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Showing posts with label 2019 Presidential Election. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2019 Presidential Election. Show all posts
Presidential election: Nigeria sitting on gunpower – Fani-Kayode warns
INEC
Femi Fani-Kayode,
former Aviation Minister, has warned that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun
powder that could trigger and ignite a monumental “cataclysmic explosion, the
likes of which have never been seen”.
He said this in
reaction to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, claim that
they never used a server during the 2019 presidential election.
INEC had told the
Presidential Election Petition Tribunal that its officials never transmitted
election results from their polling units electronically during the just
concluded presidential election.
However,
Fani-Kayode urged the electoral commission to stop playing with the future of
Nigerians.
In a series of
tweets, Fani-Kayode wrote: “You said you had a server and told us how much you
spent on it. You complained that others had illegally gained access to it and
that they ought to be arrested. Yet when the matter got to court, you changed
the story and said you have no server. What type of strange abracadabra is
this?
“Please stop
playing Russian roullete with the future of our country. People’s eyes are open
and we are sitting on a keg of gunpowder right now. If care is not taken you
will pull the trigger and ignite a monumental and cataclysmic explosion the
likes of which have never been seen.”
The Independent
National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it does not have the server
where the PDP claim results of the presidential election were uploaded.
The electoral
commission is reacting to the request of Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate
of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who had asked the tribunal to compel INEC
to allow them inspect smart card readers and the server.
The opposition
party and its candidate are challenging the declaration of President Buhari as
winner of the presidential election that held in February. At the tribunal on
Thursday, Yunus Usman, counsel to INEC, said the party was asking something
they did not have.
“They are asking us
to bring something we do not have,” the lawyer said. Usman asked the tribunal
to strike out the application. Also, counsels of the All Progressives Congress
(APC) and Buhari asked the tribunal to strike out the application of the PDP.
They argued that
they could not prove the existence of a server. The electoral commission
said Buhari polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat the former vice-president who
secured 11, 262,978. But Atiku in his application claimed that he polled
18,356,732 votes while Buhari secured 16,741,430, citing INEC’s server.
Buhari vs Atiku: Human Rights Watch releases damning report on
Nigeria’s election, makes revelations
The Nigerian
elections in 2019 that brought President Muhammadu Buhari back into office for
a second term were marred by political violence, some of it by soldiers and
police officers, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday.
Buhari defeated
Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the keenly-contested
poll.
HRW called on
Buhari to take concrete steps to address the widespread political violence and
ensure accountability for human rights abuses by soldiers and police as he
begins his second term.
The report on the
election released on the HRW website on Monday noted that the election period
included persistent attacks by factions of Boko Haram terrorist group in the
northeast; increased communal violence between nomadic herdsmen and farmers
spreading southward from north-central states; and a dramatic uptick in
banditry, kidnapping, and killings in the northwestern states of Kaduna,
Katsina, and Zamfara. It maintained that security forces have failed to respond
effectively to threats to people’s lives and security.
Human Rights Watch
said it interviewed 32 people; including voters, journalists, election
observers, activists, and Independent National Electoral Commission officials
in Rivers and Kano states, and documented 11 deaths specifically related to
violent interference in the election process during the February 23
presidential election and subsequent state elections.
It added: “The
national and state elections in February, March, and April 2019 contributed to
the general insecurity across the country. The politically related violence
reported in many states was in contrast to the relatively peaceful 2015
elections that brought Buhari into his first term in office. According to a
report by SBM Intelligence, which monitors sociopolitical and economic
developments in Nigeria, 626 people were killed during the 2019 election cycle,
starting with campaigns in 2018.
“Kano state, in
northwestern Nigeria, has the highest number of registered voters in the
country. Rivers state, in the Niger Delta, receives the largest share of
crude-oil-based national revenue, representing significant electoral value to
any political party. The history of elections in both states is replete with
violence by state security agencies and criminal elements.
