The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo: we can’t thank God enough for our lives

    I’m proud of our partnership and your unalloyed loyalty and your commitment to the service of Nigeria.” These were the words of President Muhammadu Buhari to his deputy Prof Yemi Osinbajo, whose aircraft crash landed in Kabba, Kogi State, at the weekend.

    It was a phone conversation between the two leaders, according to a statement by presidential spokesman Mallam Garba Shehu yesterday.

    The statement reported the President as praising Osinbajo for his “resilience”.

    Shehu said the President praised the vice president for continuing with campaign activities despite the crash.

    “It is tenacious spirit and amazing spiritual strength to survive a helicopter crash without being paralysed by its impact,” the President was quoted as saying.

    According to Shehu, the President told Osinbajo during the phone call: “We give glory to Almighty God for sparing your life. I’m impressed by your tenacious spirit which enabled you to continue on your campaign engagement, despite the shock of the crash.

    “I’m proud of our partnership and your unalloyed loyalty and your commitment to the service of Nigeria.

    “That you proceeded with your engagements, despite the accident, is a testimony of your passion for service to country and a reflection of your admirable spiritual fervour.

    “May God continue to protect you and all those on board with you, bless your lives and grant you more good health and long life to serve our country even more.”

    Speaking at a thanksgiving service yesterday, Prof Osinbajo said that no amount of thanksgiving and praises to God would be enough for saving his life and nine others in Saturday’s helicopter crash.

    The Caverton Helicopter, marked Augusta AW139, conveying the vice president and others, crash landed in Kabba, Kogi State, at the weekend.

    Osinbajo, who spoke during a thanksgiving service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), City of Grace, Lokoja, capital of the Confluence State,  said: “Only God can take the glory for saving my life and that of the nine crew members on board.”

    He went on: “It would have been breaking news on local and international media that Vice President Osinbajo and nine crew members died in a helicopter crash, but God did not allow such to happen.

    “No amount of thanksgiving and praises to God would be enough for saving my life and nine crew on board. God is the one, who can do all things, and only Him can take the glory; we return the glory to Him.

    “We are here to say thank you, thank you Jesus. We bless His name forever and ever,” he said.

    Praying God to bless all the people who celebrated with him, the vice president said: “All I have to say is that we are grateful and we are moving to the next level; the Lord will uphold us to the next level and Kogi will be number one.”

    In a live telecast from the RCCG headquarters, Lagos, the General Overseer of the church, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, asked the congregation to rise and give glory to God for saving Osinbajo’s life.

    According to Adeboye, the devil wanted to take Osinabjo’s life, but God put the devil to shame.

    He asked the congregation to specially appreciate God on behalf of the vice president and all the crew member for His supernatural protection, saying Nigeria would not mourn.

    In his sermon, titled: “Carriers of God’s glory”, Pastor Adeboye said for anybody to carry the glory of God, such a person must be a true child of God and live a life of holiness.

    Taking his lesson from the Bible in the book of Matthew 5: 14- 15, he said: “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid.

    “As a carrier of His glory, anywhere you arrive, darkness will automatically disappear.

    “When God begins to use you, the glory belongs to God and you must learn to always give glory to God.

    “Do not ascribe the glory to yourself because it is not yours; it belongs to God,” Pastor Adeboye counseled.

    Dignitaries at the service included: Kogi House of Assembly Speaker Matthew Kolawole; Secretary to the State Government Dr. Ayoade Arike; Special Adviser to the Governor on Security Commodore Jerry Omodara; commissioners and Senator Smart Adeyemi.

    The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), has felicitated with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for surviving the crash.

    CAN President Rev. Samson Ayokunle also appreciated God for the vice president’s safety.

    A statement in Abuja by his Special Assistant, Media and Communications, Pastor Adebayo Oladeji quoted him as saying: “The leadership of CAN is grateful to God and rejoice with the Federal Government and Osinbajo.

    “We give glory to God for sparing the life of the Vice President and his team from the helicopter crash while mobilising support for his party in preparation for the coming general elections.”

    The cleric recalled that the vice president had similar experience in 2018 while visiting the Nigeria Customs College in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

    “It is our prayers that God will continue to watch over him and other top government functionaries in Jesus’ Name,” he was quoted as saying.

    Ayokunle urged the technical team or those responsible for the certification of the aircrafts and helicopters in the country used by the government officials to be more meticulous so as to avoid putting their lives in danger.

