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Tag: Olusegun Obasanjo

  • Obasanjo seeks review of public procurement policies

    FORMER President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the need for a review of the nation’s public procurement policies, stressing that it has become inevitable for socio-economic transformation.

    He gave this charge at a public forum to mark the 6th Annual Christopher Kolade lecture on Business Integrity tagged: ‘The Role of Business Integrity in National Transformation’ in Lagos last weekend.

    Obasanjo who was the guest speaker specifically called for the review of public procurement policies, noting that it is an ingredient to promote business integrity and eliminate corrupt practices to drive national transformation in Nigeria.

    The lecture was organised by the Convention on Business Integrity Limited an anti-corruption, research and advocacy organisation with focus on accountability and transparency in public and private sector.

    The ex-president said the country’s procurement process probably expounded the large source of leakage; saying that awards of contracts, supply, service contracts and others are usually loaded with provisions for bribes and kickbacks.

    Obasanjo observed that poor investment, poverty, infrastructure decay, institutional inefficiency and wide range of socio-economic crisis are some of the negative consequences of corrupt practices and lack of integrity in public and private businesses.

    The elder statesman urged Nigerian leaders to re-invigorate efforts to reform public procurement policies, especially the public procurement act which regulates public procurement and aim to minimize the abuse of processes, rules and standards in the awards and execution of public sector contracts

    The former military leader, who described Dr. Christopher Kolade as a long time friend, said Kolade had distinguished himself as an icon of integrity and transparency throughout his career in the corporate world as well as national and international assignments.

    “As Africans, we need to look inward; we need value and reorientation that is anchored on our virtues of truthfulness, hospitality, respect, honesty, obedience and patriotism. When justice rules a nation, everyone is glad; when injustice rules everyone groans. Show me a righteous ruler and I will show you a happy people and a wholesome society,” he submitted.

    In her welcome address, the Chairperson of Governing Board of Integrity, Ibukun Awosika said lack of integrity had a grave human and future cost in a society.

    “We must not give up because we have a country to build and a future to secure for the generation unborn and this is why we are having this lecture. As organisers of this event, we are committed to carrying on the legacies of Dr Kolade who has helped to build many credible institutions in the country,” she stated.

    In his response, the former chairman of SURE-P, Dr Christopher Kolade, urged Nigerians to uphold the ethic of integrity in their dealings to make Nigeria a better country.

    Kolade believed that there is always a price to pay for moral courage to stand for integrity and justice even when one is standing alone.

    The octogenarian stated that upholding integrity is a lifelong race that outlives personal gains but represent the best contribution to the nation building.

    “God has created in us the capacity to practice integrity- to know right from wrong and to choose right over wrong. And if many of us are not very pleased with where we are now as a nation and we want to see genuine national transformation, we need to preserve in doing what is right,” he admonished.

     

  • 2019: Obasanjo, ex-generals plot against Buhari’s reelection

    Some retired generals may have formed a secret coalition to defeat President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 Presidential Election. Sunday Oguntola reports on the inside details of the plot.

    INVESTIGATION has shown that some ex-generals, led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, are perfecting plans to stop the reelection bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    It was learnt that because of their disagreements with some key policies of Buhari administration, the ex-generals have formed what a source called “a strong coalition against Buhari’s second term ambition in 2019.”

    The army of opposition

    Some of the prominent ex-generals presently associated to the coalition, according to our findings, include Lt. General Theophilus Danjuma, former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State Abdulsalam Abubakar, General Zamani Lekwot and General Joshua Dongoyaro, among others.

    It was learnt that though the ex-generals also have personal issues among themselves leading to mutual suspicion, they may have decided to jettison them for the purpose of fighting a cause they consider fundamental to their individual survival.

    All the prominent ex-generals so far linked to the coalition reportedly have personal axes to grind with the current administration over several issues; it was learnt, leaving them no option than to unite against Buhari, who they now consider a common enemy.

    The plot, according to sources, is spearheaded by Obasanjo, who on January 23 wrote Buhari to put his reelection bid on hold, accusing him of non-performance.

    The letter, sources confided, was carefully scripted and timed to rally other ex-generals who were skeptical over the workability of the plans.

    Once the letter became public knowledge, many of them reportedly became more relaxed and comfortable with the group, pledging to stop at nothing to ensure the defeat of the president at the 2019 poll.

    It was gathered that the ex-generals, some of whom served under Obasanjo in the military, have been holding surreptitious meetings for over a year on how to stop Buhari.

    Investigations revealed several of the meetings held in Abuja while a few elements in the coalition have also met overseas to perfect strategies on how to stop Buhari at all costs.

