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Tag: Osinbajo

  • 2023: Osinbajo expresses desire to ensure Nigeria occupies pride of place, if elected President

    2023: Osinbajo expresses desire to ensure Nigeria occupies pride of place, if elected President

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has expressed his avowed desire to serve Nigeria selflessly and ensure that the country takes her pride of place in the comity of nations if elected as Nigeria’s president come 2023.

    Osinbajo who is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressive Congress (APC), said he has the requisite experience, having served as vice president in the past seven years, to salvage the country.

    The vice president spoke at the palace of the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien, during a courtesy visit on the monarch.

    He told the royal father that he was in the palace, to formally inform the Asagba, of his intention to contest for the highest office in the country.

    Osinbajo explained that he took the decision to enter into the contest with all “sense of responsibility having served as vice president and occasionally as acting president in the past seven years”.

    According to him, the position of Vice President has exposed him to every part of the country and their peculiar challenges, noting that he was offering himself for genuine service to the nation.

    Receiving the august visitor, the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof)Chike Edozien, reminded the nation’s Vice President of the need for the Federal Government to establish a federal university in Asaba, as part of measures to pacify ‘ndi Ahaba’ (Asaba people), following the massacre of it’s natives during the civil war, by federal troops.

    Prof. Edozien informed the presidential hopeful that Asaba and indeed Delta State, was not insulated from the present challenges of insecurity, perverse poverty, epileptic power supply, poor economy, even as the monarch further urged him to address the issues, if elected.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who was in Asaba to meet with statutory delegates of Delta State APC for the presidential primaries, was received on arrival at the Asaba International Airport, by the Secretary to State Government, Mr. Patrick Ukah, before proceeding to the palace.

  • 2023: VP Osinbajo lands in Benin, to meet APC delegates

    2023: VP Osinbajo lands in Benin, to meet APC delegates

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo arrived in Benin on Thursday as part of his nationwide consultations to run for the office of president in 2023.

    The Nigeria Air Force aircraft that had the vice-president on board touched down at the Benin Airport at 10:44 a.m.

    The vice-president was received at the airport by the deputy governor of Edo, Mr Philip Shaibu and some APC leaders in the state led by the chairman, retired Col. David Imuse.

    He went to the palace of the Oba of Benin, Ewaure II from the airport to pay his respects.

    As part of his schedule, Osinbajo is expected to also meet with APC officials and delegates to its forthcoming primary elections.

    The vice-president is expected to proceed to Delta after his Edo visit on the same mission of wooing party delegates.

    The APC presidential primary election holds on May 30 and May 31.

  • 2023: Alake, Gov Abiodun disown Tinubu, embrace their son, Osinbajo

    2023: Alake, Gov Abiodun disown Tinubu, embrace their son, Osinbajo

    Prominent traditional ruler, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adetotun Gbadebo and Ogun Governor Dapo Abiodun have disowned Bola Tinubu, throws support behind their son, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    ThenewsGuru.com, (TNG) reports, the Alake of Egbaland openly received Osinbajo when he visited his palace for political consultations.

    This is coming barely hours after Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun declared his support for the VP who has started his consultations across Nigeria.

    Gbadebo spoke on Tuesday in Abeokuta, when he hosted the vice-president who was on a courtesy visit.

    Osinbajo, who was accompanied by Governor Dapo Abiodun, was in the state as part of his consultations with stakeholders ahead of the 2023 presidential election in which he had declared the interest to run.

    The traditional ruler said that Osinbajo had creditably acquitted himself in service to the nation and was eminently qualified to be the next president.

    “Every president from this part of the country that has passed through here has succeeded in becoming the president.

    “Every time the vice-president has passed here and gone for something competitive, he has always won; this will not be an exception.

    “By the grace of God, our vice-president has paid his dues; he has gone through serving others and has been winning colours all the way. He had the same subjects in high school like I had and won laurels.

    “In the university, through his research work, and in the legal practice, he has been most outstanding. Why should we not ask you for just one more position to the glory of God, and for the benefit of all Nigerians and you will say no? Certainly, not here,’’ the traditional ruler said.

    He prayed that Osinbajo’s next visit to his palace would be a thank you visit after his victory at the poll.

    Earlier, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said he was in the palace to brief the traditional ruler on the progress that he had made so far in the pursuit of his presidential ambition.

    “Of course, kabiyesi knows that on April 11, I formally declared my intension to run for the position of president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “And after I did, I have consulted with our governors; consulted with our legislators and I have been in one or two states.

