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Buhari Is President – Elect; Jonathan Concedes Defeat, Congratulates Him …Obasanjo Too, Wants Him Fight Corruption …We’ll Be Magnanimous In Victory -Amaechi
President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari acknowledging cheers from supporters after his victory at the presidential poll, yesterday.
After three unsuccessful attempts at the presidency since 2003, former Head of State and the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Major Gen. Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) yesterday beat the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan to emerge the winner of the 2015 presidential election in the country.
Buhari polled a total vote of 15,424,921 representing 53.80 per cent of the total votes cast to beat his closest rival and candidate of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), President Jonathan who scored 12,853,162 representing 44.83 per cent.
Jonathan is the first incumbent president in Nigeria to lose election.
Announcing the results of the presidential election early this morning, in Abuja, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) who is the Chief Returning Officer, Prof. Attahiru Jega said Gen Buhari satisfied all the election requirements having polled the highest number of votes and scored the mandatory minimum of 25 percent in more than 24 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The INEC chairman thereafter declared Buhari as the winner of the keenly contested presidential election.
The final results of the election declared by the INEC showed that the APC presidential candidate won in 21 states and had the minimum 25 percent in 26 states which include all the northern states and the FCT; while President Jonathan won in 15 states, including all the South-South and South-East, and the FCT and had the minimum 25 per cent in 25 states and the FCT.
The breakdown of the results shows that Buhari won five states in the South-West. These include Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Lagos. He lost Ekiti state to President Jonathan.
The APC presidential candidate also won five states in the North-East including Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe and Yobe. He lost Taraba state.
Buhari won all the seven states in the North-West where he comes from. These include Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto and Zamfara.
In the North- Central, he won in Benue, Kogi, Kwara and Niger States, leaving Nassarawa and Plateau states for Jonathan.
Buhari, however lost in all the South-East and South-South which are Jonathan’s strongholds. The South-East comprises of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo states; while the South-South is made up of Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo and Rivers states.
Gen. Buhari scored his highest single votes in Kano with 1,903,999 votes, while he recorded his highest single percentage in Borno State with 94.86 per cent, followed closely by Katsina, his home state with 90.80 per cent.
President Jonathan, on the other hand, had his highest single votes in Rivers State with 1,487,075 votes, while he recorded his highest single percentage in his home state, Bayelsa with 97.17 per cent.
Meanwhile, President Jonathan has congratulated his main challenger in the election, Gen. Buhari on his victory.
The president, shortly after meeting with his cabinet members and PDP leaders at the Aso Rock Villa, Abuja, yesterday, before the final result was released, made a telephone call to Buhari at exactly 5.15p.m to congratulate him and assured him of maximum cooperation and smooth transition.
Head of the Peace Committee in the country and former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) confirmed the telephone call to State House correspondents after meeting with President Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Gen. Abubakar said President Jonathan told him that he called Buhuari on telephone around 5.15p.m.
Later, President Jonathan, in his concession speech, thanked Nigerians for the great opportunity given him to serve the country and for turning out en-masse for the March 28 presidential and National Assembly elections, which he described as free and fair.
He urged those who have mixed feelings about the outcome of the elections to follow due process based on the constitution and the electoral laws, in seeking redress.
While pleading with his colleagues in the PDP to celebrate rather than to mourn the loss, Jonathan affirmed that the unity, stability and progress of the country is more important than anything else.
The president confirmed that he had earlier conveyed his personal best wishes to General Buhari.
Prominent Nigerians including leaders of the opposition party (PDP) have been calling to congratulate Buhari on his hard-earned victory.
The Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose who ran the most vicious and notorious campaign including death wish against Buhari was the first opposition leader to congratulate Buhari. He described the 73 year old soldier as a “dogged fighter”.
Other eminent Nigerians including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, APC governors, their PDP counterparts, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have also congratulated Gen. Buhari on his victory.
Meanwhile, Buhari, ahead of his formal declaration as the president-elect yesterday, has expressed gratitude to Nigerians for choosing him and his party over and above the PDP and their candidate, President Jonathan.
He, however, said anybody who is happy with the victory of APC in the election should not involve in the molestation of the opponents or the destruction of their property.
