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Stakeholders urges Buhari to be concerned about who succeeds him
Yemi Akinsuyi
Some stakeholders have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure a successor that would sustain many of his achievements during his administration.
They made the appeal during the monthly National Policy and Development Summit (N-PoD), organised by the office of Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Policy Development and Analysis, held in Abuja today.
The theme of the summit is ”Strategies for Sustaining the Enduring Legacies of President Muhammadu Buhari “.
Sen. Ita Enang, Special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta, said one of the greatest achievements of President Buhari is to be interested in who succeeds him.
According to him, the best of Buhari has been delivered and if we are not interested in who succeeds him, then all of his efforts will be drawn back years behind and it will be destroyed.
”So we should jointly add as part of the resolutions here that Mr President, should in a democratic process to which he is an apostle be interested in who succeeds him.
”He should be interested in who has the same character /conduct, the same ability, mental state, clean hands and vision of what the country should be to succeed him,” he added.
Enang said that one of the ways in which the legacies of the present administration could he sustained is to reduce the various programmes to legislation, so that most of the policies would succeed him.
He commended the president for adopting innovative ways of solving the infrastructural problems in the country.
He also praised Buhari for not undermining any arm of the government and for ensuring each of them operated to its optimal.
On the Electoral Act, Enang urged the NASS to ensure that the content does not violate provisions of the constitution or be another land mine in the electoral process.
On security, Enang said rather than establish more security agencies, the available ones should be merged and strengthened.
”I have been consistently of the opinion that you don’t have to establish another institution when one institution have failed, you have to make that institution work,” he explained.
On his part, a Public Sector Analyst, Mr. Mainasara Umar also said that it was important for Buhari to be concerned about who succeeds him in office.
”President Buhari should withdraw his last statement that he doesn’t care whosoever succeeds him.
”You have to be concerned about who your successor is, a true leader is somebody who is always trying to mentor followership, to mentor other people
”We want to see thousands of President Buhari that is being acclaimed as one of the best materials in the world.
”We want to see how many among the ministers, ambassadors and the like are up to President Buhari’s standard, are up to his intellectual, belief and have taken leadership as service rather than investment.
”So you need to mould, shape and groom so many of your type so that they will be able to take over, do more and take Nigeria to greater heights,” Umar said.
He said it was important for the government to create a body to look into other crude oil products like gasoline, gas, diesel, coal, tar and the like as they are also components of revenue generation.
Umar said that government should give priority to solid minerals wasting in the ground and also ensure any attempt to divide the country is looked into accordingly.
He said those trying to organise census should reflect the mood of the nation and do more of sensitisation.
He also appealed that the country’s judiciary be readdressed, urging for the establishment of Anti terrorism and cyber crime courts.
”We need to also unbundle the Supreme Court, to either have regional components or establish courts of specialisation so that there will not be stagnation of matters.”
Similarly, Mr Ron Verreneault, the Managing Director, V-Quality Technical Consultants Ltd, also reiterated the need for the legacies of the present administration to be sustained.
While speaking on power sector operations in Nigeria, he said if we prioritised correctly and ensure best practice, the sector would thrive.
Earlier, the convener of the summit, Mr Ibrahim Bapetel, who is Special Adviser to the President on Policy Development and Analysis, said the aim of the summit was to discuss ways of sustaining the legacies of the present administration.
Bapetel said:” We have topics every month to discuss with Nigerians and ask questions about the policies and programmes of President Buhari.
‘Buhari’s tenure is coming to an end and so we need to start collecting his legacies and find ways to sustain them.
”We hope that with the media here, they will help ensure the message of today is transmitted to Nigerians.
”Moreso, a report would be drafted to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the President on the resolutions reached at the end of this summit.”
The one-day summit was attended by key stakeholders and players in the country.
The Obidient Movement, led by Dr. Yunusa Tanko, has issued a press statement condemning the circulation of false social media posts attributed to Senator Datti-Baba Ahmed. The fabricated posts, which have gone viral, are described as part of a deliberate smear campaign aimed at damaging the Senator’s reputation.
The movement clarified that Senator Datti-Baba Ahmed does not operate any social media accounts, making all attributed posts entirely baseless. During a recent press conference, the Senator unequivocally dissociated himself from these claims and urged the public to disregard them.
“This is a targeted attempt to tarnish the Senator’s image and credibility,” Dr. Tanko stated.
The Obidient Movement has called on its supporters and the public to remain vigilant and proactive in addressing the issue. They urged people to ignore, counter, and report the false posts whenever they appear.
The statement concluded with an appeal for continued support and collaboration in combating misinformation, reinforcing the movement’s commitment to truth and integrity.
The Senate has granted approval for a $2.09 billion (N1.767 trillion) loan requested by President Bola Tinubu to address the N9.7 trillion deficit in the N28.7 trillion 2024 budget. The decision was made during Thursday’s plenary, just 48 hours after the request was submitted to the National Assembly.
President Tinubu, in letters to both chambers of the legislature earlier this week, highlighted the importance of the loan for financing key projects and programs critical to national development.
Following the request, the Senate assigned its Committee on Local and Foreign Debts, led by Senator Aliyu Wammako (APC, Sokoto North), to review the proposal. Presenting the committee’s report, Senator Wammako described the loan as vital for implementing the Debt Management Strategy, reducing borrowing costs, extending debt maturity, and bolstering Nigeria’s external reserves.
The committee recommended raising the loan through Eurobonds or similar international financing instruments, subject to market conditions. It also suggested that any excess funds from exchange rate adjustments be directed toward capital projects in 2024 to support infrastructure and economic growth.
The Senate approved the loan unanimously, with no objections raised during deliberations. Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, commended the Wammako-led committee for its swift and thorough handling of the proposal.
This loan approval is part of the government’s broader strategy to bridge fiscal gaps while focusing on developmental priorities and economic stability.
Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based pro-Biafra agitator, has been arrested and detained by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on charges of inciting public crimes with terrorist intent.
The alleged offence reportedly occurred in Lahti on August 23, 2021. Finnish authorities apprehended Ekpa on Monday, November 19, marking another chapter in his history of legal confrontations.
A source confirmed Ekpa’s arrest, noting, “He was arrested three days ago. But this is not the first time. He will likely be questioned and released soon.” Ekpa was previously detained in 2023 on suspicion of fundraising fraud but was released the same evening.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) has also requested the detention of four additional suspects in connection with terrorism-related charges.
Ekpa has gained notoriety for his leadership of a Nigerian separatist group advocating for an independent Biafran state in southeastern Nigeria. Finnish authorities allege that he used social media platforms to coordinate actions that resulted in violence against civilians and authorities in Nigeria.
Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen of the NBI stated that the investigation focuses on a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of public incitement to crimes with terrorist intent.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has continued to engage the Finnish government through the European Union (EU) to extradite Ekpa. In August, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters emphasized the dual approach of diplomatic engagement and sustained military operations against the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN).
Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba, reiterated the government’s resolve, saying, “The FG would respond appropriately to the Finnish Government through the EU. On the part of the military, troops would sustain operations against IPOB/ESN.”
Ekpa, who has represented Finland’s National Coalition Party (NCP) in local government, currently serves on Lahti’s public transport committee. Finnish authorities continue to investigate his activities, emphasizing the potential connection between his leadership role in the separatist movement and violent actions in Nigeria.
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