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Tag: Nigerians

  • ‘Nigerians have a right to know treasury looters’

    Nigerians have a right to know those who looted the treasury, the Federal Government said yesterday.

    It added that no amount of pressure would distract the government from releasing more looters name.

    “Nigerians must know those who have wrecked the country and mortgaged the future of their children,” the government said in a statement by Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

    The statement said: ‘’We are not underestimating the desperation of the looters, but we

    wish to assure Nigerians who are justifiably outraged at the mindless plundering of the nation’s wealth also of our determination not to back down.”

    According to the government no amount of pressure, including the antics of hack writers and threats of litigation, will prevent it from releasing more names of looters of the treasury.

    Mohammed said following the release of the two lists of suspected looters, there have been overt and covert attempts to intimidate and blackmail the government into discontinuing the release of more names.

    ‘’Hack writers have inundated the social and traditional media with articles casting aspersion on the lists, while some newspapers have even resorted to writing editorials against the Federal Government over the release of the lists. Most of the write-ups have accused the government of politicising the anti-graft war by releasing the lists. We strongly disagree with them.

    ‘’We do not have the power to try or convict anyone. That is the exclusive preserve of the courts. But we have the power to let Nigerians know those who turned the public treasury into their personal piggy banks, on the basis of very concrete evidence, and that is what we are doing,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said the government had always known that corruption would fight back, “fast and furious”, hence it is not surprised at the hiring of hack writers to attack the very idea of naming and shaming the looters, or the hysterical threats of litigation

    ‘’All the fuss about politicising the anti-corruption fight is aimed at preventing the government from releasing more looters’ names and at the same time muddling the waters. But 1,000 negative write-ups or editorials will not deter us from releasing the third and subsequent lists. For those who have chosen to give succour to looters, we wish them the best of luck with their new pastime,’’ he said.

    The minister said the pressure being mounted on the government over its decision to expose looters was not unexpected, adding: ‘’We know where the pressure is coming from. However, the die is cast. We will not stop until we have released the names of all those who have looted our commonwealth. Those who have not looted our treasury have nothing to be afraid of.”

    He challenged anyone who felt that he or she had been wrongly accused to “seek redress in court, rather than engaging in exhibitionist sophistry.”

    The minister also reminded Nigerians that it was the PDP that challenged the government into releasing the looters list, “hence the argument that the list only contained the names of PDP members falls short without proper contextualisation.”

  • Buhari to Nigerians: Your confidence in us won’t be abused

    President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that his administration will do its best to justify their trust in the government.

    According to him, their confidence in the administration won’t be abused.

    The President spoke in London on Sunday while receiving the Buhari Diaspora Support Organization, led by Mr Charles Efe Sylvester.

    In a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, the President said “I am happy that people like you are here, on your own, defending the country. You have shown courage and sacrifice. I assure you that your confidence in us won’t be abused, we will do our best to justify it,”

    He noted that Nigeria was gifted with tremendous human and natural resources, but regretted that “failure of some of the leadership we had in the past led to our not being able to capitalize on resources to improve the lot of the people.”

    Stressing that wicked people plundered the country, “and kept Nigerians poor,” the President added that looking at the condition in which the current administration met the country, without savings and the economy badly vandalized, “we have not done too badly.”

    President Buhari said the damage done to the Nigerian economy in the years of plunder was massive, and that government was doing its best to recover some of the loot, but noted that it was impossible to identify and recover all.

    He said “If they had used 50% of the money we made, when oil prices went as high as $143 dollars per barrel, and stabilized at $100 dollars with production at 2.1 million barrels per day for many years, Nigerians would have minded their businesses.

    “You could almost grow food on our roads, as they were abandoned. The stealing was so much, and they were so inept that they could not even cover the stealing properly. I wonder how all those things could have happened to our country.” the President said.

    He commended the Buhari Diaspora Support Organization for deciding to identify with the country, “when you could have stayed here, and being comfortable.”

    The Coordinator of the organization, Mr Sylvester, said the group was happy with the achievements of the Buhari administration so far.

