Sahara Reporters Latest News Today Wednesday 16th June 2021
Sahara Reporters Latest News Today and headlines on some of the happenings and news trend in the Country, today 16/06/21
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Panic As Dreaded Bakassi Boys Return To South-East After Years Of Redundancy
A deadly group of vigilantes in the South-East, Bakassi Boys, after years of redundancy, has returned to some areas of Awka, Anambra State capital, Daily Trust reports.
Their members were viewed in two moving vans, singing and warning criminals, but who brought them could not be ascertained.
When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Ikenga Tochukwu, said he was not aware of the development.
He said, “I received this as information from you. I don’t have any such details before me. Meanwhile, I will make enquires, please.”
But the police spokesman quickly added, “We are ready to work with any stakeholder in security,” when responding to the question as to whether the police would partner with such a group.
Meanwhile, a source said, “The boys came primarily for alleged cult groups which have taken over Awka town in recent time without any response from the police. I think they were invited by traders.”
A senior police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said some security men had stormed the state, but failed to confirm if they were sent by the government.
The source said, “That is the only thing I can tell you, for now. Let’s see how things work out in the days and weeks to come.”
The Bakassi Boys are usually armed with machetes and guns, with all manner of charms worn around their body.
They have been accused of extrajudicial killings.
Their targets are petty thieves, armed robbers, ritual killers, murderers, corrupt persons, and generally, anyone considered evil.
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E2%80%94ohanaeze-ndigbo Igbo Leaders Only Unhappy With Nigerian Government, Not Behind IPOB—Ohanaeze Ndigbo
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
The apex Igbo socio-cultural group, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has clarified its stance over secessionist agitations in the South-East region.
In a statement issued by its Secretary-General, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, the group said the silence of Igbo leaders does not mean support for the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) nor the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB).
Ohanaeze Ndigbo
The group noted that the agitations were borne out of frustrations from the Nigerian Government’s discrimination against the people of the South-East.
Ohanaeze said though it is not in support of the agitations, it is also dissatisfied with the negligence of the Nigerian government, which it described as combat-ready when there is any slight hint of conflict of interests in southeastern Nigeria but sluggish in the North.
The statement read, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide had dismissed Northern Elders’ contentions of possibilities that the silence of Igbo leaders in the ongoing provocative onslaught in Southeastern Nigeria, reflected support for IPOB and MASSOB, describing it as ‘fallacies and myth’ craftily designed for sinister motives by anti-Igbo exponents.
”Contrary to popular beliefs of Northerners on secessionist campaigns, the popularity of Biafra agitation by Igbo youths is based on the fallout of the systematic frustrations of the Federal Government’s discrimination against Southeastern Nigeria.
“Unlike most Nigerian youths, Igbo youths are subjected to untold hardship, especially in this COVID-19 worsening economic era. In every 10 unemployed people, 6 are Igbo youths, traders amongst them are frustrated either by unfriendly government policies or host communities animosities.
“Igbo leaders are not happy with the ‘I-don’t-care attitude’ of the Presidency, all the lamentations of South-East marginalisation appears to have fallen on deaf ears of the Presidency, as the Federal Government appears to be combat-ready in any slightest hint of conflict of interests in southeastern Nigeria but appears powerless to the full-scale insurgency in Northern Nigeria.
“These two postures of Federal Government, being brutal in the Southeast and sluggish in the North, the two-faced behaviours of Federal authorities are the reason for secessionist turmoils in Middle Belt, South-East and South-West regions.
“Igbo leaders and governors are not behind IPOB and are unhappy with the attacks on police formations and government facilities, but the happenings in southeastern Nigeria appear to be ‘the hands of Esau and the voice of Jacob’, it’s sponsored solely to blackmail the South-East Presidency and portray that Igbos should not be trusted with political power in 2023.
“Unfortunately for them, all anti-Igbo exponents are (unknowingly) playing a historical role in the fulfilment of Nigerian President of Igbo Extraction 2023.”
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E2%80%94nigerias-army-chief-yahaya-boasts-rich I’ve Seen How War Was Fought In Other Countries—Nigeria’s Army Chief, Yahaya Boasts Of Rich Experience
The Chief of the Army Staff, Maj Gen Farouk Yahaya, has stated that he had seen how war was fought in other countries and would replicate same in Nigeria to tackle insecurity.
