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Tag: former President Olusegun Obasanjo

  • Atiku no match for Buhari – APC diaspora

    The National Chairman, APC Scandinavia and a member Presidential Campaign Council, Diaspora Directorate, Hon. Ayoola Lawal has said the Presidential Candidate of People Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar is no match for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ayoola statement is in reaction to PANDEF, AFENIFERE, Ohaneze, NEF endorsement of the PDP Presidential candidate.

    He also said the PDP has been rigging the presidential election since  2003.

    “The question they should be asking themselves is, what is the possibility of winning an election against Buhari, now that they are not in control of the state instruments to perpetuate election rigging?” he said.

    “A former United States Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell had revealed in a book co-authored with a former US intelligence expert on Nigeria, Mathew Page, on how Buhari was rigged out in those election years.  He further made it known during an interview on Channels Television`s “Diplomatic Channels” on Monday, October 15, 2018, that he spoke to sources confirmed that those elections were rigged against Buhari in those election years”.

    “The Nigeria former Deputy Senate President, Senator Mantu, who claimed to be a born again, also confessed on Channel television on how he normally perpetuates the crime of election rigging in favour of any candidate sponsored by his party, PDP, when they were in power in the past”.

    “If Nigerian were to be a sane country that President Buhari is making frantic efforts in transforming it into, most of the politicians across board in Nigeria will be in prison by now, especially the PDP former presidents and leaders for their orchestrated crimes of senseless looting of our commonwealth and elections rigging in the nation”.

    “Even the former president Olusegun Obasanjo, who claimed to be a saint elder statesman, is now exposed as not being the person he claimed to be. No matter who endorses Atiku as the next president of Nigeria, Nigerians are now wiser. Atiku, endorsers and his party, PDP, should rest assured that there is no vacancy in Aso-rock at least in 2019-2023”.

  • Again, Obasanjo knocks Buhari over leadership style 

    … Nigeria should Borrow Rwanda Elite Consensus Model, Bugaje

     

    President Muhammadu Buhari Thursday came under attack few days to the 2019 presidential election.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo urged Nigerians not to despair, but be optimistic and vigilant despite the fact that Buhari is under performing.

    Obasanjo said that time has come when every Nigerian must have a Nigerian dream where there must be some commonalities adding that in assessing the mid-term government of President Buhari, security, fighting corruption and job creation remain where they were when the government started as it was not yet a success story.

    He said if Nigeria as a country must get it right, especially entrenching good democracy, there must be good governance, free and credible elections.

    Read Also:Oshiomhole lashes out at Obasanjo for ceding Bakassi

    Speaking at the Public Presentation of a book titled, “Politics as dashed hopes in Nigeria by Dr. Auwalu Anwar, former President Obasanjo however urged Nigerians to rise and defend the country’s fledgling democracy.

    Obasanjo vowed to do everything humanly possible to safeguard democracy for good governance in Nigeria and for all Nigerians.

    He said in the next couple of months, four West Africa Countries including Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire will be having their elections, adding that one common feature is that the four incumbent presidents were in the opposition and people voted for them.

    The former president said that the world is watching to see how they would strengthen Democracy in their respective countries.

    Obasanjo who was the Chairman of the book presentation at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja, said that democracy without a strong opposition is akin to a marriage without a bridegroom to consummate the marriage.

    The book which is published by Safari Books is made up of twenty- two chapters, with 614 pages.

    The former President said: “I am not in despair and I would ask the rest of us not to be in despair; our hope lies in democracy with good governance as one of the hallmarks which is free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

    “What should be our take home; yes things may be gloomy, things may not be what they should be, yes leadership may be underperforming, we must not lose hope, that is the first thing.

    “The second is that I believe we must have some commonalities that we will all hang on to. One our common nationality, Nigeria; this is the time when we must have a Nigerian dream, what is Nigerian dream, what can I hang on to? Yes I am a Nigerian and because I am a Nigerian I expect this.

    “And I believe if we all see ourselves first as Nigerians and then we enunciate for ourselves the Nigerian dream, a land flowing with milk and honey, a land of opportunity, a land that gives you a stake in all that it is, I think, we will have a country that we can all be proud of.”

    “I believe that every record we can keep of the history of Nigeria in totality, it doesn’t matter from what point of view you are writing, it is good for the future of this country because if we do not know our past, we may not be able to channel the right course to our future. It is important that we keep the memory of the past so that so that we can enlighten our present.