“Human Rights Watch
focused its research on both states in view of projections and reports of
violence during the 2019 elections. Despite police claims of increased security
measures to ensure peaceful voting, there seems to have been little or no
police response to reports of threats and acts of violence by hired political
thugs and soldiers against voters and election officials, Human Rights Watch
found.
“Voters and
election officials said that policemen either fled or stood idly by, fueling
allegations of complicity, as perpetrators stole election materials, disrupted
voting, and harassed voters. Witnesses said that the police also shot live
rounds of ammunition and used teargas to disperse people protesting voting
disruptions.
“Witnesses said
that after a soldier was killed in the town of Abonnema, in Rivers state, on
election day, soldiers shot at residents, killing an unknown number of people.
They also carried out sweeping arrests and arbitrarily detained several
people.”
“The soldiers were
on a rampage, shooting at anyone around,” said a 37-year-old man who witnessed
the episode. “As I made my way to flee, I saw people dive into the river, many
with gunshot wounds. The next day I saw three dead bodies riddled with bullets
floating in the water… I heard many more bodies were later recovered from that
river.”
HRW noted that
“Banditry and the recurring cycles of deadly violence between herdsmen and
farmers appear to have taken the lives of thousands. According to civil society
reports, over 3,641 people have died from deadly clashes between herdsmen and
farmers since 2015 and at least 262 people have been killed by bandits since
the beginning of 2019 in Zamfara State alone. The government deployed 1,000
military troops to the state in response, but few of those responsible for the
violence have been arrested or held to account.
“The northeast
conflict with Boko Haram and its splinter groups also remains one of Buhari’s
pressing challenges. Although Boko Haram’s territorial control has shrunk to
small pockets of villages around Lake Chad as a result of sustained government
military action since 2015, the group continues to carry out attacks against
civilian and military targets in the region and in neighboring Niger, Cameroon,
and Chad.
“In recent months,
renewed fighting between Nigerian government forces and a faction of Boko
Haram, known as Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP), has led to
secondary displacement of civilians.
“Security forces
have been implicated in serious abuses, including arbitrary arrests, prolonged
detention without trial, torture, extrajudicial killings, rape and sexual
violence against women and girls in camps for displaced people. According to
the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA),
more than 27,000 civilians have died and about 1.8 million people have been
displaced since the beginning of the conflict in 2009.
“Authorities have
also failed to address impunity for killings by security forces elsewhere in
the country. The authorities have yet to publish the report of the Presidential
Judicial Panel set up in August 2017 to investigate the military’s compliance
with human rights obligations, allegations of war crimes, and other abuses by
the military.
“Nigerian voters
have entrusted Buhari with another opportunity to address the nation’s serious
human rights problems, including political violence,” Ewang said. “He should
start by reforming the security forces to ensure strict compliance with human
rights standards, and prompt investigation and prosecution of those credibly
implicated in abuses.”
On the 2019
election violence, HRW said: “Nigeria’s elections have historically been
fraught with controversy, violence, and other abuses, with the 2015 elections,
widely believed to have been largely free of violence, bucking this trend.
There were reports of voter intimidation and violence around the 2019 elections
at both the federal and state levels, including by armed men hired by candidates
and political parties and by security forces, including the national police.
“Bauchi, Benue,
Kano, Sokoto, Plateau, and Rivers states were particularly affected by violence
during the March 9 gubernatorial elections. The Independent National Electoral
Commission canceled elections in places where the elections were disrupted and
held supplementary elections later. Kano state had supplementary elections on
March 23, and Rivers state on April 13.
“Kano and Rivers
states were probably the worst hit of the six states. They were identified by
both local and international analysts ahead of the elections as holding great
potential for electoral violence. Both are major political strongholds for the
two leading political parties, Buhari’s ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)
and the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP). Abdullahi Ganduje of the
APC won the 2019 election in Kano, and Nyesom Wike of the PDP won in Rivers
state.”
