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Tag: Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo, Ajimobi, Oyetola attend Health Minister’s son’s wedding

    MINISTER of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, yesterday in Ibadan, played host to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Abiola Ajimobi and his Osun State counterpart, Gboyega Oyetola at the wedding ceremony of his (Adewole) son.

    According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the solemnisation of holy matrimony between Adedayo Adewole, the minister’s son, and Ebunoluwa Oyedele, was held at Agbala Daniel Cathedral, Ojoo, Ibadan.

    The wedding reception of the colourful ceremony, which attracted several prominent dignitaries, was held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

    In her message, founder and prophetess of the church, Archbishop Dorcas Olaniyi, urged the couple to embrace the Christian modest way of life.

    Olaniyi, who prayed for the couple, counselled them on sincere love, maturity and godliness in dealing with each other.

    Ajimobi, who was the chairman at the reception, urged the couple to be faithful to each other and live with sincere love.

    The governor commended the parents for giving their best in nurturing the newly wedded in becoming responsible stakeholders in the society.

    Oyetola in his remarks, reiterated that it was important for the couple to embrace godliness, urging them to avoid discussing their issues with friends or third parties.

    He urged them to always explore amicable resolution of differences within their home.

    Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr Boss Mustapha, said the business of marriage was about companionship.

    Mustapha urged them to always embrace patience, tolerance and godliness in their dealings, praying that the couple live long and peacefully.

    Among dignitaries at the occasion were Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu,  former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande,  Sen. Olusola Adeyeye and an aide of the President, Mr Babafemi Ojudu.

    Others were Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) boss, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, Oyo State Commissioner of Police,  Mr Abiodun Odude,  Owa Obokun of Ijeshaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, and Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdur-Rasheed Akanbi, among others.

     

  • Osinbajo, Oshiomhole to receive PDP defectors in Jos

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, are expected on Friday in Jos, the Plateau State capital, to receive thousands of defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other opposition parties.

    The reception for the Plateau defectors is incorporated into the campaign kick-off for the state’s governorship campaign and other party candidates.

    APC State Chairman Latep Dabang announced this yesterday to reporters in Jos.

    Dabang said: “Vice President Osinbajo, APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole, among other dignitaries, are to receive thousands of defectors from the main opposition party, the PDP, as well as other parties, on January 4.”

    The chairman said security arrangement had been concluded for the event to hold at the Rwang Pam Stadium in Jos.

    He said: “There is no PDP in Plateau State again; the party is dead. The Friday event will bring together all Plateau State people from the 17 local government areas as one APC family.

    “APC is running a government where developments are made practical and people-oriented. This is why the people have resolved not to remain in any other party apart from APC. We are receiving the few ones that are still left in the PDP and other parties.

    “The figure of the defectors cannot be ascertained at the moment. We are still compiling it because they keep coming everyday. The actual figure will be revealed on Friday.”

  • Buhari won’t abandon Nigerians, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the Buhari administration is for all Nigerians, despite social class and status, and remains committed to improving their welfare so they can lead better lives.

    Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Thursday during the Family Chats where he visited the Sanwo Olatunji-David family at  Games Village and interacted with Nigerians in New Kuchingoro Village and the Wuse II Neighbourhood Centre, all in the FCT, Abuja.

    The Olatunji-David family runs a foundation called Life Builders Initiative for Education and Societal Integration, which runs a free education project called school without walls.

    During the visit, the Vice President, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the Buhari administration remains focused on improving the lives of Nigerians.

    He highlighted the administration’s social investment schemes, including the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme which currently provides a free, nutritious meal daily to over 9 million pupils in 26 states.

    Shortly after interacting with the Olatunji-David family at Games Village, Prof. Osinbajo proceeded to the neighborhood park where he bought some local meat delicacy popularly known as Suya and interacted with some residents of the area.

    “You’re the best Vice President,” excited Nigerians in the neighbourhood park said delightedly as he interacted with them.

    At New Kuchingoro Village, near Games Village, the Vice President was also welcomed amidst singing and dancing by the residents.

    Through an interpreter, Prof. Osinbajo assured the people there of the Federal Government’s commitment to address the challenges confronting them, adding that the Buhari administration remains committed to their welfare and that of all Nigerians.

    “I want you to understand that this government is for you and will not abandon you. We will support you so you can live better lives by doing something for yourselves. That is what I can assure that we will do,” the Vice President said.

