Echotitbits – Nigeria News

Tag: President Buhari

  • Buhari’s ally, Isa Funtua is dead, Ben Bruce reveals last conversation

    Buhari’s ally, Isa Funtua is dead, Ben Bruce reveals last conversation

    President Muhammadu Buhari’s close ally, Mallam Isa Funtua has died as a result of cardiac arrest Monday evening.

    According to Daily Trust, a brother of the business mogul said: “Mallam told his family members that he wanted to see his doctor but decided to visit his barber first. He drove himself to the hospital,” the brother, who doesn’t want his name in print.

    Report has it that the remains of Mallam Funtua is being prepared at Area 1 mosque before his funeral on Tuesday morning.

    The late Funtua was a renowned business executive and public officer with over thirty years of management experience. He was Personnel Manager in United Textiles Limited (UNTL), responsible for over ten thousand staff and a one-time Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    Funtua, touted to be a member of the ‘cabal’, a group of influential persons believed to be around Nigeria’s President and help him take key decisions, was the founder of Bulet International Nigeria Limited (the largest wholly owned indigenous construction company) which built most of the iconic public buildings in Abuja. He is the founding Managing Director of Democrat Newspaper and served as President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) for 8 years.

    In an official statement released by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu; President Buhari believes the demise of the publisher and businessman has created a huge gap as Malam Funtua consistently stood by him in his political journey.

    “President Muhammadu Buhari received with deep sadness on Monday evening information on passing of his longtime friend and associate, Malam Isma’ila Isa Funtua, who was Life Patron of International Press Institute and Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN).

    “The President condoles with family members, government and people of Katsina State, and all associates of the former President of NPAN, especially the media industry, on the loss, describing him as “greatly admired and respected’’.

    A former Senator representing Bayelsa East constituency, in Bayelsa State, revealed that Mallam Funtua had promised to call just three hours before his death.

    “I am saddened by the death of my brother and senior colleague, Mallam Isa Funtua. I spoke to him just three hours before his reported death, and he promised to further call me tomorrow. I pray that God comforts his family and loved ones, and may his soul rest in peace”, Bruce stated.

    Similarly, a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Honourable Yakubu Dogra, expressed his condolence to the Funtua family.

    Extolling the late Funtua, the ex-Speaker stated that: “Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua was a distinguished elder statesman, media icon, construction magnate, industrialist & a patriot whose legacies are too numerous to list”.

    The remains of the late business mogul, Mallam Isa Funtua, will be laid to rest on Tuesday morning according to Islamic dictate.

  • NDDC: Buhari speaks on unfolding drama, orders coordinated investigation

    NDDC: Buhari speaks on unfolding drama, orders coordinated investigation

    Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday broke silence over the ongoing unfolding drama over the probe of the budgetary allocations to the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Speaking for the first time on the attacks and counter attacks between and around persons, institutions, and the commission, Buhari expressed his strong determination to get to the root of the problem undermining the development of the Niger Delta and its peoples in spite of enormous national resources voted year after year for this singular purpose.

    The President directed that there should be better coordination among security and investigating agencies with the National Assembly to ensure that his administration’s effort to bring sanity, transparency and accountability to the management of the large amount of resources dedicated to development of the Niger Delta sub-region is not derailed.

    According to him, auditing firms and investigative agencies working in collaboration with National Assembly Committees to resolve the challenges in NDDC must initiate actions in a time-bound manner and duly inform the Presidency of the actions being taken.

    The President also directed timely sharing of information and knowledge in a way to speedily assist the administration to diagnose what had gone wrong in the past and what needs to be done to make corrections in order to return NDDC to its original mandate of making life better for people in Niger Delta.

    Buhari, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said the administration wanted to bring about “rapid, even and sustainable development to the region.”

    The President gave firm assurance that his administration would put in place a transparent and accountable governance framework, not only in NDDC but in all other institutions of government.

    Idowu Sowunmi

  • Ortom to Buhari: Declare herdsmen in Benue as terrorists now

    Ortom to Buhari: Declare herdsmen in Benue as terrorists now

    Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, Saturday told President Muhammadu Buhari to declare armed Fulani herdsmen killing innocent people in the communities of in the state as terrorists.

    The governor’s call was coming after the incessant herdsmen attacks on different communities of the state in the last couple of months.

