Full text of GEJ's remarks at the presentation of Handing-over notes to Buhari

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1. I  welcome you all to this occasion of the formal presentation of the Hand-over notes of my Administration to the in-coming Administration of the President-Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

2. This event and tomorrow’s inauguration of a new administration are truly historic as it is the first time in the history of our nation that we are witnessing the democratic and orderly transfer of power at the Federal level from one political party to another.

3.   The Hand-over notes which we now present, contain the governance philosophy, strategies, policies, programmes and activities of my Administration for the period - 2011-2015. Also to be found in the notes are the objectives, targets and implementation strategies, achievements and challenges of our key policies, schemes, initiatives as well as the status of commitments and liabilities of the various MDAs.

4.   As we hand over the affairs of the nation, it is appropriate to recall that at inception, in May 2011, we committed ourselves to consolidating national unity through democratization and good governance. Our assessment then, and our firm belief ever since, is that the unity of Nigeria, the security, well-being, greater freedoms and opportunities for all citizens must remain the primary objectives of government.

5.    The Agenda for National Transformation which we did our best to implement consisted of clear and consistent governance strategies, policies, plans, programmes and projects, in all facets of our national life. Emphasis was placed on human and state security, democratization, sound economic management, as well as structural and institutional reforms.

6.   Our foremost concern was the unity of Nigeria.  In keeping with that concern, we engineered a process that began with a review of issues outstanding from previous Constitutional Conferences by the Belgore Committee. After that, we widened political consultations through a National Dialogue that was orchestrated through the Okurounmu Committee. These culminated in the all-inclusive National Conference which unanimously reaffirmed that Nigeria must remain united and indivisible.

Photos: Governor Fashola presents handover notes to Ambode

Governor Fashola presented his handover notes to the incoming governor Akinwunmi Ambode at the State House Marina today May 28th. More photos after the cut...

Petroleum Tanker Drivers embark on strike action

It appears the lingering fuel crisis will not disappear anytime soon as the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association have decided to stop the lifting of fuel from petroleum depots across the country.

The body leadership sent out a stern warning to its members to stop lifting petrol from all depot.

"Comrades/unit chairmen/executives, you are directed to suspend all loading activities in all the depots as from Monday, 18th of May. There will be severe sanctions for any chairman/others that does not comply.” the message sent to the members of the association read.

No reason was stated. However industry players say the tanker drivers are protesting the non-payment of their transportation fees owed them by the oil marketers. The oil marketers in turn claim they cannot pay the tanker drivers because of the N200 billion subsidy arrears owed to them by the federal government.

I miss Bruce & now I have to mourn him - Kris Jenner cries over her ex

Bruce Jenner visited Kris at her home and said he wanted to talk to her about his transitioning. He said he made a note of what he wanted to say to her so that he wouldn't leave anything out. He urged her to sit down then started to talk to her.

"First of all, you're amazing woman,' he said, reading from the note. 'We've had so many great moments together, 23-25 years of great moments together. They're still inside me. They're still part of me and I don't want to let that go. In so many ways , I have lived my life running away from me and who I am.

Jonathan has not given me any useful tips- Buhari

President-elect Muhammadu Buhari says the outgoing Goodluck Jonathan government hasnt given him any advise on how to kick-start his administration on May 29.

He made this statement on Thursday when a committee from the Centre for Human Security of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, presented a five-point policy document to him at the Buhari Support Organisation office in Abuja.

Taylor Swift & Calvin Harris confirm relationship, step out holding hands

Meet music's new power couple. Taylor Swift, 25 and DJ Calvin Harris, 31, confirmed they were dating by stepping out hand-in-hand as they headed out to dinner in Santa Monica, California on Tuesday. More photos after the cut...

Photo: Governor Adams Oshiomhole and wife-to-be, Iara Fortez

The couple will be getting married later today...

Missing NNPC money: Emir of Kano reviews PwC report, says report confirms $18.5billion was diverted

Former Central Bank Governor and now Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II who blew the lid on the missing NNPC money has reviewed the recently released PWC auditors report on the missing NNPC monies. He shared his thoughts in a piece titled 'Unanswered questions on Nigeria’s missing oil revenue billions" published in the Financial Times yesterday May 13. Read what he wrote below

Photos: Don Jazzy also renews his MTN contract

Congrats to him...

