Abuja — To underscore commitment to the on going reform in the power sector, the Federal Government yesterday announced that it has completed the signing of the World Bank Partial Risk Guarantees (PRGs) in support of the 450 megawatts Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant (IPP).
The deal was concluded on Friday, August 21, 2015. Parties to the agreement included the Federal Government represented by the Ministry of Finance and Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc (NBET); the World Bank in its role as the provider of the guarantees; the project sponsors represented by Azura Power West Africa Ltd (Azura); and various lenders represented by JP Morgan, Standard Chartered Bank, Rand Merchant Bank, Standard Bank; and Siemens Bank.
The execution of these World Bank Guarantees comes on the back of the release, earlier this month, of the Federal Government Solicitor General's Legal Opinion confirming the validity of the Put-Call Option Agreement that was signed last year by the Federal Government, NBET and Azura Power.
The Guarantees comprise a Debt Mobilisation Guarantee (capped at USD $117 million) and a Liquidity Guarantee (capped at USD $120 million).
The combined value of these Guarantees serves to leverage a total investment in the Azura power plant of more than $900 million made by a set of 20 international banks and equity finance institutions drawn from nine different countries.
The Azura-Edo IPP, which is located on the outskirts of Benin City, comprises an open cycle gas turbine power station; a short transmission line connecting the power plant to a local substation and a short underground gas pipeline connecting the power plant to the country's main gas-supply.
The first phase of the plant, which is targeted to come on stream in 2018, is forecast to create over 1,000 jobs during its construction and operation.
The Azura project played a path-breaking role by helping to set the contractual framework for the development of other, large-scale IPPs, several of which will also benefit from the World Bank's PRG programme.
Thus, last Friday's execution of the Azura PRG Agreements represents a major milestone in the evolution of the Nigerian electricity market and provides an exemplary illustration of the commitment shown by the President Muhammadu Buhari - led administration to accelerating investment in the country's power sector.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said: "This landmark development confirms the Buhari administration's commitment to the continuation of the power sector reforms which is anchored on attracting private sector investments, and establishing and supporting institutions that are critical to the reforms.
The Federal Government will continue to strengthen NBET, NERC and the Transmission company in furtherance of the reforms. I want to thank the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for his personal leadership leading to the conclusion of these agreements.
I also wish to express my gratitude to our sister agencies especially the Ministries of Finance and Justice for their support and the World Bank for its partnership.
I commend NBET for a job well done." He stressed that the NBET also known as the Bulk Trader, was established as a special purpose vehicle for carrying out, under licence from NERC, the bulk purchase and resale function contemplated by the 2005 Electric Power Sector Reform Actor (EPSRA).
He added that NBET has a robust capitalisation from the Federal Government of Nigeria and is the Federal Government's anchor agent for World Bank and African Development Bank guarantees within the power sector.
NBET purchases electricity from the generating companies through Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) and sells to the distribution companies through vesting contracts.
Source: allafrica.com
Friday, 4 September 2015
Thursday, 3 September 2015
GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S SPEECH TO APC DELEGATES AT THE CONVENTION 2014.
The former Head of the State General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) is one of five persons aspiring for the Presidential ticket at the 3rd National Convention of All Progressives Congress (APC). In his speech at the APC’s presidential primary Buhari said that what Nigeria needs is change. Read what else he promised Nigerians:
“My Dear Delegates,
As you gather for our convention, please remember that history, change and the hopes of Nigeria are there with you. They are there to ask you to perform according to your best judgment and patriotic conscience. I also ask you to do the same.
We seek a new Nigeria. It starts with us. It starts today. I have placed myself before you seeking your help to nominate me as your standard bearer for our progressive party, APC.
Personal ambition does not drive me in this regard. I seek to be the next president of our beloved nation because I believe I have something to offer Nigeria at this time of multiple crises. Insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low. Time is past due that we work together to lift Nigeria up. I am ready to lead Nigeria to its rightful future.
READ ALSO: Why Buhari Would Be A Good President
I have always served Nigeria to the best of my ability. I have always tried to give more to the nation than it has given me. This is the principle of service that has guided my public life. Thus, I am not a rich person. I can’t give you a fistful of dollars or naira to purchase your support. Even if I could, I would not do so. The fate of this nation is not up for sale.
What I will give you, and this nation is all of my strength, commitment, sweat and toil in the service of the people. What I can give you is my all.
The PDP has been in power much too long for the little good it has done. For the past six years, Nigeria has walked backwards carrying the weight of PDP’s incompetence on its shoulders.
Due to its broken leadership, Nigeria has been afflicted by a strange illness. We are a great nation riddled by endless crises. Instead of resolving problems, this government multiplies and manufactures them.
PDP cannot stand before us and say things have gotten better under its direction. It has only gotten worse and it’s now time for change.
PDP’s government may say that it needs more time – that what we need now is continuity – but we do not.
What we need now is change!
I know what it takes to achieve real change – I have led our nation before – in times almost as unhappy as these.
I know that to solve our problems we need real leadership, not warm words and empty promises. A leader needs integrity and strength – and an unbending commitment to do what is right.
I know that leaders must not just mouth words about change – they must embody it in their lives and their values.
My love for Nigeria is writ large across my heart and I have spent a lifetime in the service of its people.
READ ALSO: Why Buhari Is Not Good For Presidential Seat
Through a long career trying to build a better country for my fellow Nigerians in offices both high and low I have always tried to place my country before myself.
While some who have occupied those same positions have grown mysteriously rich, I still live on my army pension. I own no foreign bank accounts, I own no companies profiting from government contracts.
Why then do I seek office, if not for myself? While others might prefer to stay at home watching their grandchildren grow and live the battle to others I still see injustices that need to be righted and I still dream of a New Nigeria.
I am what you see before you – a simple man who believes in serving both God and his country. A man who is impatient for change, who loves Nigeria and seeks to serve it once again.
