Ghen! Ghen! Northern Leaders Reject President Buhari For 2019 (Full Story)

Elders, leaders of socio-political organisations and key stakeholders from the northern part of Nigeria, have scored President Muhammadu Buhari low and rejected him as the candidate to run for the 2019 general elections.

The leaders who met on Saturday in Kaduna, insisted that Buhari must be replaced by competent persons.

Those present included the leaders of the Northern Elders’ Forum, Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Borno Elders Forum, Supreme Council for Sharia in Nigeria, among other groups.

In a communique read by a member of the Northern Elders Forum and Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the northern leaders stated that the current administration had not demonstrated enough strong will to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency and herdsmen/farmers’ clashes.

“We demand immediate and decisive steps to improve the security of lives and economic assets in the North by the federal and state governments. Too many communities are at the mercy of attacks from sundry groups of criminals who appear to have unchallenged access to space and weapons.

“The Summit noted that despite notable successes by the administration against the Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, many Northern communities still live under its threat. In many other parts of the North, communities are routinely exposed to attacks from shadowy killers, and suspicion and anger at known and suspected killers are pitching Northerners against each other. Armed bandits terrorize rural communities almost at will, while kidnappings and abductions have assumed alarming notoriety as crimes.

“The summit asserts the rights of all Northerners to examine all options in political choices they will make in 2019. The leadership selection process must be critically interrogated to present the best leader to Nigeria as a whole. No one should take the North for granted, and it is not for sale. It will resist shedding its blood for any candidate and will critically scrutinize all politicians who will seek our mandate. At this stage, all options are on the table, and politicians who have betrayed the hopes and mandates of our people should be prepared to suffer rejection, in the same manner, the votes of the North rejected the attempt to continue with impunity, corruption and indifference of the previous regime,” Baba-Ahmed stated.

‘Tinubu & Saraki’s Humiliation Will Make 2019 Difficult For President Buhari’- Shehu Sani Claims

The lawmaker representing Kaduna Central, Senator Shehu Sani, has warned that the humiliation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, the All Progressives Congress, APC, the national leader, Bola Tinubu, by the federal government, will make tough the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He stated that the ruling APC failed to accord Saraki and TInubu the respect they deserve for their contributions to the 2015 victory of the present government.

Recall that Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, had stated that her husband was, “trashed” after the party won the 2015 elections, adding that the former Lagos governor was sidelined despite his efforts towards ensuring that APC won the polls.

Speaking with Saturday Sun, Sani said, “I must be frank with you, Tinubu has endured a lot of humiliation under the present administration. He was never much consulted, never much recognised as somebody who sacrificed his energy, time and resources to bring the party to where it is.

“It is rather unfortunate that after the party won and the government established, some people started calling some people criminals, thieves and people of questionable character.

“The South-West political leaders who contributed to the victory of the party have been treated with disdain and contempt. That is in inimical to the interest of the South-West.”

Goodluck Jonathan Returns To Sierra Leone To Monitor Presidential Election

Former President, Goodluck Jonathan has returned to Sierra Leone to observe the country’s presidential run-off polls scheduled for Tuesday, March 27.

A statement issued by Mr Ikechukwu Eze, the spokesman to the former president, noted that Jonathan, who is leading the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) Election Observation Mission, arrived Freetown on Friday.

Jonathan also led EISA to the first round of the elections on March 7, in which none of the candidates polled the required 55 per cent of votes to win at the first ballot.

EISA had declared the process of the March 7 general elections as peaceful and credible.

The mission in its interim report presented to the media on March 9 added that the elections were “conducted substantially in line with sub-regional, continental and international standards.”

It also observed that voter turnout was impressive while the conduct of electoral personnel was professional.

Jonathan, who presented the report also appealed to the people of Sierra Leone and all stakeholders to remain calm until the final electoral processes were concluded.

Full Speech: Here's what President Buhari said when he received the 105 released Dapchi school girls at Aso Rock today

Earlier today, President Buhari received the released Dapchi School Girls in State House.

Below is the full text of the speech he delivered at the occasion.

I am delighted to formally announce to Nigerians this morning and our International friends and partners that One Hundred and Seven (107) Dapchi students previously abducted have been unconditionally released by their abductors.

This cheery and hearty development signify our commitment to the security and well-being of all Nigerians.