    Part of the plot, according to sources, is to mount a campaign of non-performance, highlighting the many weaknesses and drawbacks of the current administration with a view to discrediting it.

    A source privy to the meetings told our correspondent: “The first thing is to attempt to badmouth the Buhari’s administration by showing where it is not doing so well.

    “The thinking is that once Nigerians begin to think less of the administration and its weaknesses are promoted, they will become disenchanted and look for alternatives.

    “That is why Obasanjo has been relentless in telling everyone that Buhari has failed. It is a line he will keep repeating for the remaining months to the election. The strategy clearly is to say this man has failed to meet your expectations so look for someone else to fix the nation.”

    Aiming for the spine

    Obasanjo, who has accepted the daunting task of being the brain-box and face of the coalition, has been harping on the economic performances of the current administration, declaring them as appalling.

    In his January 23 letter, the former President had stated: “I knew President Buhari before he became President and said that he is weak in the knowledge and understanding of the economy but I thought that he could make use of good Nigerians in that area that could help.

    “Although, I know that you cannot give what you don’t have and that economy does not obey military order. You have to give it what it takes in the short-, medium- and long-term. Then, it would move.

    “I know his weakness in understanding and playing in the foreign affairs sector and again, there are many Nigerians that could be used in that area as well. They have knowledge and experience that could be deployed for the good of Nigeria.”

    The insecurity challenge, especially the herdsmen attacks, also offers the coalition a massive outlet to bark at the administration. Again, Obasanjo touched on this in his letter.

    He had stated:  “The herdsmen/crop farmers issue is being wittingly or unwittingly allowed to turn sour and messy. It is no credit to the Federal Government that the herdsmen rampage continues with careless abandon and without finding an effective solution to it.

    “And it is a sad symptom of insensitivity and callousness that some governors, a day after 73 victims were being buried in a mass grave in Benue State without condolence, were jubilantly endorsing President Buhari for a second term! The timing was most unfortunate.

    “The issue of herdsmen/crop farmers’ dichotomy should not be left on the political platform of blame game; the Federal Government must take the lead in bringing about solution that protects life and properties of herdsmen and crop farmers alike and for them to live amicably in the same community.”

    The allegation of collusion by the military in the recent killings across the nation by Danjuma last March was also part of the well-planned strategy to expose the current administration to public outcry.

    Danjuma’s outburst on alleged ethnic cleansing sat well with many in the northcentral who consider him a cult-figure in political and security affairs.

    It was gathered that the coalition has compiled a list of weaknesses or drawbacks of the current administration, which would be highlighted at different fora from time to time.

    A source said they will also work with pressure groups, civil society organisations and human rights bodies, whose primary role would be to organise protests and demonstrations across the nation to create a sense of dissatisfaction against the Buhari government.

    Battle for global acceptance

    There are indications that the civil society organisations are currently being mobilised by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) with a history of good working relationship and vast networks with the bodies.

    It was gathered during the week that very soon, the civil society groups will start unleashing statements and position papers, which would be followed up with peaceful protests across the nation to expose the needs for Nigerians to reject Buhari at the poll.

    Another plank of the well-articulated ploy is to mount a campaign against the administration at the international scene to sell to world powers the idea of defeating Buhari.

    This strategy, which was also well-deployed against former President Goodluck Jonathan, is directly coordinated by Obasanjo using his vast network and connections in the international scene.

    It is believed that the international community is considered crucial to the Buhari-must-go campaign because of the likely consequences and implications on their economic pacts and interests.

    But the recent appearance of Buhari at the White House on the invitation of United States President Donald Trump reportedly threw spanner in the wheel of the coalition.

    The temporary setback probably made Danjuma to lead a delegation on a lobbying session in Washington DC last May; an action our source said was designed to counter whatever gains Buhari’s government would have made from the US visit.

    At the closed-door session held with key officials of Trump’s administration, it was gathered that Danjuma presented damning facts on the herdsmen killings in Taraba and other northcentral states, accusing Buhari’s administration of complicity and grave human rights violations.

    The meeting, which was described as a fruitful session, we gathered, afforded the delegation the opportunity to know the inner thinking of Trump’s administration on Nigerian government.

    One of the sources, close to the retired general confided that some members of the coalition will have more briefings overseas with countries considered crucial to secure support against the planned defeat of Buhari in 2019.

    Diaspora groups have also been mobilised to organise seminars and speaking engagements that would feature some anti-Buhari personalities.

    There is also the political arm of the plot, which is targeted at mobilising mass revolt and disaffection against the President’s reelection.

