Eye on Buhari: The President reunites with his dear daughters and more

Following the roller coaster week that President Muhammadu Buhari had last week, we were not sure what to expect this week. It could have gone either way with him finally apologising for his misogynist comments or choosing to continue to defend them.

Well much as we hoped, neither happened. Instead, it was a week full of mostly ceremonial activities from hosting duties to political appointments, commiseration messages and attendance of events. From the 17th through the 22nd of October, here’s all that’s happened right out of the President’s diary:

October 17th

buhari-hosts-icrc-2The President received the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mr. Peter Mauer at the statehouse in Abuja. The president commended the ICRC for the role it played in the release of the 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls, urging it to sustain its humanitarian interest in Nigeria.

The president restated his administration’s commitment to ensuring the release of the girl. He said the government is prepared to continue talks with the Boko Haram insurgent group, “as long as they agree to involve international agencies like ICRC.”

He also spoke about the problem of managing the internally displaced persons who he said are made up of 60% women and children. “We appreciate all your efforts. I am pleased you recognized that our military is cooperating with civil authorities, and respecting humanitarian issues. It is a difficult time for Nigeria”, the president said.

October 18

Foreign relations resumed as the 18th saw President Buhari making promises to the Chinese government about counterpart funding for infrastructural development.

At the presentation of Letters of Credence ceremony at which held within the State House, President Buhari met with the Chinese ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Zhou Pingjian. He commended the readiness of the Chinese public and private sectors to invest in Nigeria, and promised that the Federal Government will provide counterpart funding for all agreements reached with the People’s Republic of China in a bid to speed up progress of ongoing projects by the Chinese in Nigeria.

October 19

buhari-meets-girlsRemember the President was not able to immediately receive the 21 Chibok girls that were released on the 13th October because of his trip to Germany.

On Wednesday, there was a deserving presidential reception for the girls at the Villa. It was an emotional ceremony as far as pictures show.

There was also a commiseration message sent from the office of the president to the family of the late Catholic priest, Wilfred Ojukwu. In a press statement released by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, the president said, “Rev Fr Ojukwu will be remembered for his patriotism, religious tolerance, love for humanity and respect for constituted authority.”

buhari-presides-over-fec-19102016The President then went on to preside over another Federal Executive Meeting.

October 20th

The day started with a series of tweets mourning the loss of Ken Saro-Wiwa Jr who passed away in the United Kingdom Wednesday night.

The president said that he had spoken with Ken Wiwa’s widow to commiserate. He then encouraged Nigerians to honour Ken’s dedication to his father’s legacy of an environmentally clean Ogoni-land by supporting the efforts of his administration in that regard.

Later on Thursday, the president approved the nomination of 46 non-career ambassadors for approval by the Senate. The names submitted include: Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora; former Deputy governor of Plateau State, Pauline Tallen; former National Secretary, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, Usman Bugaje; former legislator, Yussuf Tuggar, a former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice George Adesola Oguntade amongst others. The list had representation from all the States but the President got some backlash for not nominating any FCT-native from Senator Philip Aduda of the Federal Capital Territory.

October 21st

President Muhammadu Buhari approved ecological fund intervention projects for the 4th quarter of 2016 in eleven states including Kebbi, Kaduna, Ogun and Osun, Cross River, Delta, Adamawa, Bauchi, Anambra, Imo, and Benue states. The funds are to be used for flood and erosion control projects as well as remediation of sludge pit and oil spillage in Kaduna and Warri refineries.

October 22nd

In a statement the delivered by the Executive Director at the National University Commission, Mr. Chiedu Mafiana, the president made clear his continued commitment to anti-corruption campaign in every aspect of Nigerian affairs. Making it apparent that the events happening in academic circles have not gone unnoticed, the address reads: “government is uncomfortable that our citadels of learning which should be training grounds for probity, social justice and decorum have become havens for gross indiscipline, cultism, sexual harassment, immorality, indecency, violence, unnecessary demonstrations and all forms of anti-social behaviours.”

He also urged the universities to seek out ways internally generating their own revenue ad the era of wasteful spending in Nigeria has come to an end.

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