NEWS
Group Calls for Restraint over Planned Impeachment of President Buhari
By Tony Obiechina, Abuja
A group has cautioned against the planned impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Senate.
Minority members of the Senate recently walked out of the plenary threatening to commence Impeachment procedures against the President if he fails to address the growing insecurity in the country.
The group, under the banner of Non State Actors Consultative Forum (NOSACOF) said in statement in Abuja that it was improper to start talking about Impeaching the President now given the economic and security challenges the country is presently facing.
The statement which was jointly signed by
Abdulrazaq Alkali Bako, Lead Convener and Ernest Bako, Co-convener, said, “We the members of Non State Actors Consultative forum (NOSACOF) feel a sense of responsibility to lend our voice on this issue in defence of democracy and the unity of Nigeria”.
The statement further reads: “The economic and security challenges bedevilling Nigeria as a nation have got worse in recent months. More and more Nigerians have fallen below the poverty line, and terrorism by bandits and faceless terrorist acting against defenceless citizens have continued with little resistance from the Nigeria’s security apparatus.
“Inflation is on the rise, and citizens are finding it very difficult to keep up cost of living. There have been a lot of fingers pointing, as well as accusations and counter accusation between citizens and the government as well as between warring ethnic nationalities. It is indeed a very trying time for Nigerians!
“While Majority of Nigerians blame the government for not fulfilling its promise on improving and protecting lives and properties of citizens, the government is also accusing some citizens of selfishness and not fulfilling their citizenry duty of community policing but instead some are colluding with terrorist and serving as informant for the terror groups, thus making it difficult for the Nigerian security operatives to overcome the terror groups.
“While there are some truths to both arguments, one thing that stands out and contribute to the shortcomings from both parties (citizens and leaders) can be related to economic challenges the country is facing. However, it should be clear to all that the recent economic challenges are largely a global challenge resulting from the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.
“However, Nigerians may find it more challenging compared to other countries due to the fact that over the previous decades, previous administrations have failed to invest in agriculture, infrastructure, crude oil refining and in modernising the security infrastructure. All these have combined to make the insecurity problems more complex to solve.
“Amidst all these turbulence, legislative chambers in Nigeria are most at times full of drama’s due to the incompetent behaviour of some the legislators, a dangerously new twist have started to unfold in the National Assembly, where some members of the opposition and some disgruntled members of the ruling party are making moves for the impeachment of President Muhammadu Buhari and fuelling accusations and sentiments against the president and his team in order to get backing from Nigerians.
“However, in doing so, they have failed to look at the failures of both national assemblies (house and senate) and how their incompetence’s have contributed to the worsening economic and security the situation in Nigeria. We can all agree that the current security problems of Nigeria today have been as a result of accumulation of years of incompetence, selfishness, greed, injustice and corruption perpetrated by mostly political leaders who are shielded by ethnic and religious entities, a weak and corrupt justice system and to some extend by common citizens.
“As such despite some weakness on the part the President Muhammad Buhari, it will be unjust to lay all the blame on his table and start calling for his impeachment, rather the legislators should focus on finding real solutions of making citizens-oriented legislation that will bring solutions to the insecurities tormenting the country.
“They have also failed to carryout the oversight functions on the various security arms of the government despite billions of dollars budgeted for security, instead majority of them have focused their attention on befriending the head of these agencies in their chase for getting contracts and other financials gains. And that we have come to realize the move to impeach the president is orchestrated by mostly members of the ruling APC who lost out at the presidential primaries and senatorial of the party.
“Most of those in the forefront of the impeachment struggle are agents of some defeated candidates that will benefit if the president is impeached. While there are others supporting the impeachment out of sheer frustration to pull down the APC since they won’t return to the red chambers having been defeated earlier in the contest.
Section 143 of the 1999 constitution as amended have outline the steps and guidelines to be followed for the impeachment of a sitting President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“The question here is whether the legislators championing the move for impeachment s are willing to follow due process or they just want to create a high-level chaos that capable of completely plunging the country in worse internal conflicts, it may never recover from. It is very clear that promoters of the impeachment neither have the numbers nor the facts and evidence to successfully impeach the president, but just want to serve a selfish motive and interest. It is imperative for well meaning Nigerians not to allow themselves to be played by the selfish interest of a few, whose action will worsen the fragile situation in this country.
” It is very important for Nigerians to exercise caution and allow democratic process to take place through proper electoral transition, the general election is just around the corner, and the current administration will leave less than year from now. The ball is now in our court as Nigerians to vote for competent leaders for both executive and legislative positions and to make sure that those we voted for next will put the interest of citizens first in everything they do”.
