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Tag: Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo backs constitutional role for traditional rulers

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, says traditional rulers deserve legal and constitutional role as they play vital roles in ensuring peace, security, stability and justice in the country.

    Osinbajo who spoke during a courtesy visit at the palace of the Emir of Keffi, Nasarawa State, Dr Shehu Yamusu III, on Sunday urged traditional rulers to continue playing such roles.

    Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, said in a statement that Osinbajo was in the town as a special guest of honour at the Keffi Polo tournament.

    Osinbajo said that traditional rulers had earned their place as mediators in many aspects of national life and proved that they were important in the scheme of things.

    “Regarding the matter of the constitutional role of traditional rulers, l happened to take the view also that there should be a much more defined role, whether that law is constitutional or merely by legislation.

    “But l believe that traditional rulership in our country have earned their place as arbiters in so many different ways, in security and justice at the local level and even politically.

    “I think it is an issue we ought to deliberate more upon and reach some kind of acceptable conclusion.

    “And l feel very strongly that there should be a role, legal and constitutional role, for traditional rulers when it comes to that.

    “I think it is a very good idea and l believe that for the peace and security of our country; the respect and regards for traditional institutions must continue, and that has accounted for the stability of our polity for so many years,’’ he said.

    The vice president thanked the Emir for the warm reception and assured him of Federal Government’s support in ensuring stability in the state.

    Osinbajo said that Abuja and Keffi had maintained good neighbourliness by ensuring peace and security at all times.

    He assured the traditional ruler of government’s willingness to address all the issues he raised.

    Later at the polo game at the Keffi Polo Ranch, the vice president presented the President’s Cup to the winners of the Keffi Polo Ranch Open Tournament, Imani club.

    The theme of the tournament was “In support of Education.”

    Osinbajo was accompanied to the Emir of Keffi’s palace by the Governor of Nasarawa State, Umar Tanko Al- Makura and Deputy Governor of Kano State, Dr Nasiru Yusuf Guwuna.

    Others were Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi and spokesperson of Buhari Campaign Organisation, Festus Keyamo.

  • Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting

    Osinbajo presides over FEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday presided over the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting started around 11.03am when Osinbajo arrived the Council Chamber.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday visited Borno State as part of efforts to sympathize with soldiers, who recently lost colleagues and friends and loved ones to deadly attacks by the insurgents, Boko Haram.

    About 18 ministers and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, were in the Council chamber during the rendition of the opening National anthem.

    The National anthem was followed by Muslims prayer offered by the Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, while the Christian prayer was said by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah.

    Among the issues scheduled for consideration is biometric presentations by some government agencies.

    Stakeholders to make the biometric presentation during the closed doors meeting include the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC), the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and the Federal Ministry of Health.

    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • CBN to commence issuance of licences to payment services banks – Osinbajo

    …To launch $500m innovation fund

    Nigeria plans to upscale its financial services sector with the issuance of licences to payment services banks as part of efforts to deepen access to finance and drive economic growth.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) would soon start to issue the licences to increase access to financial services by low income earners and the unbanked population.

    Osinbajo spoke yesterday at the opening of the three-day 22nd African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) Conference at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

    Recall that the CBN had last month issued guidelines on the licensing and regulation of payment services banks.

    The vice president said the introduction of payment services banks will enhance distribution of micro insurance, micro loans and popular participation in the stock market.

    According to him, experience has shown greater financial inclusion as a short mile away from the engagement of other financial activities, including micro insurance, micro loans and indeed greater participation in the stock market.

    Nigeria is also working with the African Development Bank (AfDB) to establish a $500 million innovation fund to support technological innovations and start-ups.

    Osinbajo said companies must innovate and take advantage of the unique features of the African economy, adding that African companies must build on greater advantage of fintechs.

    According to him, given the size of the Nigerian economy and the potential of technology and creative segment, capital market operators must work towards innovative financing solutions to lend further support to these two sectors.

    “Another key role that ASEA can play in this era is to assist technology start-ups to find resources they need to promote and roll out their businesses. We in Nigeria have an advisory group in technology and creativity and one of our dominant discussions with the young entrepreneurs in the sector is on the lack of affordable and capital,” Osinbajo said.

