Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday flew over some parts of Bayelsa State to asses the flood situation, describing it as a major disaster.
Osinbajo made the assertion when he, Governor Seriake Dickson and some Federal Government officials visited internally displaced persons camps in the state on Friday.
The VP was accompanied on the visit by the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Ibrahim Jibrin, Director General of National Emergency Management Agency, Mustapha Maihaja, Senator Magnus Abe and former Governor of the state, Chief Timipre Sylva.
Osinbajo said they were in the state for an assessment of the impact of the flood in Bayelsa.
The Vice President, who explained that they were in the state at the instance of President Muhammadu Buhari, expressed shock and pledged the Federal Government’s support in the area of resettling the IDPs who have lost their homes and livelihoods.
He said, “You are obviously going through a lot of stress but despite that, you are still able to smile. On our way here, we flew over some of the communities affected by the flood. We saw so many areas affected by the flood, many homes, farmlands are under water.
“We saw clearly that it is a major disaster indeed. We were able to see that there is a major disaster in Bayelsa, especially in Yenagoa. We express our sincere sympathies to you. It is a sad development. We are glad we were able to respond as quickly as possible.
“We will support as much as possible with the National Emergency Management Agency which is working hard to ensure that we give as much succour and provision of tents, mattresses, food, mosquito nets and all that are required.
“In the next few weeks, many will be returning home where many have lost their homes, farmlands, and livelihoods. We will support Bayelsa state government in the resettlement efforts which is more important.
Tag: Osinbajo
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Flood: Osinbajo visits Bayelsa, reinstates FG’s support for victims
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Osinbajo, Okowa canvass credible media coverage of 2019 elections
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Governor of Delta State, Ifeanyi Okowa, on Thursday urged the Nigerian media to retain its credibility as an unbiased umpire in the coverage of the ongoing 2019 elections processes.
They made the call at the 14th edition of the All Nigeria Editors Conference (ANEC) holding in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
According to Mr. Osinbajo, “The journalism profession has always been at a greater risk than other professions; freedom of expression has always given people the right to use any information, but, there was some actions by some regulatory parliaments that created obstacles for all newcomers except for renowned professionals and this created some restrictions; but today, all that is gone and who is to blame for the death of this profession?
“The first culprit is technology; its inheritable evil also has the capacity for overwhelming good as we need technology in every aspect of our livelihood; the second and most important culprit is the professional himself,” he said, observing, “over time, we have lost the trust of the public, because, what do people want? People want the truth, objectivity – they want clear analysis of events.”
He continued, “there was a time when someone would say, ‘I read it in the Times’ because, whatever was written then was absolutely meant to be the truth but today, skeptics will ask you “who sponsored this story?’ Most of the investigative reports are reported by the social media such as blogs, television channels and so forth; The Guild, as we all agree, is a society of gate-keepers to whom belongs the responsibility of defining the efforts, the norms, the ethics of this profession; upon you is also the burden of setting the acceptable rules, the conventions and practices of the profession; this gathering is made greater in a society where corruption is the order of the day and where there is constant fight, and the burden of The Guild is to ensure that your rules and regulations are enforced and kept as it is a self-regulatory profession.”
Governor Okowa had in an address observed that the independence, objectivity and credibility of the media was being undermined by media practitioners engaging in public relations consultancy services to politicians, dearth of investigative journalism and inadequate remuneration for journalists in their places of work.
He said, “Media practitioners who are known to be engaged as public relations consultants to politicians/public office holders compromises the editorial independence, fairness and objectivity of the press; by the time a professional journalist goes on social media to be advocating for or defending a particular candidate/public figure, he cannot be trusted to report fairly and impartially on matters concerning that person.
“This is a clear and present danger to the journalism profession and one that this body should strive to contain as quickly as possible, especially as we approach the 2019 general elections. I must point out that there is still too much hear-say reporting. Too often, reporters base their stories on what people say or allege without bothering to crosscheck the facts; as a result, politicians/political office holders are forced to defend themselves against sometimes very wild, outlandish allegations; reputations have been ruined, careers destroyed and families torn apart because of such reporting.”
