2019 Presidency: Atiku fires back, reveals how Buhari smuggled 53 briefcases of looted fund

Waziri Atiku Abubakar

The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has revealed how he (Atiku) prevented President Muhammadu Buhari from smuggling looted funds into the country in 1984.

Atiku stated this in reaction to an earlier statement credited to Buhari Support Groups, BSG, accusing the former Vice President of plotting to ferry looted funds into the country ahead of the 2019 elections.

Atiku, in a statement issued by his Senior Media Adviser, Paul Ibe, noted that the Governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, had eight years ago, accused Buhari of smuggling 53 briefcases of looted funds into the country.

Atiku advised Buhari to take a trip down memory lane before making allegations they could not substantiate.

The statement added, “Our attention has been drawn to a statement by President Muhammadu Buhari accusing the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Atiku Abubakar of planning to smuggle in looted funds into the country just before the February 2019 elections.

“This new accusation, like their previous allegations, is another infantile outburst that tells more about the accuser than Atiku Abubakar.

“For the avoidance of doubt, history shows that rather than smuggle in looted cash, Waziri Atiku Abubakar has a record of preventing looted funds from being smuggled into Nigeria.

“In 1984, it was Atiku Abubakar, as head of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command of the Nigerian Customs and Excise Department, that stopped the ADC of the then Military Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, from smuggling in 53 suitcases of looted money into the country.

Speculations about Naira appreciation, higher inflation, interest rates in 2019

In spite of the increasing risk to the naira exchange rate from declining crude oil prices, which dropped below $50 per barrel last week, consumers across the country expect the naira to appreciate in 2019. They, however, expect the inflation rate, interest rate and unemployment rate to rise in the New Year. Meanwhile, the Manufacturing and Non Manufacturing Purchasing Managers Indexes of the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, hit an all time high of 61.7 percent in December, indicating economic expansion occurred at a faster pace during the month. On the other hand, the CBN last week intensified its liquidity mop activities, as it mopped up N1.07 trillion from the interbank money market.

Consumers anticipate naira appreciation Prompted by expected increase in net household income, improvement in Nigeria’s economic conditions, the consumers’ overall confidence outlook rose to 28.4 percent for the next 12 months, from 9.7 percent recorded for fourth quarter of 2018 (Q4’18), with consumers across the country expecting the naira to appreciate in 2019. Consumers, however, expect inflation rate, interest rate and unemployment to rise in the New Year. These were highlights of the Consumer Expectation Survey, CES, report for the fourth quarter of 2018 released by the CBN at the weekend. The report stated: “The consumers’ overall confidence outlook improved in Q4 2018, as more consumers were optimistic in their outlook. The index at 9.7 points was 8.7 points higher than the index in the corresponding period of 2017.

“Respondents attributed this favourable outlook to improved family income, family financial situation and economic condition. The consumer outlooks for the next quarter and next 12 months were positive at 33.2 and 28.4 points, respectively.

We’re planning to relocate Baga residents to safer locations — Army

The Nigerian Army said, yesterday, that it was working towards relocating the residents of Baga, a community in Borno State, to safer locations. Deputy Director Public Relations, Theatre Command of Operation Lafiya Dole, Onyema Nwachukwu, disclosed this in a statement, yesterday.

Nwachukwu said this is in view of ongoing military operations in the area.

Last week, insurgents attacked the headquarters of 7 brigade Multinational Joint Task Force, MNJTF, at Baga and hoisted their flag in the town. But the army said it was in pursuit of the “fleeing terrorists,” adding that Boko Haram is not in control of the town. Nwachukwu also said some people were trying to create panic and “unnecessary” humanitarian problems in some parts of Borno State. He said these unnamed people are plotting to instigate the inhabitants of Bama, Dikwa and Monguno communities to abandon their communities and relocate to internally displaced persons, IDP, camps for undisclosed reasons. “It has come to our attention that these people are plotting to instigate the inhabitants of Bama, Dikwa and Monguno communities to abandon their communities and relocate to IDP camps for undisclosed reasons.