Yahaya added that he had the required experience to tackle insecurity bedevilling the country.
The army chief stated this on Tuesday when he appeared for screening before the House of Representatives’ joint committee on defence and army.
Yahaya said he had participated in war and peace-keeping in Liberia, adding that with his experience, he can ensure improved security in the country.
The army chief said, “I have brought along with me 36 years of military experience, having joined the army on September 27, 1985, as a member of 37th regular course in NDA.
“I passed out on September 2, 1990, and I was posted to the infantry corps as an infantry officer, and since that time, I have passed through all the relevant courses commensurate to my career as I grew up, and I had served in various capacities, including command, staff, instruction and administration, including extracurricular.
“Less than three years ago, we were drafted to Liberia where I had first-hand experience in war, if you would call it so. And finally, my unit was located at Kata town, member of number 16 and for those conversant with that deployment, Kata town was the last deployment of the ECOMOG who were the ones facing Charles Taylor there.
“So, all activities including wars and operations, including of course negotiations, were conducted by my unit on behalf of ECOMOG.
“We have several times hosted the United Nations negotiations in Kata. We hosted other factional leaders, including Kromah, Johnson, and others in those negotiations. We also fought our way to that end.
“So, if you will, I have first-hand experience, barely three years after my passing out in war and its processes, similar to what we are facing now.
“After that, when we came back to the country, I was also promoted to guards brigade here where I served as platoon commander. So, I am also abreast with the security requirements of Abuja itself and the parade and other requirements that characterised that deployment.
“Subsequently, I grew up in my career to become commanding officer in guards brigade garrison in Abuja here, and so I was involved in all the security requirements of securing Abuja and, particularly, the presidential villa.”
Yahaya said going by his military experience, he was well equipped to tackle the security challenges across the country.
“Looking at my career, I have virtually seen it all. I have seen war in other countries; I have seen how it was done. I was involved also in internal security operations both there and here,” he said.
“Here also, I have been to the north-west like I mentioned, south-south like I mentioned, and to the north-east. The challenges we are facing now are characterised by what I have mentioned. I have first-hand information where I have commanded troops and administered them in achieving what we have done.
“What I brought is the certificate of experience and commitment I have had all across my career. Throughout my career, I have been appointed as at when due. I am determined to provide my best, having known what is required to achieve result.”
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E2%80%94-wike-tells-buhari Address Insecurity In Nigeria, You Were Not Elected To Only Borrow Money— Wike Tells Buhari
Rivers Governor Wike
Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has charged President Muhammadu Buhari to see himself as responsible for securing the lives and property of Nigerian citizens in the country.
Wike noted that Buhari is the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and cannot shift his constitutional powers of securing lives and property of Nigerians to the state governors.
The governor said this in a statement issued by his media aide, Kelvin Ebiri.
The governor spoke at the commissioning of the 21-kilometre Odufor-Akpoku-Umuoye Road in Etche Local Government Area of the State on Tuesday.
According to Wike, such a position suggests that the All Progressives Congress-led federal government has no idea of how to tackle the troubling security issues and make the country safe for Nigerians.
He enjoined the federal government to admit that it can no longer fulfil the promises it made to Nigerians and also lead the country out of its present predicament.
According to the governor, admitting weakness publicly when there is failure makes a leader respectable.
The governor urged Nigerians to start comparing the performances of governors in the APC and opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party.
“Mr President, you are the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. You appoint Inspector-General of Police, you appoint the Chief of Army Staff, Chief of Naval Staff, the Commissioner of Police, Director of Department of State Service, and other heads of security.
“Which one do we appoint? How can people appointed by Mr President be under me?” he asked.
“It is not only to borrow money for Nigeria that you’re in charge. You must also be in charge of other things including security. Who signed order 10? Is it the governors?”
“Mr. President was short of calling names of those governors who run to Aso Rock when they are supposed to stay in their states to see the needs of their states and people.
“Mr. President should have come out openly and said, my APC governors, stop worrying me. Go back to your states and do your work. On that, I support him.
“Thank God, Mr. President knows that I am not one of those that go to visit him over one problem or the other. I, as the governor of Rivers under PDP, you’ll never find me there.”