    “I must also congratulate him for the courage and the research work he has deplored in writing such a lucid and comprehensive book. I could see from the content from the book what may appear as the author’s frustration which led to the somewhat melancholy title.

    “Since the book is about The Buhari Organisation (TBO), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), All Progressive Congress (APC) and Buhari’s political life and activities up to the second year of Buhari’s administration. I will touch on two or three points that may be of interest to all of us.

    “President Buhari served the purpose of galvanizing efforts to get Jonathan and PDP out of office. Buhari and the APC must get the credit that because democracy without a strong opposition is like a marriage without the bridegroom consummating the marriage.

    “But on the midterm score card Dr Anwar pointed out three significant and tangible areas of failure; security, fighting corruption and job creation. As at today these three areas are still what they were at midterm not yet a success story.

    “Dr Anwar touched on another significant but intangible areas of failure; exemplary leadership which induce character and power for the sake of what may be called power for self aggrandisement. I can say that I understand where Dr Anwar is coming from to get the title of the book, but we must face despair with optimism.”

    Obasanjo went further that: “I am not in despair and I would ask the rest of us not to be in despair; our hope lies in democracy with good governance as one of the hallmarks which is free, fair, transparent and credible elections.

    “Between now and the next few months, there are four significant countries where elections are taking place in West Africa; Nigeria, Senegal, Ghana and Cote d’ivoire. The incumbent in the four cases were in the opposition and people voted for them, it was good for democracy.

    “The world is looking at these four countries in the incoming elections to see what will be their contribution to cumulatively strengthen, improve and stabilize democracy in each of these four countries. If we all cherish democracy, we will all guard and protect our fledgling democracy and that I believe is the main purpose of Dr Anwar’s book.

    “As for me I will do everything within me possible to safeguard democracy to good governance in Nigeria and for all Nigerians.

    “I am particularly happy in this respect that most Nigerians themselves are rising to their duties, obligations and responsibilities as guardians of our democracy. I commend all those that are standing for democracy. Remember that if you stand aloof when evil is being perpetrated you will become an accomplice in the perpetration of evil.

    “Nigerians must be the architect of their own fortunes and future progress but equally gratifying is that the international community have accepted the responsibility and committed themselves to take necessary actions to ensure the health and sustenance of our democracy therefore making politics a great hope for Nigeria, for West Africa and indeed for Africa rather than great despair or dashed hopes.

    “We salute and appreciate those who support us for the general good of Nigeria with a population of 200million and rising, our misfortune has implications for the rest of Africa and the rest of the world in general. Nigeria’s potentials shall be realised by the grace of God.”

    In his Keynote address, a former member of the House of Representatives, Usman Bugaje, who noted that there was the absence of elite consensus in Nigeria, where each zone is doing its own, without a common sense of purpose; however urged Nigeria to have a replication of Rwandan model of national integration in addressing socio-political crisis in Nigeria.

    According to Bugaje, the elite consensus introduced by the Rwandan President, Paul Kagame which reconciled Hutus and Tutsis was required to salvage Nigeria, just as he explained that Rwanda went through the worst genocide in the world but rose to become the safest country with the fastest growing economy in Africa within twenty years, adding, “I am confident Nigeria and other countries can escape crisis. And what gives me this confidence is Rwanda. I am not a fan of Paul Kagame because he has his shortcomings. He is human.

    “What Paul Kagame does is elite consensus. Today if you go to Rwanda you cannot know who is a Tutsi, who is a Hutu. If you ask them, you will never get an answer. They will just smile. Because they agreed that, they will not go back to that thing that divides them. And they succeed. This is what we require to salvage our country.”

    According to Bugaje, Poor quality of governance and poor delivery was deepening poverty, with large number of out of school children, just as he said that Parties have lost content, conscience and courage and plays out now is politics of big men which took over from the politics of big ideas, thereby leading to emptiness, money and violence.

    Bugaje who also took a swipe at the aspect of the constitution which harps on eligibility and nit suitability, said that in the 21st century, it was out of place and not suitable to say that secondary education should be the requirement needed to be the president of the country, adding that there was confusion, clear absence of transparency in the country as well as poor politics of governance.

    Bugaje who noted that the leadership was not interested in thinking about where Nigeria would be in the next twenty years, the world of Information Technology, wealth moving away from oil to creativity, said that the only consensus now is to loot treasury and continue thuggery, but was quick to add that inspite of all these, there was still hope as we need courage and resilience.

