One Year In Office: Tinubu Warns Buhari, Reveals Top Secret Plots To Infiltrate His Govt.

As part of activities to celebrate the Democracy Day and one year in office of President Muhammadu Buhari, the national leader of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made a shocking revelation to the President, News Punch understands

Tinubu has raised the alarm over moves by some members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to regain access into government through the backdoor, New Telegraph, reports

In a statement issued yesterday by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to commemorate the first year anniversary of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led government, Tinubu said the nation would forfeit her future if the present administration gives into their deceit.

His words: “Those who benefitted from injustices past energetically plot their return. The looters of yesterday to whom we waved farewell in the 2015 elections now try to shimmy through the backdoor to continue their pilfering ways.

“There is no progressive policy in your benefit they do not actively seek to undermine and make fail. They hope to use your kindness and patience against you. They seek to erect barriers to discourage us into believing there is no other way than the backward path they offer.

“We shall forfeit the nation’s future if we give into their deceit or if we fall into despondency because progress does not appear to come as fast or as systematically as we hoped. “You, the people, must participate in government as never before.

We cannot be passive onlookers when what lies in the balance is the future of our children and their sons and daughters after them. If someone tried to kidnap your child, you would not fold your hands and close your mouth.

Then we should not do so when the vultures and hyenas of yesterday sneak about in an attempt to steal, perhaps not our children, but their very futures.” Tinubu also decried the ousted PDP administration.

His words: “We have endured the harsh meter of authoritarian rule. After military rule gave way, we withstood the ambivalent nature of 17 years of civilian rule not as brutish as the military, but not quite democracy either.

We existed in the twilight between darkness and light. Yet, we refused to get lost or to avert your focus from what was better. “We lived in a land of elections the results of which were not always the expression of the sovereign will of the people, but of the will of a few people who mistook themselves to be the sovereign.

Instead of holding elections, they used a superficially democratic process to coronate themselves as modern royalty. They misbehaved and misgoverned according to this fouled perception. “The only honour such people could give democracy was to mock it.

When they celebrated democracy day these past 16 years, it was as thieves and burglars celebrating one of their own becoming the chief security officer of a bank.” While urging the government to urgently restructure the economy by initiating fiscal policies that stand unrivalled in its objectives, Tinubu said the government must summon political and social courage for the task ahead of it.

“There are many challenges our nation faces. Security problems trouble some areas, but thankfully government is making progress, particularly against Boko Haram. This brutal terrorist group will soon be a thing of the bleak past. The evil killing and destruction wrought will be no more.

“There is a problem that cuts all areas equally. If we are not careful, it will afflict us a long time to come. In a cold, swift stroke, the decline in oil prices has turned into a mockery the model upon which we had for so long based our political economy.

We either must waste away or construct a new model,” the former governor said. Advising the government on some fiscal policy route that may lead to the revamping of the nation’s economy, Tinubu said: “Government must dedicate unprecedented amounts for productive expenditure in our transportation infrastructure power generation, food security and job creation.

“We have entered a period of stagflation where recession or shrinkage of the economy is accompanied by higher prices. Unfortunately, if we try to fight both at the same time, we fight neither effectively.

“Given the rate of joblessness and poverty, it is more fitting to fight recession at this point than to focus on inflation. We can endure a bit more inflation if it means more jobs and greater aggregate demand that can develop the velocity needed to free the economy of recession’s gravitational pull. “We must resist recession; it is harder to shake off once it takes grip of an economy.

Our economy should diversify by expanding our infrastructural network, bolstering agricultural and farm incomes, as well as filliping industry and manufacturing to provide jobs for a rapidly expanding urban workforce. “We can institute policies that create new industries and businesses as well as improve old ones.

These measures will form the foundation of a diversified economy that will become more resistant to inflation because it is less reliant on imports. “Also, it will be more recession resistant because the economy will rest on multiple revenue sources instead of a single source that is dependent on foreign consumer preferences over which we have little control.”

The APC leader said all hands must be on deck to move the government forward. He said: “Now is not the time to lament, murmur or give into despair. It is time to summon once again the political and social courage that we well know and that well knows us.

“We need to push forward and to urge government forward to do that which it must to achieve this great generational feat. We stand between success and failure; but we cannot maintain this middling position forever. We must turn one way or the other.

