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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • Nigeria @60: Osinbajo urges renewed vigour toward nation building

    Nigeria @60: Osinbajo urges renewed vigour toward nation building

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has called for a rebirth of the nation that would foster development at all levels.

    Osinbajo, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, made this known at the Independence Day Interdenominational Church Service at the National Christian Centre in Abuja on Sunday.

    The vice President, who spoke on the theme: Together, come let us rebuild,” urged Nigerians to contribute their quotas to national development through renewed vigour.

    According to him, the story of of Nehemiah and his role in building the wall of Jerusalem should be a lesson to every Christian in Nigeria, who is desirous of building Nigeria.

    “The concern of Nehemiah was borne out of the love he had for his nation that prompted him to seek permission to rebuild the walls.

    “We need such love to rebuild the cracks that we have in our nation. Such Nehemiah will cry to God to use the opportunities in the country to address our challenges.

    “Fortunately for us our walls are not yet broken but have cracks that could break if not properly addressed.

    “We need to seek the face of God to address the broken walls. The significance of wall signified purity, prosperity, peace and contentment,” he said.

    He called on the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to provide leadership to its faithful in making Nigeria a great nation.

    Also, Rev. Samson Ayokunle, President, Christian Association of Nigeria, in his sermon titled: ” The Crucial Need of Nigeria to Attain Greatness at 60,” called for true love among all segments to move the nation forward.

    Ayokunle, who took the scriptures from the book of Mark 12: 28-31, said for Nigeria to attain greatness, there was need to imbibe God’s kind of love that is eternal, sacrificial and unconditional irrespective of ethnicity, region and religion.

    According to him, love will allow us to serve one another selflessly and build our nation.

    “The love we need to embrace in Nigeria is God’s kind of love. The love that is eternal, sacrificial, unconditional irrespective of ethnicity, region and religion.

    “Our love for God is hypocritical, our religion appears to be empty, it has not reflected in our holiness at work or market place.

    “We need true religion to reposition Nigeria,” he said.

    The CAN president called on the leaders at all levels to use their positions to build the nation rather than causing disunity, while pleading with them to be change agents that would lead by example to ensure the progress of the nation.

    He noted that for Nigerians to be on the same page, it was necessary to eliminate the doctrine of inequality, saying that we must not allow exclusion to manifest in our national life.

    While condemning the spate of killing in the country, Ayokunle called on those hiding under religion to perpetrate evil through killings of all sort to desist from such act.

    “Let us end the blood shedding and indiscrimination. God has promised to make Nigeria great but this requires true love.

    “Love will help us build trust in one another. There is mistrust in Nigeria today.

    “We have refused to do things together due to lack of trust because we suspect one another. With true love, we will be our brother’s keeper.

    Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Pauline Tallen called on Nigerians to work together, love one another to move Nigeria forward.

    According to her, once there is love, there will be fairness and justice.

    At the event were Deputy Majority Leader in the Senate, Prof. Afolabi Borofice, who represented the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, Members of the Judiciary and Members of the National Economic Council among other dignitaries.

  • BREAKING: Excitement as Osinbajo becomes grandad for the first time

    BREAKING: Excitement as Osinbajo becomes grandad for the first time

    Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo today became a grandad for the first time after his daughter gave birth to a bouncing baby boy.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Osinbajo’s daughter, Oludamilola, married to Oluseun made the VP a grandad for the first time as the VP himself announced on Monday.

    Taking to his official Twitter handle with excitement, Osinbajo tweeted, “All glory to God, I am now a grand-dad! My daughter, Oludamilola & her husband Oluseun became parents to a wonderful baby boy this morning”.

  • Osinbajo, Facebook to hold informal chat on Friday

    Osinbajo, Facebook to hold informal chat on Friday

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and Facebook’s Vice President, Policy and Communication, Nick Clegg, are set to hold a virtual informal chat on Facebook on Friday.

    Facebook, in a statement issued on Thursday, said the chat would be held as part of its activities during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

    The 75th session of the U.N. General Assembly commenced on Tuesday with a moment of silence against the unprecedented backdrop of the Coronavirus pandemic. It will close on Sept. 22.