    Also present at the event were former Vice President and Presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Atiku Abubakar who was represented by former Kano State governor, Senator Rabiu Kwankwanso; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Muhammed Uwais; governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El- Rufai who was represented by his deputy; Col. Lawal Gwadabe, Professor Terhemba Shija who was the book reviewer, Spokesperson of Afenifere, Yinka Odunmakin, former Minister of State, Defence, Johnson Agiuyi Ironsi, Jnr, Akilu Ndabawa, Senator Ibrahim Ida, Dr. Umar Ardo, among others.

     

  • Obasanjo did worse as president, say Balarabe Musa, CD

    Elder statesman, Balarabe Musa and a civil society organisation, the Centre for Democracy (CD) on Sunday accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of laying the foundation for impunity in the country.

    The former Kaduna state governor accused Obasanjo of doing worse than the present government in terms of using instruments of state to harass political opponents or opposition.

    The elder statesman was reacting to the former president’s state of the nation press conference.

    In a telephone interview, the elder statesman said: “Not only harass his political opponents but killed them. Obasanjo did that. Obasanjo did worse than what is happening today. In fact he continued like his predecessors in laying the foundation for the present negative state of the nation.

    “I have been aware of obasanjo’s attitude towards those in power. Since after he handed power as a military president, he has been consistently acting like an agent provocateur on behalf of international imperialism. Particularly now that Nigeria has no alternative.

    “It can’t rely on PDP, it can’t rely on the APC. They are both the same. They are both at the root of the present negative state of the nation and most unfortunately, there is no credible, demonstrative and qualitative alternative in view from the political system. Nigeria is now facing a calamity and Obasanjo is using it, apparently to serve the interest of imperialism.

    “Watch it, instead of using his relevance as former head of state to correct things, he always wait until things are bad and he makes it even worse.

    CD’s President, Usman Abdul,, said Obasanjo is not a saint for criticising President Muhammadu Buhari’s led federal government.

    Mr. Abdul accused the former president of doing exactly what he is criticising the Buhari led Federal Government of.

    He accused Obasanjo of highhandedness when he was president.

    He said: “During the era of president Obasanjo too you will agree with me that there were some unlawful and unwarranted highhandedness that happened. He is equally not a saint as far as democracy is concerned.

    “You will remember vividly that the Lagos state funds were at his disposal till after he left that the late President Yar’Adua released those funds for Lagos state.

    “That military mentality is still with in those people despite being in a democratic setting. It is left for we the civil society to as a matter of urgency look for credible democrats to head or lead this country and take us to the promise land.

  • We should blame ourselves, if peace eludes Nigeria, says Obasanjo

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians to keep working for peace as the 2019 general elections draw closer.

    He warned that Nigerians, and not God, should accept responsibility, if peace eludes the country.

    The elder statesman gave the advice on Sunday evening during the 2018 Christmas Carol  and Service of Six Lessons organised by the Chapel of Christ the Glorious King (CCKG) situated inside the sprawling Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL), Abeokuta, the State capital.

    He expressed the hope that 2019 “will indeed be a year of blessings for all and sundry in the country”.

    “National peace is very important in view of the growing insecurity in the country,” said a statement by Obasanjo’s Special Assistant (Media) Kehinde Akinyemi.

    The ex-president, who expressed delight at the service, however, said the present situation in the country was not good enough.

    “The situation is getting worrisome by the day. I was in Kaduna and I thought that the story would be different. The people there said insecurity, kidnapping and killings are happening.

    “If peace eludes us, it is not an act of God, but our making. That is why I am happy that our Bishop in his sermon also talked about peace. This is the appropriate time to talk about peace; this is the season of peace.

    “It will be a year of blessings for each one, and particularly for Nigeria. When people come to me and say they are giving up on the country, I tell them no and that next year is a year of blessings for all.

    “With right statements and right actions, people will be trooping back into the country. We had it before; there is no reason not to have it again,” Obasanjo said.

    Archbishop of Ogun Province, the African Church, Abeokuta  Most Revd. S.O.B. Ojumu urged Nigerians to embrace the spirit of peace during the festive period and as the general elections draw closer.

    He called on the nation’s  politicians to make peace their cornerstone while seeking political offices.

    According to him, politicians should ensure that they do away with self-interest on getting to office.

