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Tag: Osinbajo

  • I was nominated for VP, says Osinbajo

    I was nominated for VP, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday night disclosed that he was nominated for the office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in last year’s Presidential election.

    Part of Professor John Paden’s book on the President, titled: “Muhammadu Buhari: Challenges of Leadership in Nigeria,” had claimed that Osinbajo emerged as Vice President despite pressure against it by the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.

    But many Nigerians had faulted the claim as they insisted that Osinbajo was nominated for the position by Tinubu.

    Osinbajo on Wednesday night, during the Dinner organized in honour of outstanding graduants of the Presidential Amnesty Programme at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, confirmed that he was actually nominated for the position.

    He said: “I was in a group of young men and women and one of them asked the question how did I become Vice President, I was never a politician or anything like that. So I tried to explain – it is quite simple that someone somewhere has to recommend you. Somebody somewhere has to give you a helping hand, whether to be a Vice President or to be an aircraft pilot or to be an engineer, somebody somewhere has to give you an opportunity and I think that all of you that are here today are the beneficiaries of the opportunities that you have somehow received.

    “And this is why this event is so important. I think that it is one way we have to remind ourselves that we are bound as individuals to give opportunities to everyone.” He added

    A representative of the beneficiaries of the programme, Alexander Obiechina, urged the Federal Government to continue to sustain the programme.

    According to him, the beneficiaries have collectively resolved to work against vandalism and make militancy to a thing of the past in the region.

  • Osinbajo to declare NGA confab open

    The 10th International Gas Conference and Exhibition will hold between October 30 and November 2,  2016 at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will declare it open, the Nigerian Gas Association(NGA) said.

    Osinbajo will also deliver the Keynote address and lead government delegation. The vice president’s presence will reinforce the NGA’s desire to see the commitment of government towards ensuring that gas takes its pride of place in the country, the Association added.

    “Nigeria is slowly turning to gas as primary driver of the nation’s development, which is a further indication that the government has a prominent role to play,” said Bolaji Osunsanya, NGA President.

    The theme of the conference: “Nigerian Gas Roadmap: Potential for Domestic, Regional and Global influence”,  according to industry stakeholders, is apt in view of  the  country’s interests in the West Africa Gas Pipeline, Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas Limited and the challenges in the power sector both in Nigeria and beyond.

    In a statement by the association’s Publicity Secretary, Debo Fagbami, NGA said “the conference will stimulate the much-needed conversation on a range of important and diverse perspectives regarding natural gas development and its economic benefits to Nigeria”.

    The conference will also provide opportunity for  dialogue between the association and all the stakeholders, who play in the gas value chain, in order to ensure that  Nigeria’s huge natural gas resources is used as a viable option to crude oil

    Experts, who have indicated interest to speak at the event, include Group Managing Director of NNPC Maikanti Baru, Clay Neff; Chairman of OPTS/Chairman of Chevron Nigeria, Tony Attah; Managing Director of NLNG, Demola Adeyemi-Bero; Managing Director of First E & P, Osagie Okunbor; Managing Director of SPDC and Chief Executive of Seven Energy, Jeff Corey, among  others.

    The conference and the exhibition will attract over 500  top officials from 43 energy, gas, power, natural gas distribution, and transmission companies, including diversified ones.

  • Osinbajo, NBA executives meet in Aso Rock

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday met behind closed doors with the new Executives members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting came at a time the executive is perceived in some quarters to be persecuting the judiciary arm of government with the Department of State Services (DSS) arresting some judges over allegations of corruption.

    No official statement has been issued concerning the purpose of the visit and issues discussed at the time of filing this report.

    But the visit was said to be a courtesy call on Osinbajo by the new executive of NBA.

    “It was a courtesy call. The new NBA officers wanted to meet with him after their elections,” a source said.

    Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud had emerged as the new president of the NBA in an election in August this year.

    Mahmoud won the election with 3,055 votes to defeat his rival, Joe-Kyari Gadzama, who got 2,384 votes.

  • Osinbajo, NBA executives meet in Aso Villa

    Osinbajo, NBA executives meet in Aso Villa

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday met with the Executive members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The meeting came at a time the executive is perceived in some quarters to be persecuting the   judiciary arm of government, following the Department of State Services (DSS)’s arrest of some judges over allegations of corruption.

    No official statement was issued on the purpose of the visit and issues discussed but the visit was described as a courtesy call on Osinbajo by the new NBA leadership.

  • Osinbajo, Agunbiade bag Lagos Judiciary awards

    Osinbajo, Agunbiade bag Lagos Judiciary awards

    Vice President of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibajo, has once again urged the judiciary to stand for truth and justice at all times. He made the call last weekend in his acceptance speech at an award dinner held as part of activities to mark the opening of the 2016/2017 Legal year of the Lagos State Judiciary.

    The event, which was held at the banquet hall of the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, saw Osibajo and the Majority leader of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Sanai Bolanle Agunbiade, being honored with awards of excellence in recognition and appreciation of their individual contribution to the judicial process in the state.

    According to the  the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Oluwafunmilayo Atilade, the two awardees, both legal practitioners, have helped tremendously in various capacities, to promote and advance the cause of the legal and judicial sectors of the state. She expressed the heartfelt appreciation of the Lagos State Judiciary to Osinbajo and Agunbiade.

    “The Vice President has always been keenly interested in the cause of justice as a legal practitioner and as a public office holder. His contribution to the growth of the Judiciary in Lagos cannot be brushed aside. On his part, Hon. Agunbiade, who is the first legislator to be so honored by the Judiciary here in Lagos, has made remarkable contribution to the Judiciary as a lawyer and as a legislator,” she said.