    The latest of such attacks took place Friday night at Tse-Chembe community near Anyiin in Logo Local Government Area of the state, where the herders murdered seven persons in cold blood and left many others badly injured.

    Ortom, who condemned the invasion and killings, described the situation as unacceptable.

    He alleged “Benue State has a law which prohibits open grazing of livestock, and stresses that only a terrorist group would deliberately choose to violate the legislation as Fulani herdsmen have done since the law was enacted in 2017.”

    The governor added that “declaring the armed herders operating in Benue State as terrorists will end the wave of impunity and guarantee the rule of law.”

    He called on people of the state, especially those living in the affected areas to report any suspicious persons to security agencies.

    Ortom commended “officers and men of Operation Whirl Stroke for their prompt responses to distress calls, particularly that of yesterday when the people of Tse-Chembe came under herdsmen’s attacks.”

    He reassured Benue people that his administration would “not surrender the state to criminal elements, be they herdsmen or any other group.”

    The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, said “no amount of threats and attacks will stop the enforcement of the Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law of the state.”

  • EFCC: FG confirms Magu’s suspension, Umar’s appointment as Acting Chairman

    EFCC: FG confirms Magu’s suspension, Umar’s appointment as Acting Chairman

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the immediate suspension of Ibrahim Magu as Ag. Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in order to allow for unhindered inquiry by the Presidential Investigation Panel under the Tribunals of Inquiry Act and other relevant laws.

    READ ALSO: Magu Probe: Osinbajo requests IGP investigate N4billion allegations by blogger

    This is contained in a statement issued by Dr. Umar Jibrilu Gwandu, Special Assistant on Media and Public Relations Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice made available to newsmen on Friday the 10th day of July, 2020.

    READ ALSO: EFCC: DCP Mohammed Umar resumes as Acting Chairman, PDP berates Govt.

    According to the statement, President Muhammadu Buhari has also approved that the EFCC Director of Operations, Mohammed Umar, should take charge and oversee the activities of the Commission pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation and further directives in that regards.

  • Buhari appoints Rev. Yakubu Pam as Executive Secretary NCPC

    Buhari appoints Rev. Yakubu Pam as Executive Secretary NCPC

    President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the appointment of Rev. Yakubu Pam as the Executive Secretary of Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC).

    The appointment was made known in a statement by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Saturday.

    According to the presidential aide, Pam’s appointment took effect from June 26, 2020, for a period of five years.

    Garba also noted that President Buhari urged the Executive Secretary NCPC to sustain his reconciliatory pre-disposition in his new position.

    Until his appointment, Pam was the Chairman of the Plateau State Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board.

    Born on Feb. 20, 1960, in Gyel, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau, Pam holds a first degree in Christian Education.

    As an ordained Minister, Pam brings to the position more than 30 years of leadership experience in the Christian community, coupled with a deep understanding of promoting inter-religious harmony and conflict resolution in the northern parts of the country.

    The cleric has held many leadership positions in the Church, including Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) of Northern Nigeria (which includes the 19 Northern States and Abuja) from 2016 to date; and Vice President, Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, 2013 to date.

    He was also the District Superintendent, Jos Mainland Assemblies of Nigeria, 2010 to date.

    Pam also served as Chairman, Plateau State Inter-Religious Council; and Chairman, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Committee, Plateau State.

  • Security Breach: Buhari appoints new Chief Personal Security Officer  

    Security Breach: Buhari appoints new Chief Personal Security Officer  

    Idowu Sowunmi

    Following the investigation ordered by President Muhammadu Buhari into the ugly brawl at the State House involving his personal assistant and security personnel attached to the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, the President Monday approved the appointment of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Aliyu Abubakar Musa, as his new Chief Personal Security Officer (CPSO).

    It would be recalled that there was an incident at the Villa, which was triggered by the First Lady, who led a security operation to insist that one of the aides of the President, Sabiu ‘Tunde’ Yusuf, must self-isolate on arrival from Lagos State, where he had gone to see his wife who had just been delivered of a baby.

    The incident led to a shooting which caused a security breach at the Villa.

    This led to Buhari’s decision to order an investigation into the matter.

    The aftermath of the investigation led to the appointment of Musa.

    The new CPSO, from Nigerian Police Force Zone 5 in Benin City as his last station, hails from Niger State, said a statement by the President’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu

    Musa’s appointment followed the redeployment of his predecessor, Commissioner of Police (CP), Abdulkarim Dauda.

