General Muhammadu Buhari

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Photo: Bola Tinubu branded Nigeria's Machiavelli.

Former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has made the cover page of foreign business newspaper, Financial Times. The story on the APC chieftain was captioned, “Nigeria’s Machiavelli: How A Political Godfather Helped Bring Down A President”.

Excerpts from the article.

“The political godfather of Nigeria’s south west, Mr Tinubu’s unlikely alliance with the austere former military ruler, now president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, made possible the first opposition victory in Nigeria’s electoral history.‎ 

Described as “deeply Machiavellian” and a “master strategist” by one of his party peers, the Jagaban has cannily built a political empire among ethnic Yorubas in Lagos and the south west, as formidable, according to allied politicians, as that of Obafemi Awolowo, who led Nigeria’s second largest ethnic block at independence.‎”

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Full text of President Jonathan's phone conversation with General Buhari

The infamous phone conversation between President Goodluck Jonathan and Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) on March 31 on the latter’s victory at the last Saturday’s presidential election has been revealed.
The audio recording released by ENDS.ng was tagged “Historic congratulatory call from President Goodluck Jonathan to President-elect Muhammadu Buhari on March 31, 2015.”
Details
Jonathan’s aide: Your Excellency, Sir.
Buhari’s aide: Good evening.
Jonathan’s aide: Hope I’m speaking with General Buhari, sir.
Buhari’s aide: Yes.
Jonathan’s aide: Ok, President Goodluck Jonathan will like to speak with you, sir.
Buhari’s aide: Ok, ok, I’m connecting you, sir.
Jonathan: Your Excellency.
Buhari’s aide: Hold on …I’ll connect you, sir.
The phone rings for a moment.
Jonathan: Your Excellency.
Buhari’s aide: Hold on, sir.
Buhari: Your Excellency.
Jonathan: Your Excellency, how are you?
Buhari: I’m alright, thank you very much, Your Excellency.
Jonathan: (laughs) Congratulations.
Buhari: Thank you very much, your Excellency (laughs).
Jonathan: Yeah, so how are things?
Buhari: (laughs) Well…
Jonathan: So, you’d find time to come one of these days so that we can sort out how to plan the transition period.
Buhari: Thank you very much, your Excellency.
Jonathan: Congratulations.
Buhari: Thank you.
Jonathan: Ok.
Buhari: My respect, Your Excellency.
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Now That Nigeria Has Decided, What Exactly Is Buhari Promising?

As the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari prepares to assume office next month, the All Progressives Congress party has outlined their agenda for the country; their plans to tackle challenges and bring the desired change. Below is a press statement from Buhari’s campaign organization
The spontaneous outpouring of emotions and celebrations that characterized the pronouncement of Muhammedu Buhari as the President-elect of Nigeria in major cities and towns across the country was clear evidence that the people wanted change.
The campaign theme of the Buhari-Osinbajo ticket resonated clearly amongst a nation that successfully transitioned from the erstwhile Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which had ruled Nigeria since 1999 to the All Progressives Party (APC) by a clear majority of almost 3 Million Votes.

More importantly, it also marked the first time that the world’s most populous black country would unseat an incumbent president. Furthermore, it is the first time the so called progressives in the country will take control of the federal government. While the euphoria is clearly palpable within the citizens, the prognosis for the country is actually dim.

Insecurity had become rife – the kidnapping of 276 girls by the terrorist group Boko Haram has entered its 10th Month, and the economy is in doldrums, characterized by the freefall of the Naira in the past months. News of Buhari’s election put the Naira in a rebound and the stocks gained almost 6.5% to wipe out months of decline.

So what exactly is Buhari promising? As a former ruler, he was known for his intransigent stand on Corruption – a bane in Nigerian society; and that was a banner issue for him during the campaign. As Buhari said, “If we don’t kill corruption, corruption will kill us”; many expect the new government to thus put a halt to the culture of graft and public funds looting that has created a gulf between the super wealthy and the very poor.
Despite Nigeria’s Oil riches, the country still suffers from abject poverty – Nigeria is home to about 110 million poor – which makes the country home to the largest number of poor people in Africa!

