Ahead of the formal declaration for the 2019 Presidential election, Ministers serving in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet have begun putting structures in place the will drive his campaign.
The regular weekly Federal Executive Council ( FEC) meeting which holds every Wednesday did not take place at the Presidential Villa, yesterday.
Although no official reason was advanced for not holding the meeting, BusinessDay Villa, sources said the development may not be unconnected with earlier directives by President Muhammadu Buhari dispersing his Ministers to their various constituencies to begin the necessary grassroots mobilization.
The weekly Federal Executive Council (FEC) Meetings are forum used by the cabinet to discuss pressing national issues, set the agenda for the nation as well as address urgent national issues.
Since the last year’s meeting, several issues such as the resurgence of calls for fuel subsidy in the wake of current economic challenges, mass killing of farmers in Benue and other national issues would have been raised, if the meeting held.
Even Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is yet to resume from the Christmas holidays.
Following these developments, the weekly Council meeting, BusinessDay gathered further was not listed on the President’s schedule as the cabinet secretariat was also said to be inactive.
When contacted the office of the Secretary to the government of the federation ( SGF) said no activities was scheduled for FEC this week.
One of the officials who said he would not want to be quoted noted that no memos were submitted
for consideration this week.
” You know the Ministers are not yet back and Monday was new year public holiday, so the secretariat has not been active. We do not have memos. So what will they deliberate on”
Our source also could not say whether FEC will hold next week
But Minister of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, who was at the Presidential Villa to brief the President on the outcome of his visit to his constituency, told State House Correspondents, after meeting with President Buhari that he has “appointed national chairman of the board of trustees of Muhammadu Buhari/Osinbajo dynamic support group”
He disclosed that the group will be inaugurated on 20th of the 20th of January, 2018 when commissioning the south west zonal office of the campaign organization of Buhari/Osinbajo.
When asked if campaigns has started, the Minister said it is the desire of millions of Nigerians that the President contest the 2019 election.
“By the grace of God we His ardent supporters who appreciate his worth on behalf of millions of Nigerians would urge him to re-contest. I know he has not made up his mind but I can say that some of us can assist him in making up his mind so that nigeria can continue to enjoy stability and progress in our land”
He added that “Every day since he came into office all his activities are geared towards letting Nigeria know that they have a saviour, a rescuer, somebody who is committed to providing relief for Nigerians in all respects”
He listed the achievements which qualifies the President to contest the 2019 Presidential election to include success recorded in the fight against “corruption, insurgency whether in the north east or the Niger delta”
“In the area of repairing the economy and providing jobs and providing social stability in the society. You will agree with me that today but for Buhari, Boko Haram would have invaded even Lagos.
It goes without saying I mean if you have a child who goes to primary school does well, proceeds to secondary school does well, and you keep asking is he going to university? It goes with out saying”
He also hinted that plans were on to procure two new satellites from China.
Adebayo said the Chinese government had Initially agreed to provide the cost of the two satellite $550 million minus 15 percent which is the counterpart funding.
He disclosed that the country could ” not afford this 15 percent, we have renegotiated with the China EXIM Bank and the China Great Walls who are the manufacturers and they have happily agreed to pay the entire $550 million to procure two new satellites.
The two new satellites will help boast efforts by the Nigerian satellite company which is NICOMSAT to conquer the entire African continent with regards to the provision of satellite communication services.
“This is a very big business opportunity and I am sure that the Chinese appreciate the potential market which is so vast and that is why they have agreed that even without our ability to contribute 15 percent they are prepared to pay the entire sum of $550 million for the procurement of the two new satellites for Nigeria.”
Tony Ailemen, Abuja
