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Tag: former President Olusegun Obasanjo

  • Ogbemudia, true nationalist – Obasanjo

    Ogbemudia, true nationalist – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the demise of ex – military Governor the defunct Mid- Western State, Brig-Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia(rtd), saying he was a nationalist who would be “sorely missed.”

    Obasanjo who described the late Ogbemudia as a friend and patriot, said he committed his life to the service and unity of the nation.

    In a letter of condolence dated March 11, 2017, and addressed to the Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki and which was made available to journalists in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital,  Obasanjo said  Ogbemudia was a versatile soldier and had a brilliant career in the army.

    Obasanjo said: “I recall, Brig-Gen. Ogbemudia and I served in the Field Battalion before Nigeria’s independence. During the civil war, he was able to make his way out of the rebel-held area to report to the Federal side.  This, indeed, was a mark of loyalty to his fatherland.

    “He was a true soldier who fought with commitment and distinction during the civil war on the Federal side. He was a great nationalist.  He fought for the unity of this country with complete dedication to the ideal of a great Nigeria in which fairness and justice will reign.

    “Indeed, it is no exaggeration to say that the history of our struggle for national unity, democracy and good governance cannot be written without ample reference being made to the patriotic, visionary and heroic role played by Ogbemudia.

    “As a Military Administrator of the defunct Mid-Western State between 1967 and 1975 and later as an elected Civilian Governor of the old Bendel State briefly in 1983, he made tremendous mark and he was the creator of what today is called “University of Benin”.  It is a testimony to Brig-Gen. Ogbemudia’s versatility that on retiring from the military, he rapidly transformed into a successful businessman.

    “But it was in the sphere of politics that he made his most enduring contribution to national development. His position in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the early days of the present democratic dispensation gave the Party the strength in Edo State and indeed in the South.”

    According to Obasanjo, Ogbemudia was also well known for his contributions to sports development and chaired the National Sports Commission creditably.

    He commiserated  with the people of Edo state and members of Ogbemudia’s immediate and extended family on the demise.

    “I, myself, have lost a friend and close associate. Brig-Gen. Ogbemudia will be sorely missed by all of us. The finality of Brig-Gen. Ogbemudia’s passage is painful, especially as he still had a lot to contribute to community and national life, but we can draw some solace from knowing that he left his mark indelibly in whatever he was called upon to do,” Obasanjo stated.

  • Reps to Obasanjo: You’re grandfather of corruption

    Reps to Obasanjo: You’re grandfather of corruption

    …Says he’s angry with NASS over Third Term

    The House of Representatives Thursday lambasted former President Olusegun Obasanjo over his statement that the National Assembly stinks.

    The lawmakers described him as the “grandfather of Corruption,” adding that he wants to bring down Buhari’s government and that he is “acting as lifetime opposition leader, blackmailer,”

    The former President while delivering a lecture at the first Akintola Williams Annual Lecture in Lagos on Wednesday had said the “National Assembly stinks and stinks to high heavens. It needs to be purged.”

    He also accused the Parliament of corruption and of operating a cabal “worse than any cabal that anybody may find anywhere in our national governance system at any time.”

    In a Press Conference by Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas, Chairman, House Committee on Media & Publicity Thursday the Green Chamber spared no invective as it also said Obasanjo introduced corruption to National Assembly on its first day in 1999.

    His words: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to former President Olusegun Obasanjo at a lecture he delivered recently, wherein, in his characteristic manner accused everybody but himself of corruption.

    “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?

    In the speech Namdas said the House 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.

    “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. It is most unfortunate that a former President of Chief Obasanjo’s stature would allow himself to be hoodwinked and procured by a renegade member of the House, who embarked on massive propaganda and lies just because he was removed from office.

    “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 implication 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 Reps Spokesman said 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 Olesugn Obasanjo.

    “He birthed the 4th Republic National Assembly with corrupt practices from day one; indeed the first day of the Republic. He bribed both 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.”

