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Tag: Obasanjo

  • Obasanjo urge Nigerians to develop their communities

    Obasanjo urge Nigerians to develop their communities

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged Nigerians residing in towns and city centres to develop their rural communities.

    He advised tham against waiting endlessly for the government to develop their communities.

    Obasanjo said in his ancestral village, Ibogun,  in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State, there was neither a single toilet nor clinic for the villagers in his growing-up era, urging the people to embark on “village renewal” projects.

    The ex -president spoke  at the weekend in his message at the 2015 edition of the Ibogun-Olaogun Day.

    He noted that the government alone cannot be expected to satisfy all the infrastructural needs of the rural folks.

    According to him, the physical, social and educational development of the rural dwellers largely dependent on whatever contributions members that were born and brought up there could facilitate to such communities.

    He expressed the joy that Ibogun village can now boast of a Primary Health Clinic (PHC), modern toilets, good road network as well as modern structure for the primary school all of which were products of communal efforts.

    Obasanjo said: “As responsible people to our respective rural areas, we should not wait for the governments. When I was growing up in this community, there was no latrine, no bath room and a clinic.

    “Today, there are over a dozen of people who would have died if the clinic we constructed through the community’s self-effort had not being in existence.

    “Each of us can encourage village renewal; we don’t need to wait for government if we don’t want to tarry for too long. The need to raise fund for our community secondary school, is borne out of the need that, we can not wait for government to do it us.

    “We have to carry our load by ourselves before we say government should come to our aide. That is the reality today.

    “We don’t need to wait for government before developing our communities, particularly some of us who were raised from the village.

    “We should not wait for any ‘government ticket. Let us think of what we can do for ourselves and our communities; what can we do for ourselves to make the village communities more habitable for us.

    Also speaking at the event, former Oyo State Deputy Governor Taofeek Arapaja  said rural development  would curb youths’ rural-urban migration in search of the non-existence “white-collar” jobs.

    Arapaja urged the rich to fraternise with the rural communities and establish industries in those there.

    “If Baba Obasanjo could be championing the call for rural development, there is nothing stoping us the younger ones to take to his call and go back to our respective rural areas to bring development,” Arapaja said.

     

  • Obasanjo urges support for Ortom

    Obasanjo urges support for Ortom

    Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the people of Benue State to support Governor Samuel Ortom to fulfil his campaign promises.

    He enjoined farmers to unite and provide food security, jobs and wealth for the country.

    Obasanjo spoke at a dinner organised for him by Ortom at the new banquet hall of the Benue Peoples’ House, Makurdi.

    He expressed confidence in the ability of the governor to deliver on selfless service and advised him to uphold the values of his administration.

    Ortom described Obasanjo as a role model and an inspiration, who encouraged Nigerians to acquire knowledge at whatever age, position and attainment.

    He said the large turnout of people, who received Obasanjo, was a proof of the love the people had for him.

    The former president was decorated in Benue colours by the governor.

    The two leaders danced to the music provided by the Benue State Council for Arts and Culture.

  • Guinea Bissau: Why I picked Obasanjo to mediate in crisis – Buhari

    Guinea Bissau: Why I picked Obasanjo to mediate in crisis – Buhari

    President Muhammadu Buhari has said he enlisted former President Olusegun Obasanjo to mediate in the political crisis in Guinea Bissau because of his wide political and military experience and strong commitment to the unity of Nigeria and Africa.

    He made the disclosure during an audience with the President of Guinea Bissau, Mr. Jose Mario Bavz, on the sidelines of the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Buhari, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said: “I sent President Olusegun Obasanjo because he is the only person living or dead that has ruled Nigeria for 11 years.

    “I served under him as a military Head of State. He has a strong commitment to Nigeria and Africa. That was why I looked for him and asked him to collaborate with President Macky Sall of Senegal to stabilize the situation of Guinea Bissau.”

    While appreciating President Bavz’s expression of thanks for Nigeria’s support during the crisis in his country, President Buhari told his Guinea Bissau counterpart that the “least Nigeria could do is what we did to stabilize your country,”

    “You can count on our support at all times.”

    President Bavz had said he came to thank President Buhari for everything Nigeria has been doing for his country, adding that he has been looking forward to such an opportunity.

    “I am not in a position to assist you but I pray for you every day. I want to take you as my big brother and share from your experience,” he said.

    While thanking the Nigerian leader for sending former President Obasanjo as a Special Envoy to restore peace to his country, the Guinea Bissau leader noted that “Nigeria is part of the solution and stability” of his country.

     

  • Unemployment: Nigeria sitting on gun powder – Obasanjo

    Unemployment: Nigeria sitting on gun powder – Obasanjo

    Former president Olusegun Obasanjo on Saturday warned that Nigeria would be in grave danger if the current unemployment level in the country persists till the end of the year.