    Ojumu lauded Obasanjo for his role in peace-building globally.

    “He has contributed immensely for peace in Africa and the world,” the cleric said.

    Ogun State Governor Ibikunle Amosun, who was represented by his deputy, Mrs. Yetunde Onanuga,  reads the Sixth Lesson, taken from Acts 10:38 and John 4:10-14.

    In attendance also was the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Taiwo Adeoluwa, members of Owu Traditional Council and the campaign train of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate, Prince Gboyega Nasir Isiaka.

  • Your candidate will lose, FG tells Obasanjo

    The Federal Government says though it is the constitutional right of the former President Olusegun Obasanjo to support a candidate for an election, his endorsement does not guarantee victory.

    The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who spoke on behalf of the government on Monday in Abuja, said Obasanjo’s candidate for the presidential election, Atiku Abubakar “will be defeated roundly and comprehensively’’.

    “With due respect to former President Obasanjo, it is his constitutional right to support any candidate of his choice and we urge him to go out and campaign vigorously for any candidate he wants to support.

    “He has not hidden his preference for the PDP candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, and we wish him very best of luck.

    “However, I want to assure you that his candidate will be defeated roundly and comprehensively. It is not about endorsement, endorsement does not win election,’’ he said.

    The minister also responded to a statement credited to the former President that, “only a fool will sit on the fence when his or her country is being destroyed with incompetence, corruption lack of focus, insecurity nepotism and brazen impunity’’.

    Mohammed said he held Obasanjo in high esteem and probably he was not properly briefed on the development in the country to have made such conclusions. “The facts are all there that this government has done more than any other government in three and half years”.

    Mohammed said he held Obasanjo in high esteem and probably he was not properly briefed on the development in the country to have made such conclusions,.

    “The facts are all there that this government has done more than any other governments in three and half years.

    On corruption, the minister said that the government had put in place institutional reforms which had confirmed its sincerity and commitment to fighting the menace.

    “It is not about putting people in Jail but what are the things put in place to address this endemic problem.

    “Take the example of Treasury Single Account TSA, which was not initiated by this government. It is only the Buhari administration that has the political will to implement it.

    “Before we came in, there were over 22,000 government accounts in various banks.

    “Since we came, we reduced it to one account and from 2015 to date N8.9 trillion has passed through the TSA which is as a result of transparency and accountability,’’ he said.

    The minister said that even with lean resources, the Buhari administration had spent more on infrastructure than the 16 years of the PDP administration.

    He said there was no state in the country without one or two infrastructure development being embarked upon by the federal government.

    The minister said the Administration had commissioned the Abuja to Kaduna standard rail gauge while the 156 km Lagos-Ibadan standard gauge would be ready for commissioning in March next year.

    He said the government had made fund available for five critical infrastructure projects including the Mambilla power project, the East-West Road, the second Niger Bridge, the Abuja – Kano and Abuja-Lokoja-Okenne highways.

    Mohammed said the efforts of the administration in diversifying the economy away from oil had yielded fruits with achievement recorded in agriculture, particularly in rice production and solid mineral sectors.

    On power supply, the minister said the administration had improved on generation, transmission and distribution than it met them in 2015, while Nigerians are benefiting from its numerous social investment programmes.

  • I’ve no rift with my father for supporting Buhari – Obasanjo’s son

    …insist it will be unfair to compare Obasanjo, Buhari government

     

    Son of former President Olusegun Obasanjo who is supporting President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term in office, Olujonwo Obasanjo has said his decision to support the President has not created any rift between him and his father, saying in supporting the President he was only looking at the future of Nigerian youths.

    The younger Obasanjo who spoke at a media interactive session organised by the APC Press Corp said despite supporting different Presidential candidates, the Obasanjo family remain one United and loving family, adding that supporting different candidates has not stopped them from being a family.

    Read Also:Oshiomhole: Obasanjo planning to rule by proxy

    He was however quick to add that it will be unfair for anybody to compare the present regime of President Buhari with the one that was headed by his father saying both government came into office under different circumstances.

    He said: “When we get to certain point in our lives, you are responsible for the decisions you take. With all due respect, my father is my father and will remain my father despite our political differences. At the end of the day, this election will end. Does that stop him being my father? Are you saying we cannot sit down and have dinner together and discuss issues?

    “As a nation, we need to progress mentally and quit looking at politics as a do or die or as something that separates us. Politics is meant to unite us. We can disagree to agree; we can have genuine argument. You see things from my point of view, I see things from your point of view and we see how we can work together.