  • Obasanjo gets ‘made in Aba’ shoes as gifts from Gov Ikpeazu

    Obasanjo gets ‘made in Aba’ shoes as gifts from Gov Ikpeazu

    • Urges patronage of local products

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, an ardent campaigner for ‘Made in Nigeria’ products, has received pairs of shoes – all  made in Aba, Abia State, as gifts from Governor Victor Okezie Ikpeazu.

    Obasanjo who sized and adorned one of them fittingly, said since the Aba made shoe was nice on his feet, it would also look good on anybody in Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.

    The shoes,  half a dozen of them, were presented to him on Monday evening when Governor Ikpeazu, who doubles as the Ambassador of ‘Made in Aba’ products visited the ex-President at his residence on Presidential Hilltop Estate, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    Ikpeazu who was accompanied by aides, explained to his host that “the shoes are all hand made by the boys in Aba,” saying they are also making 50,000 pairs of shoes for the Nigerian army.

    Obasanjo who lauded the Aba boys for their ingenuity and creativity, hinting that the African Export–Import Bank (AFREXIM) may soon establish an industrial park in Aba to “encourage and support made in african products.”

    He urged the Governor  to give the African Export–Import Bank (AFREXIM) team the necessary support whenever they arrived the state at later date for such industrial park project.

    The former President noted that for a nation such as ours that is battling with “recession” the ingenuity of the Aba boys is quite significant, saying “the hard options of hard work, production and trade” are what Nigeria needs now to exit the troubling hard time.

    According to him,”when we use what we make by ourselves, for ourselves, others will support and  will be willing to try and make use of what we make here.”

    He said: “Governor, I can’t thank you enough and truly I can’t thank my brothers and sisters who have decided to adorn me with these wonderful gifts enough.

    “For me, this is very significant in many ways and infact the message I want to deliver to you is the message of African Export–Import Bank (AFREXIM) who are spearheading made in Africa.

    “And they came when I was away in Colombia, but I knew they were coming for the annual African Bank meeting which was hosted in one Island in South African.

    “You talked about made in Africa products, AFREXIM Bank encourages and supports products made in Africa by Africa and for Africans.

    ” When they came they met representatives from Benue, Ebonyi and Anambra States. They also came to Ogun State and met the Governor and other officials of the State.

    “They left me a message that they have heard about Aba, it was AFREXIM Bank and the Chinese and they will want me to get in touch with you so that they can come back and pay a special visit to Aba and  establish an industrial park in Aba for the sort of things like this.

    “Indeed we need a thing like this at a time like this. If we are going to get out of our recession, we can only produce and trade to get us out of our recession.

    ” We have to get ourselves away from an easy option, there is no easy option to get out of this situation. The hard options are hard work, production and trade.

    “We have to trade internally, trade within ourselves in African and trade with the rest of the world. If the shoes that I am wearing are good for me, I believe they should be good for anybody in Nigeria, for anybody in Africa and indeed anybody in the world.

    “When we use what we make by ourselves, for ourselves, others will support and they will be willing to try and make use of what we make here.”

    And speaking with reporters later, Ikpeazu
    who expressed satisfaction with the interest shown in products from Aba by the military, disclosed that the industry where those shoes and other wears are made, worth N150bn and engaged 150,000 people already.

    The Governor said the government has established a quality control agency whose duty it is to ensure that the products meet minimum standards.

    He added that they are also working hard on packaging so that the shoes could be beautifully packaged while planning to also go into inputs like leather, tannery, provision of gum and other accessories like buckles.

    The Governor said: “we are excited that finally, the Nigerian military are now looking in the direction of some of the items that we now produce locally in order to make their uniforms and their gears.

    “And to be specific Aba is making about 50,000 pairs of shoes for the military. I intend to market made in Aba uniforms and shoes for the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) as well as as the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Police.

