Osinbajo cannot replace Buhari in 2019 if president dies – Prof. Ango Abdullahi; Osinbajo confirms rescue of another Chibok schoolgirl – Femi Adesina; Jonathan’s six-year-presidency a wasted opportunity for Ijaw people – Dickson; British govt reacts to coup rumors in Nigeria . . .
Osinbajo cannot replace Buhari in 2019 if president dies – Prof. Ango Abdullahi
Chairman of the Northern Elders Forum Professor Ango Abdullahi waded into the health issues surrounding ailing President Muhammadu Buhari, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo’s position as Acting President and the APC presidential ticket in 2019 – all in one fell swoop. The former Vice Chancellor of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, maintained that should President Muhammadu Buhari’s failing health prevent him from seeking re-election in 2019 the North must retain the Nigerian presidency.
Prof. Abdullahi stressed that the Northern region must be allowed to field a presidential candidate through the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2019 should Buhari fail to seek re-election. The don said in the situation of any eventuality, the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo should be allowed to complete the current tenure but will not be allowed to contest in 2019.
Osinbajo confirms rescue of another Chibok schoolgirl – Femi Adesina
Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday confirmed that another Chibok schoolgirl had been found, barely 12 days after the release of the 82 abducted Chibok schoolgirls abducted by Boko Haram.
Mr. Femi Adesina, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, who made this known to State House correspondents in Abuja, said the recovery of the girl was announced by the acting president during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday. According to Mr. Adesina, the girl has been brought to Abuja to join the other 82 girls who were earlier released.
Jonathan’s six-year-presidency a wasted opportunity for Ijaw people – Dickson
Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson has said that the six years of ex-President Goodluck Jonathan’s presidency was a lost opportunity for the Ijaw Nation. Dickson said that the period Jonathan spent as Nigeria’s president was a wasted opportunity for the Ijaw people. Dickson made the comment on Tuesday while speaking at a conference of Ijaw leaders and youths who had gathered for the annual celebration of their hero, Major Adaka Boroh at the Ijaw House, Yenegoa.
According to Dickson, Ministers and presidential aides of Ijaw extraction who worked with the ex-president for six years failed to work with him in the interest of the Ijaw people but were after selfish interests. He said this made the six years of former President Jonathan a wasted period for the Ijaw people who thought their son had gotten to the helm of political affairs of this nation to change their lots for the better. Governor Dickson maintained that, as such, “they suffered from the Bayelsa-Ijaw disease of pull-him-down syndrome.”
British govt reacts to coup rumors in Nigeria
The British government has warned against a “non-democratic” change of government in Nigeria amid speculations and rumors about a military coup d’état by junior officers of the Nigerian Army, even as concerns grow over President Muhammadu Buhari’s ailing health.
Photo: The British High Commissioner to Nigeria Paul Arkwright
“The British government believes that democracy is actually critical in Nigeria,” the High Commissioner of the United Kingdom to Nigeria, His Excellency, Paul Arkwright, said on Wednesday. “There are elections. If you’re not happy with your leaders then you should change your leadership through the democratic process and through elections.” he stated.
Photo L-R: The British High Commissioner to Nigeria Paul Arkwright & President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Rock
The High Commissioner spoke during an event held in Abuja to launch a new report on corruption in Nigeria which was put together by UK policy think-tank, Chatham House based in London. His comments came a day after the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Buratai, warned of suspicious interactions between Army officers and politicians, as concerns mount over the state of President Buhari’s health in London.
Nigerian News Desk 