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Tag: Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

  • 2023: APC Govs Begin Rallying around Osinbajo

    Few days after President Muhammadu Buhari indicated a template for his successor in the forthcoming APC Presidential Primaries, Governors of the ruling party are beginning to rally behind the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo who is believed to fit the President’s description.

    As at last night several of the APC Governors have been seen in the Villa meeting with the VP and also the Chief of Staff to the President in what sources say is a move likely to result in a Consensus presidential candidate for the ruling party.

    Governors cited in the Villa between Wed and today include the following those of Kano, Ogun, Ekiti, Gombe, Nasarawa, and Ebonyi States

    A clear majority of the 22 governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the aegis of Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), appear to have agreed on supporting the candidature of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, ahead of the party’s long awaited presidential primaries on June 6.

    Indeed, more Northern Governors including Borno, Kaduna, Kano, Nasarawa and Gombe are said to be opposed to any idea of a Northern Presidential candidate for APC.

    The governors who held series of meetings at the Kebbi State Governors Lodge in Asokoro, Abuja on May 31, after their meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, were initially deadlocked on who to suport and while Governors like Kebbi and Jigawa pushed the idea of Northern candidate, the idea met with stiff resistance among the majority of the Governors.

    However, after reconvening, a top source in the know, hinted that the governors have agreed that the Presidency of the party should be zoned to the South and that the candidate should be Prof Osinbajo.

    According to an impecable source in the Villa, the governors failed to reach an agreement on a candidate in their first meeting because different governors were working for different aspirants and they were all pushing for their aspirants to be accepted based on a North- South divide.

    Said the source ” the heroes of this whole thing are the Governors of Borno, Nasarawa and Gombe who even though are from the North, argued that the VP from the South fits the bill perfectly. Kaduna Governor and Borno Governors also of the same view but Kaduna Governor has not been seen in the Villa this week. He was represented by his deputy at the meeting with the President on Tuesday.”

    The source said that some governors had first insisted that the party’s Presidency should be zoned to the North because the main opposition party had settled for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar at their convention.

    “It was a very heated argument between the governors. Some governors wanted a Northern candidate to challenge the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) candidate but some other northern governors kicked against it. They said that the it is morally right for power to return to the South.”

    The source noted that, “The governors represented different interests at the meeting and were all pushing for their candidate but there were more governors who were loyal to President Muhammadu Buhari and who wanted to reciprocate the President’s gesture.

    “They were others who also insisted that Mr VP was the most popular candidate based on the feedback that the governors got from delegates in their states and they were almost certain and very confident the he would defeat candidates from other parties including Atiku.

    According to an aide of one of the governors present at the meeting, certain governors were asked to reach out to some other notable aspirants to urge them to step down for the VP.

    “It was indeed a difficult call, as some governors were asked to reach out to their candidates to relate the choice of the governors and to also tell them to step down their ambition so that the party can present a united front at the convention.

    It will be recalled that President Muhammadu Buhari had urged the governors to allow him pick a successor.

    In a meeting on Tuesday with the APC national chairman, Abdullahi Adamu in attendance, Buhari said, “In keeping with the established internal policies of the party and as we approach the convention in a few days, therefore, I wish to solicit the reciprocity and support of the Governors and other stakeholders in picking my successor, who would fly the flag of our party for election into the office of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in 2023.”

    “I wish to assure you that the consultation process shall continue to ensure that all aspirants and stakeholders would be brought on board right through to the convention. This would also ensure that any anxiety occasioned by different factors are effectively brought under control and that our party emerges stronger,” Buhari said.

  • Deborah Samuel: Osinbajo condemns killing of female student in Sokoto

    Deborah Samuel: Osinbajo condemns killing of female student in Sokoto

    Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has finally lent his voice on the murderous killing of Deborah Samuel a part two student of Shehu Shagari college of Education in Sokoto state.

    Osinbajo described the killing of Deborah Samuel, over an allegation of blasphemy as deeply distressing and shocking.