    He said the nation is sitting on a keg of a gun powder and could explode if the unemployed neither have jobs to feed themselves nor contribute for the positive development of their families and society.

    The ex – president, who stated this at the 10th anniversary and convocation ceremony of the state – owned Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, urged the federal, state and local governments to pay more attention to jobs creation for burgeoning unemployed youth population.

    Obasanjo, who thanked the university for conferring on him a Doctorate Degree (Ph.D) in Political Science (honoraria causa), said education is a meal ticket for anybody that has it.

    He said: “Governments should do more in the area of employment. If there is no job for the unemployed to feed themselves and also to contribute to the development of the country then, we will all be sitting on gun powder.

    “If university education was not for development then, it was not serving any useful purpose. It must be for development, either for personal, local, national and even global and that is very important.

    “I believe in lifelong education. Nobody should stop learning until he or she dies.”

     

  • Obasanjo: physician heal thyself

    Obasanjo: physician heal thyself

    In a letter dated September 22, former president Goodluck Jonathan had informed former president Olusegun Obasanjo that he would be setting up the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in the third quarter of 2016. Through the Foundation, said Dr Jonathan, according to Premium Times, “I will be devoting the rest of my life and energy to making the world a better place. I am currently finalizing efforts to set up The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation…As I start this new phase of my life of renewed service to humanity, I look forward to your continuous support, counsel and cooperation.”

    Unimpressed, and rather than give good-natured counsel and statesmanlike admonition, Chief Obasanjo offered a condescending reply to Dr Jonathan in October. “I hope you also had time to reflect and see what lessons you have learned and what you can bequeath to others…Maybe seeking how to be better and more serviceable to the nation and humanity is also a form of penitence and soul-searching to give conscience a relief and to show remorse.”

    It is not only the sanctimoniousness of Chief Obasanjo that is offensive, even his English is sometimes either convoluted or wounding, never quite as accessible and agreeable as that of Dr Jonathan whom he has made relentless effort to disparage since he publicly fell out with him sometime in 2013. There is no pleasing Chief Obasanjo. His enemies, if they are wise, should either fight him to the last, or never fight him at all. Dr Jonathan should have learnt that lesson after relating with this gruff and surly ex-president for nearly eight years.

    In his scornful reply, Chief Obasanjo asks Dr Jonathan to do soul-searching and exhibit remorse. For 11 years Chief Obasanjo ruled Nigeria, a period broken into two undistinguished eras. After many books, however, there is not one instance and no record, private or public, where he showed remorse or did soul-searching. In his own conceited and self-satisfied view, Chief Obasanjo is a repository of all knowledge, and he is both infallible and incomparable. Yet he ruled Nigeria so badly for more than a decade, fibbed and blustered his way to questionable prominence, fouled and weakened the country’s foundations, dislocated its bureaucracy, and distorted its future and destiny. And the same man is mocking another ex-president for public failure.

    Chief Obasanjo may have lied about his third term ambition, and has shown none of the remorse he is casually recommending to Dr Jonathan; but he is not alone in this annoying display of self-righteousness. No Nigerian ruler since independence has done any reflection capable of engendering remorse. They all have the bad company of one another to keep, reinforce and be inspired by.

  • Obasanjo tells Jonathan to show remorse

    Obasanjo tells Jonathan to show remorse

    Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo has advised former President Goodcluck Jonathan to use his foundation, which is due for inauguration next year for service to humanity.

    In a letter to Dr. Jonathan, which is a reply to an earlier one to him from the immediate past President intimating him of his plan to start the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation in the third quarter of next year, Obasanjo said: “I have to commend you and your Foundation, Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, for the faith you continue to have in Nigeria. Maybe seeking how to be better and more serviceable to the nation and humanity is also a form of penitence and soul-searching to give conscience a relief and to show remorse.”

    He added: “I wish you well as you continue to forge ahead with your activities in the coming months and years. If there is any area you feel I can be of help, you should not hesitate to call on me.”

    His letter, dated October 12, 2015, is a response to the September 22 letter from Jonathan.

    Jonathan had said, among others: “I will be devoting the rest of my life and energy to making the world a better place. I am currently finalising efforts to set up

    “The Goodluck Jonathan Foundation. More details on the work of the foundation will be available at the launch, which I believe should take place by the 3rd quarter of 2016.

    “As I start this new phase of my life of renewed service to humanity, I look forward to your continuous support, counsel and cooperation.”

    Both letters were published by Premium Times.

  • I couldn’t resist TASUED degree, says Obasanjo

    I couldn’t resist TASUED degree, says Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has said he could not resist the Doctorate Degree in Political Science (honorary causa) conferred on him by the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, Ogun State.

    The former president, who is the proprietor of the Bells University, Ota, eulogised the late Dr Tai Solarin as a “foremost educationist, who gave his best to education in Nigeria”.