    He said “You met a difficult situation, but you have overcome most of them. We are happy with the agriculture revolution, the ease of doing business, the anti-corruption war, the employment of youths through the N-Power programme, and the blockage of leakages in the public sector through the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

    “We are proud of the speed with which you recovered the abducted Dapchi schoolgirls. It shows you as a worthy general. We are happy that you have declared for 2019. Majority of Nigerians are happy, but agents of corruption and darkness are unhappy.

    “The same God, who healed you when you were ill, will grant you victory in the 2019 elections. You are a General who does not fear combat, either with Generals or non-Generals. We declare our love and support for you. You are fixing the faulty foundations of our country and second term is when you will build the enduring structure.” he said

  • ‘Nigerians must prevail on legislature to override Buhari on Electoral Act’

    RIVERS State Governor Nyesom Wike has called on Nigerians to prevail on the National Assembly to override the President’s veto of the 2010 Electoral Act Amendment Bill to guarantee free, fair and credible electoral system.

    Addressing the 2018 Annual Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Legal Practice Conference in Port Harcourt yesterday,  Wike urged lawyers to rise up and insist on the relevance of the amended Electoral Act 2010.

    He said: “We must all stand up against the devilish efforts by some anti-democratic forces to kill the ongoing process to amend the 2010 Electoral Act on the whimsical excuse that the order of elections proposed in the Amendment Bill contravenes the discretionary powers of INEC, which, in any case, has not complained of any mischief occasioned by the new order.

    “Let me remind us that a defining feature of the legal profession is the commitment to promote both the substantive rules and the processes of the law, as well as, to defend the democratic values of our society.”

    Wike said though the 2010 Electoral Act was enacted to promote credible elections, the All Progressives Congress (APC) working with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police manipulated  the Act to rig the rerun elections in Rivers.

    He said following fraudulent  activities by INEC, APC  and the Police, the tribunal and Court of Appeal upheld results concocted by the Police for Rivers Rerun

    “We all saw how results sheets were duplicated with identical serial numbers and handed over to the police to entre fake results and returns in favour of the candidates of the APC in the said elections.

    “In spite of this law, we all saw how both the tribunal and the Court of Appeal anchored their verdicts on results that were generated and certified from the custody of the Nigerian Police, while the results from INEC, which conducted the elections, were branded irrelevant and accordingly rejected.

    “What all these mean is that a thousand Electoral Laws may amount to nothing for as long as the Federal Government, the INEC, the Police and other government agencies that may legally or illegally be brought into the election process, continue to disrespect the law and trample on our democratic rights to free and fair elections with impunity and without suffering any legal pains or punishment for their criminal conduct.”

    Wike urged the NBA  to reinvent and reposition itself in response to challenges in the theory and practice of law.

    The governor also said lawyers must rethink the way they practice to remain relevant and meet the needs of their clients and society.

    Opening the conference, Chief Justice Justice Walter Onoghen, represented by Justice AB Gumel, noted that the timing is right as it will allow the bench and bar to appraise issues of justice delivery.

    He urged judges to adhere to tenets of the law in their  judgments.

    President of Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Abubakar Mahmoud (SAN) said the association’s Section on Law Practice is a vehicle for deepening professional practice.

    Chairman of NBA Section on Legal Practice Mainnaya Essien (SAN) said recent ethical issues require an appraisal of practice and challenges.

     

    Highpoint of the conference was the presentation of a recognition plaque to Governor Wike by the NBA President for the outstanding contributions of the Rivers State Governor to the legal profession.

     

     

     

  • A State warring against itself …

    Too many times, I have found myself giving overtly political commentaries on this column where I have meant to give only subliminal parochial mirth. I have since found out that this descent to base politicization happens whenever I have been overwhelmed by the philistinism exhibited by my fellow Nigerians. So, if ever you hear me say the phrase ‘Fellow Nigerians…’, you can be sure I do not include these people who exhibit less than noble character. Certainly too, when I pray for my countrymen, I give them a clear miss.

    I refuse to pray for anyone who can stow the country’s billions in a soak-away, overhead tank, cemetery dug-out or even mattress. A housewife can put her money in a mattress because she cannot trust the bank, with good reason. I would prefer the mattress myself but my employer may not share my sense of humour. Which number, they would ask me, are they to use to represent the mattress?

