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Tag: Olusegun Obasanjo

  • Ex-President Obasanjo advises Govs on one area to focus on more

    Ex-President Obasanjo advises Govs on one area to focus on more

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised State Governors to focus more on food security while calling on them to prioritise policies that enhance people’s well-being.

    Obasanjo gave the charge on Wednesday in Sokoto at the unveiling of 136 housing units purchased at the cost of N1.8 billion by the Sokoto State Government for allocation to low income earners.

    The former president was in Sokoto on a two-day visit to unveil projects executed by Gov. Ahmed Aliyu as part of his  one year anniversary.

    Obasanjo described food security as a priority, followed by personal health and security situation, adding,”good feeding enhances health and other productive engagements.”

    He acknowledged the efforts of Aliyu, who he described as a ”leader running a good race in the areas of transportation, road construction, agriculture and housing projects”.

    ”Your strong, energetic and resilient qualities in leadership have made you to get it all within one year.

    “Putting all these in place will surely brighten your chances of seeking a future mandate without stress.”

    Earlier, Aliyu said the idea of coming up with numerous housing projects was to fulfil his campaign promises to deliver human-oriented projects that would improve the welfare and standards of the people in the state.

    Aliyu explained that the state government has set up committees on completing and initiating similar projects across the state.

    They include road constructions, youths and women empowerment, water supply and agricultural inputs for farmers as well as equipping hospitals.

    “We are determined to continue developing the state for proper repositioning; we shall provide state-of-the-art facilities at all sites including Islamiyya schools, markets and playgrounds, among others,” he said.

    Aliyu said that the houses were acquired from the Federal Government for  the citizens in the state to own based on owner-occupier basis in order to address the growing need for shelter in the state.

    He appreciated the former president for honouring the state’s invitation to be part of history.

  • Obasanjo endorses Gov Adeleke as his dancing partner

    Obasanjo endorses Gov Adeleke as his dancing partner

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has endorsed Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State as his dancing partner.

    Obasanjo made the remark at the inauguration of a VIP lodge in Osun Government House, on Sunday in Osogbo.

    He, however, told Adeleke, who is usually referred to as the “dancing governor”, to focus on governing the state and do so with honesty and integrity.

    “You remember that at one time I phoned you; I told you I didn’t have problems with your dancing. I said, ‘don’t leave dancing, but as you are dancing, ensure you are working’.

    “Some people once despise you as just a dancer, but I said only happy people dance; you are my dancing partner.

    “You have to be honest with your conscience, with the people and with your God.

    “You have to be a man of character. Let people say ‘when he sees opportunity to dance, he will dance, but he is a man of integrity, he is honest and works hard. It is very important.

    “Anywhere we meet, we would dance and rejoice, if anybody wants to abuse us, they should go ahead,” he said.

    Obsanjo also commended Adeleke on his developmental programmes in Osun.

    According to him, what he heard and saw since his arrival in the state was a testimony to the good work the governor was doing.

    “You are working on roads, don’t joke with it because when we make necessary provision for the people to have jobs, the state will work.

    “Many Yoruba people want to work, but what is impeding that is the road to ply.

    “When we provide wherewithal for them, they would work. I will plead with you to continue with that.

    “You said government is a continuum and that all the abandoned projects are being completed.  God will make it good for you,” he said

    In his remarks, Adeleke said that his administration would continue to ensure that laudable projects were completed for the common use of the people.

    The governor, who noted that the VIP lodge was started by the APC government, said that he completed it due to his belief that public infrastructure should not be politicised.

    “We assure all lovers of good governance that our administration is passionate about delivering on quality pro-peole policies for the benefit of all residents of the state,” he said.

  • Obasanjo farm, 27 feeders downgraded from Band A to E under IBEDC [ SEE FULL LIST]

    Obasanjo farm, 27 feeders downgraded from Band A to E under IBEDC [ SEE FULL LIST]

    The Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company has released the names of erstwhile Band A feeders downgraded to B, C D or E.

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    The Farm Feeder serving the Obasanjo Farm was downgraded from Band A to Band E in the list released by the IBEDC on Saturday.

