 million votes, and the critical votes came from South West.

All those votes are available, and more votes are coming from the South East, because what the Igbo wanted are being done – the road from Onitsha to Enugu is receiving attention, ditto, the Enugu/Port Harcourt road, and many other roads that former President Goodluck Jonathan neglected.

Work is in progress at the Second Niger Bridge, and the erosion sites in the South East are also receiving attention. Look at what is happening at Aba, look at what is happening with Innoson Motors.

So, he is going to get more support from the South East, more so, look at how the political leaders in that zone are flocking into APC.

….The Sun….

President Muhammadu Buhari proceeds to London tonight for follow-up medical consultation with his doctors.

He had planned to leave Sunday afternoon, but decided to tarry a bit, due to the arrival of 82 Chibok girls who arrived Abuja earlier in the day.

The President wishes to assure all Nigerians that there is no cause for worry. He is very grateful for the prayers and good wishes of the people, and hopes they would continue to pray for the peace and unity of the nation.

The length of the President’s stay in London will be determined by the doctors. Government will continue to function normally under the able leadership of the Vice President.

President Buhari has transmitted letters about the trip to the Senate and the House of Representatives, in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution.

FEMI ADESINA
Special Adviser to the President
(Media and Publicity)
May 7, 2017

A former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States, Dr Yusuf Maitama Sule, Danmasanin Kano, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari not to give up in the ongoing fight against corruption.

Danmasani, who made the call at the official commissioning of NIPOST Anti-Corruption Stamp in Kano yesterday, said fighting corruption was not an easy task.

“Corruption is found everywhere because not only financial people tend to engage in corrupt practices in their social activities. Government should ensure confiscating of all looted money from whoever steals it. After collecting the money, government can even allow them to go,” he said.

In his remarks, Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje said no society could develop without fighting corruption among its citizenry.

 “Because of the ongoing fight against corruption embarked upon by President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigerian’s image abroad has tremendously improved. We have all witnessed the discoveries of trillions of naira by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) since the assumption of Buhari-led government,” he said.

Chairman of the commission, Muhuyi Magaji Rimin Gado, said the commission had recorded successes in the fight against corruption in the state since the assumption of Ganduje-led government.

……daily Trust….

President Mohammadu Buhari recently  in Kano declared that the change agenda of the All Progressive Congress (APC) will no doubt reflect and create an enduring hope to better the lots of Nigerians contrary to insinuation from some quarter.

Buhari in his message during the launch of the North West National Committee of Buhari Support Groups, (NCBSG) said that efforts and dedication of Nigerians will change our country for the better.

The President’s message, read by Senator Ahmed Lawal said, “I’m happy to send this message of thanks and good will to all organizers and participants on the lunching of National Committee of Buhari Support group taking place today in Kano. Your effort and dedication are very well known to me. You are inviting this part of movement on the APC and change agenda. We must change our country for the better.”

“We must stand by regarding ourselves as examples; change begins with you and I and then all of us in Nigeria. You should carry this message to all corners of our country. It is a bottom up operation in our country. Successes at your level is success for all of and our dear country.”

“I wish you a very successful launching and I looking forward to getting up to date reports of your activities”

The Chairman Board of Trustees of NCBSG, Senator Abu Ibrahim who represents Katsina south senatorial district  told the group from the north west zone that President Buhari is been endorsed for a major interest that will reflect the creation of a new hope for Nigerians in  which his committed and determined to achieve.

According to him, “the group was   formed   with   the   mandate   to   coordinate   and organise the affairs of the various Buhari Support Groups that participated in the enthronement and ascension to office of President Muhammadu Buhari through the 2015 election.”

“These   pre-existing   support   groups   piloted   the   grassroots initiatives via which our Dear President’s message of hope was delivered to all the nooks and crannies of the country and we intend to keep them as channels of outreach and feedback between the government and the citizenry.

“It is   our desire   therefore   to   use this   gathering   today as   a platform to appreciate and express our profound gratitude to you all.

“When we elected President Muhammadu Buhari into office, we did so with the conviction that our dear nation needed to be put on a new pedestal, for the dreams of our founding fathers to be realised.

“We were convinced of the need to establish a firm foundation   upon   which   a   united,   peaceful   and   prosperous nation can be built by, and for, this and succeeding generations of Nigerians. It is in this regard that I must personally commend all of you for your patience and understanding as our Dear President steers us through the difficult steps necessary to achieve this objective.

“The poor management of the country, especially under the watch of the now opposition PDP, is the reason we have had to endure a harsh economic climate. The signs of a decline in the economy   were   there   a   clear   two   years   before   the   2015 elections.