    Osinbajo mentioned this while addressing newsmen on Friday at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, shortly after his arrival from Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

    Read Also:

    Deborah Samuel: MURIC reacts to the lynching of female student

    The vice president said it is worthy of note that the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and the Sultan of Sokoto had condemned the incident.

    “Let me say that, first, the president has reacted to this, in a statement which was issued earlier condemning the action.

     

    “I must say that it’s a deeply distressing thing, very disturbing – such an atrocious killing of the young lady by a mob who took the law into their own hands; I think it’s very unfortunate.

    “The swift reaction of the Sokoto State Government and also the Sultan of Sokoto is highly commendable.

    “I think that their swift reaction to the situation clearly demonstrates the outrage of millions of Nigerians and also the desire of everyone to ensure that the perpetrators are quickly apprehended and prosecuted.”

    Osinbajo said that there is no justification for extra-judicial killing as there are legal channels for addressing any misdeed.

    He condoled with the family of the deceased and prayed to God to comfort those she left behind.

    “As the president said, there’s really no excuse for anyone to take the law into their own hands no matter the provocation, there are set processes for ensuring that we are able to redress whatever wrongs that are done against us.

    “We must express our condolence to the family of the young lady, Deborah Samuel.

    “I can’t imagine how her parents and siblings and members of her family feel, not just about her death, but the very horrendous nature of its occurrence.

    “I think it’s very sad indeed, and we extend our sincere condolences to them; we ask that the Almighty will comfort them at this time,” he said.)

  • 2023: BUHARI, OSINBAJO & RENO’S FUNDAMENTAL EMPTINESS

    2023: BUHARI, OSINBAJO & RENO’S FUNDAMENTAL EMPTINESS

    By Sen. Olusola Adeyeye

    This is a rejoinder to Reno Omokri’s piece of the above title published in his column (‘THE ALTERNATIVE’) on the the backpage of ThisDay newspaper of Tuesday, the 3rd of May, 2022.

    I like Reno. Even though we are on different ideological pages, I love his energy and commitment to the Nigerian national cause. He’s an example of how I want young people to engage with Nigeria. When I sit with young people in my orbit or talk with them in any setting, I keep repeating that they cannot afford to just be spectators in our national affairs. The men and women who helped birth the nation from colonialism were young people who answered the call of duty. There is no time to stand and stare!

    In his piece, Reno missed two fundamental truths about Nigerian politics. The first is that if the establishment does not want you, you can never win the presidency. The second is religion as a factor in Nigerian political outcomes is overrated, especially at the national level. Yes, the establishment uses it when convenient, but, when it matters, realpolitik always trumps religion.

    Nigeria is not a land of political revolution. We have been caught in the web of the ‘Class of 1966’ like since forever and they are still in charge. They determine who is president, irrespective of parties. Buhari, for good or ill, has reshaped the establishment platform to be more pro-North. He may have done it deliberately or it may just be something that has developed naturally under his watch. Whichever is the case, it is today our reality.

    Of course, the popular wisdom is that religious sentiments determine the outcomes of national political contests, especially for the presidency – at the party and general election levels. But the historical facts do not support this. What history tells us is that any candidate of any religious background can be sold successfully nationally by the establishment once they determine he or she is the one they want there.

    So, Omokri’s attempt to aggressively launder the now emergent falsehood that Osinbajo is a Christian fundamentalist unsellable in the Muslim North will not fly. He’s only trying to scrape his way through a barrel to a ready-made answer. In fact, the fundamental emptiness of his position can be seen in his attempt to compare Osinbajo to Isa Pantami. I mean, isn’t that the height of skullduggery? Ordinarily such poppycockery does not belong in the realm of even quasi-intelligent discourse; but, in Nigeria, it’s par the course. When we discuss politics, we throw in the kitchen and the toilet sinks and religion is the odious perfume we smell everywhere. But, as I have implied, the establishment does not think that way.