    About 28 feeders under the Ibadan DisCo were downgraded in Oyo, Ogun, Kwara and Osun states.

    According to the list, some areas dropped from 20 hours of daily power supply to zero hour.

    This, according to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, brought about the removal of those feeders from Band A to the band that fits their daily power allocation.

    While announcing the April 2024 supplementary Multi-Year Tariff Order on Wednesday, the Federal Government said it would no longer pay subsidy on electricity consumed by Band A customers, saying others would continue to pay the old rates.

    Band A customers, who reportedly enjoy electricity for a minimum of 20 hours per day now pay N225/KWh.

    Here is the list of IBEDC Band A downgraded feeders:

    1. IBADAN: Bank Road 11kv Feeder – Magazine Road, Oba Adebimpe Road, Oke Bola (Now in Band B with 16 hours supply)

    2. OGUN: GTB 11kv Feeder: Only GTBank Training School, Oke Ilewo Abeokuta ( Now in Band B with 19 hours power supply)

    3. KWARA: Seminary 11kv Feeder: From High-school Area to Seminary, Randa area, Olomi area, Bowen Area, Takie Junction, Apake area, Star- Light area, Sabo area, Orita Naira Junction and Terminated at Bode-Eniafe Street (Downgraded to Band B with 16 hours power supply)

    4. IBADAN: Ami 11KV Feeder: Onireke, Jericho, Railway Quarters (Downgraded to Band C with 12 hours power supply)

    5. KWARA: Asa 11KV Feeder: Asa Dam, Ilorin (Downgraded to Band C with 14 hours power supply)

    6. OGUN: Homan 11kv Feeder: Daraju, Eagle Packages and NYCIL (Downgraded to Band C with 14 hours power supply)

    7. OGUN: Rite Food Quarters 11kv Feeder: Rite Food Quarters (Downgraded to Band C with 12 hours power supply)

    8. KWARA: Senior Staff Qtrs F20 11kv Feeder: Senior Camp Road (Downgraded to Band C with 15 hours power supply)

    9. KWARA: SF2 New Bussa 11kv Feeder: Ibadan Way, Wawa Garage Road (Downgraded to Band C with 12 hours power supply)

    10. IBADAN: State House 11kv Feeder: Ikolaba, Kuye, Road 214, Oniκοκο (Downgraded to Band C with 14 hours power supply)

    11. KWARA: Yidi 11kv Feeder: Asa Dam Road, Irewolede Road, High Merit Road (Downgraded to Band C with 14 hours power supply)

    12. IBADAN: Dugbe Awolowo 11kv Feeder: Old Bodija, Sango and Vetinary (Downgraded to Band D with 11 hours power supply)

    13. KWARA: Government House 11kv Feeder: Agba Dam Road, Umaru Audi Road, Adelodun Road, Abdulkadir Road, Saad Alamu Street, Offa Road, Flower Garden, Idiagbon Street, Sayomi Street 2nd Avenue Street (Downgraded to Band D with 9 hours power supply)

    14. IBADAN: ONIREKE 11KV FEEDER: Link Reservation, Joe Berchort, Oba Akensua (Downgraded to Band D with 10 hours power supply)

    15. IBADAN: Oremeji 11kv Feeder: Oba Akinbiyi, Uncle Joe, Letmauk Barracks Road (Downgraded to Band D with 8 hours power supply)

    16. IBADAN: Anfani 11KV Feeder: Anfani Road, Ibadan (Downgraded to Band E with 5 hours power supply)

    17. KWARA: Basin 11kv Feeder: Umaru Audi Road, Fate Road, Fate Tanke Road, Gra Ilorin, Gss Ilorin, Mubo Strrt, Agric Estate, Sango Road, Alhaji Tunde Mohammed Road, Panat, Station Road, Cathment Road (Downgraded to Band E with 7 hours power supply).

