The House of Representatives on Thursday called on President Buhari to immediately sign into law the bill which seeks to establish National Commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons with the view to curb the influx of illegal weapons into the country.
The lawmakers who gave the charge during the debate on a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by Nnenna Elendu-Ukeje also urged President Buhari to rescind the Executive Order which seeks to remove, revoke and banish all firearms certificates and licenses throughout the country.
In her lead debate, the lawmaker expressed grave concern over unabated insecurity challenges which led to the death of thousands of innocent citizens, resulting from terrorism, kidnapping, banditry and other violent crimes across the country.
She further noted that insecurity which was hitherto confined to the North East and North Central states have spread to the North Western States and all other parts of the country.
She equally noted that in response to the local and international outcry and concerns for Nigeria security situation, Mr. President signed an Executive Order to remove, revoke and banish all gun certificates and licenses throughout the federation.
Worried by the development, Elendu-Ukeje argued that the omnibus order targets legal gun owners and their guns without institutional actionable policy or plan to mop up small arms and light weapons that are at the center of these crimes.
According to her,
“the House is convinced that the high number of illegal guns is responsible amongst other factors for the increase in crime”.
Speaking in support of the motion, Hon Edward Pwajork said that the President should only go after those who go about with unlicensed weapons and those with valid licenses.
He said that the Executive Order signed by the President would only exacerbate the level of insecurity in the country.
Also in his contribution, Hon. Sunday Adepoju stated that the security agencies should ensure that all ammunition outside the legally licensed ones were recovered.
On his part, Hon. Pally Iriase, Deputy Chief Whip said that the insecurity in the land was so pervasive and so government should take proactive measures to address the challenge.
He noted that the cardinal objectives of governance “is the security of lives and properties” and added that the timing of the Executive Order was wrong.
Consequently, the House presided by the Speaker Hon. Yakubu Dogara put the matter to a voice vote which was overwhelmingly voted for by the lawmakers.
To this end, the House urged President Buhari to
“sign into law the Bill on the Establishment of a (National) Commission against the proliferation of small arms and light weapons which is not only a domestic law but also a treaty obligation so as to help curb the inflow of illegal weapons that had been used in the theater of wars.”
The Green Chamber also urged
“President Buhari to, in the interest of the Nigerian people who are left vulnerable to the activities of mindless criminals, terrorists, bandits, and kidnappers, to please reverse that decision as it strips the people of the rights to life and self-defense.”
President Muhammadu Buhari has sent greetings to Nigerians in general and Muslims in particular as they commence the month-long Ramadan fast.
The President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday, said the President’s greetings followed the sighting of the lunar month of Ramadan.
Buhari called for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the country.
According to the President, Islam is a religion of peace that upholds the values of tolerance and mutual coexistence without a place for hatred and violence.
He, therefore, urged Muslims to use the period to build a relationship of friendship and harmony with fellow citizens of other faiths.
The President prayed to Allah for the continued peace, progress, and the well-being of the country.
President Muhammadu Buhari has dismissed the reports that his London trip was to compile the list of persons to be appointed as ministers during his second tenure.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the president stated this on Sunday in Abuja after a 10-day private visit to London.
Buhari stated that he did not discuss the issue of the appointment of new cabinet ministers with anybody.
The president said:
“I didn’t discuss with anybody. So, I don’t know how they knew about it. I didn’t discuss it with anybody.’’
On the possibility of introducing a fresh approach in the fight against insurgency and banditry, the president maintained that the acting Inspector-General of Police was doing his best to curtail the menace.
“I have just seen the IG, I think he is losing weight; I think he is working very hard,’’ he said.
The president also declined comment on the kind of people that would constitute his next cabinet.
President Muhammadu Buhari has continued to receive congratulatory messages over his re-election from more African leaders and the United Kingdom.
Mallam Garba Shehu, President’s spokesman in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said, King Mohammed VI of the Kingdom of Morocco, in a message, described President Buhari’s victory as an affirmation of the level of confidence Nigerians have in their President.
