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Tag: former President Olusegun Obasanjo

  • ‘Unarmed robbers’: Our position on Obasanjo has not changed – Reps’ spokesman

    ‘Unarmed robbers’: Our position on Obasanjo has not changed – Reps’ spokesman

    The House of Representatives does not intend to issue a formal response to the fresh label of ‘unarmed robbers’ pinned on federal legislators on Thursday by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, it was learnt Friday.

    Obasanjo,speaking at a book  presentation in Ibadan on Thursday had described the legislators as a bunch of  unarmed robbers because,as he said, “they are one of the highest  paid in the world where we have 70 per cent of our people living in abject poverty.”

    The House said yesterday that its response to an earlier accusation in the heat of the budget padding controversy in 2016 is sufficient for the latest accusation by the former President.

    House spokesman Abdulrazaq Namdas, contacted by The Nation said: “There is nothing to say because the House has responded to the former President previously.

    “The accusation this time is the same as before, so there is nothing to add. Our position has not changed from what we said in 2016.”

    Besides, Namdas said that on a personal basis, he was not prepared to cross fire with Obasanjo in view of his age and position as a former President.

    His words: “He is an elder and in my culture, you don’t respond to elders every time.

    “You don’t banter words with your elders. Having responded once and he accuses you again and again, what you do is you keep quiet.

    “Remember he is a former President and an elder statesman. I will not say more than that.”

    Several other lawmakers contacted by The Nation also declined to respond saying that the former President has not said anything.

    One of them who chose not to be named said: “I will not like to respond to this allegation on the basis that his is an elder and a statesman but that does not validate his claim.

    “I can only describe the accusation as coming from people seeking relevance. Not that Obasanjo is seeking relevance but the fact remains that if anyone wants to be in the news, all you need do is to hit members of the National Assembly.

    “For instance, someone like former President Ibrahim Babangida who has found a new love for restructuring.Why did he not make it happen when he had all the opportunities in the world as the head of the military government then?

    “What did he do? Nothing.But it is now convenient to shift the blame. You know we like playing the blame game in this country.

    “As such, I will rather not comment on it, I will give him that respect but that does not mean what he said is true.”

    Another lawmaker seen by The Nation as he left a Committee meeting said: “In my place, we don’t respond to elders like that. Moreover, Namdas has given the position of the House. Thank you.”

    A lawmaker from the North Central said the former President should be allowed to express himself and enjoy it while it lasts.

    “You know, he is an old man. Let him enjoy himself.

    “Responding to him will only spark an unnecessary debate, and since he has a fixated mind about us, so be it’.

    Namdas in responding, on November 24, 2016,   to Obasanjo’s description of federal lawmakers as corrupt at the height of budget padding controversy, called him a blackmailer, acting as a lifetime opposition leader.

    He said: “He ventured to accuse the National Assembly of budget padding, accused the House of criminal activities of threatening the life of a “whistleblower”, lampooned constituency projects which he approved as President, ventured to discuss the budget of National Assembly which is highly underfunded?

    “The House of Representatives would ordinarily not join issues with the former President as he has held an office that deserves respect and reverence.

    “However, because of the material misstatement of facts, outright lies and falsehoods, and mischievous innuendo introduced in his statement, we are left with no option but to correct him.”

    Mr Namdas went on to address all issues raised by the ex-President during the controversial lecture:

    “We have repeatedly maintained that there was no “padding” of the 2016 Appropriation Act, which is a legitimate document passed by the National Assembly, authenticated by the Clerk to the National Assembly as provided in the Acts Authentication Act and assented to by Mr. President…

    “For the avoidance of doubt, there is no crime that was committed by the National Assembly by exercising its constitutional function of appropriation.

    “If Chief Obasanjo has an issue with the execution of the 2016 Budget or indeed other Appropriation Acts, he should direct his anger elsewhere.

    “He claimed that the National Assembly Budget is very high, when by all standards, the National Assembly is grossly underfunded and is hampered from effectively and legitimately carrying out its constitutionally assigned functions. The National Assembly Budget funds a bureaucracy of about 5,000 civil servants.

    “It has some other agencies under its preview such as the National Assembly Service Commission with its own staff of about 500, even the Public Complaints Commission is now a parastatal of the National Assembly.

    “National Assembly Budget also funds the National Institute for Legislative Studies, which is a legislative think-tank and highly rated academic institution that serves both National and State Houses of Assembly and even international legislators.

    “All these agencies also have their capital budget including development of their headquarters, procurement of office equipment, procurement of regular items for running their offices; the National Assembly maintain legislative aides of about 3,000 in number, that aid the work of the Assembly; it also conducts regular public hearings involving the media and stakeholders and oversight activities, involving huge sums of money.

    “The cost implications of running the National Assembly is high because of the nature of our Presidential democracy.

    “Then of course, there are 109 Senators and 360 members of the House of Representatives that require proper equipment to function effectively. They require adequate travel and transport support to carry out legislative functions.