    Anyway, as the days have gone by, I have been alarmed by the number of people I am not praying for. There was a list released recently on social media of the people alleged to have been caught with billions illegally acquired by them, and how much of it they had returned so far. As I read the list, I mentally added them to those not to pray for. I find though that the blessed list is still growing.

    As someone said, the list contains the names of those in the old ruling party who plundered the land and it has conveniently left out those in the current ruling party who are probably still plundering. I think when another party comes, the current ruling party will become the old ruling party and their list will bring out the names of those in the old ruling party and leave out the names of those in its own current ruling party. Heck, I hope you can make better sense of that than I can.

    Just this morning, I read that the former South Korean leader, Park Geun-hye, was given a 24-year jail term for alleged corruption involving a sum of $20m. The point that strikes me is that someone is said to have taken a sum amounting to billions of Naira from the Nigerian state by stealth and all we can do is cunningly find ways of getting back the money or some of it from him. He is then allowed to still enjoy his home-cooked amala. That is not fair to Mrs. Geun-hye.

    There are also those who have taken millions of Naira from the country for contracts and have failed to execute such contracts. Yet, nothing has happened to them. Driving on the Oyo-Ogbomoso road (and many other such roads) is worse than a camel driving through the eye of a needle because of unexecuted contracts. Yet, no one is hollering blue murder!

    Taking such huge amounts from the public as shown on that social media list of corruptly amassed funds by stealth or in unexecuted contracts is more or less declaring war against the state. The fact that it is happening in such a huge number too amounts to the unbelievable fact that the citizens have declared war on their own country. The state is warring against itself!

    The south Korean leader was not even alleged to have taken from her state; she was said to have merely used her position, which amounted to an abuse, hence, corruption. Yet, her state is not having any of it because it realizes too well the implication of an individual declaring that kind of war against the country. That is why the report said that even the president before her was also on trial, in addition to many other leaders the country had put on trial for corruption.

    As I said before, it irks something bad whenever I have had to make these political comments, like now. The reason is there are too many things happening that cannot be ignored. Unfortunately, most of the things happening in the country can be traced to this seemingly intractable problem of corruption.

    Listen, it is now becoming very clear that most people have found that no one gets punished in Nigeria for taking huge sums from public funds. No one even gets punished for wrong doing, unless they are not ‘big men’. Only ‘small men’ get punished for stealing a loaf of bread. ‘Big men’ who steal billions and billions get patted on the back and join political parties. News media have reported that there are many former governors in the national assembly who are still drawing remunerations and entitlements from their states equivalent to that of the sitting governor, and nothing has been done. This a most depraved act of corruption for which, I think, they should be deported to south Korea.

    The people who steal public funds use them to live larger-than-life lifestyles that beggars all description and also begs the question: what does anyone need so much money for? To grow another skeleton? Most of them use the money to flaunt themselves in the face of the world, to the envy of the rest of us. And, honestly, I would be envious if I wasn’t so scandalized. The unfortunate thing, however, is that unemployed youths and adults like me watch such obscene displays of wealth and get some unholy ideas. So, corruption begets corruption.

    Just last week, five banks were said to have been raided in Offa, Kwara State, during which at least twelve people were said to have been killed. The raiders were said to have numbered between 30 and 50, accounts vary; but they were some very angry youths, no doubt. When the state declares war against itself, things like that are bound to happen. They point to some deep-level failures all around.

    Some weeks ago, a woman was said to have recognized a man while she was in the bank who had been among those who had abducted her earlier. When the matter was further probed, he was found to have close to one hundred million naira in his bank account. He worked only as a tailor fulltime and a kidnapper part-time. Another woman who was caught in the process of collecting a ransom money said she wanted to set up a business, that was why she abducted her sister’s child.

    In the comment given by the Archbishop Okogie, Nigeria is in danger from its political class and its military class. I do agree. We obviously have a leadership class that cannot check its appetite and greed for amassing ill-gotten wealth. In other words, it cannot check itself, and most of the problems in the country can be traced to their actions (and inactions). Sadly, they are infecting the rest of the country. For instance, we still do not know what transpired in the matter of the Dapchi girls. Truth, however, has a way of coming out eventually. We only need to wait.