Governor Okowa, who described the Nigerian press as one of the freest in the world with a rich, enviable history of crusading against corruption, bad governance and despotic leadership, noted that “a situation where a reporter is unsure of his next pay cheque does not augur well for the growth of the profession as it exposes them to undue influences from politicians and public office holders; survival is a basic instinct of man and a person whose survival is threatened could care less about integrity and fairness.”
He added, “We need our journalists to report the truth no matter whose ox is gored but they cannot do that with boldness, confidence and assurance if their welfare is in jeopardy. “
Mr. Okowa said the theme for the conference, ‘Credible Elections, Sustainable Democracy and the Role of the Media,’ was “relevant at this point in time, especially in the light of the recently concluded party primaries.
“Indeed, the choice of the theme aptly reflects the concern of all Nigerians for a free, fair, transparent and credible 2019 elections for sustainable democracy,” he said.
“Democracy requires the exercise of political power to promote the public good or welfare of the people, accountability and transparency in governance and the existence of viable opposition parties for it to be sustainable. One of the biggest steps we took towards ensuring sustainable democracy in Nigeria was when in 2015 the ruling PDP at the federal level conducted an election, lost and handed over to the opposition APC; this was a scenario previously thought impossible but when that happened, to the chagrin of critics and naysayers, a solid foundation was laid for sustainable democracy in Nigeria.
“The current APC-led Federal Government must build on this foundation and resist the temptation to repress the opposition and militarise the electoral process; to do otherwise would have terrible repercussions on this democracy that many have fought and died for.”
Earlier, the chairman of the occasion, Tonie Iredia, a former director-general of the Nigerian Television Authority, had in a welcome speech, urged the media to make everyone accountable for what he does.
“As journalists, we should stand in the forefront and do what the journalists are supposed to do – setting the agenda, we should engage in developmental journalism,” he told his colleagues.
The President, Nigerian Guild of Editors, Funke Egbemode, welcomed participants while also urging all Nigerians to be actively involved in making the right choices regarding those who will lead the country beginning May 29, 2019. -
2019: Osinbajo, Amosun meet inside Aso Villa over controvercial primaries
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday evening met behind closed doors with Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Recall that both Osinbajo and Amosun are from Ogun State.
The state is among those where the ruling All Progressives Congress is experiencing rancorous primaries.
Details later… -
Osinbajo, Oshiomhole, others plotting to manipulate primaries in favour of Ambode – Sanwo-Olu
Babajide Sanwo-Olu Media Support Group has written a petition against the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo; National Chairman of the All progressives Congress (APC), Mr Adams Oshiomhole, among other, over plots to manipulate the Lagos governorship primary in favour of the incumbent governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
The petition which was published on the official social media account of Sanwo-Olu’s Support group also indicted Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and the Governor-elect of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi.
Sanwo-Olu, is said to be the preferred candidate of APC National Leader, Bola Tinubu.
The statement reads: Earlier today, we got reports that the National Working Committee (NWC) established by the APC national body to oversee and supervise the Primaries process in Lagos State visited GOV. AKINWUNMI AMBODE at the state house and they were enriched with the sum of 50MILLION NAIRA.
That’s a body that ought to work discreetly independent.
As we all know, the primaries was shifted again today due to inadequate preparation and to make sure party membership cards are properly distributed across the state to members of the party.THE VICE PRESIDENT, THE APC NATIONAL CHAIRMAN AND OTHERS ON THE LAST MINUTES MOVE TO MANIPULATE PRIMARIES IN FAVOR OF AMBODE. pic.twitter.com/c8C7vdFlcH
— Jide Sanwo-Olu Support Group (@JideSGroup) October 1, 2018
Now the Question is: That Money they received today was for what?
As we said earlier, it’s a body that has been furnished with the needful and expected to work not in favor of any candidates, their entitlements are to come from the Party National body.