To me, there is but one option. The other is unspeakable. We must be bold enough not accept an inferior destiny. We must win. “A great historic push and effort are mandated. Change takes boldness, perseverance and moral fortitude; profound change requires even more so.

The task is hard, but I neither fret nor worry. In my heart, I am comforted by the knowledge that we are so much better and stronger than the obstacle before us,” he said.

Credit: New Telegraph

Why I Withdrew My Support For 'The Demon' Veiled As Subsidy - Tinubu Tells It All

The vocal national leader of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has once again lend his voice in support of the Federal Government's decision to end the subsidy regime when it announced few days ago that the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, popularly known as petrol would hence be sold at N145 against the initial pump price of N87/per in the new deregulated price regime. 

Tinubu via his personal confirmed twitter handle, @AsiwajuTinubu confirmed that though he was truly a proponent of subsidy regime, but current reality has made him redecided against it. The APC henchman in several tweets minutes ago opined that Instead, it is better to end the subsidy and use the funds to establish well-targeted anti-poverty programs that actually assist the people. 

Tinubu said; "For some time, I have been a proponent of this action. I believed ending of subsidy was the only sure way to put to sleep the myriad demons that had invaded the subsidy process, sucking the blood of Nigeria, swallowing much of our needed money" 

"I am hopeful but also realistic about this measure. I am also mindful of D situation of our people.This change will mean higher fuel costs I would be lying if I said this will cause no pain or dislocation."

" However, the day, hours of waiting for fuel will be a thing of the past. Thus, I ask everyone to take a step back to coolly and objectively assess what has been decided." 

"We must not make the mistake of allowing our political and sympathetic attachment to the subsidy blind us to the hard fact that the purpose and benefits of the subsidy had long ago been taken from the common man to reside in the purse of an elite few."

'We cannot persist in this imbalance Instead, it is better to end the subsidy and use the funds to establish well-targeted anti-poverty programs that actually assist the people"

See some of Tinubu's Tweets:

Instead of remaining a positive aspect of the social contract, the subsidy was transformed into an opaque haven of intrigue and malfeasance.

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

Subsidy-Fake businessmen became true billionaires over night . The nation, D innocent people where left to face erratic supply @GbengaGOLD

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

The President has taken this tough decision in the interest of the present and future generations of Nigerians @olulateef

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

For some time, I have been a proponent of this action. I believed ending of subsidy was the only sure way to put to sleep the myriad demons

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

... that had invaded the subsidy process, sucking the blood of Nigeria, swallowing much of our needed money @olulateef

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

... that had invaded the subsidy process, sucking the blood of Nigeria, swallowing much of our needed money @olulateef

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

I am hopeful but also realistic about this measure. I am also mindful of D situation of our people.This change will mean higher fuel costs

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

I would be lying if I said this will cause no pain or dislocation. However, the day, hours of waiting for fuel will be a thing of the past.

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

Thus, I ask everyone to take a step back to coolly and objectively assess what has been decided. We must not make the mistake of ...

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

of allowing our political and sympathetic attachment to the subsidy blind us to the hard fact that the purpose and benefits of D subsidy

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

had long ago been taken from the common man to reside in the purse of an elite few. We cannot persist in this imbalance @olulateef

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

Instead, it is better to end the subsidy and use the funds to establish well-targeted anti-poverty programs that actually assist the people

— Bola Ahmed Tinubu (@AsiwajuTinubu) May 15, 2016

Tinubu was a strong supporter of subsidy regime, especially during the reign of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

CCT Trial: Tinubu Behind My Ordeal For Denying Him Presidency - Saraki Opens Up

In a veiled manner, but apparently referring to the National leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Nigeria’s Senate President, Bukola Saraki has opened the lid on why he is being prosecuted by some persons in the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Prior to the 2015 General Election that ushered in President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, many rife media reports claimed that former Lagos state governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, a Muslim had insisted on being Buhari’s running mate but was vehemently opposed by many including Saraki.

Saraki who refrained from mentioning any name claims that because he objected to the aspiration of some persons to be running mate to Buhari in the run up to the 2015 general election, he is being prosecuted.