The APC national headquarters, Abuja was a Mecca of sorts last night as chieftains and supporters of the APC across the country converged in their thousands at the party secretariat to celebrate Buhari’s victory, just as sea of heads were waiting for his formal declaration and his acceptance speech as the president-elect.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has declared today a public holiday in the state in celebration of Buhari’s victory.
Similary, the Director-General of All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Presidential Campaign Organisation, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi, said yesterday that the party would be magnanimous in victory when it takes over power on May 29.
Amaechi, who said this at the party’s secretariat in Abuja, noted that the government of Muhammadu Buhari would be all-inclusive.
“After the announcement, it will become clearer to the nation that APC has won the election and we will be magnanimous in victory.
“We cherish this victory so much but it is not only about celebration, it is about the seriousness of governance and you must see the difference between us the current government.
“If we say there is incompetence, we must show competence; If we say there was corruption, we must show that we will not be corrupt.
“If we say that people were denied their basic right, we must protect the right of people.
“If we say there was impunity, we must govern by the rule of law and once we show that, you will see the basic difference between us and the current government’’, Amaechi said.
He noted that the victory of the party at the presidential election was historic as it was the first time in the history of the country’s democracy that an incumbent Federal Government would be defeated.
“The victory is historical to me. I will be proud to tell my children that for the first time in the history of Nigeria, the opposition party was able to rout the government and party in power.
“We were able to present a different picture of what life looks like which is giving the people the courage to confront the current government on corruption and confront the fact that people were hungry.
“This is because they don’t go to the same market as other Nigerians go.
“They have the kind of funds they want and they eat the kind of food they want to eat but Nigerians were dying of hunger.
“We want to let Nigerians know that Boko Haram was not about religion alone, there was element of poverty and ignorance’’, he added.
Amaechi also said that the incoming government would have to deal with falling standard of education and unemployment in the north and in the south.
He added that the Buhari administration would make Nigerians to understand that religion was never an issue in Nigeria.
Boye Salau
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DEPLOY YOUR CAPACITY, TECHNICAL KNOWHOW TO REVITALISE SONGHAI FARMS, FUBARA TELLS TASK FORCE
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has said that diversifying the economy of the State has become inevitable because of the need to solve the problem of food shortages while also providing jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
These, he said, are the reasons why great care has been taken to critically look at the prospects of revitalising the Songhai Integrated Farms, which is located in Bunu Tai, in Tai Local Government Area of the State.
Governor Fubara insisted that if the problem associated with food shortages is tackled with good intent and purpose, about 40 to 50 percent of current problems of economic hardship plaguing the country and its people would have been solved.
Governor Fubara made the assertion while inaugurating the Chairman, Mr Biedima Oliver, and members of the task force saddled with the responsibility of supervising the revitalization of Songhai Integrated Farms by its partners: Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Other members of the task force included, the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Engr Victor Kii; Commissioner for Finance, Barrister Emmanuel Frank-Fubara; Dr Ayebaesin Beredugo; and Mr Maurice Ogolo.
The Governor explained that it took him time to approve the constitution of the task force being inaugurated because of the ugly experience with the previous group that shown such interest.
Governor Fubara stated that a process was initiated and driven halfway into the handing over of Songhai Farms on concession to an interested partner who latter showed a total lack of the needed capacity to undertake such task.
He said, “As a matter of fact, if few of you could remember, we even conceded the place to an investor who came in after he had made his presentation, and we, believing that he has the capacity, we said okay to him, and we had already signed up.
“But something happened. He came back to tell us that he wanted us to give him a N5billion bank guarantee. We then asked him, why? If we have the N5billion, why do we need you to come and even revitalize Songhai Farms? We would have put that N5billion there ourselves. For that reason, we cancelled that arrangement.”
Governor Fubara said now that two separate companies have come together to indicate interest and given the assurance of having the needed capacity to drive the process, he is delighted to see them meeting that expectation.
Governor Fubara pointed to the expectation of the people who want to see the Songhai Farms back on stream on a sustainable basis.
That expectation, he insisted, is also what his administration wants to see actualised within its lifespan.