    The Nigerian state is at war with itself because our leaders have opened the door to unbridled and unchecked brigandage. They have also planted themselves at the gate, so corruption cannot go out, progress cannot come in. They are worse than highway men, yet they hold the direction the state goes in their hand.

    I think it is time that we the real people raised our voices together and insist that no one declares war on the state anymore. We must vociferously and shrilly demand that Nigeria be no longer treated like a conquered territory by its leaders. Only in our collective voice will sanity return. That, I will pray for.

  • Nigerians urged to back alma mater

    •Ex-Mays mark 50th anniversary of leaving school

    An architect, Mr. Segun Ladega, has urged Nigerians not to forget their alma mater.

    He said they should support them morally, financially and spiritually.

    Ladega, who spoke at the weekend in Ikeja, Lagos at the 50th anniversary of leaving secondary school of the 1963-67 set of Mayflower School, Ikenne, Ogun State and launching of a book titled: ‘Our Unforgettable Years’, said ex-Mays, as old students of the school  are addressed, should not forget  the school that made them.

    Ladega, who represented the chairman of the event, Otunba Adeleke Adeshina, said:  “Although I am not an ex-May, as I attended the oldest secondary school in Remoland, I admire Mayflower School, Ikenne because of its high standard.

    “The school has produced people doing well in all areas of life. Its products are successful. Mayflower School, in those days, was a rival to my school.  I admired it because the students lived a spartan life. This school, founded by the late educationist and human rights activist, Dr. Tai Solarin and Sheila Solarin, is known for high standard, which must be sustained.

    “I thank God that all of you are alive and successful in your fields. I enjoin you to support your alma mater, to restore its lost glories.”

    A member of the set, Mr. Oludayo Opanubi, thanked God for sparing their lives “to witness this august occasion of our 50 years of leaving school.”

    Opanubi, an engineer, said: “We thank God for making us to be successful in our endeavours and for giving us good health and long lives to witness this epoch-making event. To God be the glory. I also thank our parents and guardians for educating us at Mayflower, a school known for morality, discipline and high educational standard.”

    The reviewer of the book, Mr. Akin Aloba, said: “Mayflower School, Ikenne was known for high standard in our days. We had highly-skilled teachers from all parts of the world, including Britain and the

    United States of America.

    “We want to raise N10 million from this book launch. The proceeds will be spent on our alma mater because we want to restore its lost glories.”

     

     

     

    The old students, who reminisced about their days and bantered, thanked God for allowing them to witness their golden jubilee of leaving school.

     

  • What do Nigerians really want?

    Nigerians say they want a better leadership. They also want good roads, health facility, constant electricity supply, affordable homes, security, quality education and great human capital which can drive the change we want. For decades, these are desires of  an average Nigerian.

    No reasonable human being will hate these desires but beyond the wish, many of these items are not delivered on a platter of gold. When I watched the march against guns organised by teenagers in the United States, I called the attention of my daughter to this and asked if her generation ever considered doing this in Nigeria; non-violent protest calling for changes. My daughter’s reply was what have you adults done in this regard? I could not but feel a little bit of shame even though I did not betray my emotion.

    My conclusion about the wants of Nigerians is that we do not properly understand the economic concept of wants and needs. When we  get into the nitty gritty of the concept, it can really be difficult. Economist like James Yeo had defined wants and needs as unfulfilled desires that motivate human behaviour. The satisfaction of these unfulfilled desires usually improves human well-being.  This definition may be lopsided but there is an element of truth in it.

    On the surface, a want is a desirable thing which does not affect our survival. A need is at the core of human survival. Needs speak volume about what human needs to survive or exist here on earth. In other words, wants are desirable things which make life more enjoyable. Wants as desire may or may not be obtainable.  Needs must be melt to be alive. Until life exists, one cannot think of  an enjoyable life. Without basic needs,  life may cease to exist.

    Nigeria’s electorate do not realise they have the power of choice and right to demand accountability from their elected officials. Nigerians will rather argue and fight over irrelevant issues.  Our unreasonable producers of goods (government and elected officials) who continually draw from our common resources had perfected their acts and arts. They give us something to engage ourselves with while they continue to populate and pollute the market space with bad products. We keep buying the substandard products either in error or intentionally. We never learn our lessons nor refuse to accept bad products.