Responding to an open letter by Dele Momodu, Saraki wrote on his ongoing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, stressing that, it is not a corruption matter as many have come to realise.

On the issue of a Muslim-Muslim ticket he said: “I have also been accused of helping to frustrate some people’s opportunity to emerge as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate. But I have no problem with anybody. My concern was that it would not be politically smart of us to run with a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

“I doubt if we would have won the election if we had done this, especially after the PDP had successfully framed us a Muslim party. I felt we were no longer in 1993.”

“Perhaps, more than ever before, Nigerians are more sensitive to issues of religious balancing. This, my brother, was my original sin,” he said.

Adding that, “What they say to themselves, among other things, was that if he could conspire against our ambition, then he must not realize his own ambition as well. For me however, I have no regrets about this. I only stood for what I believed was in the best interest of the party and in the best interest of Nigeria.”

It would be recalled that following Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) the battle for who will be his running mate was a hot topic among party leaders.

Full Text of Senate President Replies Dele Momodu 's Candid Advice

My dear brother Dele, let me thank you most sincerely for your article last weekend, “My Candid Letter to Saraki.” I take everything you said in that article to heart and I must commend you for your candidness indeed and the sincerity of your intentions.
As you said in your article, you are someone I have known more by reputation than by any personal relationship, until recently when we struck up some personal acquaintance based on our shared political interests, especially during the last presidential election. However, I understand why you had to sound so defensive for knowing me at all and had to publicly map the boundaries of our relationship. We have got to that point in our country when we no longer believe that anyone could stand for anything based on principles and convictions alone. Moreover, in the growing culture of media crucifixion and presumed guilt; it is rare to find a voice like yours that calls for fairness and justice.

I would have simply sent you a text message or call you up for your candid advice to me, which I take seriously. But I feel the need to make some clarifications on some of the issues you raised. One of them was that in seeking to be Senate President, I struck a deal with the PDP and made it possible for one of them to be the Deputy Senate President. I know this is the dominant narrative out there, but it is far from the truth.

I did not do any deal with the PDP. I did not have to because even before the PDP Senators as a group took the decision to support my candidature on the eve of the inauguration of the 8th Senate, 22 PDP Senators had already written a letter supporting me. What I did not envisage was a situation where some members of my party would not be in the chambers that day, especially when the clerk had already received a proclamation from the President authorizing the inauguration of the Senate. Pray, if a team refused to turn up for a scheduled match and was consequently walked over, would it be fair to blame the team that turned up and claimed victory? I believe those that made it possible for PDP to claim the DSP position were those who decided to hold a meeting with APC senators elsewhere at the time they ought to be in the chambers. What the PDP Senators did was to take advantage of their numerical strength at the material time. They simply lined up behind Senator Ike Ikweremadu while those of us from APC voted for Senator Ali Ndume. It was a game of numbers, and we were hopelessly outnumbered. If the PDP had nominated their own candidate for the Senate Presidency position that day, they would have won. It was as simple as that.

Secondly, I don’t know if you were aware that in the build up to Senate inauguration, the National Working Committee of the APC sent two signals. The first signal specified how leadership positions in the National Assembly have been zoned. While we were trying to give effect to this decision, the second signal came, which contained names of people to which these zoned position had been allocated. What was not acknowledged was that the President of the Senate is not an executive president. He is primarily one of 109 senators. Therefore, I cannot decide by myself who gets what in the Senate. Therefore, when they said I defied party directive in the choice of principal officers, they are invariably ascribing to me the power that I did not have.

My dear brother, most people talk about the Senate Presidency position, but this was not my only offence. I have also been accused of helping to frustrate some people’s opportunity to emerge as President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate. But I have no problem with anybody. My concern was that it would not be politically smart of us to run with a Muslim-Muslim ticket. I doubt if we would have won the election if we had done this, especially after the PDP had successfully framed us a Muslim party. I felt we were no longer in 1993. Perhaps, more than ever before, Nigerians are more sensitive to issues of religious balancing. This, my brother, was my original sin. What they say to themselves, among other things, was that if he could conspire against our ambition, then he must not realize his own ambition as well. For me however, I have no regrets about this. I only stood for what I believed was in the best interest of the party and in the best interest of Nigeria.

