Ondo Workers Threaten Strike over non payment of salary areas and leave bonus

Ondo Workers Threaten Strike

Organised labour in Ondo state has given the state government until Friday the 12th day of October 2018 to pay workers’ leave bonus and Salary arrears or be ready for industrial action.

Governor Rotimi Akeredolu

The workers gave the ultimatum while briefing newsmen on the outcome of their meeting with Governor Rotimi Akeredolu which according to them did not yield any positive result on the demand of the workers.

The chairman joint negotiation council, JNC, Comrade Opeyemi Oloniyo said the arrears of the 2017/2018 leave bonus was long overdue ,Oloniyo also lamented the recent delay in payment of workers’ salaries  by the Ondo state government.

The organised labour, which expressed dissatisfaction about government’s excuse that the bailout fund was re debited from the state account by the central bank of Nigeria, also decried deductions from their salaries.

Fayose takes yet another shot at Gen Mohamodu Buhari

The Ekiti State Governor Governor Ayo Fayose has taken yet another Shot at the APC presidential Candidate General moahmodu Buhari (RTD) in yet another sponsored advert on the front page of the Daily Sun Newspaper.

Text Of Buhari's Speech At Chatham House, London «

"Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition" - By General Muhammadu Buhari
Chatham House, London, 26 February 2015

Permit me to start by thanking Chatham House for the invitation to talk about this important topic at this crucial time. The 2015 general election in Nigeria is generating a lot of interests within and outside the country. This is understandable. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, is at a defining moment, a moment that has great implications beyond the democratic project and beyond the borders of my dear country.

So let me say upfront that the global interest in Nigeria’s landmark election is not misplaced at all and indeed should be commended, for this is an election that has serious import for the world. I urge the international community to continue to focus on Nigeria at this very critical moment. Given increasing global linkages, it is in our collective interests that the postponed elections should hold on the rescheduled dates, that they should be free and fair, that their outcomes should be respected by all parties, and that any form of extension, under whichever guise, is unconstitutional and would not be tolerated.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War, democracy became the dominant and most preferred system of government across the globe. That global transition has been aptly captured as the triumph of democracy and the ‘most pre-eminent political idea of our time.’ On a personal note, the phased end of the USSR was a turning point for me. If you will, that was my own road to Damascus experience. It convinced me that change can be brought about without firing a single shot. As you all know, I had been a military head of state in Nigeria for twenty months. We intervened because we were unhappy with the state of affairs in our country.

We wanted to arrest the drift. Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence and popularity of such drastic measures all over Africa and elsewhere, we fought our way to power. But the global triumph of democracy has shown that another, and a preferable, path to change is possible. It is an important lesson I have carried with me since, and a lesson that is not lost on the African continent.

In the last two decades, democracy has grown strong roots in Africa. Elections, once so rare, are now so commonplace. As at the time I was a military head of state between 1983 and 1985, only four African countries held regular multi-party elections. But the number of electoral democracies in Africa, according to Freedom House, jumped to 10 in 1992/1993 then to 18 in 1994/1995 and to 24 in 2005/2006.

According to the New York Times, 42 of the 48 countries in Sub-Sahara Africa conducted multi-party elections between 1990 and 2002. The newspaper also reported that between 2000 and 2002, ruling parties in four African countries (Senegal, Mauritius, Ghana and Mali) peacefully handed over power to victorious opposition parties. In addition, the proportion of African countries categorized as not free by Freedom House declined from 59% in 1983 to 35% in 2003. Without doubt, Africa has been part of the current global wave of democratisation.

But the growth of democracy on the continent has been uneven. According to Freedom House, the number of electoral democracies in Africa slipped from 24 in 2007/2008 to 19 in 2011/2012; while the percentage of countries categorised as ‘not free’ increased from 35% in 2003 to 41% in 2013. Also, there have been some reversals at different times in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania and Togo.

While we can choose to look at the glass of democracy in Africa as either half full or half empty. While you can’t have representative democracy without elections, it is equally important to look at the quality of the elections and to remember that mere elections do not democracy make. It is globally agreed that democracy is not an event, but a journey. And that the destination of that journey is democratic consolidation—that state where democracy has become so rooted and so routine and widely accepted by all actors.

With this important destination in mind, it is clear that though many African countries now hold regular elections, very few of them have consolidated the practice of democracy. It is important to also state at this point that just as with elections, a consolidated democracy cannot be an end by itself. I will argue that it is not enough to hold series of elections or even to peacefully alternate power among parties.

It is much more important that the promise of democracy goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their leaders. It is much more important that democracy should deliver on the promise of choice, of freedoms, of security of lives and property, of transparency and accountability, of rule of law, of good governance and of shared prosperity. It is very important that the promise embedded in the concept of democracy, the promise of a better life for the generality of the people, is not delivered in the breach.