We are never in doubt about our focus and direction since the assumption of office of this Administration. Security, anti-corruption and revamping of our economy are the main focus of our government.

You will recall that on 14th of this month, I paid a visit to Yobe State during which I sympathized with the parents, families, Government and people of the State for the tragic abduction of the students in Dapchi.

I made a solemn pledge on my word of honour that this Administration would do everything possible to ensure the unconditional release of the girls.

I further tasked all the appropriate security agencies to safely bring back the girls. We also reached out to our contacts at home and abroad. We embarked on back-channel shuttles with a clear view to bringing to an end this tragedy.

We entered into negotiations solely to make sure that no single girl was hurt. This strategy paid off as the girls have been released without any incidents.

Let me reemphasize our Administration’s commitment to the fight against terrorism and insurgency, and also call on all Nigerians, to join in this task. The security services have since been directed to put in place further measures around all schools vulnerable to attacks to ensure the safety of our pupils/students and teachers and school workers.

I have tasked all the security agencies to work to ensure that we do not witness any recurrence of these incidents. Security Chiefs have been warned in clear terms that any lapse on their part will be viewed seriously.

To the rescued students, we want to reassure you as our daughters, that you will freely live and pursue your dreams in Nigeria of peace and order, without fear of violence or molestation.

While parents of the Dapchi girls rejoice because of the reunion with their children, I want to appeal to the Chibok Community never to lose hope or to despair. We are determined as never before, to bring back our remaining Chibok daughters. And this, we must accomplish. And that will be soon by God’s grace.

While further efforts are being made to secure the release of every abducted citizen in Nigeria, Government is ever ready to accept the unconditional laying down of arms by members of the Boko Haram group, who show strong commitment in this regard. We are ready to rehabilitate and integrate such repentant members into the larger society.

This country has suffered enough of hostility. Government is, therefore, appealing to all to embrace peace for the overall development of our people and the country.

May I also warn those elements who have chosen to make political fortune of our citizens’ misfortune. Government would not tolerate any attempt by any person or group to trivialize or politicize security issues for politically motivated ends. Accordingly, security agencies would not hesitate to decisively deal with such unscrupulous characters.

Finally, I thank all Nigerians, who in spite of political differences, prayed and showed solidarity with families of the abducted students, during the period of the captivity.

This, undoubtedly, is the Nigerian spirit. We can and should sustain it beyond moments of sorrow. I remain thankful to the International Community and our friends who offered varying degrees of assistance during the back-channel communications.

May I, on behalf of the Government and people of Nigeria, extend our appreciation to the security agencies for their loyal and tireless efforts in making this day a reality.

Thank you and may God bless our country.

‘How Federal Government Saved N68bn On Personnel Cost In 2017’ – Adeosun

Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun, on Wednesday disclosed that the Federal Government had saved N68 billion on personnel cost in 2017.

This brings the aggregate savings by the Government on personnel cost since 2007 to date to N288 billion.

The Minister made this disclosure during her presentation of “Status Update on the Implementation of Federal Executive Council (FEC) Approved Projects” at the Council’s meeting.

The FEC meeting was presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The savings, Adeosun explained, were funds that would have otherwise gone unaccounted for which, she added, were now free for the Government to fund capital projects.

She said the savings were achieved despite increase in personnel, including the employment of 10,000 by the Nigeria Police.

She confirmed that a total of 511 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) had been captured under the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), with staff count of 607,843.

“As at 20th March, 2018 the number of MDAs on IPPIS Payroll is 469 with 316,158 Staff Count with gross salary of N43,979,383,997.78 and 42 Police Commands and Formations paid on IPPIS Platform in February, 2018 with Staff Count of 291,685 and gross salary of N22,276,669,257.21.

“Staff of Para-Military Agencies (Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prison Service and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps) enrolled to date is 100,822 for which a trial payroll of N11,456,278,859.00 have been sent for review and update for April, 2018 payroll,” Adeosun said.

She added that the introduction of the IPPIS had resulted in the reduction of ghost workers syndrome, enforcement of compliance with due process on employment of staff in MDAs, and prompt and timely payment of salaries and remittances of third parties payments.

She noted further that the IPPIS had become an assured source of internally generated revenue through payee to States and Federal Government.