Now to the substantive issue of my trial. As you rightly noted, this trial is not about corruption. And I am happy that since my trial started, people who have followed the proceedings have now understood better what the whole thing is about. I have had opportunity to declare my assets four times since 2003. Over those years, the Code of Conduct Bureau had examined my claims. There was no time that they raised any issues with me on any item contained in my declarations over those twelve years. This is why you should be surprised that while I am being tried by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, the witness and the evidence supplied against me were all from EFCC.

Like you, I have an abiding faith in the judiciary. May God forbid the day that we would give up on our judicial system. However, the onus is not on me to prove that I have confidence in the judiciary; the burden is on my prosecutors to prove to the world that justice is done in my case. If the process of fighting corruption is itself corrupt, then whatever victory is recorded would remain tainted and puerile!

Some people have wondered, why has Saraki been “jumping” from one court to another instead of facing his trial? To those people, I would say that I have only gone to those courts in search of justice. Strange things have happened, and they are still happening. For example, Section 3(d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act states that the Bureau shall refer any breach or non-compliance to the Tribunal. However, where the person concerned makes a written admission of the breach, no reference to the Tribunal shall be necessary. It was on this basis that the case against Asiwaju Bola Tinubu was dismissed in 2011, by this same judge in this same Tribunal on the grounds that he was not given an opportunity to deny or admit to any breach before he was brought before the tribunal. This was the ruling that I relied on in making my case. But what did the judge say? That he had judged in error in 2011 and he had since realized his error and departed from it. My question is whether a Tribunal of first instance has the power to reverse itself. I should expect that everyone would be worried if justice is applied differently to different people. However, in spite of my fears, I remain hopeful. Why? Because the judiciary does not end with this Tribunal.

Do you know the genesis of my real problems with President Goodluck Jonathan? I have had a touchy relationship with him, but the turning point was in September 2011 when I moved a motion on the floor of the Senate that exposed the N2.3 trillion fuel subsidy racket. I remain proud that I was the Senator that blew the lid on the most elaborate corruption scheme ever in this country. But after that I became a marked man. My security was withdrawn. I was invited and re-invited by the EFCC and the Special Fraud Unit. I was even declared wanted at a point. I believe I am still one of the most investigated former governors in this country. I have no doubt that if the Jonathan government was able to find anything against me, they would not have allowed me to go unpunished.

Let me make this point clearly. I do not expect to be shielded from prosecution because of my contribution to APC, if there was genuine basis for such action to be taken against me. But I have every reason to expect not to be persecuted by the party that I contributed so much to build. The New PDP may not have given APC victory in 2015, but it was an important factor in the dynamics that produced that victory. And with all sense of modesty, I was an important factor in the formation of New PDP; in leading that group to the APC; in ensuring our group’s support for the candidate during the primaries and in mobilizing substantial resources for the election. For these, I have not expected any special compensation. Rather, I only expect to be treated like every loyal party member and accorded the right to freely aspire!

Some people have complained that I have been taken Senators with me to my trial. But I did not force them to follow me. The Senators have freely accompanied me to the Tribunal not because they are loyal to me as Abubakar Bukola Saraki, but because they are committed to the principle that produced me as the President of the Senate. The same principle that produced Ike Ekweremadu as Deputy Senate President and produced Ali Ndume as Majority Leader. They see all of us in the Senate leadership as manifestation of their jealously guarded right to freely choose their own leaders. Because they know they made us their leaders without any external interference; they are confident that they retain the power to remove us whenever they so wish. They also know what this trial is all about. They believe I am being victimized because they have expressed their right to choose their own leadership. This is why I am not in any way perturbed by my absence in the chambers during this trial. Because I was not imposed on the Senate, I feel confident that the Senate will protect its own choice whether I am present or not. It is never about me. It is about the independence of the legislature. It has always been so since 1999. It is so today and it would be so in 2019, it would be so in 2023, and as long as we practice a democracy that operates on the principle of separation of powers.

My dear brother, let me end by observing that I am not alone in this trial. On trial with me in this process is the entire judicial system. On trial with me are our entire anti-corruption institutions and our avowed commitment to honestly fight corruption. On trial with me is our party’s promise to depart from the ways of the past, a promise that Nigerians voted for. And I dare say, on trial with me is our media; and their ethical commitment to report fairly and objectively. In the end, it is my earnest hope that whatever we do will ultimately ennoble our country.