    If the North thought Osinbajo a problem on religious grounds, he wouldn’t have been accepted as the Vice President to a Buhari as President. What they saw was a man who was a vital intellectual backbone of the Tinubu machine and the one who ran the biggest programme (through the courts) that created the Tinubu mystique. Surely, when the Lagos State Government repeatedly beat the Federal Government at the Supreme Court, the establishment had no choice than to notice the genius behind the string of legal victories- Prof Yẹmí Osìnbàjò.

    When Reno says that Buhari’s political foot soldiers in the core North are united behind Tinubu, we simply tick that off as an error of assessment. The reality is that those he refers to as Buhari’s political foot soldiers are showing Tinubu everyday with action that they are not with him. Let him name one Buhari foot soldier in Tinubu’s camp and I will name a hundred that are not there. When Buhari candidly said that the presidency is not for sale to the highest bidder, wise citizens paid attention.

    Yes, Tinubu has the structure, he has amassed the money and is already throwing it around left, right and centre, but the truth is that many are just fleecing him at the moment. Many signals within the party and within the establishment indicate he is on a hiding to nothing. Many see Tinubu as a greedy blackmailer who must be kept away from Aso Rock because he has the capacity to create an entirely different political patronage structure that can alienate the ‘Class of 1966’.

    Incidentally, Tinubu went full throttle to politically terminate Ambode when the latter tinkered with the patronage structure in Lagos. As far as the establishment are concerned, Tinubu has been amply rewarded with the free rein they’ve given him over Lagos and its purse strings. Giving him Aso Rock is class suicide for the establishment.

    We have seen the establishment flying the idea of parachuting Jonathan in as the consensus candidate of the APC, but it’s a bridge too far. We have been hearing of the attempt by some top members of the establishment to draft in Godwin Emefiele and now we see that he has actually picked up the APC Expression of Interest and Nomination form. Of course, that is quite troubling because the corruption writ-large in his candidacy is brazen. I wouldn’t want to believe that our party has degenerated to the level that they can openly slap Nigerians in the face with the candidacy of a serving Central Bank Governor. So, I still believe the real battle is among three other aspirants that include Osinbajo.

    A lot of people don’t know that Professor Osinbajo faced very stiff opposition in 2019 from people who didn’t want him to return as part of the reelection ticket with Buhari. At the head of those opposed to him returning as Vice President was the late Abba Kyari who was said to have been working closely with Tinubu at the time. Buhari had to sternly tell off the lobbyists, insisting he was happy with Osinbajo and would run with him. Osinbajo as Vice President today is a strong indication that Buhari thinks him worthy of succeeding him in 2023. He could have easily replaced him prior to the election of 2019.

    For those who still think Buhari has no favourite amongst the candidates, they need to read between the lines. When in January he was asked in a Channels Television interview by Maupe Ogun to name his favourite presidential candidate, he responded: “I won’t tell you my favourite for 2023, he may be eliminated if I mention. I better keep it a secret.” He wasn’t joking. The comment is revealing. It tells us he was aware of the intense jostling for the position going on within our party. It tells us he had someone in mind already and that person isn’t a party Goliath. For a man who knows what Osinbajo has endured as Vice President, he knew what he was talking about. Of course, the only thing is that he has not expressed his preference to Osinbajo himself.

    Though Buhari can appear aloof, he appreciates loyalty. If Osinbajo works hard to win him over and Buhari helps make the case with the Northern establishment that Osinbajo is the best bet for Nigeria, they will vote him overwhelmingly. For Buhari, he must see the overwhelming benefit to him and his legacy if he endorses Osinbajo. It would prove that he is a true statesman and a wise and methodical leader of men. He should be proud that for the first time a Nigerian Vice President will succeed his principal.