“The inhabitants of these towns and the general public are please urged to discountenance such calls and remain calm. Theatre command, Operation LAFIYA DOLE and other Security Agencies will shed more light on the issue in a Security Council meeting with the Borno State Government, scheduled to hold on December 21, 2018. “We would like to further state that there is no basis for the people of Bama, Dikwa and Monguno to vacate their respective communities. “Members of the public are advised to remain calm as the military is in firm control to guarantee their safety and security. We would like to warn that any attempt to cause further panic through this false alarm would be viewed very seriously.”

FG plans new taxes to fund 2019 budget

Amid revenue shortfall pressures, the Federal Government intends to introduce new taxes in the fiscal year 2019 as part of its efforts to boost revenue. Briefing the media in Abuja on the 2019 budget, Minister of Finance, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, said that the current focus of the ministry is on revenue because government has resolved to mobilize more domestic revenue so that it can better fund the budget.

She stated: “As you can see from the performance (of 2018 budget) that there is a gap between what is in the budget and what is actually generated. So, we are doing what we can and very soon we will be generating new revenue initiatives which will include a new set of taxes and excise duties but also working with FIRS and Customs to enhance measures for enforcement and also for compliance.

“By doing what we are doing, we might be having to go to the National Assembly to amend some laws that we have identified which have some gaps, some loopholes. We are doing everything we can to make sure our budgets are better funded, going forward, and it will start from 2019.”

Why we’re opposed to Electoral Act Amendment Bill – APC

The ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, has explained why it supported President Muhammadu Buhari on his decision to withhold assent, for the fourth time, to the Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018. National Chairman of the party, Mr Adams Oshiomhole, stated this, yesterday, in Abuja when the party’s National Working Committee, NWC, received a joint pre-election assessment delegation of the International Republican Institute, IRI, and National Democratic Institute, NDI.

He said: “You raised the issue which the President spoke to about the hurried attempt to amend the Electoral Act. The issue is, what are the key issues in the Electoral Act? Now, you digitize the entire process. That has its benefits but it also has huge challenges. “It now depends on the good heart of those technicians in the control room where the ICT is operated and given the level of illiteracy in the country, given the challenge of unstable power supply in the country, to digitize everything raises issues that cannot just be dismissed. “The laws as they are empower INEC to use card readers.

Buhari promises new minimum wage, presents 2019 budget

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Muhammadu Buhari is currently presenting the 2019 budget. The budget presentation is currently ongoing and President Buhari has proposed a budget of N8.83 trillion for 2019.

President Buhari, during the budget proposal, promised a new minimum wage, which he said will help maintain jobs for the teaming unemployed. President Buhari said he would set up a special committee to look into the current fiasco concerning the minimum wage and come up with ideas of reducing debt and yet, increasing the minimum wage.

Meanwhile, lawmakers booed the president as he made his budget proposal, especially when he mentions areas where his administration has channeled development to. President Buhari, during the budget presentation, thanked the armed forces for protecting the country. According to him, “We thank the Armed Forces and Security Agencies for their efforts and sacrifices in protecting the nation. We have also made many efforts to enhance transparency and accountability in public service delivery.”

Buhari thanks Swiss govt. for returning stolen funds

President Muhammadu Buhari - Nigeria President

Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, thanked the government and people of Switzerland for their support in resuscitating the economy, especially the return of illegally stolen funds.

According to him, the return of stolen funds and interventions in the crisis in the North East further indicate the Swiss government’s commitment to the development of Nigeria.

Senior Special Assistant to the President in Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, in a statement, said President Buhari said this while receiving Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Mr. George Steiner, at the Presidential Villa.

The president was quoted as saying, “We are grateful to the Swiss government for allowing illegally stolen funds to be brought back to Nigeria,” noting that the facilitating roles the Swiss government had been playing in the North East, particularly in reaching out to Internally Displaced Persons, had been most helpful, adding that bilateral relations between both countries will continue to be strengthened.

Steiner on his part said the Swiss government will always be disposed to supporting Nigeria in ensuring peace in the country, especially in the North East.

“We have strong and solid relations with Nigeria. It’s an honour and privilege for us to contribute to issues of importance in the country,” he added.

The Ambassador told President Buhari that the Swiss Government looks forward to having stronger relations on economic issues with Nigeria that will be mutually beneficial, pointing out that the ongoing reforms in the country already send right signals to investors.