TheNewsGuru

Tag: President Olusegun Obasanjo

  • Obasanjo’s former -ADC Jemitola slumps, dies at Golf club

    Obasanjo’s former -ADC Jemitola slumps, dies at Golf club

    A former Aide-de-Camp (ADC) to former – President Olusegun Obasanjo, Major General Chris Jemitola (rtd), has died after slumping at the IBB Golf Club on Thursday morning.

    TheNewsGuru learnt that Jemitola, was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

    The late major general served as Obasanjo’s ADC from 2003 to 2007 as a colonel.

    He was later appointed as the Director of Defence Information and subsequently served as the Defence Attaché at the Nigerian Embassy in Brazil.

    In 2014, he was promoted to the rank of Major General.

    Before his retirement, Jemitola served as the Chief of Policy and Plans (COPP) of the Nigerian Army.

    He also had a stint in the private sector. He was the Senior Advisor for Military Communications at Pinnacle Communications Limited as of 2019.

    Jemitola’s family is yet to release an official statement regarding his passing.

  • Reactions as Obasanjo wows wedding guests, shows off superb dance steps (Video)

    Reactions as Obasanjo wows wedding guests, shows off superb dance steps (Video)

    Former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo has caused a stir on social media after showcasing his dance step at a wedding he attended this weekend.

    The 87-year-old who was the life of the party, put to display his strong knees, after he took over the dance floor and led the newly wed couple and their wedding guests in a dance.

    In the video, young people excitedly followed the former president’s lead.

    The video, which has gone viral, has created a stir online.

    Ogas Love wrote, “Una current President can’t relate.”

    Anitas_clother wrote, “Aging happily.”

     Lar_ia wrote, “See old man nau. Unlike T-pain.”

     Aj_beautytouch wrote, “E strong pass our economy.”

     Nonny_nwanneka wrote, “Baba for the boys.”

     Preshy Villa wrote, “Omo this man is so fucking strong.”

     Pretty_angeluv wrote, “No be the one wey dey stunt every Eke market day.”

     Lord Mayor Blacksnr wrote, “Make BAT dance like this too. I wan check something.”

    Official_Ose007 wrote, “Normally OBJ fit go 12 rounds”.

     

  • Watch Obasanjo dance to mark 87th birthday [VIDEO]

    Watch Obasanjo dance to mark 87th birthday [VIDEO]

    In a video on social media, former President Olusegun Obasanjo was seen displaying his dance move in celebration of his 87th birthday.

    Recall that Obasanjo turned 87th on the 5th of March 2024. He unveiled a book titled; “The Art of Leading: Unconventional Wisdom from Biblical Leaders.” as part of the event to mark his 87 birthday.

    Watch the video:

     

  • Obasanjo and former Minister clash over Mambilla project

    Obasanjo and former Minister clash over Mambilla project

    The Mambilla Hydropower Project situated in Kakara, Taraba State, with an anticipated capacity of 3,050 megawatts, was initially envisioned as a game-changer in Nigeria’s energy sector, but has been marred by controversies and legal disputes over the years.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, in a recent interview, claimed that a former Minister of Power and Steel, Olu Agunloye, had awarded the project’s contract fraudulently without obtaining Federal Executive Council (FEC) approval.

    Obasanjo further stated that no minister during his administration had the authority to sign such a massive contract without his consent.

    Agunloye, on Sunday, accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of distortion of facts over the stalled multi-billion-dollar Mambilla Hydropower Project.

    Contesting Obasanjo’s assertions, Agunloye provided a detailed account of the project’s nature and initiation during Obasanjo’s presidency.

    He said that the project’s original agreement was based on a Build, Operate, and Transfer (BOT) model, relieving the Nigerian government of any financial obligations.

    According to Agunloye, Obasanjo’s subsequent decision to advocate for direct government funding deviated from the original BOT contract, fundamentally altering the project’s trajectory.

    This deviation eventually led to the termination of the project by President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua in 2008, citing corruption allegations against officials who served under Obasanjo’s administration from 2003 to 2007.

    “The former president was not correct when he referred to the award to Sunrise simply as a $6 billion contract (that is, N800 billion in 2003) under his watch. In truth, it was a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) contract in which the FGN did not need to pay any amount to the contractor, Messrs Sunrise Power and Transmission Company Limited (Sunrise).