    Analysts speculated that some other security officers may be affected by the developing situation.

  • Video: Progressive Governors visit Buhari as Oshiomhole NWC jettisons court action

    Video: Progressive Governors visit Buhari as Oshiomhole NWC jettisons court action

    The Progressives Governors Forum, PGF and the new Chairman, All Progressives Congress, APC, Caretaker/Convention Planning Committee, Mai Mala Buni, on Friday, paid a ‘thank you’ visit to President Muhammadu on a successful Extraordinary virtual National Executive Council, NEC, meeting of the party.

    See below video by Vanguard:

    The former NWC members have jettisoned their initial threat to go to court and have now resolved to work for the rebuilding of the party, the immediate past National Secretary of the party, Mallam Waziri Bulama, said yesterday.

    He attributed the crisis to  the ambitions of some leaders .

    READ ALSO: Nigerian Air Force strikes scores of Boko Haram terrorists tear-down base

    He also said the failure of all organs of the party to function effectively affected the party.

    But he was optimistic that the APC would  not break up despite the crisis at hand.

    Also on Friday, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum  (PGF), Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, declared that alleged threats by some  members of the dissolved National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to challenge the dissolution in court were created by the media.

    The chairman of the Caretaker/Convention committee of the party, Governor  Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State, is understood  to  have commenced efforts to reach out to stakeholders of the party to bury their hatchets and rally round his committee to rebuild the party.

    Reviewing the events of the last few days including the NWC dissolution  and  reactions  of some party members,  Bulama said the sacked NWC  has already accepted the  Thursday decisions of the National Executive Committee, would  not go to court and would defer to Buhari.

    Bulama spoke to some media in Abuja.

    He said: “Following consultations with our leaders all the stakeholders, we have accepted the decision of the President on the dissolution of NWC and the setting up of a Caretaker Committee headed by Governor Mai Mala Buni.

  • APC was hanging on a cliff but for Buhari – says former spokesman

    APC was hanging on a cliff but for Buhari – says former spokesman

    A former National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu has advised warring members of the party to accept the actions of President Muhammadu Buhari and other executives at Thursday’s controversial National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting.

    The former spokesman of the party in a personal statement stated he has declared support for President Buhari after a reflection of events happening in the APC.

    “I have reflected on the events of the past few days and the outcome of Thursday’s NEC meeting and as a party man, I declare my support for the actions taken by Mr. President.

    “Like the President said, the party was ominously hanging on a cliff and as expected, something had to give way because the APC could not have continued along that obvious path of destruction”, Onilu said.

    He therefore called on other member of the APC to rally round the Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC) led by Governor of Yobe state, Mai Mala Buni and other eminent members of that committee.

    READ ALSO: APC Crisis: Oshiomhole camp fights back, dismisses NEC meeting as PDP mocks Buhari

    In his appeal for cooperation, Onilu, who described Buni as an experienced party administrator, adding that other members of the caretaker committee are compatriots noted reiterated that party members should consider collective interest and lend support “as they embark on the process of rebuilding our party to the height we all desire”.

    He said: “Ours must be a party that is strong and truly progressive; one that can provide our government the support it requires to deliver more dividends of democracy.

    “We all have the obligation to subordinate our individual interests to the collective interests of our government and country.

    “The task of preserving President Muhammadu Buhari’s unprecedented legacies is not negotiable”, he added.

  • APC Crisis: Buhari directs litigations be suspended to avoid self destruct

    APC Crisis: Buhari directs litigations be suspended to avoid self destruct

    President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday in Abuja advised members of the governing party, All Progressives Congress (APC), to withdraw all pending litigations against one another, and settle for internal reconciliation, warning that the mutating disagreements could lead to self-destruction, with dire consequences.

    In his remarks at the emergency meeting of the National Executive Committee of the APC held on a virtual platform, the President said the gains of the party could be reversed as conflicts overshadow the primary objective of service to the people.

    While urging members to refocus on the larger picture, he admonished placing more emphasis on uniting the party.

    “Fellow party members, this is a very crucial moment in the life of our party and it is with a deep sense of concern that I stand before you today to speak as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has been elected on the platform of our great party – the All Progressives Congress.