Now, let me quickly turn to Nigeria. As you all know, Nigeria’s fourth republic is in its 16th year and this general election will be the fifth in a row. This is a major sign of progress for us, given that our first republic lasted five years and three months, the second republic ended after four years and two months and the third republic was a still-birth. However, longevity is not the only reason why everyone is so interested in this election.

The major difference this time around is that for the very first time since transition to civil rule in 1999, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing its stiffest opposition so far from our party the All Progressives Congress (APC). We once had about 50 political parties, but with no real competition. Now Nigeria is transiting from a dominant party system to a competitive electoral polity, which is a major marker on the road to democratic consolidation. As you know, peaceful alternation of power through competitive elections have happened in Ghana, Senegal, Malawi and Mauritius in recent times.

The prospects of democratic consolidation in Africa will be further brightened when that eventually happens in Nigeria.

But there are other reasons why Nigerians and the whole world are intensely focussed on this year’s elections, chief of which is that the elections are holding in the shadow of huge security, economic and social uncertainties in Africa’s most populous country and largest economy.

On insecurity, there is a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria. Apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history has Nigeria been this insecure. Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium. What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency.

I, as a retired general and a former head of state, have always known about our soldiers: they are capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our country. You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world. But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem. The government has also failed in any effort towards a multi-dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours coming to our rescue.

Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently, that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa, and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunitions to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering to choke Boko Haram's financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.

We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, General Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

On the economy, the fall in prices of oil has brought our economic and social stress into full relief. After the rebasing exercise in April 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest economy. Our GDP is now valued at $510 billion and our economy rated 26th in the world. Also on the bright side, inflation has been kept at single digit for a while and our economy has grown at an average of 7% for about a decade. But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated to human development or shared prosperity. A development economist once said three questions should be asked about a country’s development: one, what is happening to poverty? Two, what is happening to unemployment? And three, what is happening to inequality?

The answers to these questions in Nigeria show that the current administration has created two economies in one country, a sorry tale of two nations: one economy for a few who have so much in their tiny island of prosperity; and the other economy for the many who have so little in their vast ocean of misery. Even by official figures, 33.1% of Nigerians live in extreme poverty. That’s at almost 60 million, almost the population of the United Kingdom. There is also the unemployment crisis simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode at the slightest stress, with officially 23.9% of our adult population and almost 60% of our youth unemployed. We also have one of the highest rates of inequalities in the world. With all these, it is not surprising that our performance on most governance and development indicators (like Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance and UNDP’s Human Development Index.) are unflattering. With fall in the prices of oil, which accounts for more than 70% of government revenues, and lack of savings from more than a decade of oil boom, the poor will be disproportionately impacted.

In the face of dwindling revenues, a good place to start the repositioning of Nigeria's economy is to swiftly tackle two ills that have ballooned under the present administration: waste and corruption. And in doing this, I will, if elected, lead the way, with the force of personal example.

On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration. First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process. Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only. Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited. The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference. But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I'm running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity.

In reforming the economy, we will use savings that arise from blocking these leakages and the proceeds recovered from corruption to fund our party’s social investments programmes in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly. As a progressive party, we must reform our political economy to unleash the pent-up ingenuity and productivity of the Nigerian people thus freeing them from the indignities of poverty.

We will run a private sector-led economy but maintain an active role for government through strong regulatory oversight and deliberate interventions and incentives to diversify the base of our economy, strengthen productive sectors, improve the productive capacities of our people and create jobs for our teeming youths. In short, we will run a functional economy driven by a worldview that sees growth not as an end by itself, but as a tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alike. On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe the people will choose wisely.

In sum, I think that given its strategic importance, Nigeria can trigger a wave of democratic consolidation in Africa. But as a starting point we need to get this critical election right by ensuring that they go ahead and depriving those who want to scuttle it the benefit of derailing our fledgling democracy. That way, we will all see democracy and democratic consolidation as tools for solving pressing problems in a sustainable way, not as ends in themselves.

Permit me to close this discussion on a personal note. I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many respected British newspapers including the well regarded Economist. Let me say without sounding defensive that dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be less dictatorial than others.

I take responsibility for whatever happened under my watch. I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.

You may ask: why is he doing this? This is a question I ask myself all the time too. And here is my humble answer: because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that all Nigerians will be proud of.

I thank you for listening.

President Jonathan's New Year Broadcast Speech on the 1st of January 2014

Dear Great People of our nation,

1. I greet and felicitate with you all as we enter the New Year today. As we mark the beginning of this New Year, 2015, a new nation is being born. A new nation is being born because of the foundations we have all laid, working together for the good and progress of our dear fatherland.

2. I join you all in thanking God Almighty who has brought us this far, for continually bestowing His Grace upon us and for guiding our great nation safely through all the challenges of the past year.

3. This year, as in the year past, I reaffirm my commitment to work to ensure a secure future for our dear country and the generations yet unborn.