    He added that partnership was also essential to ensure that African champions continue to rise in a sustainable manner, noting that such partnership must be between government, private firms and businesses associations.

    He reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to ensure macroeconomic stability in an inclusive economy with a diversified production base, pointing out that government realises that a conducive and supportive environment is essential for business to thrive.

    According to him, because government also realised the importance of sustainable future, Nigeria became the first African country to float the green bond to promote the environmental objective of its Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) and ensuring that Nigeria’s rising population is protected, housed without further depleting or damaging its resources.

    Finance Minister Mrs Zainab Ahmed urged ASEA to develop a strong and vibrant domestic investors base.

    Ahmed, who was represented by Acting Director-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Mary Uduk, said that low domestic investors base is limiting African capital markets.

    She said that the low capital market size of Africa was limiting market potentials, adding that ASEA must promote world-class capital market characterised by high level of liquidity.

    Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Chief Executive Oscar Onyema, who is also the President of ASEA, said the conference’s theme, “Champions On the Rise: Africa’s Ascension to a More Sustainable Future”, could not be more timely, given the expectations that Africa is positioned for economic acceleration similar to the Asian boom with several African businesses translating opportunities into enduring business value.

    ASEA aims to do more to support African exchanges and businesses to integrate digital technology, especially data analytics, into their business models.

    “Today, sub-Saharan Africa is growing at 3.1 per cent as political and economic developments in a number of African countries experience some relatively progressive regime changes. In the capital market, African exchanges have become more robust from a regulatory, technology and product standpoint with six African exchanges now represented on the World Federation of Exchanges (WFE),” Onyema said.

     

  • Osinbajo urges the Church to continue to pray for survival, progress of Nigeria

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Saturday urged the Church to continue to pray for the survival and progress of Nigeria.

    Speaking at the dedication of Dunamis International Gospel Centre, Abuja, 100,000- seat capacity auditorium, Osinbajo, said that with God, the country would move from glory to Glory and from strength to strength.

    Singing a song titled, “Miracle worker, your name is Yahweh”, the vice president said the new church auditorium was a manifestation of God’s glory on the country.

    “The church must continue to pray for the nation to be able to move from grace to grace and from strength to strength,” he said.

    Also speaking at the occasion, former president Goodluck Jonathan, said: “ the nation was not in its best state, urging the Church constantly standing in the place of prayer for Nigeria.

    “Let me use this opportunity to thank Christians especially Dunamis for constantly standing in the place of prayer for the nation.

    “The situation of Nigeria today is not the best but with your prayers, Nigeria will be great again.”

    Earlier in his sermon, Bishop David Oyedepo of the Living Faith Church, urged the Senior Pastor of Dunamis, Dr Paul Enenche to see the building and completion of the sanctuary as a fulfilment of prophesy.

    Oyedepo, who described the occasion as a celebration of great work and great worker (Jesus Christ), said the building was a product of divine visitation.

    He congratulated the Church for the grace of God to embark on such project and delivered it in good time.

    Oyedepo however charged Enenche to jealously guard the mandate of God upon his life to be able to retain the grace of God upon his life by remaining humble to the grace of God.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), those in attendance are the General Overseer, Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor E.A Adeboye, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of the Kingsway International Christian Centre.

    Others include Bishop David Abioye of the Living Faith Church, President if Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Olasupo Ayokunle among others.

    Among the notable political leaders are the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, Mr Yakubu Dogara, Speaker, House of Representatives and former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim.

    Also present were the Governors of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, Samuel Orton of Benue State and Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State among other notable personalities.

  • 2019: You deserve good governance, Osinbajo tells Igbos

    2019: You deserve good governance, Osinbajo tells Igbos

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has informed the people of the South East that it is their right to obtain good governance and not to beg for it.

    Osinbajo who was on a double barrel mission to Enugu stated on Friday at the commissioning of the campaign office of the standard bearer of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Enugu, Senator Ayogu Eze told the people that governance is for the well-being of the people.

    He said the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal government was committed to the development of the South East whether the people asked for it or not.

    The Vice President cited the 2nd Niger Bridge as one of the projects in the South East and assured that the would be completed as promised by the President.

    He also said that many other ongoing projects in the South-East zone by the Federal government would not suffer abandonment as it is desire of the president to see to their completion.