The King promised to work with President Buhari to advance the interests of both countries.
‘‘Your re-election is a testimony to the level of confidence that you enjoy among the people of Nigeria, attributable to your wisdom, experience in politics, sense of engagement and devotion to the service and the protection of the interests of the country especially as they relate to the prosperity, wellbeing and security of your people.’’ King Mohammed VI said in his congratulatory message.
The monarch expressed satisfaction with the existing cordial and fraternal African relationship linking the two leaders, their people, and nations.
He reiterated his determination to work in concert with President Buhari to reinforce the mutually beneficial relationship between Morocco and Nigeria and to give it a new impetus to serve as a model on the African continent.
Also, President Alpha Conde of Guinea described the re-election of President Buhari as a dose of hope for the West African region.
Conde expressed confidence that the cordial relations between Nigeria and Guinea would continue to get better.
President Mahamadou Issoufou of Niger, who was the first leader to call President Buhari minutes after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him the winner of the 2019 presidential elections, said he looked forward to working with the Nigerian leader to further strengthen Nigeria-Niger relations.
Buhari has also received congratulatory messages from Presidents Nana Kofi-Addo of Ghana and Macky Sall of Senegal.
The UK Government has also congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari on securing a second term as president.
A statement from the British High Commission in Abuja on Wednesday, quoted the Minister of State for Africa, Harriett Baldwin, as saying “I offer my congratulations to President Buhari on securing a second term as the Nigerian President.
“The UK is a long-standing friend and partner of Nigeria and the Nigerian people and a stable and prosperous Nigeria benefits Africa and the world.”
Baldwin commended Nigerians for their resilience and commitment to democracy.
She said the results declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were consistent with the results obtained through the civil society Parallel Vote Tabulation process.
“Along with our international partners, the UK believes the Nigerian people can have confidence in the result.”
She, however, recognized the concerns expressed by Nigerians on the conduct of the electoral process, in particular logistics and results collation, and reports of intimidation of electoral officers.
The minister urged any party or individual who wished to challenge the process to do so peacefully and through the appropriate legal channel.
“We encourage Nigerian authorities to examine all allegations of wrongdoing carefully, and take the necessary action against individuals found responsible’’.
She also condoled with the families and friends of those who lost their lives in election-related violence.
“No one should die in the exercise of their democratic rights,” she stated.
She reiterated the continued support of the UK Government to Nigeria and its civil society
“in drawing lessons from these elections and strengthening its democracy”.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Wednesday declared President Buhari the winner of the 2019 Presidential Elections.
Barely four days to the presidential election, the apex northern sociocultural group, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has finally endorsed the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) President Muhammadu Buhari.
Addressing a press conference on Tuesday at the headquarters of the forum in Kaduna shortly after a meeting held under the Chairmanship of Malam Adamu M.Fika, Chairman Board of Trustees of the forum, the forum resolved that “ACF believes that President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term to consolidate on his achievements”.
The text of the briefing which was read by Alhaji Musa Liman Kwande Ag. Chairman NEC reads in parts; “ACF takes note of the state of the political situation as the nation goes into another round of elections, where tensions are heightened as a result of intense campaigns, lobbying, and horse-trading among political actors.
“ACF takes special note that major political parties have nominated prominent northerners, for the February 16th 2019 Presidential Elections. The Forum has carefully studied the antecedents of major presidential candidates, the manifestoes and policy documents of their parties, alongside the need for social, political and economic stability in the country.
“ACF is therefore, of the view that certain attributes such as clarity of thought, unity of purpose, content of character and morality of the candidates, their leadership qualities, performance and general acceptability of the candidates contesting for not only the office of the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria but also for other elective offices should guide voters in making their choices”.
The decision on who to elect should not be based on any form of inducements, mob hysteria, intimidation or false promises, but by calm and deliberate consideration of the candidates’ qualities of leadership, performance and moral standing in their public and private lives.