    “As a matter of fact, Sunrise has not been paid a single Naira or Dollar by the FGN from 2000 till date (14/9/23). Sunrise was to source for funds and execute the project with own funds. The investment of Sunrise to construct the Mambilla hydroelectric project up to the completion stage to deliver electricity was adjudged at a maximum of $6 billion by four Ministers of Power and the former president (Chief Obasanjo) before I became Minister of Power. Sunrise was to recoup its investment from the sale of the generated electricity over a 30- to 40-year period at pre-determined tariffs, also agreed with FGN before May 2003.”

    “The former President decided, therefore, to break the Mambilla Hydropower Project into smaller components, like civil engineering works, hydraulic works, structural works etc. with the intention to award them as separate multiple contracts as Government procurements, on cash and carry basis, for which Nigerian Government would pay mobilisation fees and make other payments in stages to contractors.

    “When one of the contractors, which got a component of the Mambilla project awarded by President Obasanjo as $1.46 billion procurement contract, presented its request for a $400 million mobilisation fees, President Yar’Adua scrutinised the contract and cancelled it in 2008 because of proven corruption on the part of officials who served under President Obasanjo between 2003 to 2007,” Agunloye said.

    Sunrise Power and Transmission Limited subsequently initiated legal action, claiming the termination was illegal and disrupted their ability to recoup their investment, as stipulated in the initial BOT contract.

    The former Minister added: “I have submitted a 53 paragraph, 14-page Statement backed with 15 Attachments in 82-page document as an affidavit to the courts in Nigeria and France in respect of the Mambilla Power Project to clear my name. In deference to Pa Obasanjo and as a mark of great respect to the former President, I have sent a copy of these documents through my lawyers to him to refreshen his memory.”

  • Eedris Abdulkareem hails wife for donating her kidney to him, pens heartfelt note

    Eedris Abdulkareem hails wife for donating her kidney to him, pens heartfelt note

    Nigerian hip-hop artist, Eedris Turayo Abdulkareem Ajenifuja a.k.a Eedris Abdulkareem, has appreciated his wife, Yetunde for donating her kidney to him.

     

    Recall that on August 22, the rapper’s management announced the success of his Kidney transplant surgery.

     

    In an appreciation post on Instagram, on August 24, Eedris specifically expressed gratefulness to his wife for her gesture, describing her as a gift from God that makes his life complete.

    Words cannot express my love, devotion and commitment to my adorable, loving, supportive and compassionate wife, Yetunde, with whom God Has made my life complete

     

    His post reads: “I am specifically giving Thanks and Praises to the Almighty God for my successful kidney transplant surgery over the weekend…may HIS Holy Name be Glorified forever and forever.

     

    “Words cannot express my love, devotion and commitment to my adorable, loving, supportive and compassionate wife, Yetunde, with whom God Has made my life complete…baby, I will always Love, cherish and adore you forever.

     

    “My awesome, lovely children, God Has harkened to your fervent prayers…daddy and mummy will be coming home hale and hearty soon. To my extended family, recording company Lakreem Entertainment, my crew, friends, fans and well-wishers, I say God Has done it for us again, and I will be seeing you guys soon.

     

    “Finally, I am dropping this first note in appreciation of God’s Love and Infinite Blessings for pulling me and my wife through all this; I will do an extensive shout-out as the time goes on.”

     

    Abdulkareem formed and performed with the hip-hop band The Remedies from 1997 until they split up in 2002.

     

    He continued as a solo artiste and released his first solo album, P.A.S.S. (“Pains And Stress = Success”), in 2002. One of the hits in the collection titled “Wackawickee MC’s” criticized Tony Tetuila, Plantashun Boiz and Double X Posse for their unprofessionalism and troubleshooting antics.

     

    Later the same year, he released an album titled Mr. Lecturer. Its title track attacked students in Nigerian colleges and universities receiving higher grades in exchange for money and lovemaking, as well as exposing lecturers who perpetrate these acts.

     

    In 2004, Abdulkareem released his third album, Jaga Jaga, a Yoruba term for “shambles”, declaiming corruption and suffering in Nigeria.

     

    The title track was banned from radio by President Olusegun Obasanjo, but continued to be played in nightclubs and spots all over the country, and became a sort of underground Nigerian national anthem.

     

    The album cover was by the renowned artist Lemi Ghariokwu, known for creating many album covers for Fela Kuti.

     

    In November 2005, Abdulkareem launched his own record label, Lakreem Entertainment, and released his fourth studio album, “Letter to Mr. President. The album’s title track addressed Obasanjo’s criticisms of “Jaga Jaga”; the album also included “Flash Up Unu Lighter”, a tribute to Obasanjo’s wife, Stella, who died while undergoing surgery in Spain, as well as the victims of the Bellview Airlines crash in October 2005.

