Media Chat: Buhari Is A Tyrant, Says PDP

The Peoples Democratic Party alleged on Thursday that President Muhammadu Buhari’s responses at the Wednesday Presidential Media Chat were not only embarrassing but also further exposed his undemocratic character as an unrepentant tyrant who has no regard for the rule of law and the self-worth of Nigerian citizens.

The party, in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh in Abuja, also said the President confirmed his alleged partisanship in the much-vaunted war against corruption by openly absolving his ministers and party members of corrupt practices.

Metuh said the President’s attitude showed his true colours as unrepentant dictator.

He also said it was wrong for the President to have condemned those undergoing trial for alleged corruption.

He said, “Whilst we restate our respect for the person and office of the President, we note that President Buhari bared his true colours to the world as an unrepentant tyrant.

“Today, the world is no longer in doubt as to who is behind the prevailing recklessness, abuse of rights of citizens and outright flouting of judicial pronouncements by security agencies.

“A situation where the President openly pronounced persons facing trial guilty and sanctioned their continued incarceration despite being granted bail by the courts, presents a dangerous fascist practice obtainable only in totalitarian societies like Mussolini’s Italy, Hitler’s Germany, Idi Amin’s Uganda and General Than Shwe’s Burma.

“This extremely shocking dictatorial tendency being brazenly exhibited by the President in total disdain for our laws and judicial institutions portends great danger for our democracy and constitutionally-guaranteed rights of the people, and should be resisted by the citizens before it festers.

“The scorn for the principle of separation of powers, especially the independence of the legislature, is further manifested in the declared craving to regulate the funding and running of the National Assembly, a matter constitutionally vested outside the jurisdiction of the executive.

“We are most uncomfortable about his attempt at trying to whip up public sentiments against an independent arm of government, especially the one vested with the constitutional power of appropriation.”

Metuh added that with the pronouncements by the President, it might be necessary to suspend the application of the Constitution and allow the President to operate as maximum ruler for four years after which the nation can return to a democracy.

According to him,  “On the issue of the Chibok girls, President Buhari’s embarrassing declaration of seeking information on the whereabouts and state of the girls betrays an obvious insincerity which is in total conflict with his campaign promises in that regard.

“Thus by this declaration, our dear President has accepted failure on this issue and should therefore apologise to Nigerians for all the insults, abuse and aspersions cast on the past administration by himself and the leadership of his political party.”

On the issue of devaluation of the naira, Metuh said it was obvious that there was a conflict between the budget speech wherein the president stated that the government was assessing the foreign exchange rate with a view to attracting foreign investments and his categorical pronouncement during the media chat that the naira would not be devalued.

He said it was obvious that the president obviously “does not understand the currency that applies in the devaluation of the naira,”

He added that Nigerians were shocked by the President’s labeling them as ‘very difficult lot’ while responding to questions on the strategy to be adopted in implementing his promised N5,000 social welfare package.

He said, “This unhealthy portrayal of the citizens by the very father of the nation, who has remained unrelenting in de-marketing his country through unguarded statements, is indeed a great disservice to Nigeria and its international image.

“Consequently, we reject this negative labeling of our citizens and reiterate our confidence in them, especially the millions who remain honest, hardworking and credible.

“Finally, Nigerians must take copious note of the fact that the President gave no inspiring answers to questions pertaining to his campaign promises, the fight against insurgency and rescue of the Chibok girls, the poor state of the naira, sudden plunging of the economy under his watch, and the gradual loss of democratic rights and freedom.”

Source: The Punch

NIGERIA CAN ATTAIN GREATNESS – BOLA TINUBU

The new year presents a  chance for us to place this precious nation  on the right path. This path will not be easy as we must press to surmount obstacles that should have been laid behind us long ago. There are no short cuts to take to greatness, but there also is no reason that we cannot attain that greatness. Our new government offers the country its best chance.

Thus, we must dedicate ourselves to creating a more perfect nation, one built on justice, peace, unity and prosperity. We must join hands in common purpose to defeat insecurity, poverty and corruption and bring back prosperity.  Let us pledge never again to fall victim to these scourges. Let us pledge this year to walk together in strong unity.