4. Last year, we celebrated our hundredth year of nationhood. The year brought us further progress, challenges and fresh opportunities.

5. We have contended with the normal challenges of nation-building and the unusual challenges of terrorism.

6. But we have continued to vigorously confront those who seek to destroy the bonds of unity that hold us together.

7. On this first day of the New Year, I want to pay special tribute to the gallant officers, men and women of our Armed Forces and other security agencies who have been in the forefront of the war against terrorism and violent extremism in our country and sub-region.

8. I also commend all Nigerians who have remained vigilant and cooperative with our security agencies in the fight against the common enemy.

9. We are re-equipping and re-positioning our armed forces to enhance their capacity to win the ongoing war against terror and insurgency.

10. Regrettably, terrorists have unleashed much pain and agony on our land. They have made widows of our mothers and sisters and orphans of our children. They have shut down businesses, desecrated places of worship and brought untold hardship to both men and women. They have violated the culture and peaceful way of life in our country, which took generations to build.

11. They have destroyed countless schools and displaced people from their communities, driving them into exile.

12. I want to assure you that the terrorists will not get away with their atrocities: they will not win; they will be routed. As President, I feel the pain of all affected communities and families. I hear their cries and share their sorrow and pain.

13. We will not forget; we will not look the other way. We have done a lot of painstaking planning and work to resolve the current security challenge. We will bring justice to the savage terrorists known as Boko Haram. They will be defeated.

14. That is the solemn commitment I make today as President of the Federal Republic, and Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces.

15. By the Special Grace of God, the Federal Government, under my leadership, has continued, in the past four years to lead our country forward, even under the most trying circumstances.

16. The progress we have made in priority areas bears us testimony.

17. Amongst other achievements, we have rehabilitated and expanded our rail transportation network, successfully privatized power generation and distribution, significantly reformed and increased local participation in our oil and gas industry, and improved nationwide access to potable water from 57% in 2010, to 70% at present.

18. We have also made significant progress in improving access to primary, secondary and tertiary education by building and equipping more schools, including special Almajiri schools, and establishing additional universities to ensure that each state of the nation now has at least one Federal University.

19. Our national economy maintained a steady growth rate of close to seven per cent in the past four years and millions of fresh employment opportunities were created for our people as a direct consequence.

20. Recently, we launched the Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) and the $100 million dollars Government and Donor Fund for Agriculture Finance in Nigeria (FAFIN) to fast-track the positive transformation of our agricultural sector.

21. The Youth Employment in Agriculture Programme (YEAP) targets 750, 000 market-oriented young agricultural producers while the $100 million dollars Fund is to provide affordable long-term financing to support the development of small and medium agribusinesses in the country.

22. This is in addition to a N50 billion Farm Mechanization Support Fund set up by the Central Bank to establish 1,200 agricultural equipment-hiring enterprises.

23. Both funds will become fully operational this year. Policies and programmes such as these to boost agricultural production remain topmost on the agenda of this administration.

24. Being very conscious of the inherent perils of our over-reliance on income from crude oil exports for national development, we have focused on accelerating the diversification of our economy.

25. The non-oil Sector which has grown by an average of 8% in the last few years, is now a major driver of growth in our economy.

26. The 2015 national budget, which is now before the National Assembly, is targeted at deepening our efforts at becoming a non-oil economy.

27. The budget also includes measures to ensure that the downturn in the price of oil does not affect our development plans and our national economy too adversely. We are adjusting our financial processes to safeguard our economy. We are also taking steps to ensure that the poor and the low and medium income earners do not bear the brunt.

28. In 2015, this administration will continue to lay the foundation for a vibrant economy that attracts significant Foreign Direct Investment and promotes policies that ensure economic stability.

29. We will ensure stability in the value of the Naira by striving to take away speculative behaviours that cause market exchange pressures.

30. We will continue to build and maintain a healthy external reserves position and strengthen fiscal buffers. We will ensure the Naira remains strong, and gives foreign investors the clarity and certainty that they need, to guide future investment decisions.

31. We will continue to improve our payment systems and strengthen risk-based supervision mechanism for Nigerian banks to ensure overall health and stability of the banking system.

32. We are introducing a broad spectrum of financial instruments to boost sector-specific enterprise areas in agriculture, Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSMEs), manufacturing, and oil and gas to enhance our aggregate supply capacity, reduce poverty, promote job creation and increase the general well-being of our people.

33. These efforts and other measures being spearheaded by relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, are geared to ensure a secure future for Nigeria and create a much more prosperous country, where people live more peaceful and fulfilled lives.

Fellow countrymen and women,

34. As we enter an election year, I assure you that our administration will remain fully focused on providing good governance and the delivery of better public services to our people.

35. The coming campaigns and elections will not distract us from our ongoing work to significantly improve the living conditions of our people. And I urge all tiers of government not to be distracted as well.

36. The elections are very important for us as a country. Their successful conclusion will further strengthen our democratic institutions and place our beloved country even more firmly in the comity of truly democratic nations.