When I last led this nation I launched a War against Indiscipline – today, I pledge a Battle for Hope.
A battle against the dark forces of corruption and despair that have held our nation hostage to their greed for too long.
We simply cannot afford four more years of PDP’s corruption and the corrosive cynicism that it has bred.
The time for hope, the time for belief, is now.
You cannot trust the corrupt to end corruption.
You cannot trust the selfish and self interested to rule in the best interests of the people.
You cannot trust those who believe hope is a tool of government rather than a human right to plant the seed of belief.
Let’s be clear. This is not a time for continuity. Failure does not deserve continuity. Incompetence does not deserve continuity.
It deserves change; that is what the nation deserves and that is what we will bring.
Make no mistake – as is always the case for those who seek to bring change, it will not come easy.
And today I ask for your votes and support as I make these five pledges to the nation:
I will honestly govern Nigeria in accord with the constitution and rule of law.
I will bring all resources necessary to end poverty through ending corruption, promoting broadly-shared economic growth, investing in our country and creating jobs.
I will tolerate no religious, regional, ethnic or gender bias.
READ ALSO: Goodluck Jonathan Picks Sambo As His Running Mate
I will return Nigeria to a position of international respect through active and wise foreign policy.
I will select the best Nigerians for posts in my government.
I do not intend to rule Nigeria. I want to democratically govern it with your help. I seek a Nigeria where Christians and Muslims may practice their faiths in peace and security; a Nigeria that is just and where corruption no longer trespasses into our institutions and national behavior and a Nigeria where our diversity could be used for our national prosperity.
Nigeria is our home. Let us now turn it into the great nation we know it can and should be.
I thank you all
General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR”
“My Dear Delegates,
As you gather for our convention, please remember that history, change and the hopes of Nigeria are there with you. They are there to ask you to perform according to your best judgment and patriotic conscience. I also ask you to do the same.
We seek a new Nigeria. It starts with us. It starts today. I have placed myself before you seeking your help to nominate me as your standard bearer for our progressive party, APC.
Personal ambition does not drive me in this regard. I seek to be the next president of our beloved nation because I believe I have something to offer Nigeria at this time of multiple crises. Insecurity, corruption, and economic collapse have brought the nation low. Time is past due that we work together to lift Nigeria up. I am ready to lead Nigeria to its rightful future.
READ ALSO: Why Buhari Would Be A Good President
I have always served Nigeria to the best of my ability. I have always tried to give more to the nation than it has given me. This is the principle of service that has guided my public life. Thus, I am not a rich person. I can’t give you a fistful of dollars or naira to purchase your support. Even if I could, I would not do so. The fate of this nation is not up for sale.
What I will give you, and this nation is all of my strength, commitment, sweat and toil in the service of the people. What I can give you is my all.
The PDP has been in power much too long for the little good it has done. For the past six years, Nigeria has walked backwards carrying the weight of PDP’s incompetence on its shoulders.
Due to its broken leadership, Nigeria has been afflicted by a strange illness. We are a great nation riddled by endless crises. Instead of resolving problems, this government multiplies and manufactures them.
PDP cannot stand before us and say things have gotten better under its direction. It has only gotten worse and it’s now time for change.
PDP’s government may say that it needs more time – that what we need now is continuity – but we do not.
What we need now is change!
I know what it takes to achieve real change – I have led our nation before – in times almost as unhappy as these.
I know that to solve our problems we need real leadership, not warm words and empty promises. A leader needs integrity and strength – and an unbending commitment to do what is right.
I know that leaders must not just mouth words about change – they must embody it in their lives and their values.
My love for Nigeria is writ large across my heart and I have spent a lifetime in the service of its people.
READ ALSO: Why Buhari Is Not Good For Presidential Seat
Through a long career trying to build a better country for my fellow Nigerians in offices both high and low I have always tried to place my country before myself.
While some who have occupied those same positions have grown mysteriously rich, I still live on my army pension. I own no foreign bank accounts, I own no companies profiting from government contracts.
Why then do I seek office, if not for myself? While others might prefer to stay at home watching their grandchildren grow and live the battle to others I still see injustices that need to be righted and I still dream of a New Nigeria.
I am what you see before you – a simple man who believes in serving both God and his country. A man who is impatient for change, who loves Nigeria and seeks to serve it once again.
When I last led this nation I launched a War against Indiscipline – today, I pledge a Battle for Hope.
A battle against the dark forces of corruption and despair that have held our nation hostage to their greed for too long.
We simply cannot afford four more years of PDP’s corruption and the corrosive cynicism that it has bred.
The time for hope, the time for belief, is now.
You cannot trust the corrupt to end corruption.
You cannot trust the selfish and self interested to rule in the best interests of the people.
You cannot trust those who believe hope is a tool of government rather than a human right to plant the seed of belief.
Let’s be clear. This is not a time for continuity. Failure does not deserve continuity. Incompetence does not deserve continuity.
It deserves change; that is what the nation deserves and that is what we will bring.
Make no mistake – as is always the case for those who seek to bring change, it will not come easy.
And today I ask for your votes and support as I make these five pledges to the nation:
I will honestly govern Nigeria in accord with the constitution and rule of law.
I will bring all resources necessary to end poverty through ending corruption, promoting broadly-shared economic growth, investing in our country and creating jobs.
I will tolerate no religious, regional, ethnic or gender bias.
READ ALSO: Goodluck Jonathan Picks Sambo As His Running Mate
I will return Nigeria to a position of international respect through active and wise foreign policy.
I will select the best Nigerians for posts in my government.
I do not intend to rule Nigeria. I want to democratically govern it with your help. I seek a Nigeria where Christians and Muslims may practice their faiths in peace and security; a Nigeria that is just and where corruption no longer trespasses into our institutions and national behavior and a Nigeria where our diversity could be used for our national prosperity.