Peter Obi, Nuhu Ribadu, others in presidential election tribunal as
hearing begins
The running mate to
the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Peter Obi is
currently present at the hearing session of the petition filed before
presidential election tribunal against the declaration of President Muhammadu
Buhari as the winner of the 2019 presidential election.
It would be
recalled that Obi ran a joint ticket with the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku
Abubakar in the 2019 presidential election.
Also present in the
court is a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, and a commissioner at the Independent National Electoral
Commission (INEC)
Wole Olanipekun
while moving an objection on the preliminary application filed by President
Buhari on his qualification said the application have been filed and served to
all parties involved in the matter.
But drama ensued
after a counsel who identified himself as Poland standing in for the Hope
Democratic Party announced his appearance over which attracted a vehement
objection to his claim.
However, President
of the Tribunal, Mohammed Lawal Garba further urged all parties involved to
privately sort out the issues of representation.
Garba also
announced that all preliminary applications pending before the court would be
heard on June 13.
Meanwhile, the
tribunal has just gone into the preliminary part of the substantive matter.
Lauretta Onochie reacts to #500m case against her, says Atiku is depressed, needs pills
Lauretta Onochie,
the social media aide to President Buhari, has replied former Vice President
Atiku Abubakar on his defamatory claim and demand of N500M.
Onochie dismissed
the letter from Atiku's lawyer, Mike Ozekhome(SAN), describing it as
a deliberate ploy to make her lose focus as the legal battle to unseat
President Buhari gets intense.
Atiku's lawyer,
Mike Ozekhome (SAN), had in a letter to Onochie on Sunday, demanded five
hundred million Naira, (N500m) and a written apology in six national and one
international daily, as well as on all social media platforms wherein the said
publication was made.
However, Onochie
has fired back in a statement on Facebook calling Atiku 'a depressed soul
in desperate need of his pill but whose aides would not tell him the truth for
the sake of their stomachs'.
In her words:“EVIL
SHALL NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE NOR SAY, ANYWHERE IN NIGERIA. Good morning Family
and Friends. Lauretta Onochie This is in no way responding to the depressed
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar whose aides are constantly cooking up disgrace for him,
for the sake of their stomachs, instead of giving him his pills.
This is to reassure
my PERSONAL PEOPLE who are concerned and have emailed, texted or called to know
if I’m fine that truly, I had the most hilarious day yesterday and that I am
very fine. I continue to laugh at the clowns who do not know what they are walking
into.
We are entering
into the most crucial time at the Election Tribunal where the mandate freely
given to our beloved President by Nigerians, is being challenged and I’m their
nightmare. In their thinking, “Let’s distract Lauretta Onochie. We can’t afford
to have her focused on her job”. Buhahahahahaha! I can’t be distracted. Truly I
can’t for very simple reasons. I have a great family that thinks the world of
me.
My friends are
fiercely loyal and committed because they know me. 34 million Buharists across
world are on standby. Always. I have the witness of a clear conscience. I love
Nigeria and her wellbeing is my focus. Its all good people. At the end of it
all, EVIL SHALL NO LONGER HAVE A VOICE NOR SAY, ANYWHERE IN NIGERIA. Thank you
my people and May God Bless You All.”
Between Atiku and Buhari: Appeal
Court president, Bulkachuwa asked to step down
A group, Access to Justice, on Sunday asked
President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa, to step down
from the Election Tribunal hearing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Atiku
Abubakar’s petition against the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari.
This was contained in a statement by its
Convener, Joseph Otteh.
The justice advocacy group said this had
become necessary as Bulkachuwa
is married to a Senator-elect on the platform of the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC), Mohammed Bulkachuwa.
Otteh’s statement read: “Of late, there have
been strong speculations that the Buhari government is heavily invested in
efforts to achieve the best possible outcomes from electoral courts in any
election litigation involving the ruling party through any means possible.