    Until Nigerians see the true picture with regards to what they call wants are actually basic needs, their corporate survival may be at stake. It is at this level of knowing they can initiate a process of bringing these needs  into life. It is at this level average Nigerian will become active participants in the free invisible hand, market of democracy. If we do not know this we may continue to die one by one.

    How do we become active participants in this free market? Information is key. What do we know about democracy and how much of our rights do we know? How can we make a choice of not patronising bad products  and services?  How do we send a bad producer out of the market without guns or fire arms?

    One strong power we have is the power to vote. How do we vote if we have no voters’ card?  Do we do our due diligence on the individuals presented to us by the party? Do we  make an informed  choice of voting  individuals we know with capacity,  competency and character? Do we ask question or demand accountability when the mistake of voting wrong individuals into office had been made? These are some of the ways we will know if we are ready to move our so-called wants into the realm of needs where they actually belong.

    • Olaito is a communication and media specialist

     

     

     

  • Tinubu advises Nigerians: don’t accept PDP’s apology

    APC stalwart condemns bad belle letters 

    Buhari, Osinbajo, governors extol celebrator

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu yesterday advised Nigerians not to accept the apologies tendered by the People s Democratic Party (PDP) for its mistakes while in power.

    Speaking at his 66th birthday’s colloquium in Lagos, the former lagos State governor described the apology tendered last week byPDP National Chairman Uche Secondus as “deceitful”, meant to hoodwink Nigerians to get a political advantage.

    He said the apology cannot change the effect of the damage already done to the economy.

    ”Nigerians should not accept PDP’s apologies, they are corrupt, they lied, they falsified, they changed figures.

    “For 16 years, they made fake promises, gave us fake figures, and they tell us, ‘Don’t talk about it’.

    “It is like, after catching a thief and he tells you, ‘Don’t look at me, go and steal your own’. We are soldering on. We have a good leader to rely on. We have hope.”

    At the colloquium, which is the 10th edition, were President Miuhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, host Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and many other governors, lawmakers, ministers, past governors, past ministers, traditional rulers, top industrialists and other categories of people and associates of the celebrator.

    The former governor also chided (although without making direct reference to him) former President Olusegun Obasanjo for writing a letter advising President Muhammadu Buhari not to contest in 2019, besides castigating his administration.

    Tinubu said it was was full of bile.

    He added: “My grandmother used to send me to a letter writer. Someone is writing letters these days, a letter of politics as if they have never been there before. Bad belle letters.

    “The ship of state was about to wreck, but President Buhari steered the ship back. The voyage is the voyage of hope. We are reinventing and re-directing Nigeria. It is not an easy voyage to embark on.”

    An excited Tinubu was full of praises for the President, the vice president, governors, legislators and other dignitaries who came to honour him. He also thanked his wife, Oluremi, “for tolerating hme”, adding that she had no choice.

    He applauded Ambode for his exceptional commitment to the progress and economic development of Lagos State.

    In an obvious reference to the endorsement of the governor for a second term by stakeholders, Tinubu said after many work, “the result is more work”.

    He also hailed the cordial relations between the governor and his deputy, Dr. Idiat Adebule.

    Acknowledging Ambode’s achievements, Tinubu said: “I can see what the government is doing with so little. It has produced results.”

    The former governor traced the genesis of the Buhari administration to the epic battle to effect a change in the polity, stressing that Nigeria has reaped the dividends.

    He said: “We came as APC leaders with a lot of hope. We were discussing. We believe in ourselves and Nigeria, that we can change Nigeria. And we are still going to do it again. It came with challenges. Our logo is not honey or sugar, but broom; a united Nigeria against terrorism, corruption, insecurity and for the revival of the economy.”

    Tinubu disagreed with people who said the APC should stop reminding Nigerians about the corrupt activities of the Jonathan administration. He said a great lesson could be learnt from the perfidy of the former ruling party.

    He said: “They say we should not talk about corruption. What should we talk about? If we don’t talk about it, what is the lesson to all Nigerians?”

    Tinubu, who thanked Nigerians for their patience and support for the APC government, said the PDP should not return to power to continue what he called the looting of the economy.