    Osinbajo knows that a lot is riding on his candidacy. He knows that he presents young Nigerians and the progressive forces, North and South, their best opportunity to win back the country and set it on a confident future where all citizens will feel proud to identify with our national aspirations in healthy competition with the best in the world. He knows there is nothing partisan about true national development, which is why he is committed to making Nigeria work for every Nigerian, no matter their ethnic group or faith and no matter where they live and work. He knows that as the President, if given the opportunity, he has to rapidly build upon the foundations laid at a time of enormous difficulties for our republic.

    Omokri is analytical but he clearly does not understand the game of thrones. Contrary to what he opined, methinks that the majority of the northern governors will bend towards the candidate that President Buhari endorses. Buhari did not win the affection of the North through these Governors. Rather, many of them rode on Buhari’s coattail to ascend into office. To assert that even Buhari cannot stop Tinubu in the North is the height of sophistry.

    I have repeatedly said that Osinbajo cannot totally separate himself from the perceived shortcomings of the Buhari Government. I find the accusation a bit lame that Osinbajo failed to distance himself from PMB. The constitution is clear about who is the ‘driver’ of the Nigerian vehicle. To his credit, even Tinubu has not disowned Buhari publicly.

    However, writers paid by Tinubu would naturally project Osinbajo as the architect and cornerstone of every shortcoming the current Government. Meanwhile, it will be lost on them that the Buhari Presidency is an APC Government. How many times did the National Leader of the APC speak to the derelictions of the Government of his party?

    The only period when Buhari was away was when people came to appreciate Osinbajo’s leadership qualities. Nigeria needs a man who must combine a tender heart with a tough mind. Yemi Osinbajo epitomises this combination.

  • 2023 Elections: RCCG advised not to campaign for Osinbajo

    2023 Elections: RCCG advised not to campaign for Osinbajo

    Ex- president Goodluck Jonathan’s aide and a socio-political activist, Reno Omokri has called on the Redeemed Christian Church of God, (RCCG) to desist from promoting one of their own, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo and instead focus on preaching the gospel.

    Omokri made his position known when reacting to comments from the head of politics and Governance of RCCG, Pastor Timothy Olaniyan, who mentioned that VP Osinbajo is the best man to lead the country starting from 2023.

     

     

    Omokri through his facebook verified page advised RCCG to instead pray for the VP and not campaign for him

    The activist appealed to General Overseer, Pastor E. A. Adeboye to call his members to order .

     

    He said, “‪It is very dangerous for the Redeemed Christian Church of God to politically promote Osinbajo. Churches are meant to promote Christ. If churches and mosques start promoting candidates, then, they are no longer religious organisations and should start paying tax!‬

    “It is alright for the candidates to visit the church and Pastor Adeboye for prayers and his blessings. But when the Redeemed Christian Church of God sets up a politics directorate, and the head of that unit starts openly campaigning for Osinbajo, in his official capacity, then things are falling apart!

    “‪GO Adeboye should call RCCG’s political directorate to order before they start what they can’t finish!”‬

  • UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres embarks on first visit to Nigeria on May 3

    UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres embarks on first visit to Nigeria on May 3

    The United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres will on Tuesday 3 May, begin a two-day mission to Nigeria.

    During the mission, he will have an audience with the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari; the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo; Religious Leaders; Women and Youth Leaders; the Private Sector and the Diplomatic community.

    The Secretary-General will visit the Governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, in Maiduguri, north-east Nigeria on Tuesday, 3 May and thereafter proceed on a field mission to meet families deeply affected by violence and instability in north-east Nigeria, including people internally displaced and refugees.

    Mr. Guterres will also see first-hand the impact of climate change on vulnerable communities and will assess progress and challenges to the COVID-19 recovery.
    Secretary-General will have meetings with senior government officials as well as civil society representatives, including women, youth groups and religious leaders.
    This will be the first mission of the ninth UNSG to Nigeria.

    Accompanying him are:
    Ms. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa
    • Mr. Abdoulaye Mar Dieye, Special Coordinator for Development in the Sahel
    • Mr. Annadif Khatir Mahamat Saleh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel and Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel, UNOWAS.