    “That is the type of politics we are trying to promote and the message we are trying to send across. We are looking to promote certain values in politics. That is why we are in politics. It is very important that we rise above religion, ethnicity and primordial sentiments for the interest of this nation as a whole.

    “Politics is not a battle, it is not war. We should stop looking at it from the stand point of who is superior. I have an ideology and an opinion, my father has his and we are not in conflict, we are still a family, a loving family with my dad.”

    On whether his father has tried to influence his decision since announcing his decision to support President Buhari, he said: “I am as an individual and as an adult. I am here as someone who believe in this Government. This Government is diversifying the economy from an oil based economy and has made agriculture fashionable.
    “Today, people talk about farming and no longer look at it in a degrading manner. People now look at the value chain when you talk about farming. For me, it is all about the impact that this government has made. As a nation, we must look beyond oil and think outside the box by looking at other areas which is what this Government has come to do.

    “Nigeria is a nation blessed in several ways and not just oil and this government is promoting youth involvement in all sectors. As a young man, I am looking at future and I believe in this Government and I am supporting Mr. President. So, I cannot speak for my father.

    “Everybody’s parent wanted them to be one thing or the other, probably different from what they are today. But at certain stage in our lives, we choose our part. That does not amount to disrespecting your parents.”

    On why he is supporting the President, he said “We believe that by promoting the ideology of Mr. President, we are also promoting his achievement. We will be putting the fact forward and allow the electorates decide what is best for them.

    “Alot been going on in the social media. But at the end of the day, it is the grass root that matters. One of the things the President faced when he came into office was the security challenges in this country. Several local governments were under Boko Haram.

    “We will always have security challenges, but it is important that we have a leader who is sincere, trustworthy and make sure that our resources are applied towards fighting for this nation. You can see that from the successes we have recorded, Me President has done a tremendous Job within a short time.”

    On what he will be telling Nigerians who would want him to compare the Buhari government and that of his father, he said “I think that will be unfair because what each leader met on ground and came in under different circumstances. It will not be an unfair comparison.”

     

     

  • How we caged Obasanjo as governors, by Segun Osoba

    …Obasanjo once threatened to prosecute us over onshore/offshore, says Udoma Udoma

     

    Former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba said on Tuesday that governors who served under former President Olusegun Obasanjo were able to cage him and stop him from doing a lot of unconstitutional things because of their maturity and unity among them irrespective of political affiliations,

    Osoba spoke at the 80th birthday celebration of former Akwa Ibom state Governor, Obong Victor Attah just as the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma revealed how Obasanjo threatened to prosecute the Akwa Ibom Governor for “inciting” his people against the President and the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    The former Ogun State governor who spoke on behalf of other former governors present at the event including former National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie Oyegun and his successor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole said the governors spoke with one voice and stood against the antics of the former President and dragged him to court on a number of occasion and won.

    He said “Today we are happy to celebrate a man of honour. In our time we do not know the differences in the party you belong to and Obasanjo then dare not play with any of us governors. I am happy to say that Obong Attah was from the PDP, I was from the AD.

    “The AD group made up of the late Lam Adesina, and Bisi Akande. When we speak, to our surprise, Obong who is of the PDP will take it up from there contributing intelligently to the issues we raised. It is on the ground of his style of leadership that we were seriously able to cage former President Obasanjo.

    “I used the word seriously because first of all, Abdulsalam Abubakar left a huge sum of money that was to be distributed to the governors. The first thing Obasanjo did was to seize the money and use it to buy vehicles for local government councils.

    “We kicked, went to court and we won. On the fiscal responsibility Act, he (Obasanjo) said he will not implement section 8 where all revenues were to go into an account from where it will be distributed according to the constitution. When it became almost impossible, we went to court and we won. In all of these, it was not resource control. Obong Attah was in the fore front of all these struggle.”

    Osoba who recounted how governors in those days rallied behind Attah and his other Niger Delta counterparts to agitate for resource control, expressed reservations on the quality and character of those aspiring to become governors these days.

    “I want to appeal to all us. We should go back to the characters that formed government in 1992 and 1999. 26 years ago, most of us who were governors have had exposures. John Odigie Oyegun was a former permanent secretary, I was former Managing Director of Daily Times, I can go on to give you backgrounds of all those who became governors in 1999. None of us were people you will say where you are coming from. We need to go back to that this days of governors of any kind should stop.

