The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Audu Ogbeh

  • FG procures 500 rice harvesters, threshers to boost production

    The Federal Government has procured at least 500 rice harvesters and threshers to reduce post-harvest losses and achieve self-sufficiency in rice production by 2018.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, made this known in a chat with journalists in Abuja on Thursday.

    Ogbeh said the government had only taken delivery of 80 of the harvesters, adding that the remaining 420 would be delivered before April.

    He said the harvesters that would cost about N1.7 million each, would be manned by trained personnel in states.

    Ogbeh also noted that the rice threshers which were produced locally would cost between N800, 000 and N900, 000 each.

    The minister, who said Kebbi has procured some of the machines, noted that Ebonyi and Jigawa States have also indicated interest to acquire the machines.

    “One of the worries of rice farmers is the labour in the harvest and that is why we are bringing these machines,” the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the minister as saying to journalists on Thursday.

    “They will be managed by a team of young boys and girls. They will be backed with a lot of spare parts.

    “Boys and girls will move round harvesting rice for farmers and they will get paid for the labour because manual rice harvesting is a very tedious process.”

  • Ministers express mix reaction on Trump’s victory

    Ministers express mix reaction on Trump’s victory

    …Ogbeh: Any intimidation will necessitate Nigeria’s foreign policy review

    The victory of Donald Trump as President elect of the United States on Wednesday elicited sharp reactions from some ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

    Among those who held opposing views included the Ministers of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, and Defence – Mansur Dan-Ali.

    Ogbeh in his reaction expressed shock by Trump’s victory and described him as a capitalist that exploited the American system and turned around to destroy it.

    Dan-Ali maintained that Nigeria had to accept Trump victory and forge ahead.

    The Agriculture minister said that any attempt to put Nigerians in diaspora under pressure during Trump’s administration may necessitate a review of Nigeria’s foreign policy.

    He said: “I am in a bit of shock, but we are witnessing some very dramatic changes in the world and I think some of these things began many years ago. The current economic theory ravaging the world is now reaching the poor and the ordinary people. It is causing a lot of stress. Brexit happened, America has done this now.

    “Many other countries are going to have near extremism ruling the minds of people.

    “Trump’s language before the elections definitely did not endear him to the people. It scared a lot of people and yet he got this massive support which means there is something fundamentally wrong and some of us have been complaining even here for 30 years.

    “The economic theories we are practising are hurting too many people and so there is a lot of anger and people are looking for a way to express it.

    “In this country for instance, interest rate has remained averagely at 25 to 35 percent for 30 years. It is impossible for young people to dream dreams and achieve them. The rural areas are emptying, hunger is increasing. Only a small number of people have access to wealth. The rest are complaining but nobody is listening. That’s what has happened.

    “Because, even though America is a powerful country, the wealth is in the hands of the people in the stock exchange and the big business people, the ordinary people have a rough time. Even the black people didn’t turn out to vote, they’ve lost hope. So, that’s the result.

    “So, it means we have to reverse our economic thinking. If you can’t take a loan, you have no mortgage, you can’t feed your wife, your salary can’t pay school fees, you can’t even plan for tomorrow, what kind of life are you living in the country? That is what you are seeing now.

    “Trump himself is one of those capitalists who have managed to exploit the system but have now turned around to bring down that system. I do hope that he can manage the US without falling into the trap he thinks he has freed the others from.

    “Because eventually when he gets to Washington and begins to feel the pressure of the White House, he may not be as calm as he was this morning when he was accepting the victory, I can assure you. Those jobs exert a lot of pressure.

    “The rest of the world will have to then carefully watch and see the impact first. He made comments about Nigerians when he was campaigning that they had stolen money, they should go back to their country and live.

    “He has a very low opinion of the blacks and Hispanics. We hope he will become a president now for all, including Nigerians and others resident in the US. But if he doesn’t, it means we will have to retune and retool our foreign policy to begin to find a situation where we may have to be welcoming some of our people if they come under extreme pressure. We hope it doesn’t happen”. He stated

    But Dan-Ali on his part said he was optimistic that Trump’s presidency would strengthen collaboration with Nigeria especially on security.