    He added: “Forget those parties. They won’t come back. We did not envisage that there would be no such challenges. So, we report back to Nigerians about what we found on ground. We did not say that there would be no challenges because, even America is facing challenges.

    “PDP looted and wasted our resources. They misused our resources. There is a clear understanding here. There is a difference between us and them, a difference between night and day.”

    Tinubu, who spoke on the importance of a re-invigorated pension scheme, promised to write prepare a technical paper for the President on the crucial matter.

    He added: “The challenge of the economy is on. We should consider micro-credit. We should return to the mortgage culture to reduce corruption. We need to rework the pension. I will submit a proposal on how we can stimulate the economy. We don’t have to pay for a house of N10 million in one day and with cash. We need mortgage. This would discourage corruption.

    “Hope is back. We have the audacity of it. We will bring back Nigeria to the path of progress and banish poverty forever.”

    As Tinubu was called to the podium, his supporters in the hall launched it a song: “On your mandate we shall stand” Ambode joined to sing the song.

    President Muhammadu Buhari, who chaired the event, acknowledged the celebrator as a “strategist” and “a fountain of ideas”, adding that he is a party chieftain and a friend whose care for the people and contributions to the progress of Nigeria and Africa should be appreciated.

    The President arrived at the venue around 11.30 am, after inaugurating the Ikeja Terminal Bus Stop.

    He flew in a chopper from the Presidential Wing of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport  to the Victoria Island venue.

    He was accompanied by host Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his wife, Bolanle, Mrs. Idiat Adebula and some ministers.

    The colloquium’s theme is “Investing in people”. Some beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s social investment and school feeding programmes shared their experiences, stressing how the programmes had impacted their lives.

    The highlights of the colloquium included a stage play directed by Ifeooma Fafunwa, titled: “The power of 200 million people”,  multimedia presentations on the theme, expositions on “Social Investment and Governance-The example of NSIP” by the Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme by its National Programme Coordinator, Mrs. Abimbola Adesanmi and N-Power Programme and job creation by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Job Creation and Youth Employment, Afolabi Imoukhuede.

    There were also the Northeast Makeathon by the Special Assistant to the Vice President on Internally Displaced Persons, Brimah Mohammed and the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme by a presidential adviser, Maryam Uwais.

    The toast to the celebrator was proposed by Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki, who said Tinubu’s life exemplified sacrifice, courage and hope, which the Christian season of lent symbolized.

    Paying tribute to the former Lagos State governor, Obaseki said: “As a senator, two-time governor; in fact, a governor of governors; he was one of the most strategic politicians, who has shaped the progressive politics in the country and someone who has invested in people. I thank Asiwaju Tinubu for encouraging fresh thinking in our politics and encouraging people like me to enter politics.”

    The vice president praised Tinubu for his heroic struggles, his resilience and numerous battles for the progress of society, saying the best time is yet to come”.

    Prof. Osinbajo told the beautiful story of the conception, implementation and progress of the yearly colloquium in the last one decade, recalling that Tinubu’s aides when he was governor decided to use it as a platform for discussing matters of great national importance.

    The vice president, who was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the defunct Tinubu administration, said the colloquium took off as part of efforts to sustain Tinubu’s struggles as a fighter and people-oriented politician.

    He said Tinubu ran an unusual government in the Centre of Excellence, provoking a great deal of arguments, which he deliberately permitted to secure access to different shades of opinion.

    Osinbajo recalled: “One of the issues that generated argument as it is still generating arguments today, was the Land Use Act. The Land Use Act generated arguments at the Government House, Ikeja among members of the State Executive Council; with people like myself, Wale Edun, Alake, Cardoso, Lai Mohammed. When Asiwaju was losing the argument, he retorted: ‘Why? Are you the person they voted for? He stormed out of the meeting. Then, he came back, only to see that we were still there. When he stormed out, he came back with some facts, after making some consultations.”

    Hailing Tinubu for laying the foundation for progress, Osinbajo said he allowed the leaders he had made to develop, criticise and contradict his ideas.

    The vice president thanked President Buhari for giving him the opportunity and a free hand to coordinate the social intervention programme of the administration.