He noted, “We want to see food sufficiency, because we know when Songhai Farms comes on board, there will be food, which is one of the problems we are having in this country. If we are able to tackle the issue of food, 40 to 50 percent of our problem will be solved.”
Governor Fubara also stated that although he believes in the presentation made by the group and has taken their assurance to heart, but warned that he would not tolerate a repeat of what happened before.
The Governor said, “I hope your story will not be (end) halfway too. I hope you have the capacity and all the technical knowhow to handle it. It is not when we start now, after we had finished inaugurating the task force, you will come back to tell us that you need $2million. If we have $2million, we won’t need you. We will invest it by ourselves.”
Governor Fubara, however, praised the capacity of the Chairman of the task force, Biedima Oliver, saying that incidentally, he was one of the personnel that convinced the then administration to develop the Songhai Farms, and had worked with the Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA) to manage the project.
He said, “He knows and understands the workings of Songhai, and now that we are making you the chairman of the task force, we want to believe that you will make that place come back to life.
“I don’t have any doubt in your capacity. A few things you’ve touched, you turned them to gold. Please, bring it back to what we used to see in Songhai. Bring it back with the help of your committee.”
Governor Fubara assured that his administration will remain committed to providing all the necessary support that they may require to make their assignment a success.
He added, “So, I hereby inaugurate you. Your task is very simple: Do everything within your powers and with our support to make sure that Songhai becomes operational to the benefit, not just the people of Tai, but to the entire Rivers State and Nigeria as a whole”.
In his acceptance speech, the Chairman of the Task Force to Supervise the Revitalization of Songhai Farms with Vitalcrop Ventures Limited and Imagine Adama Limited, Mr. Biedima Oliver, expressed appreciation to Governor Fubara for the opportunity and confidence reposed in them to revive Songhai Farms.
Mr. Oliver assured that they will deliver the expected goal on Songhai Farms, and doing so on time and on target so that the good people of Rivers State can eventually be happy and also benefit from the huge investment.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has declared that all the policies and programmes of his administration are tailored towards the protection of interest of Rivers people, especially the youths.
This, he said, is borne out of the importance his administration attaches to youths’ development and empowerment as leaders of tomorrow.
Fubara, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Nelson Chukwudi, disclosed this when he received the youths of Emohua Local Government Area under the auspices of “Emohua Youths For SIM” on solidarity visit to Government House, Port Harcourt, last Friday.
He said that his administration has put in place modalities that will boost the livelihoods and well-being of Rivers citizens, which youths of Emohua will also benefit when they materialise.
The governor, who spoke through the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, pointed out that the recently awarded Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku Road, the ongoing Emohua-Kalabari Road, reinstatement of illegally sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Area and the approval for electrification of the area, are part of deliberate measures to open up the area to make life conducive and more meaningful for the people.
According to him, “Everything about the governor is putting the interest of Rivers State first. He is looking at and taking action on those things that we need to do to restart the wheels of progress in Rivers State.
“There are many things the governor has planned and is already doing that will boost the life and welfare of every citizen of Rivers State, but most importantly the youths.
“Growing up, I learnt that Egbeda is one of the biggest communities in the whole of Ikwerre, and it’s predominantly an agrarian community. They have food in Egbeda, they have food in Ubimini, they have food in Omudiaga and other natural resources. The whole world is tilting to agriculture, and this is the way to go.
“The Elele-Umudioga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Omoku road, when completed, will open up the area for real development. Your food and everything you produce there will now have value, they will no longer be thrown away. In all these, you the youths are going to be the utmost beneficiaries.”
He added, “Same will be applicable to the Emohua-Kalabari Road which will also, trigger development in the area, and you will be the greatest beneficiaries. When the LGA is also electrified, you will be having 24 or 20 hours of electricity, and those things the youths can do with electricity, you can stay at home and create wealth for yourself and children.
“All the totality of what the governor is doing, when they are completed, or even as some are completed now, the youths are going to be utmost beneficiaries.”
While acknowledging that youths are the true leaders of tomorrow and any government that fails to carry them along in the scheme of things is doomed to fail, the governor assured them of his administration’s commitment to always address issues concerning youths and ensure that they are part of his government.
