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Tag: Laolu Akande

  • No reason to think Osinbajo has left politics – Laolu Akande

    No reason to think Osinbajo has left politics – Laolu Akande

    Spokesperson to former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Mr Laolu Akande, says there is no reason for anyone to think Osinbajo has left politics or has resigned from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Akande, a former Senior Special Assistant on Media & Publicity to Osinbajo, said this in an interview with NAN on Sunday in Lagos.

    Osinbajo has not been seen in many political circles since he left office in 2023, fuelling speculations that he may have dumped APC and politics .

    The former Vice President contested the APC primary in 2022,but failed to clinch the party’s ticket, having lost to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Osinbajo served as Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State,from 1999 to 2007, under Tinubu as governor.

    Some political watchers have linked Osinbajo’s retreat from political activities to his loss in the APC primary while others believe he is devoting less time to politics following his recent appointment as Global Advisor for the Global Energy Alliance For People Planet (GEAPP).

    Akande, when asked by NAN to comment on his former principal’s political life, said he would not get the former VP involved in his own commentary.

    He said Osinbajo never told him he had left politics and that he was still a member of APC to the best of his knowledge.

    Akande also said Osinbajo would attend any APC gathering, requiring his presence.

    “I don’t want to get the man (Osinbajo) involved in my own commentary, but there is no reason to think that he is no longer in the APC; he is still a member of APC.

    “If he gets an invitation to the caucus, you know, he will be there.I don’t about he has left the party” he said.

  • Establishment of Ministry of Livestock Development needless – Laolu Akande

    Establishment of Ministry of Livestock Development needless – Laolu Akande

    Former aide to ex-Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Laolu Akande believes Nigeria may not need a Ministry of Livestock Development due to existing policies. President Bola Tinubu approved the establishment of the ministry on Tuesday as a measure to curb the ongoing farmers-herders clashes.

     

    Akande pointed out that the lack of will and expertise are hindering the implementation of the National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), suggesting that an additional ministry may not be necessary.

     

    “I am not sure that we need a ministry [of livestock],” Akande said on Tuesday’s edition of Channels Television’s Politics Today. “Based on what is available to me now, I am not entirely certain that we would need a ministry to do this [curb farmers-herders clashes]. But let’s wait for more details.”

     

    Nigeria has faced decades-long clashes between herders and farmers over access to land, pasture, and water, leading to significant loss of lives and property. Previous governments and some state governments have introduced various measures, including the NLTP and a ban on open grazing, to address the issue.

     

    Akande believes that the effective implementation of the NLTP, introduced by the administration of ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, could transform the livestock industry in Nigeria and resolve the conflicts.

     

    “The National Livestock Transformation Plan, if it is effectively implemented, is going to solve the problem of the farmer-herder clashes and is going to modernise the livestock industry in our country,” he stated.

  • Rivers Crisis: I’m disappointed at Nyesom Wike – Laolu Akande

    Rivers Crisis: I’m disappointed at Nyesom Wike – Laolu Akande

    Former presidential aide, Laolu Akande, has been left disappointed over the actions and inactions of the past Governor of Rivers State and current Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike.

    Akande, who was the spokesman to former Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, wondered why Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, cannot manage his own anointed governor.

    According to Akande Wike who is very influential in politics has failed to manage the home fronts as expected of him.

    The political crisis rocking Rivers State took a new turn this week with the demolition of the State House of Assembly Complex and defection of 27 members of the assembly loyal to Wike, to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Recall that president Tinubu intervened in the crisis but his intervention has failed to yield positive results in the state.

    Akande who was a guest on Channels television’s pogramme Politics Today on Thursday night noted that the FCT Minister shoild be doing better in managing the Rivers state  crisis.

    “What is happening in Rivers State is very disappointing. Look, a lot of people had deep respect for the FCT Minister …you can easily see that Wike was the kind of guy that got it done and he got the reputation,” Akande said on Channels Television.

    “He was called Mr. Project and all that. There’s quite a bit of political regard that you’ve to give to Wike. I think in this country today, after the President, Nyesom Wike is the most prominent politician.

    “So, when somebody has attained that level of political relevance, it means you really have to carry yourself with a lot of grace, with a lot of measured management of the expectations around you.