No girl should be married before the age of 17- Aisha Buhari, calls for legislation against early marriage

Wife of Nigeria's president-elect, Mrs Aisha Buhari says no girl should be married before age 17. According to her, girls who are of 18 to 20 years old are better matured to give birth to a child than those who are 17 and below. Mrs Buhari said this while speaking to Channels TV at the side-line of the Global Women Conference held in Buenos Aires, Argentina shortly after her presentation on the danger women and girl child contend with daily. She pushed for legislation against early marriage..

We won't fail Nigerians says Buhari

President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari yesterday, reassured Nigerians that the incoming government of All Progressives Congress, APC, will not fail them.

Buhari, who hosted a delegation from Taraba State, also said by the end of his tenure in 2019, Nigerians would be confident of a society where elections would be free, fair and credible. Also, to underscore his inclination to the rule of law, the President-elect directed security personnel attached to his convoy to always heed traffic regulations and stop at red lights.

The President-elect also said the advent of the technology of card reader and the will of the Nigerians have redefined the electoral system in Nigerian.

He said: “I think that 2015 will go down in Nigeria political history as a glorious year. Nigerians have deliberately understood what is multi party democracy. But we thank God for technology, PVC and card reader and the insistence of constituencies to make sure they are used.

“However, in two political zones where they were subverted, the people wanted to vote, but they were not allowed to vote and they continued with what they used to do in their party offices or their sitting rooms, where they would write the results, go to radio house and television house and announce the result and say whoever does not accept the result should go to court.

“How many people can go to court when they are struggling to get the next day’s meal?  Where will they get the millions to give to those Senior Advocates of Nigeria. I was able to do it because of the goodwill of Nigeria which again demonstrated itself this year.

“People agreed that I am not a very rich man, but I was lucky that Nigerians believe in me and they put their strength together, voted and made sure that their votes count. I say thanks to the technology. Please continue to support those among you that you feel will go and work for your state and for the country. I assure you that the government of the APC, when eventually put in place, will be a competent Nigerian government.

“We will never betray the people because they have risked everything. Some even lost their lives in this course to make sure that APC succeed and that we have a leadership in place that they can trust and that is what multi party democracy is all about.”

He further stated: “I will tell you what made me a multi party democrat. In 1991, after coming out of detention, I was sitting at home and the Soviet Union collapsed. 

They were the world power fighting the western world. They had more sophisticated weapons, but something happened. “There was confusion and everybody went away. Today, there are 18 countries from the former Soviet Union. That was when I believed that multi party democratic system is a superior form of governance and that is why I joined democracy. 

Presidency to APC: You can’t stampede Jonathan out of office

The presidency on Wednesday warned the All Progressives Congress (APC) to talk less and plan more as the nation moves towards the 29th May inauguration ceremony between President Goodluck Jonathan and president-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari.

The warning was given by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Affairs, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali.

Prof. Alkali”s warning was sequel to the alarm raised by the All Progressives Congress, APC, that President Jonathan is running the economy aground before handing.

According to Alkali, “the allegation is immature, reckless and out of tune with the President’s desire and patriotic commitment to a peaceful transfer of power”.

Alkali , in a press statement in Abuja, said, “Nigerians will recall that shortly after the results of the Presidential elections were announced, President Goodluck Jonathan inaugurated a high powered transition committee to plan and organize a hitch free transition programme for the inauguration of the incoming administration.

“Surprisingly, it took the APC more than three weeks to wake up to its responsibility to constitute its own transition committee.
“How then can they turn round to accuse the government of frustrating the transition programme?, he asked
The Special Adviser to the President on Politics reminded the APC that “since the setting up of the committee, the President and the entire machinery of the Federal Government have been put on the transition mode and all government officers have been giving maximum cooperation to the incoming transition committee”.

He therefore cautioned the APC to refrain from blackmailing the President over recent Federal Government policies and decisions saying that “by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Jonathan remains in office up to the 29th of May 2015 when he formally hands over to the incoming President”.