But instead, the members of the committee received what they are not entitled to from one of the aspirants. Now how do we get a free and fair election?
Misplaced priority.
The Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has lobbied for the return ticket for Ambode but the state stakeholders have refused and decided to let a primary decide the fate of the candidate.
In addendum, we also heard that the Party’s National chairman, Adams Oshiomole, alongside Governor of Ogun state, Ibikunle Amosun, and the newly elected Governor of Ekiti State, kayode Fayemi, are the brains behind the planned manipulation and they are trying to make things go in favor of Ambode.
The fallacy of power of incumbency is what they are trying to showcase, and the will of people must definitely prevail as the ideology of democracy unfolds.
It’s quite unfortunate or most preferably sadonic that the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, straight fact, was not doing this in vain. The VP received expands of land at Eti Osa local government of Lagos state. Also some factions of the party are really going to the extreme to make things work in their favor, forgetting the fact that the will of the party has to be represented and protected by all members.
We really hope that the electioneering process of tomorrow wouldn’t end in peril. -
Independence: Osinbajo, Gowon, Kumuyi, others optimistic of a greater Nigeria
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday said Nigeria will be great again.
He spoke during the 58th Independence Day Interdenominational Service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja.
According to him, the season for Nigeria’s promotion and progress has come.
He said: “This anniversary is an opportunity to bless our nation. Nigeria, this 58th year of independence will mark a great new beginning of peace, prosperity, abundance.
“Nigeria, you will be exalted, you will not fall, you will excel, you will rise beyond the imagination of the world, you will be a pride to Africa and the world.
“This is the season of your exultation Nigeria, the season of your renewal, season of your restoration. All that we have lost will be restored, where we have failed, we will succeed.
“We declare that deaths and destruction, every device of Satan has failed over Nigeria.”
Osinbajo prayed for the family of the pilot, who died in the Nigerian Air Force jets crash and the survivors.
In his message entitled “Harnessing our diversity for National development” Pastor W.F. Kumuyi, likened the present Nigeria to the Corinthian church, which failed to harness its diversified gifts for its collective greatness.
Taking his message from 1st Corinthians 12:14-27, he said “Our national development has not matched our great possibilities like the Corinthian church.”
Nigeria, he said, could easily become the envy of many nations if there is commitment to national development.
Some of the problems facing the country, he said, included contention and divisions among Nigerians, worldly wisdom aimed at destroying the nation’s deliverers.
Others are blindness by selfish ingratitude, pride in harmful dissipations, crimes against fellowmen, families under siege, losing conscience in the nation.
The clergy listed other problems to include waning of selfless sacrifice for the good of others, Nigeria toeing the path of previous nations that destroyed themselves, lack of discernment and increasing reactionary individualism.
He proposed seven solutions to Nigeria’s problems.
According to him, there is need to rethink the priorities of the country and the church, repentance, reconciling for peaceful partnership, reconnect for purposeful pursuit, recommit to positive principles, redirect Nigeria’s plans and projects, and to renew passion for progress.
He further gave three critical factors including interdependence of diverse potential for national development, interconnection of diversified people for national development, and interrelationship of dissimilar personalities for national development.
On diversity, he said: “Unless each diverse member recognises and accepts his role in the whole body, diversity will divide rather than unite, destroy rather than build up.
“In the nation’s interdependence and harmonious coordination is our strength, wisdom, glory, peace, progress, productivity, greatness, and expected position in the comity of nations.
“Selfishness is never satisfied and envy is never content. Independence, interrelationship, interconnection, in that lies the promise and the power for national development.” he said
On interconnection, he said “Unqualified, rugged individualism is the bane rather than the bone of growth, progress, development and glory of any nation.
“The philosophy of independence that promotes self-sufficiency contradicts God’s plan for each individual and the nation. Man’s inclination to do his own thing, his own way, done by himself, without depending on others or connecting with others of different perspectives is short-sighed and disadvantageous, to say the least.