Nigeria is our home. Let us now turn it into the great nation we know it can and should be.
I thank you all
General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR”
GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI'S NINE POINT AGENDA
Thursday, 16 October 2014
FORMER head of state General Muhammadu Buhari has come up with a nine-point plan to salvage Nigeria which he said will serve as his blueprint if elected to the presidency kind of similar to President Goodluck Jonathan's Transformation Agenda.
Published yesterday at Eagle Square Abuja where General Buhari launched his 2015 presidential election campaign, the agenda was portrayed as the solution to end the ongoing rot in the country. With the declaration, General Buhari is now an official candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket and will be standing when the party holds its primaries.
Attracting a large turnout of supporters and associates including several senior party officials, the declaration appeared to have the backing of the APC hierarchy. Although party leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was absent, his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and many other senators from the southwest were present.
Four APC governors including Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Tanko al-Makura of Nasarawa State were present. Among senior party officials at the venue were the national vice chairman, northeast, Pastor David Lawal and the APC national secretary Mai Mala.
Senate minority leader and former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume led the National Assembly delegation that included several senators and members of the House of Representatives. Also in attendance was the younger brother of late President Umaru Yar‘Adua, Col Abdulaziz Yar‘Adua and a former member of the House of Representatives and Zilani Ibrahim.
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s declaration earlier on in the day was more serene but a source in his campaign said he chose not to invite party officials and governors in order not to compromise them. General Buhari’s declaration served as an opportunity for several governorship and senatorial aspirants from hoping to ride on his coattails to showcase their aspirations.
General Buhari's nine-point agenda included:
*Protection of lives and property
*Pursuing economic policies for shared prosperity and immediate attention on youth employment
*Quality education for development, modernity and social mobility
*Agricultural productivity for taking millions out of poverty and ensuring food security.
*Reviving industries to generate employment and “make things” not just to remain hawkers of other peoples’ goods
*Developing solid minerals exploitation which will substantially attract employment and revenue for government
*Restoring honour and integrity to public service by keeping the best and attracting the best.
*Tackling corruption which has become blatant and widespread. The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption. Nigeria is a country where stealing is not corruption
*Respecting the constitutional separation of powers among the executive, legislature and judiciary and respecting the rights of citizens
Former Bayelsa State governor Timpre Sylva, said: “Buhari is not in this race for himself. He is in this race because of us, the younger people.
"We are very happy that he has decided to come out of retirement to help us stabilise this country so that you and I, the younger ones can carry on with the development of this great nation. And people even say General Buhari is too old, to them, I will only quote the words of the former president of America, late President Ronald Regan who said we are not going to make age an issue in this campaign because we do not want to be accused of taking advantage of the inexperience of our opponent.”
Former People's Democratic Party chairman Audu Ogbeh, who introduced the aspirant said that General Buhari was not the religious bigot that he has been sometimes depicted to be by political rivals. Noting General Buhari’s links with many Christians, Dr Ogbeh described those who made such claims as enemies of Nigeria who did not mind dividing Nigeria along religious lines.
FORMER head of state General Muhammadu Buhari has come up with a nine-point plan to salvage Nigeria which he said will serve as his blueprint if elected to the presidency kind of similar to President Goodluck Jonathan's Transformation Agenda.
Published yesterday at Eagle Square Abuja where General Buhari launched his 2015 presidential election campaign, the agenda was portrayed as the solution to end the ongoing rot in the country. With the declaration, General Buhari is now an official candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential ticket and will be standing when the party holds its primaries.
Attracting a large turnout of supporters and associates including several senior party officials, the declaration appeared to have the backing of the APC hierarchy. Although party leader Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was absent, his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and many other senators from the southwest were present.
Four APC governors including Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Tanko al-Makura of Nasarawa State were present. Among senior party officials at the venue were the national vice chairman, northeast, Pastor David Lawal and the APC national secretary Mai Mala.
Senate minority leader and former governor of Benue State, Senator George Akume led the National Assembly delegation that included several senators and members of the House of Representatives. Also in attendance was the younger brother of late President Umaru Yar‘Adua, Col Abdulaziz Yar‘Adua and a former member of the House of Representatives and Zilani Ibrahim.
Former vice president Atiku Abubakar’s declaration earlier on in the day was more serene but a source in his campaign said he chose not to invite party officials and governors in order not to compromise them. General Buhari’s declaration served as an opportunity for several governorship and senatorial aspirants from hoping to ride on his coattails to showcase their aspirations.
General Buhari's nine-point agenda included:
*Protection of lives and property
*Pursuing economic policies for shared prosperity and immediate attention on youth employment
*Quality education for development, modernity and social mobility
*Agricultural productivity for taking millions out of poverty and ensuring food security.
*Reviving industries to generate employment and “make things” not just to remain hawkers of other peoples’ goods
*Developing solid minerals exploitation which will substantially attract employment and revenue for government
*Restoring honour and integrity to public service by keeping the best and attracting the best.
*Tackling corruption which has become blatant and widespread. The rest of the world looks at Nigeria as the home of corruption. Nigeria is a country where stealing is not corruption
*Respecting the constitutional separation of powers among the executive, legislature and judiciary and respecting the rights of citizens
Former Bayelsa State governor Timpre Sylva, said: “Buhari is not in this race for himself. He is in this race because of us, the younger people.
"We are very happy that he has decided to come out of retirement to help us stabilise this country so that you and I, the younger ones can carry on with the development of this great nation. And people even say General Buhari is too old, to them, I will only quote the words of the former president of America, late President Ronald Regan who said we are not going to make age an issue in this campaign because we do not want to be accused of taking advantage of the inexperience of our opponent.”
Former People's Democratic Party chairman Audu Ogbeh, who introduced the aspirant said that General Buhari was not the religious bigot that he has been sometimes depicted to be by political rivals. Noting General Buhari’s links with many Christians, Dr Ogbeh described those who made such claims as enemies of Nigeria who did not mind dividing Nigeria along religious lines.
