Take drastic decision on NNPC - Tony Blair advises Buhari

Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said on Wednesday that the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, must capitalize on the goodwill among Nigerians to take drastic decisions that will impact positively on the nation’s economy on the long run.

Represented by Peter Mendelssohn at a two- day policy dialogue on the implementation of the agenda for change organised by the Policy research and strategy directorate of the All Progressive Congress Presidential a Campaign Council, the ex- British PM said one of such decisions will be to drastically overhaul the nation’ soil sector by immediately reposition the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and eliminate corruption in the sector.

He said “Let me give you an example of another emerging economy that I have spent time more recently. President of Indonesia was elected last year with huge public support. As a foremost businessman without link to the political elites, he was hailed as a leader who could transform Indonesia.

“One of the things he did after being inaugurated last October was to slash Indonesia’s hugely expensive and inefficient, but yet popular fuel subsidy, a policy decision which had toppled previous administrations and consistently brought people out into the streets. He decided to do it straight away.

“He had that goodwill and had that authority and that was the time to move. Obviously, when there was a low price of oil, it made it less painful, but it was well timed.

“On one part, the new President has demonstrated to his people and the international market that he was serious about economic reform and that he was no longer to be underestimated and the protests on the streets ended up being minimal compared to previous times.

“As you know, addiction to fuel subsidy is not limited to Indonesia. I am saying take advantage of that goodwill of being elected to take difficult decisions that may inflict immediate pains, but will in the long terms be of interest to the country and the government.

“What you do in the first 100 days is important and symbolic and can also have tremendously positive repercussion for the government and throughout country. You have a limited window of opportunity to make an impact as a government. Looking at Nigeria, I would say your vulnerability is corruption and that is not new to you, particularly around the oil sector.

“People in this country seem to be able to do things with impunity and beyond the reach of the rule of law or proper accountability and the judicial system. You can crack the NNPC nut or you can make a start on it in the first 100 days and if you do so, you would have built a very strong foundation for what you have to do in the next four years and beyond.

Take drastic decision on NNPC - Tony Blair advises Buhari

International communities have confidence in your government - Tony Blair to Buhari

ABUJA — Visiting former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair, yesterday assured President-elect, General Muhammadu Buhari (retd) of the support of the major democracies of the world, especially Britain to enable him succeed.

Blair gave the assurance during his congratulatory visit to Buhari in Abuja.

Speaking to journalists after a closed door meeting, the former PM hailed the credibility and the tranquillity that defined the last general elections, saying Nigeria and her people had earned the respect of the international community.

He expressed confidence in the incoming government of Buhari, saying it was determined to achieve its set objectives.

He said: “In the last few weeks, Nigeria has earned respect through out the whole world. There is enormous support for Nigeria now in the international community. The support takes into consideration the challenges that lie ahead and there is great confidence in the country.

“This is an election which took place in a way which the country showed the majority of democracies the spirit and character of its people and in the President-elect and Vice President-elect.

“It is a leadership that I know is determined to do its best for the country. Obviously, the future and destiny of Nigeria lies in the hand of its people.

“I just want to say to the President-elect that there is tremendous support for you and the country at this moment and all of us. In what ever way we can stand ready to support you and help you. It is a moment of great challenges which bother on the life of the people as well as their security and so on.

“If the same spirit and character that defined the election can be taken through these coming years to address the challenges, I think we can all have great confidence in the times ahead.

“Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to see you again here in Nigeria and wish you and your team the best in the times head”.

Also speaking, the president-elect, told journalists of what transpired behind the closed doors.

He said: “We had a meeting and discussed how Britain and the United States were helping us in making sure that we conducted ourselves according to our constitution. The fact that it has been so successful is a major relief for us and to all people of conscience throughout the world.

“I thank the former British Prime Minister for his concern for Nigeria and Nigerians, in what he is prepared to do by continuing to help us as a country and as a people.”

 

International communities have confidence in your government - Tony Blair to Buhari

I met Buhari, seeing Jonathan soon – Blair

LAGOS— Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, yesterday, confirmed to Vanguard that he met with All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari (ret) following which he resolved to meet with President Goodluck Jonathan.