    The Political Adviser to the President, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who was aboard the crashed helicopter with the vice president, also sent an appreciation message to those who showed concern.

    The message reads: “To family, friends and associates thank you all for your concern and show of love and affection. I can’t thank you enough. It was a miracle we survived. The belts did a marvelous job and so were the security men on ground, who quickly pulled us out of the wreckage not minding their own safety.

    “We were also calm all through the ordeal. There was no panic of any kind. The immediate concern of all of us was the safety of our principal. We ensured he got out first. He too ensured we were all out before going into a vehicle.

    “When we were all safely in the bus, he insisted the assignment must go on and we drove to the palace of Obaro of Kabba. The Kabba people gave us a warm welcome and showered us with prayers. We thank them all.

    “Above all, God must be praised for providing us that umbrella of protection and prevented the helicopter from exploding in flames.”

  • Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu, other APC leaders for Ondo rally tomorrow

    President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, are expected tomorrow in Akure, the Ondo State capital, for the state’s presidential campaign rally.

    Already, Akure streets have been adorned with President Buhari’s posters and billboards – from the Airport, Eleyewo, running through Oba-Ile dual carriageway to Akure metropolis.

    Intermittent radio jingles and television advertisement by various groups and individuals have been running to educate the residents on the President’s visit.

    President Buhari is expected to address APC faithful and his admirers at a campaign rally scheduled for MKO Abiola Democracy Park in Akure, the state capital.

    The visit is in continuation of President Buhari’s campaign for a second term in office.

    Ondo State Governor Oluwatotimi Akeredolu is expected to receive the President and his entourage in the town.

    During the visit, the President is expected to pay homage to the Deji of Akure, Oba Aladetoyinbo Aladewusi, at his palace and meet with some top party members.

    Also expected in the entourage of the President are: Governors Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti), Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo) and Gboyega Oyetola (Osun).

    Former Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Director of Buhari Campaign Organisation in the Southwest, Chief Olusola Oke, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Development, Prof. Cladius Daramola, are among other dignitaries expected to join the President.

  • Looters will not go unpunished, Osinbajo

    Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has declared that looters of the country’s treasury would not go unpunished. Speaking to a mammoth crowd at a rally in Ward 8 Ikpoba-okha local government area of Edo state, he said the All Progressives Congress (APC) under President Mohammadu Buhari has achieved a lot since 2015.

    Osinbajo urged the people to vote for the APC and all its candidates so that the country can continue to move forward. He said there was need to sustain progress being recorded in Edo State and the country at large.

    Osinbajo noted that the Next Level agenda was about the careful and wise allocation of the nation’s resources to secure a better future for Nigerians. He stated that Edo people’s votes for APC would allow for the sustenance of effective allocation of the nations’ resources. He explained that the ruling APC government at the federal level has been able to do more with less resources due to the high premium the government places on accountability and probity. “Corruption is one of the reasons our country is backward. Buhari is not corrupt and he will not allow anybody to steal our money,” the VP said.

    Osinbajo, who listed creation of more jobs, improved power supply and other infrastructure as well as credit intervention as some of the things that the APC intends to do through its Next Level agenda, assured that the federal government is increasing the number of N-Power beneficiaries from 500,000 to one million and added that the Entrepreneur Bank will make money available for youths interested in business.

    He informed the people that the federal government was in support of Edo State government’s plan to establish its own independent power plant to support the state’s economic development. Governor Godwin Obaseki, who expressed appreciation to APC supporters in Ikboba-Okha, said he was counting on them to ensure victory for the party in the 2019 elections. “Ikpoba-Okha has about 260,000 voters, so I am counting on you to deliver all our candidates in the elections,” the governor said.

  • Osinbajo escapes death as helicopter crashes in Kogi

    •Vice President unhurt, proceeds with scheduled campaign stops
    •How six-seater chopper narrowly missed bus carrying senator
    •Caverton Helicopters blames poor wealther for crash
    •APC, Atiku, Saraki, others grateful, PDP calls for investigation

    Vice President Yemi Osibanjo was second time lucky yesterday after surviving a helicopter crash at Kabba,Kogi State,two weeks to the presidential election.

    No one on board the Augusta AW139 helicopter was hurt, neither was anyone on ground.

    The six-seater chopper was in the process of landing at the Kabba Township Stadium when it unexpectedly lost one of its blades and hit the ground on its right side.

    Caverton Helicopters,the firm that manages the aircraft, attributed the crash to bad weather which apparently blurred visibility for the pilot.