“Many believe this is the reason the
government worked hand in glove with the Code of Conduct Tribunal and removed
Justice Walter Onnoghen from office as Chief Justice of Nigeria applying
bizarre legal procedures. The dust has not settled from that incident.
“The Court of Appeal President, Hon. Justice
Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa is married to a Senator of the ruling APC and she has
not publicly denied this claim. We note that the Court of Appeal President is
not however sitting on an election petition involving her spouse personally but
that involving her spouse’s political party and platform.
“In ordinary circumstances, there would be no
question of whether the President of the Court of Appeal can, or should
participate in tribunals adjudicating election petitions involving her spouse’s
party. But these are no ordinary or normal times.
“The Nigerian judiciary is facing very
heightened levels of public scrutiny, and the performance of some judicial
bodies have raised red flags concerning judicial independence and integrity.
There are now far more than normal anxieties about the Judiciary’s strength of
character.
“Many keen observers of the Judiciary are
already worried that the Judiciary has been overawed by the government given,
particularly, the example of the bizarre way the removed Chief Justice Walter
Onnoghen was “guillotined” by a supposedly “judicial” body.
“Maybe at some time in the future, it will
not be a problem for a Justice of the Court of Appeal to adjudicate cases where
his or her significant other has some immediate or remote interest, but, at
this time, there will be conflicting perceptions, even of reasonable people,
given the prevailing context, of whether justice will impartially be done in
such a case.”
President Buhari to be
inaugurated on May 29th, not June 12th- Presidency
The Presidency has clarified that the
inauguration of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term will hold on May 29th and
not June 12th as is being speculated.
There have been reports that the inauguration
will hold on June 12th which the Federal government last year declared as
Democracy day.
However in an interview with Punch, the
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu,
said there is no truth to the report as President Buhari will be inaugurated
for his second term on Wednesday, May 29th.
“There is no truth in that report. As a
matter of fact, we will soon issue a statement on it to clear the air. The
President was inaugurated for his first term in office on May 29, 2015. He
ceases to be President on May 29, 2019, if he is not inaugurated for his second
term on that day. For the avoidance of doubt, there is no plan to shift
the President’s inauguration to June 12. The inauguration will hold on May
29. Those claiming that the inauguration will be shifted to June 12 are
only trying to cause confusion in the polity. It is not true.” Garba said.
Buhari last year changed the nation’s
Democracy Day from May 29 to June 12 of every year. A bill he sent to the
National Assembly to amend the nation’s Public Holidays Act has since
been passed into law. The declaration was part of the decision taken to
honour the winner of the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late
Chief M.K.O. Abiola.
Ozekhome Reveals What Buhari Is Trying To Do To Dino Melaye
Mike Ozekhome, the lawyer to embattled Senator Dino
Melaye, has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari administration is trying to
crush his opponents ahead of the 2019 elections, adopting strategies
reminiscent of Adolph Hitler’s Nazi regime.
Speaking to Channels Television on Tuesday, Ozekhome
claimed Melaye was abducted by the police with the aim of forcefully arraigning
him at a Federal High Court in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.
“It is a sad reminder of Hitler’s Gestapo strategies
of attempting to annihilate all opponents.
“Nigerians have to wake up to the realities of the
perilous times that we are now going through and more perilous times in the
days, the weeks, the months ahead because of 2019 elections,” Ozekhome said.
Hours after Senator Melaye’s arrest on Tuesday
morning by the police, he jumped from a moving police vehicle, injuring himself
in the process.
2019 Election: Buhari Has Failed And Should Not Seek Re-election - Olu Falae
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae,
has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has not
performed well.
Falae said he was expecting him not to seek re-election in 2019.
This was part of what he told journalists on Tuesday after he paid
a private visit to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at the Olusegun
Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
He said Buhari had failed in his primary responsibility of protecting
lives and property.
He said, “You know and I know that the present government has not done
well. The primary responsibility of government is to protect the lives of its
citizens. This government is not doing so. People continued to be killed and
slaughtered every night and any government that cannot stop that has failed.