    The VP added: “I have been informed of your challenges and I can assure you that the government of President Buhari has programmes that will address some of your immediate needs.

    “Those of you who are into farming, we are going to support you with the necessary things that will make you less dependent – to feed yourselves, cloth yourselves and send your children to school. Those who want to trade, we are going to assist you through the TraderMoni scheme.”

    Citing the introduction of the N-power programme and the tech hubs initiatives, Prof. Osinbajo said Nigeria’s youths would be better placed if they leveraged on opportunities provided through the administration’s technology initiatives and the economic empowerment schemes.

    Read also: Much ado about Osinbajo’s pitch

    While interacting with Nigerians at different points in the neighbourhoods he visited, and engaging them on issues, Prof. Osinbajo assured them of the Buhari government’s commitment to address the needs of all Nigerians, especially the poor.

    During the visits, Prof. Osinbajo emphasized that the Buhari government was committed to ensuring that young people were empowered through the various initiatives introduced by the government since 2015.

    At Wuse II Neighbourhood Centre, the Vice President visited Luxor Barber’s shop and interacted with customers and staff. Excited Nigerians in the neighbourhood also thronged the vicinity to take photographs with the Vice President, amidst cheers from the crowd.

    It would be recalled that last week Sunday, the Vice President had visited the leader of the Hausa community in Agege, Lagos, Alhaji Musa Muhammed Dogonkadai.

    Similarly, on the Christmas Eve, the Vice President continued the Family Chats in Wuse and Garki, Abuja, where he visited the families of Col. Ahmed Zubair (rtd) and Mr. Abdulwaheed Yusuf.

    At the Family Chats, the Vice President meets with Nigerians in their homes and neighbourhoods, engaging them on issues and the Next Level plan of the Buhari administration.

  • Osinbajo, Oshiomhole meet in Aso Rock

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday met behind closed doors with the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    The meeting started around 1 pm at the Vice President’s office at the State House, Abuja.

    While the details of the meeting is yet to be disclosed, it may not be unconnected with arrangements for the APC campaign slated for Akwa Ibom State on Friday.

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    The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.

  • Video: Buhari, Osinbajo, Oshiomhole sing Christmas song

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday alongside his Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and All Progressives Congress (APC) National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole joined Christians to sing the Christmas song “We Wish You”.

    The President in a message that accompanied the video posted on his verified and official twitter handle said Christmas was a message of hope and salvation that Jesus Christ embodies and conveys.

    He said, “At Christmas we reflect on the humble, symbolic and divine birth of a young child thousands of years ago in Bethlehem, Judea; and the message of hope, compassion, salvation, reconciliation, forgiveness and peace that Jesus Christ embodies and conveys. Merry Christmas to All!”.

    https://twitter.com/ShehuBello/status/1077571545055277057?s=19

    Buhari had earlier on his Christmas message wished Nigerians a prosperous new year and promised to work towards a better future for the Nigerian youths.

  • Osinbajo: we’ll not steal public funds like past govts

    VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has pledged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) administration will not steal public money and keep it in private accounts for personal use like previous administrations.

    He added that the APC administration’s resolve informed the setting up of Tradermoni scheme to empower petty traders.

    Osinbajo, who spoke at the palace of Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, said the APC administration’s determination was to ensure that the country grows despite earning 60 per cent of less than what the previous government earned.

    He noted that yet, the administration spent more on building infrastructure more than what past governments had ever done.

    The vice president said: “We are here for the Tradermoni Scheme and we are just beginning enumeration and we will start disbursement by January. We will be giving up to 30,000 market women. In the second phase, more market women will be added.

    “The petty traders are the largest number, but nobody is ready to give them loans because the people are not sure whether they would pay back, but Mr. president had decided that as many traders as possible in Nigeria should be given this money.

    “The first set of 10,000 people will be N10,000,000. Then, as they pay back, the amount will be increased until they give up to N100,000 to each trader. This initiative came from President Muhammadu Buhari’s past experience while he was Chairman, Kastina Foundation.

    “Then, he was giving out these small loans as well, and now, he has decided to extend the gesture to the national level. Today, it’s just enumeration of the market women; by January, we will come back and disburse directly to the market women.”

    Osinbajo added: “President Buhari is also responsible for the feeding of school children. In Delta State, the feeding of school children is about 400,000 children.