    Facebook said that the event, which would be moderated by Omowale David-Ashiru, Vice President, Global Operations at Andela, would explore the growth of digital economy in Nigeria.

    According to the statement, the session will also highlight Facebook’s role in the economic development across Sub-Saharan Africa.

    “As the Chairperson of Nigeria’s Economic Sustainability Committee, Vice President Osinbajo will highlight the importance of digital technologies, innovation hubs and private equity funding in ensuring economic growth and development in the country,” it said.

    The session would also provide Osinbajo a platform to share further insight into Nigeria’s Post-COVID Economic Recovery Plan (ERP), Facebook said.

    The company stated that the 45-minute virtual event will be streamed on Facebook Live.

  • Osinbajo presides over 4th virtual NEC meeting

    Osinbajo presides over 4th virtual NEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday presided over a virtual meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting was the fourth virtual meeting as the nation complies with the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) protocol on COVID-19 pandemic.

    The governors joined the virtual NEC from their respective states.

    At the last virtual meeting on Aug. 20, NEC disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the sum of N13 billion for the implementation of community policing in the country.

    It said the president’s gesture was borne out of his resolve to rejig the security architecture in the country and deliver a more effective policing.

    The Vice President, constitutionally, is the chairman of NEC which meets monthly to deliberate on the coordination of economic planning and programmes of various levels of government.

    NEC comprises the 36 state governors, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Finance, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other relevant government officials whose duties hinged on the economy.

  • Osinbajo’s daughter, Kiki claims ‘self-made’

    Osinbajo’s daughter, Kiki claims ‘self-made’

    Kiki Osinbajo, one of the daughters of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said like many young women in Nigeria, she works hard, and that it may be difficult… to understand that a young woman can work hard and succeed on her own steam.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Vice President’s daughter stated this against an allegation of how she is able to earn N800 million to invest in a property housing her Glamd Africa Beauty House.

    However, according to Kiki, the property housing her Glamd Africa Beauty House, located on 10 Durban Street, Wuse 2, Abuja belongs to one Mr Musa Adams.

    “For me it is completely unbelievable that a grown man will sit in his home and lie about me, a grown man who possibly has children my age!

    “Like many young women in Nigeria I work hard, it may be difficult for people like him to understand that a young woman can work hard and succeed on her own steam.

    “Anyone can verify the ownership of the property of Glamd Africa at Agis in Abuja. I am a tenant in that property. My landlord’s name is Mr Musa Adams,” she stated.

    Just recently, controversial journalist and former presidential spokesperson, Jackson Ude, took to his Twitter handle to accuse Kiki of having funny dealings.

    Ude, in his tweet, claimed the VP’s daughter invested N800 million in the property housing her beauty house in Abuja. He then proceeded to ask how she was able to afford that money.

    https://twitter.com/jacksonpbn/status/1281406555825504256

    But, responding to the allegation on her Instagram page, Kiki appeared to be claiming self-made.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/CCdLmc2n9Ui/

    Ude’s allegation against Kiki is part of broader allegations against VP Osinbajo by the former presidential aide as a presidential committee opens probe against the former acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.

    Ude is claiming that Osinbajo is involved in shady deals, and that the VP “has no credibility”.

    https://twitter.com/jacksonpbn/status/1281294322932035585

    https://twitter.com/jacksonpbn/status/1281325142099009536

    https://twitter.com/jacksonpbn/status/1281256219286667264

    https://twitter.com/jacksonpbn/status/1281294322932035585

    https://twitter.com/jacksonpbn/status/1280986931569065985

    https://twitter.com/jacksonpbn/status/1281282762197082114

  • Buhari, Osinbajo’s assets declaration ‘battle’ goes to Appeal Court

    Buhari, Osinbajo’s assets declaration ‘battle’ goes to Appeal Court

    Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has asked the Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos to set aside a judgment of a Federal High Court and to order public disclosure of asset declaration details submitted to the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo, governors and their deputies and other politicians since 1999.”