The Finance Minister called for adequate funding of the IPPIS project to achieve it’s lofty objectives and to enable replacement of the obsolete infrastructure.

She also canvassed the need for a legislation to impose sanctions on non-compliance MDAs to achieve speedy and successful service delivery.

“There is need to kit IPPIS stakeholders to overcome challenges for effective and efficient service delivery at all times,” Adeosun recommended.

Omoyele Sowore Pledges ‘N50K Allawee’ For Youth Corps Members When He Becomes President

Sahara reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore who recently made public his intention to run for the pot of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, has made a campaign promise saying Corp members’ allowances will be increased to N50,000.

He made this statement in a post he uploaded on his official Facebook page and he added that Corps members posted to volatile areas will get a life insurance of N10million in case anything happens to them.

‘If You’re A Youth Corps Member (“Corper”) And You Agree To Serve Anywhere In Nigeria You’re Posted Your Take Home Allowance Will Be N50,000 starting From May 29, 2019, When I Become The President of The Federal Republic of Nigeria’.

He added that:

‘It Will Be A New Day For The SHORTCHANGED Youths Of Nigeria. If Former Oil Minister Diezani And Her Cohorts Could Steal Over $2 billion For Themselves, Youth Corp Members Deserve Decent Renuemeration. Corpers Serving In Volatile States (Borno, Bayelsa, Rivers, Yobe, Zamfara, Benue, Plateau) Will Get Life Insurance Worth N10million In Case Anything Untowards Happen To Them. You All Are On Our Mind’.

Sowore also said:

‘Do You Know That Over 30,000 Niger Delta militants in the Federal “Amnesty Programme” Receive N135,000 per month? They get N65,000 as “Bush Allowance” and N70,000 as “Feeding Allowance”. This is separate from school fees in private schools and foreign universities, air tickets in addition to looting. The costs are ginormous to the extent that President Buhari had to fire PAUL Boroh a few days ago. Nigeria Can Certainly Afford N50,000 as starting “allawee” for its corp members. They deserve decent bush and feeding allowances too!’.

Omoyele Sowore who had his GoFundMe account suspended some few days ago, expressed shock on the closure of the account. He opened up to reporters about the incident and explained that it was the work of the enemies of the progress of the country.

The GoFundMe account had been opened to raise about $2million for Sowore’s election campaign.

Buhari Writes To German Chancellor, Merkel On Her Re-Election

President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel on her re-election for another term.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina, in a statement on Tuesday, said Buhari conveyed his congratulatory message to Merkel in a letter personally signed by him.

Buhari said he is “most delighted to learn of the successful conclusion of the inter-Party negotiations to form a new Government after the last election in Germany.”

He stated that Chancellor Merkel’s victory, “is a testimony of hard-work, competence and trust of the German people, qualities which are much admired in many parts of the world especially here in Africa.”

Adesina said Buhari ”on behalf of the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, wished his German counterpart and her new Cabinet a successful new term of office”.

“We greatly value your humanity and concern for refugees.”

President Buhari also looked forward to greater cooperation between Germany and Nigeria.

“We look forward to greater cooperation between our two countries as we strive to confront shared challenges.”

Olisa Metuh's application to travel abroad for medical treatment suffers setback

The long-expected ruling on the application to travel abroad for medical treatment by former Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, on Thursday, suffered another setback as the judge asked parties to submit authorities as a condition for ruling.  

After listening to arguments of both parties,Justice Okon Abang, the trial judge, asked parties to the matter to submit all authorities cited by their counsels to the court before 12:00 noon on Friday. Justice Abang held that upon the receipt of the authorities, the court will determine the date for ruling on Mr. Metuh’s application.

The former PDP spokesman and his company, Destra Investments Limited, are being prosecuted by the EFCC on a seven-count charge of fraud and for allegedly laundering part of the funds linked with former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd.).  At the resumed hearing of the case on Thursday, the prosecution counsel maintained that Exhibit 3 is based on documentary hearsay and cannot stand on its own.  

VIDEO: Olisah Metuh arrives court again in a dramatic fashion, this time it appears he came on a customized wheelchair! pic.twitter.com/IUeHD185DM

— Sahara Reporters (@SaharaReporters) March 15, 2018

 The defense counsel, however, urged the court to direct the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to constitute a medical team to assess Mr. Metuh’s health with the view to ascertaining the veracity of his claim of ill-health. He added that the content of Exhibit 3 is factual and urged the court to use it in the determination of the application.  