    Speaking earlier, Minister of Budget and National Planning, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma said “Throughout his eight years as governor, I was the senator representing Akwa Ibom South Senatorial district and also served as the leader of the Akwa Ibom legislators’ forum having been unanimously elected by my colleagues. During our time in the National Assembly, there was no Abuja front working against the home front. Under Victor Attah’s leadership, we were a strong united team and having worked with him, I can say something about his character.

    “He is somebody you can go into battle with because he is fearless and once he gives you his words, he does not turn back, no matter how fierce the battle.

    The battle to remove the onshore/offshore dichotomy was indeed a fierce one.

    “At one point, the three of us, myself, Obong Attah and Senator Ibok Essien were summoned to Abuja and made to appear before the President, Minister of Defence and all the service chiefs and were threatened with prosecution for inciting our people against the President and the federal government.

    “But under his leadership, we refused to allow ourselves to be cowed or intimidated. We believed in our course and we did not stop the fight till we succeeded.

    “As the senator who led the fight in Abuja, it really helped us as we staked our political career to ensure the passage of law abrogating the onshore/offshore dichotomy into law. It was good for us to know that we had a fearless governor back home who was watching our back.

    “I will like to join others in celebrating a man of immense character, a dogged fighter foe the rights of his people. A man of vision and action and yet with an artistic temperament. He is not just a politician, but a professional who is highly regarded as by his colleagues.”

    Responding to the accolades poured on him, the former governor said “Listening to All the things that have been said, I ask myself, did I actually say all those things? Where did I get the courage to say all those things? But I want to assure you that the fight was not just for a better Niger Delta, but I believed firmly that it will translate into a better Nigeria.

    “So, the fight always and the purpose was for a better Nigeria. But because we spoke specifically about a particular fight which is the onshore/off shore, when we were being threatened, somebody said in pidgin English your governor no dey know how to end? Senator Ibok Essien said, the axe does not rest until the tree has fallen.

    “Those are the types of battles we had to fight for some of the things that are happening today to happen. But as I have said, in all honesty, I believed that our founding fathers who agreed on a federal system for this country, a system whereby the region’s had and control whatever they had and contributed to the running of the country at the Centre remain the best and will continue to be the best for Nigeria. I believe strongly that any struggle towards achieving that is worth fighting for.“

    He said further: “I tell people, I enjoyed being governor and sometimes they wonder I say that. It is  because of this kind of comradeship.it is just fantastic working together with people with whom you can argue, reason and at the come to a solution”.

    With fond reminiscences of what happened then during his election as chairman of the Governors’ Forum, Attah said his emergence came as a coup and that his colleagues referred to him as “headmaster”.

    Those who attended the event which also heralded the public presentation of his book, “it is well with my soul” include former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, Minister of Science and Technology, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of a Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, former National Security Adviser, Gen. Aliyu Gusau, former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu, Publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka, Managing Director of NDDC, Nsima Ekere, former Senate Leader, Ndoma Egba, Gov. Udom Emmanuel and his deputy, former EFCC Chairman, Farida Waziri, Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor, former Governors Achike Udenwa and Bukar Abba Ibrahim among others cutting across all political parties.

     

  • Obasanjo, Oshiomhole, Akpabio storm Jonathan’s book launch

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Obong Godswill Akpabio caused a disruption of the public presentation of a book on ex-President  Goodluck Jonathan’s book launch at Transcorp-Hilton, Abuja on Tuesday.

    A very jubilant crowd hailed and clapped as the three eminent Nigerians came in, wading through a thick crowd that includes many eminent citizens, including former leaders, Yakubu Gowon, Abdsalam Abubakar, diplomats and leaders from several African countries.

    The coincidence of their entry completely ‘marred’ the book review being presented by retired Justice Alfa Belgore as the audience’ jubilant exultations drowned out his voice and the giant loudspeakers.

    Oshiomhole stole the show when he walked up to former President Jonathan who rose from his front seat position, shook hands and warmly embraced him.

    The overcapacity audience at the Congress Hall of Transcorp-Hilton hotel, Abuja soaked in adulations of ex-President Jonathan whose 180-page book; “My Transition Hours” was being presented.