    “We make solid shoes and it is our hope that when we are able to produce enough for the Nigerian market, we will have conquered West Africa and Africa as well.

    “They are wonderful shoes you never can say how wonderful and beautiful they are until you try them on. I am very, very proud to be an Ambassador of made in Aba products, both dress and shoes.

    “And we think that the over 150,000 men engage in this trade in our environment will indeed launch Abia State into the world market of world class shoe producers.

    “The industry’s worth is well in excess of over N150billion but we are yet in clusters and we are trying to provide electricity, we are trying to provide common facilities so that quality control will be high up there.

    “The government has established a quality control agency whose duty is to ensure that the products meet minimum standards in terms of what they are doing.

    “We are also working hard on packaging so that the shoes can be beautifully packaged. We may also have to go into inputs like leather, tannery and provision of gum and other accessories like buckles and so on.

    “We need three essential things from the Federal government to turn Abia State into the industrial hub of the country. One is electricity, once we can be sure  of constant electricity, things will change.

    “Luckily, we hoping that the Geometric Power Plant, which is an independent power plant in Aba is come up stable between now and the next six months if that happens, we would have solved the problem of power.

    “In the interim, government is looking at providing an alternative power sources and beyond that, we are working hard on the road infrastructure which is also key to make sure we are able to move goods and services from one destination to another and customers can access Aba easily.

    “The other one is security, luckily we have held it down, nobody can pretend that you can completely wipe off crime but it is at a proportional level where business is thriving and people are coming back to do business in Aba.”

  • I’ve been constant in fight against corruption—E.K Clark

    I’ve been constant in fight against corruption—E.K Clark

    Ijaw national leader, Chief Edwin Clark, says he has been in the crusade against corruption in the country long before the coming of the current federal administration.

    Chief Clark who spoke in Warri on Friday, reacted to a recent question placed on his anti-corruption stance, which has been touted as an emergency stunt.

    According to the elder statesman, he was one of the loudest voices against the social ill during the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, trend he said he continued during former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    He however said those who criticised him for supporting President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-graft crudade and had kept mum during his predecessor’s tenure had not been truthful and had been unfair to him.

    “Ordinarily, I shouldn’t have reply to it because whoever is the author is vicious, wicked and not a patriotic Nigerian. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have written I never spoke against corruption during the time of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

    “I said the author is being vicious because I have being talking about corruption even before the time of Jonathan. In the first place, I talked about corruption during the time of erstwhile President Obasanjo and Yar’ Adua.

    “I remembered at that time, I was in the forefront of fighting our former governor, Chief James Ibori, leading to him being sentenced UK. Every Nigerian is aware of this. I led the crusade against him especially when a judge dropped the charges against him”, the elder statesman stated.

    He added that under Jonathan he wrote open letters and held private talks with the former president on corrupt governors in the country noting that some of their cases were still pending in various courts, wondering while his critics were accusing him of keeping mum on corruption.

    Clark reiterated that President Buhari’s fight against corruption was in the interest of the country, saying, “no matter whatever fault we find against him. Some people said it is discriminatory but before Buhari came to power when he was campaigning that he is going to fight corruption.

    “And he drew a line that those who were corrupt before he came to office that he will not prosecute them. But will only prosecute those who were corrupt when he had taken office, I was first to attack him. I wrote to the various embassies that it is not right to differentiate between one group of corrupt officer and another set because some are with him in the same party?

    “But when he decides to wage war against corruption I saw to it that he was sincere. Whatever shortcomings notwithstanding, he is doing a good job in cleaning the society. People are now becoming more careful than it was before even those they are not accused of being corrupt.”

    “During Jonathan time I accused Chief Obasanjo that he was the most corrupt ex-president Nigeria had ever produced. I said that he left prison with only N20,000, but today he is one of the wealthiest former President in the whole of West Africa. All these I said during Jonathan time”, Clark further stated.