    “The National Assembly also has buildings and offices to build and maintain. National Assembly staff and members attend conferences, trainings, seminars to keep abreast of legislative developments worldwide. The activities are very encompassing and expensive.

    “It is also unbecoming of a former President to quote figures of sums of money that are factually incorrect. No member of the House of Representatives receives N10m every month.

    “The salaries and allowances of members of the House are as determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).

    “Of course further sums of money are spent as running costs, that is, the cost of running the office of a member.

    “If a Minister, Chief Executive or Director in a Ministry travels on official duties, for instance, do you include the cost of his ticket and accommodation as part of his salary or allowances?

    “Does the cost of stationeries and maintenance of equipment like computers used in their offices, form part of their salaries and allowances?

    “These are some of the costs that must be taken care of by the National Assembly and the media calls these costs “jumbo pay”. For goodness sake, the National Assembly is an arm of government, not just an ordinary agency of government.

    “The budget of many agencies in the Executive Branch are indeed higher than the current Budget of the National Assembly that is an arm of government.

    “Examples abound, CBN, NNPC, NCC etc. Allowances paid to even junior staff of some of these government agencies cannot be compared to what members of National Assembly enjoy.

    “Undoubtedly, the former President Obasanjo is understandably angry with the National Assembly as an institution having foiled his ambition for a third-term in office even after trying to corrupt the members with a bribe of at least N50m each.

    “Lest we forget, the person who introduced corruption to the National Assembly is Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

    “He birthed the 4th Republic National Assembly with corrupt practices from day one; indeed the first day of the Republic. He bribed PDP, ANPP and AD legislators on their inauguration in 1999 to vote against the majority candidate of PDP, Dr. Chuba Okadigbo. That was how Senator Evan Enwerem became Senate President.

    “Have we forgotten the sacks of money displayed on the floor of the House of Representatives being bribe money paid by Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to some Honourable members to impeach Speaker, Rt. Hon. Ghali N’abba?

    “Have we forgotten that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo used his position as President to extort money from businessmen and contractors with his government to build his presidential library?

    “The list of his corrupt acts while in office is endless. Unquestionably, he is the greatest corrupt person ever to hold office in Nigeria.

    “He remains the grandfather of corruption in Nigeria and lacks the moral authority to discuss corruption or indeed abuse of office in Nigeria as he remains the most corrupt Nigerian on record.

    “It is unfortunate that he has started his very familiar method of bringing down governments. He did it to Alhaji Shehu Shagari, he did it to Gen. Buhari, he did same to Gen. Babangida, he attempted to bring down Gen. Abacha before he imprisoned him for treason; he made frantic efforts to derail the government of President Ya’ardua when he couldn’t use him.

    “He supported President Goodluck Jonathan but when he refused to take dictation, he turned against him. He supported President Buhari, but since he has sensed that Nigeria is having economic difficulties under him, he has pounced to derail his government.

    “The way Chief Obasanjo talks gives the impression that he is a lifetime opposition leader who has never held any office. What did he do about the issues he raised in his 8 years as President?

    “This is a man with unlimited access to President Buhari. Or is it because he has not appointed all his cronies as requested? We may never know. His stuck in trade is blackmail, subversion and treachery.

    “We wish him well.”

  • Salaries: Lawmakers are unarmed robbers – Obasanjo

    Salaries: Lawmakers are unarmed robbers – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Thursday in Ibadan described members of the National Assembly as a “bunch of unarmed robbers”, over their huge salaries and allowances.

    Obasanjo, who hit hard at the National lawmakers, said the current legislators are one of the highest paid lawmakers in the world, despite the fact that  an estimated 75 percent of Nigerians populace live in poverty.

    He added that the arm of government should be roundly condemned.

    The former president spoke at the book presentation of Prof. Mark Nwagwu entitled: “I am Kagara, I Weave the Sands of Sahara”.

    The event, which held at the University of Ibadan, had Obasanjo as the Chief Host while the former Minister of Education, Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili chaired the occasion.

    Stressing that he is expecting another round of bashing from the federal lawmakers, the former President said he would continue to lambast them for constituting a huge percentage of the nation’s overhead cost.

    He lamented that the nation would hardly develop when about 90 percent of revenue was spent on overhead costs, rather than on capital expenses.

    Speaking on the ongoing impasse between the federal government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over the 2009 agreement, Obasanjo, said government allowed itself to be stampeded into signing agreements without full consultation within government.

    However, he added that regardless of that, the government was bound to implement whatever agreement reached with workers’ unions.

    He said: “Government allows itself to be stampeded into signing agreement particularly when one group or the other withdraws their service and go on strike. After the agreement has been signed, without full consultation within government, and implementation becomes an issue.

    “But an agreement is an agreement whoever the agent is that signed that agreement on your behalf, you are bound by it. You may now have to renegotiate to have a new agreement but the agreement earlier signed remains an agreement.