    Politics of ex-generals

    Also coordinated directly by Obasanjo, the political strategy has taken off with the adoption of African Democratic Congress (ADC) as the platform for the former President’s Coalition for Nigerian Movement (CNM).

    ADC, which is working towards the fusion of other parties like the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and Peoples Democratic Movement, as well as 23 smaller ones, has reportedly started building consensus on a northern presidential candidate to stop Buhari.

    The choice of the candidate, it was learnt, has however been a thorny issue among the ex-generals with many of them failing to reach an agreement.

    While Obasanjo is said to be disposed to backing Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, some of the ex-generals are rooting for Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso or former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi.

    The ex-generals are reportedly working on the theory that a strong northern candidate will share votes from the region with Buhari while getting support from the northcentral, south-south and southeast. This permutation, it was learnt, is why they are considering a vice presidential candidate from the southeast or southwest.

    Some of the ex-generals are said to be toying with the idea of backing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should it present an “acceptable” presidential candidate they could work with in 2019.

    But it was learnt many have serious misgivings about supporting PDP because of its perception challenges, making the ADC option a more reasonable path for the ex-generals.

    Our correspondent gathered last week that Buhari is however not unawares of the plot against him by some members of his former constituency.

    A presidential aide, who spoke under strict conditions of anonymity, told our correspondent: “These things are there to see. We know what they are up to. It is all because their economic interests have been badly affected by this administration.

    “It’s a fight-back ploy to defend their interests that negatively affect the nation. We shall be waiting for them to throw whatever they have at it.

    “At the end of the day, Nigerians are no fools. They know this President has their best interests at heart. All their plotting will come to naught because they are plotting against an ex-general also.”

  • Obasanjo calls for review public procurement policies to eliminate corruption

    Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday called for a review of the public procurement policies to promote business integrity, eliminate corrupt practices and  drive national transformation.

    Obasanjo made the call at the 6th Annual Christopher Kolade Lecture on Business Integrity, entitled: “The Role of Business Integrity in National Transformation”, in Lagos.

    The lecture was organised by the Convention on Business Integrity Ltd., an anti-corruption, research and advocacy organisation concerned with issues of accountability and transparency in public and private sector.

    He said that the country’s procurement process probably construed the largest source of leakage.

    According to him,  awards of contracts, supply, service contracts and others are usually loaded with provisions for bribes and kickbacks.

    Obasanjo identified poor investment, poverty, infrastructure decay, institutional inefficiency and wide range of socio-economic crisis as some of the negative consequences of corrupt practices and lack of integrity in public and private businesses.

    “As Africans, we need to look inward, we need value and reorientation that is anchored  on our virtues of truthfulness, hospitality, respect, honesty, obedience  and patriotism.

    “And as a matter of urgent national emergency, Nigeria must re-invigorate efforts to reform public procurement policies, especially the Public Procurement Act which regulates public procurement and aim to minimise the abuse of processes, rules and standards in the awards and execution of public sector contracts.

    “I will also recommend that we adopt a code of ethics in doing business in Nigeria and ensure a framework to make it work,” he said.

    “Integrity is the foundation of leadership as there are no moral shortcuts in the game of business and life.

    “We need integrity in the public and private business and it must start at the top. Organisations and public institutions must run their businesses in a forthright manner.

    “Make integrity the heart and soul of your business culture.

    “If the entrepreneur does not have integrity, others who walk with him or her will definitely falter and the society will also suffer for his self-centredness and misconduct.”

    He said that if the operating structure of the government is transparent,  accountable and operate against the backdrop of genuine transformation, economic ventures and investments would sprout and the national reserve will swell, good planning will see public infrastructure booming and becoming reliable.

    “When justice rules a nation, everyone is glad; when injustice rules everyone groans. Show me a righteous ruler and I will show you a happy people and a wholesome society,” noted.

    Obasanjo said that Kolade had distinguished himself as an icon of integrity and transparency throughout his career in the corporate world as well as national and international assignments.

    He urged Nigerians to adopt the lifestyle of Kolade to transform and rebuild the country.

    Also, Dr Christopher Kolade, a former Nigerian High Commissioner to the U.K., urged Nigerians to uphold the virtue of integrity in their dealings to make Nigeria a better country.

    “This kind of gathering gives us the encouragement to believe that no matter the difficulties,  there is hope that things can be better.

    “God has created in us the capacity to practice integrity — to know right from wrong and to chose right over wrong.

    “Although there is a cost or a price to pay for that moral courage to do what is right and stand for what is right, even when you are standing alone.

    “But there is a rebuilding of the spirit in you that makes you feel stronger to face whatever is coming.