    “The second thing we are doing here in Delta State is what we call N-Power Scheme, which is graduate empowerment programe and we currently have about 18,000 N’Power graduates in Delta State.

    “We are also on market money scheme, which is different from the trader market scheme. Over 5,000 beneficiaries have received from this scheme. The determination of the Federal Government is to ensure we build the country by empowering young people, who would create more opportunities for others to strive.

    “These market women have been lamenting since previous government that they have not been seeing anything from government. So, this present government decided to build this country; but not steal public funds and put into private accounts.

    “The truth is that we are earning today 60 per cent less than what the previous government earned. Yet, we are spending more on building infrastructures more than what other governments had ever done in the history of Nigeria.

    “We have spent over N6.7 trillion on infrastructure on East-West road, the Second Niger Bridge, the railway and others. There is no way we can build a country without infrastructure.

    “The question we will ask the previous government is what did they do with the money, if today we are still building infrastructure, which we ought to have done before?

    “That is why we said we are running honest government, where the resources of the people are used for the people. This is our determination and that of President Buhari.”

    Delta State APC governorship candidate Chief Great Ovedje Ogboru also hailed the Tradermoni scheme, saying it was a welcome development for Deltans.

    Ogboru, who spoke at Osubi Airport, Okpe Local Government Area during Osinbajo’s visit to Delta, said the N10,000 to N30,000 initiative to market women across the country would go a long way to solving some of their problems, if such money are invested in some petty trades.

    Ogboru said the gesture would benefit a lot of market women.

    He said: “I personally like it and I believed that in the next few years, when we strengthen the initiative, you will see that it will lead to a better economy.”

    On the reception accorded the vice president at the airport, Ogboru said it showed Buhari’s acceptability by the people of Delta State and their belief that the administration is doing very well.

  • How Buhari conceived Tradernoni scheme, by Osinbajo 

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has given account of how President Muhammadu Buhari conceived the TraderMoni scheme.
    According to him, President Buhari conceived the TraderMoni scheme way back during the years when he was Chairman of the Katsina State Development Foundation, which gave soft loans and micro-credits to people to assist them in their respective businesses.
    Osinbajo also said the Buhari administration will continue to maximize the country’s huge resources for the benefit of the common man.
    The Vice President, according to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Laolu Akande, stated this during the Family Chats on Sunday and Monday, in Lagos and Abuja respectively.
    At the Family Chats, the Vice President met with Nigerians in their homes and neighborhoods, engaging them on issues & the Next Level plan of the Buhari administration, while noting that the Federal Government would continue to work towards improving the welfare of all Nigerians.
    Following his visit on Sunday to the Palace of the Seriki of the Hausa community in Agege, Lagos, Alhaji Musa Muhammed Dogonkadai; the Vice President continued the Family Chats on Monday in Wuse and Garki, Abuja, where he visited the families of Rtd. Col. Ahmed Zubair and Mr. Abdulwaheed Yusuf, and addressed an excited crowd.
    At the Palace of the Seriki, Prof. Osinbajo emphasized that President Buhari’s concern for the welfare of the common man.
    He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari said, ‘I will fight corruption, I’m for the common man.  I’m for the man in the street.’ I don’t know if you have heard about TraderMoni, the loans we are giving to petty traders.
    “He (President) was chairman of Katsina (State Development) Foundation, where they were doing the same thing – giving poor people loans, credits, so that they will be able to do their businesses.
    “He then told me, when we came into office, that we must do the same thing for all Nigerian traders.” he added
    The Vice President also noted that Nigeria is undergoing a rebuilding process under the Buhari administration.
    He said, “The message from President Muhammadu Buhari is that our country is going to the next level. We are going to do better and better.
    “We are going to use the money of Nigeria to help Nigerians. So that traders would have more money for their businesses, so that every Nigerian can prosper.
    “Mr. President has said that he will not allow a situation where people steal our money.  That’s why we are not going back to the past, our money must be used for Nigerians. That’s why we have schemes like TraderMoni, MarketMoni, and our Social Investment Programmes.”
    He said that Nigeria would be great as President Buhari is ensuring the right foundations are built for the country’s long-term prosperity.
    He said, “When you are building a foundation, things will be hard.  When you are not importing everything, things will be hard.  We all know.
    “But things will be better because it is an honest man who is there and the building process is still ongoing. Our country will be great. God has provided for this country a lot of resources, but it must go round. Everybody must be able to take so that there would be education, health, houses for people.
    Prof. Osinbajo highlighted the significant gains achieved under the administration’s Anchors Borrowers Programme as a pointer to improvement in agriculture, and other sectors.
    He said, “Look at what is happening in the North now because of the Anchor Borrowers Programme.  We gave many of the farmers, over 760,000 farmers, soft loans.  So, now they are producing rice, producing millet, producing sorghum.
    “We are not importing rice now.  We are bringing rice from Kebbi, from Sokoto, from all over the country.  By next year, we will not import rice. All our rice will be produced here. When you do that farmers will be rich.
    “Farmers in other countries they are rich people. They are not poor. I’ve been to a country where farmers own airplanes. Why?  Because their leaders are not thieves. Their leaders help them so that they can farm; they can expand their farms and they can earn money.
    “I went to speak to them in Kebbi.  Two of the farmers came to me and said, since this our government (came into power), they have been doing very well.  One of them said, ‘now I have my money, I can pay for my hajj.’ Another one even told me that he has married a second wife and I said no, no.  I said don’t do that because one wife is enough.  He said since he is getting some money be can marry a second wife
    “But the truth of the matter is that there is enough money for us in this country.  I believe that we must give President Muhammadu Buhari enough votes to lead this country for four more years.  If he leads this country for four more years, you will see the difference.” he said
    The Vice President also pointed out the administration’s anti-corruption stance, noting that the Buhari administration is focused on improving the lives of the common man on the streets, while highlighting the impact of the Social Investment Programmes.