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High Prices Pushed 7 million Nigerians Into Poverty In 2020, Says World Bank
The World Bank says inflation pushed seven million Nigerians below the poverty line in 2020.
In its latest report, “Nigeria Development Update: Resilience through Reforms,” released on Tuesday, the bank said the high inflation rate is worsening poverty and depressing business activities in Nigeria.
The report came a few days after President Muhammadu Buhari said his government had lifted 10.5 million people out of poverty in the last two years.
“In the last two years, we lifted 10.5 million people out of poverty – farmers, small-scale traders, artisans, market women and the like,” Buhari had said during a speech to commemorate the June 12 Democracy Day.
According to the report, the Nigerian economy in 2020 experienced a shallower contraction of -1.8 percent than had been projected at the beginning of the pandemic (-3.2%). Although the economy started to grow again, prices are increasing rapidly, severely impacting Nigerian households.
As a result of this development, rising prices the World Bank said have pushed an estimated seven million Nigerians below the poverty line in 2020 alone.
It said food prices accounted for over 60% of the total increase in inflation.
This edition of the Nigeria Development Update proposes near-term policy option organised around three priority objectives: reduce inflation by implementing policies that support macroeconomic stability, inclusive growth, and job creation; protect poor households from the impacts of inflation, and facilitate access to financing for small and medium enterprises in key sectors to mitigate the effects of inflation and accelerate the recovery.
“Given the urgency to reduce inflation amidst the pandemic, a policy consensus and expedite reform implementation on exchange-rate management, monetary policy, trade policy, fiscal policy, and social protection would help save lives, protect livelihoods, and ensure a faster and sustained recovery,” said Marco Hernandez, the World Bank Lead Economist for Nigeria and co-author of the report.
The report acknowledged “notable government’s policy reforms aimed at mitigating the impact of the crisis and supporting the recovery; including steps taken towards reducing petrol subsidies and adjusting electricity tariffs towards more cost-reflective levels, both aimed at expanding the fiscal space for pro-poor spending.”
In addition, the report said both the federal and state governments cut non-essential spending and redirected resources towards the COVID-19 response.
Also, public-sector transparency has improved, in particular around the operations of the oil and gas sector.
The report, however, notes that despite the more favourable external environment, with recovering oil prices and growth in advanced economies, a failure to sustain and deepen reforms would threaten both macroeconomic sustainability and policy credibility, thereby limiting the government’s ability to address gaps in human and physical capital which is needed to attract private investment.
“Nigeria faces interlinked challenges in relation to inflation, limited job opportunities, and insecurity,” said Shubham Chaudhuri, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria.
“While the government has made efforts to reduce the effect of these by advancing long-delayed policy reforms, it is clear that these reforms will have to be sustained and deepened for Nigeria to realize its development potential.”
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BREAKING: Protest Rocks Delta Prison As Guard Allegedly Shoots A Visitor Dead
An armed security operative at the Okere Prison in Delta State has allegedly shot dead a young man who visited his friend in Okere Prison in Warri, Delta State, SaharaReporters has gathered.
The operative shot the victim twice, according to a source who told SaharaReporters about the incident on Tuesday.
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The man who was there to see his friend in the prison was said to have taken some tomatoes and other food items along.
However, the correctional officials found cocaine among the items with him.
According to the source, the man was arrested and interrogated but met his end when he attempted to escape.
It was learnt that one of the operatives shot him in the leg as he tried to escape.
The security guard was said to have shot him a second time while he was still crawling, in pain. “There’s panic in Okere prison in Warri as a Prison Armed Squad shot dead a visitor this afternoon. The visitor was said to have come to visit his friend when the incident happened.
“With what visitors witnessed outside, the person came with tomatoes and some food items. And, in course of conducting their usual routine search on him, they discovered cocaine in the items. The visitor was thereafter subjected to further interrogation,” the source said.”But when he discovered that trouble loomed, he started running. One of the prison’s armed squad members present shot him in the leg. But while the person was still crawling, he shot him a second time and that killed him instantly,” the source further told SaharaReporters.
While it was not certain the part of the body the second bullet fired hit, the source revealed that the boy died immediately after he was shot the second time.
The incident has thrown the community into a state of panic, as residents flooded the streets to protest.