The former PDP spokesman had made many unsuccessful attempts, through his lawyer, Mr. Emeka Etiaba, to get the court’s permission of the court to travel abroad for treatment. He told the court that his health condition is deteriorating because of spinal cord compression, which requires a corrective surgery in a London hospital.  

Metuh recently arrived the court in an ambulance and sat on a wheelchair in the hope of convincing the court of his state of health. His application, which was opposed by the prosecutor, Mr. Sylvanus Tahir, on the ground that he had filed similar ones in the past, was not granted.  He argued that Mr. Metuh did not provide sufficient materials before the court to enable the court to grant his request.

Photos: President Buhari meets Saraki, Dogara at the state house Abuja

President Buhari last night had a meeting with principal officers of the National Assembly. In attendance were the Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara and other principal officers from the upper and lowerchambers.

The meeting held at the conference room of the office of the wife of the president at the State House, Abuja.

The meeting is coming amidst the increasing dispute between the legislature and the executive on issues such the Peace Corps as well as the rejection of the electoral act that was recently amended by the National Assembly members.

Buhari Seeks Peace Over Order Of Elections, Budget

A major trouble-shooting effort was launched last night to halt the imminent showdown between the Executive and the Legislature.

On the agenda were:

the controversial election sequence reordering, which is a subject of litigation;
the 2018 budget, which is stuck at the National Assembly— four months after it was presented by President Muhammadu Buhari; and the worrisome security situation.

Last night President Buhari met at the Presidential Villa with the leadership of the National Assembly.


The meeting, which started around 9p.m, was attended by Senate President Bukola Saraki, House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, Deputy Speaker Lasun Yussuff, Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan and House Leader Femi Gbajabiamila, among others.

After the meeting, Saraki told reporters that the frosty relationship between the Executive and the Legislature was discussed. The budget was also discussed, he said.

Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha confirmed that the threat by the lawmakers to override the President’s veto on the Electoral Act amendment was discussed. He gave no details.

On the budget, the lawmakers were said to have complained that some ministers were yet to defend their inputs.

Buhari was said to have directed the SGF to write the ministers, directing them to defend their budgets.

Earlier in the day, the Senate during plenary decided to write to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) to protest the ruling stopping the lawmakers from overriding the President’s veto on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill.



It was also learnt that based on legal advice, which suggested that the President’s reasons for declining assent was not watertight, the lawmakers had decided to override the veto next week.

The controversy trailing the rejection of the Electoral Act 2018 amendment by President Muhammadu Buhari may be far from over.

The National Assembly yesterday listed “flaws” in the constitutional provision relied upon by President Buhari to withhold assent to the Bill.

The leadership of the two chambers of the National Assembly is said to have met Wednesday night to consider submissions from the legal department of the Assembly.

It was gathered that the legal advice dismissed the constitutional provisions cited by President Buhari as basis for his action “as baseless and of no effect to form the basis of withholding assent to the Bill”.

The Senate and House Representatives leadership “accepted the submissions received from the legal department,” a source said.

The implication of the acceptance of the submissions of the legal department, the source said, “is that the two chambers may go ahead to override the veto of Mr. President to the Bill.”

The source hinted that “the two chambers appeared to be poised to do battle with Mr. President by exercising their power to override the president on any issue they feel strongly about”.

He added that the amendment of the Electoral Act which altered the sequence of elections, seems to be one of the issues the lawmakers are convinced was done “in the best interest of the country”.

The legal advice obtained by our reporter states: “The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vetoed the 2018 Amendment of the Electoral Act of 2010 passed by the National Assembly in the exercise of its constitutional powers under Section 58(4 oi) Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended following reasons.

“Each of the legal and constitutional reasons advanced by the President as a basis for the veto were examined in details below.