Buhari has pledged to tackle poverty by creating jobs and setting up social welfare schemes that cater to the poorest Nigerians. One of these schemes is a Conditional Cash Transfer that pays between N5000- N7500 monthly to 25 Million of the poorest Nigerians as long as they send their children to school and get them immunized. This program will be phased over the four year the sure of the administration.

Another program is to provide a free meal a day to children in all public primary schools in the country. This program is expected to:
– Reduce the number of out of school children in Nigeria ( the highest in the world) which currently stands at about 10.3 million.
– Improve the academic performances of the students as the will now be guaranteed at least one balanced diet a day.
– Stimulate the agricultural industry due to the massive demand this program will have on the sector.
They also intend to institute a National Health Insurance Scheme that will make basic health care services available to the people. To partake in the scheme NIGERIANS will be expected to pay between $3-$5 as yearly contribution.

Buhari’s running mate and Vice President-elect Yemi Osinbajo is a Professor of Law who has served as Attorney General in Nigeria’s commercial capital – Lagos State. Many are thus encouraged that the Rule of Law will take centre stage in a country where the rich can flout it with impunity.

His antecedents suggests that this tandem are equipped with the capacity and political will to begin to right the ship that is Nigeria and effect the necessary stimulus that will bring Nigerian reality closer to the potential she doubtless promises.
If that happens, there’ll be more dancing in the streets.
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Gani Adams commends General Buhari's resilience

The Oodua Peoples Congress National Coordinator, Gani Adams, and one of those who led protests against General Muhammadu Buhari has also extended his congratulations to the President-elect following the latter’s victory in the just-concluded Presidential poll.


 “I wish to send my congratulations to the President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, on his success in the recently-concluded presidential election. By his resounding success in the election across the country, General Buhari has proved that he is the choice of the people.

“I commend his resilience and tenacity over the years which have seen him equal the record of great leaders like Abraham Lincoln of the USA. His victory is a lesson to all of us that we can be what we want to be if we are patient and persistent in our legitimate pursuits in life.

“His speeches before, during and after the election are also commendable because they went a long way in dousing the tension in the country. This actually shows that the ‘Peoples General’ as he is fondly called is indeed a statesman”.

“However, having won the election, I want the president-elect to begin to see himself as the president-elect of all Nigerians and not just that of the All Progressives Congress (APC). For him, it is time to mend whatever differences that may have arisen as a result of the election.

“It is time for all Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliation, to come together to continue to build our nation in a positive way, which of course, should be the focus of the president-elect himself and every other political leader across the various political parties in the country. And for all of us, it is a new dawn in the annals of the country for an opposition party to win in a popular election.”
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Full text of General Muhammadu Buhari's acceptance speech

Your Excellency,

The Vice President elect, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, your Excellency, Chief Rotimi Amaechi, the Director General of APC Presidential Campaign, 2015, your Excellency, the former Governor of Edo State and National Chairman of our great party, your Excellency the Governor Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, your Excellency, the former Governor of Imo State, Dr Ogbonaya Onu, Your Excellency, the former Governor of Ekiti State, Engineer Oni, your Excellency the former Governor of Kwara, Bokola Saraki, your Excellency, the Speaker of the House of Representative, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, Please, let me stand on existing protocol.
At exactly 5:15 yesterday (Tuesday) evening, President Jonathan called to congratulate me on my victory. For this, I want all Nigerians to join me in congratulating and appreciating Mr President for his statesmanship. President Jonathan was a worthy opponent. I extend my hand of fellowship to him.
I look forward to meeting him soon, as we plan the transition from one administration to another. He will receive nothing but cooperation and understanding from me, who led this nation to democracy. You stood in line patiently for hours; in the rain, in the sun and then in the dark to cast your votes. Even when the vote was extended to Sunday in some places, you still performed your civic duties.
You did so peacefully. You voted with your heart. Your vote affirms that you believe Nigeria’s future can be better than what it is today. You voted for change and now change has come. INEC has released the official result of the Presidential Election. INEC has declared that I gained the most votes with the required spread and won this election. In a more profound way, it is you, Nigerians that have won. The people have shown their love for our nation and their believe in democracy. The declaration of INEC accurately reflects the will of the people.
While there might have been some logistical obstacles and irregularities associated with the exercise, the result shall stand as what the people want. I thank all Nigerians who have made this day possible, our country has now joined the community of nations that have used the ballot box to physically change an incumbent president in a free and fair election.