Buhari and Tony Blair

The confirmation of the meeting with the country’s opposition leader rubbished speculations that Buhari was in the United Kingdom for medical reasons.

Blair, however, did not disclose the time of his proposed meeting with President Jonathan, just as he refused to be drawn into the nature of his discussions with the APC presidential candidate last Saturday.

Buhari’s campaign office had stated that the former head of state was in the U.K. on a working visit.

Rianne Buter, Senior Media Manager at Blair’s office in London had in response to Vanguard’s enquiries on the meeting between the former prime minister and Buhari said: “Mr. Blair had a private meeting with General Muhammadu Buhari in London,” adding “Mr. Blair hopes to visit Nigeria shortly when he will see the President.”

Buter further noted in an e-mail response to Vanguard on behalf of Blair, that “the meeting between Mr Blair and General Buhari was a private meeting and therefore we cannot disclose what was discussed. The photograph was taken during that meeting”.

Buhari to address Chatham House

Meanwhile, in continuation of his working visit to Britain, the APC presidential candidate is expected, Thursday, to deliver a lecture at the Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA, also known as Chatham House) in London.

The development followed a confirmation of the speaking engagement by the institute yesterday. Chatham House on its website disclosed that Buhari will speak on the topic— “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition”.

The programme would be chaired by Sir Richard Gozney, former British High Commissioner to Nigeria.

“The postponement of Nigeria’s fifth election since its return to civilian rule in 1999, together with fierce political competition, a security crisis and severe economic challenges linked to the drop in oil price, have thrown into sharp relief the challenges of conducting this essential process in such a complex environment. While there is widespread speculation as to the reasons for the delay, there is also widespread acknowledgment of the necessity that national elections do not take place as scheduled on March 28,” Chatham House said.

According to Chatham House, Buhari “will discuss the importance of democracy for Africa’s future, and in particular why delivering dividends of elected government matter both to Nigeria and internationally.”

The statement added that there would be a live stream of the event commencing at 10am GMT.

 

I met Buhari, seeing Jonathan soon – Blair

Buhari meets former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in London

The presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday held a meeting with a former Prime Minister of Britain, Tony Blair, in London.

Buhari and Tony Blair

Mr. Buhari met Mr. Blair in company with Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, and a former Governor of Kwara, Bukola Saraki, who tweeted a group photograph of participants at the meeting.

“Just finished a meeting with @Govsia @ThisIsBuhari and @tonyblairoffice,” Mr. Saraki, an incumbent senator, wrote.

It is not clear what Mr. Buhari discussed with Mr. Blair at the meeting.

Mr. Saraki apparently tweeted the picture to challenge tales being spread by supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan and the Peoples Democratic Party that Mr. Buhari is in the United Kingdom for medical reason.

Mr. Buhari’s campaign had on Friday announced that Mr. Buhari had departed for the U.K. on a short working visit.

The statement said in the course of the visit, Mr. Buhari would hold meetings with key members of the British political establishment and interact with some global institutions with interest in the affairs of Nigeria.

“General Buhari will hopefully give a talk at the prestigious foreign policy hub, the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House in London, the spokesperson for his campaign, Garba Shehu, said.

But shortly afterwards, the Ekiti State Governor, Ayo Fayose, issued a statement, accusing the APC of lying about Mr. Buhari’s itinerary in the U.K. and alleging that the candidate was in London for medical treatment.

Mr. Fayose, a core loyalist of President Jonathan, has continued to spread tales that Mr. Buhari is sick and incapable of governing.

Mr. Buhari has however continued to insist that he is well and fit to govern and that the health and death of everyone is in the hands of God.

The APC presidential candidate had on January 23 cancelled a visit to the United States, which would have seen him speak at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, CSIS, which invited him.

The organisation’s Director of African Programme, Jennifer Cooke, told PREMIUM TIMES at the time that Mr. Buhari cancelled the trip because of a change in his schedule.

Messrs. Buhari and Jonathan, both frontrunners in the coming presidential election, were invited by the organisation to speak on Nigeria’s future.

Buhari meets former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, in London