    The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos had on Monday, May 11, 2020, dismissed the application filed by SERAP seeking “an order of mandamus to direct and compel the CCB to make available to the public specific details of asset declarations submitted to it by successive presidents, vice-presidents, senate presidents, speakers of House of Representatives, state governors and their deputies since 1999.”

    Justice Muslim Hassan declined the prayers, holding that, “I agree with the CCB that the duty to make the asset declaration form of public officers available is dependent upon the terms and conditions to be proscribed by the National Assembly. The terms and conditions must be specific and related to asset declaration of public officers and not legislation of general nature such as the Freedom of Information Act.”

    SERAP in the appeal filed last week contended that, “The learned trial judge misinterpreted the provision and purport of paragraph 3[c], Third Schedule, Part 1 of the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended). The judge did not consider that the Freedom of information was enacted by the National Assembly in 2011 to grant public access to public documents.”

    SERAP also argued that, “The learned trial Judge erred in law by holding that the Freedom of information Act is a legislation of general nature in relation to public access to asset declaration forms of public officers. The judge erred in law when he held that SERAP’s application ‘is unmeritorious and it is accordingly dismissed.’”

    SERAP also contended that, “the learned trial judge failed to apply the provisions of Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act Cap A9 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, which allows access to public documents to the facts of this case.”

    According to SERAP, “The failure or refusal by the CCB to provide the information requested by SERAP constitutes a violation of their right to freedom of information guaranteed by Article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

    The appeal filed on SERAP’s behalf by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare, Opeyemi Owolabi and Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “The learned trial judge failed to determine whether the asset declaration forms kept in the records of the CCB are public documents. The judge failed to determine whether the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs whatever injury that the disclosure would cause the CCB and public officers.”

    “The learned trial judge erred in law when His Lordship failed to determine the real questions in issue in the suit. The judge failed to determine whether SERAP’s freedom of information request falls within the purview of those exempted under the Freedom of Information Act.”

    “Asset declaration forms submitted by public officers are public documents in the custody of the CCB. The CCB is under a legal obligation to provide the information requested by SERAP in accordance with the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.”

    SERAP is therefore seeking “an order allowing the Appeal, and setting aside the judgement of the Honourable Justice Muslim Hassan delivered on Monday, 11th May, 2020.”

    SERAP is also asking the Court of Appeal for “an order granting all the reliefs sought by the Appellant in the Appellant’s motion on notice dated 4th October 2019 before the lower court including an order of mandamus directing and compelling the CCB to publish details of asset declarations as prayed; and a declaration that the failure of the CCB to publish the asset declarations amounts to a breach of legal obligation.”

    SERAP is asking the Court of Appeal for “a declaration that the failure of the CCB to provide specific documents and information on the number of asset declarations so far verified by it, and the number of those declarations found to be false and deemed to be in breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers by the Bureau violates the Freedom of Information Act and the African Charter.”

    SERAP is also seeking an “order of mandamus directing and compelling the CCB to immediately take cases of false asset declarations to the Code of Conduct Tribunal for effective prosecution of suspects, and include banning the politicians involved from holding public offices for at least a period of 10 years and seeking refund of stolen public funds as part of the reliefs to be sought before the Tribunal.”

    SERAP is asking for “any other relief or reliefs the Court of Appeal may deem fit to grant in the circumstances and pursuant to its inherent powers.”

    It would be recalled that SERAP had in suit number FHC/L/CS/1019/2019 argued: “Asset declarations of presidents and state governors submitted to the CCB are public documents. Public interest in disclosure of the details of asset declarations clearly outweighs any claim of protection of the privacy of presidents and state governors, as they are public officers entrusted with the duty to manage public funds, among other public functions.”

    The suit, read in part: “A necessary implication of the rule of law is that a public institution like the CCB can only act in accordance with the law, as to do otherwise may enthrone arbitrariness. The CCB does not have reasonable grounds on which to deny SERAP’s FOI request, as it is in the interest of justice, the Nigerian public, transparency and accountability to publish details of asset declarations by presidents and state governors since the return of democracy in 1999.”

    “Disclosing details of asset declarations of public officers such as presidents and state governors would improve public trust in the ability of the CCB to effectively discharge its mandate. This would in turn put pressure on public officers like presidents and state governors to make voluntary public declaration of their assets.”