    He said: “Security-wise, as always, we will always collaborate with external forces where we can get peace and tranquility in our country. As I said, I advise Nigerians to accept it and then forge ahead. Look ahead and bring about a synergy so that things can move forward.

    “Like I always say, insurgency is a global phenomenon whether you like it or not, he must also put his efforts because it is not Nigeria alone that is suffering. You can find insurgency today here in Nigeria, next tomorrow it could in America or Europe or anywhere in the world. So, it’s a global problem which the entire nation must come together and fight it together”. He said.

  • Two minutes with Audu Ogbeh

    Sir: My childhood friend had just taken me on a discourse through his cattle ‘ranch’ in Ido Local Government in Ibadan, Oyo State. He has Fulani herdsmen and their families in the cattle charge.

    It is not a ranch in the real sense of it. Situated on a seven hectares of virgin forest where the over 200 cows graze, my friend agreed on a ‘memorandum of understanding’ with the Fulani herdsmen for herding the long horned beast. It is a mutual understanding. It is all about competence, capacity and character.

    When the Fulani herdsmen and the marauding cattle rustlers came into our national psyche for disrupting farm crops and going on killing spree, AuduOgbeh, the minister for agriculture came up with a ‘grazing reserve’ policy. This is because, the ‘cattle trails’ leaves destruction in its trail. Trailing takes the beef from the fagged out cattle leaving, just skin and bones. No more scrawny cows trailing our landscape.

    I got Ogbeh’s contact from one of my chat groups. And I sent him sms.

    About two hours after,I got a call from the honourable minister. The two minutes call from the minister quietly informed me that the ‘grazing reserve’ is not only for the Fulani/Hausa herdsmen. It is for any Nigerian investor/entrepreneur as an opportunity to engage in the business of cattle rearing in every state of the federation. The business of cattle rearing is not an exclusive right of the Hausa/ Fulani. Every state in the federation will have its own cattle market; owned and managed by Nigerians to make profit. The minister further reinstated that government will provide an artificial insemination system and special nutrient seed grass feed at every reserve and grown specially to feed the cattle. The long horned skinny cattle specie will be phased out for a more hornless, beef stock cows. The long horned cows retard growth and development by two years.

    If Botswana can export beef to Europe and the Middle East, why not Nigeria? We can export 10 times as much.

    The minister got me; he is creating a new generation of cattle owners with the newest technology in the new ‘grazing reserve’ nationwide.

    What Shongai Farms is doing to young cattle rearers in Kwara, Ogbeh is duplicating nationwide. And its milk from the udders will be sold to dairy companies. It is a value chain that creates jobs and employment.

    Seeing this window of opportunity is a shining light at the end of the tunnel. The gentleman minister was unperturbed by the negativity of some reaction of the Nigerian public. He concluded that investors and entrepreneurs who are interested in this cattle business should focus on the product and market opportunity. We need to get more beef from our cattle.

    As a seasoned farmer, AuduOgbe can‘t be wrong. He is on the plow.

     

    • Jawi Oladipo Ola/Jawando,

    Ibadan.

  • Audu Ogbeh loses mum

    •Deputy Governor visits family

    Benue State Deputy Governor Benson Abounu has condoled with the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, who lost his mother, Mrs. Elizabeth Egbi Ogbeh, last night.

    Abounu, an engineer, who was at the Otukpo home of the minister, enjoined the family to bear the loss with fortitude.

    He was accompanied by his wife, Justice May Abounu and top politicians, among them the All Progressives Congress (APC) Zonal Chairman, Comrade Hassan Mohammed, Chief of Staff to the Deputy Governor, Mr. Abel Ikwom and Otukpo Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Udeh Ijachi.

    Others were an APC chieftain in Ado, Sunday Oche and the party’s bigwigs. They were received by Mr. Stephen Ogbeh, who held the fort for the minister, who is outside the country on national assignment.

    Abounu, who said the late Mrs. Ogbeh was a mother to all, described her as ‘’gentle and loving.”

  • FG targets 30m pupils in ‘free milk’ programme

    As part of efforts to ‎check malnutrition among school pupils, the Federal Government has concluded plans to provide free daily milk to 30 million children pupils in primary and secondary schools across the country.