    “Today is very special; today, I am formally reporting progress to our kabiyesi, the Alake of Egba land, my own dear father, whom I know, has been behind several of the other journeys in this political terrain.

    “I want to say that our state has never been short of notable personalities in leadership,’’ he said.

    Osinbajo said that when he was called upon to serve as vice-president of Nigeria, it was purely providential as he was not a politician then.

    He said that President Muhammadu Buhari had been extremely fair to him in various ways and had exposed him to every aspect of governance.

    “He has kept no secret of governance away from me; he has made sure that I have seen everything that needs to be seen.

    “Again, I had the good fortune of serving as acting president on many occasions and on each of those occasions, he would tell me that as far he is concerned, I am the president of Nigeria; do not refer anything to me.

    “Do not call me; just take the steps that you need to take; I will not question your discretion in any way and he never did,’’ Osinbajo added.

    The vice-president said that in the past seven-and-a-half years of serving as vice-president, he had been able to see for himself and observe for himself what had been done right.

    He said he had observed what could have been done better and various other things, adding that “I think that when the opportunity arose for me to decide whether or not to run as president of Nigeria, I had only one question to ask myself.

    That question was whether I would be faithful to my oath to the Federal Republic of Nigeria and to the people of Nigeria to serve with all my heart and to serve with my entire mind.

    “That is the only question I had to ask myself because I have served previously; I have served others in various capacities and I have given everything.

    “I served under Prince Bola Ajibola, judge of the World Court at The Hague; I served when he was the attorney-general of the federation; I was one of the only four advisers in the entire federation at the time.

    “I was his adviser for five years; when he went to the World Court, I was with him there for at least, a couple of years; I served as attorney-general of Lagos State for eight years.

    “Of course, I served in the United Nations; I have served for the past seven-and-half years as vice-president. I want to say that every one of those people who I served in their most difficult moments did not regret it. I am not talking about when everything was going well because that is when you know your friends.

    “In their most difficult moments; in moments even when their jobs where threatened; in moments, sometimes when their lives were threatened, I was with them. Sometimes, I was the only one standing with them; I cannot go into details for confidentiality reasons, but that is the truth.’’

    He urged the traditional ruler to support him in his quest to better the lives and fortunes of Nigerians.

    The vice-president also paid courtesy visits to the Akarigbo of Ijebu-Remo and the Olu of Ilaro, both traditional rulers in Ogun State.

  • Plot to smear Osinbajo with false testimonies of discrimination against women wearing hijab uncovered

    Plot to smear Osinbajo with false testimonies of discrimination against women wearing hijab uncovered

    The Osinbajo for President Media Council has uncovered yet another fraudulent plan to malign the reputation of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria and a Presidential Aspirant on the platform of the APC.

    The plot has been traced to a cell of smear campaigners, led by a US-based Nigerian who was formerly a Students Union President at the University of Lagos. The same individual is currently a lecturer at the University of Ohio in the USA.

    The plan is to use fake audio of faceless individuals with fictitious names to cast the Vice President, who is a Christian, as a religious fanatic, who discriminated against staff of other faith while he was Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State during the tenure of former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    In the fake video, a woman is seen crying and making frantic allegations that she was discriminated against by the then Attorney-General, because she was not allowed to wear the Muslim head cover for women, otherwise known as the hijab, to work. As observed by someone who was in the same Ministry at the time Osinbajo served as Attorney-General, no such incident ever occurred and this is just a malicious and wicked attempt to sully the sterling qualities of Prof. Osinbajo because of his Presidential aspirations.

    Indeed as Attorney-General, Prof Osinbajo’s Secretary, a Muslim, Alhaji Abdul Gafar Bakare had testified before now that the then Lagos AG “did not only encourage me to further my education even at my relatively old age, he personally sponsored my BSc Accounting Program.” He added that the VP also sponsored his foreign travel then.

    It would be recalled that similar smear campaigns was unleashed against President Muhammadu Buhari, especially during the 2014-15 Presidential campaigns, when it was alleged that he was virulently anti-Christian. The attempt however met with failure.

    Even though a Christian Pastor, Prof Osinbajo has always demonstrated himself to be a tolerant Nigerian who believes in the inter-faith harmony and Freedom of Worship as enshrined in the Nigerian 1999 Constitution as amended. During his career as a university teacher, he taught Moslems and Christians alike in a convivial atmosphere. He also had excellent working and private relationships with Muslim bosses over the decades, including Judge Bola Ajibola, Former Governor Tinubu and President Muhammadu Buhari. Osinbajo remains a firm believer in Nigeria’s diversity and ardent proponent of Nigerian unity.