“1. The President claims that the Amendment introducing a specific sequence for elections under Section 25 of the Principal Act 2010 infringed the discretion of the Independent National Electoral Commission to “organise, undertake and supervise elections.” This argument is flawed because correct legal position however is that by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 First Alteration Act 2010, Act No. 1, specifically, Section 5 provides that “Section 76 of the Principal Act is altered thus

“(a)subsection (1) in line 2, by inserting immediately after the word ’commission’ ’the words’ ’in accordance with the Electoral Act. “

“From the above amendment, it is crystal clear that the power to regulate the principal elements of all Federal Electoral process was expressed by the above amendment, removed from the Independent National Electoral Commission and vested in the Assembly (N.A) which has the power to make laws for peace, order and good government” of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and any part thereof.

“Furthermore, the phrases ‘organize, undertake & supervise’ elections under Section 15(a) of the 3″ Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,  according to the President, allegedly infringed the discretion guaranteed” to lNEC by Section 25 of the of the Principal Act.

“1. The argument of the President that the sequencing of the elections under Section 25 infringed the discretion of INEC without expressly pointing out what specific aspects or ways and manner cannot be a basis for legal or constitutional argument or decision. With due respect, the opinion expressed is too general to establish a basis for the exercise of a legal or constitutional power, more so because “discretion” is a principle governed by the rules of Administrative Law and not that of Constitutional Law, on which the President claimed to have anchored his arguments.

“2) .Thirdly, the terms “organise, undertake and supervise” may have conferred a wide discretion on lNEC in matters of all logistics in the preparation and conduct of elections, the issue of discretion only comes to fore in the actual details of the preparation, organizing and conducting elections.

”It is respectfully submitted that the sequencing of the elections in a Bill as to which was scheduled as first or last in the conduct does not in any way hamper or affect the discretion and capacity of INEC to organise, undertake and conduct these elections into various constitutional offices provided.

“3) The new subsection (3) introduced into Section 138 of the Electoral Act, which the President argued repealed two crucial grounds upon which elections could be challenged, is not entirely correct and the view could be misplaced for the following reason:

“a. The new Subsection (3) to section 138 actually clarifies the ambiguity contained in subsection 1 of the Principal Act and reinforces the constitutional standards specified in Sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. In addition, it further provides that no person shall be qualified to contest elections in breach of any of the ‘Sections 66, 107, 137 or 182 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“The amendment to Section 152 (3)-(5), which collectively imposed an obligation on the State independent Electoral Commissions to apply the standard of ‘free, fair and credible elections in the conduct of Local Government elections’ is within the competence of the National Assembly to make laws in respect of the procedure regulating elections into the Local Government Councils in accordance with item 11 (Eleven) of the Concurrent Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution as amended. What specific aspects or ways and manner cannot be a basis for legal or constitutional argument or decision. With due respect, the opinion expressed is too general to establish a basis for the exercise of a legal or constitutional power more so because “discretion” is a principle governed by the rules of Administrative Law and not that of Constitutional Law which the President claimed to have anchored his arguments.

“Thirdly, the terms “Organize, undertake and supervise” may have confer a wide discretion on lNEC in matters of all logistics in the preparation and conduct of elections, the issue of discretion only comes to fore in the actual details of the preparation, organizing and conducting elections. It is respectfully submitted that the sequencing of the elections in a Bill as to which was scheduled as first or last in the conduct does not in any way hamper or affect the discretion and capacity of INEC to organize, undertake and conduct these elections into various constitutional offices provided.

“3) The new subsection (3) introduced into Section 138 of the Electoral Act, which the President argued repealed two crucial grounds upon which elections could be challenged is not entirely correct and the view could be misplaced for the following reason:

“a. The new Subsection (3) to section 138 actually clarifies the ambiguity contained in subsection 1 of the Principal Act and reinforces the constitutional standards specified in Sections 65, 106, 131 and 177 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999. In addition, it furthe provides that no person shall be qualified to contest elections in breach c any of the ‘Sections 66, 107, 137 or 182 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

“The amendment to Section 152 (3)-(5) which collectively imposed an obligation on the State Independent Electoral Commissions to apply the standard of “free, fair and credible elections in the conduct of Local Government elections” is within the competence of the National Assembly to make laws in respect of the procedure regulating elections into the  Local Government Councils in accordance with item 11 (Eleven) of the Concurrent Legislative List of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

“It is therefore not entirely correct, with all due respect, for the Mr. President to argue that the amendment may raise constitutional issues over the competence of the National Assembly to legislate on Local Government elections. The Supreme Court of Nigeria has decided on this issue in the famous case of Attorney General of Abia State & Ors v Attorney General of the Federation & Ors.