“In God’s infinite wisdom and incomprehensive providence, He has put seemingly diverse people together to fulfil His divine will. What God has connected together, let not short-sighed reasoning disconnect.
“Any nation intent on fulfilling great, predictable destiny, must make the interconnection of their diversified populace non-negotiable.
“Our national development demands that those who say ‘they don’t need me’ and those who think ‘I have no need of you’, realise their divinely ordained interconnection.”
On interrelationship, he said: “In the nation, mutual support and encouragement, sincere recognition and involvement of all well meaning and qualified citizens are necessary to avoid wastage of lives and resources.”
He added: “There is no disdain for one another, no rivalry or unhealthy competition, no false humility or fatal pride, no inferiority or vain superiority, no retaliatory indifference or reactionary independence, we can, we must and we do put the past behind us to build a great nation for the present and the coming generations.
“Interdependent, interconnected, interrelated we are on our way to national greatness, we are unstoppable.”
Former Head of State Gen. Yakubu Gowon urged God to touch the heart of Nigerian leaders.
He also prayed that nothing will disrupt the country’s peace as the 2019 general elections is approach.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha noted that Nigeria had not celebrated independence anniversary elaborately since the 2010 bomb blast until now.
“We thank God that we can now celebrate it fully in 2018.”
According to him, Nigeria is on the path to greatness.
“We will not fail Nigerians,” he said.
Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen read the first scripture taken from Exodus 13:8-13.
Gen. Gowon read the second scripture from First Corinthians 12:4-18.
House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, who was scheduled to read the second Scripture, was absent.
There was intercessory prayers for the nation, for the President, Vice President, legislature and the judiciary.
Prayers were also said for peaceful coexistence, families, unity of the church, Nigeria at 58, and 2019 general elections.
Special rendition was given by CAN Mass Choir, and other invited choir group.
Present were Vice President’s wife Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, Victoria Agui lrosi, and Mrs Beatrice Ekwueme, among others.
Some service chiefs and cabinet members were also there.
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Osinbajo counters Theresa May, says Buhari’s administration lifted millions of Nigerians out of poverty
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had lifted millions of Nigerians out of poverty in the last three years.
He was apparently reacting to a statement by British Prime Minister Theresa May that Nigeria had the largest population of poor people.
Osinbajo said in the same period, the administration laid a solid foundation for a resilient and competitive economy, provided infrastructure and opened space for private investment to accelerate growth and development through the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP) initiative.
The vice-president, who spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, at the 17th Joint Planning Board and National Council on Development Planning (NCPD), identified “social investment initiatives” as the vehicles used to pull Nigerians, in their millions, away from the poverty trap.
He was represented by the Minister of Budget and Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma.
Osinbajo said the government would invest in Nigerians and give them a better life, adding: “Billions of naira have been committed to tackling infrastructural deficiencies, while resources are being utilised and projects prioritised to ensure transformation of the country.”
Speaking on the NCPD meeting with the theme: “Accelerating the implementation of the Economy Recovery and Growth Plan: The Role of Stakeholders,” he noted that the Federal Government was committed to ensuring that it delivered on the objectives and targets of ERGP.
According to him, the administration via the ERGP had revitalised fertiliser blending plants, which assisted Nigeria to save over 200 million dollar annually.
“We are proud of the successes recorded in the agricultural sector. The revitalisation of our fertiliser blending plants alone has saved the country over $200 million annually in foreign exchange and over N60 billion in budgetary provisions for fertiliser subsidies.
“This has also made it possible to purchase fertiliser at prices up to 30 per cent cheaper than previously available. We are importing less rice today than we did a few years ago.
“I am glad to note the partnership some states, such as Kebbi and Lagos have entered into in a bid to support the agricultural development and food security objective of the ERGP. I expect to see more of such model agricultural collaboration among other states,” he said.
The vice-president identified the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), security and inflow of foreign investments as areas where the ERGP had helped the country to experience success.