  • How FG, States can overcome current economic hardship – Obasanjo

    How FG, States can overcome current economic hardship – Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has given an insight into what the Federal and state governments should do to overcome the prevailing economic hardship buffeting the country and the citizens.

    Obasanjo said when “times are hard” such as the one the nation contends with today, governments must not only increase the Internally Generated Revenue(IGR), but also endeavour to shrink their sizes and “reduce waste.”

    The ex – President spoke in Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital, when the management of the Joint Tax Board(JTB) led by the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service(FIRS), Babatunde Fowler, visited him  at his residence on Presidential Hilltop Estate, Abeokuta, on Tuesday.

    Also in the visitation team of the management of the JTB, includes Chairmen of 36 states Internal Revenue Services, representatives of the Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Allocation Commission (RMFAC), the Nigerian Customs Service and the Immigration Service.

    Obasanjo who suggested that governments should become “slimmer” and also merge or rationalise their institutions that have continued to exist separately in order to be cope with the challenges economic downturn.

    According to him,  those meaaures are some of the things the tiers of government have to do to get Nigeria and Nigerians  “out of the (current)tight situation.”

    He, however, prayed that revenue from taxes would roll in sooner than later to cushion the effects of the hardship.

    “When times are hard, it is when the government needs more Internally Generated Revenue, and it is also the time that those from whom the government would want to generate fund are hard to be able to get money.

    “What do we have to do? They must continue to try with increase as much as possible, what each state can generate in terms of Internally Generated Revenue, but states must also embark on a number of things.

    “One, reducing waste. Two, they have to look into becoming slimmer, government can do a lot by looking at their own establishments. Where do they have to bring together institutions that don’t need to continue to exist separately.

    “And, generally, also show that the money they generate, the tax that the citizens pay are well utilised and they can show the people that, look you paid for this, and it has been well utilised’.

    “I think these are some of the things we have to do to get us out of the tight situation that we are all in and we pray that the tax will role in sooner than later,” Obasanjo said.

    Speaking earlier, Babatude Fowler, said  although the tax board is to raise money for government, but government also must eradicate waste.

     

  • 2016 Budget scandal: I’m vindicated – Obasanjo

    2016 Budget scandal: I’m vindicated – Obasanjo

    ……Urges Buhari to be vigilant

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Monday said that recent happenings concerning the 2016 Budget scandal in the National Assembly have vindicated him.

    Obasanjo, who had earlier claimed that the National Assembly and State Houses of Assembly were filled with armed robbers and rogues, had in January this year challenged Senate President Bukola Saraki and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara to open the financial records of the National Assembly since 1999 to external bodies.

    The ex-President was on Monday reacting to the current budget padding accusation and counter accusation between the leadership of the House of Representatives and sacked Chairman of the House of Reps Appropriation Committee, Abdulmumin Jibrin.

    Jibrin, who was removed as the chairman of the committee last week, alleged on Sunday that the padding of the 2016 budget with N40 billion was done at a secret location with the backing of Dogara and three principal officers including Deputy Speaker Yusuff Lasun, House Whip Alhassan Ado Doguwa and Minority Leader Leo Ogor.

    Speaking with State House correspondents on whether he was worried about the issue of corruption in the National Assembly, after meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, Obasanjo said: “Well, if you said that I have said it in the past and if there are people who didn’t believe what I said ‎in the past then, you can now see that what has come out confirms what I said in the past. Then what I said in the past is what I will say now.

    Asked if he wanted investigation into the issue of padding of the budget, he said: “It’s not question of investigation, we should get men and women of integrity in the place and the President should be very vigilant, whatever should not pass should not pass.”

    He disclosed that he was in the Villa to deliver some messages to the President.

    He said: “Not too long ago, I was in Liberia and Gambia and I have messages these two countries will want me to deliver to the president.

    “Also, only yesterday I came back from Seychelles Island where I attended this year’s Annual General meeting of Africa Export Development Bank. And there are aspects of the proceedings that I think I should update the President,” he added

    On whether he is enjoying all the travelling, he said: “Travelling is a good education, what you will learn about a country by visiting that country for two or three days you won’t learn by reading through books.

