HOTO NEWS: President Buhari’s first day in Aso Rock

Today is President Muhammadu’s Buhari’s first working day in Aso Rock, as Nigeria’s presidential palace is called.
Mr. Buhari had since his inauguration on May 29 operated out of a temporary office in Defence House, in the Maitama District of Abuja.
On Sunday, the president slept in Aso Rock for the first time. And today, he worked there for the first time.
Below are some of the president’s moments, captured on cameral, in what has become his new home for the next four years.

Jonathan, Obasanjo, Amaechi reconcile

From JULIANA TAIWO-OBALONYE, Abuja
It is no longer news that there has been no love lost between President Goodluck Jonathan, former president Olusegun Obasanjo and the Rivers State Governor, Chibuike Amaechi.
However, the last Council of State meeting hosted by President Jonathan yesterday, offered an opportunity for the three men to reconcile even if  it was for the camera.
Before the commencement of the Council meeting, the governors across party divide were seen joking, back slapping one another and discussing in groups.
President Jonathan was also seen laughing, shaking  and holding hands with Obasanjo.But the one that caught everyone’s attention was when the President, while waiting for the valedictory photo-session at the fore court of the Presidential Villa,  had a handshake with the governors around him, and on sighting Amaechi, playfully hit him severally, with his fist on the shoulder and the Rivers State governor bowed, laughing and holding the President’s hand all the while, saying “Your Excellency.”
Obasanjo has been a constant critic of Jonathan’s administration, the latest being in February, when the elections were postponed.
The former president, had at his Hilltop Mansion residence in Abeokuta, likened the politics played by Jonathan to “the do-or-die” politics played by the former President of Cote d’Ivoire, Laurent Gbagbo.
Also, Obasanjo, while reacting to the postponement of the general elections, said it was a grand plan by Jonathan to perpetuate himself in office till the situation became clear that the presidential election would favour him.
President Jonathan had in a swift reaction, fired back, saying the allegations were baseless and absurd.
Obasanjo had also in an 18-page letter a year ago, accused the President of deceit, deception, dishonesty, incompetence, having a killer squad and clannishness among others.
The Rivers State governor on his part, had always pointed fingers at the president and his wife, Patience on any crisis in his state.
Moved by the camaraderie seen inside and outside the Council chambers, a journalist later asked Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State how that could be translated to the common man on the street,  and he replied: “I told you that one of the former heads of state moved for all these to be recorded, so that we make it as part of the tradition. Politics is not war.
Yes, there is a price, but the moment there is a decision and someone gets the price, everyone should come back and wait for another chance.
“So, the camaraderie that you noticed, is how it should be and we should send it down to our communities, to our people; so that even in one house, you can afford to vote for different parties but the moment results are announced, you will remain brothers and not enemies.”

Don’t go abroad for medicare throughout your four years – LP tells Buhari

The Labour Party, LP, has called on President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to stop public servants in his administration from going abroad to receive medical attention.

The party made the call on Sunday through its National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkadir Salam, in an interview with journalists on Sunday in Abuja.
The party also said for Buhari to fight the corruption war, he must not spare “the first eleven.”
“There are certain things that we expect Buhari to do urgently. Health is one, so that our people will not go abroad for treatment again. He can do it; he told us he can do it. We has the resources to do it. We have the material and human resources to do it. So, we believe he can do it if he wants to do it; this will reduce medical tourism in Nigeria.
“Nigerians are not ready to accept excuses from him.”
According Salam, Buhari made people believe he could completely turn around the affairs of the country in few months, advising the President-elect to lead Nigerians by adhering to the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress, APC, by not going abroad in search of medical treatment throughout his four-year term.
He said: “Let me say here that Nigerians have given the APC the authority and the mandate to come out with the changes. APC people, who clamoured for change, told Nigerians they wanted change and campaigned on the platform and basis of change.
“Let nobody now begin to tell us that he cannot perform miracle, because they told Nigerians that when they come they would perform miracle. We will not expect Buhari to go abroad for any medical treatment. Our health system must be properly put in place. He must focus attention on it; let them not tell us that they cannot provide jobs for our teeming youths. Let them not tell us that the security lapses will continue in any manner, since they told us that they would perform miracle.