    An eye witness said that as the helicopter made to land on the sandy field, a lot of dust was thrown up and visibility became poor.

    In no time,one of the blades flew off and the helicopter lost balance.

    At a point,the aircraft appeared to be swerving to one end of the stadium where a  bus was parked but the pilot managed to manoeuvre it from the area until he finally lost control and the helicopter  went down.

    The eyewitness said a lot of people would have possibly died if the chopper had crashed where it was first headed.

    Inside the Coaster bus were Senator Smart Adeyemi,a former President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Kogi West and some of his supporters.

    An aide to Adeyemi,Mr. Dare Olayemi, said of the incident:”By all definition,the crash, the safety of VP Osinbajo and the fact that there was no casualty constitute a very strange miracle.

    “I was among those who brought out the Vice President through the window of the crashed chopper; the man did not sustain a single bruise and he went ahead straightaway to launch the Tradermoni as earlier planned.

    “About thirty minutes earlier, a police helicopter which appeared to be an advance party had landed.

    “The Vice President’s helicopter appeared to be shiny and in spectacular condition – far more impressive to look at than the previous one.

    “My leader, Senator Adeyemi, and several others were in a Coaster  bus when we suddenly realised that the pilot had lost control.

    “Were it not for God’s timely intervention and the pilot’s reaction, our bus would have become a trap in a stadium built by Senator Adeyemi for his people a few years ago.

    “The surging crowd made it difficult for the bus to move and when the helicopter crash landed, losing one side, some of us rushed to help but other than the VP, I can’t recognise faces of the others in the helicopter.

    “It was indeed, a very strange miracle that none in the crowd and none of the helicopter occupants suffered any injury

    “Minutes afterwards, the Vice President carried on with the Tradermoni event as if the shocking and unprecedented spectacle that we all witnessed earlier, with our hearts in our mouth, was a non-event.”

    Once out of the chopper, an unperturbed Osinbajo was ushered into a  waiting vehicle and  driven in a convoy to  the palace of the Obaro of Kabba, to pay a courtesy call.

    Speaking at the Obaro’s Palace Osinbajo expressed gratitude to God for keeping death at bay during the crash.

    He said: “We are extremely grateful to the Lord for preserving our lives from the incident that just happened. Everyone is safe and no one is maimed. God has kept us safe and alive, delivered us from death so we can do more for our people and country.”

    Osinbajo later addressed a crowd at the St Augustine’s College in the town.

    He was also billed to launch the trader moni in Kabba.

    Spokesman to the Vice President, Laolu Akande, confirmed the crash on his Twitter handle.

    He said: “VP Osinbajo’s Chopper crash lands in Kabba, but he and the entire crew safe.

    “He is continuing with his engagements and plans for the day in Kogi State.”

    Osinbajo himself also went on his Twitter handle  @ProfOsinbajo to express  appreciation for the concern shown by Nigerians over the incident.

    He said: “All thanks and glory to God, the chopper we boarded today from Abuja just crash landed in Kabba, Kogi State, and the entire crew plus myself are all safe.

    “We are continuing with our Next Level Engagements and plans for Kogi State.”

     

    Why chopper crashed—Caverton Helicopters

    The management of Caverton Helicopters last night attributed the chopper crash to “unusual weather conditions.”

    It said it had informed the relevant authorities connected with the probe of the incident.

    In a statement, Caverton Helicopters said there were no injuries to either Osinbajo or any of the passengers.

    The statement was signed by its Managing Director / Accountable Manager, Capt. Josiah CHOMS PhD MNIM

    The statement said: “An Augusta AW139 Helicopter, under management by Caverton Helicopters was involved in a mishap on landing in Kabba, Kogi State around 3pm today (2nd February 2019) as a result of unusual weather conditions.

    “There were no injuries to the passengers or crew onboard and they were all quickly and safely evacuated.

    “The relevant authorities have been duly informed and an investigation into the incident has commenced. We will, of course, support the authorities as required.

    “We wish to reassure the public and our various stakeholders of our unwavering commitment to safety in all of our operations.”

     

    We pray for safety of our leaders, says APC

    His party, APC, said it would continue to pray for the safety of Nigerian leaders and the general progress of the nation.

    Reacting to the helicopter crash the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Mallam Lanre Issa Onilu, said the party was grateful for the safety of the Vice President.

    He said: “We thank God our vice president, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is safe and sound along with his aides following his involvement in a helicopter accident which occurred in Kabba, Kogi State while undertaking the All Progressives Congress #NextLevel Engagements ahead of the #2019Elections.

