Jonathan Fueled Boko Haram Insurgency - Presidency

The Presidency has reacted to Sambo Dasuki’s claim that the administration of former president Goodluck Jonathan cleared the Northeast of Boko Haram terrorists to make elections possible in 2015.

A statement released by President Muhammadu Buhari’s spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said Jonathan only increased the “monster of terrorism”.

“The truth, as a matter of fact, is that the monster of terrorism got bigger and more daring due to the incompetence and misgovernance of the last administration and no amount lies and fiction can change that,” he stated.

Shehu went on to say the claim was “another unfortunate attempt by inglorious Nigerians to rewrite the history of our country in such a way as to cover the sins of the past. We will have to read the entire text to offer a full and adequate response.

“As a public relations goon for the former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, the author did not surprise anyone by dismissing the acclaimed successes of the Muhammadu Buhari administration in the fight against Boko Haram, claiming that this government simply took the glory for the achievements of the previous government in the war against terrorism.”

Shehu said as of the time elections held in March 2015, a number of local government areas in the Northeast were completely under the control of Boko Haram “to the extent that elections in those areas had to be moved to safe areas.

“The residents of areas such as Gwoza, Banki, Kukawa, Monguno, Bulumba, Baga, Gamboru Ngala, Dikwa, Mafa, etc., were able to vote, not in their hometowns but in refugee camps in other parts of Borno State, under special arrangements made by INEC.”

He said since Buhari came into power, many of those residents had returned to their homes “and Boko Haram eradicated from their areas. In many of these areas, institutions such as schools, police stations, markets and courts have been reestablished or in the process of being re-established.

“Despite Mr. Dasuki’s attempt to rewrite history, Nigerians could not have forgotten the embarrassing stories of failed weapons that plagued our country’s military during the previous administration, when unserviceable weapons, expired ammunition and fake armored vehicles caused untold grief to our valiant armed forces on the battlefield, with arms exploding willy nilly and guns failing to fire.

“It is for trespasses like these that the Buhari administration is determined to get to the bottom of the $2.1 billion arms procurement scandal and ensure that no single one of the culprits go scot free.”

By Ifreke Inyang

Magu's Confirmation: Osinbajo's Statement Was His Personal Opinion - Presidency

The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, has said the statement made by Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, on the confirmation of Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu, was a personal opinion.

Shehu stated this while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday.

In an interview, Osinbajo had said Senate confirmation was not needed for the EFCC chairman to remain in office based on the provisions of Section 171 of the constitution.

The statement had angered the Senate, which agreed to suspend confirmation of all appointments made by the Presidency.

“Our understanding is that some remarks made by the Acting President some months ago when he was the Vice-President, because the President was around at that time, an opinion he gave is being misconstrued.

“A senior lawyer in the country offered an opinion, in which he said some categories of public officers, traditionally cleared by the National Assembly, need not go through that process, that those ones can be appointed through presidential fiat; they don’t have to go through screening.

We are ready for probe – NPA replies Senate

“But several months ago, in his position as Vice-President, Prof. Osinbajo gave a personal opinion, saying what this lawyer said makes sense,” Shehu said.

He, however, assured all stakeholders, that the current face-off between the executive and legislative, would be resolved through dialogue.

“There is no official position by the government of Nigeria, and the Federal Executive Council never sat down to take a decision to say that some categories of officials will not be sent to the National Assembly any longer.

“The authority of the Senate, under the Constitution to screen and pass nominees, has never been questioned by the government or the Federal Executive Council.

“From the time the Vice-President gave that opinion till now, more than 20 nominations have been forwarded to the Senate and quite a number of them have been screened, sworn in and are now occupying positions.

“Therefore, this is not a big issue as some people want to make it. The party, government and the National Assembly will sit at a round table and this matter will be discussed and resolved,” Shehu added.