  • Row over Osinbajo’s push for Buhari in Southwest

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo sparked a huge controversy at the weekend when he asked his kinsmen in the Southwest to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid next year.

    He was quoted as saying that the re-election of the President for another four-year term will pave the way for the Southwest  to vie for the presidency after the expiration of Buhari’s tenure.

    The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday accused Osinbajo of positioning himself to succeed Buhari in 2023, describing it as an ambition that can never materialise.

    A source close to the Vice President dismissed it all as “amusing”.

    The PDP also accused the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) of promising to give the presidential slot to the Southwest and the Southeast in 2023.

    It said Osinbajo’s position contradicted that of Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha who, it said, assured the Southeast of the slot if the Igbo would vote Buhari next year.

    In a statement, PDP spokesman Kola Ologbodiyan said the vice president’s 2023 presidential bid will end up a pipe dream

    But the vice President cleared the air last night. He said he had no ambition to take a shot at the presidency in 2023 as alleged by the PDP.

    A source close to Osinbajo said that the PDP and its foot soldiers were free to amuse themselves.

    The source told The Nation: “Osinbajo has never focused on ambition but only passionately gets assignments given him done and done well. He is not talking of 2023 for himself at all.

    “He has a leader and is known as a loyal person by all Nigerians. The PDP and its foot soldiers can, however, continue to amuse themselves and lie as they have always done.”

    Ologbodiyan said that President Buhari, who Osinbajo is banking on for the 2023 ambition, will be defeated in the February 2019 election.

    The PDP statement reads: “It’s laughable that Prof. Osinbajo is swimming in wishful thinking, even when it has become obvious that he and President Buhari will no longer have any political relevance after May 29, 2019.”

    “Prof. Osinbajo thinks he can sweet-talk and cajole the people of the Southwest to shed their already established support for the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.”

    “Our ambitious vice president in his political hallucination, has failed to realise that the Southwest is politically sophisticated and cannot fall for his gimmicks and self-serving venture.

    “What should rather occupy Prof. Osinbajo’s mind, now that it is clear that he is leaving office in May, 2019, is how to answer for the (alleged) mindless looting of our patrimony, particularly the alleged looting of huge part of the funds meant for food and welfare of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the Northeast, while he was Acting President in 2017.”

    The chairman of the House of Representatives Committee that investigated the diversion of the IDP votes said the Osinbajo’s name was not included in the panel’s report.

    The PDP also criticized the Tradermoni scheme as a way of diverting “funds in the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to finance the wasteful lifestyle of APC leaders and his benefactors.”

    Many Nigerians have, however, lauded the Federal Government for introducing theTradermoni programme, which they see as a direct answer to poverty in the land. Under the programme, traders get at least N10,000 without any collateral.