    “Democracy cannot flourish if governments operate in secrecy, no matter how much open discussion and debate is allowed.”

    No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

  • Delta Govt clarifies Gov. Okowa’s ‘controversy-stirring’ NEC appointment

    Delta Govt clarifies Gov. Okowa’s ‘controversy-stirring’ NEC appointment

    The Delta State Government has clarified the appointment handed Governor Ifeanyi Okowa by the National Economic Council (NEC) headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo that has stirred controversy in some quarters.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Manager of Communications, Government House, Asaba, Jackson Ekwugum made the clarification in a statement on Monday, stressing that Governor Okowa was not appointed to lead a sub-committee on post Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) economic growth.

    Ekwugum, in the statement, stressed that the sub-committee, chaired by Okowa, was to work and liaise with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 (PTFCOVID19) on the process of lifting the national lockdown and reopening the economy.

    According to the Communications Manager at the Government House, it was a normal practice of NEC to always set up sub-committees to deal with pressing national issues and that Okowa’s appointment was not something deserving of frenzy.

    The statement reads: “His Excellency, Senator Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, is mindful of the earnest desire of Nigerians for life to return to normal as quickly as possible.

    “However, it has become necessary to set the record straight and correct the wrong impression that has been created by this story.

    “It is not true that Governor Okowa was appointed to lead a Sub-Committee on post COVID-19 economic growth.

    “The National Economic Council (NEC) headed by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo recently created a Sub-Committee, chaired by Okowa, to work/liaise with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 on the process of lifting the national lockdown and reopening the economy”.

    According to Ekwugum, Okowa enjoined Nigerians to continue to pray for divine intervention to resolve the current health crisis even while they maintain the necessary safety protocols/guidelines.

  • Osinbajo presides over first ever virtual NEC meeting

    Osinbajo presides over first ever virtual NEC meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, presided over the first ever virtual meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting anchored from the Yellow Room, Office of the Vice President, was the fourth for the year as the nation strives to contain the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The Minister of Finance featured at the meeting while the governors joined the virtual NEC from their states.

    Constitutionally, the vice president is the chairman of NEC which meets monthly to deliberate on the coordination of economic planning and programmes of various levels of government.

    NEC comprises the 36 state governors, Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Minister of Finance, Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and other relevant government officials whose duties hinged on the economy.

  • COVID-19: Osinbajo speaks from self-isolation, explains how the law supports restriction orders

    COVID-19: Osinbajo speaks from self-isolation, explains how the law supports restriction orders

    Questioning the legality of the presidential order restricting movements in the FCT, Lagos and Ogun States is quite unnecessary as the action taken is not only important but very well backed by extant Nigerian laws, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said.

    Osinbajo made this observation in Abuja while responding to questions on Monday at the Google Hangout programme organized by HACK COVID-19 Call Centre, a private sector initiative supporting Nigeria’s battle against the pandemic.

    “Regarding the legality of the shutdowns announced by the President yesterday, -Sunday-I think it is entirely legal. These steps are proactive, very relevant, important and backed by law.

    “I am not so sure some of the people who have commented on the issue have come across the Quarantine Act. There is a Quarantine Act of 1926, it’s been published in all of the Laws of Nigeria, every edition of the Laws of Nigeria, it is there,” Osinbajo said.

    Referring specifically to the part of the legislation that empowers the President to order movement restrictions in any part the country, Osinbajo said, “what the Act does is that it allows the President to designate any local area, any part of the country, as a place that may be infected or under the threat of a communicable disease, and he can then make regulations of any kind.

    “For instance, he can say, people should not go out; no public gatherings etc. So, it is a regulation that gives the President powers and these powers come from the National Assembly because, of course, it is an act of the National Assembly.”

    The Vice President also explained that by virtue of the constitutional rules, the 1926 Act is deemed to be an Act of the National Assembly.

    “So, the President has extensive powers under the Quarantine Act of 1926. Also, Governors have extensive powers under the same Quarantine Act.”