    “The issues currently confronting our party at this time are such that should worry every party member. At the moment, our great party is faced with internal wrangling; there are on-going litigations amongst some party members and we cannot clearly ascertain the status of certain National Working Committee (NWC) members”, the President said.

    Buhari also expressed worry over the shifting loyalty within the party and inconsistency in leadership, which had opened the governing party to mockery.

    “There are also other associated disputes as to the legitimacy or otherwise of holders of certain National Offices of the Party. The Party is also contending with Judicial claims and counter-claims, Orders and Counter-Orders and indeed Judgments and Counter-Judgments that are predominantly at cross-purposes.

    “Confronted with these issues, it is obvious that the fortunes of the party are currently in jeopardy, administration of our party is becoming impossible and there is consequently an urgent need for intervention to immediately arrest further drifts and internal wrangling which may lead to total disintegration.

    “What we see clearly emerging, is that we are beginning to self-destruct. This, my dear party members, is not just regrettable but utterly gut wrenching’’, he stated.

    To find a solution to the impasse within the party, President Buhari proposed that: “The meeting may adopt the developed resolution as contained in the agenda and pass resolutions including: approving the immediate discontinuation of all pending litigations involving the party and its members; ratifying the primary election conducted in Edo State; dissolving the current National Working Committee, and appointing caretaker/Extra-ordinary Convention Planning committee for the party.’’

    Furthermore, he reiterated the need to discontinue all litigations involving members of the party, which were connected to issues of the party.

    He added that: “The directive had been issued before, unfortunately some members failed to heed the directive. Thus, at this time, it must be made a Resolution of the Party which must be effectively enforced with dire consequences for members who choose to ignore the directive.’’

    The President emphasised that in order to return to the “winning ways’’, the APC must maintain cohesion by closing its ranks.

    “We must be alive to the time and the task that is before us. As we all know, we are immediately confronted with the upcoming gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo States. Therefore, this is the time to get our acts together”, he said further.

    The emergency NEC meeting adopted all the recommendations by President Buhari, and appointed the Governor of Yobe State, Mallam Mai Buni, as Caretaker National Chairman, while Senator John Akpanudoede was designated Caretaker National Secretary.

  • Insecurity: No more excuses, President Buhari warns Service Chiefs

    Insecurity: No more excuses, President Buhari warns Service Chiefs

    President Muhammadu Buhari has warned heads of Nigeria’s security agencies of underperformance, which has obviously permitted a spate of attack and killings by insurgents and bandits especially in the Northern region of the country.

    The President’s warning was disclosed by the National Security Adviser (NSA), Retired Major General Babagana Monguno after Buhari met with Service Chiefs at the Council Chambers, Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday.

    Monguno revealed that the President is not pleased with the way insecurity is being handled in many parts of the country and is not mincing words about it.

    President Buhari at the meeting was said to have warned the heads of the nation’s security agencies to quit giving excuses in the discharge of their duties to protect Nigerians as such would no longer be tolerated.

    L-R: Chief of Naval staff, Rear Admiral Ekwe Ibas; Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Abayomi Olonishakin; Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar and Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu

    The NSA noted that while the service chiefs are trying their best to tackle the issue of insecurity in the country, President Buhari insisted that their best is not good enough and asked them to do more to secure the nation and its people.

    One outcome from the high-level security meeting was the order giving to the NSA boss to meet with state governors in the North-West and that of Niger State, in other to identify the problems and find solutions to them.

    READ ALSO: God is not ready to take him – Ajimobi’s daughter debunks death rumour

    Buhari’s meeting with the service chiefs was instigated by increasing bandit attacks on communities in the region, including Katsina, the President’s home state.

    The attacks, which have left several people dead and many others injured in the affected states, with lots of properties destroyed by bandits had sparked criticism over the worsening insecurity in the country, especially the North West where the armed men have wreaked havoc in recent times.

    As part of efforts to address the situation, Monguno, in company with the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu and others had embarked on a fact-finding mission to Katsina and Sokoto States.

    Thursday’s meeting had in attendance the Chief of Defence Staff, General Abayomi Olonisakin; the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar; the Chief of Naval Staff, Ibok Ekwe Ibas; and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai.

    Others included the police boss; the Chief of Defence Intelligence Agency, Air Vice Marshal Mohammed Usman, the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Yusuf Bichi; and the Director-General Nigeria Intelligence Agency Ahmed Abubakar.