Buhari Visits Maiduguri Following Flood Disaster

Former President Muhammadu Buhari visits Maiduguri to offer his support to the local government and residents affected by the severe flooding which swept through the Borno state capital in September.  This visit took place on Tuesday, shortly after the catastrophic events unfolded while he was away on vacation. Upon his arrival, Buhari was welcomed by notable figures, including Governor Babagana Zulum and Senator Ali Ndume, along with other government officials.  His trip aims to show solidarity with the victims and to engage with local leadership as they assess the damage caused by the floods. The recent disaster has had a profound impact on the region, displacing approximately 414,000 people and resulting in the loss of at least 30 lives.  Reports indicate that nearly one million individuals have been affected by the flooding, prompting a significant response from various sources, including over N17 billion in donations to support relief efforts from the Borno State government and federal authorities.

El-Rufai visits Buhari

Barely 24 hours after the visit of former Vice President of Nigeria, Alhaji Abubakr Atiku, Malam Nasir El Rufai, the immediate past Governor of Kaduna state has also been spotted at Daura on a visit to former President Muhammadu Buhari. While the visit is fueling speculations about potential political maneuvers ahead of the 2027 general elections in some quarters, some also think that it may have a thing or two to do with the emirate tussle in Kano as el Rufai’s bosom friend, Muhammdu Sanusi II locks horns with his cousin, Aminu Ado Bayero over Emirship of Kano. It will be recalled that Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi was dethroned and banished from Kano by former Kano State Governor Abdulahi Ganduje under circumstances in which many observers speculated had the tacit approval of President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020. Analysts who hold this opinion insist that since those opposed to Sanusi’s reinstatement are the heavy lifters in the current Federal Government and loyalists of former President Buhari, it will make sense for the former governor to appeal to President Buhari for his intervention. There is also the 2027 connection that the reinstatement of Sanusi will augur well for the emergence of a northern president in 2027 if Sanusi is returned as Emir of Kano as opposed to Aminu Bayero who may likely side with Dr. Ganduje and his co-travelers.

‘Nigeria is so complex to govern’ says Buhari

Given the prevailing circumstances in Nigeria, the immediate past President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, said there is nothing much anyone can do to salvage the situation as Nigeria is a complex country to govern.  The former president gave the remark when he received the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and members of the management team of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) in Daura, Katsina State, at the weekend. Buhari maintained that his successor, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has performed very well since his assumption of office nine months ago. Addressing Adeniyi and his team, Buhari said Nigeria is a hard nut to crack, enjoining the citizens to endure the economic hardship in the country and support the policies and programmes of the current administration. “I thank you very much for coming. I very much appreciate it. I thought Tinubu has done very well,” Buhari said. “Nigeria is so complex. Really, there isn’t much anybody can do.” Tinubu has faced wide criticism over some of his economic policies, including the removal of fuel subsidy and unification of the exchange rate windows. Reacting, Adeniyi thanked the former president for his unprecedented role in supporting the NCS Act 2023. The CGC also paid a courtesy visit to the Emir of Daura, His Royal Highness, Dr Farouk Umar Farouk. “This legislative milestone grants the NCS expanded authority to implement policies aimed at bolstering revenue generation and facilitating trade, thus contributing significantly to Nigeria’s economic growth trajectory,” Adeniyi said. He also spoke about trucks carrying food items seized at the border, saying, “I will also use this occasion to brief you on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directives that all trucks of food carrying exports across borders that were seized by customs be returned to the traders with the hope that they would plow them back into the Nigerian markets.” It should be noted that this was not the first time Buhari made a remark about Nigeria being a tough job for leaders to govern. In November 2023, during an interview with the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Buhari said the country was difficult to rule. “Nigerians are extremely difficult. People know their rights. They think they should be there, not you. So, they monitor virtually your every step. And you have to struggle day and night to ensure you are competent enough,” he said.

Buhari didn’t sign alleged $6.2M foreign election observers payment- Boss Mustapha

The Immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha, Tuesday, said the letter credited to former President Buhari as author and signatory did not emanate from the Presidency while another one purported to have emanated from him and signed by him were forged documents. The ex-SGF revealed this to the federal high court Abuja, clearing former President Muhammadu Buhari and himself from the alleged fraudulent payment of $6.2M dollars to foreign election monitoring observers. Mustapha made the clarifications on Tuesday while giving evidence in the trial of former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, Godwin Ifeanyi Emefiele at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory. He said that the one, Jubrin Abubakar who allegedly collected the $6.2M cash on February 8, 2023 under the watch of Emefiele was not a staff of the office of the SGF and was not known to him. Mustapha faulted the purported two letters alleged to have emanated from the Presidency under Buhari and the SGF office adding that the letters did not conform with the standard with which the Presidency and SGF write letters. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC had alleged that Emefiele forged the letters to defraud the federal government to the tune of$6, 230, 000 under the guise of making payments to some foreign election monitoring observers. Mustapha insisted that the issue of payment for either local or foreign observers is the sole responsibility of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC and not any other federal government agency. “Iam not privy to the operations of the Central Bank of Nigeria CBN and cannot write the governor for the attention of the Director, Banking Services. “From mere looking at the purported letters, the headline down the contents are defective. Iam not aware of the contents of the letters because there was no Federal Executive Council approval for such a thing”, he said. “The purported letter from the office of Secretary to the Government of the Federation bears my name as the SGF. To the best of my knowledge, the letter did not emanate from the SGF office. If did not emanate from the SGF office, then, I did not sign it. ” Nigerian government has no business with foreign election observers. That I know as a fact because I managed two election cycles. INEC has sole responsibility for the foreign election monitoring observers. “Looking at the signature on the purported letter that emanated from the Presidency, it is a failed attempt at reproducing President Muhammadu Buhari’s signature. “Uptil the time I left office, I did not know anything about the transactions. All through my service, I did not come across the letter purported to have been written by Mr President. “On the face value, and having served as SGF for 5 years and 7 months as SGF, I can say this letter did not emanate from the Presidency for seven major reasons. “Among others, the seal of the Presidency does not carry reference number. Seal itself is the authority. Federal Executive Council decisions are not transmitted by letters but by extracts after conclusions have been adopted. “Iam the custodian of FEC. The President will not refer FEC conclusions to me. In all the correspondences from the Presidency, President Buhari never ended with “Please, accept the assurances of my highest regards. Trial to be continued March 7th, 11th and 25th.

Ex President Buhari Under Attack Over Joke On Fuel Price Hike

Former Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari has come under fire over the joke he made regarding the increase in fuel price. Ever since fuel subsidy was removed by his successor, Bola Tinubu, there has been a surge in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) which has led to subsequent economic hardship. During an event on Sunday evening in Duara, Buhari’s hometown, the ex Nigeria leader said he is glad that Tinubu increased the price of fuel. “I’m glad Tinubu increased the price of fuel, because it reduced the number of people who visit me at home”, he joked. Reacting to the joke, popular social-political activist, Aisha Yesufu, slammed Buhari for being insensitive, saying he lacks empathy and emotional intelligence. “If selfish and self centered were people they would both be Buhari,” she wrote on X. “Zero empathy. Zero emotional intelligence. “There were people laughing at this cruelty to the people. “If they can afford what about those who can’t and their lives are in difficulties?”