    Asked further if he was considering slowing down, Obasanjo said: “May God never let you to slow down.”

  •  Obasanjo laments ECOWAS inability to founding fathers’ expectations

     Obasanjo laments ECOWAS inability to founding fathers’ expectations

    … says Leaders’ lack of political will is to blame

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has lamented the inability of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to effectively meet the expectations of the founding fathers 41 years after its establishment.

    Obasanjo identified lack of political will on the part of leaders of member – states  as a major factor why the organisation has not fostered real economic union, growth and development in the West African sub – region. The ex – Nigerian leader made the observation on Monday when President of the ECOWAS Commission, Marcel Alain de – Souza, led a four-man delegation on a courtesy visit to him at his residence on  Presidential Hilltop Estate, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

    He said it is shameful that for whatever reason that ECOWAS countries would have  to be begging international communities for supply of food and other humanitarian aides to any challenged part of West Africa.

    He, therefore, made case for a deeper and stronger economic integration among ECOWAS member – nations as that would help stem the tide of  growing youth unemployment in countries of West Africa.

    According to him, a stronger economic integration coupled with political will from leaders of ECOWAS member nations would ensure growth and development as well as create a wide market for the sub – region’s jobless hands.

    He also rued that ECOWAS founding fathers never envisaged that issues of internal conflicts could weigh heavily on the sub – regional body such as it experienced experienced in countries such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, Cote D’ Voire among others.

    According to him, those conflicts retarded the growth of member nations since 41 years ago when ECOWAS was established.

    “Let me emphasis that 41 years ago ECOWAS was established, the expectation of all of us was very high, I think we will not be fair to ourselves if we do not say to ourselves we have not moved as fast and as far the expectation 41 years ago had been.

    ” But as you have rightly said there has been issues that have come up that were unexpected, I think again we must tell ourselves the truth that there has not been enough political will on our part to move that sub regional organisation as fast and as far as we should have done.

    “I have maintained that all of us in West Africa, in our different countries and indeed in Africa we are sitting on a keg of gun powder for as long as we do not pay adequate attention to youth unemployment. A situation where more than 50 per cent of our youths are unemployed is extremely dangerous.

    “We now have a situation in part of West Africa where people now are dying of starvation. Is it that we are not producing enough food? Or if we are producing, what we produced are evenly?

    “It is shameful for whatever that has led us to be begging international communities for supply of food to any part of West Africa, it is not right.

    “I want to say this that most of these conflicts; most of these causes of insecurity or breach of security were because adequate attention had not been paid to what I will call inclusiveness.

    “Inclusiveness in terms of political, economic and social development of all our countries. Inclusiveness gender wise, inclusiveness social wise, inclusiveness religious wise, inclusiveness ethnic wise and we must appeal to our leaders in our sub region to take these issue of inclusion seriously,” Obasanjo said.

    Earlier in his speech,  de-Souza said he was in Abeokuta to familiarize  himself with Obasanjo having been appointed President of ECOWAS and also seek his advise on matters concerning sub-regional body.

    Souza, who spoke through an interpreter,  said he was inclined to visit Obasanjo because the former Nigerian President has always showed commitment to ECOWAS,  always making himself available for the Commission.”

    He disclosed that Obasanjo is a Special ECOWAS’ envoy to Guinea-Bissau, stressing that the visit to Abeokuta was premised on the fact that Obasanjo was one of the founding fathers of ECOWAS and to know if he has come out with any solution to the crisis in Guinea-Bissau.

     

     

  • State Governors have bastardized our LGA system-  Obasanjo

    State Governors have bastardized our LGA system-  Obasanjo

    … rues LGAs’ impotency

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday rued that the 774 Local Government Areas(LGAs) across the country have been rendered “impotent”and almost “bastardized,” following the massive encroachment into their affairs by the state governors.