37. Given the challenges that have characterized some previous electoral contests in our country, the eyes of the world will certainly be on the conduct and outcome of our fifth post-military rule general elections.

38. I reassure all Nigerians and the international community of our firm commitment to free, fair and credible elections. My commitment to free elections and one man, one vote remains unwavering.

39. Our administration has worked hard in previous elections to prepare all key stakeholders including the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), security agencies and the electorate optimally, to ensure a progressively improved electoral process in the country under my watch. We will continue to do so for the coming elections.

40. We will continue to provide adequate funding to INEC and maintain the Commission’s independence and isolate it from any form of interference or meddling in its day-to-day affairs. This shall continue to guarantee its impartiality and ability to conduct more credible and acceptable elections.

41. National security agencies will also be given all necessary support to enhance their ability to ensure that the elections are peaceful and violence-free. The Nigeria Police has already established an Elections Security Planning and Monitoring Unit.

42. I am optimistic that with the cooperation of all law-abiding citizens of the country, our commitment to have a peaceful and violence-free election will be actualized.

43. I will like to say this, once again, to my fellow politicians and political leaders. None of our political ambitions is worth the blood of any of our countrymen, women and children. The improvement of their lives and living conditions ought to be our primary motive and the driving force of our quest for political power and leadership positions.

44. Let us not promote sectionalism, disunity, intolerance, hate, falsehood or the malicious abuse of political opponents. Whatever we feel or seek, we must have a nation and a people before we can dream of political ambitions. Let us put the nation and the people first.

45. Let us all conduct our electoral campaigns with the highest possible decorum and civility towards political opponents. Let us give INEC the fullest possible support and cooperation it requires to conduct credible and violence-free elections in 2015.

46. After the 2011 general elections, some unpatriotic elements embarked on an Fun of violence, resulting in the destruction of lives and property. That will not be allowed to happen this time around. This government will act decisively against anyone who disrupts the public peace, before, during or after the 2015 general elections.

47. All Nigerians, of voting age, are free to vote based on their convictions. It is our duty to defend and protect that basic right, and let no one be in doubt, we will.

48. Fellow Nigerians, I urge all of you to enter the New Year with renewed zeal and patriotism, to serve our fatherland with love, honesty, faithfulness and hope for a greater tomorrow.

49. As I have always maintained, none of the challenges before us is insurmountable. We must come together as a people and work with single-minded unity of purpose to overcome them.

50. Nigeria is a key country in Africa. We must work together to maintain our strategic position and collaborate with others to move the continent forward. I call for peace in Africa and an end to all conflicts in our continent. I urge all Africans to promote democracy in their respective countries to ensure faster development of the continent and faster economic and political integration.

51. We will continue to pray and offer hands of fellowship and assistance to our fellow Africans suffering from the Ebola Virus Disease. I urge all Nigerians to show compassion and contribute in whatever way we can to help our African brothers and sisters.

52. As we go into this New Year, I salute the indomitable and resilient spirit of our people in Nigeria and wherever they are in the world. Our spirit of enterprise and the doggedness to succeed amongst all odds has been our strength.

53. With our collective prayers and efforts, we will grow our economy and our people will become wealthier. Government will continue with programmes deliberately designed to create more jobs for our youth, to enable them contribute more to the growth and development of our nation.

54. Let us continue our march to the future, towards the attainment of our collective vision of a strong, united, prosperous and harmonious nation – a secure nation for us and for our coming generations.

55. I wish you all a happy and fulfilling 2015.

56. God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

57. Happy New Year, Nigeria!

58. I thank you all.

Goodluck Jonathan Vs Muhammadu Buhari Curriculum Vitae (CV)

GOODLUCK JONATHAN CURRICULUM VITAE

Born in Otuoke, Bayelsa State, on 20 November 1957.

Education

St Stephen’s primary school ( now state school ) Otuoke, 1961 – 1965

St Michael’s primary school, Oloibiri, Bayelsa State FSLC, 1966 – 1969

Mater Dei high school, Imiringi, Bayelsa State , 1971 – 1975

University of Port Harcourt, 1977 – 1981

University of Port Harcourt, 1983 – 1984

University of Port Harcourt, 1987 – 1995

Academic Qualifications:

First School Leaving Certificate (FSLC) 1969

West African School Certificate (WASC) 1975

General Certificate of Education (GCE O/L) 1976

B. Sc. Zoology Second Class (hons) Upper Division 1981

M. Sc. Hydrobiology/Fisheries Biology 1985

Ph. D. Zoology 1995

Employment History:

Preventive Officer, Dept. Of Customs & Excise, 1975 – 1977

Science Inspector of Education, Rivers State Ministry of Education, Port Harcourt , 1982 – 1983

Lecturer, Dept. Of Biology, Rivers State College of Education, Port Harcourt , 1983 – 1993