    “I encourage us to always uphold integrity, doing what is right because if you do what is wrong, someone is going to pay a price they do not need to pay.

    ”And if many of us are not very pleased with where we are now as a nation and we want to see genuine national transformation,  we need to persevere in doing what is right.

    “Upholding integrity is a life long race because in the end, not only does it do you some good personally but that is the best contribution to the building of the nation,” Kolade said.

    In her address, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Chairperson, Governing Board of Integrity, said that lack of integrity had a grave human and future cost.

    “Lack of integrity which is driving corruption in our country is an issue we must overcome, not just for our businesses but also for our nation.

    “We cannot give up, we have a country to build and a future to secure for our children. This is why we are having this lecture.

    “As organisers of this event, we are committed to carrying on the legacies of Prof. Kolade who has helped to build many credible institutions in the country,” she said. (NAN)

  • Obasanjo unfit to lead movement for change of leadership, says Soyinka

    Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka has said ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo is not the right person to lead any movement for reform on change of leadership in the country in 2019.
    He said Obasanjo has crossed the red line and his Coalition for Nigerian Movement (CNM) should not be glorified.
    He said the ex-President and other geriatric leaders of his generation should step aside and allow a new generation to lead the nation.
    Soyinka made his views known at a Conversation Night which was part of the 67th World Congress of the International Press Institute(IPI) in Abuja.
    He said he would unveil a pamphlet on his position on Obasanjo and his movement on July 3 at the Freedom Park in Lagos.
    Responding to a question that he has not been critical of Obasanjo as he has been of other past leaders, especially late General Sani Abacha, Soyinka  said ” As for Obasanjo, I have news for him. And it has been a progressive thing.”
    “You see me and Obasanjo fist to cuffs today and the following morning, you might see us embracing each other.
    Circumstances are always important and even when he was in power,  if you could remember,  there were numerous times when I had to criticize him…
    “I believe Obasanjo has really crossed the red line because he is trying to put himself as the head of a recovery process. He is trying to hijack the recovery process in this nation and I say that he is one of the least worthy of one of the former heads of States to lead that kind of movement.
    ” I  have brought out a publication about that, the title is in Latin but it means; who watches the watchmen.
    “That publication is coming out simply because I will like to see new blood in governance in this nation and I think these corrupt and hypocritical geriatrics should stop recycling themselves and they should stop trying to co-opt their former cronies to take over the reigns of governance in this nation.
    “I invite you on July 3rd to Freedom Park in Lagos when a little pamphlet would be published in which finally, we confront Obasanjo with events of the past which incidentally are not being newly articulated.
    “This nation forgets very very fast … Obasanjo is one the greatest hypocritical leader this nation has ever produced.”
    On his persistent criticisms of the late Head of State, General  Abacha, Soyinka said: “I have nothing personal against Abacha. We had only met a couple of times.”
    But he said he could not be praising Abacha who allegedly misruled the nation and ran a corrupt government.
    He said he could not be walking on the street and see monuments in Abacha honour when the looted funds traced to him were still being traced and recovered all over the world.
    “If I walk into a street and I see a structure raised in honour of a torturer, a murderer so recognised by the  entire world that we are still chasing after his loot, I have a responsibility to  tell this President that you cannot be serious corruption if you leave monuments in honour of that leader of misrule. So, I have nothing personal against Abacha.”

  • Buhari is hero of Nigerian democracy – Group

    Ask Obasanjo to stop distracting attention from stolen Power funds

    The Buhari Media Organization has said that President Muhammadu Buhari could be described as the father of Nigeria’s modern democracy, saying his courage in declaring June 12 as Democracy day and righting the wrongs and ills of 25 years of a faulty democratic foundation was a political masterstroke.

    In a statement signed by the Chairman, Austin Braimoh and Secretary, Cassidy Madueke, the group described the President as the true hero of democracy, noting that he has set high standards of political maturity and established that the will of the people must be respected in Nigeria.

    They said: “President Buhari has established that under him, votes would count, even where they were illegally discountenanced, they would count, and honour would be ascribed to those who deserve it.

    “The President’s move has proven his critics and their baseless opinions about him wrong. President Buhari has not just claimed to espouse and embrace democratic ideals, he has gone ahead to set worthy and enviable standards for democracy in Nigeria.”

    Read Also: No mortal power can stop Buhari’s re-election – Emir

    The group noted that the President, unlike his predecessors, has not interfered with any state or local government elections with the apparatus of state, but rather he has allowed for free and fair elections dictated by the will of the people to take place under him.

    The statement said the President’s insistence on the holding of Party Congresses in the APC in the bid to ensure true intra-party democracy is a further proof of his demonstration of democratic ideals worthy of recognition.

