Tag: President Buhari - Page 21 - African News Today

#EndSARS: Inside PMB’S Parley With Former Heads of State – Femi Adesina

30Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria

#EndSARS: Inside PMB’S Parley With Former Heads of State – Femi Adesina

It was very touching, poignant, as President Muhammadu Buhari met with all living former heads of state on October 23, 2020, to discuss the state of the nation. For about two weeks, the country had been suffused with unrest, later violence, precipitated by what began as legitimate protests against police brutality, code-named #EndSARS. In the words of the President, the protests were later “hijacked and misdirected “ by hidden hostile hands, who wanted to destabilize the country. Lives had been lost in scores, countless public and private properties burnt, there was murder and mayhem everywhere. So it was needful that all former leaders of the country meet to put heads together, and fashion pragmatic ways forward. All those who had ruled the country, and who were still ali...

If Nigeria Dies, Hatred Killed Her – Femi Adesina

23Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria

If Nigeria Dies, Hatred Killed Her – Femi Adesina

What a week it has been for our own dear native land! Just at the beginning of the month, as the country turned 60 as an independent entity, President Muhammadu Buhari had charged us to “begin sincere process of national healing, eliminate old and outworn perceptions that are always put to test in the lie they are.” What began about a fortnight ago as “genuine concerns and agitations” by Nigerian youths against the excesses of the Special Anti-robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police (SARS), has suddenly transmogrified into expressions of hate against the land, leading to murder, mayhem and arson. My sympathy and condolence to family and loved ones of the dead, irrespective of how they came to their unfortunate ends. How can what began as peaceful protests suddenly turn to incipient anarc...

#EndSARS: Full Text of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Address to the Nation

23Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security, Violence

#EndSARS: Full Text of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Address to the Nation

Fellow Nigerians, it has become necessary for me to address you having heard from many concerned Nigerians and having concluded a meeting with all the Security Chiefs. I must warn those who have hijacked and misdirected the initial, genuine and well-intended protest of some of our youths in parts of the country, against the excesses of some members of the now disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). On Monday 12th October, I acknowledged the genuine concerns and agitations of members of the public regarding the excessive use of force by some members of SARS. The choice to demonstrate peacefully is a fundamental right of citizens as enshrined in Section 40 of our Constitution and other enactments; but this right to protest also imposes on the demonstrators the responsibility to...

ASUU Strike: An End in Sight as Buhari Govt Agrees to Pay N30bn Earned Allowance

16Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Education, News, Nigeria, Youths

ASUU Strike: An End in Sight as Buhari Govt Agrees to Pay N30bn Earned Allowance

The President Muhammadu Buhari administration has agreed to release N30 billion to pay earned academic allowance to lecturers of universities. The allowance will be paid in tranches between May 2021 and February 2022. As part of the agreements reached to bring an end to the strike action, African News Today gathered that the FG also committed to spend N20 billion on revitalisation of the education sector. The agreements were reached during a meeting between the FG and leadership of ASUU on Thursday. Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige who spoke to journalists before the meeting said students were being lured into the #EndSARS peaceful demonstrations due ASUU strike. “We don’t take very great pleasure in the fact that the children who are supposed to be in school a...

16Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria

An Enemy of the People – Femi Adesina

For well over one week, the polity has been suffused with what President Muhammadu Buhari describes as “genuine concerns and agitations by Nigerians about the excessive use of force and in some cases extra-judicial killings and wrongful conduct by men of the Nigeria Police Force.” And in that period of time too, I have had strident efforts being made to position me as an enemy of the people. Very serious efforts by mean people, who are simply out to generate hatred and animus against other people, for no other reason than Luciferous and pernicious feeling of smug satisfaction. As a year two undergraduate at the then University of Ife in 1982, one of the texts recommended for us in English Literature class was Enemy of the Public by the Norwegian writer, Henrik Ibsen. I remember...

Comprehensive Police Reform an Answer to Police Brutality – Secondus

16Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

News, Nigeria, Security

Comprehensive Police Reform an Answer to Police Brutality – Secondus

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently implement comprehensive police reform as a lasting solution to incessant allegations of police brutality rather than merely disbanding the infamous Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus made the call after a closed-door meeting between the National Working Committee (NWC), and the Senate Caucus of the PDP, noting that the party stands by the five-point demands of the demonstrators against police highhandedness. “We have also discussed the issue of EndSARS and SWAT. We believe that comprehensive police and policing reforms will be an answer to police brutality. “We also endorse the five terms raised by the protesters. We also appeal to the governm...

Ondo is not Edo – Akeredolu Says as he Visits Buhari

14Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Elections, News, Nigeria

Ondo is not Edo – Akeredolu Says as he Visits Buhari

Urges Deputy, Ajayi to resign Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State on Tuesday aimed a subtle jab at the Peoples Democratic Party, saying that his victory at the governorship poll on Saturday proved that Ondo is not Edo. Akeredolu said this when he visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. He presented his certificate of return to the president after securing a second term in office, defeating his closest opponent Eyitayo Jegede of the PDP. Speaking to State House correspondent, Akeredolu said his victory was made possible by leaders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who presented a united front going into the election. He said, “We have gone to prove in Ondo that Ondo is not Edo. They were dreaming. Now, they must have woken from th...

SARS Disbandment only the First Step in Police Reform – Buhari

12Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Human Rights, Justice, News, Nigeria, Security

SARS Disbandment only the First Step in Police Reform – Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari addressed the nation on Monday amid the persistent nationwide peaceful demonstration against brutality and highhandedness of operatives of the disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad of the Nigeria Police Force. Buhari in a short clip posted on his official Twitter handle, @MBuhari, said the disbandment of SARS was only a first step to extensive police reforms, adding that major responsibility of the police was the protection of lives of the people. He added that his administration will ensure that all those responsible for wrongdoing are brought to justice. The President stated that an inquiry into the murder of a young man in Oyo State during the protests had been instigated. He said, “I will like to use this opportunity to say a word on the recent gen...

Atiku Abubakar Berates Buhari Over 2021 Proposed Budget

10Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Economy, Finance, News, Nigeria

Atiku Abubakar Berates Buhari Over 2021 Proposed Budget

Former Vice president Atiku Abubakar has taken a jibe 2021 budget proposal submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday. He said the N13.08 trillion 2021 budget proposal contravened the Fiscal Responsibility Act. The flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in the 2019 presidential election faulted the budget proposal in a statement released on Friday, titled “The 2021 Budget Proposal Contravenes the Fiscal Responsibility Act”. He said the N5.21 trillion budget deficit amounted to over 3,5 per cent of Nigeria’s 2019 Gross Domestic Product, GDP. The statement part read, “I call on the President, to recall this budget, and recalibrate it to reflect the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007, and the current economic realities ...

8Oct

By Obiajulu Joel NwoluNo Comments

Elections, News, Nigeria

Ondo2020: I Have no Doubt that Our Candidate is a Good Brand to Market- Buhari

Ahead of Ondo State governorship election on Saturday, President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed optimism that the All Progressive Congress (APC), candidate, Oluwarotimi Akeredolu will be re-elected. President Buhari gave the assurance yesterday while delivering a virtual speech at the grand finale of the APC governorship election campaign in Akure, Ondo State. He pledged that security personnel will discharge their duties credibly to provide a conducive atmosphere for a free and fair election. A host of APC stalwarts led by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo were at the Akure Township Stadium to drum support for the re-election of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. Buhari in his record speech rallied support for the party’s flagbearer, Akeredolu, saying that he deserves a second tenure so ...