TIME TO REBUILD NIGERIA: ACCEPTANCE SPEECH BY GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI, GCFR, PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE OF THE APC.
Time to rebuild Nigeria".
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress
National leaders of the APC
Members of the National Executive Council of the APC
Your Excellencies, State Governors
Distinguished Senators
Honourable Members of the House of Representatives and Assemblies
The Chairman and Members of the Convention Committee
State and Local Government Chairmen of the APC
Distinguished Delegates
Members of the Press
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
acceptance:
1. First of all, I wish to express my gratitude to the Chairman and members of the Convention Committee for planning and conducting a hitch-free convention. The same appreciation goes to the chairmen of National and State Executive Councils of our party. Thank you very much for doing an excellent job.
2. I would like to pay tribute to Chief Bisi Akande the first chairman of APC and his National Executive for managing the party in its early stages.
3. I also wish to commend Lagos State Government and state party for hosting this convention. Time was when people feared to come to Lagos. Today, Lagos is the cleanest and dare I say safest city in Nigeria. This achievement is due to the leadership and strength of purpose of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Babatunde Fashola the two Governors since 1999 and their team of professionals for this wonderful transformation Nigeria greets you!
4. The outcome of the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress is a demonstration of democracy at work. It is testimony to the fact that democracy as a concept is greater than the interests of individuals in a free and functional political system. What has just happened is not about winning or losing but about the triumph of liberty, freedom of choice and association, which are hallmarks of democracy.
5. To my fellow contestants; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah, I wish to thank you for putting up a good fight. The keenly contested primaries we just had will help to strengthen our party and democracy, and ultimately send our message to Nigerian voters in the impending elections.
6. To you all, I pay my absolute compliments and congratulate you on the success of your respective campaigns. I extend my gratitude to you all for accepting the outcome of this convention and agreeing to support my candidature as we move forward. I shall meet with you all in the coming days to fashion out how we shall confront the challenge ahead.
7. My dear fellow countrymen and women, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand before you today to accept the nomination of my party, the All Progressives Congress to be its candidate and flag-bearer in 2015 presidential elections.
8. My nomination is not because I am better than any of the other contestants. I see it as a tribute and mark of confidence to carry the torch as we all join hands to rescue our dear country Nigeria, from those who have led us into the current state of insecurity, poverty, sectarian divide and hopelessness among our people.
9. I stand before you today to ask that you join me in a common cause. My call to you is not to realise the personal fulfilment of one man. This Common Cause is nothing less than the love for our nation and concern for its present condition. And a resolve to make things better for Nigeria.
10. What I say today is for all Nigerians: Christian and Muslim, Southern and Northern, rich and poor, young and old, man and woman. We are all citizens of Nigeria. There is no dividing line among us that I care to honour. Either we advance as one or fail altogether.
11. My choice and my colleagues choice and wish is that we progress together. Preserving the nation’s future is a scared obligation to all of us in this party. Leaders should be wholly committed to fulfilling this obligation otherwise they have no business being leaders.
12. Sadly, the current administration does not believe in this obligation. By their actions they are leading us to calamity.
13. At International Conferences, the Nigerian delegation is usually among the largest but at the same time the least effective. Our president should have the status and the voice of Africa's largest nation. But in political influence we are among the weakest.
14. Shall we at home continue to live in a condition where the Power Holding Company and its successors seem only to have the power to hold us in darkness?
15. Shall we continue in a situation where 250 of our daughters have been abducted and the government has been unable to rescue them or provide credible information about what steps they are taking?
16. Shall we live in a nation where several people were trampled to death in search of jobs in a stadium and yet no one has taken responsibility for the tragedy?
17. Shall we live in a nation where the ranks of the poor swell and their poverty increase while the consorts of the powerful enjoy unprecedented wealth? The lives of the poor are bled dry while those of the powerful soak in excessive abundance.
18. My answers to these questions are “No, No, No, No!”
19. It is time to close this demeaning chapter in our nation’s history.
20. I ask that you join this effort, not for me, but to establish a better land for all of us.
21. I understand and accept the hard challenge ahead. When all is said and done, let it be written that Muhammadu Buhari gave his all for this nation.
22. As such, I make these five pledges regarding the government if we are elected next February;
a. We will govern Nigeria honestly, in accordance with the constitution.
b. We will strive to secure the country and efficiently manage the economy.
c. We will strive to attack poverty through broadly-shared economic growth and attacking corruption through impartial application of the law.
d. We will tolerate no religious, regional, ethnic or gender bias in our government.
e. We will return Nigeria to a position of international respect through patriotic foreign policy.
f. We will choose the best Nigerians for the right jobs.
23. Our government will be committed to the cause of the common man. Whether you are a Christian from Bayelsa State or a Muslim from Katsina State, you are first and foremost a Nigerian in my eyes. I shall treat you equally as my people, my national family, my brothers and sisters. There can be no genuine love of our country without loving all its people in our diversity.
24. Just as APC stands as a new party for a new Nigeria, our government will institute new policies to realise the new Nigeria.
25. We shall institute just policies that afford people the dignity of work and pay them a living wage for their sweat and toil. We intend to do this by instituting a national industrial policy, coupled with a national employment directive, that together shall revive and expand our manufacturing sector, creating jobs for our urban population and decreasing our reliance on expensive foreign imports.
26. We shall implement a national infrastructure master plan that will provide construction and related jobs across the land. Furthermore, by improving our transportation infrastructure through road, rail and port construction we expand the outer bounds of economic growth as no economy can grow beyond the capacity of its infrastructure.
27. Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy. Our government, when elected, will establish an agricultural policy that provides farmers a dignified living through improved inputs, improved extension services, access to credit and price support mechanisms.