To me, this is indeed historic. Most people will welcome the result because it is the one they voted for. Others will literarily be disappointed. I ask that we all be circumspect, respectful and peaceful in these times. This was a hard-fought contest. Emotions were high.
We must not allow them to get the better of us. This is not the time for confrontation. This is a moment that we must begin to heal the wounds and work toward a better future. We do this first by extending a hand of friendship and conciliation across the political divide. We hope and pray our friends in other parties reciprocate.

I thank all the members of the All Progressives Congress, the APC, for their commitment and their hard work through the formation of the party, the campaigns and the presidential elections. Let me equally express my appreciation to the media, civil society and security agencies for their selfless service.

The international press and our friends abroad deserve a fair commendation for their support throughout the process. We promise a robust and dynamic engagement with your countries in matters of mutual interest.

In the interim, I call on all Nigerians to be law abiding and peaceful. The eyes of the world were focused on us to see if we can vote in a peaceful way and carry out elections in an orderly manner. We have proven to the world that we are a people who have embraced democracy and a people who seek a government by, for and for the people.

We have put one party state behind us. We have voted for a government that will serve and govern, but will never rule over you. CHANGE has come and a new day and a new Nigeria is upon us. The victory is yours and the glory is that of our nation, NIGERIA. I will make a more formal address to the nation, later in the afternoon after I receive the certificate of return from the INEC.
May God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Nigeria’s President Elect

Muhammadu Buhari
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Bode George on Buhari's victory, "I'm going on exile".

Former Deputy National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Bode George is about to make good his promise of proceeding on exile if the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Maj-Gen Muhammudu Buhari (retd) wins the presidential election.
Speaking shortly after PDP’s defeat, the chieftain said he has no business staying in the country since their plans of restructuring the economy have been thwarted.
“What will I be doing here? I can decide to go and live anywhere. Look at everyone surrounding him (Buhari). “So, I am not joking about it, what will I be doing here? At 70, what will I be doing here?

 All we have been doing to restructure the country has been lost. We have been trying to ensure balance in the polity but all that has gone. What else will I be doing here?”
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"Your experience will stand you in good stead." Obasanjo congratulates Buhari.

Congratulatory messages have started pouring in in torrents for President elect, General Muhammadu Buhari, the latest is from former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
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The elder states man has enjoined Buhari to join hands with Nigerians of noble character to fight corruption and reform all sectors of the country.

He noted that with so much harm already done to many national institutions including the military, which proudly nurtured  “you and me, you will have a lot to do on institution reform – education, healthcare, economy, security, infrastructure, power, youth eJmployment, agri-business, oil and gas, external affairs, cohesiveness of our nation and ridding our land of corruption.

“Your varied and wide experience will undoubtedly stand you in good stead. The country is blessed with men and women of goodwill, character and virtue across the board that you can mobilise to join hands with you in the reform, repairs and re-direction that will be imperative to put Nigeria back on the fast lane of good governance, unity, cohesiveness, development and progress.”

He added that, ” the totality of 2015 elections hold many lessons for our democracy and democratisation process, which are both maturing.

“On this occasion, the system has been unnecessarily overheated before and particularly during the campaigns when emphasis was more on trivialities and hate, divisive, undignifying and disrespectful statements and comments rather than on pressing issues requiring attention.‎
“I know that in victory, you will be magnanimous to start binding the wounds and bitterness occasioned by the campaign and the evil disciples.”‎ He concluded.

Credit: Punch
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Photos: Amaechi, Dangote, Tambuwal, others celebrate with Buhari in Abuja

APC stalwarts, Governor Rotimi Amaechi, senator Chris Ngige, Dr Kayode Fayemi, business mogul, Alh Aliko Dangote  celebrate with Nigeria’s president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari and his Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo on his victory in the Nigerian Presidential election. 

Others in the  APC office in Abuja include Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar, Aminu Tambuwal, Primate Nicholas Owoh.



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