    “The universities teachers go on strike, there is an agreement; doctors go on strike, there will be a special agreement. And when the universities teachers see that the agreement reached with the doctors is different from theirs, they again go on strike and this is bad for our economy.

    “The way we are going about spending all our revenue to pay overhead, we will not develop. And we will have ourselves to blame. Ninety percent of revenue is used to pay overhead, allowances, salaries and not much is left for capital development.

    “In a situation like that, we have to rethink.

    “It is even worse for the National Assembly. They will abuse me again but I will never stop talking about them. They are a bunch of unarmed robbers.”

    “They are one of the highest paid in the world where we have 75 percent of our people living in abject poverty. They will abuse me tomorrow and if they don’t, maybe they are sleeping. The behaviour and character of the National Assembly should be condemned and roundly condemned.”

    In her remarks at the occasion, the Chairperson of the event, Dr. Ezekwesili, remarked that the 289-page book, was a tool for Nigeria to examine the extent to which she had lost her values and culture.

    She decried the loss of community spirit, warning that Nigeria must never negotiate her values.

    According to her, the world was currently such that humanity tried to figure out what happened to morality.

    The book reviewer, Mr Nwachukwu Egbunike, in his remarks on the book noted the theme of feminism and how women navigate life intricacies towards achieving success in life.

    Egbunike also lauded the author’s ability to weave around different concepts in both the spirit and natural world.

    Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research, Innovation and Strategic Partnerships, University of Ibadan, Professor Olanike Adeyemo remarked that Nwagwu’s book was a veritable instrument to help the younger generation keep touch with culture.

    The event was attended by both academic and non-academic staff of the university who were on hand to celebrate the author and his wife, Helen.

     

     

     

  • Obasanjo: I’ll back honest leaders, young or old

    Obasanjo: I’ll back honest leaders, young or old

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Thursday promised to support any leader with integrity and zeal for service, no matter the person’s age or sex.

    Obasanjo said despite the failure of some of younger politicians he supported for appointments and political office after his presidency, he did not think older people should be excluded from leadership recruitment process.

    Although he lamented that his young protégées wasted the opportunity to develop the country because of their “materialism, self-centeredness and opportunism”, he noted that this would not stop him from mentoring more young leaders through democratic means.

    Obasanjo stated this in his July 28, 2017 reply to a letter from former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Chairman, Olisa Agbakoba, urging him to lead a search for “young, vibrant political leaders” for the country.

    Olisa had lamented that the country was held back by an aged political class and a poor culture of encouraging “younger people with new ideas to aspire to positions of leadership, in particular the office of the President.”

    But, Obasanjo, who noted that he shared some of Agbakoba’s sentiments, said he could not “jump over the democratic system or put democracy aside” in the quest to help honest young people with leadership potential.

    He said: “The point to ponder is how have the successor generation positioned themselves to lead? I look back at some members of the younger generation and 1 am miffed at the missed opportunities.

    “I am equally saddened that although we the so-called older generation did facilitate, some semblance of infrastructural development, today the gains made have been mostly pushed down the drain by some of those privileged young people saddled with similar responsibilities in the recent past.

    “You should know that some of these same young people whose interest we canvass have in the recent past been a complete disappointment and failures in their various appointed or elected positions.

    “Some of these young people in public or private sector have frittered the prospect of being at the vanguard of sustainable development of what some of us, the earlier generation of leaders, pioneered on the altar of their crass materialism self-centeredness and opportunism.”

    He added: “If I find men and women who have shown profound commitment and exemplary integrity in their various chosen careers or professions as well as zeal for the service our fatherland, I will, of course, give such both my support and inspiration, notwithstanding their age, circumstances or place of birth.

    Obasanjo urged Agbakoba to “step forward and develop a mobilization framework that seeks to rearrange Nigeria on a different basis of legitimacy.

    “The late Chief Awolowo and the great Zik were younger than you when they threw their hats in the ring. It is time to take the hard road. Olisa, it is time to jump down from the fence and the slddon look corner. It is your fatherland. The time is now.”

    He urged young people organize themselves around positive core values.

    “Let them become ideological in the sense of nationalism and patriotism in this struggle. This is a democracy. Politics is a game of numbers at the end of the day. The youth are in the majority. What is the excuse?

    “So long as the older generation does not have the incentive to step down, for so long will they continue to reinvent and reappoint and resurface.

    “The generational shift will need to be worked for and worked at. We did that before, but it was neither sustained by performance nor by commitment.

    “But we should not give up I personally hold myself available to mentor and to guide but I cannot jump over the democratic system or put democracy aside,” Obasanjo said.

  • Edo Fertilizer plant set to begin commercial production

    Edo Fertilizer plant set to begin commercial production

    One of the achievements being bandied by supporters and admirers of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion was the construction of a Fertilizer Blending Plant in Auchi, Estako West local government area. The supporters were quick to criticize immediate past Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, for failing to revitalize the plant built and commissioned by Igbinedion for the purpose of jobs creation.