    “No President in Nigeria has shown a truer embrace and practice of democracy as President Buhari has. His respect for the principles that every vote must count, that the will of the people must not be thwarted and that democratic institutions must be upheld has been further expressed in his declaration that June 12 will be the new Democracy Day; there is no gainsaying that President Buhari is the father of Nigeria’s modern democracy”, he said.

    The BMO asked former President Olusegun Obasanjo not to use his recent allegation of planned arrest on trumped-up charges by the current administration to dodge questions on misappropriation of $16 billion on Power during his eight years’ administration.

    The group noted that what former President Obasanjo is trying to do with his unfounded allegation of  imminent arrest is to divert the minds of Nigerians from his unanswered question of squandering the humongous $16bn on power during his eight years administration.

    “We want to state that the Buhari Administration will not be distracted by any shenanigan, any unfounded allegation from any quarter, especially those capable of causing disaffection among Nigerians and portraying government in bad light.

    “Former President Obasanjo should not be afraid of any trumped-up charges as that is not in the character of President Muhammadu Buhari nor that of his administration.  Only the guilty should be worried.”

    They assured Nigerians that the current administration is strongly committed to the tenets of democracy, freedom of speech and the right to dissent, stressing that those who, in their time, were untethered to those principles would find it hard to believe.

  • Obasanjo should be jailed, Says Oshiomhole

    As Abiola’s children accuses Ex-President of betrayal

    Former Edo State governor and top contender for the office of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has said that former President Olusegun Obasanjo should arrested and sent to jail if found to have soiled his hands.

    Oshiomhole spoke In a pre-June 12 event he organized in honour of late Chief Gani Fawehinmi SAN and acclaimed winner if the June 12 1993 Presidential Election, Bashorun MKO Abiola. He dismissed reports credited to the former President that President Buhari wanted to frame and arrest him, saying when he was in power, he also arrested and detained people, thinking that he would be president for ever.

    At the event, Hafsat Abiola Castillo accused the former President of betraying their father when he declared that Abiola was not the messiah Nigeria was looking for and never mentioned him once in his eight years in office as President.

    Oshiomhole also praised Chief Frank Kokori for standing up to dictatorship when it mattered most, saying even though he was not President if the NLC, he mobilized oil workers to support the ideals of democracy.

    Oshiomhole said Chief Obasanjo should be investigated and sent to jail if found to have dipped his hands in the pie.

    He said: “Gani is not here today, but his spirit is here. Falana is here and today, I am standing. Even the president who was in charge then, he is now complaining that they want to harass him. He was harassing me and he got me arrested. He thought he himself would not be arrested?

    “If I were the president, I would arrest him. We are all Nigerians. I remember one day I told him, I said ‘President Obasanjo, we made you president. You did not make me a Nigerian. You are our creation; I am not your creation. You must listen’.

    “But he thought he would be in power forever and he tried to take us on the way to Zimbabwe. He was a reluctant Head of State, became president for two terms and he wanted to do a third term because a cockroach licking palm oil would never lick enough.

    Read Also: My commitment to APC is total, says Oshiomhole

    “I remember when I was accused by former president Obasanjo of behaving as if I was an alternate president; that I was running the NLC like a parallel government,  that I wanted to overthrow his government. A small man like me, completely powerless.

    “If I am dark like this, it is because of Obasanjo’s teargas. When I now hear these same people saying they are trying to arrest them, why shouldn’t they be arrested? He should be arrested if he has committed any offence. He arrested many of us.

    “So, if we are celebrating Chief Gani Fawehinmi, we have compelling reasons to do so. In all of these, we didn’t pay any money to Gani or Falana. They defended us pro bono.

    “The late Abiola would be smiling not just for the honour done him by the president, but that Frank Kokori who was very young then, deployed the instrumentality of oil workers to support the progressive mission of the civil society.

    “It is not the position you occupy, but the role that you play that will define your place in history. This man was never an NLC president, but he is the only unionist invited to the investiture.

    “So, we just consulted among ourselves, few of us who benefited from Gani’s leadership by using the instrument of the law to confront evil leaders. At the NLC, we were so efficient at causing troubles, but too poor to procure the services of legal titans like Gani and Falana, but who would always come and defend us pro bono. So, we felt that on the eve of his investiture, we should gather and celebrate him.

    “On June 12, the late Abacha asked us to tell Abiola to do a national broadcast to renounce his mandate. Pascal Bafyau advised him to take the bail conditions because he got information that the regime was ready to keep him in jail indefinitely, but Abiola said he wouldn’t mind dying, that if you are already in the river, you can no longer complain of being wet.

