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16 Days To Handover: President Buhari,Aides Move Out Belongings From The Villa

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President Muhammad Buhari during a recent Parade

With 17 days to the end of his regime, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), has moved out of his official residence inside the Aso Rock Presidential Villa to the Glass House, a temporary structure that has served as the abode of outgoing presidents since 1991.

The move is to allow for maintenance works on the residence in preparation for its next occupant, President-elect Bola Tinubu.

Reports indicate that most of Buhari’s aides have also been moving their personal belongings out of the seat of power in order to create room for Tinubu’s personal aides and key Presidency officials.

On the nature of renovations in the main residence, a senior State House source said that the 32-year-old edifice was being coated with white paint, while some of its sections were being cleaned and fumigated.

However, the renovation, which largely entails finishing and fittings, will not include the provision of new sets of furniture as the incoming President will determine whether to change the existing ones or not.

You know that most of the structure is white. So, the renovation will involve repainting of the stained sections and replacing fittings that have gone weak or bad. The furniture may not be changed. But that will depend on the new President,” the source said.

According to a two-minute video clip earlier published on her Instagram handle, the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, revealed that the Glass House had since been the new residence of the first family.

Aisha was seen showing the incoming First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, around the State House official residence, adding that the Glass House should remain in use as the transition base for outgoing presidents and their spouses.

She said, “I have taken the incoming First Lady, Senator Remi Tinubu, around. She has seen the main house; we are now at the popular Glass House. The Glass House is a transitional home for outgoing presidents.

“I’m advising that the Glass House should maintain its tradition of being a transition home for outgoing presidents. As I am talking to you now, I am residing here with my husband.

“Only two of us here, I think it should remain so as a norm of the institution and of the house

It was reported last week that the State House Management had begun renovating and refurbishing sections of the Presidential Villa.

The concrete perimeter fence encompassing the President’s office, official residence, the Council Chamber, press gallery, as well as other administrative offices were being overlaid with new white and green paints.

Our correspondent also observed the delivery of a new set of furniture to the green room adjoining the Council Chamber. Months earlier, the management had carried out a routine upgrade of card readers and installed barricades in areas, which were once freeways.

Meanwhile, the Villa Clinic located at the administrative section of the State House has been relocated to the N21bn VIP wing of the State House Clinic, now a medical centre.

In March 2023, Buhari approved the re-designation of the State House Clinic as the State House Medical Centre.

The Permanent Secretary, State House, Tijjani Umar, had disclosed after a pre-inauguration inspection of the new presidential VIP wing of the State House Medical Centre by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, accompanied by the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; and Minister of State for Finance, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba.

It was observed that the President’s aides started packing their personal belongings out of the Villa earlier this month in order to avoid last minute focus on them by “overzealous security officials,” who might be taking pictures to give the impression that the aides were engaging in last-minute looting of the residential apartments.

Another aide of the President, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the issue, said, “Since we all know that the tenure of the present administration ends on May 29, which is about 17 days’ time, why will we wait until the new appointees start to resume before we move out?

“Already, the President and his family have also moved from the main building to a smaller one within the Villa, and I am sure that the first family will soon start moving their belongings out of the Presidential Villa.

“The First Lady, Aisha Buhari, has taken the incoming First Lady round the residential areas and buildings in preparation for the handover. So, what are we going to be waiting for? The outgoing First Lady did that because she knows the incoming First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

However, we are not sure who will occupy our offices now. So, the idea of waiting for them or taking them around is not feasible. That is why we will have to move out of the official quarters.

We know how Nigerians begin to crucify an outgoing government and vilify its officials as soon as the handover is completed. We are not immune to that. We are expecting the same, but we won’t wait until we are disgraced before moving our personal effects out of the villa.

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Sultan of Sokoto Urges Nigerians to Stop Criticizing Leaders and Allow God to Deal With Them

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Sultan Muhammad Saad Abubakar

 

Nigerians have been urged to desist from castigating their leaders and all those in authority.

This call was made to Nigerians by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III on Monday at the the Regional Conference on Climate Change-Induced Conflicts in Northern Nigeria hosted in Kaduna.

According to the Sultan, it is important that Nigerians rather than insult their leaders, they should allow God to really with them.

He also urgee Nigerians to contibue praying for their keaders and tne nation as a whole.

He further called on religious leadera accros Nigeria to quit misleadinh members of ghwir congregation.

“A lot of people say we have never had it so bad, but no matter how difficult it is, ease will come. We believe nothing lasts forever.

“Nothing bad and nothing good lasts forever. Let us intensify prayers in our congregations and encourage our followers to pray for our leaders.

“We will not castigate them; we will allow Almighty Allah to deal with them as He wishes and He will,” the Sultan notes.

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Arewa APC Merger Group Hails President Tinubu for Release of Detained minors

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The Arewa APC Merger Group has thanked President Bola Tinubu for his swift and compassionate response in ordering the release of detained minors involved in the #EndBadGovernance protests.

In a statement signed by National Coordinator Hon. Musa Mujahid Zaitawa in Abuja, the group expressed gratitude for the President’s decisive action, which has brought renewed hope to many Nigerians.

The group commended President Tinubu for showing strong leadership on the issue, noting that his actions demonstrate a commitment to justice and the well-being of Nigeria’s youth.

They emphasized that this move reassures citizens of the President’s dedication to fairness and the protection of human rights under his administration.

The release order from President Tinubu came after the Arewa APC Merger Group took substantial steps to advocate for the detained children.

In response to reports of mistreatment, including allegations of malnutrition and poor conditions, the group provided essential food and support to the minors both at the Federal High Court in Abuja and while in custody.

This effort underscored the group’s commitment to the welfare of young Nigerians and their resolve to seek justice.

Hon. Musa Mujahid Zaitawa stated that the group is encouraged by the President’s response and considers it a positive signal of his administration’s commitment to addressing national issues with compassion and responsibility.

The Arewa APC Merger Group remains hopeful that this action will set a precedent for prioritizing the rights and well-being of Nigeria’s youth across the country.

President Tinubu’s decision to release the children reflects his administration’s acknowledgment of the calls from various stakeholders to uphold justice and safeguard the future of young Nigerians.

The Arewa APC Merger Group expressed their appreciation for this significant step, which they believe will strengthen public confidence in the government’s dedication to the rights of all citizens.

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Breaking: Court Drops Charges Against Minors

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The Federal High Court in Abuja on Tuesday struck out the charges brought against a total of 119 #EndBadGovernance protesters.

All 119 protesters were arraigned on Friday, November 1 on charges bordering on Treason felony, inciting to mutiny, among others.

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The defendants were arraigned in two batches at the previous proceeding.

The first batch comprised a total of 76 protesters which included 32 minors and the second batch a total of 43 protesters.

The trial judge, Justice Obiora Egwuatu, struck out the suit following an application by the counsel to the Attorney General of the Federation, M. D Abubakar, to take over and discontinue the matter.

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