28. On corruption, the government will enhance EFCC's powers to investigate independently. Moreover, we intend to plug the holes in NNPC accounting. There will no longer be two sets of books, one for public consumption and another for insiders who profit from this slick fraud. In an APC government, the public will know how much NNPC makes and where all the money goes.
29. No longer shall illegal flows of massive sums leave these shores to finance other economies. While our people languish in poverty, we effectively give financial aid to nations that is not justified. I am sick of this. It must stop. The money saved will finance jobs, health care and the provision of social safety net for the needy, weak and vulnerable of our land.
30. We will be a compassionate government, for out of compassion arises the truest forms of wealth and progress a society can attain. We shall open the door to tertiary education to excellent students who otherwise could not afford it. Pregnant and poor women and children shall be entitled to basic health care.
31. This is a Nigeria that I envisage but it is a far cry from the Nigeria that is now. Change is imperative if we are to avoid the impending national failure. Poor leadership placed us in the ditch. Continuation of poor leadership will only dig a deeper trench for all of us to fall in.
32. Let us join hands in progressive union to pull each other and the nation from the abyss.
33. I pledge to do my utmost to make this happen but cannot do it alone. I need your support. I need your help to become President of Nigeria so that government may come to serve you, so that it may bring relief to the broken and weary among us and so that it may usher in a new Nigeria meant for us all, a Nigeria that is the birthright of everyone but the exclusive possession of no one.
God bless you.
God bless our fatherland – Nigeria
Thank you.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress
National leaders of the APC
Members of the National Executive Council of the APC
Your Excellencies, State Governors
Distinguished Senators
Honourable Members of the House of Representatives and Assemblies
The Chairman and Members of the Convention Committee
State and Local Government Chairmen of the APC
Distinguished Delegates
Members of the Press
Invited Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
acceptance:
1. First of all, I wish to express my gratitude to the Chairman and members of the Convention Committee for planning and conducting a hitch-free convention. The same appreciation goes to the chairmen of National and State Executive Councils of our party. Thank you very much for doing an excellent job.
2. I would like to pay tribute to Chief Bisi Akande the first chairman of APC and his National Executive for managing the party in its early stages.
3. I also wish to commend Lagos State Government and state party for hosting this convention. Time was when people feared to come to Lagos. Today, Lagos is the cleanest and dare I say safest city in Nigeria. This achievement is due to the leadership and strength of purpose of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Chief Babatunde Fashola the two Governors since 1999 and their team of professionals for this wonderful transformation Nigeria greets you!
4. The outcome of the presidential primaries of the All Progressives Congress is a demonstration of democracy at work. It is testimony to the fact that democracy as a concept is greater than the interests of individuals in a free and functional political system. What has just happened is not about winning or losing but about the triumph of liberty, freedom of choice and association, which are hallmarks of democracy.
5. To my fellow contestants; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Owelle Rochas Okorocha and Mr. Sam Nda Isaiah, I wish to thank you for putting up a good fight. The keenly contested primaries we just had will help to strengthen our party and democracy, and ultimately send our message to Nigerian voters in the impending elections.
6. To you all, I pay my absolute compliments and congratulate you on the success of your respective campaigns. I extend my gratitude to you all for accepting the outcome of this convention and agreeing to support my candidature as we move forward. I shall meet with you all in the coming days to fashion out how we shall confront the challenge ahead.
7. My dear fellow countrymen and women, it is with a deep sense of humility that I stand before you today to accept the nomination of my party, the All Progressives Congress to be its candidate and flag-bearer in 2015 presidential elections.
8. My nomination is not because I am better than any of the other contestants. I see it as a tribute and mark of confidence to carry the torch as we all join hands to rescue our dear country Nigeria, from those who have led us into the current state of insecurity, poverty, sectarian divide and hopelessness among our people.
9. I stand before you today to ask that you join me in a common cause. My call to you is not to realise the personal fulfilment of one man. This Common Cause is nothing less than the love for our nation and concern for its present condition. And a resolve to make things better for Nigeria.
10. What I say today is for all Nigerians: Christian and Muslim, Southern and Northern, rich and poor, young and old, man and woman. We are all citizens of Nigeria. There is no dividing line among us that I care to honour. Either we advance as one or fail altogether.
11. My choice and my colleagues choice and wish is that we progress together. Preserving the nation’s future is a scared obligation to all of us in this party. Leaders should be wholly committed to fulfilling this obligation otherwise they have no business being leaders.
12. Sadly, the current administration does not believe in this obligation. By their actions they are leading us to calamity.
13. At International Conferences, the Nigerian delegation is usually among the largest but at the same time the least effective. Our president should have the status and the voice of Africa's largest nation. But in political influence we are among the weakest.
14. Shall we at home continue to live in a condition where the Power Holding Company and its successors seem only to have the power to hold us in darkness?
15. Shall we continue in a situation where 250 of our daughters have been abducted and the government has been unable to rescue them or provide credible information about what steps they are taking?
16. Shall we live in a nation where several people were trampled to death in search of jobs in a stadium and yet no one has taken responsibility for the tragedy?
17. Shall we live in a nation where the ranks of the poor swell and their poverty increase while the consorts of the powerful enjoy unprecedented wealth? The lives of the poor are bled dry while those of the powerful soak in excessive abundance.
18. My answers to these questions are “No, No, No, No!”
19. It is time to close this demeaning chapter in our nation’s history.
20. I ask that you join this effort, not for me, but to establish a better land for all of us.
21. I understand and accept the hard challenge ahead. When all is said and done, let it be written that Muhammadu Buhari gave his all for this nation.
22. As such, I make these five pledges regarding the government if we are elected next February;
a. We will govern Nigeria honestly, in accordance with the constitution.
b. We will strive to secure the country and efficiently manage the economy.
c. We will strive to attack poverty through broadly-shared economic growth and attacking corruption through impartial application of the law.
d. We will tolerate no religious, regional, ethnic or gender bias in our government.
e. We will return Nigeria to a position of international respect through patriotic foreign policy.
f. We will choose the best Nigerians for the right jobs.