“President Buhari is my friend. Once upon a time, you will recall that I
raised his hand at the Adamasingba Stadium in Ibadan, asking people to vote for
him because he said he would restructure Nigeria. So, it is not a personal
matter.
“The truth of the matter is that he has not done well and I was hoping
that he himself would look at the situation as a very honest and right thinking
person and do himself and us a favour by saying that in the light of what had
happened and giving the state of affairs, he was not going to contest. That’s
what I thought he would do but he didn’t do so.”
Fayose Media Aide, Olayinka Mocks Buhari's Appointment Of Keyamo As 2019 Election Campaign Spokesperson
Lere Olayinka, media aide to Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has
mocked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing human rights lawyer
Festus Keyamo, as his campaign spokesman ahead of the 2019 election.
Olayinka shared an image of Keyamo’s appointment letter on his page and
wrote alongside: “See who lied to PM May he’s not thinking of election o.
‘I have not declared interest to contest in 2019. I’m focused on handling
the security situation in Nigeria’ ~ Buhari to British Prime Minister Theresa
May.”
Keyamo confirmed his appointment in a tweet on Tuesday morning, posting
it along with an image of his appointment letter.
“With this letter below, I have just been appointed the Director,
Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson) for the President’s 2019
Presidential Campaigns. I will be making a formal statement on this much
later,” he wrote.
Buhari has declared his intention to run for the 2019 presidential
electio
The news drew mixed reactions from Nigerians
as some expressed gladness, while others criticized the president for making
such decision despite challenges facing the country.
2019 Election: Oba Okiolu Of Lagos Gives Buhari Condition
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu I, has said the only way the people of
Lagos will support President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term ambition is to
grant the state a special status.
Akiolu made the remarks while speaking yesterday, during the second
quarter of 2018 Town Hall Meeting with residents, at Apapa Amusement Park,
Lagos.
Akiolu in a reaction after the Senate rejected a bill to officially
recognize Lagos as Nigeria’s commercial capital in 2016 had blamed former
President Olusegun Obasanjo for Lagos not being granted a special status.
While restating the call yesterday, Akiolu said: “During the recent visit
of President Muhammadu Buhari to Lagos, I wanted to ask him that it was God and
All Progressives Congress, APC, that helped to bring him to power, and that he
must satisfy Lagos.
“I expected APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to ask him for
special status. I wrote to National Assembly that I want to present Lagos case
on the floor.”
He emphasised that President Buhari must reconsider the special status
for Lagos State for the state to deliver massive support for his second term in
2019 general poll.
Also speaking on 2019 general polls, Ambode stressed the need for
residents and eligible voters to obtain Personal Voter’s Card, PVC.
Ambode said: “I want to strongly appeal to all Lagosians, this coming
election is a different one. We want to define once and for all where the
population of Nigeria lies. So it is not just about APC or about any other
party. We want to use the PVC to send a message that the real population is in
Lagos State.
“So the duty of all of us is to say that before any census, there is one
census, the census of votes and that of PVC, becomes a finality that the real
population is in Lagos State. That is why we must encourage each and every one
of us to push ourselves if it is door-to-door or house-to-house, in our various
groups and unions to ensure that they go out and get our PVC.”
Omokri Blasts Buhari For Appointing Amaechi His Campaign DG
Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has alleged
that Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation may use his position to fund
President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.
He said this while reacting to the appointment of the former Rivers State
Governor as the Director General, DG, of Buhari’s re-election campaign.
Confirmation
of Amaechi as campaign DG came to the fore in a statement issued on Tuesday
by the Secretary of the campaign organisation, Mohammed Dattijo. He equally
announced the appointment of Mr. Festus Keyamo, SAN, as the official spokesman
of the Buhari Campaign Organisation.
However, Omokri wondered why Amaechi has not resigned as a Minister,
following his appointment as campaign DG.
