President Muhammadu Buhari, in the course of the week, presented the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, to the Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir-Usman.

The president also presented the APC presidential candidate to the Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar III for his blessings and support on Thursday in Sokoto.

While presenting Mr Tinubu to emir of Katsina on Monday,  Mr Buhari again pledged to ensure electoral victory for the APC candidate at the February 25 election.

He urged the emir, Abdulmumini Kabir-Usman and emirate council to mobilise for Mr Tinubu.

”We are here to present our candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” the president said during a courtesy call in the palace. “Asiwaju has been chosen by our party and we are fully in support of his candidature, and we will work for his victory at the polls.”

The president also used the opportunity to condole the leaders and people of Katsina following the recent terrorist attack on vigilantes in Bakori Council area, leaving many dead.

At the sultan’s palace, Messrs Buhari and Tinubu said, “We have come here to ask for your support and blessings. We want to win the coming elections.”

The president urged people to trust Mr Tinubu to succeed him because the APC candidate, supported by Kashim Shettima, the running mate, will build on the successes of his administration.

The president had also on Friday presided over the meeting of the National Council of State, where the council endorsed the currency redesign policy introduced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), but faulted its implementation.

The council advised CBN to be more aggressive in implementing the policy to reduce Nigerians’ hardship.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the police assured the council of their readiness for the smooth conduct of the February and March elections.

Mr Buhari hosted the National Assembly leadership immediately after the council meeting.

Senate President Ahmad Lawan, who spoke to State House correspondents after a closed-door meeting with Mr Buhari again stressed the need for the CBN to allow the old and new naira notes to be used concurrently.

According to him, this is to cushion the hardship people face.

Mr Lawan further stressed the need to have another look at the policy on the redesign of the naira.

On Wednesday, the president presided over the meeting of the Federal Executive Council where INEC chairman Mahmood Yakubu, briefed the council regarding the commission’s readiness for thr February 25 and March 11 elections.

The council approved N117 billion for the construction of Oloibiri oil museum in Bayelsa and another N721 million for the award of contract for the maintenance of the Aminu Kano International Airport in Kano.

Also on Wednesday, the president congratulated Joe Ajaero on his emergence as the new president of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC).

Mr Buhari, in a congratulatory message by his media aide Garba Shehu, also hailed the NLC National Executive Committee on the success of the congress that produced the new leadership.

Mr Buhari concluded the week with an inaugural meeting of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), approving a work plan for the council.

The president, who chaired the NCCC, with Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo as vice-chairman and NCC director-general, Salisu Dahiru, as secretary, approved the deployment of staff from key ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) to the council for effective take-off.

Responding to a number of requests by the council’s director-general on ensuring a smooth take-off and operationalisation of the council, Mr Buhari approved the proposed institutional arrangement, (organogram) for the council, as presented.

He also endorsed the council as the Designated National Authority for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the NCC DG, NCCC as the UNFCCC National Focal Point, in line with the Climate Change Act 2021. 

(NAN)