Furthermore, other considerations such as the capacity to tackle security challenges, fight corruption, and boost the economy by way of diversification away from over-dependence on oil, by infrastructural development in order to promote growth. The integrity of the candidate to raise the image of Nigeria in the comity of nations is equally important in the election.
“ACF notes, the strides were taken by the Buhari administration to improve and reposition the nation economically. A few examples are The multi-billion Dollar Mambilla hydropower project, the exploration of oil in Gongola Basin of the Benue trough, the Baro inland port, the North East Development Commission, the ongoing rail line projects nationwide, and other critical infrastructural development projects.
“Consequent upon the contributions of the incumbent government to the economic and infrastructural development of the nation, and the government’s achievements in combating insurgency and other insecurity problems bedeviling the country, ACF believes that President Muhammadu Buhari deserves a second term to consolidate on his achievements”.
ACF also called on the politicians and their supporters as well as the electorates to avoid all forms of violence before, during and after the elections, stressing that violence is never a solution to any grievances.
“Violence not only destroys our democratic process but also lives and property. Democracy is a contest of ideas and reasons” it further stressed.
ACF also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to live up its promise and assurances for a credible, free and fair elections.
The forum equally called on the Police and other security agencies involved in providing security to the election process to remain neutral and professional in their conduct.
Those who attended the meeting were Alh. Adamu Fika, Board of Trustee (BoT), Gen I. M Wushishi Chairman ACF leadership selection Committee, Alh. Musa Liman Kwande, Ag Chairman, Ambassador Adamu Muhammad, Deputy Chairman BoT, Senator Abubakar H. Girei Vice Chairman NEC, Anthony N .Z Sani Secretary-General, Engr Abubakar G. Umar Deputy Secretary-General and Alh. Muhammad Ibrahim National Publicity Secretary.
The Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN) says it will support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid.
The development is coming hours after Oby Ezekwesili, presidential candidate of the party, withdrew from the race.
Ezekwesili announced her decision to step down on Thursday, saying she would support a coalition that would wrest power from APC or PDP.
Speaking with journalists, Gani Galadima, national chairman of the party, said Ezekwesili only wanted to use the ACPN platform to negotiate to be finance minister.
The Cable reports that Galadima said the former minister did not show seriousness in her campaign.
“The reason for calling this press conference is to let the world know about the presidential aspiration of Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, which in actual fact, is not the truth. I have been put into confidence by one of her aide named Iyinoluwa Aboyeji that she only wanted to use the platform of the ACPN to negotiate to be Nigeria’s finance minister,” he said.
“This she does not deem fit to inform the party whose mandate she is holding. If you observe, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili is the only presidential candidate who was so militant in her campaign without any tangible thing on ground to indicate any seriousness in the prosecution of her campaign.
“No campaign secretariat, billboard or great commitment on ground to indicate any seriousness. It is on this ground that the ACPN is withdrawing support for her presidential aspiration and endorsing the second term bid of President Muhammadu Buhari to take Nigeria to the next level.”
Galadima said she did not inform the party of her decision to withdraw from the race.
He asked her to return to the party all the donations “from all over the world” because the party would have to account to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
“We may take her to court. She was just using us to play,” he said.
According to the chairman, the party’s fee for expression of interest and nomination form is N10.5 million but she only offered N100,000.
President Muhammadu Buhari and members of the Presidential Campaign Council of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday departed Abuja for Anambra and Enugu states in continuation of the nationwide re-election campaign.
The president would pay a courtesy visit to the Obi of Onitsha, in Anambra, inaugurate the Zik Mausoleum at the commercial city and later address APC rally in the state.
The Buhari administration completed the Zik Mausoleum in October 2018 after successive governments abandoned the project for over 20 years.
The president and members of the campaign team would later move to Enugu to launch the re-election bid and also deliver the ‘Next Level’ messages to the people of Enugu state.
While in Enugu, Buhari is expected to inaugurate the Post-Graduate Centre of Excellence built by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and donated to the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
The APC campaign train had on Wednesday visited Sokoto and Kebbi states where Buhari pledged to consolidate on the achievements of his administration in the areas of security, economy and fighting corruption.
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