    “It is disappointing that the FCT Minister is not managing his own anointed governor and the responsibility is more on him than the governor. Wike is the senior partner in this matter and it is not good for him,” he added.

  • Osinbajo’s media aide, Akande knocks INEC for failing to electronically transmit election results

    Osinbajo’s media aide, Akande knocks INEC for failing to electronically transmit election results

    Laolu Akande, the media aide to the former Vice President of Nigeria, Yemi Osinbajo has berated the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for failing to electronically transmit the results of the 2023 presidential and National Assembly elections, saying it has broken the trust of Nigerians.

    Akande made this remark while featuring on a political programme on Channels TV on Friday night.

    He noted that, the electoral body failed to fulfill its promise to upload polling unit results on their Result Viewing Portal.

     

    “It is important to establish something we cannot basically run away from. INEC came out of this election as a damaged goods.

    “There is no doubt about that. INEC itself set up a standard. INEC determined the guidelines. INEC committed to the people of Nigeria that this is how we are going to declare the result of this election.

    “In fact, the Chairman of INEC went abroad and said, ‘What we are going to do is that these results, when we get it, we will put it on IReV in real-time’,” Akande said.

    Akande’s comments came after the Presidential Election Petitions Tribunal (PEPT) upheld the election of President Bola Tinubu.

    The Justice Haruna Tsammani-led panel ruled that the sole technological requirement mandated for use by the INEC during elections is the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS).

  • Cabinet: Tinubu asked to clarify who handles ‘innovation’ portfolio

    Cabinet: Tinubu asked to clarify who handles ‘innovation’ portfolio

    Former Presidential Aide, Laolu Akande, has lauded the recent inauguration of the cabinet by President Bola Tinubu.

    Akande, Spokesperson to immediate past Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in a statement on Friday in Abuja, also expressed his confidence in the ministers to deliver on their mandates

    Akande while responding to questions, when he featured on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily on Friday, however said there was need for some clarifications to avoid duplication of roles in ministries.

    He called on the president to clarify where “innovation” as a portfolio would be based and to further make public articulation of social welfare that was added to the health ministry.

    According to him there has to be clarity in the area of who takes charge of the innovation portfolio which has been duplicated between two ministries.

    “If you look at the list of the ministries, there are two important questions the Federal Government has to answer.

    “I think the President has to answer this: number one, where is innovation?

    “We have the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation and we also have the Minister of Communication, Innovation and Digital Economy, which has to be sorted out.

    “Are we going to have a situation where you have innovation here and you have innovation there? Probably this has been sorted out by the two ministers,” he said.

    He said that the clarification was important because in the previous administration two ministries assumed that innovation portfolio was under their purview.

    He said that people in both ministries of Science and Technology as well as Communication and Digital Economy also made such assumption.

    “So you find out that there were meetings where both of them were contending tough battles. So, I think it is important for the president to clarify where is innovation?

    “Secondly, people have even noticed that the President now has two coordinating ministers: (Minister of Finance) and Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Social Welfare.

    “So what is social welfare? Is social welfare what we used to have under Social Development which was in humanitarian affairs but no longer there?

    “So, that has been changed from Humanitarian Affairs, Social Welfare and Disaster Management to Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, but social welfare is now taken to health. Now, is social welfare the same thing as social development?

    “I understand what the president is trying to do by bringing social welfare in line with health is.

    “While he is trying to advance the microeconomic issue in the economy may be from four to five per cent GDP figure in a positive trajectory.

    “He also wants to keep an eye on how that impacts the people in real-time, as why he brought the idea of social welfare, which is a very commendable thing.

    “But it is important for us to clarify. Is that socio-welfare the same thing as social development?” Laolu asked.

    He also spoke on the likelihood of conflicts of interest and possible tension among ministers in the course of carrying out their duties, especially the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, a former commissioner, who has to supervise other ministries with former governors as ministers

    “What we must understand is that the Federal Executive Council is the President’s cult; it is what the president wants in terms of the setting and arrangement that would prevail.

    “These ministers are appointed at the pleasure and they serve the pleasure of the president.

    “He can hire and fire at any time that is the reason you can see he made some changes, which are completely within his purview by law.

