…I will laugh last- Atiku

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday said he passed through tough times in three previous elections he contested before he was elected the President.

He said this when he received Report of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and Judiciary at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He said: “I went through a terrible time getting here for the three times I contested elections.

“Both young and ordinary Nigerians depend on leadership to ensure justice is always done.

“So we must ensure that trust is not compromised. This administration will take the report seriously.”

He noted that efforts to ensure autonomy for state legislatures and judiciary will further strengthen democracy and deepen inclusiveness of citizens by guaranteeing fairness for ordinary Nigerians.

Chairman of the Committee, immediate past Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, said implementation of the recommendations would entrench constitutionalism, democratic principles and separation of powers.

“The recommendations clearly spell out that if uniform modules for implementation of financial autonomy for state legislature and state judiciary are approved for implementation across 36 states, it will no doubt strengthen Nigeria’s democratic principles, practices and public governance,’’ he said.

Malami said the committee had observed that most states honoured the constitutional provisions for financial autonomy in the breach, than in observance.

He said the legislature and judiciary had remained the last hope of the common man and should be given autonomy, even as he noted that the committee consulted with state governors, Chief Judges of states, Speakers of State Houses of Assembly, Civil Society Organizations and relevant stakeholders, including members of the public.

The Presidential Implementation Committee on Financial Autonomy of State Legislature and State Judiciary was inaugurated by President Buhari on March 22, 2019, to fashion out strategies and modalities for implementation of the financial autonomy of the state legislature and judiciary in compliance with Section 121 (3) of the 1999 constitution (As Amended).

Similarly, President Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration’s goal of building an inclusive, secured and prosperous Nigeria is achievable

The president, who stated this when he received a delegation from Nasarawa State, led by Gov. Abdullahi Sule, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, added that the administration remains committed to the Change Agenda.

He, however, stressed the need for states, local governments as well as traditional and religious leaders to partner with the Federal Government in ensuring compliance of government agenda.

 “In the next four years, I want to assure you that we will remain committed to the change agenda. Our goal of building an inclusive, secure and prosperous Nigeria is achievable.

“However, the federal government cannot do it alone. We need the full cooperation and support of states, local governments as well as traditional and religious leaders.

“I must commend you the Nasarawa elders and leaders for maintaining peace within the state. In the last four years, you collectively put aside your political, religious and ethnic differences for the interest of stability and prosperity.

“You must continue to preach peace and understanding in your various communities,’’ he said.

The president, who noted that the responsibility of governance was enormous, pledged that hisd administration would continue to pay greater attention towards enhancing security, inclusive economic empowerment and fighting corruption.

“In all these areas we have made progress despite the significant challenges we faced,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 2019 presidential election, Atiku Abubakar, has said he would have the last laugh in his quest to be victorious, noting that his request and that of his party to inspect the server of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not rejected by the Presidential Election Tribunal.

In a statement by his media aide, Paul Ibe, entitled, “He who laughs last, laughs best,” on Tuesday,  Aiku said the tribunal rather ruled  that proceeding was still at preliminary stages and the main case has begun, adding that  that the matter of granting access to inspect the INEC server is not relevant to the preliminary stage.

He said the tribunal held that it is a matter to be adjudicated upon when the main case is being heard.

Atiku was responding to a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesman, Garba Shehu, rejoicing over the ruling of the tribunal on the request by Atiku and PDP to inspect the INEC server.

He said: “The celebration by the administration of General Buhari that their electoral heist has been covered is premature. Their giddiness has even blinded them to the eye witness testimony given to multiple media in interviews by the staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission that there is indeed a server and that they actually submitted results and accreditation through it.

“In their rush to claim a Pyrrhic victory, the General Buhari administration missed out the fact that the 2019 budget has multiple line items for procurement, maintenance and service of the server they claim does not exist.”