“I am aware that the National Committee on Export Promotion is implementing a plan to enhance export promotion and economic diversification in line with the Zero Oil Plan (ZOP) initiative. We have budgeted N44.2 billion in the 2018 budget for the establishment of Special Economic Zones in the country’s six geo-political zones to drive local manufacturing and exports.
“We are also paying close attention to the mining sector by reinforcing the Mining Regulatory Agency. About N644 million has been voted for this in the 2018 budget. We are ready to set up a National Gold Purchase Scheme. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is advancing discussions on the modalities for gold purchase towards enhancing liquidity in the sector.
“I believe that to accelerate implementation of the ERGP and deliver on its target of 7 per cent GDP growth by 2020, we need massive private investment. And that underscores the significance of the ERGP Focus Labs. I am pleased to note that this exercise has yielded positive outcome.
“In the past few months, we have taken a number of decisions that will further facilitate the realisation of the massive private investments unlocked in these labs. I think the states must be commended for their willingness to cooperate and assist in making these investments to happen.
“From our reports, some of the states have responded positively to a number of approvals that were required from them. The success of the Labs is a testimony to what partnership between the public and private sector can achieve when they work together for public good,” he added.
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JUST IN: Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, others attend APC NEC meeting
President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo have arrived the secretariat of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abuja for the National Executive Council meeting.
The meeting is currently ongoing at the APC secretariat in Abuja.
Buhari arrived the meeting at 11:19 a.m., after Osinbajo and other stakeholders arrived.
Among the earlier arrivals was former Lagos State governor and national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu.
Thursday’s meeting will, among others, address the type of primaries to be adopted by the APC to select its candidates for the 2019 general elections.
Details later…
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Nigeria’s challenges not all about geographical restructuring – Osinbajo
The Vice- President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has said that simple geographical restructuring is not the problem with Nigeria.
He said that prudent management of national resources and providing for the people properly were better ideas for Nigeria’s development challenges.
Mr Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, communicated Osinbanjo’s view in a statement in Abuja on Monday.
The vice-president was fielding questions from a cross-section of Nigerians at a town hall meeting in Minnesota, U.S., on Sunday.
Osinbajo spoke on a wide range of issues covering the economy, anti-corruption, health, agriculture among others.
According to the vice-president, the problem with Nigeria is not a matter of restructuring.He said that Nigerians must not allow themselves to be drawn into the argument that Nigeria’s problems stemmed from some geographical restructuring.
“It is about managing resources properly and providing for the people properly, that is what it is all about.“I served for eight years as Attorney General in Lagos State and one of the chief issues that we fought for in Lagos state was what you call fiscal federalism.
“We felt that there was a need for the states to be stronger, for states to more or less determine their fortunes.“For example, we went to court to contest the idea that every state should control, to a certain extent, its own resources; we were in court at that time up to the Supreme Court and the court ruled that oil-producing states should continue to get 13 per cent derivation.
“While we were at the Supreme Court only the oil-producing states and Lagos were interested in resource control, everybody else was not interested in resource control for obvious reasons.
“Now, that is the way the argument has always gone, those who have the resources want to take all of it, while those who do not have want to share from others.”
He said that Nigeria must create the environment that allowed for people to realise themselves economically because that truly was what the challenge was with Nigeria.
Osinbajo said that unless Nigerians were able to deal with the fundamental questions around corruption, their economic circumstance would keep going one step forward, two steps backwards.
“All that we have been able to deal with is grand corruption. When we started the TSA, the whole point was to aggregate all of the funds of government that were in private banks.
“So, we put all of the money in the central bank so that we could at least see the movement of money and by doing so, we were able to save 50 per cent of the corruption that was going on then.”
Relying on OPEC statistics on oil revenues accruable to Nigeria under successive administrations between 1990 and 2014, the vice-president said not much was done in infrastructure development in spite of the huge oil revenues earned.
He said that under the Babangida/ Abacha administrations (1990 – 1998) Nigeria realised 199.8 billion dollars.