    It was in 2003 that former President Olusegun Obasanjo commissioned the fertilizer plant but unknown to Obasanjo, bags of fertilizers displayed at the plant during the commissioning were purchased from the open market and rebagged on site. It was gathered that the plant was not working because one of the Chinese technical partners pulled out over an untidy contractual agreement and the Mainframe computer unit which controls all the operations of the plant was reportedly stolen.

    Former Commissioner for Agriculture during Oshiomhole’s administration, Hon Abdul Oroh had this to say about the fertilizer plant, “If you look at the fertilizer company in Auchi, most of the equipment installed at the point of commissioning were all fraudulent because they were outdated and not useful and fertilizers were procured from somewhere and released as being products of the company.”

    However, 17 years after, the Edo Fertilizer Blending Plant is set to begin commercial production under the Godwin Obaseki administration. The plant has been revived and it targeted to produce 55,000 metric tonnes of fertilizer annually.

    The quest to revitalize the plant began in January when Governor Obaseki led the Director General of the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, Mr. Uche Orji and the President Fertilizer Producers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Etu, to the plant site with a view to reviving it to meet the Federal Government target of creating 250,000 jobs from all the 38 fertilizer blending plants across the country.

    Orji told newsmen that the visit to the fertilizer plant was part of the Presidential Initiative on Fertilizer (PIF) whose purpose was to ensure that farmers in the country buy fertilizer at N5,500 before the next planting season.

    According to him, “Edo is one of the investors in the SWF. We are working on the PIF to import some components of fertilizer from Morocco and revive blending plants in the country.

    “The net effect is to create jobs and for farmers to get fertilizer for as low as N5,500. With this type of facilities in the state, Edo state has been missing lots of opportunities with a factory like this.

    “Once the governor and the investors have agreed, I don’t think it will take too long to get this plant running. Our objective as the governor has mentioned, is to put the raw materials into this plant and have it to start working.

    “The president has presidential initiative for fertilizer, and the idea is instead of importing finished fertilizer, we bring in the component and blend it locally. If you do that, price will come down significantly and luckily, Edo is a state that has lots of raw materials needed.

    “So this should be a natural advantage for Edo state to start which will employ alot of people. It will also at the same time, bring alot of advantages with it; bring down the prices of fertilizer for the farmers that is the idea of the presidential special programme,’’ he said.

    On his part, President of Fertilizer Producers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Thomas Etuh, explained that the initiative was to encourage local blending of fertilizers with a view to create jobs and save foreign exchange. Thomas said Nigeria will be saving $300m in foreign exchange in 2017 and $120bn in terms of subsidy on fertilizer.

    Last week, Governor Obaseki accompanied by his Deputy, Philip Shaibu, visited the fertilizer plant of ascertain the level of work done. He was shown round the facility by Mr Ayodele Ejaoye, the General Manager of the Technical Company managing the fertilizer plant.

    Obaseki inspected the power plant, production line, storehouse, administrative building and the new line. He was assured that the plant was capable of producing seven tons of fertilizer per hour and prepared to be test run by mid-June while commercial production starts by June ending.

    Addressing newsmen after the inspection, Governor Obaseki said the plant would employ about 120 direct and indirect workers when it became operational.

    Obaseki disclosed that talks were on with the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), to draw a dedicated 33KVA line to the plant in addition to standby 500KVA generating set that has been refurbished at the plant.

    “I am quite impressed with the progress of work here because if you compared the situation now to what we met about two and half months ago, when we came here first, you’d find that there is significant difference,” the governor said.

    “We have been able to get the technical partners under the federal government fertilizer programme to start work here and they have made investment to revamp the plant. The equipment have been tested and manufacturers were brought to fix the faulty parts. They are also constructing a new line to meet up with the specification of the federal government fertilizer programme.”

     

  • Malabu oil scam: Probe Obasanjo, Ijaws charge Osinbajo

    Malabu oil scam: Probe Obasanjo, Ijaws charge Osinbajo

    An Ijaw socio-political group, the Ijaw Union, has challenged the Acting President to probe former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s links with the intractable Malabu Oil & Gas oil bloc to convince Nigerians of its readiness to fight corruption.

    They took a swipe at former President Olusegun Obasanjo over the denial of his involvement in the ongoing investigations on the Malabu/OPL 245 saga. The group said the former leader cannot exonerate or absolve himself of guilt in the mess because he, as the President and Minister for Petroleum Resources had ordered the revocation of the oil block 245 from Malabu Oil and Gas in 2001.

    In a statement signed by Ebitari Dombraye and Wilson Awengidappa on behalf of the Ijaw Union, the group decried resort to “unnecessary sensationalism” by the former statesman and called on the Federal Government to conduct a thorough investigation into the Malabu oilgate if indeed it is committed to fighting corruption in the country.

    They alleged that even despite the clean bill of health given by the Christopher Kolade Commission which reviewed all previously awarded oil blocks in the country; President Obsanjo went ahead with revocation.