May 2016 go down in history as the year Nigeria reached  a higher plain by conquering those things that for so long had set us back.

May this nation rise and become the standard for Africa and the black race that God intends it to be.

Bola Tinubu

APC’s "Mama Taraba" loses at Appeal Court

The Court of Appeal In Abuja has cancelled the purported victory handed Aisha Alhassan, by an election tribunal, as the governor of Taraba State.

Mrs. Alhassan, the candidate of the All Peoples Congress, was declared winner on November 7.

In doing so, the Taraba State Governorship Election Tribunal nullified the election of Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party.

But in its ruling Thursday, the Court of Appeal which reviewed Mr. Ishaku’s appeal, described as “unattainable” a petition by the APC seeking to disqualify Mr. Ishaku as the PDP candidate in the gubernatorial election of April 11.
In a unanimous ruling, a five-man panel led by Justice Abdul Aboki said that the Election Tribunal was wrong in giving victory to Mrs. Alhassan, while nullifying the election of Mr. Ishaku.

The judges said the constitution clearly states that unless a candidate has been indicted by a court of law, or is known to have a criminal record, or has certain degree of health condition, among others, such a person cannot be determined by a tribunal as not being qualified as a candidate.

Mr. Aboki said the failure of a party to conduct a conclusive primaries – the grounds the tribunal cited for disqualifying Mr. Ishaku – was clearly a pre-election matter which the tribunal has no jurisdiction on.

Mr. Aboki said the important question about Section 85 of the Electoral Act was whether the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, which the section was made for, was complaining about the candidature of Mr. Ishaku.

“If INEC does not see any reason to complain, can the first and second respondent be seen complaining loudly?” Mr. Aboki questioned.

“I have found in this case that the first and second respondent have no right to challenge the emergence of the PDP governorship candidate since none of them is a member of the PDP,” said Mr. Aboki.

Mr. Aboki also said that the election tribunal drew wrong conclusions from the evidences provided by the witnesses.

Mr. Aboki said the constitution does not provide for the type of judgement that gave victory to Mrs. Alhassan.

He said the constitution states that if a person is considered unqualified for an election, the election should be declared null and void.

In the event that the election is considered to have been affected by irregularities, the judge said the court shall not declare the person with the second highest votes winner, but can only demand a rerun of elections.

“It is therefore a gross misdirection in law on the part of the trial tribunal to declare the first petitioner as the winner of the election of April 2015 for emerging with the second highest votes”.

“The decision of the tribunal is hereby set aside,” said Mr. Aboki.

He upheld the decision of INEC to return Mr. Ishaku as the duly elected governor of the state.

The APC had argued that Mr. Ishaku could not have been qualified for the election since he allegedly did not partake in any primaries by his party.

Source: Premium Times

Abia Election: Appeal Court Declares Alex Otti Of APGA Winner

An Appeal Court has declared the candidate of the All Progressive Grand Alliance, Mr Alex Otti, the winner of the Abia State Governorship election.

The court in its ruling on Thursday ordered the swearing in of Mr Otti, as governor of Abia State and asked Mr Okezie Ikpeazu to vacate the office.

Mr Ikpeazu of the Peoples Democratic Party was declared winner of the election held in April by the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Details to come.

Source:http://www.channelstv.com/2015/12/31/abia-election-appeal-court-declares-alex-otti-of-apga-winner/

NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO THE NATION FROM PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Fellow Citizens,

Welcome to the beginning of a New Year of the continuation of CHANGE in our beloved nation.

I am aware that Nigerians have experienced a number of significant hardships over the past months. Living in the State House has not alienated me from your daily sufferings. I am aware of the lengthy queues at fuel stations and of the difficulties businesses have faced in acquiring foreign exchange. These challenges are only temporary; we are working to make things better.

When I presented myself to you as a presidential candidate and asked you to vote for me, I wanted to be a leader who keeps his promises. I wanted to be a leader who restores the people's hope in those elected to serve them. I wanted to be a leader who initiates positive and enduring CHANGE.