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    18. Oyo: Crown 11KV Feeder: Premier Rd, Oshuntokun, Adeyi, Awolowo Road (Downgraded to Band E with 1 hour power supply)

    19. OGUN: Farm 11KV Feeder: Main Obasanjo Farm (Downgraded to Band E with 7 hour power supply)

    20. OSUN: Gbongan Road 11kv Feeder: Gbongan-Ibadan Road (Downgraded to Band E with 0 hour power supply)

     

  • Ex-President Obasanjo opens up on secret behind his agility

    Ex-President Obasanjo opens up on secret behind his agility

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has opened up on the secret behind his good health and agility at 87-year-old.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Obasanjo to have said the secret behind his good health and agility is the grace of God.

    Obasanjo said this on Saturday during a courtesy visit to Governor Godwin Obaseki at the Government House in Benin City, the Edo State capital.

    The former President said he was in Benin City to pay dowry as his kid cousin was getting married to a Benin girl, and as courtesy demands, he visited the governor and Chief Security Officer of Edo State.

    “The secret of good health is the grace of God. You must learn to grow old gracefully with the grace of God. I used the acronym “DREAMSC” which means, Diet, Rest, Exercise, Medicals, Social Interaction and Contentment.

    “Exercise is important no matter how old you are, your medical is important, you should interact with people and not be alone or dejected and depressed. Be content with what God has done for you and if not you will run in circles,” he added.

    Speaking further, Obasanjo called on leaders in the country to be selfless and consider it an opportunity to serve the people. According to the former Nigerian President, leadership is an opportunity and privilege.

    He said the current economic realities require that those in authority make sacrifices and not think of themselves alone.

    Obasanjo described as unfortunate, the present situation in Nigeria but was optimistic that the present situation would eventually turn around for good with time.

    “The situation in Nigeria is hard, unfortunately so, but there is no bad situation that can’t be good but the question is when and how?

    “All we should be saying to those who have the opportunity now (because it’s an opportunity for you to run the affairs of your country and look after your people) is: ‘it should not be me but we, not mine but ours, not my tomorrow but our tomorrow, not my generation but all generations including the generation coming.

    “This is what sustainable development is all about. You don’t eat today and not remember the generation coming that they took have to eat, that is all it is,” he said.

    On the developmental stride of Governor Obaseki in the last seven and half years, Obasanjo said he has learnt a lot and is now better educated about things in the state both recent and in the immediate future.

  • Ex-President Obasanjo advises FG on how to curb food insecurity

    Ex-President Obasanjo advises FG on how to curb food insecurity

    Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has charged the Federal Government to engage youths in agricultural business to provide jobs for unemployed youths and curb food insecurity.

    The former president made the remark at Nigeria’s 9th International Trade Exhibition & Conference on Agrofood, Plastics, Printing and Packaging in Lagos on Tuesday.

    The conference had the theme: “Nigeria’s Technology Investments: Driving growth in Agrofood, Plastics, printing and packaging.”

    Obasanjo said if the government and the private sector could get restive youths employed, there would be less people involved in banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities.

    “With our teeming population and the problem we have of our youths going over the desert and risking their lives, what we can we do is to give them enough employments.

    “The area we are sure that can provide enough employments for our youths is agricultural business.

    “Even though, when we talk about agriculture not many of them will want to go to the farm, they will rather go for white collar jobs.

    “However, the youth need to get their hands dirty and their feet wet in agricultural business.

    “The government can improve on our security, and part of our security are the men and women that are not properly engaged or employed.

    “If we are able to give them employment then there will be less of them getting involved in banditry, kidnapping and other criminal activities,” he said.

    Obasanjo said the need for agribusiness was to ensure food security, nutrition security, employment and wealth creation, poverty elimination and income generation, particularly foreign exchange earnings.

    “These are the reasons why we must take agricultural business serious and these are the reasons why this conference is necessary and I congratulate the organisers for it,” noted.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Abubakar Kyari, said the federal government was collaborating with stakeholders across board for the necessary transformation in the food system required for the immediate and long-term interventions.

    Kyari said this was in response to the declaration of emergency on food and water by President Bola Tinubu; the food security pillar of the Renewed Hope Agenda.