    Obasanjo said the glaring injustices and overbearing influence of the governors which they hand down routinely to the LGAs are such that they cannot tolerate it should the Federal Government elect to treat them the same way.

    The ex – President made this known when a 60 – member delegation of the National Union of Local Government Employees(NULGE) visited him at his residence on Presidential Hilltop Estate, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

    The delegation led by the NULGE National President, Ibhraheem Khaleel, were in Obasanjo’s home on Wednesday to solicit support towards freeing the LGAs from the alleged asphyxiating grip of the nation’s 36 state governors.

    The NULGE had through Khaleel, complained to the ex – Predident that the governors without exception, ” have completely rendered the Local Governments impotent and battered it through massive encroachment, diversion of funds and non implementation of rules establishing them(LGAs).”

    But Obasanjo who listened to them, said he is helpless about their plights, noting that when the LGA was reformed in 1976, by the then military government which he was a part, it gave LGAs  “functions, responsibilities and duties” to peform.

    He said it is saddening now to observe that state governors’ interferance has completely eroded the “sanctity and constitutionality” of the establishing LGAs.

    Obasanjo, however, said Nigerians should keep talking to the members of the National and states Assemblies as well as other stakeholders towards finding a way to  make the LGAs trully functional and democratic as envisioned by founding fathers.

    He said: “coming to me or me saying something is not the answer. I’m like a cripple. I have no executive power. I have no legislative power,  but you are not crippled and you can show them that you are on ground. Local Government should be allowed to carry out its function.

    “But I wonder, if the states can allow what they are doing to the Local Governments  to be done to them by the Federal Government.

    “Sadly, very very sadly, the autonomy of the Local Governments almost without any exception, havr been bastardized and encroached by the States.

    ” Both are suppose to be  tiers of government with each having its roles and functions. But, that is not the case.

    We shall continue to talk until those who reasonable among change this attitude.”

    Earlier, the NULGE President said the union had come to Obasanjo join in the rescue mission of the LGA system, noting that, as founding member of the administration in 1976,  they had autonomy of the Local Governments in mind.

    “We are aware that the mission was to make the council independent in running the affairs, but, the situation has changed and the states have rendered the local governments impotent.

    “As it is now, the governors cannot not do anything. Only yesterday, Abia state governor said he can not afford to raise N800m to conduct council election. That is why we decided to come to you to use your experience and not to allow local government system go into extinction.”

    “Also, we want to crave your indulgence to as the father of local government administration in Nigeria, we want to have a special role to play when you mark you 80th birthday next year, March, 2017.

    “We want to have a lecture programme, which you will be present to talk on local government administration in order to remember our people what the local government stands for. We pray for God’ s protection over you and your family,” Khaleel said.

  • We won’t withdraw suits until PDP follows its constitution – Chieftain

    We won’t withdraw suits until PDP follows its constitution – Chieftain

    A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Chief Akintayo Akin-deko, Thursday insisted that he would not withdraw his court case against the national leadership of the party until the leaders follow the constitution of the party in selecting leaders and in taking other decisions.

    Akin-Deko and some other party members filed a suit against the party’s national convention held in Port-Harcourt last month and another slated for Abuja, the nation’s capital.

    He explained that only the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party can decide the processes for decisions, not governors or any other group of powerful individuals.

    He said this in his Ibadan home Thursday when former President Olusegun Obasanjo paid a private visit to the matriarch of the Akin-deko family, Chief Ebun Akin-deko.