    “The Federal government will surely deliver its promise to the people of the South East. The contracts of the projects are ongoing. The second Niger Bridge is on course. The Enugu – Port Harcourt Expressway and many other roads and projects are on course, the Vice President stressed.

    He changed the people to embrace the change mantra being enunciated by the APC by ensuring that they voted for the in the coming elections.

    The standard bearer of the APC in Enugu State, Senator Ayogu Eze who was visibly elated at the presence of the Vice President assured that the party would wrest power from the ruling party in the state, the PDP.

    He dismissed the said endorsement of Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi by some Igbo leaders saying that the Igbo never at any time met and discussed it.

    “The said endorsement was a fraud. The Igbos never met to take such decision,” he said.

    Osinbajo left immediately after commissioning the campaign office to attend the book presentation by the immediate past governor of Enugu State, Sullivan Chime.

     

  • Obasanjo tells AIT to tender apology over meeting with Osinbajo, Amaechi

    …Says he owns no twitter account

    Ex- President Olusegun Obasanjo has asked the African Independent Television (AIT) to retract with apology, the airing of a photo on its social media segment, Kakaaki Social, where a purported tweeter account belonging to him, depicted a picture of an alleged meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and the Minister of Transportation, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, at his Ota farm in Ogun state.

    Obasanjo said the apology should also be extended to Osinbajo for the embarrassment the depiction of the picture might have caused him.

    The elder statesman who made this known in a statement through his Special Assistant (Media), Kehinde Akinyemi, on Thursday, expressed disappointment that AIT could disseminate information it sourced from fake Twitter Account without first verifying it.

    He disclosed that he does not have Twitter account anywhere and expressed concern over the continuous use of his name by suspected fraudsters on social media platforms.

    Obasanjo warned that whoever that is caught perpetrating the act, would be made to face prosecution immediately, even as he advised the media to always be professional in discharging their duty and refrain from creating unnecessary confusion and heating up the polity

    “It is a fact that severally, the former President has dissociated himself from owning any social media account. Therefore, it is highly disappointing that such sensitive Twitter post would be allowed to go on air without verification by the African Independent Television (AIT).

    “There was no meeting with the Vice President anywhere. I was at the Airport and was informed that he was around in the Lounge and out of courtesy; I felt I should go and greet him. We met, greeted and exchanged pleasantries and I left. That was all.

    “The station should have been very professional and not causing confusion and heating up the polity. That I am not operating any social media account should not be strange to a station like AIT, and for that embarrassment, the Vice President and I deserve an apology,” Obasanjo said.

     

  • 2019: Osinbajo, Amaechi visit Obasanjo [Photos]

    Photographs have emerged of a meeting Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and the Director General of the President Mohammadu Buhari Campaign Organization, Rotimi Amaechi held with former President, Olusegun Obasanjo.

    According to reports making the rounds on the internet , the meeting between the duo and ex-President Obasanjo was held in Ota, Ogun State behind closed-door.

    The meeting reportedly held hours before the Book Launch of former President, Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja.

  • Alleged mismanagement of NEMA funds: APC distracting attention from Osinbajo’s indictment – Atiku

    The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, on Wednesday, faulted the ruling All Progressives Congress over the APC’s “contradicting” statements about him recently.

    Atiku’s position was contained in a statement by the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation.

    The organisation recalled that the APC last week accused Atiku of attempting to smuggle a large sum of money into the country to fund his campaign.

    The organisation said it was surprised that the same APC which made that allegation turned around by releasing a new statement contradicting their earlier statement and alleging that the former Vice-President was broke.

    It recalled that the APC claimed Atiku was at a crossroads on how to source funds for his campaign.

    The statement read, “Our response is to urge the APC to make up its mind on which lie it wants to tell the Nigerian people and then stick to that lie.

    “As a party in power, there ought to be more stability in the APC, at least to give the public and the international community some assurance that the party is not imploding. No wonder there is a lot of policy flip-flop under the APC administration.

    “We know that the APC is desperate to distract attention from the recent indictment of Vice-President Osinbajo by the House of Representatives for grand corruption and the interrogation of their chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, by the Department of State Services on charges of collecting huge bribes to influence party primaries.