In a tweet, on Tuesday, the former presidential aide maintained that
combining the two portfolios would amount to conflict of interest for Amaechi.
The tweet reads, “How can @ChibuikeAmaechi be DG of the @MBuhari
Reelection campaign as @MobilePunch reports and still retain his portfolio as
minister of transport?
“Is that not a conflict of interest? Would it not present opportunity for
Amaechi to use ministry funds for Buhari’s reelection?”
2019: Buhari's Second Term Declaration Will Not Tear APC Apart - Magnus Abe
The senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the
National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has declared that the All Progressives
Congress, APC, “will not implode” in 2019 following the declaration of
President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term.
Abe called on those thinking that the APC will fall apart over Buhari’s
declaration to rather organise themselves than criticise the party.
Abe, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, said: “Those people that
are still waiting for an implosion in the APC before they organise themselves,
I think they have already missed the boat.”
He saluted Buhari for declaring to run for a second term in office,
claiming that there was no person of consequence that could be compared to the
President in terms of pedigree.
“On the other side, there is no person of consequence to compare with the
pedigree of President Buhari that is visible on the horizon.
“As far as we are concerned, the APC is all set for 2019. The
announcement by the President means that barring the formalities that are still
left, there will hopefully be a formal declaration, and of course, we will have
a convention to pick the President as our candidate.
“Outside of those formalities, we now know who our candidate will be for
the 2019 election. Looking on the other side, there is no person of consequence
to compare with the pedigree of President Buhari that is visible on the
horizon,” he said.
2019 Presidency: I Will Disgrace Buhari - Baba-Ahmed
A Presidential aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and
former senator from Kaduna State, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has revealed what he
will do to President Muhammadu Buhari if he emerges the flag-bearer of the PDP.
Baba-Ahmed said it would be so easy for him to defeat and send Buhari
back to Daura, Katsina State if the PDP grants him the party’s sole ticket.
In a statement yesterday in reaction to Buhari’s declaration, Baba-Ahmed
said, “I have never been afraid of incumbency.
“I am a Nigerian and I am contesting on the same Electoral Act and the
Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, unless they are going to
violate it, which we shall challenge.
“Muhammadu Buhari is welcome to contest for the Presidency in 2019 and I
think it is a healthy practice to have a gentleman of his age, his mould and
people who have been in power for the past 50 years contest.
“But as for popularity, it is highly arguable. I think the support of
many Nigerians has been taken for granted.
“And I think the average Nigerian has now become more intelligent
politically and more aware. That political awareness is what I think leaders
who have been in power and think automatically that without people making
recourse, they will just endorse them and support them.
“That is the awareness that they are taking for granted. What I have
learnt in my few years in life is that never take people for granted.”
According to him, Buhari who only defeated his closest rival, Goodluck
Jonathan by 2.5 million votes in 2015, would not have a free ride in 2019.
He added, “Absolutely, he will not have it easy. Do not forget that
President Buhari had contested three elections and lost until a certain action
by the PDP made many members to exit the party and go to the APC, and made him
to win. APC is practically PDP.
“Even Buhari’s best, his very best, he won by only 2.5 million. Now, he
is in about his worst, with the economy on its knees, the insecurity, the
herdsmen issue that he has not attended to, the educational system and millions
of jobs lost, while the people’s awareness is on the increase.”
2019: Why Igbos Should Vote Buhari - SGF Boss Mustapha
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has
revealed why people of the South-East should support President Muhammadu
Buhari’s re-election bid.
The SGF said supporting Buhari’s second term bid was the “shortest way”
to Igbo presidency.
Mustapha said this while receiving a delegation of the Ebonyi State
chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Abuja, on Tuesday.
According to the SGF, with Buhari’s declaration, the APC needed to open
its doors to others.
He said, “Preach it to the other south-east states that the shortest way
to Igbo presidency is to support Buhari in 2019.
“This is the time to open your arms and your doors to even those that are
perceived as enemies, you must have a large heart to receive them.