    Chief Host of the occasion, Governor Seriake Dickson who stated that his Bayelsa state gave Nigeria two great presents – crude oil and ex-President Jonathan- launched the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation with announcement of a N100m grant, six hectares of land and N5 million monthly support for administrative costs.

    Former President of Ghana, Mr. John Dramani Mahama, former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalam Abubakar, former Aviation minister, Osita Chidoka and others had, in turns, presented highly commendable remarks about Goodluck Jonathan and peaceful disposition that ensured smooth handing over to the current President in spite of other African leaders’ tendency to do otherwise.

     

  • PDP wasted commonwealth of Nigerians, says Buhari 

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday night again blamed the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for wasting the commonwealth of Nigerians during its sixteen years administrations.

    According to him, there was nothing to show for the huge resources that were earned in the country during the period.

    He spoke at a dinner for youth political appointees at the new Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    He specifically queried the $16 billion expended on the power sector during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “There was no power they said they spent $16bn on, where is it?” he queried.

    The President also expressed disappointment with the Nigerian press over the poor coverage of his go back to land agricultural revolution program.

    He said that the press did not give the credit of the ongoing transformation in the agricultural sector of the country to his administration.

    Buhari said: “I’m very disappointed with the Nigerian press. They didn’t give this government the credit of the go back to land program. We have cut down the importation of rice by at least 90 percent.”

    According to him, Nigerians are now leaving white collar jobs for farming to tap from the revolution.

    He also said that the country has achieved food security.

    The President said he appointed Chief Audu Ogbeh as the Minister of Agriculture in view of his experience in the sector.

    “Ogbeh went to a bank, borrowed money and invested in the agriculture. He suffered but eventually he paid the money. So, you cannot have a better person than somebody who has suffered in the sector, “he said.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, said that the PDP didn’t achieve one-tenth of APC achievements in its sixteen years at the helm of affairs.

    He said “As a Government arm, we have achieved so much and I am going to make available to you a document that we have put together, which captures what the government has been able to achieve in just about two and half years, what I called a midterm report.

    “If we have to make a comparison of what has been achieved in the last couple of years, the 16 years of PDP administration will not constitute one-tenth of what we have been able to achieve in the last three and half years.

    “We went to the 2015 elections with promises, but we will go to the 2019 elections with our scorecard,” he said.

  • Buhari won’t be distracted by Obasanjo’s endorsement of Atiku, Says Presidency

    The Presidency on Thursday said that President Muhammadu Buhari will not be distracted by the endorsement of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Atiku, who is the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 Presidential elections, visited and got the endorsement of Obasanjo in Ogun State on Thursday.

    But a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the presidency is not surprised by the latest development.

    He said “The Presidency has received the news of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s predictable U-turn and somersault on the endorsement of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at a meeting Thursday, and to say that we are the least surprised by the well-rehearsed theatre.

    “They will lose together. Listening to the prepared statement of the former President after the meeting showed the usual ego trip and “I know it all” character of Chief Obasanjo.

    “In the first place, we dare to say that a pompous statement from the former President advising Nigerians on a vote against President Buhari is the best recommendation that can come at this time.

    “It also betrayed a lack of understanding of today’s politics which is about good governance.

    “The country voted for change in 2015 and a leader that ensures good governance which only President Buhari and the APC can provide.

    “Bent on these laudable goals, we will not allow ourselves to be distracted.” he said

    He also said that the administration is busy on various national issues including the restructuring and the diversification of the economy, fighting corruption, terrorism and other threats to national security; increasing the availability of electric power, improving education, health, and providing long-delayed infrastructure – roads, rail, airports and so forth.

    Stressing that many governments have come and gone, he noted that they did not care about some of the projects.

    He said “We were talking about these things for sixteen years under the PDP and nothing was done.

    “President Buhari is proud of his record because his achievements are verifiable, while that of the PDP is manifested by the devastating social and economic impact of large scale corruption during their governance.

    “The President will not relent in the war against corruption because the ordinary people are the ultimate victims if we surrender to corruption and let its perpetrators go unpunished.

    “Abandoning the war against corruption is not an option. President Buhari is in this battle against graft because he cannot allow a few, rapacious, and selfish class of the elite to divert the resources meant for the well-being of the ordinary people to their private pockets.

    “Nigerians trust President Buhari in this effort because they are convinced he is not in government for personal financial benefits, or for an ego trip. It is just eleven years ago that the former President and Vice President in their ugly fight for power accused each other of corruption. Nigerians are yet to forget all that.” he stated