    The PDP chieftain said: “I’m one of the people who went to court to stop the conventions at Port-Harcourt and Abuja, insisting that the party must follow its own constitution. The problem started in 2011 when some people especially from the South south insisted that former president Goodluck Jonathan should run for a second term. That impunity has been continuing since then and came to a head when the governors decided that they were going to impose Alh. Alli Modu Sherif on us. The grassroots members are resisting it thoroughly, that Alhaji Sherif cannot be there and that governors cannot impose a chairman on the party. Only the BoT can constitute the party’s working committee. Alh. Ahmed Makarfi is an excellent man. Fortunately, he is also a member of the BoT. Fortunately, he is a former governor. So, he is the bridge that the BoT will use to stop this madness that is going on right now where people are invading our Abuja secretariat as if we are going back to the old days of Wild, Wild West. Unfortunately, they are attacking themselves needlessly over an issue of principles.”

    He insisted that the suits would go on until the party sticks to its constitution.

    “We have insisted we will not remove that case from court until the party follows the path of the constitution. Nobody can walk in from the streets, from another party and try to impose themselves on those of us that have been patient for so many years to recover our party. Once the party elders, the founding fathers, have structured an agreement, then we will withdraw the cases from court,” he said.

    Akin-deko, however, believes that the crisis rocking the national leadership of the party would be resolved in a matter of days.

    On allegation that the PDP crisis is being sponsored by the All Progressives Congress (APC), he rather blamed the former for opening itself up for alleged attacks from other parties and even from disgruntled members.

    “If there is no rule of law in the country, anybody can pick up something tomorrow and start anarchy. That is what is going on in the PDP now. They must go back and observe the rule of law,” He insisted.

    On why Obasanjo visited the family, Akin-deko explained that the former president, who was a close friend of his late father, Chief Gabriel Akin-deko, came to see Mrs Akin-deko to ascertain her well-being in another step to ensure that the 92-year old woman was still in good condition after the sad incident in which two of her grandchildren died in an accident in Iyabo Obasanjo’s car about 13 years ago.

    Since that incident, Akin-deko said the former president has been finding time once in a while to see the Mama to ascertain her well-being.

    The late Chief Akin-deko was a Minister of Agriculture.

  • Obasanjo accuses state governors of diverting LG funds 

    Obasanjo accuses state governors of diverting LG funds 

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo Monday gave a damning report on why development is stunted in Nigeria: governors divert local government allocations to other uses.

    Obasanjo disclosed this Monday in his opening remark at the inaugural conference of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy which was held at the University of Ibadan in the Oyo State capital.

    The former president insisted that chief among the many problems plaguing the presidential system of government in Nigeria is the alleged diversion of funds meant for developmental projects by state governors which consequently renders the 774 local governments impotent. He added that governors have rendered public institutions irrelevant.

    He posited that Nigerians are yet to imbibe the values of the presidential system which he said is able to address diversities in the country as well as capable of helping to galvanize resources to develop the Nigeria of our dream.

    Pointing to the financial challenges confronting the country due to the fall in the price of crude oil, Obasanjo said: “It is indeed proper for us in Nigeria to ask the question: Is the government working? Is government positioned to deal with challenges arising from these new developments?

    “Is there good governance in the 36 states of the federation where some governors have become sole administrators, acting like emperors? These governors have rendered public institutions irrelevant and useless. Is there development work going on in the 774 constitutionally recognized local government councils which are known to have been appropriated as private estates of the governor’s?

    “And of course, when governors take their money, the chairmen of the councils take the balance of the money, put it on the table and share it out among council members. In some local governments, has the governors not hijacked most of the resources in them and expended them to serve their whims and caprices instead of using the resources to galvanize growth and development? Have we embraced the principles and values of the presidential system of government such as to enable us to realize our vision of a great country? Instead of the waste that we experience, has the National Assembly been able to live up to its role as an agent of oversight and public accountability?

    “When are we going to be able to practice federalism in a way that promotes healthy competition among the states for the benefit of the citizens? When are we going to subordinate partisanship to collective goals and deploy the full potentials of our diversity to advance public causes that serve the aspirations of the teeming masses of our people crying under the cringe of poverty, disease, unemployment and neglect? When shall we all unite around the Nigeria dreaming our quest to be the giant which God has graciously endowed us to be?