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Nigerians Condemn Mikel Obi For Pledging Support For Kogi Governor, Yahaya Bello
Nigerians on social media have called out former Super Eagles midfielder, Mikel Obi, for pledging support for the political aspirations of Kogi governor, Yahaya Bello.
On Sunday, Obi paid a courtesy visit to Bello in Abuja during which he lauded the achievements of the governor.
He was quoted as saying, “It is an honour for me to finally meet his Excellency personally after all the good things I have heard and read about him from not just the people of Kogi State but from Nigerians.
“My main aim is to come here to show my appreciation and to thank him for all the things he has been doing for the people and also to support him in whatever future political positions he wants to go into.
“I will like to be there to support him, to be there by his side through this journey for him to achieve whatever he wants which is for the betterment of Nigeria.”
Obi said he was hopeful that Bello and himself could work together as a team to achieve success.
However, Nigerian tweeps have taken to their social media handles to call out Obi over his comments stressing that Bello’s administration was not deserving of such accolade.
Many social media users expressed the belief that Obi must have been paid or is seeking a political position, hence his comment.
This comes as human rights activist, Omoyele Sowore, via his Twitter handle on Monday, described Obi as a sycophant.
Sowore wrote, “@mikel_john_obi As ur career in football flames out, another one starts in sycophancy + a** licking! At least for sycophancy, you don’t need any rigorous practice! Enjoy it while it lasts with@OfficialGYBKogi the most irresponsible and incompetent Nigerian governor below 50.”
Other reactions of Nigerians on social media are as follows:I really don’t know what’s wrong with some of our celebrities, Mikel Obi,in south east, d youths , where you comes from are been killed everday taken away to the unknown, yet you are busy raisng hand with yeye Bello for 2023 election.Commo sense brother.— Chidi Obiukwu (@chidiobiukwu01) June 15, 2021
@mikel_john_obi me no dey fear to tag anybody. Guy if you really said that â??Yahaya Bello is the best youth to lead Nigeriaâ?, then on behalf of well meaning Nigerians I put it to you that you’re the most miserable fool.— CJN (@onowu_jn) June 15, 2021
@mikel_john_obi that is why you are a bench warmer at chelsea for almost a decade. Blaq boy (@bethelblaq) June 15, 2021
Still shocked @mikel_john_obi does not know he’s a more better candidate than clueless #YahayaBello.Im only keeping quiet bcos I know his statement is not bcos of money or hunger.Perhaps in due cause, I’ll ask him why he made that statement.#Nigeria— L O R D _ Z E U S (@mr_clyn) June 15, 2021
@mikel_john_obi what on Earth will make you flinch support for a politician that bastardized electoral institution, stole votes, hijacked electoral materials and people got shot at and murdered for his quest to be governor. Economic hardship of his people. Guy you messed up.— Kay Gezzy (@AlpacinoViruz) June 15, 2021
@mikel_john_obi before you endorse yahaya as the next president please investigate what heâ??s doing in the state he is mandated to serve as governor now, then ask yourself if such person is what will need to transform/change the current Nigeria…— Gold ð?? ð??¬ð??§ (@koollykice73) June 15, 2021
Something has exchanged hands. It’s sad to even imagine it will be money that will make someone of Mikel Obi’s reputation and supposed wealth descend into this shameless abyss. FO (@femiwole) June 15, 2021
Am sure Obi has no need for Bello’s money or respect, he should have turned down the man’s request. Bello is completely toxic to the future of youths in Nigeria.— EKWO SAMUEL GEORGE (@official_Ekwo) June 14, 2021
All the exposure he had in England profited him nothing. He literally was passive to their civilisation and this is the proof.— Ejike McVirtue (@EMcvirtue) June 15, 2021
@MikelObi_12 I have always loved you right from your days at plateau United. But this is a let down, how on earth can you associate yourself with this miscreant Yeye Bello— #Endbadgovernance (@01Donoil) June 14, 2021
From observation, the Kogi governor is notorious for hampering freedom of speech and expression within his state.
For instance, two anti-President Muhammadu Buhari protesters, Larry Emmanuel and Victor Udoka were arrested in Kogi state for exercising their fundamental human rights, under Bello’s administration.
Irate mob flogged the two youths, filmed them and brutalised them before they were later handed over to the police.
It was gathered that the police thereafter quizzed the two protesters and detained them when they insisted on seeing their lawyer before making a statement. They were also secretly arraigned in court, without having access to their lawyers.