    He said to ensure transparency, an inter-ministerial group consisting of some ministers was set up to supervise the programe.

    Osinbajo said the APC was determined to change the country by halting the personalisation of the commonwealth by a few corrupt politicians.

    He said Buhari wanted to effect that change by fulfiling his campaign promises of security, economic revival, job creation and war against corruption.

    The vice president added: “If we waited for long to give jobs, many would have given up. Therefore, we invested in agriculture and it has been a tremendous success. This has led to job creation. Like the President said of his native state, people are no more leasing out land to other farmers from outside Katsina. And I will add this joke, not only are more people now going to hajj; they are also taking more wives.”

    Osinbajo said the Buhari administration paid attention to social security, despite the fall in the oil price and shrinking of national revenue. He said over 200,000 jobs had been provided, 300,000 in the pipeline and 300,000 are beneficiaries of the micro-loans

    The vice president lamented that corruption has done serious damage to the economy, blaming the defunct PDP administration for the predicament.

    He said: “The corruption of the previous five years destroyed our economy.” The Buhari administration will continue to decry the evil because the country cannot afford to go the same way, Osinbajo said.

    He said the Treasury Single Account (TSA) exposed the corrupt tendencies of the past administration.

    Osinbajo stressed: “People cornered resources of the people and used the resources against the people. We will not allow that. APC will continue to make a difference. In the period of abundance, the past administration claimed it spent only N139 billion in the three ministries of Power, Works And Housing. This administration has spent N560 billion at a time we are earning 50 per cent less than the previous revenue. They were stealing the money.”

    Lamenting the impact of corruption on socio-economic development, he added: “No country that allows its resources to be plundered can become a great country.”

    Noting that corruption is fighting back, the vice president said the government was determined to sustain the battle against graft.

    He added: “Three billion US dollars was lost to the scam in the oil sector. That amounts to one trillion naira. We are using the same amount to construct the Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Road, the Second Niger Bridge, Kano-Maiduguri Road, and Lagos-Abeokuta Road. Criminality must not be allowed. Criminals must be brought to book. We receive 50 percent less, yet, we spend more on social infrastructure. The government of Buhari has chosen to remain on the side of the people.”

    President Buhari, who spoke after Osinbajo, threw the audience into laughter when he said he ordinarily should have nothing to say again after the legal luminary had made a brilliant speech that drew a loud ovation.

    He said: “After the speech of the vice president, I wonder what else I would say. I would stick to my speech and I would rely on your judgment to see how I operate with such a brilliant vice president.”

    Paying tribute to Tinubu, the President said: “I am here to celebrate the birthday of my friend and political partner. He is well known as a political strategist. I have come to see him as a man who cares about the people and I appreciate his contributions to the progress of the people of Nigeria and Africa.”

    Lauding the organisers of the colloquium for the theme, President Buhari said Nigeria was approaching a new dawn where insecurity will give way to security, corruption will be defeated and prosperity will replace poverty.

    He stressed the importance of investing in people, adding that, by doing so, tomorrow will be better than today and good will triumph over evil.

    Buhari emphasised that his administration was laying a good foundation by bringing people from various ethnic groups to a peaceful relationship.

    He said “we depend on people to govern”, adding that the government’s investment must touch the lives of the people.

    Buhari said: “We seek to rebuild what was wrongly constructed. We must invest in people. Our investment in critical areas have impacted immensely on our people. We have set Nigeria on an irreversible direction of growth and development. We are resolute in our commitment to making Nigeria great.”

     

  • Why we apologised to Nigerians, by PDP

    THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) said yesterday its apology to Nigerians was a pathway to national healing, renewal of hope and remobilisation of the citizenry for the task of rescuing the nation from alleged “misrule of the All Progressives Congress (APC)”.

    Its National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, on Monday apologised to Nigerians and pleaded for forgiveness for the party’s culture of impunity and imposition of candidate, which he said, led to the party’s loss of power in 2015.

    It said as a responsible party, committed to the good of Nigerians, the PDP is deeply saddened that Nigerians are suffering “because the nation allowed the APC, a movement that has neither structure nor plan, to scheme itself into governance”.

