The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osinbajo

  • Corruption: Osinbajo meets Magu, Idris, DSS chief, others

    Corruption: Osinbajo meets Magu, Idris, DSS chief, others

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday night held a closed-door meeting with heads of security and anti-corruption agencies over fight against corruption in the country.

    Some top government officials also attended the meeting.

    The meeting, which lasted about two hours, ended around 8:00 p.m.

    Those at the meeting were the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, Inspector- General of Police, Ibrahim Idris,  Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, the Chairman of Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Ekpo Nta.

    Also at the meeting were the Director -General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Lawal Daura, Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu ‎and the Director-General of Nigeria Processing Zone Authority (NIPZA).

    Details of the meeting were unknown at the time of filing this report.‎

    Some heads of the anti-graft agencies had earlier met with the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, before meeting with Osinbajo.‎

    Kyari had also separately met with the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), ‎Godwin Emefiele and the Minister of Trade and Investment, Okechukwu Enelamah.

    Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, Magu blamed corruption for the current recession in the country.

    He said “I’m asking all Nigerians to join in the fight against corruption. Adults, children, men, women and you journalists. Corruption is the greatest menace we are facing in the country.

    “Corruption is responsible for the recession we are witnessing today. So all Nigerians must join in the fight against graft.”

     

     

     

  • Criticize Buhari’s government constructively – Oba of Lagos

    Criticize Buhari’s government constructively – Oba of Lagos

    The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, on Thursday called on Nigerians to criticize the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration constructively and not destructively.

    He made the remark while speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Akiolu, who called on Nigerians to be patient with Buhari’s administration, also prayed that the President would return to the country from his vacation in the United Kingdom hale and hearty.

    He said Osinbajo should be grateful to God for having attained the position of the Vice President considering his humble background.

    Asked why he came to see the Acting President, Akiolu said, “I have found time to see my former law lecturer and once more to convey to him the wishes and prayers of Lagos so that by the grace of God, the Almighty Allah, that our President will return to us hale and hearty and all will be well with in this country provided all of us are sincere and we cooperate with the government and we tell the government what we feel are constructive and not destructive criticisms.

    “We have to be absolutely patient and provide useful suggestions to move the country forward. It is very funny. Prophet Ayub was sick to the extent that maggots were coming out of his body and Allah brought him back not to talk of somebody who is not like that. Insha Allah, by the grace of Almighty, our President will be back to all of us.”

    On Osinbajo, the monarch said, “As I told the Acting President now, God blessed him more than how he expected. He was a law teacher; very quiet, easy going and he is always with his bible and see what God has done for him. He is not interested in any political thing but God had destined that he will be the number two man. All of us should pray for the two of them and for Nigeria to be very successful provided we are and close to God and very honest in everything we are doing. All will be well with us.”

  • Why Nigeria must win anti-graft battle – Osinbajo

    Why Nigeria must win anti-graft battle – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said there can’t be sustainable development in Nigeria without winning battle against corruption.

    He made the remark while receiving the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Ayuba Wabba and some members of labour at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    They had led protest to Aso Rock to demand good governance.

    Osinbajo said: “We commend you for taking this laudable campaign to the Villa on behalf of the Nigerian people. For a democratically elected government we must constantly report to the people and we must show that we are accountable to the people.

    “That is why positions like yours have to be received properly and we must find ways to positively take action on the many demands that were raised.

    “When we came on board there were 22 states that were not paying salaries, some up to six or eight months. That was despite that oil prices were still high. President Buhari decided that salaries of workers across the states must be paid and that was what informed the first bailout.

    “We were bailing out at a time we were losing 60 percent of our revenue on account of what was going on in the Niger Delta. We later did the second bailout, the third was the Paris Club refunds.

    “These are sums of monies owed to states and nobody has ever paid that sum of money.

    “Management of resources is critical especially when those resources are as small as what we are witnessing today. We want to ensure that everyone is held to account. If resources were not efficiently managed  we will not be able to do even the things we are doing now because we  are operating at less than 60 per cent of revenues as at 2015, today.

     

  • Osinbajo, Sanusi meet in Aso Villa

    Osinbajo, Sanusi meet in Aso Villa

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday met with the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II  at the State House, Abuja.