    For these reasons, the Media Council feels the need to alert the general public to the odious campaign strategy of Osinbajo detractors and urge everyone to ignore same when released to the public.

  • Osinbajo declined Obasanjo’s offer to become AGF in 2005–Ogunsakin

    Osinbajo declined Obasanjo’s offer to become AGF in 2005–Ogunsakin

    Mustapha Ogunsakin, a veteran journalist, has disclosed that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo declined former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s offer to become Attorney-General of the Federation in 2005.

    Ogunsakin’s revelation, was made available to newsmen on Friday in Abuja, following mixed reactions over Osinbajo’s declaration to run for the post of president in 2023.

    There have been personal attacks on the vice president by some political opponents trying to brand him a betrayer because of his presidential ambition.

    “In 2005, President Obasanjo invited Osinbajo to take appointment as the Attorney-General of the Federation after Chief Akin Olujimi left office.

    “Obasanjo saw the sterling qualities and performance that Osinbajo had as Attorney General of Lagos.

    “ The president without informing Bola Tinubu, the then Lagos State Governor, offered the post to Osinbajo who was then Lagos State Attorney-General.

    “ The first thing Osinbajo did was to inform his principal, Tinubu, who gave him a free hand to take his decision,” Ogunsakin said.

    He said that Osinbajo made a request to Obasanjo to release Lagos State Council funds.

    ” Obasanjo replied that Osinbajo should first take the appointment and then advise him as Attorney-General of the Federation on the matter.

    “Osinbajo went underground and for weeks Obasanjo could no longer reach him.

    “It was obvious to the then president that Osinbajo deliberately avoided him; he went on to appoint Chief Bayo Ojo as his Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.

    “Osinbajo rejected the position of Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice and stayed with Tinubu; nobody complained then,” he said.

    Ogunsakin said Osinbajo not only stood with Tinubu, but stayed loyal to Lagos State, adding that ” he did not betray Tinubu then.’’

    He cautioned those calling Osinbajo a betrayer.

    “But now when it is convenient for them, some political and religious bigots are shouting betrayal!

    “Everyone knows that if you want to hear the story of how your father met your mother, join politics,” he said.

    He urged anyone criticising Osinbajo over his presidential ambition to do so based on valid facts and ” not lazy, religious and political lies that reveal your foolishness and hatred for a man who is doing his best to make his country and people better.”

  • Lawmaker urges Vice President Osinbajo, Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for Southeast

    Lawmaker urges Vice President Osinbajo, Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for Southeast

    An Anambra lawmaker, Dr. Timothy Ifedioranma (APC-Njikoka – I) has advised Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Bola Tinubu to give up their presidential ambitions for the Southeast, describing it the path of justice, equity and fair.

     

    Ifedioranma told newsmen in Awka, on Friday, that Southeast has not had its turn of being the president of this country and it has sacrificed by supporting the North, the Southwest and the South-South.

     

    He said, “Both Tinubu and Vice-President Osinbajo are citizens of this country and they are qualified to contest and occupy that position in this election.

     

    “But I urge them as elder statesmen to toe the path of justice, equity and fairness by giving up that position for a South easterner to emerge.

     

    “When it was the turn of the Southwest after the annulment of the 1993 election and the death of Chief MKO Abiola, we supported them.

     

    In his words: “They had their fair share of being the president for eight years and vice-president for another eight years. Why is it a problem for them to support the Southeast?”

     

    The lawmaker urged political parties to give their tickets to the Southeast and allow the electorate to decide the best candidate to occupy the position of the president.

     

    Ifedioranma said that electing an Igbo as president in 2023 would quell the agitations for separation in the country.

     

    “Our people are angry that they are being marginalized and treated as second-class citizens in a nation to which we belong and are part.

     

    “When there were agitations in the South-South, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan was thrown up as vice-president and the agitations stopped.

     

    “When the military annulled Chief MKO Abiola’s election in 1993 and he died in incarceration, it became clear that there was the need to make amends and pacify the Southwest, and we all supported it by electing Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

     

    “For fairness, equity and justice, we need to deal with the structural problem by throwing up an Igbo man and all these agitations, demand for separation and insecurity will stop, and peace will be restored to Nigeria,’’ Ifedioranma stressed.

     

    Tinubu and Osinbajo, who are both of Southwest extraction, already declared their interests to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the APC.

  • 2023: Why Osinbajo, Tinubu should give up ambition for Southeast

    2023: Why Osinbajo, Tinubu should give up ambition for Southeast

    An Anambra lawmaker, Dr Timothy Ifedioranma (APC-Njikoka – I) on Friday charged Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and Sen. Bola Tinubu to give up their presidential ambition for the Southeast.