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Five Times Buhari Packaged, Repackaged Unpopular Policies In Favour Of Fulani Herdsmen
President Muhammadu Buhari has faced criticisms on numerous occasions for making policies perceived to be in favour of herdsmen who are largely of Fulani extraction.
Many have attributed the president’s alleged bias for herders to the fact that he is a Fulani man.
Since the inception of the Buhari-led administration in 2015, there has been a deliberate focus on the implementation of policies that favour herders, open grazing and settlement for Fulani herders.
The reasons for this are not far-reaching: the recurring conflicts between herders and farmers with unexplainable attacks by the Fulani herdsmen on farmers in Nigerian states.
This has become particularly worrisome; threatening the unity and security of the country with the fear of war and ethnic invasion.
Attempts by the Buhari government to proffer solutions have not helped matters as such often leave many parts of the country disgruntled.
Proposed policies such as cattle colonies, cattle routes, grazing reserves, and Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) settlements are examples of such.
SaharaReporters examines some policies initiated by the Buhari administration believed to be geared towards favouring cattle rearing.Cattle Colonies
In 2018, the Federal Government, through the then Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh proposed to establish cattle colonies in different parts of the country.
Ogbeh had said the cattle colony project will start immediately following the offer of five hectares of land by 16 states in the country, adding that President Buhari had promised to help the ministry with money for the project.
According to Ogbeh, facilities will be provided to take care of the herdsmen and their cattle, which they (herdsmen) have said if water and grass were provided, they would not be moving with their cattle.
However, this was widely rejected as Nigerians expressed fears that the policy was an attempt by the federal government to forcibly collect land from citizens and hand them over to herdsmen.
RUGA
In May 2019, Buhari sought to implement the Rural Grazing Area (RUGA) policy which the government claimed was intended to resolve the conflicts between nomadic Fulani herdsmen and farmers
The policy was developed by the National Livestock Transformation Plan under the Nigeria Economy Council to curb the conflict between farmers and Fulani herdsmen.
However, it had been met with a wide rejection by Nigerians, who opined that the RUGA policy was aimed at ‘stealing’ their lands for a section in the country.
State governments, in particular, Southern State governments had picked against the RUGA policy stressing that there was no section of land in their states that will be ceded for that purpose.
Water Resources Bill
In 2017, the Buhari-led Nigerian government sought that the National Water Resources Bill be passed into law by the National Assembly.
The bill, if implemented, will transfer the control of water resources from the state government to the Federal Government.
However, there was a huge outcry from Nigerians who claimed the bill was going to polarise the country along ethnic lines. Many Nigerians also decried the projected denial of access to potable water to the majority.
The bill was thereafter dropped by the National Assembly.
It was, however, reintroduced in 2020 by the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rules and Business as an executive bill.
With the reintroduction of the bill, stakeholders accused the Federal government of seeking to take over the water resources of some sections of the country to implement the rural grazing (RUGA) policy through the back door.
Grazing Reserves
Meanwhile, in August 2020, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reportedly earmarked N2.5 billion for the development of the Wawa/Zange grazing reserve in Gombe.
The director in charge of the Gombe office of the ministry, Musa Inuwa, said the money earmarked was for the construction of boreholes, veterinary clinics, schools, hospital among other social amenities in the grazing reserve.
He said the Wawa/Zange grazing reserve occupied 130 hectares out of which five hectares were used for the planting of pastures now ready for grazing.
On June 2, the Federal Government announced that it would revive grazing reserves in 21 out of the 36 states of the federation.
The current Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sabo Nanono, disclosed this during a webinar on ‘Nigeria dairy industry’, organised by the Policy Centre of Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry to mark World Milk Day, 2021 with the theme, “Sustainability in the dairy sector.”
Nanono, who spoke through a representative, Mercy Otiteh, stated that the agric ministry had mobilised contractors to various sites across the country with a target to revive the grazing reserves.
The minister said work was presently ongoing with the monitoring team supervising the progress of works at the various centres.
The minister said the Federal Government was committed to providing infrastructures that would make the reserves suitable for pastoralist thereby increasing Nigerians local dairy production capacity.
He said the government was collaborating with local and international partners to improve the relationship between farmers and herders through the revitalisation of the grazing reserves urging Nigerians to support government efforts in this direction.
