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Tag: Osinbajo

  • NASS Siege: PDP commends Osinbajo, demands Buhari’s expulsion from UK

    …says president perfected NASS siege when Akpabio visited him in London

    Nigeria’s main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) on Tuesday commended Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo for his timely intervention on the siege by the National Assembly by masked officials of the Department of State Services (DSS).

    The party however condemned in strong terms the invasion by the DSS.

    Speaking on the development, the National Chairman of the party, Uche Secondus said the United Kingdom should expel President Muhammadu Buhari from the country, alleging that the Nigerian leader planned the siege from there.

    Recall that President Buhari is currently on vacation in London.

    The PDP chairman accused the president of hiding in that country to plan the undermining of democracy in Nigeria.

    Recall that security officials, mainly from the DSS, on Tuesday prevented lawmakers, staff and journalists from gaining entrance to the National Assembly.

    The siege was only lifted in the afternoon, several hours after it began. During the barricade, lawmakers were eventually allowed in while other categories of people were barred.

    The incident, believed to have been planned to remove Senate President Bukola Saraki, led to the sack of Director General of the SSS, Mamman Daura, by Acting President Yemi Osibanjo.

    Secondus in his statement said the UK should not allow its environment be turned into a haven for anti-democracy conspirators.

    In the statement signed by his media aide, Ike Abonyi, Secondus said the final plan for the invasion of National Assembly was made when the outgoing Senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio, visited the president in London at the weekend.

    “When an executive arm in a democratic setting muscles up other arms of government, the correct name for such administration is autocracy and dictatorship,” Mr Secondus said.

    “Nigerians and international community have continuously watched this administration, harass and intimidate the legislature and judiciary as well as others in opposition in their bid to create a dictatorial regime.

    “All over the World, the parliament is the bastion of democracy and rule of law anybody not willing to alien himself to them is trying to create anarchy in the land,” he said.

    The opposition leader than called on President Buhari to resign.

    “We are aware that when a regime exhausts idea of what to do and loses the legitimacy that brought it to power, it could be dangerous like a bull in China shop. But truth is that Nigeria will survive this regime and laugh last.”

  • Count Police out of NASS siege, IGP tells Osinbajo

    The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, has operatives of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) were not involved in the siege on the National Assembly (NASS) by security operatives on Tuesday.

    The IGP said this on Tuesday when he met with the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo shortly after the invasion at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He said the standoff at the NASS complex reached him as a surprise, adding that the police would soon issue a statement in relation to the impasse.

    “Obviously, like I said, I have not got a detailed brief on that. In fact we are going to issue a (press) release (on that),’’ he said.

    Recall that Osinbajo had on Tuesday sacked the Director General of the State Security Service (SSS), Lawal Daura, with immediate effect, over Tuesday’s invasion of the premises of the National Assembly by security operatives.

    Osinbajo condemned the unauthorised standoff at the National Assembly complex, describing it as “a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order’’.

    He said, the “unlawful act, which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency, is condemnable and completely unacceptable.’’

    The acting president, therefore, assured Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus, who participated in “this travesty’’ would be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.

    The sacked SSS boss had, along with the IGP and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, earlier met behind closed doors with the acting president.

    The Tuesday siege was mainly carried out by the DSS and lasted from the early hours of Tuesday till afternoon. The siege was lifted about an hour after the DG was sacked from office.

    At the start of the siege, everyone, including lawmakers, was prevented from entering the National Assembly. However, lawmakers were later allowed in while journalists and staff of the assembly were barred.

    The siege is believed to have been targeted at Senate President Bukola Saraki to allow his removal from office while senators opposed to him would be allowed in.

    That move appeared to have been abandoned following public outcry. Most Nigerians including leaders of opposition parties condemned the actions of the security agencies.

    The lawmakers have since gained entry to the National Assembly.

  • Osinbajo meets Senate Leader, Lawan inside Aso Rock

    The Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Monday met behind closed doors with the Senate Leader, Ahmed Lawan, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting came at a time the ruling All Progressives Congress and some senators elected on its platform are insisting that the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, must vacate his seat having defected to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.

    It also came as the Presidency continued to appeal to the National Assembly to cut short its ongoing vacation in order to attend to the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission and other issues of national importance currently before the federal lawmakers.

    Lawan was accompanied to the meeting by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang.

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

     

    Details later…

  • Osinbajo takes over government as Buhari commences 10-day vacation today

    Osinbajo takes over government as Buhari commences 10-day vacation today

    President Muhammadu Buhari will begin another round of vacation to the London, United Kingdom, today (Friday).

    The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists on Wednesday.

    Adesina said Buhari would be away for 10 working days.

    He said Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo would be the acting President during the period.

    The statement read, “President Muhammadu Buhari begins a 10 working day holiday from August 3, 2018.

    “In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.

    “While the President is on vacation, the Vice-President will be in an acting capacity as President.

    “President Buhari will be in London for the holiday.”