    “Let us recall that in 2001, the Obasanjo government revoked the award to Malabu Oil & Gas even after the Christopher Kolade commission set up to review previously awarded oil blocks in the country, found nothing untoward in the award to Malabu Oil & Gas. This revocation did not follow due process or indeed the Petroleum Act and what was even more curious; no reason whatsoever was given for the revocation.”

    The group said after withdrawing the block from Malabu by an “obnoxious fiat,” the former President awarded same to Shell even though Shell which until the revocation was the technical partner to Malabu on the same oil block.

    “The former President did this in blatant disregard of the Petroleum Act and Indigenisation policy, a major consideration for the award.

    Despite revoking the block, the ex-President also went ahead to negotiate directly with Shell where they extracted a $210 million from Shell as against $20 million earlier awsarded to Malabu with plans to appoint a crony to take ownership of the asset with Shell.

    The group said the former President had to reinstate the Malabu licence after protracted court cases and a national assembly resolution to lay the asset to waste even as the approval was validated by the two successive governments.

    “Former President Obasanjo’s government reinstated the asset to Malabu with Chief Obasanjo as Petroleum Minister and Bayo Ojo (SAN), as Attorney General, the Yar’Adua government validated it with Odein Ajumogobia (SAN) as Petroleum Minister and Michael Aoondaka as Attorney General and finally the Goodluck Johnathan administration with Diezani Madueke as minister and Mohammed Adoke (SAN) as Attorney General. If Chief Obasanjo’s claim has any currency, are we saying none of these individuals and ministries and the plethora of egg-heads that populate them including officials of Shell and ENI the other counter parties, could not have pointed out the fact that the 2006 approval to return the block to Malabu was done without the knowledge or consent of the President or Minister of Petroleum who were one and the same person?”

    The group said rather than being seen as another Niger Delta trouble makers, their agitation is to stoutly pre-empt any attempt to sacrifice an indigene of the Niger Delta as the fall guy for a transaction that has gathered notoriety in the public domain, whilst others who have no stake in the Niger Delta or its people, emerge from the shadows to benefit from the demise of one of our people.

    According to them, it is an aberration that the minorities who bear the brunt of the nation’s economic prosperity would be precluded from it. “Is it such an aberration to the Nigerian state that the minorities who live and suffer under the consequences of oil production and environmental degradation should not ever have any say or right over their own God given resources? Must all those who benefit in any shape or form come from outside the region? What is our stake in Nigeria? What is our standing?”

    They charged the Federal Government to conduct a fresh investigation into the Halliburton scandal where huge sums have been traced to the former President’s political cronies; the Ajaokuta Steel Company debacle, and the Abacha loot recovered from the Abacha family during the Obasanjo administration and “relooted”.

    Also worthy of being probed, according the group is the administration reckless and irresponsible sale of Nigeria’s strategic oil interests to cronies.

    The group said successive administration’s giveaways of the nation’s oil wells have reduced Nigeria to little more than a tax collecting nation with no regard for investment in His administration’s giveaway of these oil blocks reduced Nigeria to little more than a tax collecting nation with no regard for investment in the state-owned oil company, NNPC and its many subsidiaries.

     

  • Na’abba blames Obasanjo for frosty executive/legislature relationship

    Na’abba blames Obasanjo for frosty executive/legislature relationship

    Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ghali Umar Na’Abba has accused former President Olusegun Obasanjo of being behind the frosty relationship that has existed between the executive and legislature since the return to democratic rule in 1999.

    The former speaker said former President Obasanjo wanted what he described as a subjugated legislature, but met a stiff opposition in the House of Representatives.

    They spoke just as former Deputy Senate President, Ibrahim Mantu said the political clash in the country has sinned against God and thee Nigerian people and must be on their knees to seek forgiveness ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    Speaking at a national conference on “political party supremacy and the dynamics of parliamentary autonomy”, organised by the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), the former speaker said the decision of former President Obasanjo to impose a leadership on the National Assembly and the resolve to fight back by the lawmakers is responsible for the relationship that has existed between the two arms of government since 1999.

    Tracing the origin of the crisis, Na’Abba said Obasanjo1’s first step was to change the date of the inauguration of the National Assembly from June 3, 1999 to June 6the to allow him ample opportunity to manipulate the election of the Senate President, thus paving the way for the emergence of Evan Ewerem as Senate President instead of Chiba Okadigbo that was preferred by most senators.

    According to him, “the action of 3rd June 1999 by Obasanjo, the election of Ghali Na’Abba as speaker of the House of Representatives on 22nd July, 1999 and the election of Senator Chiba Okadigbo as Senate President convoluted to define the relationship between the legislature and the executive.

    “The relationship between the National Assembly and the executive arm became characterized by antagonism. It was clearly more than the necessary kind of friction which was desirous for the proper functioning of the legislature.