    Osinbajo urged all interested individuals and groups to personally go through the legislation in order to understand the provisions therein, noting that “it is barely a one page legislation, so it is not particularly difficult to find the relevant provisions and it is not particularly difficult to read, very straightforward. So, the President has all the powers.”

    Speaking further about the legal precedent for the President’s ‘no movement order’, Prof. Osinbajo said “many of us are not familiar with the Influenza pandemic that killed several millions around the world in 1918. At that time regulations were made here, very similar to what we have today, although that was under the colonial authorities.

    “The Influenza pandemic was referred to as the Spanish Flu and it killed thousands in Nigeria and millions across the world then.

    “They also banned public gatherings, banned gatherings in places of worship then. So, there is even good historical precedence for some of what we are doing today.”

  • What Osinbajo, Lawan, Okowa said about Omo-Agege in Warri

    What Osinbajo, Lawan, Okowa said about Omo-Agege in Warri

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Senator Ahmed Lawan and Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State on Sunday spoke glowingly of Deputy Senate President, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege.

    The trio was among notable Nigerians that attended the Thanksgiving Mass for Senator Omo-Agege at Mother of the Redeemer Catholic Church, Effurun, Delta State.

    Osinbajo, in a remark, said that Omo-Agege was a well educated and distinguished lawyer, who had practiced at home and abroad.

    According to the Vice President, it is not just Omo-Agege’s brilliance that is propelling him, but that his courage, loyalty and reliability moved him first as a politician and then to the exalted position of Deputy Senate President.

    “I think that both Omo-Agege and Senator Lawan were the unanimous choice of most of us in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the leadership of the APC.

    “There was very little doubt that these two individuals were the ones that we wanted and everybody worked very hard indeed to make sure that came to be.

    “And the reasons are very simple: Lawan has always proved to be very reliable and always a party person and so is Omo-Agege.

    “In most of the things people were shy or afraid to do, Omo-Agege stood up and was ready to be counted at the right time.

    “I think that for his courage and for his steadfastness and for his reliability, not only was he rewarded by his constituents who he loves very much but also by our great party, and by the 9th Senate by his election to the position of Deputy Senate President,’’ he said.

    He said that with the qualities Omo-Agege possessed, he would still achieve more politically in Nigeria.

    The Vice President prayed God to continue to bless the Deputy Senate President.

    On his part, Lawan said he was in the church to thank God for his blessings on his Deputy.

    Lawan said that the more God is appreciated for his blessings, the more blessings he would bestow.

    He said that the Senate would continue to work hand in hand with the Executive in solving the security concerns in the nation.

    On his part, Okowa congratulated Omo-Agege who he described as his brother for attaining such a political height.

    He said that the feat was not just for the Omo-Agege’s constituents in Delta Central but for the entire state.

    “We rejoice with you as a State; your position is a call to service not just to your nation but to Deltans,’’ he said.

    In his comment, Omo-Agege said he was immensely grateful to God for what he had achieved as it would not have been possible without God.

    He expressed his appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, APC governors and all party faithful, who were instrumental to his emergence as Deputy Senate President.

    He said he would continue to strive to promote national unity and attract the dividends of democracy to his constituency.

    Earlier in a sermon, Very Rev. Fr. Anthony Ozele, President, Warri Diocesan Priests Association, said that it was wise to appreciate God for His goodness.

    He said that the celebration was not just for Omo-Agege and his family but for the entire Urhobo nation.

    Ozele said that the rate of killings, kidnapping, cultism, immorality and other crimes in Nigeria was worrisome.

    He said most crimes were brewed by hatred and called on Nigerians to love one another.

    According to the priest, Nigeria has a bright and prosperous future as God has plans for the nation.

    “Nigeria will rise; there is hope; I charge each and every one of us, let stand up for Nigeria.

    “Let us stand up for hope; all foes and enemies of Nigeria will be vanquished; Nigeria will survive,’’ he said.

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, Senate Minority Leader, Enyinnaya Abaribe and other principal officers of the Senate also attended the event.

    The Thanksgiving also attracted some serving governors, APC National Chairman, members of the National Assembly, political class, traditional rulers and the clergy.