23. Our government will be committed to the cause of the common man. Whether you are a Christian from Bayelsa State or a Muslim from Katsina State, you are first and foremost a Nigerian in my eyes. I shall treat you equally as my people, my national family, my brothers and sisters. There can be no genuine love of our country without loving all its people in our diversity.
24. Just as APC stands as a new party for a new Nigeria, our government will institute new policies to realise the new Nigeria.
25. We shall institute just policies that afford people the dignity of work and pay them a living wage for their sweat and toil. We intend to do this by instituting a national industrial policy, coupled with a national employment directive, that together shall revive and expand our manufacturing sector, creating jobs for our urban population and decreasing our reliance on expensive foreign imports.
26. We shall implement a national infrastructure master plan that will provide construction and related jobs across the land. Furthermore, by improving our transportation infrastructure through road, rail and port construction we expand the outer bounds of economic growth as no economy can grow beyond the capacity of its infrastructure.
27. Agriculture remains the backbone of the economy. Our government, when elected, will establish an agricultural policy that provides farmers a dignified living through improved inputs, improved extension services, access to credit and price support mechanisms.
28. On corruption, the government will enhance EFCC's powers to investigate independently. Moreover, we intend to plug the holes in NNPC accounting. There will no longer be two sets of books, one for public consumption and another for insiders who profit from this slick fraud. In an APC government, the public will know how much NNPC makes and where all the money goes.
29. No longer shall illegal flows of massive sums leave these shores to finance other economies. While our people languish in poverty, we effectively give financial aid to nations that is not justified. I am sick of this. It must stop. The money saved will finance jobs, health care and the provision of social safety net for the needy, weak and vulnerable of our land.
30. We will be a compassionate government, for out of compassion arises the truest forms of wealth and progress a society can attain. We shall open the door to tertiary education to excellent students who otherwise could not afford it. Pregnant and poor women and children shall be entitled to basic health care.
31. This is a Nigeria that I envisage but it is a far cry from the Nigeria that is now. Change is imperative if we are to avoid the impending national failure. Poor leadership placed us in the ditch. Continuation of poor leadership will only dig a deeper trench for all of us to fall in.
32. Let us join hands in progressive union to pull each other and the nation from the abyss.
33. I pledge to do my utmost to make this happen but cannot do it alone. I need your support. I need your help to become President of Nigeria so that government may come to serve you, so that it may bring relief to the broken and weary among us and so that it may usher in a new Nigeria meant for us all, a Nigeria that is the birthright of everyone but the exclusive possession of no one.
God bless you.
God bless our fatherland – Nigeria
Thank you.
Wednesday, 26 August 2015
Aitete m’Ole: Be Alert As Saraki Brews Another Seditious Alcohol – By Abubakar Baba Sulaiman
Posted By: Amina Adams
Culled from EMPOWEREDNEWSWIRE.COM
In a moment of blind desperation, a recidivist will not only do anything to cover up his previous crimes, he would also go further to rubbish the authority managing such crimes and drag people into the mud of integrity distortion, forgetting that gravity is a law, what goes up must come down. You cannot break the law without the consequences, no matter how long it takes.
This is the situation Nigeria has found her self with someone like Bukola Saraki as her Citizen. He is a singular individual that has embarrassed the system more than any other person. The desperation to cover up his many crimes (ranging from corruption, financial and economic crimes, document forgery etc,) in order to escape justice is the reason why we are witnessing all the strange happenings in the nation’s polity. It is strange, unbelievable and alarming. He is going all out to do anything he finds doable for his personal preservation. This will not only include the use of media to castigate the system, it will also include the blackmailing of the people that are saddled with the responsibilities of prosecuting these crimes and adjudicating on justice.
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It will be hypocritically naive of anyone to feign ignorance of or pretend not to wake up to the strange dimension Bukola is introducing into our system. He is by the day teaching our younger generations how to commit crimes and escape justice. The dimensions are really alarming. For some of those who can properly define treason and can apply the appropriate rule of interpretation known to the law, with all these heaps of offences on his crime farm, Bukola shouldn’t only be prosecuted for his various financial crimes, treason and treasonable felony charges should be added to the list of these counts. The evidences are enormous and impeccable. He has bastardised the thinking of everyone that impunity is now even more celebrated by the unsuspecting public.
While I may not be absolving the EFCC Management of any complicity, I am however alarmed that such allegation is subtly orchestrated by Bukola Saraki whose entire family is entangled in one financial crimes or another. It is now the case of “aitete mu ole, ole n mu oloko”. This is what happens when a criminal is left unprosecuted for so long a time, despite the abundant evidence sgainst. He is really rupturing the System. It is so strange and sad that a criminal under investigation will now be the one to determine how the Body that is so charged to prosecute him will go about that. It is a case of attempted intimidation. To bad for him, dustbin has been provided to clean up the mess even before he litters the floor. He is just compounding his many problems.
Crime they say is functional. That can’t be far from correct. The evasive dimension now introduced by Bukola this time has now shown us that a lot is needed to be done in the amendment of our administration of criminal justice system as well as the Acts governing financial crimes – at what point should the prosecuting agency answer questions raised concerning its operation or even allegation on self probity when by the unconscious arrangement of vicious circle, the team that is to probe such agency have among them, financial crimes suspects under investigation and prosecution by this same anti-corruption agency. Ironically, in the present National Assembly setting, a larger percentage of them are former governors or former political office holders who have one or two cases to answer concerning corruption and other financial running into billions of naira fraud. The complicity makes it look frustrating, nonetheless, with political will and fearlessness, the fight can be won once there is no compromise or fear of criticism on the part of the “executioner”.