However, heated conversations as to the necessity of the grazing reserve have trailed the announcement.
Reopening Of Grazing Routes
On June 11, Buhari okayed the return of open grazing practised during the First Republic where herdsmen used designated grazing routes to move cattle to several parts of the country.
Speaking during an interview with Arise TV, the president said he had asked the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to begin the process of recovering land from persons who have converted cattle grazing routes for their personal use.
Many believe the directive was an ostensible response to the decision of the 17 Southern Governors to ban open grazing.
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2023: Tinubu In France For Medical Checkup, His Health Deteriorating Due To Old Age
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress and former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, is presently in Paris, the French capital, for a medical checkup as his health is fast deteriorating.
SaharaReporters confirmed that Tinubu is away and there is no timeline for his medical treatment, as he is currently reportedly battling some old-age ailments.
“Tinubu is in Paris, France for a medical checkup. His health is deteriorating due to old age,” a top source told SaharaReporters.
Though the former Lagos state governor has not openly declared his intention to run for president in 2023, it is an open secret that he intends to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
His posters have already flooded Abuja and so were bags of rice branded as ‘Jagaban Rice’, which flooded Kano in April.
The National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) celebrated his 69th birthday in Kano State.
The decision had generated various comments but Tinubu claimed the move was to prove that Nigeria is one.
In December 2020, he met with some scholars who threw their weight behind his “2023 presidential ambition”.
Tinubu had also been to Kaduna and Katsina states, which are among the states with the largest voting populations in the country.
He had also recently donated the sum of N50 million to victims of a recent fire outbreak at Katsina Central Market in Katsina State.
This was even as he paid sympathy visits to traders and other victims of the fire outbreak in company with the state governor, Aminu Bello Masari.
Nigeria is already suffering for voting for Buhari, who had spent a considerable time, that should have been used to work for the country, treating himself abroad, on taxpayers’ funds.
“Tinubu still wants to be president. This could mean another medical tourism presidency for our country,” another source told SaharaReporters.
In January 2021, Tinubu was reported sick and hospitalised in Paris, France.
Tinubu had earlier complained of exhaustion and travelled out to rest before the news of his collapse went viral.
He was flown to Paris for medical attention in the first week of January.
SaharaReporters on Monday reported the conspicuous absence of Tinubu during the one-day working visit of President Muhammadu Buhari to inaugurate the Lagos-Ibadan Railway project in Lagos State.
Nigeria’s President, Buhari has spent over 200 days on medical leave in the United Kingdom since he assumed office in 2015. On Tuesday, April 30, Buhari embarked on a medical trip to the UK in what the Presidency described as “routine medical leave.”
According to a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the President was expected to be back in the country in the second week of April 2021.
The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari proceeds to London, the United Kingdom, Tuesday, March 30, 2021, for a routine medical check-up.
“The President meets with Security Chiefs first in the morning, after which he embarks on the journey.
“He is due back in the country during the second week of April 2021.”
The president’s trip thus attracted a lot of backlash on social media as the announcement came around the time the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD) announced that its members would be going on strike over the government’s failure to meet its demands, including non-payment of allowances.
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E2%80%94-ngige Ex-Presidents Obasanjo, Jonathan Would Not Take Criticisms Buhari Tolerates— Ngige
Chris Ngige
The Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a democrat who is afraid of breaching the constitution.
Ngige claimed no past president of Nigeria would tolerate what Nigerians are throwing at Buhari, Daily Post reports.
Chris Ngige
He said Nigerians see Buhari as a “willing horse” to be ridden to death.
Ngige, who was speaking on Channels Television, said former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan would not tolerate some of the criticisms thrown at Buhari.
He also dismissed claims that Buhari was fond of flouting the rule of law.
Ngige said the President was rather afraid of breaching any of Nigeria’s laws.
He said: “If a government has done well; if a president has done well, give him accolades there. Areas he has not done well, point them out and discuss.
“Buhari is a democrat and is so afraid of a breach of the constitution or any law. I am even stronger than him in terms of that.
”Even President Obasanjo, can he give you people this latitude? He will not. I know him. Even ex-President Goodluck Jonathan will not allow such.
“They will not grant you, people, that. So, Buhari is a willing horse and Nigerians want to ride him to death.”
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