Buhari's Sickness: 350 Imams Offer Special Prayers For President Buhari's Recovery

About 300 Imams have offered special prayers for the full recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari as he undertakes different tests in London.

President Muhammadu Buhari

 

Three hundred and fifty Imams led Thousands of Muslims in prayers across Borno State Friday to offer special prayers for the full recovery of President Muhammadu Buhari, who is currently vacationing in the UK.

 

The special prayers at the Jummat service were at the instance of the Chief Imam of the state ,Alhaji Liasu Ahmed following a letter from Governor Kashim Shettima.

 

The 350 mosques are those allowed by the security challenge in the state to function from the 542 Jumma’at mosques in the state. Ahmed reportedly mobilised his colleagues after receiving the governor’s letter. William Naga, chairman of the Christians Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Borno, received a similar letter entitled, ‘Request for Intensification of prayers for the complete recovery of Mr President’.

 

The governor in the letter requested the Chief Imam and the CAN to “kindly request Imams of all Jumma’at mosques and leading pastors in all churches across Borno state to lead Muslim and Christian worshipers today (Friday) and coming Sunday, to intensify prayers for the quick and full recovery of our dear President, Muhammadu Buhari.

“We believe any good Nigerian living in Borno is already praying for the president, this is why we requested for the prayers to be intensified.” It was signed by Religious Affairs Commissioner Mustapha Fannarambe.

 

Fannarambe, in a separate statement said: “The prayers started today (yesterday) with Jumma’at mosques and we have monitored some here in Maiduguri and Jere and I was informed there were similar prayers in other Jumma’at mosques in Biu, Bayo, Shani, Kwaya-Kusar were residents were never internally displaced and places like Gwoza, Konduga, Monguno, Damboa, Dikwa, Askira, Kaga and many other parts of the state,” Fannarambe said in a statement.

“Prayers were offered in IDP camps where Jumma’at services take place because all the camps have citizens that include existing Imams of Jumma’at Mosques in different parts of the state affected by the insurgency. “From our estimation, not less than 350 Jumma’at Mosques are currently functional out of 542 that we have across the state.

“I actually attended one of the Friday prayers in Maiduguri while Governor Shettima went to Bama with the visiting minister of environment.”

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We Won’t Stop 2face, Other Nigerians From Protesting – Presidency

The Presidency has clarified its stand on the planned nationwide peaceful protest against economic hardship in the country by a group of Nigerians led by popular musician, 2face Idibia.

The Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, Mr. Laolu Akande gave the statement in a series of tweets.

According to him, “This administration will not prevent Nigerians from expressing themselves in peaceful protests, it’s a fundamental right of the people.”

He said further that, “No govt has ever laid out the kind of Social Investment Prog, the Buhari govt is now running across the nation, that will touch millions.”

The popular Afro-Pop artiste, 2Face Idibia, had earlier in the week, called for the support of his fans and colleagues via his social media platforms to join his march against the crippling economic state of the nation. The protest is slated for February 6, 2017.

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Presidency reacts to planned nationwide protest on February 5th

The presidency has reacted to the February 5th proposed Nationwide protest which singer, 2face Idibia and other celebrities have come out to support.

Speaking in an interview with Lagos Talk 91.3fm, Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said those who are calling for the protest are people who supported the last government and are still pained that they lost the last election.

"This is a country of about 180 million people. It is impossible for 180 million people to think the same way. Yoruba has a saying that is you all sleep and put your head in the same direction, then you are all foolish because you would be breathing in one another's mouth and lungs. Dont forget the last election and how it went. Somebody scored 12.5 million votes, another scored about 15 million votes. There are some people who are still in that election mode. They have not gotten out of it and till today, they are still living and "rheumatisizing" about the past. What they don't know is that that past is gone and gone forever. Majority of those calling for the protest are still in election mode. Majority of them are people that have resolved not to see anything good in this administration simply because the man they wanted lost at the polls"he said

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Federal Government Funding Zahra Buhari's Royal Wedding? Presidency Releases Statement

In a statement released recently, the presidency has insisted that the President's family and personal aides are paying the royal wedding bill of the president's daughter, Zahra.

Zahra Buhari & Ahmed Indimi

 

In an official statement released on Thursday by the senior special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the presidency is insisting that federal government funds were not used to pay for Zahra Buhari's wedding to Ahmed Indimi, the son of an oil billionaire.

 

Shehu insists that President Muhammadu Buhari's family and personal aides paid the wedding bill.

 

The statement reads:

 

"Zahra Muhammadu Buhari's wedding to Ahmed Mohammed Indimi starting today is a celebrity event to savor any day. Much as the family wants to make their daughter happy they, however, will not make it a royal wedding.

