Politics

AN ‘anniversary picture’ of President Muhammadu Buhari and his wife, Aisha, has continued to attract attention and comments on the social media space as the week under review witnessed Nigeria’s colourful 62nd Independence Day Anniversary parades.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the picture  described as the ” best pix from the anniversary celebration”, was released by one of the President’s Personal Assistants (Photography) on Saturday.

A social commentator and Abuja-based media practitioner, Mr Lawrence Olaoye, described the picture as ” a display of love in the first  family. I dey hail Baba o.

”This is the demonstration of solid family base. This is an award winning picture.”

Juliana, another admirer of the first family’s picture, who commented from New York, United States, simply said:  ”I just love this” while referring to the lovely picture.

NAN reports that the lovely picture has led to social media challenge as different pictures of couples, including that of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, displaying similar postures were now treading in the social media space.

NAN reports that the first couple were captured in the picture when the president, on Saturday, led dignitaries including Osinbajo, former President Goodluck Jonathan, several other local and foreign dignitaries to witness the  Nigeria’s colourful 62nd Independence Day Anniversary parades.

The event was held amidst watertight security at the Eagle Square, Abuja, on Saturday.

It witnessed colorful parades and a display of a high sense of professionalism by members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.

NAN reports that the president had earlier addressed Nigerians on the occasion of the 62nd independence anniversary.

He assured citizens that their resilience and patience would not end in vain as his administration continues to reposition and strengthen the security agencies to tackle nation’s security challenges.

Buhari said that he shared the pains Nigerians were going through while commending their resilience in the face of challenges.

Buhari had also commended Nigerians for giving him the opportunity to lead the country both in 2015 and 2019.

He added that he had delivered on most of the promises he made to the people in the last seven years.

Buhari also reiterated his appeal to the striking ASUU members to return to the classroom, while assuring them to deal with their contending issues within the limits of the scarce resources available.

 According to him, the Federal Government will continue to mobilise resources both internationally and nationally towards funding education, to ensure that citizens are well educated and skilled in various vocations

Buhari had earlier received Letters of Credence from Ambassadors and High Commissioners of six  countries at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

He urged respect for divergent cultures and opinions, and upholding the unity of the country.

The High Commissioners of Republic of India, Mr Gangadharan Balasubramanian; Germany, Mrs Annett Gunther and that Democratic Republic of Congo, Mrs Gerengbo Pascaline, presented their letters to President Buhari.

Others that presented their letters of credence at the event were those of Sudan, Mr Mohamed Abdelmannan; State of Palestine, Abdullah  Shawesh and The Kingdom of Netherlands,  Mr Willem  Plomp.

Also, the Presidency said there was no State in the federation that had been authorised to procure automatic weapons for its security outfits.

Malam Garba Shehu, the president’s media aide, who made the clarification in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja, dismissed reports that Katsina State Government had been granted licence to procure and operate automatic weapons.

According to him, Buhari has repeatedly made it clear that nobody was allowed to illegally carry AK-47 or any other automatic weapons and that they must surrender them.

On Wednesday, Buhari inaugurated the National Council on Climate Change, charging the members to formulate appropriate policies toward achieving green growth and sustainable economic development for Nigeria.

The president said the inauguration marked the commencement of the implementation of the Climate Change Act 2021 and a new chapter in the renewed response to climate change in the country.

Buhari presided over the virtual meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC)on Wednesday where the Council approved N580.5 million for the procurement of four armoured vehicles to fight dangerous and illicit drugs by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

It also approved N27 billion for the rehabilitation of a 27km road linking Ondo and Edo as well as N1.8billion for the building of a retaining wall for a salt project in Ebonyi.

The wall is to help protect the washing away of the salt, which occurs naturally.

Buhari also inaugurated the Body of Benchers Complex in Abuja on Thursday, where he implored the judiciary to further sustain rule of law in Nigeria and ensure the integrity of participatory democracy by remaining honest arbiters in pre and post election matters.

He said that the judiciary had a major role to play in safeguarding fairness in the 2023 elections and ensuring the sanctity of democratic processes.

Buhari also welcomed the initiative undertaken by the National Peace Committee to commit all political actors to issue-based campaigns devoid of incitement, personal insults and attacks.

He made this position known in a video-message to the signing of the 2023 election Peace Accord by the presidential candidates, organised by the National Peace Committee, on Thursday in Abuja.

The president, who hosted members of the National Peace Committee on the same day, warned that the rise of fake news and misinformation had continued to pose a significant threat to democracy in Nigeria.

According to him, fake news and misinformation have shifted focus away from issue-based campaigns to amplifying the potential for personal attacks, insults and incitements.

The NPC was led by former Head of State, retired Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, on Thursday.

The president addressed the second African Sub-Sovereign Governments Network (AFSNET) Conference on Friday in Abuja, where he decried the low-level trade among African countries.

According to him, the Intra-regional trade still accounts for a very tiny fraction of total trade in Africa.

The event was organised by the Afreximbank in collaboration with the secretariat of AfCFTA and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.

 Buhari and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday exchanged pleasantries on the occasion of the two nations’ independence anniversary on Oct. 1.

The Nigerian leader ended the week at the Eagle Square where  he led dignitaries to witness the Nigeria’s colourful 62nd Independence Day Anniversary parades. (NAN)

KN

Tags: AISHA Buhari Gangadharan Balasubramanian Goodluck Jonathan Mrs Annett Gunther Muhammadu Buhari Yemi Osinbajo