Assistant Director, (Ecology)/ Head Sub – Dept. Of Environment Protection, OMPADEC, 1993 – 1998

Deputy Governor, Bayelsa State from May 1999 to 2005

Governor, Bayelsa State from May 2005 to May 2007

Vice President, Federal Republic of Nigeria from May 2007 to February 2010

Acting President, Federal Republic of Nigeria from February 2010 to May 2010

President, Commander-in-chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria from May 2010 to date

Awards:

Best Performing Deputy Governor Award in the Federation in 2002, by the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (IPAN)

Award of "Exemplary Leadership Quality and Good Governance" conferred by the National Association of Women in Education Development in July 2003

Honorary Award for Democracy and Good Governance conferred by the NUJ Abuja Council



MUHAMMADU BUHARI’S  CURRICULUM VITAE

Born in Daura, Katsina State, on 17 December 1942

Education

Attended Primary School in Daura and Mai’adua, 1948-1952
Attended Katsina Model School in 1953 and Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College Katsina) from 1956-1961.


Joined the then Nigerian Military Training School, Kaduna in 1963.
Attended Officer’s Cadet School in Aldershot (United Kingdom), October 1963
Attended Platoon Commanders’ Course at the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna, 1964
Attended the Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden (United Kingdom) 1965
Studied at the Defence Services’ Staff College, Wellington (India), 1973
Attended the United States Army War College, June 1979 to June 1980.

Professional Achievements

Platoon Commander, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 1963-1964;
Mechanical Transport Officer, Lagos Garrison, 1964-1965;
Transport Company Commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1965-1966;
Battalion Adjutant/Commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1966-1967;
Brigade Major, 2nd Sector, 1st Infantry Division, April to July, 1967;
Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Division, August 1967 – October 1968;
Acting Commander, 4th Sector, 1st Division, November 1968 – February 1970;
Commander, 31st Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, February 1970 – June 1971;
Assistant Adjutant-General, 1st Infantry Division Headquarters, July 1971 – December 1972;
Colonel, General Staff, 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, January 1974 – September 1974;
Acting Director Supply and Transport, Nigeria Army Corps Headquarters, September 1974 – July 1975;
Military Governor, North Eastern State of Nigeria, August 1975 – March 1976;
Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, March 1976 – June 1978;
Chairman, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, June 1978 – July 1978;
Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, July 1978 – June 1979;
Member, Supreme Military Council, July 1978 – June 1979;
General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division, August 1980 – January 1981;
General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armored Division, November 1981 – December 1983;
Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, December 1983 – August 1985.
Executive Chairman of the Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), 21 March 1995 – May 1999.

Awards and Medals

GCFR: Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
DSM: Defence Service Medal
NSM: National Service Medal
GSM: General Service Medal
LSGCM: Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal
FSS: Forces Service Star
CM: The Congo Medal

Honorary Doctorate Degrees
10 December 1994: Honorary Doctor of Science degree (honoris causa) conferred on Buhari by Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

21 December 1996: Honorary Doctor of Letters degree (honoris causa) conferred on Buhari by the University of Calabar.

6 June 1998: Honorary Doctor of Law degree (honoris causa) conferred on Buhari by Benue State University.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo acceptance speech on his nomination as the Vice-Presidential candidate of APC

" I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been nominated as the Vice-Presidential candidate of our party, APC and especially the Presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari.

“I also thank the leaders and elders of our great party, APC for the trust reposed in me.

“The task of rebuilding this nation is one to which I am fully committed. There can be no other President, Leader and commander that can lead that common sense revolution Nigeria urgently needs than General Muhammadu Buhari. I will proudly serve this country with him.

“General Buhari’s uprightness and fierce commitment to good governance is well known. It will be a privilege to work with him. I come to this assignment with lots of hope and a resolve to be a part of this movement to bring Nigeria back to its lost glory. With the support of all Nigerians and the help of God, we shall make Nigeria work again.

“I will work with him and the party to restore hope and confidence in millions of our youth and provide comfort and security for millions of our country men and women.
I thank you all”.

Muhammadu Buhari Has Announced Professor Yemi Osinbajo As Presidential Running Mate

The All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has chosen Professor Yemi Osinbajo as his running mate in the 2015 presidential election scheduled for February 14, 2015.
     Professor Yemi Osinbajo  is  a  a professor of law and was HOD of Public Law at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) [1997-1999] , a senior Advocate of Nigeria and Senior Partner in Simmons-Cooper Partners law firm., He served as the Special Adviser to the Attorney General of Nigeria from 1988 to 1992.In 1999, he became the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos state. He was reappointed for a second term in 2003. During that period  he began the Lagos State justice reform project, which featured the establishment of the Directorate for Citizen's Rights (DCR) (which gave free legal services and legal representations to Lagos state's less-privileged.)  he is a Pastor at at Olive Tree House of Prayer for All Nations ,Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God Parish Located in Banana Island, He is the Chairman Board of trustees (BOT) of The Redeemer's  university , He has served in various capacities in the United Nations.