  • 2023: Osinbajo is problem for his co-contestants, they are shivering – Oba of Benin

    2023: Osinbajo is problem for his co-contestants, they are shivering – Oba of Benin

    The Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II on Thursday described Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as a “dear son of the soil”.

    The Oba made the statement when he received the Vice President at his palace in Benin City, Edo state.

    Speaking at the palace, the Oba of Benin explained that he was supposed to be at a meeting in Abuja but he had to shelve it to receive the Vice President.

    His Royal Father also lauded the credentials of the Vice President, stressing that, some aspirants are shivering already.

    “Because of your credentials, humility, calmness, there’s no gain saying that your contestants are shivering where they are.”

    Adding that, “We don’t have to over flog your credentials, they speak for themselves. I always admire you greatly.”

    The Oba of Benin then went on describe Prof. Osinbajo as son of the soil. “I was supposed to be in Abuja today for a meeting but I had to put it on hold to receive our dear son of the soil, Yemi Osinbajo.”

  • PYO and 2023 Aso Rock Race B’OMO ENI BA DARA KA WI…

    PYO and 2023 Aso Rock Race B’OMO ENI BA DARA KA WI…

    The emergence of Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, in the orbit of 2023 Presidential Aspirants, has been like a volcanic eruption in the nation’s political landscape. It has caused upset in some camps and unsettled some other aspirants. It has changed the dynamics in the political circle, since the morning of Monday, 11 April 2022 when he publicly declared his interest in the contest for the 2023 Race to Aso Rock.

    Wondering why the Vice President (PYO) has been the issue in the last couple of weeks? Simply; he stands out of the pack, like a rose among green vegetables. Although of moderate stature, in physique, he is a giant in intellect, comportment, carriage, disposition, exposure and integrity. Above all, remarkably, he is the current Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – a position he has creditably held for almost seven years, without rancour, with absolute loyalty to his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, in the service of the nation and the people of Nigeria.
    Unlike what obtained between Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, when he was Vice President, and his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR, during the years of their second term in office, PYO still enjoy the confidence of PMB, his boss, to date.

    Expectedly, the well crafted 29-paragraph Declaration of Interest Speech of PYO, which also contained highlight of what could pass as a paraphrase of his Manifesto, has been a talking-point, attracting variegated reactions, criticism of different shades and colour. Detractors, supporters and sympathisers of other aspirants, have variously been picking holes in his submissions in the speech.
    Some are piqued by his description of President Muhammadu Buhari as “a true Nigerian patriot, a servant of the nation in war and peace, and a man of integrity,” whom he had worked with in the last seven years.
    Some have wondered what the Buhari administration has put on ground that he (PYO) intends to build on, as stated in his declaration: ” If by the grace of God, and the will of the people, I am given the opportunity, then I believe that first, we must complete what we have started.”

    What one finds most intriguing, is the blind condemnation of the seeming or perceived placid disposition of PYO to the policies of government, of which he is a part, and the attendant socio-political problems believably impacting negatively on the people.

    A cool, calm, calculating, reasonable, level-headed, vibrant legal mind that PYO is, with benefit of history and native intelligence, could not have done otherwise. He has a guide, among other factors, the declaratory pronouncement of the Supreme Court in the case: A.G. Federation v.Abubakar (2007) 10 NWLR (Pt.1041)1, that THE VICE PRESIDENT, AS A MEMBER OF THE PRESIDENT’S TEAM CAN NOT CRITICIZE THE POLICIES AND ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNMENT OPENLY.