Under the Obasanjo / Yar’Adua governments (1999 – 2009), the country got 401.1 billion dollars; and during the Jonathan administration (2010 – 2014), Nigeria got 381.9 billion dollars from oil, Osinbajo said.“The question that we must all ask is that what exactly happened to resources? The question that I asked is that where is the infrastructure?
“One of the critical things that we must bear in mind and see is that this government despite earning 94 billion dollars, up until 2017, we are spending more on infrastructure and capital than any previous government, so we are spending N1.5 trillion on capital, that is the highest we have spent since 1990.”
In the area of agriculture, Osinbajo said that the target was to attain self-sufficiency in the production of rice, tomato, among others.
According to him, the government is doing a lot of work in agriculture as it has increased local production such that Nigeria is no longer spending five million dollars daily on rice import.
“Today, we are doing 11 million metric tonnes of paddy rice and are now importing only 2 per cent of what we used to import,” he said.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the US, Mr Sylvanus Nsofor, led other Nigerians to the meeting. -
IBB, Obasanjo, Jonathan wasted Nigeria’s resources – Osinbajo
VICE-President Yemi Osinbajo has spoken again on how huge funds went down the drain in previous administrations, which earned much and invested little in infrastructure.
Prof. Osinbajo, who rejected the seemingly popular notion that Nigeria’s problem could be solved by restructuring, said only prudent management of resources could save Nigeria.
He was answering questions from Nigerians at a town hall meeting in Minnesota, United States on Sunday, according to a statement issued yesterday by his media aide, Laolu Akande.
On OPEC statistics on oil revenues accruable to Nigeria under successive administrations between 1990 and 2014, the Vice President said not much had been done in terms of infrastructure, despite the huge oil revenues.
He said: “Under the IBB / Abacha administrations (1990 – 1998) Nigeria realised$199.8 billion; under the Obasanjo / Yar’Adua governments (1999 – 2009), the country got $401.1 billion; and during the Jonathan administration (2010 – 2014), Nigeria got $381.9 billion from oil revenues.
“The question that we must all ask is, what exactly happened to resources? The question that I asked is that where is the infrastructure?
“One of the critical things that we must bear in mind and see is that this government, despite earning $94 billion, up until 2017, we are spending more on infrastructure and capital than any previous governments; so we are spending N1.5 trillion on capital; that is the highest we have spent since 1990,” he said.
On concerns over recovered funds, the Vice President said the Buhari administration was committed to a transparent use of the funds in providing infrastructure.
He said: “What we are doing with the proceeds of corruption is making it a line in the budget so that it can be accounted for properly; it is not a special fund somewhere that is just being used in any way, but as a single line in the budget for infrastructure, which is our major spend.”
On agriculture, Osinbajo said the target was to attain self-sufficiency in the production of rice, tomato and other cash crops.
He said “We are doing a lot of work in agriculture. Take rice, for instance, we are doing a lot in rice production and we have increased local production such that we are no longer spending $5 million daily on rice import.
“Today, we are doing 11 million metric tons of paddy rice and are now importing only 2 per cent of what we used to import.”
On Nigeria’s rise on the World Bank’s ease of doing business index, he said though the challenges were daunting, the government was committed to going beyond the 24 places it moved up to in the last rankings.
The Vice President said that reforming Nigeria’s port system was top on the agenda of government as efforts were underway to improve the turnaround time for cargo clearance at the ports.
He said: “If you look at the port issue, for example, we must be able to clear our port system; people must be able to import and export their goods in hours not weeks and months.
“So, we have to work our port system and one of the things we have been able to do is what we call the National Trading Platform or the single window. We are getting to the point where we are going to launch the national trading platform where the whole port system is integrated into one.”
On improving the health budget at both the state and federal levels, Osinbajo said the focus was on trying to do run the National Health Insurance because funding health care through budgeting has proved to be practically impossible.
He said: “We simply do not have the resources, the states and Federal Government cannot do enough. So, the National Health Insurance is a very basic part of it and we are currently working now with the World Bank and with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish a proper National Health Insurance Scheme.”