    Obasanjo spoke in Abeokuta, the state capital, when members of the TASUED Governing Council and management visited his Presidential Hilltop Estate.

    The degree will be formally presented to Obasanjo on the 10th Anniversary and 2015 Convocation on November 28.

    “TASUED has a glorious history of existence and I am happy to associate with the university.

    “I almost took a decision that I will not accept doctorate degrees from any university, but if I can take honorary degrees from Moscow and Beijing, then I can’t resistTASUED.

    “And having a specialised University of Education shows how serious we are in this country, especially when the university is located in Ogun State, which has the highest number of universities in Nigeria.

    “I plan to attend the convocation, but when I come to your university, I will walk around and see how far you have gone.”

    The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Oluyemisi Oluremi Obilade, said the award was  to appreciate Obasanjo.

  • Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday met behind closed-door with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The two leaders met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Obasanjo did not speak to reporters at the end of the meeting.

    No official statement was issued concerning the meeting at press time.

     

  • Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    Buhari, Obasanjo meet at Aso Rock

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Tuesday met behind closed-door with President Muhammadu Buhari.

    The two leaders met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Obasanjo did not speak to journalists at the end of the meeting.

    No official statement has been issued concerning the meeting at the time of filing this report.

  • How I survived road accident, by Obasanjo

    How I survived road accident, by Obasanjo

    Ex-president relives anxious moment 

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday spoke on his accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Saturday, saying he had a lucky escape.

    Reliving how it all happened, Chief Obasanjo said the accident was caused by a burst tyre.

    He said he was on his way to attend the 80th birthday celebrations of billionaire businessman Chief Kessington Adebutu in Lagos.

    A statement by his media aide, Vitalis Ortese, reads: “The Office of … Obasanjo wishes to clarify that he is hale, hearty and away in Abidjan, Cote Ivoire, where he is observing the Presidential Elections holding in that country.

    “The office also wishes to confirm, that on Saturday, October 24, 2015, Obasanjo was indeed involved in an accident on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, after Sagamu roundabout, while he was on his way to join in the celebrations of the 80th birthday anniversary of Chief Adebutu in Tinubu Methodist Church, Lagos.

    “The vehicle, he was travelling in suffered a burst left tyre at the rear and swerved several times but did not hit any curb or any car in front or behind until it did a 180-degree turn and faced where it was coming from, and he had to change vehicles.

    “Obasanjo wishes to convey his deep appreciation to all those, who by way of calls, personal messages and prayers, and indeed members of the general public, who have shown overwhelming concern about his welfare.”

    The deteriorating road has been a source of worry to the public.

    It takes longer time to travel on it because of huge craters.

    Trailers, trucks and other heavy duty vehicles fall on it at will, causing heavy taffic.

    During its eight-year tenure  – 1999 – 2007 – the Obasanjo administration did not do anything to rehabilitate the road.

    The late President Umaru Yar’Adua, who succeeded him, awarded contract for the road’s rehabilitation to Bi-Courtney, but its execution was stalled by disagreement between the government and the concessionaire.

    But former President Goodluck Jonathan cancelled the concession and awarded the job to Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) and Julius Berger.

    Yesterday, Mr. Hakeem Olopade, a director of Motorways Asset Limited, which is working with the Federal Ministry of Works on the “delivery of a fully-enhanced Lagos-Ibadan express road”, said the tempo of work would soon increase with the re-dedication of all stakeholders to its completion on schedule.

    Speaking with reporters in Lagos, Olopade said the need for due process, enhancements to earlier design and nature had been responsible for the slow pace of work on “the novel PPP-structured road.”

    Olopade, who is also the Executive Director (Projects) at The Infrastructure Bank (TIB), the government’s fund arrangers for the N167 billion project, said the road remained the most crucial highway in the transport sector, and cannot be abandoned.

    TIB, he said, had successfully raised the “Tranche I” of the financing of the project in line with the expectations of the government and other stakeholders; the “Tranche II” is currently being arranged.

    He said the stakeholders would maximise efficiency gains in the construction phases of the project to ensure its completion to time and budget.

    Olopade said financial obligations and commitments were being kept in order to keep the contractors on site while the stakeholders finalise the new designs and geometric drawings, adding: “The necessary development studies are also being finalised in good time ahead of full construction work resumption soon”.

    Arrangement of funds for the project, he said, was “slightly slowed down by legal conundrum” caused by the 2012 termination of the former concessionaire agreements on the road.

    Olopade said: “The rains have also recently affected full blown construction activities as some asphalt works have to be suspended till the dry season.”

    The lost construction grounds, he said, would be covered by  Julius Berger Plc and RCC after the rains.

    Julius Berger Plc handles the six-lane Sagamu Interchange and Lagos end of the road; RCC is handling the 84-kilometre  Sagamu – Ibadan (Ojoo interchange).