Retired General Buhari On Sharia Law . what is your reaction to this quote??

' Sharia should be introduced in full across Nigeria....... i will continue to show openly and inside me the total commitment to the Sharia movement that is sweeping all over Nigeria......... God willing we will not stop the agitation for the total implementation of the sharia in our Country ...... It is a legal responsibility which god has given us , within the context of one Nigeria to continue to uphold on the practice of Sharia wholeheartedly and to educate non-Muslims that they have nothing to fear, what remains for Muslims in Nigeria to redouble their efforts, educate Muslims on the need to promote the full implementation of Sharia law'
 Former Military head of State   Gen (Rtd) Muhammadu Buhari  Speaking in Kaduna  at a Seminar organized by the supreme council of Sharia in Nigeria (2001)


The  Quote above is credited to the APC presidential aspirant for the upcoming 2015 election , The picture above showing a portion of the newspaper where the transcript of the quote came from was probably a   sponsored quote for the purpose of political propaganda,  anyway what is the implication of these words from the retired General?
 Some have the fears that , he has got serious links with Boko Haram ,the dreaded terrorist group  who has been making Nigeria difficult to govern by the incumbent administration, many believes these words portrays  Buhari as a Religious fundamentalists who would   introduce Sharia through out  Nigeria and as a result 'islamize ' the country if given a chance to be president in year 2015, the pertinent question is does the statement above justify these fears??  Others believe Buhari has got zero tolerance for corruption  based on his records when he was military head of states , that giving him a second chance will  rid Nigeria of corrupt leaders
  Please feel free to express your opinion , we would like to read your comments on this blog. what do you think??

Ribadu emerge as Adamawa PDP gubernatorial candidate for 2015

Mallam Nuhu Ribadu former Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC Monday emerged the winner of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP gubernatorial primaries ahead of 2015 Gubernatorial Election.
Nuhu Ribadu  who in year 2011 was the Presidential candidate of the Old Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, but was defeated by President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP polled 688 votes to defeat others at the end of the primaries which took place at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Garki, Abuja, emerged as PDP’s flag bearer for the election.
The National Leadership of PDP was on Friday forced to relocate the conduct of the Adamawa State primaries where its candidates for the 2015 general elections would emerge to the nation’s Capital city, Abuja, following the continued security challenges posed by the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East.Governor James Bala Ngilari and his supporters have described the primaries conducted in the nation’s capital city, Abuja as illegal and flagrant disregard of a subsisting court order by a competent court of law, just as they stressed that the action was totally unacceptable.

Addressing Journalists yesterday in Abuja, Chairman, Adamawa State Chapter of PDP, Chief Joel Madaki who boasted that they would go ahead with the primary election in Yola, the state capital, however asked what list the other group was using in Abuja to conduct the primaries, adding, ” they will never succeed, we remain focused, resolute and we are working for Mr. President. What list are they using; the Joel Madaki led Exco is prepared to hold the primaries in Adamawa and not Abuja.

Muray Ben Bruce of Silver Bird group Wins PDP Bayelsa East Senatorial seat.

Benedict Murray-Bruce the Chaiman of Silver Bird group Wins PDP Bayelsa East Senatorial seat.

The Chairman, Senate Committee on Oil and Gas, Downstream sector, Senator Emmanuel Paulker and former Director General, Nigerian Television Authority, (NTA), and Chairman of Silverbird Group, Mr. Ben Murray-Bruce have emerged as the ruling People’s Democratic Party, (PDP) flag bearers representing Bayelsa Central and East Senatorial Districts in the 2015 general election.
However, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri lost his re-election bid to the immediate past chairman of the Bayelsa State Scholarship Board, Evangelist Foster Ogola.
This was contained in the result declared by the Chief Returning Officers in the three Senatorial Districts and coordinated by the Chairman, Bayelsa State National Assembly Primaries Electoral Committee, General Idi Adamu, (retd).

Ben Murray-Bruce
Murray-Bruce won by 138 votes, 127 votes more than second placed Anthony Ikoli (SAN) who polled 11. Hon. Nelson Belief 2 votes, Mrs Irene Digitemie Opuene 4 votes, Hon. Clever Ikisikpo 0 votes while Austin Dressman and Professor Ayebaemi Spiff withdrew.
In Bayelsa Central Senatorial District polled Senator Emmanuel Paulker 174 votes to win and retain his place. Austin Ogionwon Febo got 17 votes, Ebiundu Komonibo 1 vote, Torunana 1 vote.
In Bayelsa West Senatorial District, Evangelist Foster Ogola 69 votes winner, Hon. Ayakeme Whiskey 27 votes, Captain Matthew Karimo 12 votes, Dr. Stella Dorgu 3 votes, Chief Frank Akpoebi 2 votes, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri 0