    “The Party prays for continuous safety of our leaders and general progress of our great country.

    “We also congratulate @ProfOsinbajo, an alumnus of Igbobi College @ICYaba on the institution’s 87 founders day anniversary being marked today.”

     

    Atiku ‘elated’ over VP’s survival

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar said he was elated to learn that Osinbajo and those in the helicopter did not suffer any injury.

    He said: “Dear Vice President @ProfOsinbajo, I just received news of the crash of your helicopter in Kabba, Kogi State. I am happy to note however that all is well with you and your delegation.

    Atiku’s running mate,Mr.Peter Obi, also expressed gratitude to God that there was no loss of life in the incident.

    Obi prayed to God to continue to protect all those running around on campaign and Nigerians in general.

    He asked Nigerians to remain prayerful at all times.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki,House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also expressed joy that Osinbajo survived the crash.

    Saraki joined “all Nigerians in thanking Almighty God for sparing the life of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who survived a helicopter crash over Kabba, Kogi State “while Dogara urged  “relevant authorities to conduct due diligence checks on all govt owned aircraft to prevent a re-occurrence.”

    However, the PDP called for “a thorough investigation into the traumatic incident.”

    The party’s national publicity secretary,Mr.Kola Ologbondiyan said: “the safety of our leaders, and of course, all Nigerians, must be guaranteed, especially at this critical time.

    “The PDP urges all Nigerians irrespective of creed, ethnicity and political affiliation, to continue to pray for God’s continued intervention in our national life.”

     

    Dickson urges Nigerians to thank God for averting national tragedy

    Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State  urged Nigerians to thank God for sparing the lives of the Vice President and other passengers in the helicopter.

    He said “I have heard about the crash-landing of the helicopter that was conveying the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and other passengers at Kabba, Kogi State.

    “I join Nigerians to thank the Almighty GOD for this great deliverance and the prevention of a tragedy that would have plunged this nation into mourning at this critical time.

    “We should all thank God for sparing the lives of the Vice President, the other passengers and the crew for his mercies.

    “In this country, we have a responsibility to see ourselves as brothers and sisters of a united family irrespective of differences in party platforms.

    “Being in different parties should not make us see ourselves as enemies or tear us apart. We should reinforce our common humanity in moments like this.”

    “My family and I and indeed the Government and people of Bayelsa State hereby offer our best wishes and show gratitude to God for sparing life of the Vice President.”

    The Southwest Campaign Council of President Muhammadu Buhari said it received the unfortunate news of the accident.

    The campaign council in a statement by its spokesman,Rotimi Ogunleye however expressed appreciation to God that the Vice President and his team did not sustain any injury.

    The council thanked Nigerians for their prayers.

    It believed that the prayers of Nigerians have been the sustaining grace for Osinbajo and the government of APC in Nigeria in their quest for a better Nigeria.

    While thanking God, the campaign council pleaded with Nigerians to continue to pray for Nigeria and her leaders.

    On June 7, 2018, a chopper conveying the vice-president from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja, was forced to land a few seconds after takeoff.

    At the time, Laolu Akande, VP’s Senior Special Assistant, explained that the vice-president avoided using his chopper from Gwagwalada where he had gone for an official assignment back to the Presidential Villa due to “technical reasons.”

    He said the vice-president returned to the Presidential Villa by road and continued with his schedule.

    “VP Osinbajo attended the graduation ceremony of Nigeria Customs Senior Course in Gwagwalada today (Thursday June 7, 2018),” he had tweeted.

    “On his way back, it was decided, for technical reasons, not to fly the chopper that had brought him to the venue. He drove back to the Presidential Villa and continued his schedule.”

  • Chopper crash: How Smart Adeyemi, others narrowly escaped

     

    A Presidential Fleet helicopter that crashed at Kabba stadium in Kogi state narrowly missed Senator Smart Adeyemi and several of his loyalists in the area, it has been gathered.

    One of his close loyalists, Dare Olayemi, said Senator Smart Adeyemi, who lost his wife few months ago, was in a Coaster bus that the helicopter almost crashed upon on Saturday.

    “By all definition, the crash, the safety of VP Osinbajo and the fact that there was no casualty constitute a very strange miracle.

    READ ALSO:  2019/02/02 Osinbajo helicopter crashes in Kabba

    “I was among those who brought out the Vice President through the window of the crashed chopper; the man did not sustain a single bruise and he went ahead straightaway to launch the Tradermoni as earlier planned.