    “Why is it that every model that has worked elsewhere never seems to work sustainably in Nigeria?  Can go on and on.”

    He bemoaned the low level of skills in the civil service as well as the different faces of corruption in the country.

    Obasanjo also re-emphasized the need for the National Assembly to open its budget to the public because of the need to operate in line with the reality of the current Nigerian economy.

    The former president challenged the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy to rise up to provide solutions to the myriads of problems confronting public service and governance in the country.

    In his keynote address, Chief Emeka Anyaoku offered a new model of the presidential system, which he believes would address most of the problems currently confronting the Nigerian system.

    Emphasizing that the Nigerian constitution is deformed, Anyaoku, who is a former Secretary General of The Commonwealth, described the current constitution as well as those developed since 1966 as unitary-federal.

    According to him, the country is better with the existing six geo-political zones as the federating units instead of the current 36 states.

    He recalled that the regional federating units fared better in the First Republic, adding that it promoted healthy competition among the regions.

    Instead of tinkering with the edges, Anyaoku advised the current National Assembly to make fundamental changes in the constitution to enable Nigeria pursue her dream of greatness.

    His words: “Instead of the present structure of 36 economically unviable states with concentrated political power at the centre, the National Assembly should convert the existing six geopolitical zones, which have been recognized and are being used for a number of political decisions and actions, into the more viable federating units of a truly Federal Republic of Nigeria.

    “The 36 states can be retained as development zones within the region’s but without full administrative paraphernalia. And it would be up to the six federating regions to consider and meet any demands for the creation of new development zones within them.

    “As more viable units for planning and attracting investments in larger development projects, the six regions will facilitate the necessary shift from the present philosophy and reliance by the 36 states on “sharing national cake,” to focusing on production and internally generated revenue within the regions. In addition, internal security and crime control can be more effectively managed by the people in the regions who know and are more familiar with the local environment.”

    In the proposed model, Anyaoku recommended that the Federal Government should retain exclusive power on certain matters and related institutions including finance and monetary policy, Defence, foreign affairs, immigration, customs, aviation, maritime and minerals (liquid and solid). Others are internal security (but liaising with regional security agencies), judiciary (but only the Supreme Court), education (but only federal universities and supervision of standards for all tertiary institutions), health (only federal teaching hospitals including at least one state-of-the -art specialist hospital in every region) and federal highways and railways.

    He further proposed allocation sharing formula as 40 per cent for the Federal Government and the balance of 60 per cent to be shared equally by the six regions.

    In his welcome address, the Executive Vice Chairman of the Ibadan School of Government and Public Policy, Dr Tunji Olaopa, explained that the idea of the special school was borne out of the experience he gathered in about three decades in the public service.

    He pointed out that the institution would identify the gaps and offer solutions through Nigerians who are highly experienced in art of modern governance.

    Olaopa also emphasized the need for the Nigerian civil service to embrace modern public service delivery system, which he said is needed to accomplish the goal of building the country of our dream.

    The Guest Speaker, Prof. Richard Joseph, also offered eight areas of possible focus for the school. They are state systems in the political order, optimization and productive innovation, claiming democracy and social wealth. The others are federalism and conglomerate government, democratic development governance, religion and public sphere as well as collective security.

    At the conference were the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who was represented by his deputy, Chief Moses Alake-Adeyemo; Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr Kayode Fayemi; Prof. Akin Mabogunje, who is the Chairman of the school’s Board of Directors; Prof. Pat Utomi; Prof. Alaba Ogunsanwo; Prof. Jide Osuntokun; former Minister of Education, Prof. Tunde Adeniran; Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Prof. Abel Olayinka; former Head of Service, Prof. Oladipo Afolabi and Mr Odia Ofeimun.

    Others are former Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Peter Okebukola; Prof. Ostia Ogbu; Dr Yemi Farohunbi and former Minister of Communication, Dr Mrs Omobola Johnson, among others.