Source Silverbirdtv

QUOTES From Nigeria in the Political fold over the last few weeks

“What are you talking about? Are you
defending the nonsense the Federal
Government is doing? They breached the law
by failing to declare the money that was on-
board the plane. Imagine if I was the one that
was caught with that amount of money or if it
was Mallam el-Rufai (an APC leader)? We would
probably be languishing in prison by now.”
 –
National Publicity Secretary of the All
Progressives Congress, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, reacts to the $9.3m seized by
the South African government


“We were together till about 5pm yesterday,
(Thusrday). But taking his life is not an option.
It is not the best. This is irreparable and we
have come here to condole with the family. If
this other party are sure they are not the one
responsible for the killing, they should be
courageous enough to come and pay a
condolence visit to his family,” – Ekiti
governor-elect, Ayo Fayose, challenges
Governor Kayode Fayemi to visit family of
deceased, former Ekiti State Chairman of
National Union of Road Transport Workers,
Omolafe Aderiye


Ladies and gentlemen, it is gratifying to see
that our story is different today. We have
effectively retrieved Anambra State from the
gangsters that once drove our great sons and
daughters away from home and made it
impossible for investors to remember Anambra
in their investment plans. We have chased
away the enemies who forced our people to do
Igba nkwu nwanyi (traditional marriage) in
Lagos. – Executive Governor of Anambra
State ,Willie Obiano, addresses Ndi Anambra
at a security fund raising in Lagos


”Even though Fayose has not assumed office,
he has succeeded in taking Ekiti State back to
Egypt within a few months of his ‘election’. Not
only are Judges being attacked, the kind of
killings and chaos that characterized his first
time in charge of the state have already
started,” – The All Progressives Congress
reacts to the Ekiti crisis

“If the majority of the people decide to choose
the weakest among them, or the least
competent among them to lead them, the
purpose of democracy is fulfilled. They must
live with their choices until the next ballot…
Should government develop our infrastructure,
our economies and let us compete to be the
best that we can be? Or should government
give us money, rice, kerosene and contracts,
once every four years and leave us to fend for
ourselves until the next election? We cannot
consolidate the norms of democracy without
proper values, which are shared. It is only if
we believe in the same thing that our methods
can be united to achieve it” – Lagos State
governor, Babatunde Fashola, advises
Nigerians on the choice of candidates in
2015 general elections


“Take away people who left the PDP from the
APC, you will have nothing left in the APC. I
will fight my own war in PDP, I cannot fight
war for the opposition; let them fight their
own war. I have been maligned, I have been
harassed, but I remain in PDP. I will remain a
loyal member of the PDP.” – Jigawa State
Governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, says PDP is
his home



“Nigerians should see me as new Atiku. I was
in government the first time from 1999 to
2007 and I always thank my God that it did
not continue. I have had a break. That break
has enabled me to interact with ordinary
Nigerians and know what they want and listen
to them. Probably if I had continued and
became the president I wouldn’t have been the
new Atiku,” – Former Vice President, Atiku
Abubakar, in a build up to declaring his
presidential candidacy ambition



“You see, the way we go about our politics is
so funny. What irritates me now is what I see
on Television; at the last count, I think
somebody was writing in a national paper that
they have over 8,000 groups for Jonathan,
groups calling on Jonathan to run. I have never
seen such an embarrassing thing in my life.
Jonathan is a sitting President; he is a member
of a political party. You see Pius Anyim,
Secretary to Government, saying we have
collected 4 million signatures begging Jonathan
to come and run; this is a repetition of what
happened during the Military – the 1 million
man-match. We do not need it now. Have you
ever seen a group calling on Obama, please
come and run, or on Cameron of the United
Kingdom? They just coin all kinds of name,
Goodluck to Goodluck, Jonathan to Jonathan,
door to door, I mean that is the part of our
democracy that we started that is irritating to
me.” – Charles Idahosa, Political Adviser to
Edo State Governor, is sick of Nigerian
politics


“Our decision to return him to the Senate in
2015 is irrevocable. We in Benue State have
endorsed the candidature of Mark to return to
the Senate. The position of Senator Mark is
not contestable. We want him back and there
is no question or argument about it.” – Benue
State governor, Gabriel Suswam, wanta
David Mark re-elected for Benue South
Senatorial district


“Come 2015, APC will be in Aso Rock, but we
must be aggressive to drag PDP and its
members out of the presidency and indeed,
Nigeria. I have the capacity to govern the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. I must also make
it abundantly clear that the PDP and indeed,
President Goodluck Jonathan, cannot defeat
me in the forthcoming general election” – Imo
State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, calls on
President Goodluck Jonathan to start
writing down his handover notes

"I don’t believe that the north will vote PDP.
Simply because PDP has failed everyone in this
country. If elected President, 50 per cent of
my cabinet will be made up of young people. I
will strengthen institutions and make sure that
the judiciary ensures prosecutions are seen to
their logical conclusion.
APC for me is a bus stop. I’m not leaving for
any other party.” – Former Vice President,
Atiku Abubakar, reveals plans for Nigeria, if
elected president