    “He is the one that sets the Key Performance Index (KPIs). He is the one by law to decides what should be done,” Akande said.

    He also spoke on a recent controversy on the appointment of the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa.

    Akande expressed his support for the minister, describing her as a “very bright and innovative person” capable of bringing innovative ideas that would take the ministry to greater heights.

    “If we are able to overlook some of these issues, she is clearly a very bright and innovative person. There are clearly a lot of expectations that somebody like her might bring, new thinking to the government.

    “She comes with quite a formidable profile for the job, and I think that is something good to know,” Akande said.

    His comments came on the heels of accusations from the Human Rights writer’s Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), faulting Musawa, for undertaking the one-year mandatory National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme while she is still a member of President Bola Tinubu’s cabinet.

  • Osinbajo travels out to Vietnam on official assignment

    Osinbajo travels out to Vietnam on official assignment

    Nigeria’s Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has departed the shores of the country for the Republic of Vietnam for an official assignment.

    Osinbajo will be involved in high-level bilateral engagements in the Asian country, where he’s expected to meet the President of Vietnam, Nguyễn Xuân Phúc and the Vice President, Pho Chu Tich Nuroc, among other dignitaries of the country.

    Osinbajo’s reciprocal visit to the Southeast Asian country will further fortify trade and bilateral relations between both countries.

    The Vice President’s spokesman, Loalu Akande made this known through a statement on Saturday

    Recall that in view of the trade and bilateral relations between Nigeria and Vietnam, then Deputy Prime Minister of Vietnam, Vuong Hue, visited Nigeria in 2019 and met with Osinbajo.

    Although both countries have maintained long-standing diplomatic relations since 1976, Osinbajo will be the second high-ranking Nigerian government official to visit the Southeast Asian country after former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    The VP will also participate in a business forum at the Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce aimed at matchmaking entrepreneurs from both countries.

    The Vice President is expected back in the country next week when all scheduled meetings would have been concluded.

     

  • Flood aftermath: Repair of East-West road to gulp N260 billion

    Flood aftermath: Repair of East-West road to gulp N260 billion

    In the aftermath of the recent flood that ravaged most parts of the country, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N260 billion for repairing the East-West road dilapidated by the recent flood.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that the approval, granted at the FEC meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday, was for sections 1-4 of the road project, from Warri to Port Harcourt, Eket, Oron, including Oron-Eket bypass.

    This thereby increased the total contract sum for the outstanding sections 1-4 of the East-West road projects from the sum of formerly N246 billion to N506 billion.

    Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President made the disclosure while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Akande said that the Minister for Works and Housing presented a memo in line with Federal Government’s continued engagement in bringing succour and resolving issues around the recent flooding.

    “He got approval for the variation order in respect of repair works on the East-West road project affected during the recent flooding occurrences in the Niger Delta.

    “So, the approval was for a variation order for the East-West road project sections 1-4 from Warri to Port Harcourt, Eket, Oron, including Oron-Eket bypass in the sum of N260 billion, thereby increasing the total contract sum for the outstanding sections 1-4 of the East-West road projects from the sum of formerly of N246 billion now to N506 billion.

    “The memo was approved,” the presidential aide said.

    Akande said that the Minister for Works and Housing also got approval for the award of contracts for the urgent repairs, and special general maintenance of a few roads nationwide.

    He said the approval included the construction of Gogora Guru Road in Yobe state, in the sum of N40 billion, with a completion time of 36 months.

    “He also got approval for the rehabilitation of the 90-kilometre Buni Gari Gulani road also in Yobe state in the sum of N4 billion with a completion period of 36 months,” Akande said.

    The senior special assistant added the minister got approval for urgent repairs in some roads and also for the reconstruction of water cooperation, drive at Trinity Avenue Victoria Island Lagos state.

    “That too was also approved in the sum of N2 billion with a completion period of 36 months,” he said.

    He added that the minister also got approval for the award of a contract for the dualisation and reconstruction of the Kano-Kwana-Ganja-Adeja road in Kano and Jigawa States, section Kano to Salu.

    “This was approved in the sum of N94 billion inclusive of 7.5 per cent  VAT with a completion period of 24 months,’’ he said.