    “In doing what he did in the senate, the President did not carry the PDP along. The intention of the President in all of those was to ensure that he governed with a subjugated legislature. In the House of Representatives, he met with stiff resistance. That was the reason he insisted that the Speaker be impeached. Up to the time the House came to an end, he did not succeed. In the senate, Senator Chiba Okadigbo was impeached eight months after he was elected.”

    Also speaking, Prof. Jibrin Ibrahim also blame the former President for the lack of party supremacy in the current political dispensation, pointing out that by declaring himself as the leader of the party, he succeeded in eroding the powers of the party to control their members.

    He said1: “The original sin was committed in 1999 when the then newly elected President, Olusegun Obasanjo declared himself the leader of the party thereby usurping the power of the party chairman.

    “Once he did that, sitting governors in the state declared themselves party leaders at the levels. Party executives then became simple figureheads without real power or influence.

    “One of the most serious consequences of this development is that the party becomes completely incapable of insisting that their elected executives and legislature implement the programmes on which they have been elected. The notion of party supremacy has completely disappeared in Nigeria’s political culture since 1999.”

    In his paper entitled political party supremacy and the challenges of executive and legislative relationship in Nigeria, former deputy senate president, Ibrahim Mantu said said the Nigeria nation has seen the worst of all sorts of bad governance, pointing out that while there is corruption all over the world, the type of corruption in Nigeria “is uniquely different. There is element of greed in our brand of corruption. In other words, we are greedily corrupt.”

    He said “As we approach 2019, we must put our house in order. We, the politicians have sinned against Almighty God, the giver of power and have sinned against the very people God used to endorse His anointment by voting us into power.

    “Our sins have reached saturating point and the natural law of gravity would bring everything down to ground zero. We must therefore purge ourselves and be on our knees to ask Almighty God and the good people of Nigeria for forgiveness.

    “In doing so. We must honestly and sincerely pledge to embrace the path of righteousness from now on and to do only that which would meet the expectations and aspirations of Nigerians henceforth.”

     

  • Obasanjo emphasises role of church in fighting corruption

    Obasanjo emphasises role of church in fighting corruption

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday advocated a spiritual approach to the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria just as he urged the Church to help fight the scourge.

    Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta at the 2017 convention lecture of the Victory Life Bible Church International.

    He spoke on the theme : “The Role of the Church in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria.”

    The former president described the church as an important and influential institution with a pivotal role in curbing and eradicating corruption in Nigeria.

    He described the anti-corruption war in Nigeria as “a fight for the soul of the nation”.

    Obasanjo noted that successive governments in Nigeria had tried to contain corruption through enactment of laws and enforcement of integrity systems with a slow pace of success.

    “Legislations alone are not enough as they are often breached by those who make them and those who should implement them.

    “Our main problems are moral, ethical,attitudinal failure and disorientation.

    “The church is an institution that provides the moral and ethical standards for us as believers.

    “Man alone by himself cannot get rid of corruption from the world, he needs the assistance of God.

    “Here must come the society and the church. With the spirit of God to work together to undo the harm that man has done and continue to do the perfect work of God on earth.

    The elderstatesman, however, stressed that the anti-corruption crusade must first be fought within the church by strengthening and ridding itself of the menace before extending it to the larger society.

    “The church needs to clear its Augean stable.

    “The temple of God must be cleanest to restore the holiness of the church.

    “Our present day money changers and merchants. Must be chased out of the church.
    “The pulpit must be used to teach and preach righteous and honest living.

    “To preach that one can acquire wealth without labour is not only deceitful, but also a call to corruption.

    “We must be careful in believing and celebrating every testimony of miraculous blessing otherwise we end up celeberating corruption.

    “The behaviour of some of our men of God leaves much to be desired.

    “They not only celeberate but venerate those whose sources of wealth are questionable.

    “They accept gifts (offerings) from just anybody without asking questions giving the impression that anything is  acceptable in the House of God,” he said.

    He therefore called on christian leaders to sanitise the church for effective anti-corruption crusade.

    The former president who recalled that the church played an important role in the development of Nigeria noted that the nation had come to another historic juncture requiring the church to play a leading role.

    “The role must be played in praying, preaching and teaching.

    “This is a period of moral and ethical rebirth and the church as an agent of socialisation must embark on moral re-armament for the church and for the nation.

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday advocated a spiritual approach to the anti-corruption crusade in Nigeria just as he urged the Church to help fight the scourge.

    Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta at the 2017 convention lecture of the Victory Life Bible Church International.

    He spoke on the theme : “The Role of the Church in the Fight Against Corruption in Nigeria.”

    The former president described the church as an important and influential institution with a pivotal role in curbing and eradicating corruption in Nigeria.

    He described the anti-corruption war in Nigeria as “a fight for the soul of the nation”.
    Obasanjo noted that successive governments in Nigeria had tried to contain corruption through enactment of laws and enforcement of integrity systems with a slow pace of success.

    “Legislations alone are not enough as they are often breached by those who make them and those who should implement them.

    “Our main problems are moral, ethical,attitudinal failure and disorientation.