    Recall that Buhari had between February 5 and 10, 2016 embarked on a six-day vacation when he remained in London.

    On June 6, 2016, he embarked on another 10-day vacation to attend to an ear infection.

    Adesina had explained then that Buhari was battling with what he called “persistent ear infection.”

    Adesina had said although the President had been examined and treated by his personal physician and a specialist in Abuja, both doctors advised him to go for further evaluation as a precaution.

    He said then that the President would, therefore, use the 10-day break to see an Ear, Nose and Throat specialist in London.

    Buhari returned to Nigeria on June 19, 2016, after spending 14 days in London.

    He again left the country on January 19, 2017, on what the Presidency described then as a medical vacation.

    When the trip was prolonged, presidential aides announced that the President would be staying back in the British capital to enable him to collect results of some medical tests conducted on him.

    Buhari returned to the country on March 10, 2017, after a 49-day medical sojourn, saying he had never been that sick in his life.

    He then gave an indication that he would return to London for further check-ups.

    After missing public events, including three consecutive weekly Federal Executive Council meetings which raised anxiety in the country, Buhari on May 7, 2017, returned to London for medical consultations.

    He returned to the country on August 19, 2017.

    The President had also on May 8, 2018, embarked on a four-day medical trip to the UK.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, had in a statement said, “President Muhammadu Buhari will tomorrow (Tuesday) undertake a four-day trip to the United Kingdom.

    “In the course of the technical stop-over for aircraft maintenance in London on his way back from Washington last week, the President had a meeting with his doctor.

    “The doctor requested the President to return for a meeting which he agreed to do.

    “President Buhari will return on Saturday, May 12th.

    “On his return, the President’s two-day state visit to Jigawa, which was postponed because of the All Progressives Congress Ward Congresses, will now take place on Monday 14th and Tuesday, 15th of May.”

  • Works on Apapa-Oshodi Road begins in two weeks – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has revealed that the reconstruction of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway would start within the next two weeks.

    Osinbajo spoke at a dialogue with stakeholders on the Apapa traffic congestion in Lagos on Thursday.

    According to him, “We have been working quite hard now to get approval for road construction.

    Among the roads are the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway and Mile 2- Liverpool roundabout are important roads but they have been delayed but I am personally working to ensure that we could get that through and we are trying to look at immediate solutions that can be done and how the process could be expedited to achieve results.

    He added that “I can guarantee that we will get all the approvals done. I don’t think that it should take us more than two weeks to get the approval so that we can begin the work.

    “There are so many other bad areas, especially the coconut area in front of Tincan Port, the Leventis to Wharf Road is also another area we are looking at, the rehabilitation of the Creek Road so that we can have a two-lane access into the ports and all of those are important roads and all of them are Federal roads, so we have a responsibility to ensure that these things are done.”

  • Osinbajo visits Lagos, orders 72-hour joint operation to clear Apapa traffic gridlock

    Osinbajo visits Lagos, orders 72-hour joint operation to clear Apapa traffic gridlock

    The Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Friday directed security agencies and relevant bodies to commence a 72-hour joint operation to restore order around Apapa and environs with a view to easing vehicular movement in that part of Lagos.

    Recall that trailers parked indiscriminately over a long stretch of the Apapa/Oshodi expressway have been causing massive traffic gridlock on the road for several days now.

    Osinbajo who made an unscheduled visit to the road to personally assess the situation also asked relevant government agencies to speed up decongestion of the Apapa ports.

    Involved in the 72 hour joint operation are the Police, Navy, Army, Air Force, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

    The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), LASEMA, Container truck drivers, National Association of Road Transport Owners, NUPENG, Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria are also joining in the operation.

    The vice president was flown in a Navy chopper, first to Tin Can Island park.

    He was accompanied by Transport Minister Rotimi Amaechi and senior Naval and Police officers.

    He walked close to the traffic to see the situation for himself and then proceeded to the Five Star Berth at the NPA where he met with relevant officials and security officers.

     

     

  • Photos: Osinbajo, Adeosun, others inspect Abeokuta flood

    Photos: Osinbajo, Adeosun, others inspect Abeokuta flood

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has arrived Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, for the on-the-spot assessment of last week Friday’s flood in which no fewer than eleven lives were lost and property worth millions of naira destroyed.

    The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun who was recently embroiled in NYSC certificate scandal and has been avoiding public glare was also on the Vice President’s entourage.

    The helicopter that brought them to the capital city touched down at the Oke Mosan, Governor’s office arcade at 4.30pm.

    The Vice President and his team were received by the governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, some cabinet members and security chiefs.

     

    Details later…

  • How private sector can help revive Nigeria’s economy – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has given an insight on how the private sector can help revive the nation’s economy.

    The Vice President explained that the government alone cannot fix the economy.

    He said a private sector-led economy encapsulates the economic vision of the Muhammadu Buhari administration, saying the government is working on conducive environment to enable realisation of that vision.

