Buhari grants Nigeria free, fair elections – Minister of FCT

Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has reiterated President Muhammadu Buhari’s wish to ensure free, fair, credible and transparent elections for Nigeria.

Bello stated this during the 14th edition of the Leadership Annual Conference and Awards held on Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at the International Conference Center, Abuja, where he and the Vice President, H. E. Yemi Osinbajo, Hon. Raila Odinga and the Etsu Nupe, HRH Alh. Yahaya Abubakar received special recognition awards.

Speaking on the theme of the event, ‘Credible Elections and an Economy in Transition’, Malam Bello described the conference as timely, given that the upcoming 2023 general election can be regarded as the:time.” adding that “His His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari has urged Nigeria to fail to hold free, fair, credible and transparent elections.”

While praising the award winners for their deserved recognition, the minister particularly appreciated the efforts of Afrexim Bank Chairman Dr Benedict Oramah – one of the award recipients – especially in developing the health sector in the FCT.

He said: “The recognition of Dr Benedict Oramah, Chairman of Afreximbank, resonates with us in the FCT as this international financial institution he heads has capitalized on our vision to make Abuja a global destination for healthcare delivery world-class with the construction of a 200-bed hospital in the city.

“Let me therefore take this opportunity to call on other organizations and business interests who share our dream for developing Abuja into a world-class city to partner with us in this regard,” he added.

Welcoming the keynote speaker and former Prime Minister of Kenya Honorable Raila Amolo Odinga’s thoughts on the theme of the event, the minister commended him for being one of the recipients of the Special Recognition Award while also welcoming him to Abuja.

In a statement issued to journalists in Abuja by the director of the press in the office of the FCT minister, Anthony Ogunleye, on Tuesday night, Bello also praised the wife of the late Sam Nda Isaiah and Chairman of the Leadership Group, Ms. Zainab Nda Isaiah, the Group’s management and staff for supporting the annual event and keeping alive the memory and legacy of Sam Nda-Isiah, whom he described as a patriot and one of Nigeria’s great visionaries.

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