    “Abiola died, but Abacha also died and today, Abiola’s children can go anywhere and say I am Abiola. But I am not sure of other persons”.

    Speaking at the emotion laden event, daughter of the late Chief Abiola, Hafsat Costello, said some people they considered as close friends of their father abandoned them when the June 12 controversy began, only to start calling the family’s phone lines when President Muhammadu Buhari proclaimed June 12 as Democracy Day and conferred a posthumous award of the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic GCFR on the late democrat.

    She said: “MKO had friends who seemed like friends, but they disappeared when the problems started and only started calling us when this award thing came last week. The phones have been ringing, but 25 years is enough to know your friends. I want to thank Mr Femi Falana, Prof. Pat Utomi and a few others for standing by us in the past 25 years.

    “There is another story. MKO had this classmate who he used to assist even to pay his fees in school. But after June 12, he was the first person to say that MKO was not the Messiah. And he was president for eight years and couldn’t even mention MKO for once. He couldn’t honour him.

    “We thank Buhari for this. He does things differently from the way the average Nigerian elite does things. If there is anything that means a lot to me, it is because MKO was true to the Nigerian people. If he had betrayed that mandate, he would have died a broken man and no amount of wealth would have made him happy.

    “I have just being thinking about MKO. To have known him was to know greatness in the body of a Nigerian. MKO came from a very poor family. He used to be a singer, a drummer and boxer. People just gave him money not because this voice was good, but perhaps they just took pity on him, a destitute singer”.

    Also speaking, Chief Gani Fawehinmi’s son, Mohammed said: “I am overwhelmed by this event organized in honour of my late father. It has made me to recognise that we should not always think of ourselves but of our neighbours. My father was a very unusual man”.

  • Delta APC chides Fani-Kayode over derogating statements on Buhari

    Delta State Chieftain of All Progressive Congress, APC, Prince Christopher Akpojotor Agaga has lambasted former Minister of Aviation, Mr. Femi Fani-Kayode over unguided statements issued against President Muhammadu Buhari, describing the Buhari is the best president the country has ever had since the inception of democracy in Nigeria.

    Agaga who made this statement while reacting to a report in the national dailies with headline: OBJ, IBB, Jonathan, others not enemies of Nigeria, credited to Fani-Kayode, said the statement is not only a plot to smear the good name of President Buhari but to put the ex-leaders in conflict against the present APC administration.

    On the report making around by Ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo alleging Buhari’s administration of plan to frame him up and arrest him, Agaga said this should be sink to the mind Fani-Kayode that it was widely refuted by the presidency  and expressed what Fani-Kayode intend achieving by this publication.

    Read Also: Delta APC salutes President

    While saying that Buhari’s government is one of the peaceful administrations so far, Agaga said Buhari has been in cordial relationship with the past leaders except those who has seen his corruption crusade as witchhunting because of their secret deals which they not want the APC government to bring to the open.

    Agaga who reminded Kayode of the past administration of former President Obasanjo, said, “If the truth must be told there is no comparison between President Buhari and Obasanjo’s administration in the area of performance, applauding Buhari’s government of having done well in the past three years of his administration.

    “Kayode while serving under Obasanjo was blinded to the many injustices and abuses unleashed by his master on hapless and innocent Nigerians. Because he no longer enjoys all the privileges and affluence associated with power, he has suddenly become a defender of human rights which himself and his master denied people of.

    “Nigerians will recall that under Obasanjo, the people of Odi in Bayelsa state were massacred in thousands and hundreds of people were gruesome murder in Zaki Biam in Benue State, but what we have witnessed so far under Buhari are people with indifferent actions with the propensity for crimes which was not what the president swore oath to defend.

    “Such crimes committed by Obasanjo are enough to warrant his arraignment before international criminal court of justice, yet he and his lieutenants bandy credentials that he is perceived by his actions to lack in and outside government.

    “Several elected governors were harassed and hounded for holding and expressing views which the laws of the country vested them with. From Alamiesegha, Ibori, Ngige, Fayose, Tinubu, Dariye etc who had battles with Obasanjo for merely exercising powers duly delegated  to them to IGP Balogun who was disgraced in the worst humiliating circumstance over an unsubstantiated suspicion.

    “Even against the orders of court, the people of Lagos state were denied their local government allocations for most of the tenure of Obasanjo in reaction to an action lawfully taken by governor Tinubu.

    “The pains the people of Lagos had to contend with during those period the constitution was being brazenly raped did not prick the conscience of Obasanjo and his lieutenants who out of idleness and envy now parade themselves as crusaders and apostles of human rights.