“That is why Mr President himself specifically directed the party to
consider the provisions of waiver as provided for in our constitution. Why is
he saying that? It is because in this game there are no permanent enemies or
friends.
“The dynamics of politics can change and people that you perceive today
are not with you, will be with you tomorrow. So, your ability to receive them
with grace will determine whether they will feel welcome or isolated.”
2019 Presidency: Moghalu Kicks Against Buhari's Re-election Bid
A former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, Prof.
Kingsley Moghalu has reacted to declaration by President Muhammadu Buhari to
seek re-election.
Moghalu has earlier declared his intention to be President of Nigeria in
2019.
President Buhari had yesterday, during the National Executive Council
meeting of the APC made his intention
to seek reelection public.
The president’s declaration has been receiving knocks and approvals from
different political parties, governors amongst others.
Reacting to the recent development, Moghalu speaking to Punch said Buhari
does not deserve a second term based on his poor performance.
Moghalu said, “I do not think he deserves to be re-elected based on an
objective assessment of his failed performance.
“Nigerians deserve a very different kind of effective and inclusive
leadership that can unite the country and reverse the poverty that has made our
country the poverty capital of the world with the highest numbers of absolutely
poor people of any country.’’
2019 Pesidency: Kogi Gov., Yahaya Bello Speaks on Buhari Re-election Bid
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has pledged to support President
Muhammadu Buhari for second term.
President Buhari had yesterday, during the National Executive Council
meeting of the APC, made
known his intention to seek reelection.
Bello, in a statement signed by his Director General of Media and
Publicity, Mr Kingsley Fanwo assured Buhari of giving him more votes than the
state did in 2015.
The statement read, “I am a staunch supporter of Mr President and I am
proud to be associated with such a great leader and personality.
“We thank Mr President for listening to the voices of Nigerians who are
satisfied with his performance. Kogi people were the first to organize rallies
in different towns and cities to call on Mr President to seek re-election.
“As the leader of the state, I wish to assure Mr. President that my
people are solidly behind his policies of economic recovery, security and the
fight against corruption. Kogi will deliver to Mr President, more votes than
the state gave in 2015.
“We are going to focus on the economic recovery of our state and ensure
more people are empowered to become productive. That has been the mainstay of
our economic policies as a government.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has not lost his magic touch. He is a trusted
leader who the masses want as their President beyond 2019. But it is also
instructive for us to know that corruption will begin to fight back with renewed
vigor to stop the march of the masses. We shall triumph.
“The position of Mr President in Party congresses is a welcome development.
When a trusted leader speaks, followers believe him and toe the line of wisdom.
We must be united against people who know they have come to their political
dead ends.
“Today’s declaration of Mr President for second term has further
reinvigorated our belief that he will continue to make sacrifices for the
greatness of our nation”.
Mike Ozekhome, the lawyer to embattled Senator Dino
Melaye, has claimed that President Muhammadu Buhari administration is trying to
crush his opponents ahead of the 2019 elections, adopting strategies
reminiscent of Adolph Hitler’s Nazi regime.
A former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Olu Falae,
has said that the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration has not
performed well.
Lere Olayinka, media aide to Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has
mocked President Muhammadu Buhari for appointing human rights lawyer
Festus Keyamo, as his campaign spokesman ahead of the 2019 election.
The Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu I, has said the only way the people of
Lagos will support President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term ambition is to
grant the state a special status.
Reno Omokri, former aide to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan has alleged
that Rotimi Amaechi, Minister of Transportation may use his position to fund
President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election.
The senator representing Rivers South-East senatorial district in the
National Assembly, Senator Magnus Abe has declared that the All Progressives
Congress, APC, “will not implode” in 2019 following the declaration of
President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term.
Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has
revealed why people of the South-East should support President Muhammadu
Buhari’s re-election bid.
Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello has pledged to support President
Muhammadu Buhari for second term.