    “As an immediate response, we have called for partnerships across board and repurposed various interventions to help ramp up the production of staple commodities.

    “This is starting with wheat in the dry season, dovetailing into rice and maize, and then to cassava and soybeans in the rainy season. These staple crops also support livestock and fisheries feed production.

    “In this effort, we are building an ecosystem where each stakeholder plays a role in supporting farmers, especially small holder farmers, to improve production and productivity.

    “By reaching out to our governors, we are witnessing much-needed investments and support being made across the country along different value chains.

    “A key challenge is the issue of data for identifying genuine farmers.

    “In this regard, we are leveraging ICT and partnering with state governments and other stakeholders to ensure we target real farmers with our support to enable actual production,” said Kyari.

    The minister said the government was also working on improving efficiency in the value chains through mechanisation.

    He said the recent MoU with John Deere to increase the number of tractors by 10,000 in the country at the rate of 2,000 per annum was one such efforts.

    In his welcome address , Mr Paul Maerz, the Managing Director, of Fairtrade Masse, said Nigeria’s investments in food and packaging technology were soaring, positioning the nation as a key player in Africa.

    He said the country was trailing only South Africa and leading Egypt.

    Maerz, the organiser of the exhibition, explained that the country’s food production had witnessed a remarkable surge of 40 per cent in recent years.

    He added that this was from 26 billion euros in 2016 to 36 billion euros in 2020, projected to rise by 48 per cent between 2021 and 2024, from 42 billion euros to 63 billion euros.

    The organisers said despite significant investments in local food production, Nigeria remained one of Africa’s foremost food importers and food imports were surging further.

  • What Obasanjo said about African leaders to mark his 87th birthday

    What Obasanjo said about African leaders to mark his 87th birthday

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday, said Africa must begin to groom selfless and transformational leaders to move the continent forward.

    Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta at an event organised to mark his 87th birthday.

    The event also witnessed the launching of the Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute (OOLI), an arm of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) and his new book titled: “The Art of Leading: Unconventional Wisdom from Biblical”.

    Obasanjo said it was important to groom new leaders who would be selfless and willing to sacrifice for the greater good of Africa.

    “Leadership is preeminent in anything we do and if leadership is preeminent in anything we do, how do we recruit?, how do we train? and how do we nurture leaders in all works of life?

    “Leaders that will be transformational instead of transactional, leaders that will be servant leaders, sacrificial.

    “In addition to writing books and talking about it, what do we need to inculcate? what do we need to make people absorb leadership tenets.

    “Leadership principles and factors that will make us move fast and move far together and that is what Olusegun Obasanjo Leadership Institute is about, ” Obasanjo said.

    The former president also called for the adoption of an African-style democracy that would be sufficiently African in content and recognise its culture and history.

    He said the adoption of Western liberal democracy gave room for electoral malpractice and encouraged politicians to win elections by “hook or crook”.

    “We are rethinking liberal democracy because if it is relevant to their culture and their history, what they have given us is not relevant to our culture and to our history,” he said.

    Also, a former President of Ghana, John Mahama, called on African leaders to practice all inclusive democracy that accommodate views of the oppositions.

    According to him, effective leadership is important and it is one that continues to make progress even in the face of challenges.

    The event was attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan and the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto, Mathew Kukah.

    Others dignitaries include Gov. Dapo Abiodun of Ogun, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang  of Plateau and Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa.

  • Obasanjo reels out recipe for peace in Africa

    Obasanjo reels out recipe for peace in Africa

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has restated that dialogue and not any form of violence would help resolve various conflicts in Africa.

    Obasanjo stated this on Monday in Abeokuta at a Youth leadership symposium with the theme “Opportunities for Peace: Roles of The Youths in Conflict Prevention in Africa” .

    He said that efforts to inculcate culture of peace and security in the youth must be intensified to spur them to be at the vanguard of promoting peace rather than being used to perpetrate violence in the continent.

    The programme was put together by Centre for Human Security and Dialogue in collaboration with the Institute for African Culture and International Understanding, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

    The programme was part of activities lined up for the 87th birthday of the former President coming up on Tuesday, March 5.