A lot has been said about character of the man with the gavel and there is no doubt in the fact that the petition against the EFCC chairman this time is evidently suspicious and the instigation compass is pointing towards the direction of the one and only felonious and ferocious Bukola Saraki. It is almost looking like an intimidation of the anti-graft agency to drop the various financial crimes allegations against his family.
While all these were going on at the national stage, Bukola has equally been instigating another incitement and this time around to embarrass President Muhammadu Buhari GCFR. It is a doubt assault that can only be orchestrated by a fellow in typical characteristic of a man in resemblance of “Oyenusi”. I do not have any other typology to give it than that.
Having failed in his many attempts to get President Buhari’s attention, Bukola has gone further to organise a “mass rally” under the dusguuse of grand reception by “Ilorin caucus” resident in Abuja. What he doesnt know is that, as he is planning, patriotic people are watching and keeping vigil of his moves with full knowledge of his scheming.
Let me give you the full insights to the yet another “coup” in the making. Bukola approached Alhaji Kawu Baraje to help talk to some Ilorin indigene resident in Abuja to kind of organise a grand reception in his honour. While Baraje accepted the difficult task, considering the fact that responsible Ilorin elites in Abuja have long distanced themselves from the continuous embarrassing dispositions of Bukola Saraki in order to avoid any form of generalization as if all Ilorins are like him. While Baraje seems to be slow at achieving that, Mashood Mustapha, for his own selfish interest brought a card to the table, negotiated Bukola to appoint him one of his Special Advisers, promising him that with such position in his hands, he can move the mountain for him. Anyway, the mountain still remains static till now.
Their continuous scheme brought in Alhaji Saka Sa’adu who promised to cajole some of the Ilorin elders to allow them use their house. It was on this assurance that they sought to convince General Abdullahi Adambgba and Justice Alfa Belgore to either host the “reception”.
For thoss who know Bukola very well, it will be suicidal to underrate his devilishness. However, the older experience of these respected individuals, taking a cue from President Buhari’s countenance to Bukola has made them “retreat” in wisdom from hosting such a gathering.
While many people may think it just a gathering to host “one of their own”, Bukola has a plan B.
If you are wondering while I have to lump the EFCC matter with proposed gathering of Ilorin elites to host Buki together, you can only imagine the “coincidence” of the time.
Apparently, Bukola is still nagging in ignorance that there are people who are ahead of his game, no matter how “sophisticated” he plays it. By Bukola’s diary, the gathering is expected to take place today at the residence of Justice Alfa Belgore, with some northern Emirs in attendance, the same day EFCC Chairman has been “summoned” to appear before the Senate Committee for investigations.
Meanwhile, unknown to those that might attend the get together party, Bukola has gone to rent crowd to join the gathering, from where they will match the street of Abuja and to the National Assembly to discredit the EFCC and by extension President Buhari. By his plan, he will turn the event to solidarity rally in his honour, discrediting and blackmailing the President in order to give his imminent prosecution witch-hunting. Isn’t that devilish?
It will now be looking like the man President Buhari is using as EFCC chairman is compromised, painting the picture that the president’s fight against corruption is selective and devoid of good intention. He is to gather the Emirs to scandalise the President to believing that he (President Buhari) is rude to the Emirs.
However, so ignorant of him, he has failed to realise that even before he planned it, the Intel about his moves is accurate. Sahara reporters have laid credence to this submission on their latest report of the intricacies on the undercurrent that led to the petition against the EFCC Chairman.
Let me use this opportunity to advise all those that might have been coopted to do this hatchet job to be properly guided and back down if they still care about their names. Otherwise, before they know it, Bukola would have hoodwinked them into rubbing their names in the mud.
I also do wonder if people are even aware that the degree certificate purportedly obtained by Bukola Saraki is becoming a subject of doubt just as it is looking like the young man never had his time in the NYSC scheme as he might have claimed.
A man who keeps too many secrets has a lot yo fear. His restlessness know no bound because he had got a lot on his sleeves.
At this point of our history, with the advent of all these alien scheming by Bukola, I think the issue now has gone beyond the management of corruption and penalty for fraud, rather, the big issue now is the urgent need to save the system from complete destruction, preventing this criminal norms from being internalised by the living and coming innocent generations. If we leave the system this vulnerable, Bukola will infect it with atomic WMD.
My take. It is my submission that the any further delay in properly handling Bukola Saraki may be detrimental to the collective existence of every other Nigerian. His strange and criminal strategies to evade prosecution will not only destroy the system in soonest time, it will also transmit the virus to the younger and coming generations. The time to properly handle him is now. The multiplicity of his offences ranging from forgery, certificate falsification, perjury, corruption, etc should ordinarily have stripped him of any privileges. His trial shouldn’t even a month before he would be sent to hus natural abode – Kuje.
If this man (Bukola Saraki) is not stopped now from destroying the system, he will stop the system from working.
When the system is ready to do this, reactionary noises should be disregarded – JUSTICE MUST BE SERVED!
The Buhari magic - Lawal Ogienagbon
He and his party promised change and little by little, the country is experiencing change. Even without him saying it, we are all acting correctly, especially the anti-graft agencies and government workers. Yet President Muhammadu Buhari has not spent 100 days in office. So far, he has done 90 days, but see what is happening in the country. His predecessor spent over six years in office and never made half of the impact Buhari has made in three months.
What is it that has made Nigerians change overnight with the coming of Buhari? It is the Buhari persona, say analysts. Buhari came into office with the reputation of a no nonsense man and with his integrity intact. Nigerians know him too well having been military Head of State between December 1983 and August 1985.
For the 18 months he was head of state, he did not allow power to get into his head; he maintained his major general rank unlike others who rushed to promote themselves as soon as they got into office.