By Laide Akinboade, Abuja
The Agaba of Jiwa Chiefdom in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Alhaji Idris Musa, has supported Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Renewed Hope Ambassadors, a group working for the reelection of President Bola Tinubu, with a sum of N1 million.
The traditional ruler made the donation when members of the Renewed Hope Ambassadors were led to his palace by its Coordinator, Hon Adamu Abdullahi, on Wednesday.
The monarch expressed profound appreciation to Tinubu for his leadership and his choice of Minister for the FCT, praising the President for appointing Nyesom Wike and further commending him for finding Hon Adamu Abdullahi, whom he described as his son, worthy of coordinating the Renewed Hope Ambassadors in the FCT.
He declared his unreserved commitment to the President’s reelection, stating that within his influence in the FCT and beyond, he would personally lead efforts to mobilise support for President Tinubu.
Alhaji Idris Musa emphasised that the people must show appreciation for what he described as a laudable and brotherly gesture extended to the people of Abuja through inclusive governance and meaningful appointments.
In his address, the Renewed Hope Ambassadors’ Coordinator commended the administration of President Tinubu for its deliberate and inclusive approach to governance, particularly its attention to the FCT.
He highlighted key appointments, infrastructure projects, and policy directions aimed at positioning Abuja as a true national capital reflective of unity and shared prosperity.
Abdullahi further stressed the importance of traditional institutions in sustaining development, urging royal fathers to adopt deliberate engagement with village heads and community leaders.
He sought the consent of the Agaba of Jiwa to allow the Renewed Hope Ambassadors engage tribal chiefs across the various communities within his domain, noting that peaceful coexistence remained the foundation upon which sustainable development in the capital must rest.
President Donald Trump has expanded a US travel ban, barring nationals of five additional countries and people travelling on Palestinian Authority-issued documents from entering the US.
The White House said the restrictions were intended “to protect the security of the United States” and will come into force on 1 January.
Full-entry restrictions will be imposed on people from Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan and Syria as well as Palestinian Authority passport holders.
The administration also moved Laos and Sierra Leone, which were previously subject to partial restrictions, to the full ban list and put partial restrictions on 15 other countries, including Nigeria, Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
Trump, who has tightened immigration controls since returning to the White House in January, said the expanded travel ban was necessary because of what his administration described as failures in screening and vetting systems overseas.
Officials cited high visa overstay rates, unreliable civil records, corruption, terrorist activity and a lack of cooperation in accepting deported nationals.
The announcement followed the arrest of an Afghan national suspected of shooting two National Guard troops over the Thanksgiving weekend, an incident the White House pointed to in highlighting its security concerns.
This is the third time Trump has imposed a travel ban.
During his first term, he introduced a similar order in 2017, which sparked protests and legal challenges at home and abroad. The policy was later upheld by the US Supreme Court.
The White House said the restrictions would remain in place until affected countries show “credible improvements” in identity management, information-sharing and cooperation with US immigration authorities.
A number of exceptions apply and the ban will not affect lawful permanent residents, many existing visa holders, diplomats, or athletes travelling for major sporting events. Officials said case-by-case waivers would also be available where travel is deemed to be in the national interest.
Countries with full restrictions:
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burma, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Laos, Libya, Mali, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Yemen
Individuals travelling on Palestinian Authority issued or endorsed travel documents are also subject to a full suspension of entry
Partial restrictions:
Angola, Antigua and Barbuda, Benin, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire, Cuba, Dominica, Gabon, Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania, Togo, Tonga, Venezuela, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Special case:
Turkmenistan (restrictions remain for immigrants but have been lifted for non-immigrant visas).
By Eze Okechukwu, Abuja
President Bola Tinubu has nominated new chief executives for Nigeria’s two foremost petroleum regulatory agencies following the resignation of their heads, Engineers Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe.
In separate letters to the Senate yesterday, the President requested the confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The nominations followed the voluntary exit of Ahmed, who headed the NMDPRA, and Komolafe, the pioneer CEO of the NUPRC.
Both men were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari after the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which created the two regulatory bodies to oversee reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.According to a State House press release by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process to ensure continuity and stability in the regulation of the petroleum sector.
Eyesan, a seasoned industry professional, is an Economics graduate of the University of Benin and spent nearly 33 years with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream, in 2024, and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, from 2019 to 2023.
Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe State, is a Chemical Engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He has held several strategic positions in the oil and gas industry, including Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company. He also served as Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power Directorate at NNPC.
Mohammed has chaired the boards of the West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries and NNPC Retail, and played key roles in major national projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and Nigeria LNG Train developments.
The President expressed confidence that the nominees’ experience and expertise would strengthen the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and advance reforms across Nigeria’s oil and gas value chain.
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