    Obasanjo explained that instead of pushing forward the narratives of hatred, negative attitudes which brew conflicts and then violence, it was important to embrace love, tolerance and see peace as not negotiable for economic growth and prosperity.

    He said that the youths must stand firmly against conflicts in any part of Africa and be agents of peace rather than being lured or used as agent of destabilisation.

    “We must begin to bring up our youths in the culture of peace and security. The chances are where we have culture of love, we will have peace.

    “The first thing to do is to inculcate in the youths the ingredients of peace which is love and fellowship.

    “Look at the attributes that God gave us to have life of stability, life of peace, they are as I mentioned, kindness, mercy and forgiveness.

    “All of these attributes are professed by God and he shared same with us to make life pleasant for us. But when we build negative attitudes, pull him down, then there will be problem.

    “The youth must be at the vanguard of pursuing peace, they must be able to persuade those who believe that gun and violence is the way out of conflicts to have a rethink, the way out is conversation and dialogue.

    “We have had our issues here during civil war; we killed ourselves mercilessly, destroyed our best facilities but we still came back to the roundtable to get the challenge resolved.

    The Coordinator of the programme and former Executive Secretary of National Universities Commission, Prof. Peter Okebukola, said that the essence of the symposium was to further drive home the commitment of Obasanjo.

    He emphasised that Obasanjo believed that African youths had pivotal roles to play in achieving peace across the continent.

  • Rep Chinda calls for scrapping of off-season elections

    Rep Chinda calls for scrapping of off-season elections

    Hon. Kingsley Chinda, who represents Obio/Akpor Constituency of Rivers State in the House of Representatives, has said the worst democracy is better than the best military government.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Hon. Chinda said this on Wednesday while speaking with members of the National Assembly (NASS) New Media Forum, following recent comments made by former President Olusegun Obasanjo on democracy in Africa.

    Obasanjo had alluded to reasons why democracy is not working in Africa, adding that the system of government currently being practised as it is should be scrapped while suggesting that the Western liberal democracy be replaced with ‘Afro Democracy’.

    Reacting, Chinda, who is also the House Minority Leader, opined that there are so many factors working against the kind of democracy in place on the continent, including Nigeria.

    He highlighted some of the factors militating against democracy in Nigeria to include illiteracy and poverty while stressing that if these two problems are taken care of, the electoral processes would be far better with an overall effect on every other aspect of democracy in the country.

    “I believe, and I still say so, until I have a stronger reason to change my opinion, that the worst democracy is better than the best military government.

    “All we need to do is to continue to improve on what we are doing. And if you look at our democracy many years back, and what we have now, it is better than what we used to have. There is no doubt about that.

    “There are so many factors working against our democracy. The level of illiteracy is still high and hunger is still high. Take care of these two problems and see whether there wont be an improvement.

    “Let people be more educated, more enlightened, and more informed and reduce hunger to a bearable minimum, where people will sell their votes N5,000 or N10,000.

    “It will get to that stage where we begin to understand that democracy is the best. I must also say democracy must not be Western democracy. We can Nigerianise democracy and make it work for us by applying what is best for us in the circumstance.

    “But, the people should decide who should lead, who should speak for them and who should serve them. However you look at it, democracy is best for us for now,” Chinda said.

    Speaking further with members of the New Media Forum, the Minority Leader concurred with former President Goodluck Jonathan that off cycle elections should be scrapped, while revealing that there is already a bill in the works to unify the electoral cycles in the country.

    “There is already a bill that we’re processing to unify the electoral system. So I agree with former President Goodluck Jonathan. Even before he made that pronouncement, we were already crafting a bill.

    “The off-cycle election has not been helpful, if you look at it critically. If care is not taken, we may have a situation where we begin to plan for elections almost all year round. If we continue that way, Nigeria will continue to be in election in the four years, because we expect that we will have more off-cycle elections as elections are being nullified by the judiciary.