They succeeded because by then, Buhari’s cup had become full in the eyes of the people. Yes, his administration had alienated itself from the people because of what they perceived as some of his harsh policies, which led to the execution of three drug traffickers through a retroactive law; the execution of a woman trafficker, who had a handicapped child, and the imprisonment of two journalists under Decree 4. Buhari had a mission and he was in a hurry to execute it, but we were not on the same page with him. He knew what he wanted for the country, but we misunderstood him.
Thirty years after, we have come to appreciate the worth of Buhari. We virtually begged him to come and lead us now and bail the country out of the mess it has been thrown into by successive governments. It has been so far , so good under his watch even without his full complement of aides. It is as if we are no longer in Nigeria going by what we have been witnessing since his return to power as elected president. Just imagine what Nigeria would have been like today if Buhari had been allowed to sanitise the country the way he wanted in his first coming as military head of state.
But, we were not patient enough with him. We wanted the easy way out and see where that has led us. Our leaders – the happy going and smiling leaders – whom we preferred to Buhari, who we accused of not smiling, stole the country blind. Our country is still bleeding from their atrocities. Buhari may not be a smiling leader, but he knows what he is doing and what he wants for the country. He wants a Nigeria where things work; not a country where few people corral the wealth. This was what happened under past administrations and this was what he wanted to prevent back then; unfortunately, the corrupt, but wealthy minority had their way over the poor and gullible majority.
The scales have now fallen off our eyes. We have come to appreciate that Buhari meant well for the country then having weighed him on the same scale with those who sacked him from power. Has Buhari not been vindicated? He has. Our prayer is that God see him through during his second missionary journey.
He has yet to lift a finger, so to say, and things have started to fall in place. Before he took office on May 29, it was hard getting fuel to buy. It was queue, queue everywhere and filling stations were selling at over N150 per litre where the product was available. There is now orderliness at filling stations and petrol is selling for N87 per litre in many parts of the country. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) like other agencies has suddenly become proactive,, working as if it has just been created to regulate the operations of these Shylock dealers.
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) have also woken up from slumber. They have become so busy of late, inviting one person or the other and seizing one property or the other. It shows that where the leader does not condone corruption, the anti-corruption agencies will also not be afraid to do their work. The people at EFCC and ICPC know what Buhari can do if they do not do their job the way it should be done. But can they be trusted to truly prosecute the anti-graft war having kept criminally quiet under the immediate past administration.
They may have been hamstrung in the discharge of their duty by the body language of our leader then, but that is no excuse for them to shirk their duty. Why did they hold on tenaciously to their job under such circumstance? It would have been more honourable to quit than to work in an environment where corruption thrives. Can they now, in all honesty, pull in those they hobnobbed with just in the recent past for dipping their hands in the till? This is why the Senate is threatening to probe EFCC chair Ibrahim Lamorde over a matter it should have since exercised its oversight power. Is it now that Lamorde is beaming searchlight on some former governors, who are now in the Senate, and/or their spouses, that the Upper Chamber should be talking of probing him over the weighty allegations of diverting funds seized from some past government functionaries totalling N1billion?
The wind of change is blowing in all directions. Even the National Assembly is not left out. It has cut its yearly budget of N150billion to N120billion. The lawmakers are also contemplating cutting their N42, 000 monthly wardrobe allowance in line with the prevailing mood in the country. Their salary may soon be slashed by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), which Buhari carpeted on Tuesday for the lawmakers’ jumbo pay. Buhari has shown that leadership matters in the life of a nation. A good leader will grow his country; an inept leader will kill it. We saw that happen under Jonathan. May God forgive him and his bedfellows. Buhari’s distaste for corruption is legendary. And without being told, all those in his administration know that they must live above board because it is no longer business as usual.
Whether in or out of government, the people are feeling what is going on and we are all wondering is this not Nigeria? Of course, it is. The only difference is that things are now being done the right way. Buhari is a breath of fresh air. Our prayer is that may this romance endure
STILL ON BISHOP KUKAH'S POSITION - Arc. Bulama
Most Nigerians were taken aback by Bishop Kukah's recent comments because he was canvassing sympathy for GEJ's regime. Not stopping at that he went further to launch wholesale attack on the vision, nature and pace of PMB's govt in what appears to many as purely partisan tirade. His position was neither diplomatic, religious nor statesmanlike. Bishop Kukah has on this issue disappointed many. The outrage expressed by the public, to me is understandable
Again many would dispute the contention that Bishop Kukah 'is and was a principal actor in the coming of PMB'. Read below what one foremost columnist said - "Let it be bluntly and boldly stated that the Peace Committee is not about peace at all. It materialized as a last ditch ruling class initiative to force Gen. Buhari to accept dishonourable defeat and hence to stave off the revolutionary turmoil and anarchy that would have accompanied electoral miscarriage. It is a wearisomely familiar Nigerian ploy to impose 'peace' in the absence of social and political justice...........
Available reports indicate that some of members of the committee were already privately gloating about the inevitability of a Jonathan victory.
They came to bury Buhari and not to praise him. But it bombed spectacularly.
Perhaps this is one of the 'spectacular' things that Jonathan did which Bishop Kukah referred to with deliberately oblique disingenuity'
- The trial of Bishop Kukah (Snooping Around, by Tatalo Alamu, page 3, the Nation, 23/8/15)
And lastly here is another view from an astute admirer of Bishop Kukah. Writing in Daily Trust, Timawus Mathias says - "One of Bishop Kukah's reasons for canvassing against any subjection of President Jonathan to a probe is that Jonathan 'did his best'....I am not surprised that the Bishop is this much protective of President Jonathan. It his calling to forgive if the sinner confesses and does penance..... Yet against the daily revelations of humongous pillages under Jonathan's watch, the Bishop seemed compromised, and hence contradictory and incoherent"
- What does Bishop Kukah want?
- Timawus Mathias (Daily Trust page 58, 26/8/15)
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