Osinbajo stressed that prudent management of the nation’s resources and the provision of essential needs of the people were better ways of addressing Nigeria’s development challenges.
He said: “The problem with our country is not a matter of restructuring and we must not allow ourselves to be drawn into the argument that our problems stem from some geographical restructuring.
“It is about managing resources properly and providing for the people properly; that is what it is all about.
“I served for eight years as Attorney General in Lagos State and one of the chief issues that we fought for in Lagos State was what you call fiscal federalism. We felt that there was a need for the states to be stronger, for states to more or less determine their fortunes.
“So, for example, we went to court to contest the idea that every state should control, to a certain extent, its own resources (the so-called resource control debate). We were in court at that time up to the Supreme Court and the court ruled that oil-producing states should continue to get 13% derivation.
“While we were at the Supreme Court, only the oil-producing states and Lagos were interested in resource control; everybody else was not interested in resource control for obvious reasons. Now, that is the way the argument has always gone; those who have the resources want to take all of it, while those who do not have want to share from others.
“My view is that we must create the environment that allows for people to realise themselves economically because that truly is what the challenge is with our country.” he added
He said the that Buhari-led Federal Government has put in place an economic structure that was able to function properly despite previous challenges, particularly corruption that led to a slowdown in the economy.
On the impact of corruption on the economy and the solution adopted by the administration, Osinbajo said: “Unless we are able to deal with the fundamental questions, especially around corruption, our economic circumstance will keep going one step forward, two steps backwards.”
“When you talk about corruption in Nigeria, the truth is stranger than fiction. It is the kind of thing that would cripple an economy anywhere because you simply don’t have the resources for the graft and the greed of the numbers of people who want to steal the resources.
“All that we have been able to deal with is grand corruption. When we started the TSA, the whole point was to aggregate all of the funds of government that were in private banks. So we put all of the money in the Central Bank so that we could at least see the movement of money and by doing so, we were able to save 50% of the corruption that was going on then.”
Osinbajo assured Nigerians in the US that Buhari’s administration could be trusted, adding that “we can say for sure that the President is not going to sign off money and just bring it out to share”.
Nigeria’s Ambassador to the U.S., Mr Sylvanus Nsofor led other Nigerians within and outside the state of Minnesota to the meeting held in Minneapolis.
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NFF crisis: Dalung insists on Supreme Court judgement, says Osinbajo’s intervention temporary
Nigeria’s Minister for Sports, Solomon Dalung, has reacted to the intervention of the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo which saved Nigeria from being suspended by FIFA on Monday.
FIFA had threatened to suspend Nigeria from all her activities after the Amaju Pinnick-led executive board was prevented from carrying out its duties at the NFF.
However, the sanction was averted after Osinbajo, in a letter to the world football governing body, declared the government’s support for the Pinnick-led board.
But Dalung, in a press statement on Tuesday, has said the issue cannot be resolved with short-term measures, insisting that the matter has a subsisting judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria.
“This crisis cannot be solved with a temporary measure or scratched on the surface. The intervention of the Vice President should not be viewed as different from an attempt to abate an escalating situation.
“As a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, who took oath of office to protect and defend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I will prefer to stand with the Rule of Law instead of the opinion of men.
“I want to appeal to Nigerians to remain calm and give support to the NFF Elders Stakeholders Reconciliation Committee which is made up of reputable past presidents and General Secretaries of the NFF with vast knowledge, experience and competence to resolve this crisis once and for all.
“We are a constitutional democracy and the doctrine of separation of powers is the foundation of democratic experience, therefore, the Rule of Law is the only mechanism that guarantees liberty and freedom of citizens.
“This administration was elected on the change mantra meaning that impunity has no accommodation anywhere, so Nigerians must learn to believe and practice the doctrine of the Rule of Law. I believe we shall overcome this if we remain within the confines and dictates of the laws of our country.
“As we celebrate Sallah, let’s remain law-abiding citizens,” Dalung said.