  • JUST IN: Osinbajo makes first trip out of Nigeria after surgery

    JUST IN: Osinbajo makes first trip out of Nigeria after surgery

    After meeting with the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors on Tuesday in Abuja, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, in the early hours of Wednesday travelled out of Nigeria for some important meetings in the United States of America (USA).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports that this will be Osinbajo’s first international trip after recovering from the knee surgery he had, following a successful surgical operation and rehabilitation at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.

    While in the U.S., VP Osinbajo will lead a federal government (FG) delegation to Washington DC, pitching the recently launched Energy Transition Plan, according to a tweet by Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Office of the VP.

    The meetings, which start on Sept. 1, are to promote the plan and secure global support from the U.S. government, the private sector, and other development partners.

    The vice president is also scheduled to speak on Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan at the Centre for Global Development in Washington DC.

    “VP Osinbajo leaves Abuja today leading a FG delegation to Washington DC pitching the recently launched Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan. He will be meeting American VP Harris in the White House, World Bank Group President, other top US govt leaders and private sector interests,” Akande tweeted.

    Osinbajo is leading Nigeria’s Energy Transition Implementation Working Group (ETWG) on the U.S. mission for meetings.

    The ETWG, which is chaired by the vice president, comprises relevant ministers and other top government officials.

    Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, inaugurated the previous week at a global virtual event, is a homegrown, data-backed and multi-pronged strategy developed for the attainment of 2060 net-zero emissions.

    Their commitments are in 5 critical sectors — Power, Cooking, Oil and Gas, Transport and Industry.

    Nigeria needs 410 billion dollars to deliver the Transition Plan by 2060.

    Among other highlights, the plan needs at least 10 billion dollars per annum above business as usual spending for effective implementation.

    At the inauguration, the World Bank and a renewable energy organization – Sun Africa, pledged 1.5 billion dolars each, totaling an initial 3 billion dollars investment to support the implementation of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan.

    TNG reports that the Vice President was discharged from the hospital on July 25 following a successful surgical operation on July 16 and rehabilitation at the Duchess International Hospital, Ikeja, Lagos.

    Following the surgery and recovery, Osinbajo only attended official functions virtually. He was first physically present at an official government engagement at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on August 24.

    TNG reports that the vice president’s delegation to the U.S. include Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning,  Zainab Ahmed, Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola and Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu.

    Others are Minister of Environment,  Mohammed Abdullahi, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Timipre Sylva and the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General/CEO for Sustainable Energy for All, Damilola Ogunbiyi.

    Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Uzoma Emenike, will also join the delegation.

    The vice president will return to Abuja early next week.

  • BREAKING: Yemi Osinbajo lands in hospital over excruciating leg pain

    BREAKING: Yemi Osinbajo lands in hospital over excruciating leg pain

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been hospitalised over excruciating pain in his leg.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Osinbajo is hospitalised and is billed to undergo a surgical operation.

    Laolu Akande, Spokesman to the Vice President has confirmed the development.

    According to Akande, the leg pain is a recurrent one he possibly sustained from an injury while playing squash.

    The Spokesman disclosed that Osinbajo’s doctors would give an update on the treatment later.

    “VP Osinbajo is in the hospital today for a surgical procedure on account of a recurrent pain in the leg possibly sustained from an injury while playing squash.

    “His doctors would give an update of the treatment later today,” Akande disclosed.

  • Osinbajo denies being involved in car accident

    Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has denied reports that he was involved in a car crash on Monday.

    There were speculations that some social and traditional media that the VP’s convoy was involved in a car accident along airport road Abuja.

    In his reactions, the VP’s spokesman Laolu Akande said via his twitter handle that Osinbajo only stopped at the scene of an accident to assist someone who was involved in the crash.

    Akande explained further  that Osinbajo has arrived Owo in Ondo State, where worshippers were heinously attacked and killed at St. Francis Catholic Church in Owo, Ondo State.

    He wrote ”On his way to the airport this morning, VP came across a road traffic accident, stopped to lend assistance, & ensured the victim was taken to the hospital with VP’s convoy ambulance.

    ”He then proceeded on his trip and is now in Ondo State heading to site of yesterday’s attack in Owo.”