    A statement by the National Publicity Secretary of the PDP, Kola Ologbondiyan, accused the APC of devastating the country, wrecking the country’s once robust economy and plunging the citizens into a situation of hunger, starvation and daily bloodletting.

    The party said it was not unmindful of the fact that lessons have been learnt and that Nigerians across board are now looking up to its repositioned and rebranded platform to pull the country from the brinks and return it to the path of true democracy, national cohesion and economic prosperity.

    The party added that while certain mistakes were made in its internal administration prior to the 2015 general election, its new leadership has already smoothened the rough edges to ensure strict adherence to internal democracy and good governance.

    “It is imperative to further state that our apology has to do more with the fact that we made certain mistakes that allowed an anti-people movement to take over governance in our country.

    “Therefore, our apology is to ask Nigerians, once again, to put their trust in the rebranded PDP, particularly, as our party is the only platform that is committed to the national agenda of peace, unity, justice and prosperous nation,” the statement added.

  • Ighalo, Echiejile thank Nigerians

    Super Eagles’ duo of Jude Ighalo and left back Elderson Echiejile have called on Nigerian fans to keep supporting the team ahead of tonight’s International friendly game against Serbia.

    In a telephone interview, Ighalo appealed to Nigerian fans to keep the support coming for the team against Serbia.

    ”We appreciate Nigerians, their support has been immense, but we need more prayers, and their unending support. The fans support has really been great for the team,” Ighalo told Brila FM.

    Meanwhile, Elderson Echiejile also appreciated the fans for their support so far, while urging the supporters for more.

    ”Nigerians have been really fantastic with their support, and we are hoping to get more from them,” Echiejile stated.

    Elderson further reaffirmed his readiness to give his best to the team whenever called upon.

    ”Currently, we are happy things are positive, and we are working hard for things to be better in each game. And whenever I get called upon, I am always ready to give my best, even though we are playing a friendly game, it’s a time to test the players, and whenever called upon, I always give my best,” he added.

    While thanking Nigeria fans for their support, Echiejile said the team will continue to do well in a bid to put smiles on the faces of Nigerians.

    The Super Eagles will face Serbia after beating Poland on home soil in the second International friendly game in London today.

  • 2019 elections: Nigerians urged to exercise franchise

    Director of Kresta Laurel Ltd, Maryland, Lagos, Mr. Dideolu Falobi, has urged Nigerians to register and vote in next year’s general election.

    Falobi, an engineer, who spoke at the weekend, at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, as a guest speaker at the 1st Annual General Meeting (AGM) and 2nd   Alumni Lecture of the Faculty of Engineering Alumni Association; said he has started a campaign to ensure people register and vote.

    He said: “Nigerians have apathy to party membership, registration for election and voting on election day. We cannot continue to complain when we have the opportunity to act. Most of our youths do not register. Even when they do, they don’t vote on election day.

    “Social media criticism is useless without an affirmative action. I appeal to all of us to mobilise others to register and vote. Our vote is our voice and power.”

    Falobi, who spoke on the topic:  ‘Alumni Association: A Veritable Tool for Networking and Promotion of Professionalism’, said the association should understand and provide for the needs of members and the faculty.

    He added: “Networking facilitates and enhances our success. As alumni, we need relationship and connection to become successful engineers. As professionals, high level of excellence and efficiency are expected of us. A professional association like ours mentors and counsels members to excel in their careers. It provides opportunity for leadership training. I hope our association will become a reference point to others.”

    The Vice Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, enjoined the alumni to make the university unique because it belonged to them.

    He said: “Engineering now is about turning ideas into realities. Making graduates entrepreneurs should be our priority. University of Lagos should have a refinery where our petroleum and chemical engineering students will do practical. I know ex-Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Group Managing Director Funsho Kupolokun, an alumnus, will assist us.”

    The Chairman of the Board of Trustees (BOT) of the association, Dr. Oye Eribake, said the faculty, since its inception in 1964, had delivered on its mandate by producing graduates, who were making giant strides in their careers.

    The Dean, Faculty of Engineering, Prof. Funso Falade, hailed the association for supporting the faculty and contributing to its development.

    The highlight of the event was the presentation of the first edition of the association’s newsletter, inauguration of the faculty’s Industrial Advisory Board and election of executives.