Posterity shall judge me right – Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday expressed confidence that posterity will judge his outgoing administration right.

According to Jonathan, his government has delivered the dividends of democracy in various sectors of the economy, particularly in the power sector as he claimed that the sector presently generates 6, 000 megawatts of electricity.

Jonathan lost to the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, in the March 28, 2015 presidential election and he is expected to hand over on the 29th of this month to a new government.

The President spoke through his deputy, Namadi Sambo, during the official inauguration of Niger Delta Power Holding Company/National Integrated Power Plant Gwagwalada 330/132/33KV Transmission Substation in Abuja.

Jonathan said, “Let me reiterate our firm belief and respect for democracy and its norms and values and our continued commitment to the progress and prosperity of our dear nation.

“To this regard, we shall continue to make our contributions to the development of our dear country as patriotic citizens. We are confident that posterity shall place us on the right side of history.

“I will take this opportunity to also assure all Nigerians that all the decisions and project implementation of both NDPHC and the National Council on Privatisation, all decisions are taken on the basis of sound professional advice and sound decision to ensure that we succeed in Nigeria in providing power successfully for the benefit of the country and our economic development.”

He said the country currently has a power generation level of 6,000 megawatts.

This claim is, however, in contrast of the 3,413.1MW recorded as peak power generation as of May 11, 2015 which was contained on the website of the Federal Ministry of Power on Monday.

Jonathan said, “At present, the nation’s power generation level as confirmed by the minister of power is about 6,000MW and we can wheel up to 5,500MW.”

The President explained that prior to the advent of the Gwagwalada substation, Abuja and all of FCT and Nasarawa State were supplied by a 330kV double circuit line and a 132kV double circuit line from Shiroro Hydro power station terminating at Katampe 330/132/33kV substation and Apo 132/33kV Substation respectively.

He said other locations within the FCT and Nasarawa State were supplied via various 132kV lines from Katampe and Apo.

Jonathan said, “Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV substation was conceived as a location and sited in Gwagwalada in the outskirts of Abuja metropolis as one of the nodes in a 330kV transmission ring that will provide secured supply to the Federal Capital Territory and Abuja in particular.

“Connection to Gwagwalada was, therefore, engineered as an evacuation substation facility for Geregu NIPP power plant to the FCT 330kV ring via an initial 222.6kms 330kV double circuit line from Geregu (Ajaokuta) to Gwagwalada 330/132/33kV substation with a final 30kms 330kV double circuit construction. This tees into one of the original Shiroro-Abuja (Katampe) 330kV DC lines thus achieving a 330kV alternative (thermal) power source to Abuja.”

Nigeria’s new Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase

Solomon Arase, the new Acting Inspector General of Police,  was, until his appointment, the Head of the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department,
The apex intelligence gathering arm of the Nigerian police,  the Force CID is the only arm of the police that provides Intelligence on Crime and National Security.
Mr. Arase, 59, was born on June 21, 1956. He hails from Oredo Local Government Area of Edo state.
He enlisted into the Nigerian Police on December 1, 1981 after graduating from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1980, with a degree in Political Science.
A lawyer, Mr. Arase also has a Bachelor of Law degree and Masters of Law from the University of Benin and University of Lagos respectively.
He attended the Nigerian Law school and was called to the bar in 2000.
He also has a Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from the University of Ibadan.
Mr. Arase has served in various commands and formations of the Nigerian police, including being the Commissioner of Police for Akwa Ibom State.
He was also an Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of the Force Criminal Investigation Bureau.
He served at the United Nations Mission in Namibia and is a Fellow of the Nigerian Defence College.
Mr. Arase is due for retirement on June 21, 2016.