    The gesture was aimed at implementing the free school feeding programme promised by President Mohammadu Buhari during the 2015 electioneering campaign.

    The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh, disclosed this during a meeting with a team from the West African Milk Company (WAMCO) in Abuja.

    ‎The minister said based on United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO report, at least 24 per cent of Nigerian children under the age of five are underweight, while 37 per cent are severely malnourished.

    He said the effect has serious implication on the intelligent quotient of the children.

    However, Audu gave assurance that the situation‎ would be addressed.

    He said the ministry will in 2016 commence programmes to develop massive grazing fields for cattle.

     

  • Senate confirms Fayemi, Ogbeh, Onu, seven others as ministers

    Senate confirms Fayemi, Ogbeh, Onu, seven others as ministers

    The Senate on Tuesday cleared 10 ministerial nominees forwarded to the upper legislative house by President Muhammadu Buhari last month.

    Those cleared on Tuesday are – Senator Udoma Udo Udoma, former governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; the ex-National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Audu Ogbeh; the ex-National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and a medical doctor, Dr. Osagie Ehanire.

    Others are – the National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed; a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen.Abdulrahman Danbazzau (rtd); a former Special Assistant to the United Nations Secretary General on Post 2015 Development Planning, Amina Ibrahim Mohammed; Suleiman Adamu and Ibrahim Jubril Adamu from Jigawa State.

    Before the commencement of the screening and confirmation exercise, the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, unveiled the 16 ministerial nominees included in the second list sent to him by President Buhari on Monday.

    This second list completes the constitutional representation of the 36 states of the federation in the federal cabinet.

    The screening exercise will continue on Wednesday.

  • Photo: Copy of the ministerial list

    Photo: Copy of the ministerial list


    [caption id="attachment_439221" align="alignleft" width="411"]Cover Page Cover Page[/caption]                               Ministerial List 1

  • 2015: Nigeria heading for chaos – Ogbeh

    2015: Nigeria heading for chaos – Ogbeh

    The Nigerian state is heading for chaos, owing to the shoddy handling of the forthcoming general election by the Peoples Democratic Party led Federal Government.
    A national chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Audu Ogbeh, stated this in a press statement he released in Abuja Tuesday.

    Pointing out that there were ominous signs in the polity, Ogbeh called on Nigerians to reflect on the security issues raised by the military over the polls, saying there were more troubling reasons other than security.

    The statement said: “Now, having said that, there is a need to reflect on the factors which influenced the change of dates. Suddenly, the National Security Adviser (NSA) made a statement in London, not in Nigeria.

    “And immediately, the government of the day picked it up and decided that it should become a topic for discussion for the Council of State meeting. There is a saying that if the owl cries in the night and the baby dies in the morning, there is no need for an inquest.

    “To follow it up, the Nigerian Security hierarchy which on February 2, 2015, assured Nigerians that they were ready for the elections turned around to say they were no longer able to guarantee security.

    “What is more dangerous is a paragraph in their letter to the INEC which is reported to say that they are seeking six weeks extension in the first place.

    “Does this not suggest that we should expect high level theatric manipulation as the six weeks get closer to convince us that another six weeks will be necessary? Isn’t this a ploy to ensure we enter May 29 without an election on grounds of nationwide instability?

    “Doesn’t this give credence to the rumours, and indeed, the declaration in a rowdy press conference four days ago by Dr. Doyin Okupe that they have no intention of handing over to Gen. Buhari? Isn’t this leading to the strongly rumoured Interim National Government? It is time for all Nigerians to take heed that there are very stormy and dark clouds ahead?”

    Chief Ogbeh stated further that the country has been reduced to children’s play ground where individuals and groups presume that they can on their own do as they please with the lives and opinions of Nigerians.

    He lamented what he described as the Federal Government’s total disregard for the Constitution and lack of respect for the over 170 million Nigerians.

    “Anyone who holds this office (President) now thinks that on departure, he can name any prefect to replace him. And we the cowardly and pliant citizenry continue to grumble in our bedrooms, always looking for someone else to solve our problems.