The Nation

Photos: VP Yemi Osinbajo presides over Federal Executive Council meeting

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo presided over the Federal Execuutive Council meeting today March 14th. See more photos below

President Buhari summons IGP, Ibrahim Idris for flouting his order to remain in Benue

President Buhari yesterday summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to his office to answer a query as to why he disobeyed his order to relocate to Benue shortly after the January 1st massacre that claimed 76 lives. 

During his visit to Benue on Monday March 12th, president Buhari disclosed that he was unaware that the police chief did not obey his order to relocate to the state after the attack.

The Inspector-General arrived the Presidential villa last night to explain to President Buhari why he did not remain in Benue state as he directed him to do. 

The IG left about 30 minutes after without speaking to anyone.

A statement from the presidency confirming the police boss's summon reads

''Pres Buhari today summoned the Inspector-General of Police to explain his flouting of the presidential order to remain in Benue State. The President has also asked for a comprehensive report on Police Operations in the affected States,after which further decisions will be made. We would like to restate our determination to ensure that the attacks and killings are brought to an end, and perpetrators to justice. President Buhari's visit to the affected States continues, following the Trips to Taraba and Benue. Next are Yobe, Zamfara and Rivers States'.

‘Why My Son-In-Law Is Best Qualified To Rule Imo’ – Okorocha Reveals

Rochas Okorocha of Imo on Tuesday, March 13, 2018, cleared the air on why he is endorsing his son in-law, Mr Uche Nwosu, to take over from him as governor.

Speaking with the press at the Sam Mbakwe International Airport in Owerri, shortly on arrival from an overseas trip, Okorocha said that Nwosu is qualified to govern Imo and that his position on the endorsement stands.

He, however, assured that the primary to elect a candidate a governorship candidate for the APC in Imo would be transparent, noting that there would be no shortcut in selecting candidates to fly the party’s flag.

Observers have been criticizing the governor for his penchant for choosing his relations to occupy public offices.

Okorocha also disclosed that local government council elections in Imo would be conducted in June, to give residents of the state an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice at the grassroots.

He said that he was working hard to boost the popularity of the APC in the South-East to make the party acceptable to the people in the upcoming general elections.

The governor said that he was also taking necessary steps to inject life into the party to boost President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election chances.

Checkout The 5 Most Popular Governors In Nigeria | Do You Agree With This List?

Good day readers In this post, you will find out a genuine compilation of the Top 5 most popular Governors in Nigeria currently.

1. Peter Ayodele Fayose : Peter Ayodele Fayose is the current governor of Ekiti State. He was governor from 29 May 2003 to 16 October 2006. He is nicknamed by many Nigerians as the; “People’s Governor”.

He is obviously the most popular governor in due to his controversies and his relationship with the Federal government since President Muhammad Buhari’s Swearing in as Nigeria’s President.

He publicly announced Buhari dead when he was abroad and also was the first Nigerian to declare his ambition to run for the 2019 Presidential Election.

2, Rochas Okorocha: He won the 6 May 2011 gubernatorial election in Imo State and was reelected for his second term on April 11, 2015.

He is the founder of Rochas Foundation, a charity comprising a number of special schools that are spread all over Nigeria that gives scholarship to the less privileged children in the Nigerian society.

Okorocha has also earned popularity due to his “Statue Building” habit with Jacub Zuma, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf among those whom statues were built. Who doesn’t know the self acclaimed “The Most Popular Governor In Nigeria”

3. Akinwumi Ambode: What popularity do you need again when you’re the executive governor of Lagos?

The governor proved of critics wrong at the moment he is still rated at the top of the perfrtoming governors in Nigeria.

Being the governor of Lagos state makes you famous nationwide even though he’s not been a governor for long it is obvious he well known by many Nigerians, and when it comes to popularity the Lagosians are starting to show support for the governor.

Considering the fact that the other ranked governors on this list are merited on controversies, Ambode is the only one who is free of controversies here which shows he’s up there amongst Africa’s Finest

4.Nyelsom Wike : The most famous governor in the whole of South South, Wike’s popularity could be based on his incessant quarrel with his predecessor, Rotimi Amaechi while he is also famous for his projects in Rivers since becoming the state Governor.