“It is therefore inexcusable that those who had the responsibility of managing our affairs failed to save for the rainy day and freely helped themselves with our common patrimony, including funds earmarked for restoring peace and security in the land.

“Recent gory news of the recoveries of stolen cash provides proof that some individuals behaved like delinquent juveniles, to paraphrase Mr. President, when they had the opportunity to lead this great nation.

“We must stand firm and resolute to say NEVER AGAIN shall we allow the destiny of Nigeria in the hands of unscrupulous abusers of public trust, wanton riggers of elections and peddlers of thuggery. They should never be allowed to tie down the destiny of this   land   of   inestimable potential, to their whims and caprices.

“As you and I know, when they fail to explain away their glaringly failed stewardship, they resort to name-calling. When that doesn’t deter you, they resort to outright blackmail and threats to life and property. It is our collective duty to restore this nation’s pride because we have no choice.

“This land belongs to all of us and we must be proud to work tirelessly to make it better for our children and our children’s children. Let the naysayers know that we shall never give up this God-given right.”

However, Senators from Katsina, Yobe, Ondo as well as house of representative members and some top government dignitaries and politicians graced the launching.

…..leadership…..

Federal Government on Monday in Abuja assured the Nigeria workers of speedy passage of the new National Minimum Wage.

President Muhammadu Buhari said this in a message to workers on the occasion marking the 2017 May Day Rally with the theme, “Labour Relations in Economic Recession: An Appraisal”.

“I am happy to inform you that Government will give expeditious consideration to the proposal contained in the Technical Committee’s Report which was submitted to it on April 6, 2017.

“Government will take necessary steps to implement the final recommendation of the Main Government/Labour Committee as it relates to the setting up the new National Minimum Wage Committee and the needed palliatives.

“This is in order to reduce the discomfort currently being experienced by the Nigerian working class.

“I want to assure you that government will continue to do all at its disposal to better the lots of all Nigerians and more importantly to provide a commensurate welfare for all Nigerian workers, ”he said.

He said that he was aware that the economic recession in the country has huge implication for the seamless conduct of industrial relations.

He noted that this arises  from the fact that the economic recession by its nature was characterised by a substantial risk of the “vicious circles of low- productivity.

He said others are mass retrenchment of workers and closure of workplaces due to high cost of doing business, unregulated subcontracting and outsourcing with its consequences on welfare of workers among others.

According to him, in the face of these inevitable challenges, you have shown maturity and understanding in spite of the situation in which we found ourselves.

“I strongly salute your great sense of patriotism and loyalty to the country, ”he said.

President Buhari however, called for effective deployment of labour relations, an amalgamated approach that would be used in creating a conducive work environment that would attract foreign investment for wealth creation.

He called on government, workers and employers to work together to put out the economy from the recession.

“Therefore, I called on the organised labour to continue to partner with this administration by resorting to social dialogue as an indispensable tool for conflict resolution

“Today, we stand in solitary with workers all over the world to commemorate this historic Day which marked a turning point in the economies of the nations and the welfare of  the working class, ”he added.

He commended the organised labour  for their support and encouragement to the administration’s fight against corruption which was the bane of sustainable economic development.

He added that, “my commitment to fight against corruption is total and irreversible. We must fight  corruption before it destroys us.

“As a matter of fact, the workers should be in the forefront of activities in the realisation of the WhistleBlowing Policy of this Administration, ”he said.

He called for support and cooperation while adding that government was determined to restore growth, investment in people and also building a global competitive economy to its full realisation.(NAN).

Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari “is fit enough” to stand for reelection, the country’s transport minister has said.

Rotimi Amaechi, a former governor of Rivers State, one of the oil-rich states in the Niger Delta and currently of the two super ministers in Buhari’s cabinet, believed the president’s infirmity was not serious enough to preclude him from putting in one more term.

“If you look at the president since he came to the country, you will see there is a huge improvement,” Amaechi, who was the director-general of Buhari’s campaign said on Channels Television’s Hard Copy. “He’s regaining his weight. This is a 74-year old man, he is no longer a 58-old man, he is not 50…he is not a young man.”

Buhari left Nigeria on January 19 for London to “undergo routine medical check-ups” during a short holiday. He only returned on March 10 after an extended period of medical treatment. He also hinted at the possibility of him going back for more treatment.

But what Nigerians should be more worried about, Amaechi said, is his ability [or lack thereof] to provide good leadership and deliver on the campaign promises he made, which were just three, according to the former Rivers governor.

“He made three [campaign promises]. The rest are propagandas, social media propagandas,” he said.

When asked if he would support Buhari if he stands for re-election in 2019, Amaechi replied in affirmative. “I will advise that he should,” he said.

“The president is fit enough to govern and if he makes the decision to run again, if he does, I don’t think there is anything wrong in supporting him.” Amaechi’s Said.