    “Given the sordid state of things in the APC and its imminent implosion over money politics, we are not surprised that the APC is throwing wild allegations at former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the hope that something will stick.

    “Our advice to the APC is that they should send their spokesman to the Atiku Presidential Campaign Organisation for a two-week crash course on how to run an issue-based campaign that is guided by civility and refined language.”

    The campaign organisation said it sympathised with Oshiomhole on his ordeal and assured him that if he was finding the APC too hot for him, he should throw in the towel and join the APC chiefs who had washed their hands of the party “and its hydra-headed problems.”

  • Alleged N5.8bn scam: Resign, submit yourself to trial – HURIWA urges Osinbajo

    The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called for the comprehensive reorganization of the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA.

    This follows the indictment of Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo and the Director General of NEMA in a N5.8 billion scam by the House of Representatives.

    HURIWA also frowned at the ongoing squabble between the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and Osinbanjo over the indictment.

    HURIWA wondered why extensively damaging criminal allegations are being turned into a political wrestling match instead of the relevant agencies of government at the centre and the National Assembly to activate mechanisms to reform the corrupt infected system.

    The association noted that, “Nigeria does not have the luxury of time to engage in political gymnastics by the political actors given that there are several national emergency situations that have happened all over the nation with thousands of Nigerians becoming internally displaced with no effective remedial redress mechanisms both at the centre and the federating units.”

    In a statement signed and made available to journalists by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf, HURIWA asked the Vice President and the Director General of NEMA to resign immediately or be suspended for three months or sent on compulsory leave pending the holistic determination of the subsisting allegations.

    The association said, “They should subject themselves to transparent and open investigative activities by a combined team of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Offences Commission (ICPC); Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC); and the Code of Conduct Tribunal so as to ensure hitch-free probe of the extensively damaging allegations.”

    HURIWA said, “EFCC alone can not guarantee a transparent given the affinity that exists between the acting Chairman of EFCC and the Vice President.”

    HURIWA further applauded the All Progressives Congress, APC, dominated Federal House of Representatives for not capitulating to partisan pressure and undermine the investigation.

    HURIWA, however, affirmed that the enabling Act setting up the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, needed to be reworked fundamentally to insulate the office from the institutionalized political interferences of the presidency given that the Vice President is listed as the Chairman of the governing body of the agency.

    Besides, HURIWA has tasked the National Assembly to take up the national assignment of reforming the enabling Act that set up NEMA so as to provide for the appointment of a technocrat with no political affiliations to head the National Emergency Management Agency because of the strategic national functions that such a sensitive institution is created to perform.

    The Rights group lamented that over the years, NEMA has been used as a politically manipulated national cake by the party in power to reward the patrons of the political party just as the Rights group stated that the current management is the worst because of the fact that the Director-General was basically rewarded for his contributions to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “We commend the visionary speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and the committee which began and completed the legislative probe of the monumental scandals within NEMA and has uncovered a spectacle of fraud and deliberate disobedience of the due process governing public procurement. Those indicted must be dealt with appropriately.

    “This is a clear case of criminality and must not be reduced into the traditional brickbats between PDP and APC. The right thing must be done so as to properly refocus NEMA to deliver services qualitatively and equitably to all sections of Nigeria instead of the current position whereby it operates like a pro-North East agency.

    HURIWA recalled that the House of Representatives ad-hoc committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness offered insight into why it indicted Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the alleged diversion of N5.8 billion meant for emergency intervention in the northeast.

  • Buhari, Osinbajo not sincere about restructuring Nigeria – PDP, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, others

    Buhari, Osinbajo not sincere about restructuring Nigeria – PDP, Afenifere, Ohanaeze, others

    Some groups have faulted comments credited to President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the trending restructuring debate in the country.

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); a Yoruba organisation, Afenifere; the Ohanaeze Ndigbo; the Yoruba Council of Elders; and the Transparency International all have issues with the position of the president and vice president as regards the restructuring debate.

    Recall that Buhari had during an interactive session with Nigerians living in France on Monday taken a swipe at advocates of restructuring, saying they were lazy and let loose.

    The President had claimed that those calling for restructuring had been doing so without defining what the restructuring should be.