    Chief Afe Babalola, SAN, OFR, CON, handled the brief on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation. The legal luminary recounted the Supreme Court judgement in his autobiography: Impossibility Made Possible. An excerpt from the book reads:

    “It is not intended to suggest that the union (between the President and Vice President) demands of the Vice that he should be a slave to the President, with no will or opinion of his own, it does not submerge his personality or individuality in that of the President or make them two-in-one…
    “As the President’s Chief Adviser, it is his prerogative and duty to discuss freely with him the policies and actions of the government, to point out any defects or errors in them, and the dangers to which they may expose the government. Nevertheless, having done this, the principle of collective responsibility binds him to all government decisions and actions, whether they emanated from the President alone or from the Executive Council.
    “So long as he remains in office as Vice President, he is not free to oppose in public, decisions or actions of the President or the Executive Council, no matter that he personally disagrees with them. His freedom to disagree and to criticize can only be exercised privately in a meeting with the President alone or in the Executive Council.
    “Freedom on the part of a Vice President to criticize his President publicly for mismanagement or corruption is certainly not consistent with the loyalty required of him as a member of the President’s team.”

    The import of Yoruba aphorism: “A F’ogbon Ologbon S’ogbon L’ogbon… Eni T’ojin Si K’oto, Ko Awon T’oku L’ogbon” – Wiser is he, who learn from the causation of the pitfall of others, than he who fell victim before learning his lesson – was not lost on calm, cool-headed PYO, guided by the ethos of OMOLUWABI – One well brought up.

    In the first three years (1999-2002) of his administration, President Olusegun Obasanjo had huge confidence in his No 2, Alhaji Atiku Abubarka, and gave so much responsibilities to him. Things were smooth-saling between the two, until a subterranean campaign of Mandela Option of One-Term for OBJ, perceivably fuelled by the Vice President oozed out, in the approach of the National Convention of the ruling party. It took a lot of horse-trading, persuasion and pacification to get Alhaji Atiku Abubarka to douse the tension for President Obasanjo to secure the ticket for second-term mandate in Aso Rock in 2003. Thereafter, it was however a cautious, consciously tactically moderated relationship with the Vice President. Atiku was choked up and effectively shrinked, cut to size, with insignificant responsibility assigned to him.

    Choked up, uncomfortable Vice President, now like fish out of water, in search of fresh air and avenue to actualize his presidential ambition, defected to the Action Congress for a Presidential Ticket in 2007 Election, while still in office as Vice President. The development led to a chain of actions that progressively culminated in the Supreme Court judgement recounted earlier.

    Had Atiku not be driven by inordinate ambition, had he allowed the harmonious relationship that existed between him and his boss in the early years of the administration to flourish, he would have had an automatic ticket to succeed President Obasanjo in 2007. His boss would have felt comfortable enough to hand over power to him, ensured smooth transition, seamless continuity and sustained stability.
    Vice President Atiku Abubarka, lost the golden chance to impatience and vaulting ambition. He has since been desperately and vehemently pursuing the golden presidential diadem, jumping from one political party to the other. He now has the label of Serial Presidential Candidate/Aspirant. He is also currently in the race for the 2023 ticket.

    The scenario reminded one of the moonlight tale of the gorilla that was to transform to a human being. The Oracle asked the gorilla to exercise patience for seven days for the process to have features of human being to mature. On the sixth day, the restless, impatient, over ambitious gorrila headed for the market place singing: Iwoyi Ola Ma D’eniyan…(By this time tomorrow, I shall have features of a human being). A misadventure. The glorious day never came. The rest is history.

    The enstranged relationship, that prevented a smooth President Obasanjo to Vice President Atiku power flow in 2007, changed the trajectory of the country’s polity and politics. The resultant gravitations brought us to this pass. The narrative would have been different from what had obtained since 2007, if the Vice President had kept his cool. We definitely would not have been where we are today.The story would have been different.

    In 2002 a Vice President Atiku Abubarka chose to rock the boat with his boss. 20 years after – 2022 – there is a cool-headed Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, keeping the boat steady and afloat with his boss to maintain the stability of the polity.

    Nigeria and Nigerians are on the march again, for the race for a Mr. President. Sadly, of concern, it seems to have become a race for all-comers of all sorts. But, in the midst of the mix, there is a man on the block who stands shoulders high.