“the presidency insisted that there was no reason for Nigerians to panic. It said Buhari scale down his activities at the Nigerian seat of power on doctors’ advice.

“As eager as he is to be up and about, the President’s doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago,” Buhari’s media aide Garba Shehu said.

“His absence at the last FEC meeting was a last minute decision” he said

Aso Villa has assured Nigerians that there is no need for apprehension over the health of our President, Muhammadu Buhari, despite concerns being raised in the media.

In a statement today, senior special assistant on media, Malam Garba Shehu said President Buhari’s absence at the Federal Executive Council meeting of Wednesday, April 26, was a last minute decision.

“Otherwise, the cabinet and the public might have been alerted in advance. As eager as he is to be up and about, the President’s doctors have advised on his taking things slowly, as he fully recovers from the long period of treatment in the United Kingdom some weeks ago.

“President Buhari himself, on his return to the country, made Nigerians aware of the state of his health while he was in London.

Full recovery is sometimes a slow process, requiring periods of rest and relaxation, as the Minister for Information, Lai Mohammed, intimated in his press briefing after the FEC meeting on Wednesday.

“Despite his lack of visibility, Nigerians should rest assured that President Buhari has not abdicated his role as Commander-in-Chief of Nigeria.

“He receives daily briefings on the activities of government, and confers regularly with his Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.

“His private residence, in which he has been spending the majority of his time recently, also has a fully equipped office.
“God is the giver of life and health. We are grateful that He has seen our President through the worst period of his convalescence in London.

“We are thankful that the President has passed a number of benchmarks already. We pray that God continues to see him through this period of recuperation. “

The attention of the media office of the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups (NCBSG) has been drawn to certain discrediting reports coming from a sponsored loose canon called IG Wala, who has alleged falsely and incoherently without any iota of fact, that:

1. The Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, sponsors the NCBSG. There cannot be any better indication as to IG Wala’s warped state of mind (and the intent of his masked sponsors to cause mischief) than this and it should deserve no further response than to be ignored.

We wish therefore to leave it to the readers’ imaginations to refer to NCBSG’s widely publicised activities to-date, especially the earlier meetings in Abuja and the Zonal meetings in the South West and in the North West, and to discern whether the organisation has anything whatsoever to do with the Senate President.

IG Wala’s feeble and drunken vituperations do indeed belong in the gutter.

2. He castigated and casted aspersions on the Interim BOT Chairman of the NCBSG and referred to him as a ‘political devil’.

The NCBSG as a responsible organisation whose interest is based on concretising the prudent legacy of the President would simply wish to clarify to the public that Distinguished Senator Abu Ibrahim(a man of proven Integrity, honesty and experience) is a 4-time Senator and one of the most responsible politicians of this time.

His efforts in galvanising support for President Muhammadu Buhari, including putting the NCBSG together, is widely acknowledged and highly appreciated by no less a personality than the President and Commander-in-Chief in whose mind remains no iota of doubt as to Senator Abu Ibrahim’s sincerity and loyalty.

It is this sense of loyalty and dedication that has set him apart from the pack of wolves and pretentious associates in our polity – reason he is now a target of a campaign of calumny.

We advise IG Wala, in the interest of his paymaster’s efforts, to devote more time to research his subject before embarking on a fruitless journey using a worn-out strategy of misinformation.

Let it be clear to IG Wala and his ilk that we understand the Nigerian political terrain and are conscious of the antics of politicians whose major interest is to induce disarray in the political camp of President Muhammadu Buhari and cause disaffection between him and senior members of the APC.

With a long shot, they also seek to discredit the President for calculated personal gains including plans for 2019.

At the risk of asking for too much, we wish to surmise that if IG Wala were smart enough to read between the lines, he should at least be in a position to judge his paymasters on the score of sincerity. Alas, he is no more than a despicable gossip.

For the records, Senator Abu Ibrahim has been a close political associate of President Muhammadu Buhari since he ventured into active politics in 2002, and was, with him, a member of the APP, the ANPP, and the CPC, before finally moving with him to the APC. To attest to the pedigree of this loyal son of Katsina State as a politician, he won elections into the Senate in 2003 and 2011 as an opposition politician on the platforms of the ANPP and the CPC respectively.

In the final analysis, the paymasters of IG Wala have every reason to fear for their selfish permutations in the polity and may wish to note that no matter the negative and sponsored attack on our leaders, NCBSG shall not be deterred in its unflinching support for President Muhammadu Buhari and shall continue to mobilise all stakeholders in all the nooks and crannies of this country to guarantee his success.

It is our firm belief that the future of this great nation depends on it.

Signed
NCBSG
Media Office
25/4/2017