  • ‘Obasanjo’s coalition unnecessary for our democracy’

    Prince Anthony Olatujoye, a former Central Bank of Nigeria Director and Legal Adviser, in this interview with Assistant Editor, Dare Odufowokan, says Nigerians must rise up and ensure that the remuneration of federal legislators are no longer determined outside the provisions of the constitution. He also contended that the country is currently not in need of any coalition like the one led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Excerpts

    WHAT is your reaction to the current state of insecurity in the country, especially the killings in the northern parts of the country?

    Today in Nigeria, violence occasioned by herdsmen/farmers clashes and other extra-judicial killings are unfortunately and inexplicably posing very serious challenges to our fledgling democracy. It is sad that these are happening when the generality of Nigerians are yearning for good governance. This cannot be good news. I am not happy in any way and I believe that all hands must of necessity be on deck as this situation is precariously hanging on political, religious or ethnic sensibilities.

    I submit that these vices must be collectively fought by all citizens, politicians, the media, security agencies and government at all levels. We must also refrain from trading blames on this issue. The more we engage in the ‘blame game’ on who is responsible, the more we will be unable to tackle this problem as a nation. If all afore-mentioned stakeholders come together to fight this collective enemy to a halt, we stand a good chance of putting an end to the carnage for good.

    How do you think the killings can be stopped by the government?

    We all know that President Muhammadu Buhari is a retired Army General. I believe he knows the appropriate military strategy to employ to stem this most unfortunate tide. We need to encourage him to put in place a sustainable security architecture which will enable him to combat the menace effectively. This would involve the acquisition of modern technological and combat equipment such as the 12 Super Tucano fighter jets being purchased from the United States of America, capacity building in the form of training and retraining of military and other security personnel in the areas of guerrilla warfare, counter-terrorism and insurgency.

    Also, I want to urge him to solicit the cooperation of pressure groups, religious bodies and opposition party leaders across the country to support this administration’s resolve to put an end to these mindless killings in whatever guise and form. Finally, the judiciary should be encouraged to ensure that justice is always served in respect of captured terrorists and their sponsors.

    Do you think sacking of the service chiefs, as is being agitated for in some quarters, is the right way of solving the current problem?

    Those calling for the sack of the service chiefs are entitled to their opinions. However, it is my view that sacking these service chiefs may not be the panacea for the problem of insurgency in this country. It is safe to opine that our security architecture needs to be improved upon in order to address insecurity in a more anticipatory and pragmatic manner with a view to ensuring adequate training of our military men in modern warfare, strategy and tactics.

    I do not believe that removing the service chiefs now can bring the vista we need to end the insurgency in Nigeria. The military chiefs should however up their strategies for the effective and efficient performance of their responsibilities.

    Relatedly, some others, including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, are asking President Muhammadu Buhari himself to resign over the killings. What is your take on this?

    Again, that is the opinion of the Catholic Bishop Conference but I don’t believe the president has to resign as demanded by the bishops. I reiterate my earlier position that we need to encourage and support this government to find enduring solutions to the worsening security situation in the country. We also need to avoid using religious sentiments to address national issues; rather we must proffer advice to government on how best to end the carnage.

    How will you react to the coalition being spearheaded by ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo and its opposition to the current administration ahead of 2019?

    My reaction is simply that we do not need a coalition, third force or a movement to unseat this present government. It is common knowledge that sovereignty rests in the people and in them lies the power to elect or remove their leaders. With due respect to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is always passionate about governance issues in Nigeria, his government (between 1999 and 2007) was not without its downsides, therefore, his voice against the re-election of Buhari, via a coalition, remains with respect, unnecessary.

    Olisa Agbakoba (SAN) is a friend and a classmate but I do not believe that he has the time to bring his vision to bear on the arduous task of wresting power from the president. In sum, I do not believe in this coalition syndrome and reiterate that sovereignty lies in the Nigerian people, who have the right to elect their leaders. This is however without prejudice to the fundamental rights of the people to vote along party lines.

    Talk about increasing the minimum wage is rife today. What is your opinion about?

    I strongly believe there is need for a living wage for Nigerian workers having regard to the current economic realities in the country. Recently, workers in South Africa clamored for a respectable living wage which is similar to what their Nigerian counterparts are demanding. So, an increase in the minimum wage for workers is a welcome development in Nigeria and I urge the government to fulfill its promise to increase the minimum wage as announced by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osibajo, during this year’s May Day Celebrations.

    Do you share the view that political office holders are earning outrageous salaries?