“I don’t know what went wrong or why
eyebrows were raised last week when the
paltry sum of $9.3m was discovered by some
busybody agents in South Africa after a private
jet (alias PJ) from Nigeria landed innocuously.
I’m surprised that anyone would dare search
such a super executive jet anywhere in Africa
where the rich can get away with murder. The
story that went viral was that a plane
belonging to the President of the Christian
Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor,
a man of God, close friend and confidant of
our President, university owner, and so on,
was pounced upon and searched
comprehensively. What impudence!” – Dele
Momodu, publisher of Ovation International
magazine and Politician calls South Africa
thinks South Africa is unwise for revealing
what was supposed to be concealed
$9.3million on CAN president’s PJ to South
Africa


“There is no need hiding my joy, this is the
month of August, the month of my birth,
another good news I have for you is that after
completing my consultation, I have offered
myself to complete my tenure as the governor
of Imo State.”
Former Governor of Imo Ikedi Ohakim
addressing members of the press earlier this
week.


“The election was rigged in favour of
Aregbesola; some members of the O-YES were
used as INEC’s ad hoc staff, some security
agents were compromised.”
Senator Iyiola Omisore has told his supporters
in Osun to calm don and be optimistic as he
will be declared Osun state governor come 25
November.


“These campaigns, ostensibly by the
Transformation Ambassadors of Nigeria but in
truth being bankrolled by the Federal
Government, offends national sensibilities at a
time our citizens are being daily slaughtered
and our troops are struggling against the
terrorists who are bent on balkanising our
nation,”- APC said.
The All Progressives Congress (APC), calling out
President Goodluck Jonathan on setting his
priorities straight in a statement issued by its
National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed.


“This is my personal opinion. If we have
Tambuwal as President and Fashola as Vice-
President, Jonathan will be out immediately it
is announced. I think that is what the youth
want. If you want a change in this country, let
them put Tambuwal and Fashola. Nigeria will
change and in fact, the stock exchange will
increase that same day it is announced. It will
give people a relief.-”
Yomi Ogunnusi, Deputy Chairman of the House
of Representatives Committee on Finance, on a
possible winning ticket for the APC for the
2015 Presidential elections.


“Ribadu remains a friend & brother. He is
matured. He remains one who believes in
liberty, justice and service. I wish him LUCK
with GOODLUCK”-
Former Lagos governor, Bola Tinubu, sending
what many consider a cryptic message to Nuhu
Ribadu on his defection to the PDP from the
APC.

Senate President, David Mark said he had forgiven The Lawmaker that assaulted him

Senate President, David Mark, on Friday said he had forgiven Hon. Abdulmalik Cheche (PDP Niger) who assaulted him on the floor of the House of Representatives chamber on Thursday during the pandemonium that ensued following the invasion of the National Assembly by security agents.

Mark in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Kola Ologbondiyan, in Abuja, also said that he did not hold any grudge against Cheche over his action.

Mark added that both the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal and the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, had already pleaded with him on behalf of the lawmaker over his unruly behaviour.

He described his experience in the hands of the lawmaker as “his prize and sacrifice for leadership.”

He said, “It is a sacrifice I am prepared to accept. I was physically stopped at the gate and booked from accessing the National Assembly complex for about an hour . I was also tear gassed at the lobby of the White House as I made my return from the Green Chamber.

” In all these, I bear no ill feeling . AbdulMalik (Cheche) is my colleague. I have forgiven him. I believe we can continue to work together in the interest of peace and sustenance of democracy.”

Hon. Kawu Sumaila pictured here taking a break after jumping the fence at the Assembly ground yesterday. He was also the one who charged at Senate President  David Mark asking him to leave the chambers during  commotion at the House of Representative. He later took off his suit to rest after all the running around, looking quite exhausted. 

Providing an insight into what transpired inside the lower chamber, Mark said his visit to the Green Chamber, was “to ascertain the safety of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and his colleagues having received reports that canisters of tear gas were targeted at them.”

He said, “I also went to confer with Mr. Speaker on the need to suspend plenary in both Chambers in order to restore sanity to an environment that had turned restive and becoming uncontrollable.

” My intention was to safeguard the sanctity of the hallowed Chamber and to guarantee the respect of the legislature. I consider the unwarranted and needless attack on my person by Hon. Abdulmalik Usman Cheche

“Like I have repeatedly said, I will do anything necessary to keep the sanctity of the parliament as an institution and safeguard the respect of every legislator.

” I therefore urge all political actors to always remember that we must first have a nation before we can achieve our various individual ambitions.

“We must at all times restrain ourselves from actions that cannot add value to our hard earned democracy.

“We should remain guided by the rules no matter how strongly we perceive our positions to be the most appropriate.”

Source- The punch newspaper.