    For seven unbroken years, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has been the Vice President, learning the ropes. He has painstakingly watched from inside and from the sidelines, workings and proceedings in the highest echelon of power in the land. He knows which Ts to cross, the loopholes to block, the rough edges to smoothen, the policies to finetune, the ones to consolidate. He would not have to beat about the bush. No trial and error.
    In a Yoruba adage: Okunkun Ile Eni Kii Soro Fun Ni Lati Rin. Literally: It is never difficult for one to navigate through the dark in one’s home. The geography of the setting of the home is already engraved in the mind and head.

    PYO will hit the ground running, if, by the grace of God, and the will of the people, he is given the opportunity to be in the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in 2023. None, among the multitude and myriad of aspirants, parades a match for his credentials.

    I agree in-to-to with his submission in his declaration speech that: “I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great peoples.”

    My fear.The bane, over the years is that politics and elections in Nigeria have never thrown up the best, especially, for the Office of President. It is even on record, a General Olusegun Obasanjo, as military Head of State, on the eve of the 1979 Presidential Election, reportedly said, the best candidate may not necessarily win an election.
    We need to put an end to this viscious cycle, for the good of all.

    B’OMO ENI BA DARA KA WI… If one’s child is beautiful, there is no harm acknowledging and trumpeting the divine blessing and favour.
    This PYO, is good. He has all it takes to turn things around for the good of all.

  • We don’t know the convener of Osinbajo think thank group – VP aide, Laolu Akande

    We don’t know the convener of Osinbajo think thank group – VP aide, Laolu Akande

    Nigeria’s vice president and presidential aspirant Professor Yemi Osinbajo has asked Nigerians to ignore Olugbenga Olaoye who claims to be the convener of Osinbajo Think Thank.

    The lad used derogatory comments on Tinubu when interviewed on Arise Tv Wednesday morning when asked to give his opinion about 2023 presidential aspirants.

    Olugbenga while responding to questions about the presidential ambition of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Bola Tinubu had said Nigerians do not want another sick president who would be embarking on foreign medical trips.

    According to Olugbenga Nigeria needs a capable person like the Vice President who formally declared on Monday to run for the top political office in the 2023 elections.

    His words, “We cannot afford another sick President who will be travelling to London all the time as we currently have, we need someone who is mentally sound. The little time that Osinbajo spent leading FEC was different. Things were moving”

    The VP, while reacting to the comments through his spokesman, Laolu Akande, said Olugbenga does not represent the office of the VP and should not be taken seriously.

    Akande made the claims on his official Twitter page, where he claimed that he is not aware of the Osinbajo Think Tank group, insinuating that they are operating on their own.

    The tweet reads, “Indeed this gentleman does not represent the VP nor the Office. His views are completely & totally his own. This particular opinion he has expressed on TV is deplorable and in bad taste. I am not even aware of the so-called Osinbajo Think Tank he purports to represent. Pls IGNORE”

    Recall that the Vice President officially declared his intentions to run for the presidency of Nigeria on Monday.