    “Today, Nigeria is the world’s laughing stock, losing our sovereignty to foreign troops, ravaged by incurable corruption, helpless in the face of an internal insurrection and unable to conduct even an election. And now, chaos is being cooked as the menu to be served Nigerians in 2015,” he stated.

     

  • PDP in the hands of a cabal – Tambuwal

    PDP in the hands of a cabal – Tambuwal

    The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, on Wednesday gave insights into why he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    Speaking at the 6th anniversary celebration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, Tambuwal said he left the PDP because the system had been hijacked by a cabal.

    According to him, the system of governance at the centre was already malfunctioning.

    “We have accepted to join the movement of progressives to change the system. The system today is malfunctioning and has failed in several ways.

    “You have to change a system that is not working. We have a cabal that has hijacked the instrument of authority. We should vote them out in February. What do the people of the South South have to show for voting the President? Nothing.”

    Speaking further, the Speaker said President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda of Nigeria (TAN) is populated by economic saboteurs who want to protect their wealth.

    He asked people in TAN to settle their debts with the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

    Tambuwal warned Nigerians, especially those from the South South against voting for leaders based on sentiments, adding that Nigeria needs a good leader that would not be elected on sentiments.

    The Speaker said Nigerians were deceived to vote for President Jonathan based on certain sentiments.

    Also speaking, a former National Chairman of the PDP, Chief Audu Ogbeh, berated President Jonathan over the loss of Mubi to the Boko Haram, saying there was no law in the country that recognized the need for special forces to fight the insurgents.

    Ogbeh noted that it was worrisome that the Nigerian Army that has built a reputation for strength and discipline for over 50 years was now running at the sight of Boko Haram insurgents.

  • PDP and BBOG campaigners

    SIR: Recently, the Peoples Democratic Party (P.D.P) tried to make political gain out of a statement credited to Chief Audu Ogbeh that some members of the Bring Back Our Girls (BBOG) campaigners are members of All Progressive Congress (APC). Further, the PDP claimed that the presence of Hadiza Bala Usman one of the coordinators of BBOG campaigners at the presidential election declaration of Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja finally put a seal to that assertion.

    The above and other similar attempts to vilify the BBOG campaigners are not only bizarre but ridiculous. First, it must be made crystal clear that the 1999 constitution of Nigeria guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of association. The fact that a person belongs to an association that is urging the Federal Government to take steps to rescue innocent and defenceless citizens abducted by militant insurgents does not in anyway preclude them from belonging to a political party of their choice.

    An adjunct to this is to point out that there is nothing also wrong for a citizen to belong to an opposition party. In civilized countries like America and Britain both the ruling parties now and the opposition parties have at one time or the other reversed their roles either as the government in power or the opposition party. Indeed the PDP is one of the opposition parties in Lagos, Ogun, Edo, Oyo, Anambra, Imo, Rivers, Kwara, Osun and  Kano to mention but a few.

    Another important point to note is that the 1999 constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of speech. The BBOG campaigners have not done anything wrong by exercising this right when they continually ask the federal authorities to act and rescue these girls. Drawing from the above, the laughable attempt by some spin-doctors to castigate the campaigners clearly stands reason and logic on its head.

    Since the PDP government was elected to protect the citizens of Nigeria and provide for their welfare, it is wrong for anybody to criticize them for urging the federal government to carry out its constitutional duties. While the federal government sees the action of these campaigners as an irritant, the campaign has brought many advantages with it. Since the campaign, no major abduction like those of Chibok girls has taken place again. Also major super powers like America, Britain and France and indeed the entire world’s attention has been drawn to the Nigerian insurgency. The safe school initiative championed by former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown is another gain from the campaign.

    The PDP federal government should stop engaging in empty propaganda and discharge its constitutional duties to the citizens accordingly. They would have achieved so much in bringing the insurgency to an end if they had used the energy, time and resources channeled towards fighting the peaceful BBOG campaigners who are mainly mothers and women in addressing the menace of insurgency. As they continue to throw brick – bats at these campaigners, Nigerians are keenly watching and would not be taken for a ride. As a former American President once said, “You can fool some of the people all the time, all the people some of the time, but not all the people all the time.”

     

    • Barrister Aham Njoku,

    Lagos