     

    In The King is Back album of 2007, Eedris chronicled his travails in the hands of Obasanjo’s government and industry dealers and concert promoters who blacklisted him for standing up for the truth in “Koleyewon” and other songs.

     

    He followed that up with Unfinished Business in 2010.

     

    He released a sequel to “Jaga Jaga” in January 2012 during the Occupy Nigeria protest against the lifting of fuel subsidies.

     

    He has also performed on tracks by other artists including “Bad Guy Baller” featuring Mode 9 and VTEK, Klever J’s “Igborotidaru” Oba Mega and Cecil’s “I am Afrika”.

     

    Known as a social crusader and rights activist in Nigeria, noted for using his music to make his voice heard loud and clear, Abdulkareem released his sixth studio album titled Nothing but the Truth in 2020.

     

    The 20-track album takes a swipe at the ever-recurring bad governance and social ills in Nigeria.

     

    With a plethora of top Nigerian music acts including Dede Mabiaku, Sound Sultan, Ruggedman, Olamide, Myke Pam, Adex Artquake and Jazzman Olofin, the album “Nothing but the Truth” can be described as a collector’s item, with one of the hit tracks “Country Hard” triggering a nationwide social media challenge frenzy on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

     

    In ten years break between his last studio album and Nothing but the Truth in 2020, he released a number of singles that treated divergent topical issues in Nigerian political and social life.

     

    He featured artists like Femi Kuti in the song “Tribute to Fela”, Fatai Rolling Dollars in “Wonkere”, Vector in “Shekere”, DJ Jimmy Jatt in “Onile” and Konga in “Trouble Dey Sleep”.

  • How I helped Nigeria save $3.5bn from pensions, subsidy fraud under two presidents – Okonjo-Iweala

    How I helped Nigeria save $3.5bn from pensions, subsidy fraud under two presidents – Okonjo-Iweala

    Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala yesterday reminisced on her tenure as Nigeria’s Finance minister under Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan.

    She also revealed how she superintended over saving Nigeria a cumulative $3.5 billion by cleaning up the country’s pension and subsidy systems.

    Okonjo-Iweala spoke during a monitored online interview organised by Atlantic Council, a United States think-tank on international affairs.

    She stated that in her first stint under former President Olusegun Obasanjo, her vision was to see the renegotiation of Nigeria’s debt and the second under former President Goodluck Jonathan was to stamp out corruption.

    Describing her job at the World Bank as wonderful, she affirmed that when she was called upon by the then president Obasanjo, she was a vice president and corporate secretary at the bank.

    She added that having been brought up in public service her whole life by her parents, it was a chance to give back to the society under the former president who wanted, in particular, some expertise in getting Nigeria’s debts written off or negotiated.

    She said Nigeria was indebted by $30 billion to the Paris Club with a debt service of $2 billion a year, of which the country could only pay $1 billion. But with reforms of the economy, she was able to systematise the country’s debts.

    During her second coming under Jonathan, the WTO DG stated that she focused on fighting corruption and trying to put Nigeria’s financial management system on a modern standing and to update and modernise the systems.

    She said the financial management system was largely cash-based when she took over, making the government deploy technology, to lower the ability for things to go wrong and for corruption to creep in.

    Okonjo-Iweala added: “And just by having an integrated financial management system, we were able to cut down on the phenomenon of ghost workers, you know where people used to put additional people on the payroll in the ministries, ghost pensioners, because ghost workers will graduate to ghost pensioners, and so we got rid of that and saved $1.1 billion for the government.

    “So that is, we were fighting other types of corruption. We had an oil subsidy system in which we used to pay marketers. Oil marketers who brought in refined oil, you know, we paid them the difference between the market price, and the subsidised price that the government was mandated for selling oil to people.

    “And so, that was when I came the second time. This was a big problem. When I left government the first time in 2006, these subsidies were about $2 billion, when I came back, the first thing we noticed was that it had grown to $11 billion.”

    According to her, there couldn’t have been any way so many people joined the middle class and bought cars and were able to afford to buy fuel which made the subsidy soar.

    She said: “So, I asked President Jonathan that we could audit the oil accounts which he fully supported. When we audited, $8.5 billion of the accounts, we found $2.5 billion of fraudulent claims and with his backing, we refused to pay that to the marketers and that led to a series of problems, which I won’t bore you with, including threats to my life.

    “My mother being kidnapped for five days was one of the worst periods of my life and it was a very tough period. But, that being said, I think the privilege of serving my country as finance minister for several years, to being able to work on some reforms is one of the best things I’ve ever done.”