  • Osinbajo warns Nigerians against empty promises

    Vice President  Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged Nigerians not to fall for empty promises being made by desperate politicians ahead of the 2019 general elections.

    He said such politicians would promise heaven on earth to get the votes.

    Osinbajo, who spoke yesterday at the palace of the Hausa Community leader (Sarkin Hausawa) of Agege, Alhaji Musa Muhammadu Dogonkadai, noted that there are two type of politicians – those that would like to take power by force, and those who would seek the peoples’ mandate through the ballot.

    He said President Muhammadu Buhari belongs to the type that would make promises and fulfil them. “Whatever he wants to do, he will do. Nobody can push him,” the vice president said.

    He reassured Nigerians that the Federal Government will not relenting on addressing issues of poverty and unemployment.

    The vice president said Nigerians should rather focus on critical issues of development which the incumbent administration has been tackling in the last three and a half years, urging them to hold on to the foundation being laid by the Buhari administration. He promised: “We are going to build on it”.

    Replying  the demand by the Sarkin Hausawa for employment opportunities and scholarship for his subjects, Osinbajo said: “The government is not only cognisant of the challenges; we are doing everything necessary to address the issue. Poverty is not a good thing. We are trying our best to alleviate it. The TraderMoni scheme, among other steps taken by the Buhari-led administration, are targeted towards addressing poverty. He said the TraderMoni  programme was not politically motivated,  promising that it will get to everybody.

    The Sarkin Hausawa, who doubled as Chairman, Chieftaincy Council of Arewa Chiefs in Lagos State, received the vice president in the company of his chiefs in his palace. Osinbajo, who arrived at the palace with his entourage, was received by a large crowd of people who chanted his name  and that of President Buhari as they escorted him into the palace. For as long as his visit lasted, the crowd was chanting 4+4 , Sai Baba (meaning that Buhari will spend another four years.

    Speaking to reporters, Treasurer of the Arewa Community, Alhaji AbdulKarim Abubakar, said they felt highly honoured by the vice president’s visit to their leader in Agege.

    He said, the Hausa Community in Lagos has resolved to vote massively for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2019 elections.

    He said: “We want continuity of good governance in Lagos State and in Nigeria at large. We are very happy with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visit to Arewa Community leaders in Agege. We are excited to see the vice president.

    “We are enjoying this government. We don’t want money; what we want is peace, which we are enjoying from this government. We are enjoying this government in Agege and Lagos State and we want it to continue. Because we want continuity of thing and peace , we are going to vote for Buhari, Osinbajo,  Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Mudasiru Obasa and other APC candidates.

    On the vice president’s entourage were Special Adviser to President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Executive Secretary for Transportation, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Kayode Opiefa and Chairman, Agege Local Government Area Chairman Ganiyu Egunjobi.

  • Osinbajo to Southwest: Re-elect Buhari to have presidency in 2023

    From Vice President Yemi Osinbajo  to the Southwest yesterday came a piece of advice: vote President Muhammadu Buhari in the February 2019 election to stand a good chance of producing his successor in 2023.

    Osinbajo spoke in Oyo during a visit to the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi.

    The vice president said onus is on the Southwest to show that  it wants to produce the president in 2023.

    Buhari, according to him, has performed well to deserve a second term in office.

    “The 2019 election is our own. We are not looking at 2019 but 2023,” he said.

    “If we get it in 2019, Yoruba will get it in 2023. Because if we don’t get it in 2019, we may not get it in 2023 and it may take a very long time to get it.

    “We need to look at tomorrow and not because of today. What we are doing now is for tomorrow and not for today.”

    He said Buhari has shown that he has  zero tolerance for corruption.

    His words: “What I know about Buhari is that he is an honest man. What he says he will do, he will do it.”

    He urged the people of the Southwest to reject the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    “Now, they are regrouping. These are the people that ruled for 16 years and they say they want to come back again. They are corrupt. Though, it is still difficult because no man or woman can build a house without a foundation,” he said.

    Oba Adeyemi earlier in his address described Vice President Osinbajo as a cerebral lawyer who has excelled in his profession.

    He said, “He is a good lawyer. The case he instituted on behalf of Lagos State when the federal government withheld the local government allocations in Lagos State during the Obasanjo regime, he won the case. And it was Yar’Adua that paid the money. The load you are carrying is big, Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, you will succeed.”