    “So I agree with Jonathan that there is a need for us to look inward. Let us completely scrap off-cycle elections. It is a four-year tenure. At the end of the four years, we go back for fresh elections, whether you have stayed in office for one day or not,” Chinda said.

  • Presidency berates Obasanjo over comment on democracy

    Presidency berates Obasanjo over comment on democracy

    The presidency has blamed former President Olusegun Obasanjo for the current state of democracy in Nigeria.

    The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, noted that the democracy the country currently practises dates back to direct inputs by Obasanjo when he led the country’s first as military Head of State from 1976 – 1979 and as civilian President from 1999 – 2007.

    “Obasanjo ought to know that he brought this thing into Nigeria. He was the one who made us adopt it in 1979. He must have seen it as expensive and unsuitable when he governed us for eight years and even wanted an extension for another four years.

    “So, the way he is sounding, it is like the man is getting wiser after leaving office,” Onanuga said.

    The Presidency’s response followed comments made by Obasanjo at the high-level consultation on Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy in Africa held at Green Resort Legacy, Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

    Obasanjo had criticised Western democracy, suggesting it had not delivered good governance and development in Africa.

    He called for a reexamination and moderation of democracy to better suit African nations, citing the Western model’s disregard for African history and complexities.

    Onanuga added, “We were practicing the parliamentary democracy the British left for us. Then, the military struck in 1966. And when we were going to return to democracy, instead of going back to what we were practicing before, parliamentary democracy, which was not expensive, it was this same Obasanjo who accepted the recommendation of the constitutional assembly at that time that recommended this American-style democracy.”

    The Presidency criticised Obasanjo’s implementation of the presidential system, saying, “Obasanjo also knew that he copied this presidential system very wrongly. He copied the form and structure. But he didn’t copy the spirit of it.”

    “Something that should have been under him in 1999 to 2007, he even made attempts to modify the constitution”.

  • Why democracy is not working in Africa – Obasanjo

    Why democracy is not working in Africa – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday in Abeokuta said democracy has not been working as a system of government in Africa because it was “forced” on the continent.

    Obasanjo stated this in his address at a high-level consultation on “Rethinking Western Liberal Democracy for Africa”.

    The former president said the Western style of democracy failed in Africa because it does not take into consideration the views of the majority of the people.

    Obasanjo described Western Liberal Democracy as a “government of a few people over all the people or population”.

    ”These few people are representatives of only some of the people and not full representatives of all the people.

    “Invariably, majority of the people were wittingly or unwittingly kept out. This is why we should have ‘Afro Democracy’ in place of Western Liberal Democracy.”

    Obasanjo said African countries have no business operating a system of government which they have no hands in its definition and design.

    “The weakness and failure of liberal democracy as it is practised stem from its history, content, context and its practice.

    “Once you move from all the people to representatives of the people, you start to encounter troubles and problems.

    “For those who define it as the rule of majority, should the minority be ignored, neglected and be excluded?

    “In short, we have a system of government in which we have no hands to define and design and we continue with it, even when we know that it is not working for us.

    “Those who brought it to us are now questioning the rightness of their invention, its deliverability and its relevance today without reform,” he said.

    Obasanjo explained that the essence of any system of government should be the welfare and well-being of the people.

    “Here, we must interrogate performance of democracy in the West —where it originated from — and with us the inheritors of what we are left with by our colonial powers.

    “We are here to stop being foolish and stupid. Can we look inward and outward to see what in our country, culture, tradition, practice and living over the years that we can learn from?

    “(Something) that we can adopt and adapt with practices everywhere for a changed system of government that will service our purpose better and deliver.

    “We have to think out of the box and after, act with our new thinking.

    “You are invited here to examine clinically the practice of liberal democracy, identify its shortcomings for our society and bring forth ideas and recommendations that can serve our purpose better,” he said.

    In his remarks, a former governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, noted that liberal democracy in Africa was confronted with many challenges.

    Fayemi said the improvement of the welfare of the people remained important, saying that democracy faced challenges of delivery in Africa.

    “Non-delivery of development outcomes for the people must be adequately addressed so that democracy can deliver,” he said.