    In my opinion, the issue of remuneration and allowances of public officers said to be on the high side may not be applicable to all public office holders. It is noteworthy that the remuneration of public officers is determined by the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) which is constitutionally empowered to undertake a review of the remuneration packages of political, public and judicial office holders in Nigeria.

    However, it is a fact that the salaries and allowances of legislators, though determined by RMAFC, are being implemented out of sync with those approvals, at least going by the startling confession of Senator Shehu Sani in a recent plenary at the Red Chamber.

    I hate to say that this is a flagrant infraction of the RMAFC Act and a deliberate usurpation of the Commission’s powers to determine the wages and salaries of public officers. While it is a welcome suggestion to adopt any means of reducing the costs of governance, it would be proper to put in place mechanisms to regulate the earnings of legislators and the unbridled waste in the public service which surely would save costs in the long run.

  • Obasanjo visits Fasoranti, seeks support.

    Former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday visited the leader of the pan-Yoruba socio-political organisation, Afenifere, Pa. Reuben Fasoranti in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

    He was accompanied by his close ally, Otunba Oyewole Fasawe and Ayo Osuntokun.

    Obasanjo said it is a must to rescue the country from the hands of the All Progressives Congress, (APC), led federal government come 2019.

    Obasanjo who was visiting Afenifere for the first time in 20 years, said he was in Akure, the Ondo state capital to pay homage to the leader of the the group, Fasoranti.

    He commended Afenifere for standing by their belief, saying “you have been talking about the interest of Yoruba, while I have been talking about the interest of Nigeria. Our paths crossed.  Our priority is now one. If we did not repair this country, it will be disastrous.”

    Read Also: Again, Obasanjo laments pervasive insecurity in Nigeria

    Obasanjo, recalled how he was rejected by the group while seeking their support in the past, said ” I remember visiting Pa Abraham Adesanya thrice in Lagos before the election and I was asked to join Afenifere and Alliance for Democracy (AD) then,  but I told them that AD was cul-de-sac.

    “Pa Abraham told me if I join, things will change but I refused to join them. I went back the second time but they refused to work for my emergence.

    “I went there again the third time but Afenifere maintained their stand, they refused to vote for me but I secured my votes outside Yorubaland, though they supported me in 2003 for my re-election”.

    Fasoranti commended Obasanjo for his efforts at building a better country.

    He expressed his dissatisfaction with the state of affairs in the country, noting that the country is not being run properly.

    According to him “we are in full support of all the letters written by Obasanjo to President Muhamadu Buhari on the state of the nation. We are dissatisfied with the state of affairs in the country. The country is not being run properly.”

    Fasoranti said Afenifere was in support of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party (SDP) and ADC.

    He said “It will be the joy of everybody to present a formidable team to confront the evil government that is there now.”

    Present at the meeting were Basorun Sehinde Arogbofa, Kole Omololu, Sola Ebiseni , Chief Akin Omosebi , Femi Aluko among others.

  • 2019: ADC to zone political offices in next one month

    The National Chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Okey Nwosu, has declared the party will zone it’s political offices for the 2019 elections next month.

    Briefing reporters on Friday in Awka, Nwosu said already, the party had 35 coalition groups and still counting, adding that it had prepared for the elections next year.

    Recently, the party welcomed former president Olusegun Obasanjo’s led Coalition Nigerian Movement (CNM) into it’s fold, adding that  the party had devised a strong strategy to wrestle power from the current leadership in the country.

    Read Also: 2019: OBJ’s CNM collapses into ADC

    He said 30 per cent elective positions would go to the youths, another 30 percent would be allocated to the women, while the rest 40 per cent  would be for the others.

    Nwosu further said the party would win over 60 percent votes in the North West zone in the 2019 general election.

    He stated that due diligence was followed before the leaders of the coalition arrived at adopting ADC as a party, adding that it was a credible organ to challenge the leadership of the country.

    According to Nwosu, “We are building structures all over Nigeria; our aim is to restore the lost glory of Nigeria’s democracy. I am not surprised that ADC was chosen by the leaders of CNM as the party to work with.

    “I have been with the leaders of the coalition, from Obasanjo to Babangida to TY Danjuma, and one thing is interesting; I saw the passion to change Nigeria in all of them”

    “I was not surprised they chose ADC because we also share a similar passion,”

    “I am the chairman of Coalition for New Nigeria (CNN) which comprises 35 political parties, and I cannot tell you that they will collapse or merge with ADC, but these parties are working with us”

    “If elections hold today, we are taking over 60 percent of votes in the North West, and it is like that in other zones and we are still working”

    “People are donating structures, people are trooping in to register with us all over the country, and I tell you, it is time to salvage Nigeria”