    Ifedioranma told newsmen in Awka that giving up their ambition was the way to toe the path of justice, equity and fairness.

    “Both Tinubu and Vice-President Osinbajo are citizens of this country and they are qualified to contest and occupy that position in this election.

    “But I urge them as elder statesmen to toe the path of justice, equity and fairness by giving up that position for a South easterner to emerge.

    “When it was the turn of the Southwest after the annulment of the 1993 election and the death of Chief MKO Abiola, we supported them.

    “They had their fair share of being the president for eight years and vice-president for another eight years.

    “The Southeast has not had its turn of being the president of this country and it has sacrificed by supporting the North, the Southwest and the South-South.’’ He said and queried: `Why is it a problem for them to support the Southeast?’’

    The lawmaker urged political parties to give their tickets to the Southeast and allow the electorate to decide the best candidate to occupy the position of the president.

    Ifedioranma said that electing an Igbo as president in 2023, would quell the agitations for separation in the country.

    “Our people are angry that they are being marginalised and treated as second class citizens in a nation to which we belong and are part of.

    “When there were agitations in the South-South, Dr Goodluck Jonathan was thrown up as vice-president and the agitations stopped.

    “When the military annulled Chief MKO Abiola’s election in 1993 and he died in incarceration, it became clear that there was the need to make amends and pacify the Southwest, and we all supported it by electing Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “For fairness, equity and justice, we need to deal with the structural problem by throwing up an Igbo man and all these agitations, demand for separation and insecurity will stop, and peace will be restored to Nigeria,’’ Ifedioranma stressed.

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, both of Southwest extraction already declared their interests to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of the APC.

  • Osinbajo hosts APC Reps caucus to strengthen presidential bid

    Osinbajo hosts APC Reps caucus to strengthen presidential bid

    In furtherance of his consultations to take up the presidential seat, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo hosted the All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Representatives caucus to breaking of Ramadan fast on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The vice-president, who declared his intention to run in the 2023 presidential election on Monday, hosted APC Senate caucus to breaking of the fast on Tuesday.

    Osinbajo is one of about six APC members that have so far indicated interests in the seat.

    Some others are the national leader of the party, Bola Tinubu, Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, and Sen. Rochas Okorocha, former governor of Imo.

    A pressure group is also asking CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele, to throw his hat into the ring.

  • Lawan gives details as Osinbajo meets APC Senate caucus

    Lawan gives details as Osinbajo meets APC Senate caucus

    Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, says the National Assembly caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is working hard to ensure the party retains power in 2023.

    Lawan spoke with State House correspondents on Tuesday after the breaking of Ramadan fast hosted by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for the Senate caucus of the 9th Assembly.

    Lawan said the vice-president briefed the caucus about his intention to run for the office of the president in 2023 and caucus members wished him well.

    Osinbajo had in a video posted online on Monday, declared his interest to run in the 2023 presidential election.

    “We had dinner with the vice-president to break the fast and thereafter, we had a brief interaction on our government and the vice-president’s declaration to run for the president’s office.

    “Naturally, the vice-president told us he had expressed his interest and that he needed to consult with the Senate APC caucus.

    “He wanted us to hear from his mouth and that we did, and he was seeking our support in whatever way we can at the appropriate time, and we wished the vice-president good luck in this endeavour.

    “Let me assure everyone that the Senate APC caucus and indeed, the National Assembly caucus of the APC will continue to work very hard for our great party the APC, to continue to provide services to Nigerians.

    “We shall also work hard to ensure that by 2023, the next administration is an APC administration at the federal and states levels by the Grace of God,’’ Lawan said.

  • My principal, VP Osinbajo dumped Lagos APC long ago – Aide

    My principal, VP Osinbajo dumped Lagos APC long ago – Aide

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’ aide, Laolu Akande has confirmed that the Vice President dumped Lagos APC over a year ago.

    TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) recalls that Osinbajo on Monday officially declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election.

    Akande said Osinbajo had moved his membership to Ogun State when he revalidated his APC Membership status in Ward One, Ikenne, Ogun State on February 9, 2021.

    Prior to his movement, Osinbajo was a chieftain of the Lagos APC with his polling unit at Code 33, Unit 2 Victoria Garden City, Lagos.

    However, the Lagos chapter of the party has criticized Osinbajo’s decision, saying it is a direct affront to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the national leader of the party who had declared his presidential ambition earlier and who is also Osinbajo’s benefactor.