  • Osinbajo explains how to transform legal education in Nigeria

    Osinbajo explains how to transform legal education in Nigeria

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in a pre-recorded statement address, at the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) legal education summit held at Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Wednesday, stated ways to transform legal education in Nigeria.
    According to him, the development of analytical, critical thinking and problem-solving legal minds is key to transforming legal education in Nigeria.
    The theme of the summit is: “Reimagining Legal Education in Nigeria”.
    The vice president said that such education would not to be confined to the traditional four-wall classroom; a system Nigeria had been operating in the main since the 1960s.
    “Legal education, like many other branches of learning, is designed to evolve with and be responsive to the development of society.
    “Needs for legal services depend on the general dealings and operations of the society.
    “Having been a law teacher for many years, I fully understand that a chief problem of our style of legal education is learning by rote, as opposed to learning for problem-solving.”
    Osinbajo recalled his days as a university lecturer where he taught the Law of Evidence.
    He said that learning for problem-solving placed more emphasis on understanding how to use case law and statutes to solve real-life legal problems rather than just memorising them.
    “It struck me one day while teaching documentary evidence, that students will learn faster if I was able to give them copies of what an original document is, what secondary evidence of it would look like, what a real-life public document is, and what a certified copy looks like,” he explained.
    “So, when I taught the complex issues of proof of documentary evidence, they had a good mental picture of what I had in mind.
    “Also, by posing a problem and asking them to search out the rules to apply, I found that even the least interested students got involved. This is a snippet of what is called Clinical Legal Education, and it is the new and right way of teaching law.”
    The vice president said there was need to decongest over-populated classrooms in law schools across the country by adopting a hybrid approach to education, through the extensive use of technology for teaching.
    He said that Nigeria should learn from other nations that had transformed their systems of legal training through developed structures of periodic review.
    According to him, population explosion – overcrowded classrooms and hostels, inadequate library facilities, limited pool of qualified law teachers are not peculiar to Nigeria.
    He said, however, that other jurisdictions had encountered, at varying degrees, and successfully tackled these challenges.
    “Nigeria’s candidates for law school averaged 10,000; a 10-year review of the admission list of the Nigerian Law School from 2010 to 2020, shows that, on average, the various campuses of the school can accommodate only about 6,000 students.
    “Even before the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, which in a number of countries fast-tracked the adoption of technology in tutoring, other jurisdictions have adopted and institutionalised the use of technology in tutoring, examinations and even their courtroom systems.”
    Osinbajo highlighted examples from the US and the UK.
    He said that in the US, from 2015 – 2017, between 16,000 to 20,000 lawyers joined the pool annually, while similarly high numbers were trained in the UK (21,000) and Australia (8,499).
    On decentralising law schools, Osinbajo said that there were no requirements for residential stay in any formal school setting for the Bar Examination.
    “Applications are completed online and the examination, computer-based, is administered at designated centres.
    “A character and fitness investigation is conducted on applicants prior to issuance of license to practice law.”
    The vice president commended the NBA leadership for its consistent efforts at improving the legal profession through sustained investment in continuing legal education, in particular and advancement of jurisprudence.
    He also acknowledged the contributions of Chief Afe Babalola, for being an undiminished light in the legal profession, and devoting his resources to establishing a world-class university and a faculty of law that has attained such distinction in a few short years.
    Also on Wednesday, Osinbajo spoke at the opening day of the International Woman Leadership Conference 2022, organised by the Ibukun Awosika Leadership Academy in partnership with Dubai Tourism and Dubai Events.
    He said countries with higher levels of gender equality in education and attainment tended to have higher income levels, better lifestyles and better health outcomes.
    “The role of women must go beyond merely breaking glass ceilings.
    “It must be to attain global excellence and leadership; women must play not just to be represented, but to win,” he said.
  • Nigerian witches warn Osinbajo not to contest for presidency

    Nigerian witches warn Osinbajo not to contest for presidency

    Prof.Yemi Osinbajo has been warned by the White Witches Association of Nigeria, WWAN, not to contest the 2023 presidency.

    WWAN said God did not program Osinbajo to become Nigeria’s President in 2023; hence he would not win if he chooses to contest.

    WWAN spokesperson, and ex-board member of Edo state traditional council, Dr Iboi Okhue said God sent Osinbajo for a purpose and that his assignment would be concluded on the 29th of May,2023.

    Okhue disclosed that Osinbajo would conclude the mission God sent him on May 29, 2023.

    He advised Osinbajo to make a return to the pulpit at RCCG where God has a higher assignment for him than trying to contest for 2023 elections.

    “God sent him to deliver a message to Nigerians. He has done that and he should go back to the church. God will use him in a bigger way other than being a head of state,” Okhue told the Independent.

    Although the Vice President has kept mute over his interest to contest for presidency in 2023,there are strong indications that he would eventually show interest.

    It was recently reported that Osinbajo has indicated interest to contest, but his spokesperson, Laolu Akande has dismissed the report, saying it’s not true at the moment.