    The royal father declined to speak to reporters on the purpose of his visit to the Villa at the end of the meeting.

    He simply told State House correspondents that approached him: “You can just report that I came to the Villa.”

  • Osinbajo, Sanusi meet in Aso Rock

    Osinbajo, Sanusi meet in Aso Rock

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday met behind closed doors with the Emir of Kano, Mohammed Sanusi II, at the State House, Abuja.

    The monarch declined to speak to journalists on the purpose of his visit to the Villa at the end of the meeting.

    He simply told State House correspondents that approached him: “You can just report that I came to the Villa.”

  • Nigeria’s greatest problem is hate, says Osinbajo

    Nigeria’s greatest problem is hate, says Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged Christian leaders to always preach the love of Jesus Christ rather than hate messages.
    Osinbajo noted that hate among various groups and people led to killing of innocent citizens and destruction of properties across the nation.
    He noted that the burden of faith for Christians is to fulfill the mandate of Christ by preaching the love of Jesus Christ.
    Osinbajo spoke while declaring open the 14th National Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria whose theme is ‘From Glory to Glory’.
    He said for Christians to live eternally, they must be ready to die for the gospel.
    The Acting President stated that it was unfair for people to suggest that the Federal Government was silent on the crisis of Southern Kaduna because it supported the killings.
    Osibanjo explained that the Federal Government’s approach was to allow Governor Nasir El-Rufai, as the Chief Security Officer of the state, to intervene just as he did in the Shiite clashes.
    He stated that the failure of past administrations to stop religious and ethnic killings could be attributed to failure of the criminal justice system.
    He said: “Our greatest enemy is hate. In the past few years, we have seen the most brutal killing of men and women. The history of blood and religious conflict extends to every Nigerian government.”
    On the Southern Kaduna Killings, he said: “Since investigations are still going on, I can’t make any categorical statement. The Federal Government has taken steps by first aligning with the state government working with the police to be the first respondents.
    “It is not true to say that the FGN was silent, it is not true. Troops were sent in after a security council briefing were received from the state and police after they found themselves of not been able to curtail the killings.
    “However, from the foregoing it is obvious that every Nigerian leader whether Christian or Muslim has tried to solve the problem of the killings and none has succeeded. Indeed killing has increased in velosity and intensity.
    “In many respects, the failure of our criminal justice system to punish culprits has not helped matters. But meanwhile the suicide bombers and those ready to die along with their victims have added a more satanic dimension to the public.
    “Why is it that no government has succeeded in stopping these age-long killings? Let me say that it is because the answer to it, the response to gross wickedness lies with the church.
    “Everything about the gospel contradicts our flesh. As far as the gospel is concerned, the way to live and be fruitful is to die.”

  • Mimiko briefs Osinbajo on disengagement plan

    Mimiko briefs Osinbajo on disengagement plan

    •Governor: Assembly crisis to be resolved soon

    Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko yesterday briefed Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on his disengagement plans.
    He sought for Osinbajo’s presence in the state to inaugurate some projects.
    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of a meeting with the Acting President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he said: “My mission was to brief him about what we are doing to exit.
    “There are some projects that if he can spare the time, we would like him to come to inaugurate.”
    Noting that he didn’t discuss the House of Assembly crisis with Osinbajo, the governor said elders have intervened and the crisis will soon be resolved.
    He said: “The matter is being looked into. It’s an internal matter and I think some elder statesmen and leaders are looking at how they can help them to get over the crisis.”
    The governor denied the allegation that the crisis was caused by the budget he was to submit to the Assembly.
    “I don’t think it’s directly related. There is nothing sacrosanct about the method of presenting budget if you know what I am talking about.
    “I think it’s just about changing leadership structure in the House and all of that.
    “The governor is from the Northern District and deputy governor from the Southern District and the Speaker also from the South.
    “There are those who feel that she should step aside so that someone from the Central District can take over. I think that has been sorted out.
    “I believe that the Speaker should come from the Central District but the issue is the method.
    “The Speaker has made it clear that she is ready to step aside, she is ready to resign.
    “Not even a simple majority can impeach the speaker, it has to be two-third majority.
    “That is to tell you that 13 of 26 members don’t have constitutional or legal empowerment to impeach the speaker.
    “But as I speak with you now, she is ready to step down any time once the House is properly constituted.”