    Recall also that Osinbajo had while delivering a lecture to mark the 40th anniversary of a Lagos social club, Association of Friends, in Lagos claimed that the idea of geographical restructuring which is the common notion about restructuring “is not achievable.”

    Buhari had said, “There are too many people talking lazily about restructuring in Nigeria. Unfortunately, people are not asking them individually what do they mean by restructuring? What form do they want restructuring to take?

    “Do they want us to have something like the three regions we used to have? And now we have 36 states and the FCT. What form do they want? They are just talking loosely about restructuring.

    “Let them define it and then we see how we can peacefully do it in the interest of Nigerians.

    “They are just saying they want Nigeria restructured and they don’t have the clue of what the form the restructuring should be.

    “So, anybody who talks to you about restructuring in Nigeria, ask him what he means and the form he wants it to take.”

    But the National Chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondu in a reaction said the latest statements credited to Buhari and Osinbajo further confirmed the present administration as a government of deceit and disagreement.

    The party chairman said, “Recall that the ruling party itself set up a committee on restructuring. What came out of the committee after the governors and other members of the committee went round the country, collating views of innocent Nigerians who never knew they were being deceived by this deceitful government? Nothing!

    “Now, the Vice-President is saying he is in support of state police which his boss has rejected. You can see that the Vice-President is on his own. The disunity in this government reminds us the seed of discord the government has planted in Nigerians.

    “But in the real sense of it, does he (Vice-President) support state police? Can he be taken seriously? Let Nigerians decide.”

    Also, the Afenifere’s spokesman, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, in an interview with one of our correspondents also said the statements credited to Buhari and Osinbajo meant they were either slow at learning or they were being mischievous.

    He said advocates of restructuring had over the years made the issues very clear on what the call was all about.

    He added that the development had made it important that future Nigeria’s Presidents and Vice-Presidents should study hard so that they could understand issues around them.

    Odumakin said, “…It is strange that these people have been here all these years and they are saying those who are talking about restructuring did not define it or that they are talking loosely.

    “It is either these people are slow at learning or they cannot understand issues around them. We have made the issues very clear on what the call for restructuring is about.

    “We have said Nigeria was a federal state at independence but the military came and distorted it and that we should go back to federalism; that we cannot have a country like Nigeria and maintain one single police and we will say we have security; that there should be state police.

    “We have spelt out all we meant by restructuring over the years. So for the President and Vice-President to say they do not understand what we are talking about is either they are slow at learning or they are being mischievous.”

    In the same vein, the spokesman for the Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Uche Achi-Okpaga, in an interview said Buhari’s statement was meant to divert attention.

    Achi-Okpaga expressed surprise that while Buhari and other APC stalwarts were talking about restructuring ahead of the 2015 presidential election, the President became “completely ignorant and bereft of the tenets of restructuring” shortly after he was inaugurated as President.

    He said, “During the electoral campaigns of 2015, restructuring was glued to the lips of the President and other APC stalwarts and foot soldiers. However, no sooner was he sworn in than he became completely ignorant and bereft of the tenets of restructuring.

    “In the heat of the impasse, the APC, as a party, set up a committee on restructuring headed by Governor el-Rufai of Kaduna State. The committee ticked good on restructuring and sent her report to the presidency.

    “Instead of dealing with the document the President sent the report to the dustbin as it never saw the light of the day and turned around to state that those clamouring for restructuring, including his party that so recommended, are parochial.”

    Also, the Secretary-General of the Yoruba Council of Elders, Dr Kunle Olajide, in an interview said it was worrisome that the two key leaders of the ruling APC could claim ignorance of what restructuring was about after their party had earlier set up a committee on the matter.

    He wondered if the country was dealing with a case of memory loss.

    Olajide insisted that the positions of advocates of restructuring were clear and unambiguous.

    He said, “I was surprised after reading the responses of the two leading figures in the APC and present administration on restructuring agitators. It is worrisome that an APC figure could come out to claim ignorance of what restructuring is all about. Are we dealing with a case of amnesia here?

    He said, “I appeal to them to take a second look at the el-Rufai committee report on restructuring. It is their party that set it up and they should come up with how it will be implemented instead of talking about what restructuring means. Our position is clear and unambiguous on it.”