    “The church is an institution that provides the moral and ethical standards for us as believers.

    “Man alone by himself cannot get rid of corruption from the world, he needs the assistance of God.

    “Here must come the society and the church. With the spirit of God to work together to undo the harm that man has done and continue to do the perfect work of God on earth.

    The elderstatesman, however, stressed that the anti-corruption crusade must first be fought within the church by strengthening and ridding itself of the menace before extending it to the larger society.

    “The church needs to clear its Augean stable.

    “The temple of God must be cleanest to restore the holiness of the church.

    “Our present day money changers and merchants. Must be chased out of the church.
    “The pulpit must be used to teach and preach righteous and honest living.

    “To preach that one can acquire wealth without labour is not only deceitful, but also a call to corruption.

    “We must be careful in believing and celebrating every testimony of miraculous blessing otherwise we end up celeberating corruption.

    “The behaviour of some of our men of God leaves much to be desired.

    “They not only celeberate but venerate those whose sources of wealth are questionable.

    “They accept gifts (offerings) from just anybody without asking questions giving the impression that anything is  acceptable in the House of God,” he said.

    He therefore called on christian leaders to sanitise the church for effective anti-corruption crusade.

    The former president who recalled that the church played an important role in the development of Nigeria noted that the nation had come to another historic juncture requiring the church to play a leading role.

    “The role must be played in praying, preaching and teaching.

    “This is a period of moral and ethical rebirth and the church as an agent of socialisation must embark on moral re-armament for the church and for the nation.

  • Reps kick over N3b government quarters 

    Reps kick over N3b government quarters 

    House of Representatives has questioned the Presidency over its monitisation policy, saying the policy might have been jettisoned without due process.

    The policy that was introduced during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo led to payment of allowances rather than continuous funding and rehabilitation of government quarters and official vehicles of its workers.

    The houses and vehicles were later sold to civil servants.

    The Herman Hembe-led Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was however shocked when it was told that the Presidency is planning to build 40 houses for its top officials at a cost of N3b this year.

    The Committee, during the 2016/2017 budget session with the Ministry of FCT questioned the change of policy that was not made public by the Executive, considering the fact that they (lawmakers) were equally affected by the monitisation policy.

    While the lawmakers asked for the identities of the beneficiaries, they wondered whether they were lower government functionaries that deserved to be living in rented houses.

    Hembe said: “When government comes up with a policy, it should follow it up. When you begin to build houses for ministers, permanent secretaries and directors, are they above the members of the National Assembly?

    “If you want to move for monetization, it should be complete. I think it was wrong to sell the houses in the first place.

    “This kind of thing may be very difficult to pass on the floor of the house. You can’t push for building houses for them. I remember at some point, they even wanted to sell the Vice President’s house”.

    In his response, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Babatope Ajakaiye, who stood in for the Minister Mohammed Bello said government felt the monitisatuon policy is due for review.

    Saying that governments around the world cannot do away with accomodation of its own, some of which were designated as safe houses, Ajakaiye said the government felt the monitisation policy may not have served its purpose.
    “We have not started it; it is a new project. I still want to plead for understanding on this issue. The issue has been discussed last year and we’re still talking about it. The policy was introduced by government, but after sometime, there was this feeling that it should be reviewed.

    “When government says top functionaries, it is not defining. In countries around the world, they build safe houses, and it’s not meant for any particular person.

    “Can we really say we want to give houses to about 500 legislators in one or two years? Top government functionary could be anybody. There’s always a start,” he said.

    The Committee said that approval for the 40 houses as listed on the budget document would meet stiff resistance on the floor during consideration and passage of the 2017 budget.

    The Committee however demanded for the details of the 40 units houses, their specifications and supposed beneficiaries.

    The Committee also expressed disappointment with the handling of the Abuja light rail proudest that ought to have been completed last year but deferred to the First quarter of 2018.

    The Committee opined that with the paltry allocation of N3b proposed for the project, it’s completion is not likely to see the light of the day in the life of this administration.

    According to Hembe, the project that would have taken between N10b and N15b to complete in 2016 would now require N23b for the 2018 date.

    Ajakaiye sad the Abuja rail project would be completed in the first quarter of 2018 because the Chinese contractor is willing to meet the deadline though Nigeria must come up with its N23b counterpart find.

    Earlier while presenting the budget proposal, Ajakaiye said N3.7b was proposed for the Abuja light rail project; rehabilitation of old Federal  secretariat phase 1, N2b; 40 houses for officials N3b; construction and expansion of airport expressway, N4b.

     

  • Ooni to crown Obasanjo Ruby King of Festac

    Ooni to crown Obasanjo Ruby King of Festac

    Due to former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s contributions to the successful celebration of Festac 77 in 1977, the Centre for Black and African Arts and Civilisation (CBAAC) has concluded plans to crown him the Ruby King of Festac in May in Abuja.

    Dr Anikwe said the former president would be crowned the Ruby King of Festac and the Patron of African Culture by the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja ll.