I am still totally committed to being that kind of leader. Unforeseen circumstances and other distractions notwithstanding, I shall still do my utmost best to keep every promise I made to Nigerians during my election campaign.

In the past seven months since our inauguration on May 29, 2015, my administration has focused on laying the right foundation for the CHANGE you voted for during our historic presidential election.

Nigerians will in due course begin to enjoy the fruits of all our ongoing work. The effective and efficient implementation of our 2016 budget proposals will address many of the socio-economic issues that are of current concern to our people.

One area in which Nigerians, especially those in the northeast, have already begun to experience major CHANGE is in the war on terror. 

I commend our Armed Forces for significantly curtailing the insurgency which has ravaged the northeast of Nigeria over the past few years.

However, there is still a lot of work to be done in the area of security. Our Armed Forces will maintain, consolidate and build on their successes in the war against Boko Haram and violent extremism.

This government will not consider the matter concluded until the terrorists have been completely routed and normalcy restored to all parts of the country that have been adversely affected by the Boko Haram insurgency.

Our crackdown on corruption will continue to be vigorously undertaken. I urge the courts to support our efforts and help in the recovery of stolen funds by speedily concluding trials and showing that impunity no longer has a place in our country.

There is much work to do in other areas as well and I have charged all my ministers and other appointees to ensure that Nigerians experience positive changes in their lives in 2016.

We must reduce our country's reliance on oil. We must diversify our economy. And we must do all we can to promote job creation.

Our challenges are many but our determination to succeed is strong and unshaken.

So too is our confidence in God.

I wish you all a very Happy New Year.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI

Wife pleads for mercy as ex-NSA is re-arrested

Former National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki’s health is bad, his wife has said, pleading for his freedom.

Mrs Dasuki created a scene at the headquarters of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) on Tuesday night when she begged top officials of the agency not to allow her husband die in custody.

She and other relations had waited patiently for Dasuki to meet the last peg of his bail conditions, a surety with about N250million property.

But immediately Dasuki was released at the prison, he was re-arrested by the DSS.

After several hours of trying to locate her husband, she returned to the DSS office and demanded for him or in the alternative, she should be locked up with him.

She reportedly said: “Nigerians should help me beg the Federal Government, the DSS and other agencies to release my husband who did his best to serve this nation. He is ill, he needs medical attention, he is not pretending. I implore the DSS not to allow him to die in custody.

“I saw my husband and I felt dejected. He is not just well. Nigerians should assist him to get a reprieve. We(myself, the children and relations) are all destabilised. We don’t know what is happening because three courts have granted him bail. Why are they after him? Let those concerned respect the court by releasing my husband.

“There is no way my husband will run away from the country under any guise. They should please follow the rule of law and uphold his right to bail.”

A source said Dasuki’s wife was allowed to see her husband.

“We have followed the rule of law , the ex-NSA is in safe custody. He was once in DSS custody and he was never maltreated and he had access to medicare,” the source said.

A judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Justice Peter Affen last Wednesday banned the EFCC from re-arresting Dasuki, ex-Minister Bashir Yuguda, former Director of Finance at the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) Shuaibu Salisu, Sagir Attahiru and former Governor Attahiru Dalhatu Bafarawa.

The order of the court followed the granting of the application for bail by counsel to the defendants, including Peter Akper (SAN); Ahmed Raji (SAN); Dr. J. O. Olatoke (SAN); H.O. Afolabi (SAN) and A.U Mustapha.

As at press time, all the accused persons were perfecting their bail conditions.

Those whose bail terms have been approved are Salisu; Bafarawa, ex-NNPC Executive Director Aminu Babakusa and others.

DSS operatives refused to allow Dasuki  to go home on bail even after he had perfected his bail consitions.

Counsel to Dasuki  Mr. Ahmed Raji (SAN)confirmed to PRNigeria that the former NSA had met all the bail conditions given by Justice Affem but regretted that the court order was not obeyed by the DSS.

Raji who perfected the bail condition of his client disclosed that the actions of the security agents was an affront to the rule of law.







Source: The Nation