Nigeria cabinet approves implementation of Confab report

Nigeria’s Federal Executive Council on Wednesday approved the final report of the National Conference as a step towards implementing its recommendations.
This was made known to journalists by the outgoing supervising Minister of Information, Edem Duke, alongside the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Pius Anyim Pius.
Mr. Anyim said the Council also approved the delegates’ modalities for implementing their resolutions or recommendations.
President Goodluck Jonathan had in September 2014, shortly after the end of the National Conference, approved the composition of a Presidential Committee to study and draw up the implementation strategy.
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Bello Adoke, chaired the committee while Mr. Anyim acted as the Secretary.
Other members of the committee included the Minister of Transport, Idris Umar; Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda; Minister of Aviation, Osita Chidoka; Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory Administration, Olajumoke Akinjide and Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen.
The committee’s terms of reference included studying the Report of the 2014 National Conference, articulating the recommendations therein and developing appropriate strategies for its implementation, and advising the Federal Government on all matters necessary for the effective implementation of the Report.
Mr. Anyim said the committee, after looking at the recommendations, told the President that they could be implemented.
“You would have heard the president promising severally that he is going to implement the recommendations of the conference. So, the report coming to the council today is the first leg of taking concrete steps towards implementing the recommendations and resolutions of the conference” he said.
The SGF said the implementations will be done in two phases: Recommendations which have implications on constitutional amendment or enactment of new laws, will be compiled by the attorney general who will vet them and pass them onto the National Assembly for enactment into law.
Mr. Anyim said in the second phase, recommendations that have to do with policy matters and recommendations necessary for implementation by either federal agencies or state agencies or local government areas, will be referred to the agencies for immediate implementation.

Buhari, Osinbajo’ve sinned against God, Nigerians -Sen Adeyemi

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Smart Adeyemi yesterday, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) has committed two major mistakes against God and Nigerians.
The two mistakes according to Adeyemi are: foisting Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd), a dictator, on the electorate and making his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a man of God, abandon his pastoral calling.
In an interview with newsmen in Abuja yesterday, Senator Adeyemi insisted that the APC made “a grievous mistake by picking Buhari as its presidential candidate and they capped that up by bringing Prof. Osinbajo. They went and lured a man of God from the church to join a dictator. He should be prepared to do restitution after March 28.”
“By foisting Buhari on Nigerians; a man, who ordinarily should be asking for forgiveness and doing restitution in his old age, the APC has wronged Nigerians. This is a man, who is not even in tune with economic realities.”
Senator Adeyemi called on the leadership of the Redeemed Church of God not to allow Osinbajo back into its fold but make him undergo cleansing and restitution.
His words: “APC lured a man to betray his divine calling. Osinbajo should not be allowed to go back to Redeemed Church. He has betrayed the sheep he’s pastoring. I’m ashamed that he has betrayed his calling.
“He should undergo restitution and purification. Why? Because he has mingled in sinful activities. He has joined people in maligning a man chosen by God to lead Nigeria and left the path to align with a man that sinned against God and Nigerians.
“He’s now celebrating a dictator against the Nigerian people. It was Buhari who jailed people for 150 and 200 years when he was Head of State. Where have you ever heard of such sentences? If he thinks some people have forgotten, we have not.
“Osinbajo is backing a man without vision and has decided to join a party that is godless. The APC is a party that has been formed purely for vendetta; the APC is only out to retaliate and settle scores with people and its unfortunate that a man of God is in cahoots with these groups of people. The APC was formed purely for business purposes.
“Buhari today should be kept in isolation, praying for forgiveness of sins against God and the Nigerian people; for the oppression of the Nigerian people and the draconian laws he foisted on the people.”
Senator Adeyemi insisted that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would win the March 28 and April 11 polls with a landslide.