 

"The President's family is trying hard to keep it as simple as possible. Wedding Lalle, Fatiha, lunch event for the men and dinner for the women who must have come from far and near and the bride heads to her husband!

 

"In a twist from what was a norm amongst past leaders, the President asked to be given the bill for the food at the banquet. Government, he said, has no business paying for that.

 

"This should be treated as private. His family and personal aides put the money together to foot the bill. No government money in invitation cards, souvenirs or Aso-Ebi.

"That's essential Buhari for you!!" 

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Photos from the state dinner for beneficiaries of Presidential Amnesty Programs

A dinner for beneficiaries of Presidential Amnesty Programme held at the presidential villa yesterday night. The dinner was hosted by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who represented President Buhari. Some of the Ex-Agitators trained as Automobile Engineers with Innoson motors and assembled this bus on display at the Event...

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Document Shows How FG Spent N5bn on Presidential Fleet in 15 months Despite Biting Economic Recession...See Details

A new document has revealed that since the inception of President Muhammadu Buhari's administration, the government has spent a whopping N5 billion on the 10 presidential fleet even as Nigerians complain of economic hardship.

 

The Federal Government has spent a whopping N5 billion in just 15 months on 10-aicraft Presidential Air Fleet despite biting economic recession in the country, according to The Punch.

 

The Punch revealed that a document it obtained shows that the Presidency put the amount of money so far released for the Presidential Air Fleet since the inception of the current administration in May 2015 till date in the region of N5bn.

 

Showing a breakdown of how the money was spent, the document shows that the that N2.3bn was released for PAF by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation between May and November 2015.

 

That figure included releases for personnel costs, overheads and capital expenditures; out of the N5.19bn appropriated for PAF in the 2015 budget.

 

Of the sum, the Presidency said N99.715m was spent on aircraft maintenance, spares and subscription services. The sum of N98.5m was also spent on operations; N165.373m on training and N85.5m on personnel medicals and overheads, the report revealed.

 

According to the document, PAF spent N1.350bn to settle outstanding liabilities carried over from 2014 while N500m was refunded to the NSA for financial support rendered for the maintenance of the Fleet prior to release of funds.

 

However, experts have said that estimated projections of expenses made in line with the cost of running and maintaining airplanes, about $65.13m (N19.9bn), using the official exchange rate of N305.5 per dollar, may have been spent on the 10-aicraft presidential fleet between May 29, 2015 and August 29, 2016.

 

According to the Presidency, the PAF contains 10 aircraft. These are: Boeing Business Jet (Boeing 737-800 or AirForce One), one Gulfstream 550, one Gulfstream V (Gulfstream 500), two Falcons 7X, one Hawker Sidley 4000, two AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters and two AgustaWestland AW 101 helicopters. Each of the two Falcon 7X jets were purchased in 2010 by the Federal Government for $51.1m, while the Gulfstream 550 costs $53.3m, a former Minister of Information, the late Pro. Dora Akunyili, had said.

 

The president has been heavily criticized for failing to reduce the sice of the PAF even as the people continue to suffer and bicker over the increased hardship in the country. The government has faced severe criticism for failing to keep to promises that helped bring it to power.

 

The General Secretary, Aviation Round Table, an industry pressure group, Group Captain John Ojikutu, said Buhari needed to reduce the PAF and sell aircraft belonging to most of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

 

He said, “It is high time the Presidency reduced the number of aircraft in that fleet. We can’t be spending our scarce forex to maintain a large fleet of 10 aircraft.”

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Presidency Denies Media Reports Saying Buhari Is Seeking Emergency Powers

The Presidency has debunked reports in the media that President Muhammadu Buhari is seeking emergency powers to tackle the nation’s economic challenges. It, however, stated that the economic management team was considering several measures to urgently reform the economy, but is yet to communicate the measures to the President.

This was contained in a statement issued on Monday night by the Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, who added that those measures had also not been passed to the Federal Executive Council, FEC, and the National Assembly.

Reports had stated the President would be seeking emergency powers from the National Assembly to get the economy out of recession, shore up the value of the naira, create more jobs, boost foreign reserves, improve power and revive the manufacturing sector. It added that the decision was based on a proposal from the economic team headed by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo.

But reacting to this, Osinbajo’s spokesman said: “The economic management team has indeed been considering several policy options and measures to urgently reform and revitalise the economy. Some of these measures may well require legislative amendments and presidential orders that will enable the executive arm of government move quickly in implementing the economic reform plans.

“As far as I know, this has not been passed on to the president, the Federal Executive Council or the legislative arm of government. So, at this point, there are no further details to share.”

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