    “About thirty minutes earlier, a police helicopter which appeared to be an advance party had landed.

    “The Vice President’s helicopter appear to be shiny and in spectacular condition – far more impressive to look at than the previous one.

    “My leader, Senator Adeyemi and several others were in a Coaster bus when we suddenly realised that the pilot had lost control.

    “Were it not for God’s timely intervention and the pilot’s reaction, our bus could have become a trap in a stadium built by Senator Adeyemi for his people few years ago.

    “The surging crowd made it difficult for the bus to move and when the helicopter crashlanded, losing one side, some of us rushed to help but other than the VP, I can’t recognise faces of others in the helicopter.

    “It was indeed, a very strange miracle that none in the crowd and none of the helicopter occupants suffered any injury

    “Minutes afterwards, the Vice President carried on with the Tradermoni event as if the shocking and unprecedented spectacle that we all witnessed earlier, with our hearts in our mouth, was a non-event,” the Kabba indigene stated.

  • Why Osinbajo chopper crashed, by Caverton Helicopters

     

    The management of Caverton Helicopters on Saturday attributed the chopper crash involving Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to “unusual weather conditions.”

    It said it has informed relevant authorities connected with the probe of the incident.

    In a statement, Caverton Helicopters said there were no injuries to either Osinbajo or any of the passengers.

    The statement was signed by its Managing Director / Accountable Manager, Capt. Josiah CHOMS PhD MNIM

    The statement reads: “An Augusta AW139 Helicopter, under management by Caverton Helicopters was involved in a mishap on landing in Kabba, Kogi State around 3pm today (2nd February 2019) as a result of unusual weather conditions.

    “There were no injuries to the passengers or crew onboard and they were all quickly and safely evacuated.

    “The relevant authorities have been duly informed and an investigation into the incident has commenced. We will, of course, support the authorities as required.

    “We wish to reassure the public and our various stakeholders of our unwavering commitment to safety in all of our operations.”

     

  • Osinbajo campaigns in Kogi after helicopter crash

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo continued his campaign in Kogi State on Saturday.

    This happened after surviving an helicopter crash minutes earlier

  • Akwa Ibom need not play opposition politics – Osinbajo

    VICE President Yemi Osinbajo, yesterday cautioned the people of Akwa Ibom State against playing opposition politics, just as he listed the gains inherent in being part of national politics.

    Osinbajo, who was in the state for the Trader Moni, social empowerment program of the Buhari-led administration, stated this at the APC local government campaign at Nsit Attai, in Akwa Ibom State .

    According to the Vice President, “For this local government and Akwa Ibom State to fully benefit from the government at the centre by virtue of its natural resources, there is the need for the state to play national politics, so that palm oil, the highest income earner after crude oil, would be fully harnessed for the development of the state and the economic well-being of its people.”

    He described the attendance at the local government campaign as a confirmation that the people of the state were ready to vote in all APC candidates in the forth-coming general elections. “Akwa Ibom people have come to accept the APC as the only vehicle for genuine development of the state. Akwa Ibom State has no reasons to play opposition politics.

    The Buhari government is determined to ensure that our youths are employed, not just employment, we are talking about quality jobs,” he stressed. Addressing the rally, former Senate Minority Leader and South-South Coordinator of the Presidential Campaign Council, Senator Godswill Akpabio, assured the presidency of victory at the February 16 and March 2 polls, asserting that the state will deliver the President and other candidates with overwhelming votes.

  • Onnoghen: Osinbajo, NBA ponder six-point resolution

    A Political solution to the Chief Justice of Nigeria Walter Onnoghen crisis of integrity rocking the Judiciary is in the works, The Nation has learnt.

    A 12-man Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) team has met with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on how to resolve the row over Justice Onnoghen’s suspension.

    The session at the Presidential Villa was to seek a “soft landing” for the CJN, who is expected to resign in what a source described as a “win-win” situation.

    There is a six-point terms of resolution to be delivered to Justice Onnoghen through his confidants, relatives and friends, who will be expected to persuade him to quit.

    According to sources close to the talks, the NBA team, led by its National President Paul Usoro (SAN) and two former Presidents met with Osinbajo on Sunday night till the wee hours of Monday in a frank session.

    Also at the meeting were senior lawyers, including ex-NBA President A, B. Mahmood (SAN), Adegboyega Awomolo (SAN) and others.