He commended the youths for toeing the path of truth by identifying with his administration, urging them to sustain the tempo and shun evil, as his government will ensure that the trend whereby politicians turn youths to beggars are over.
He said, “Youths are, indeed, the leaders of tomorrow. The time of youth is a very important time. It a time that your parents or whoever is your leader at that time have to make the greatest investment in you. And any Government that decides to only carry the elderly, chiefs aling and abandon the youths is bound to fail,” he asserted.
“But I am happy that Governor Fubara has concentrated his energy on everything that will benefit the society, especially the youths.
“And based on these, I want to thank you for recognising what is good and calling it good, for shunning what is evil, for saying the Governor is standing for you.
“Let me tell you, you are on the right direction. Let me tell you again, Rivers State is the bride of Nigeria. The whole Nigeria is looking at what will happen here. As they look here and see you standing on the path of truth, this is a very important step that you have taken to right all the wrongs of the past, to make Rivers State stand on the tripod of justice, peace and security. That is what we are going to gain through the governor, taking all the wise actions that he has already initiated.
“The projects the governor is embarking on are meant to prepare nets for the youths to fish and put food on their table, hence you should continue to follow him.
“The SIMplified Movement brought upon by the governor will ensure that Rivers youths stop the habit of going to bow down before politicians, pledging loyalty before they can eat.”
Earlier, spokesman for the Emohua Youths for SIM, Comrade Ovamale O. Ovamale, had said that the visit by youths from the 14 political wards in Emohua Local Government Area was to thank the governor for the award of the Elele-Omudiaga-Egbeda-Ubimini-Ikiri-Omoku road, the approval for electrification of the area and reinstatement of sacked workers of Emohua Local Government Council, of which the youths were mostly affected.
According to him, “Siminalayi Fubara of recent has given Emohua Local Government road that links Elele to Omoku, which comprises over four communities in the local government.”
“Emohua Local Government has also been in darkness for eight years. No community in the local government that has light. But, of recent, because of the passion and love the governor has for the people of Emohua, he has approved the electrification of the local government.
“Also, the illegal sack of Emohua Local Government workers, for which the youths were mostly affected and without the approval of the Local Government Service Commission, the governor, in his compassionate nature, has reinstated them, and that is why we said we must come and thank His Excellency”, he said.
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has assured that his administration will collaborate and continue to consult widely in delivering a liberated State experiencing enduring peace.
Fubara said, in doing so, he would not operate as a dictator but as a member of a team that has the best interest of the State at heart and determined to leave a lasting legacy that can be celebrated.
The governor spoke during the formal presentation of Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office to the Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, King Ateke Michael Tom, as first class tradition ruler, at Government House in Port Harcourt, yesterday.
Fubara stated that, during the Sixth State Executive Council meeting, N80.8billion was approved with 50 percent contract value paid already as the Government awarded the construction of the Elele-Egbeda-Omoku Road.
He said the project will be funded from the savings from Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) to underscore his administration’s prudence without also borrowing to complete the project.
“We are at a crossroad in our State where we all need to stand for what is right. It happens once in a life time. So, for now, be one of those people that will be in the course to liberate and free our dear State.
“And I know strongly that having the support of a peace-loving Amanyanabo of Okochiri Kingdom, having the support of the wonderful Council of Chiefs, having the support of the great people of Rivers State, we will bring peace in our State. We will do those things that are right to develop our State.
“We will continue to consult. We will not act as dictators. We will act as people who know that one day, we will leave, and when we leave, the way we have acted will speak for us. We will not force people to talk good about us. Our legacy will be a signature for how we led”, the governor said.
Fubara explained that he acted within the ambit of the law to upgrade the traditional stool upon which King Ateke Tom sits in recognition of his efforts in promoting peace in Okrika, and indeed, the State, and urged him to continue to do justice to everyone.
In his speech, Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Hon Charles Amadi, congratulated King Ateke Tom for being formally presented with the Certificate of Recognition and Staff of Office as first class traditional ruler.
Also speaking, former Transport Minister, Chief Abiye Sekibo, thanked the governor for fulfilling his promise of upgrading the traditional stool of Okochiri Kingdom, and pledged the support of Kirike Se people to his administration.