    Osinbajo spoke on Tuesday at the commissioning of Sokoto (BUA) Cement Plant at Kalambaina, near Sokoto.

    The cement complex which has installed capacity of 1.5 million metric tones per annum and 32 megawatts captive power is worth $350 million.

    The vice president cited a number of initiatives introduced by the Buhari administration aimed at strengthening manufacturing sector of the economy.

    He said completion of the cement factory was a testimony to the government’s pro-investment policies and signals that “Nigeria has vast capacity for profitable projects”.

    Mr Osinbajo described the Kalambaina factory as an important addition in the federal government’s quest for sustenance in cement production.

    He said cement is a building block of the economy and important to infrastructural development needed to spurn the economy.

    The vice president said cement is needed in roads construction and in addressing the country’s estimated 17 million housing deficit.

    He, however, urged BUA Group chairman, Abdulsamad Rabiu, and Dangote Group’s Aliko Dangote to work out ways to bring down prices of cement in the country.

    Earlier speaking, Mr Rabiu lauded the Buhari administration for its policy of helping investors in the real sector; which, he said, enabled the completion of the cement factory.

    He recalled that forex crisis hit Nigeria just after signing agreement for the project but the investment was only saved by flexible exchange regime for real sector investors instituted by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    Rabiu said the plant has a number of competitive advantages including “huge limestone deposits” in the Kalambaina area.

     

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, ministers, ruling Nigeria in confusion – R-APC

    The Reformed All Progressives Congress (R-APC) on Friday accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Ministers and other top government functionaries of lacking the required coordination to rule the country.

    The National Publicity Secretary of the RAPC, Mr. Kassim Afegbua, who cited the issue of restructuring as an example, said President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo held different opinions on the subject, even though the APC promised it to Nigerians before the 2015 elections.

    Afegbua said the APC was not the party its founding fathers envisaged when they came together in 2014.

    He said, “As we speak, the APC has jettisoned its own manifesto. Where is the restructuring we promised Nigerians? They hurriedly came up with a committee headed by Governor (Nasir) el-Rufai; where has that landed us?

    “The Vice-President is a supporter of restructuring. The President of the country is not a supporter of restructuring in the same government. There is no synergy. There is no coordination on any issue.

    “You have about three or four opinions from the same government; that is not the way to lead.

    “When the Fulani herdsmen issue came up in Benue State, the Inspector General of Police came up with a different position; the Minister of Defence gave a different position; and the Presidency is giving a different position.”

    Recall that the New Peoples Democratic Party (nPDP) bloc in the APC and other aggrieved members of the ruling party, had on Wednesday announced the formation of the R-APC.

    R-APC, at a press conference attended by the leader of the nPDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, announced Alhaji Buba Galadima, a former ally of Buhari, as its national chairman.

    However, the National Chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole, had in an interview with journalists on Thursday dismissed the R-APC.

    Reacting to Oshiomhole’s claims that the R-APC members were mercenaries hired to destabilise the APC, Afegbua said they were genuine members of the party interested in retrieving the party from usurpers.

    Afegbua, said, “Adams Oshiomhole needs to take a look at our past. We do not possess the characteristics of hirelings or mercenaries.

    “We are bona fide members of the APC. When it is convenient for people, they dress you in very elegant robes but when they are losing the battle, they call you names, but we will not call them names, we will continue to insist that we are going to rescue the APC and reposition it for optimum performance.

    “We cannot be preaching to be progressives when we are law-breakers. We cannot be preaching that we are progressives when we are a party that has performed abysmally low in all sectors of the economy.”

     

  • FG to fast-track implementation of transport treaties – Osinbajo

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, said that Federal Government had realised the need to fast track the implementation of all transport treaties and conventions it signed for economic growth.

    Osinbajo said this at the closing of the Sub-Sahara Africa Transport Policy Programme (SSATP) Annual General Meeting, hosted by the Federal Ministry of Transportation, Abuja.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), said that Africa needed to integrate for trade and economic development, stating that the cost of transportation in Africa was too high.

    “We have also as a country realised the need to fast track the implementation of all the transport related treaties, conventions, protocol and agreements that were signed.

    “We are working with United Nations agencies and our transport, environment and petroleum ministries to promote clean air and fuel emission from vehicles.

    We have also signed the 1968 conventions on road signs and signal to ensure safe roads for users.”

    Osinbajo, however, commended the SSATP countries for selecting three states – Lagos, FCT and Calabar – for the pioneer urban mobility development.

    He said that the meeting had brought African countries together to share ideas and knowledge on the various challenges and the way forward for transport system in Africa.

    However, the Minister of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, commended the partners of SSATP for coming together to develop policy that would help the transport sector.

    He said that aviation still remained the fastest and safest means of transportation, adding that the cost of transportation within African nations was too high, based on connectivity.

    Sirika said that if the problem of networking and connectivity was tackled, it would improve the economy.