The governor has showcased varieties of developmental projects such as housing, health care, security of life and property, operation zero pot holes, employment, empowerment, completion of projects that were abandoned by previous governments.”

Other achievements include prompt payments of civil servant salaries and pensions, clearing of school fees of Rivers State indigene studying abroad that were abandoned by his predecessor in office.

There’s no denial that he is in the top 5 of the most famous governor in Nigeria

5. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai: The incumbent Governor of Kaduna State and former Director General of The Bureau of Public Enterprises, the head privatisation agency in Nigeria and also the former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja from 16 July 2003 to 29 May 2007.

When it comes to fame the governor is quite known by many across the country for the public offices he’s held in the past while he’s also gone viral in recent times for the Teachers Sacking Saga as well as his Fight with Sen Shehu.

Do you agree with this list? Who do you think should be removed or added to the list? Drop your comments below!!!

How Nigeria Can Defeat Boko Haram – Olusegun Obasanjo Reveals

A former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how Boko Haram can be defeated. He said if government tackles the issue of hunger and joblessness, terrorism will dealt a heavy blow.

Obasanjo made the statement while in Maiduguri, the Borno State capital, where he presided over a meeting of the Zero Hunger Forum, a social development goal program of both the Nigerian government and international development partners.

He said research had proven that most Boko Haram fighters picked up arms against the state, not for the advancement of any religious conviction but as a means of fighting hunger and lack of job.

Obasanjo who is the chairman of the SDG program on zero hunger in Nigeria is currently leading the campaign against hunger across select states in the country.

He explained that of the 17 SDG agenda of the international community, “zero hunger is number two”.

“Zero hunger, or ending hunger has ramification, on 14 other goals. Infant mortality, alleviation of poverty, maternal mortality and all of them have things to do with food security and nutrition”, he said.

“So when the world food program asked me to lead a committee to work out and implement zero hunger in Nigeria, I was more than delighted to do so. And I want to say, that we are not trying to reinvent the wheel. We are not trying to bring new policy; we have enough policies that have been neglected by non-implementation, and if we can implement the policy that we have there will be no doubt that we will beat hunger by the year 2025”.

In a report by PremiumTimes, Obasanjo added that the program does not directly give money to feed Nigerians but create an enabling environment for food production and job creation for the people.

“This is what we are doing; we are trying to help those who need help. In one of the states, someone asked that how much does the Zero Hunger Forum has to combat hunger and I said the truth is that we have no money; but we have what we can do to help by making sure certain policies are implemented. We have things we can do to make sure we put hunger at bay in Nigeria and particularly in the North-eastern part of Nigeria.”

Mr. Obasanjo said recent research by World Bank on Boko Haram revealed that most Boko Haram fighters had no clear religious conviction that drive their radical state of mind other than hunger and lack of means of sustenance.

“The world Bank said they interviewed 26 former Boko Haram members and 25 of them out of 26 said they were in Boko Haram because they have no job,” he said.

“Only one of them said he was there because of religious conviction. So zero hunger tends to contribute in bringing an end to insurgency – not only in the North-east, not only in Borno state, but also generally in Nigeria.

“So in the next two days we will interact, we will find out things, we will listen and share thoughts and by the time we finish we will know that we have all gained something, we have all learned and will be able to move forward in food production, and nutrition in this state and by extension in the whole of Nigeria.”

He said the two day meeting would provide opportunity for participants to also see the efforts being made by the Borno State Government in the area of food production.

He commended the Borno State Governor for taking the lead in the area of investment on agricultural tools and equipment which he said surpassed that of any state in the country. He however said such multi-billion investment can only make meaning if there is a safe environment to put them to use for the general benefit of the people.

“And we have seen your agricultural equipment, and I can say authoritatively that there is no state in Nigeria that has the quantity of the agricultural equipment that Borno State has. The only thing now is how do we make use of the equipment for maximum production”.

He said government must do all that is possible to improve security so that locals could derived immense from the opportunities being made possible through agriculture.

“For that to happen, there must be efficient evidence of security, otherwise, those naughty boys and girls whom we call Boko Haram, will continue to look for soft underbelly, like a farmer working on his farm, an isolated village, where they will make life impossible through threats and intimidation of the life of the people”, he said

“I believe what we are doing, zero hunger, would help in fighting the scourge of the insurgency”.