Dr. Saraki is President of the Senate, Federal Republic of Nigeria

President Buhari At Bola Tinubu's 64th Birthday Colloquium , See Photos

 President Buhari with L-R Governor Abubakar Yari of
Zamfara State and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Muhammadu Buhari attends the 8th Bola Tinubu Colloquium at the International Conference Centre Abuja on 29th March 2016.

The annual event is organised to celebrate the birthday of the National Leader of All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Buhari being received by
Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu 

Buhari Warns APC Chieftains, Cabinet Members As Tinubu's Kachikwu Swipe Tearing Party Apart

President Muhammadu Buhari has reportedly issued a warning to all chieftains of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC and his Ministers not to comment or take a side on the ongoing feud between the national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu.

According to Punch Newspaper, there are strong indications that President Muhammadu Buhari has initiated moves to forestall the escalation of the festering feud between the All Progressives Congress National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu.

Buhari, according to Punch Newspaper believed that Kachikwu’s statement and Tinubu’s criticisms could tear the party apart.

It was learnt that the President had therefore cautioned the APC chieftains and  members of his cabinet against taking sides in comments and issues that could divide the party and derail his government.

A member of the cabinet, who confided in The PUNCH, said the President was of the view that any comment by the APC on the propriety or otherwise of Tinubu’s statement would divide the party and his government.

It was gathered that Buhari had told the minister that he should concentrate on how to end fuel scarcity before May, the time Kachikwu had proposed that there would be smooth fuel supply in the country.

The cabinet member stated, “I am aware that the President has moved in and cautioned ministers and party chieftains against divisive statements on the seeming feud between Tinubu and Kachikwu.

“At this time of the nation’s history, the President needs all the support of Nigerians. There should not be any distraction. The minister has been told that his main focus should be how to end fuel queues.”

Kachikwu had, in an interview with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, said fuel queues could not be eliminated before May, adding that he was not a magician.

But Tinubu had, in a statement on Saturday, criticised the minister, saying Kachikwu’s position amounted to an act of insubordination to Nigerians, who voted public office-holders into their offices.

The National Secretariat of the APC on Monday kept mute over the controversy generated by Kachikwu on the fuel situation in the country, which was roundly condemned by Tinubu.

The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, and the party’s National Secretary, Mai Mala Buni, could be reached for comments on Monday.

Calls to their mobile telephones indicated that they were switched off while responses to text messages sent to them were still being awaited as of the time of filing this report.

However, a source within the party said, “The statement by our revered leader is not ambiguous. I honestly don’t see any ambiguity; he issued the statement and signed it in his personal capacity.

“He, like every Nigerian, has every right to speak out when he sees anything going wrong in the polity; you cannot deny him that right.

“Besides, I understand that the matter is being handled at the highest level; it is an internal party affair.”

APC Postpones BoT Meeting As Tinubu, Atiku Battle For Chairmanship

The All Progressives Congress (APC), has postponed its Board of Trustees (BoT) meeting by one week.

The APC National Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, confirmed the development to Daily Trust

Though no reason was given for the postponement, Daily Trust learnt that the meeting might have been moved forward by one week in order to enable President Muhammadu Buhari participated in the process.

At the meeting, members are expected to elect the Chairman and the Secretary of the Board.

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed, Tinubu said to be gunning for the chairmanship position.

Chief Odigie-Oyegun had said in his recent interview that President Buhari wanted “to participate personally in” the meeting.

Members of the BoT had already started forming queues behind former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu ahead of the meeting.

The BoT meeting would be used to elect both the Chairman and Secretary of the Board, which is an advisory body of the party.

However, a meeting of the party’s National Caucus is expected to hold tomorrow (Tuesday) March 22, 2016 as earlier announced by the APC National Chairman at the Presidential Villa, while the meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC), which is the party’s highest decision making organ, will hold on Thursday, March 24, 2016.

On July 3, 2015, the APC NEC had ratified the completion of the composition of membership of the party’s BoT.

The APC National Chairman had said at that NEC meeting that the completion of the composition of the BoT membership would enable this organ of the party undertook its constitutional responsibilities.