    A source in NBA, who spoke in confidence, said: “I am aware that 12 of our leaders met with the Vice President, who is a senior member of the bar, on how to find a lasting solution to the crisis in the Judiciary. Some of them have briefed us that they went to the Villa to meet the VP.

    “The meeting reviewed the issues which led to the suspension of Onnoghen, including the allegations against the CJN, the filing of charges at the Code of Conduct Tribunal, restraining orders by some courts and the ex parte order by the CCT.

    Read also: Updated: Onnoghen at CCT: Appeal Court refuses to stay proceedings

    “Our leaders restated the fact that they disagreed on the procedure adopted by the government in handling, Onnoghen matter. They virtually repeated the case presented at the CCT since some of them are Onnoghen’s lawyers. But they said the National Judicial Council (NJC) ought to have handled the matter.

    “They also faulted the government for a allegedly trying to desecrate the Judiciary since Onnoghen symbolises the highest authority in this arm of government.

    “At the end of the day, they sought for soft landing for the CJN who has no immunity under the 1999 Constitution.

    “They also explained that it was wrong for the Acting CJN, Justice Ibrahim Tanko Muhammad, to have made himself available for inauguration when a ruling of the Court of Appeal was being awaited.”

    Responding to a question, the source said: “Well, we were told the VP who was with some unnamed people, accorded the NBA team utmost respect. They said he listened to them and assured them that President Muhammadu Buhari or himself will never do anything to destroy the Judiciary.

    “The legal and moral burden on Onnoghen were mutually discussed at the session by both the NBA and the government team. It dawned on everybody from NBA that the minimum the government will accept is the resignation of Onnoghen.

    “The NBA however sought a dignified exit for Onnoghen through either resignation or retirement without trial. They proposed that the Acting CJN should also proceed on retirement.”

    The VP is said to have assured the NBA team that he will convene their requests to the government.

    The source put the terms discussed by NBA at the session as follows:

    • CJN to resign or retire without coercion;
    • Govt to withdraw all charges against Onnoghen;
    • no molestation of CJN under any guise;
    • Acting CJN should quit;
    • NBA team to prevail on relatives, friends to persuade Justice Onnoghen to resign; and
    • consensus on the need to clean up the Judiciary (long term measure).

    The source added: “To be sure that the parties will keep to the terms, it was agreed that as Onnoghen is quitting his job, the government will simultaneously withdraw the charges against the CJN, the source said.

    In a separate development, a minister confirmed last night that some representatives of the CJN had opened talks with the Federal Government on “how to resolve the crisis in the bench” by the two arms of the government.

    The source said: “I think dialogue is ongoing but I cannot say much on this. It is in the interest of all to resolve the logjam before we go to the poll.

    “The stage we are now is the demand that the CJN should be allowed to retire without prosecution. Those sympathetic also do not want the cash in his accounts seized from him. They were of the strong opinion that the Federal Government also erred in suspending Onnoghen with a suspicious order from the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT).

    “The government believes the CJN cannot go without forfeiting the huge cash. That is the challenge at hand.

    “But while the two sides have opened up dialogue, Onnoghen has gone to the court to challenge his suspension.”

  • Next Level will be better than where we are now- Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, says Nigeria’s economy will be better than it is now, if the present administration’s Next Level agenda is supported.

    Osinbajo made the promise to supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), when he visited the palace of the Sarkin Bwari, in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday.

    The vice president, who commended the council’s administration for its achievements, said that President Muhammadu Buhari relied on the people’s votes for a second tenure.

    ” We have come here to see our people and to re-assure that this second term will be better than the first.

    ” The president’s message to you is that the Next Level will be very much better than where we are today, you all know that the president is concerned about the common man and so, everything he does is about the common man.

    ” It is about how we can improve on those getting loans in the market so that they can get more to be able to trade and also improve on power, we need power especially in our businesses, ” he said.

    He said that these, among others, were what the Buhari led administration was set to do if re-elected.

    Read Also; Osinbajo, others warn against heating up polity

    Sarkin Bwari, Alhaji Auwal Ijakoro, who spoke, said that the town was honoured by the vice president’s visit, who represented the president.

    He assured the team of massive votes and prayed for the success of the 2019 general elections and also, for the safe journey of the delegation.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Vice President also visited the palace of the Etsu of Bwari, Mr Ibrahim Yaro.

    He was accompanied by Musa Dikko, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council and the party’s campaign team, among others.