    The Director- General, CBAAC, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that it was part of activities to commemorate four decades after the event was hosted by Nigeria.

    NAN reports that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo was Nigeria’s military head of state when the country hosted the festival in 1977.

    It also reports that the crowning would form parts of the activities to celebrate Festac 77@40 that would start on April 1.

    “Obasanjo appears as the greatest, in terms of the promotion of African culture in the whole of Africa and the black world, by the singular effort he demonstrated by organising and hosting Festac 77.

    “There has not been any other event that can be compared with it; so, any form of positive accolade will not be too much for him.

    “In a rare understanding of what the event would contribute toward showcasing Black and African cultural heritage then, Obasanjo quickly made wise consultations, recognised the international festival committee and other communities.

    “He put square pegs in square holes, made funds available and eventually a festival that could be described as the largest assemblage of Black and African people worldwide was held from Jan.15, 1977 to Feb.12, 1977.

    “The event was not only momentarily successful; it could also be described as a watershed in the Pan- Africans’ struggle.

    “It is to Obasanjo’s eternal credit that Festac 77 covered the entire gamut of Black and African cultural heritage.’’

    Anikwe urged other Africans to emulate Obasanjo by doing things worthy of emulation, celebration, symbolism, recognisable and crowning, to earn the admiration of Africans.

    NAN reports that activities to mark Festac 77@ 40 would hold in over 10 states including the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja) where the Mascot would be unveiled on April 1.

    It would also entail different cultural displays that would hold in some states including Katsina, Enugu, Ogun, Kaduna, Akwa- Ibom and some foreign countries.

  • Malabu Oil Deal: Fayose labels Obasanjo father of corruption

    Malabu Oil Deal: Fayose labels Obasanjo father of corruption

    For attempting to extricate himself from the web of $1.09 billion Malabu oil deal, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has come under scathing attacks from Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose.

    Fayose in his second tirade against Obasanjo within two weeks described the former president as “the father of corruption in Nigeria who sits on stolen wealth and lacks moral rights to accuse anyone of corruption.

    While challenging Obasanjo to explain to Nigerians his source of “stupendous wealth”, Fayose in a statement on Thursday by his Special Assistant on Public Communication and New Media, Lere Olayinka, attacked the Ota chicken farmer for his alleged “holier-than-thou posture”, grandstanding and pontification on issues of corruption.

    The chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum who claimed that Obasanjo presided over one of the most corrupt administrations in the history of Nigeria restated his call that the ex-leader should refund the N10 million he (Obasanjo) forced him (Fayose) to donate alongside other 29 governors to his presidential library project in 2005 with interest.

    Fayose who described the alleged compulsion to donate the cash for the library project about twelve years ago as “extortion” also demanded an explanation from former president on the cash-for-vote scandal on his (Obasanjo’s) alleged third term bid in which National Assembly members were compromised to rework the Constitution to elongate his tenure.

    He said: “It smacked of the highest level of hypocrisy for someone like Obasanjo to be sermonizing about corruption, having superintended over a corrupt government himself.

    “The former President must come out clean on his roles in the controversial $1.09 billion Malabu Oil deal, instead of warning former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice Mohammed Adoke to stop mentioning his name in the deal.

    “It is on record that the out-of-court settlement on the controversial Malabu Oil Block was initiated in 2006 during Obasanjo’s administration. Obasanjo’s accusing anyone of corruption was like “Oyenusi accusing Shina Rambo of armed robbery.

    “I challenge the former President to explain to Nigerians the source of his stupendous wealth. We saw how Obasanjo was when he became president and the magnitude of both direct and indirect investments that he has now. Can he in all honesty tell Nigerians that he acquired his wealth through legitimate means?

    “Even the National Assembly affirmed him (Obasanjo) as the grandfather of corruption in Nigeria and it is on record that it was this same Obasanjo, who is always claiming holier than thou that introduced politics of ghana-must-go bags to the National Assembly.

    “Has Obasanjo forgotten how many billions of naira was deployed to lobby National Assembly members to support his third term agenda?”

    “Has he forgotten so soon that it was during his tenure that sacks of money were displayed on the floor of the House of Representatives, as bribe money given to some Reps members to impeach the then Speaker, Ghali N’abba?

    “I reiterate my demand that the former President should refund with interest, the N10 million that I was forced alongside other governors to donate to his Presidential Library project.

    “Someone like Obasanjo, who used his position as President to extort money from governors, businessmen and contractors to build his presidential library lacked moral rights to accuse anyone of corruption.”

    He added: “Other Nigerians who left offices as President are still relevant to their people, but can the same be said about Obasanjo? Was he useful to the Yoruba race as President and now as former President?

    “The bad state that he left major roads linking the Southwest to other zones in Nigeria, especially the Lagos-Ibadan expressway remains a pointer to this. Yet, he goes about postulating as if he is the only honest Nigerians who can make things right in the country.”