    ‘Mimiko has no plan to travel before Feb 24’

    Ondo State Commissioner for Information Kayode Akinmade yesterday denied the allegation that Governor Olusegun Mimiko plans to leave the state before the February 24 handover date.
    Akinmade said: “I’m a member of the transition committee and I am aware that the governor and the governor-elect met three days ago to fine-tune the transition programme.
    “I am aware that there are projects to be inaugurated by the governor between now and February 24, so if somebody is saying that the governor is planning to go on vacation, that means such person is coming from space.
    “This is concocted information. There is no iota of truth in what he is saying.’’
    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state alleged that Mimiko plans to go on vacation before the handover.
    Publicity Secretary Abayomi Adesanya, in a statement in Akure, said: “If this happens, it will create complexities and pit-holes in the smooth take-off for incoming Governor Rotimi Akeredolu (SAN).
    Adesanya alleged that Mimiko planned to sneak out of the country through the land border, before travelling on a chartered flight to either Canada or China.
    “We, therefore, call on security agencies to beef-up security and surveillance in and around the country’s borders to prevent the governor and his cronies from escaping with alleged state’s looted funds,’’ he stated.

  • Osinbajo cautions Christian leaders on hate messages

    Osinbajo cautions Christian leaders on hate messages

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday urged Christian leaders in the country to always preach the love of Jesus Christ rather than hate messages.

    Osinbajo noted that hate between various groups and people led to killing of innocent citizens and destruction of properties across the nation.

    He noted that the burden of faith for Christians is to fulfill the mandate by preaching the love of Jesus Christ.

    The acting President spoke while declaring open the 14th National Biennial Conference of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria.

    He said for Christians to live eternally, they must be ready to die for the gospel.

    Osinbajo said it was unfair for people to suggest that the Federal Government was silent on the Southern Kaduna crisis because it supported the killings.

    He said the federal government’s approach was to allow Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai, to wade into the crisis.

    He said the failure of past administrations to stop religious and ethnic killings could be attributed to failure of the criminal justice system.

    The acting President said, “Our greatest enemy is hate. In the past few years we have seen the most brutal killing of men and women. The history of blood and religious conflict extend to every Nigerian government.”

     

     

  • Mimiko briefs Osinbajo on disengagement plan

    Mimiko briefs Osinbajo on disengagement plan

    The outgoing Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, on Tuesday briefed Acting President Yemi Osinbajo of his disengagement plans.

    He also sought Osinbajo’s presence in the state to commission some project before his tenure expires.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of the meeting with the acting President, Mimiko said: “My mission to the acting President is to brief him about what we are doing to exit the Ondo State Government House.

    “There are some projects that if he can spare the time, we would like him to come to the state to commission some of them.”

    Stressing that he didn’t discuss the Ondo House of Assembly crisis with the acting President, the governor said elders in the state have waded into the crisis and it would soon be resolved.

    He added: “The matter is being looked into. It’s an internal matter within the House and I think some elders statesmen and leaders in the state are looking at how they can help them to get over the crisis.”

    He also denied the insinuation that the crisis was caused by the budget he is submitting to the Assembly.

    The governor said: “I don’t think it’s directly related. There is nothing sacrosanct about the method of presenting budget if you know what I’m talking about.

    “I think it’s just about changing leadership structure in the House and all of that.”

     

     

  • Recession will soon be over – Osinbajo

    Recession will soon be over – Osinbajo

    Acting President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday reassured Nigerians that the economic hardship brought about by the recession in the country will soon be over.

    Several protests for and against government policies were held in some parts of the country on Monday.

    In a statement titled “WE ARE COMMITTED TO ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR PEOPLE, and FIXING THE ECONOMY,” which was personally signed by Osinbajo, the acting president commended the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and his officers for handling the protests with professionalism and respect for the rights of citizens.

    He said: “We are committed to a continuous engagement with our people to explain government policies, receive advice and criticism.

    “Cabinet ministers have gone round eight states holding town hall meetings; the most recent was on Monday in Ilorin. There will be more of such meetings in the other states that are yet to be visited.

    “With complete focus on improving the economy every day, the recession will soon be history.”