By Tobi Soniyi

President Muhammadu Buhari has rejected the criticism that his handling of the economy led the country into a recession.

Speaking at the State House,in Abuja during a meeting with ‎ the Senior Executive Course No 38 of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), he said that it was not his administration that led the country into recession.

‎The president said: “In the last one and half years of this administration, the economy has experienced some tough times, particularly with the decline in oil revenues, which has some harsh impacts on Nigerians at the grassroots.

“It is also important to note that the economic recession is not the making of this administration, but rather a consequence of bad management of the economy in the past couple of decades. Nor is recession limited to Nigeria; there are far, far worse cases than Nigeria.”

The president, however, said that no matter the scale of the problem facing the country, the important thing was how to tackle it.

He said his administration was committed to finding lasting solutions to the nation’s economic structural imbalance.

“Let us have faith in our great nation that we will come out of this recession vibrant and strong‎,” he added.

‎The president said it was impossible for his administration to ignore the poor who made great sacrifice to bring him to government.

He said: “Ours more than any other government in the history of Nigeria is a people’s government. We therefore must and we will keep faith with the people.”

– ThisDaylive

President Muhammadu Buhari says he will keep faith with the oath of office he swore, and treat all Nigerians equitably.

Receiving the Executive Committee Members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) from 19 Northern States and Abuja, at State House, Thursday, the President equally pledged to restore peace to all parts of the country, noting: “Restoring peace is a top priority.

We will enable the law enforcement agencies to combat all forms of violent crimes, and ensure that our people live in peace.”

President Buhari urged the clerics to promote religious harmony, by “enhancing understanding among different faiths.”

He also disclosed that the government would maintain the priority it has placed on agriculture and mines and steel development, “to kick-start the economy.”

The Chairman of CAN in the 19 Northern States and Abuja, Rev. Yakubu Pam, said it was not a mistake that God chose President Buhari to lead the country at these challenging times.

“We are ready to support your administration to deliver good governance. You have good intentions for Nigeria, judging from the programs that have been outlined,” Rev. Pam said.

He also highlighted ethnoreligious challenges in the country, freedom of worship, and herdsmen/farmers’ clashes in their discussion with the President.

The CAN leader commended the Buhari administration for the blow dealt Boko Haram insurgents, “leading to comparative peace in the North-east,” the return of 21 abducted schoolgirls from Chibok, and the anti-corruption war, which he urged “should be fought to the logical conclusion.”

A former staff of Oceanic Bank Aliyu Suleiman on Wednesday was sentenced to 195 years imprisonment for fraud by Justice Dije Abdu Aboki of the Kano State High Court.

The convict was arraigned by the EFCC on the September 30, 2014, for allegedly stealing over N21m from Albasu Microfinance Bank. Upon his arraignment, the convict pleaded not guilty to all the count charge brought against him by the EFCC.

Delivering her judgment Justice Aboki sentenced the convict to serve two years on each of count one to forty four and fine of N300,000 on each. Where the convict defaults the fine, he is to serve additional six months imprisonment on each count.

From count 45 to 74, the convict was sentenced to fine of N500,000 or twelve months imprisonment on each count while on count 75 to 105, he is to pay fine of N200,000 or twelve months imprisonment on each count with the exception of count 97 which appeared to be duplication.

The sentences were to run concurrently. The convict was also ordered to restitute the sum of N14.8m to the Albasu Community or spend five more years in prison.

The convict was a former staff of Oceanic Bank and was entrusted by the Albasu Community to take charge of their Microfinance Bank. While in charge, the convict violated that trust and siphoned over N21m by forging signatures of the other signatories to the funds.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday, said that he almost left the country upon assumption when he discovered that the national treasury was empty.

Buhari took over from former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party who has been accused of monumental fraud with several public office holders associated with him currently being probed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

The president said he was utterly bewildered to notice that despite the rising cost of crude oil from which Nigeria made a fortune, nothing was left for him to start off his administration, according to the Vanguard.

He spoke while receiving annual report from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, NIPSS, Kuru, Plateau State at the presidential villa, Abuja on Thursday.

“I felt absconding from the country due to the economic challenges.. We inherited a badly managed economy”, he said.

This statement is expected to lead to another round of political brickbats from the opposition party and their sympathizers.

A graduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka who was a staff of Diamond Bank plc before her untimely death in a fatal accident, has been buried amid tears.

The pretty lady identified as Miss Abayi Chikamso Jennifer, was a popular figure in her establishment before her untimely death.

She was buried over this weekend at her hometown and her burial ceremony was graced by many students from the Unizik university community, the banking sector and friends/families.

Her friend wrote: ‘Miss Abayi Chikamso Jennifer was also a 2015 graduate set of Nnamdi azikiwe university and also before this untimely death worked as a customer care agent.

‘She was buried over this weekend at her hometown and her burial ceremony was graced by many students from the Unizik university community, the banking sector and friends/families’

‘May her soul RIP.