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I’m Not Cloned, Buhari Replies

Published

7 years ago

December 3, 2018

Eric

President Muhammadu Buhari for the first time on Sunday reacted personally to a trending allegation that he was cloned.

The real Buhari, according to the allegation, is dead, while the person going about as Nigeria’s President is a certain Jubril Aminu from Sudan, Buhari’s cloned version.

But speaking in far away Krakow, Poland, Buhari called those spreading the allegation as “ignorant and irreligious.”

He described himself as the real Buhari, saying that he would soon celebrate his 76th birthday and would be stronger.

‘‘It’s real me, I assure you. I will soon celebrate my 76th birthday and I will still go strong”, a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu, quoted the President as saying.

Buhari, who was addressing the Nigerian community in Poland, responded to a specific question on whether he was the real Buhari Nigerians elected as President in 2015.

The interactive session was put together by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Diaspora Affairs, Mrs Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

The President spoke further, ‘‘A lot of people hoped that I died during my ill health. Some even reached out to the Vice- President (Prof. Yemi Osinbajo) to consider them to be his deputy because they assumed I was dead.

“That embarrassed him (Osinbajo) a lot and of course, he visited me when I was in London convalescing… It’s real me; I assure you.”

The President added that he was beyond harassment by anyone, except his grandchildren.

‘‘If I am getting harassed by anyone, it is my grandchildren, who are getting too many,” he said.

He told the session that he would continue to deliver on his campaign promises of improving security, the economy and the fight against corruption.

‘‘Those in the North-East will tell you that in spite of the recent setbacks, there is a difference between the time we came and before. We are not doing badly on security, economy and agriculture. We have virtually stopped the importation of food, especially rice and we are saving a lot of money.

‘‘We now have food security and that has come with fiscal security because a lot of young educated people have not regretted going back to the farms and earning a respectable living.

‘‘I am afraid, this is not receiving good publicity… but a lot of people in the rural areas are enjoying the benefits of our interventions in agriculture.”

The Presidency said on Sunday that Buhari was in Poland to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference, otherwise known as COP24.

At the conference, the President told the gathering that no territory of Nigeria was under occupation by Boko Haram terrorists.

Although, he admitted that funding security was a challenge to the Federal Government, the President assured the session that the country’s military had the might to tackle Boko Haram.

He also spoke on the crisis between herdsmen and farmers, the fight against corruption and women participation in politics.

‘‘I have plans for all Nigerians. I am not a male chauvinist. If I am a chauvinist, will I give the Finance Ministry to women?’’ he responded to a question on women representation.

The Nigerian Ambassador to Poland, Mr Adagogo Bell-Gam, while responding on behalf of the Nigerian community, informed the President that Nigerians were generally well-behaved.

Some of the people Buhari met with were Mr Larry Ugwu, an artist and curator living in Poland for 40 years; Anthony Egwuatu, a gynaecologist, who has spent 30 years there; and Mr Olomofe Larry, a human rights activist.

The Punch

Featured

Defection: Atiku’s Son, Adamu, Resigns As Adamawa Commissioner

Published

1 hour ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Adamu Abubakar, the first son of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, has resigned as Adamawa State’s commissioner for works and energy development, days after Governor Ahmadu Fintiri defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.

Abubakar’s resignation letter, dated 2 March 2026, was addressed to the governor through the Secretary to the State Government. He gave no reason for his departure.

The timing is pointed. Fintiri announced his defection to the APC in a statewide broadcast last Friday, saying his cabinet and the PDP’s state structure had moved with him. Within 24 hours, 22 commissioners and special advisers publicly announced they were following suit. Abubakar, whose father remains one of the PDP’s most prominent national figures, was not among them.

In a statement issued Monday night, Abubakar’s media aide Abdulaziz Jauro said the former commissioner thanked the governor for the opportunity to serve and pledged continued loyalty to the administration’s developmental agenda. He also expressed gratitude to his father “for granting him the moral support and blessing to serve the people of Adamawa State” — a line that, read in context, suggests Atiku was consulted on the decision.

Abubakar said his resignation was not a withdrawal from public life. “This does not mark the end of his commitment to public service,” the statement read, “but rather the beginning of new avenues for developmental collaboration.”

The resignation leaves unresolved the question of whether it reflects a political break with the governor over his defection or a personal decision unconnected to the broader party realignment now reshaping Adamawa’s political landscape.

Featured

DSS Nabs Man over Assassination Attempt on Peter Obi

Published

4 hours ago

March 3, 2026

Eric

Nigeria’s Department of State Services (DSS) has detained a man in connection with the recent attack and alleged assassination threats targeting Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi.

According to AIT, the shooting incident took place on February 24, 2026, in Benin City, Edo State, during a political gathering attended by Obi and several figures from the African Democratic Congress (ADC). The meeting was hosted by former APC National Chairman, John Oyegun. Gunmen reportedly opened fire at the venue, causing panic and forcing attendees to disperse for safety.

According to security sources, shortly after the attack, an individual identified as Udeme Monday Stephen allegedly took to social media claiming responsibility and issuing additional threats against Obi, warning of further violence.

Intelligence officials reportedly initiated swift investigations, employing digital tracing and forensic tools that led to the arrest of the 26-year-old suspect in Rivers State. He is said to be a teacher at a private secondary school in the Eliozu area of Obio-Akpor Local Government Area.

The suspect remains in DSS custody and is expected to face prosecution. The agency reiterated its commitment to responding to credible threats and safeguarding lives and national interests without bias.

Featured

Shiites Protest in Kano over Killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader

Published

1 day ago

March 2, 2026

Eric

Members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, on Sunday, took to the streets of Kano metropolis to protest the killing of the Supreme leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following a joint attack by the US-Israel on Saturday.

The demonstrators, who are simply known as Shiites, trooped out in their numbers at about 2.30pm in and trekked from the Fegge Central Mosque the Islamic Movement headquarters situated at Kofar Waika in the State capital.

The demonstration, adjudged peaceful, lasted for about two hours, terminating after 4.00pm.

The demonstration was followed by speeches by their scholars that spoke about the state of affairs in the Middle East and its implications on the rest of the world. A special prayer was also offered seeking Allahs intervention for the people of Iran.

The Kano State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Abudulhi Haruna Kiyawa, resisted attempts to persuade hims for official reaction to the demonstration.