By Ifreke Inyang

You Are Reckless, Power Drunk - Femi Falana Blasts Garba Shehu

Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, has described Garba Shehu’s comments on Ibrahim El-Zakzaky’s detention as a show of official impunity.

Speaking with journalists on Tuesday, Shehu said El-Zakzaky, whom a court ordered his unconditional release, was not in detention but in protective custody.

However, in a statement on Wednesday, Falana asked if Shehu had become power drunk.

“In a reckless demonstration of official impunity, Mr Garba Shehu, the senior special assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on media and publicity purportedly issued a statement yesterday on behalf of the presidency to justify the illegal detention of Sheikh Ibraheem Elzakzaky and his wife, Hajia Ibraheema Elzakzaky,” he said.

“In the incendiary statement, Mr Shehu claimed that the valid and subsisting order of the federal high court made on December 2, 2016 would not be obeyed by the federal government on the dubious ground that the Sheikh is in ‘protective custody’ while the justification for holding the wife is that she is taking good care of her husband in the illegal custody.

“According to Mr Shehu, ‘El-Zakzaky is held for his own good. If you set him free, what do you think will happen on the streets? He is not in a typical prison condition. He has the company of his wife and children. They can leave if they want. There is overall public good weighing against his release.’

“In the chequered history of Nigeria, this is the first time that a democratically elected government has openly justified the detention of any citizen in defiance of a valid and subsisting order of a competent court of law.

“Even under the neo-tarzanist Buhari/Idiagbon military junta, court orders which directed that victims of the obnoxious Detention of Persons Decree No 2 of 1984 be released from illegal custody were complied with. But under a democratic government, Mr Shehu wants Nigerians to believe that the El-Zakzakys are held in ‘protective custody’ after the federal high court had declared such detention illegal and unconstitutional. Or has Mr Shehu suddenly become so power drunk to the extent that he can conveniently set aside the judgment of the federal high court?” He querried.

Falana also went on to ask that Shehu be called to order, because he could not have made the comment on behalf of the government.

“Since neither President Mohammadu Buhari nor Acting President Yemi Osinbajo could have authorised the contemptuous statement issued on behalf of the presidency Mr Shehu Garba should be called to order and restrained from further exposing the Federal Republic of Nigeria to ridicule before the comity of civilized nations.

“However, since the federal government continues to proclaim loudly that it operates under the rule of law it cannot be permitted to treat court orders with disdain. To that extent, El-zakzaky and his wife must be released from the illegal custody of the State Security Service since the federal high court has dismissed the official claim that they are held in ‘protective custody’,” he added.

By Ifreke Inyang

Presidency Dismisses Rumour that Buhari is Dead

Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu has insisted that nothing unpleasant has happened to his principal.

Shehu stated this on Sunday while reacting to speculations on social media that Buhari had died.

He described the stories as “baseless rumour”, urging Nigerians to disregard them.

“Baseless rumors are trending again that an unpleasant thing has happened to our beloved president, Muhammadu Buhari,” he tweeted.

“If you have received this information on WhatsApp or Facebook, disregard it because it is plain lies spread by vested interests to create panic

“Nothing unpleasant has happened to the president. No cause for apprehension. Thanks for the many calls.”

Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, had earlier tweeted “only God’s counsel shall stand”, regarding the president’s health.

By Ifreke Inyang

Accidental Discharge in Aso Rock: Presidency Gives Details, says Villa is Safe

The presidency has issued a statement reacting to an incident of accidental discharge that injured a female caterer within the villa on Wednesday January 4th.

A statement by Shehu Garba, says that reports received so far by the presidency indicates that the security official involved in this incident is not attached to the State House. 

He came on an invitation as a witness in an ongoing investigation and was required, as is the rule, to surrender his weapon at the gates before entry.

It was at the Administrative reception where he was surrendering his loaded pistol that it discharged accidentally, with a pellet of bullet hitting the caterer who was standing by his side. 

The villa officials, according to Garba, took the lady and the officer to the clinic and they were subsequently discharged after being attended to.