    The Vice President, who was represented by former Attorney-General of the state, Ade Ipaye, thanked the leadership of the Judiciary and vowed to continue to support the cause of justice anywhere in the country. According to him, justice must not only be done, it must be seen and perceived by all, as actually done.

    Speaking after he was presented with the prestigious award, Hon. Agunbiade thanked the leadership of the Judiciary for finding him worthy of the recognition. He expressed happiness that his effort as a lawmaker representing the good people of Ikorodu is being appreciated within and outside the state.

    According to him, the award is a further call on him not to rest on his oars in the pursuit of legislations that will impact positively on the lives of the people of Lagos State. “We cannot afford to be contented yet. There is still so much to be done as we strive to make life more worth living for our people. I thank you for this award and I promise to do more,” he said.

    The Ikorodu-born lawmaker also thanked Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for providing the enabling environment for the State House of Assembly to function effectively. “Here in Lagos, we have a Governor that is willing tom allow the legislature to doom its job and do it well. I am sure the Judiciary will say the same thing of him. We must give him credit for the enabling environment which made the many successes we recorded possible,” he said.

    Dignitaries at the event include the Attorney-General of Lagos State,    , who represented the Governor, former Chief Judge of the state, Justice Ayotunde Ayomide Phillips, ex-Commissioner for Health, Dr. Leke Pitan, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Funmi Tejuosho, amongst others.

  • Osinbajo: girls in good condition

    Osinbajo: girls in good condition

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday insisted that no Boko Haram member in government’s custody was exchanged for the 21 Chibok girls released by the insurgents.

    He spoke to reporters after visiting the girls at the medical facility of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Abuja, where they are undergoing check-up.

    He was accompanied to the briefing by Minister of Information Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Al-Hassan, Minister of state for Budget and National Planning Zainab Ahmed and the Director-General of DSS, Mallam Lawal Daura.

    He said the girls were in good health condition, even though they still needed therapy and counseling.

    The parents of the girls are expected to join them today at the medical facility where the girls will remain until the doctors are fully satisfied to discharge them.

    He said: “We should congratulate ourselves and thank the almighty God for the release and subsequent returning home of 21 of the Chibok girls who were taken more than two years ago.

    “It is an exciting news for the whole country. Everyone is really excited and I believe that we should be very thankful to God.

    “I also want to thank the military and all the security services, DSS, Intelligence services across the county as well as our friends and partners, internationally who have also helped in bringing happy ending of captivity of at least 21 of the Chibok girls.

    “About an hour ago, I met with the 21 Chibok girls who have been brought back and they are in good health considering the circumstances they have been held in and they are now being well taken care of in the medical facility.

    “There will be therapy, there will be counseling. Of course, we can imagine what they have gone through. So we expect that a lot of psychological therapy and so much need to be done to get them back.” He said

    On whether Boko Haram members were exchanged for the girls, he said: “There was no exchange of any kind. There was no swap of any kind. Even when we started negotiations, we said we would consider all options available to us. Absolutely, there was no exchange of any kind.

    Asked further if there will be swap with the terrorists in the future, he  stressed that the government wants the girls back and alive and must balance that desire against the security and safety of the country.

    “But what has happened and the process we have begun is one which has not involved any type of swap of Boko haram commanders or any militant in any way. That is a very good turn of event.

    “We believe that in the next few days and months, we will be bringing in more of these girls using exactly the same kind of negotiation and the same template that we used.” He added.

    He said the Red Cross was not involved in the negotiation but only helped in taking the girls back.

    The government, he said, had worked with the Swiss government.

    “The Swiss government worked with us in the process of negotiation but the Red Cross is not involved in the negotiation but in taking the girls back, of course, we worked with the Red Cross because we were unable to take our own medical team.

    “The Red Cross was not involved at all in the process of negotiation. It was the Swiss government, our own officials: the DSS, intelligence and the military that were involved.

    He said “one of the 21 girls has a baby”.

    “We are also going to see to it that everything that you require going forward, perhaps your education, those who need to go back to school, those who need to find employment, we are going to make sure that we make all the provisions for you,” he added.

    Osinbajo prayed to God to “replenish, resuscitate and revitalise them’’ and also give them good health and make them more successful and happier in life than they were ever before.

    He also prayed that those still held in captivity would be returned to the nation unhurt.

    Hajia Alhassan translated the vice president’s speech to the girls, and assured them that the medical centre would take good care of them.

    The Director Medical Services of the Centre, Dr. Ann Okoroafor, said the girls were brought into the centre at about 1.00 p.m.

    Okoroafor said the girls’ ages ranged from 18 years to 22 years and that the centre performed some medical examinations on all of them already.

     “Some of them who were ill, we have already commenced treatment on them; but we are to still do a lot more because it is not just a flash in the pan thing.

    “We want to do a lot more as we have support from other agencies’’.

    Okoroafor said a consultant psychiatrist from the National Hospital had arrived to assist in the examination and treatment of the rescued girls.

    “We want to take them through a process and ensure that during this initial period they come back into the society the way they should.

    “We noticed a whole lot of difference from the time we received them and a few moments ago when some of them were laughing and joking with them; that gave them a lot of joy.

    “It means that we have created the environment for them to know that people care about them and that is the most important thing we want to do now,’’ she added.

    According to her beyond showing that Nigerians care about them medically, the society also cares about them to have the best of everything.

    “We are happy to have them and so far so good,’’ the doctor noted.

    The DSS boss, Daura,said “We are all grateful that God has made this possible and we are hopeful that this negotiation which brought about the rescue of the 21 girls will continue and hopefully the rest of the girls will be released very soon,’’ he said.

  • Dangote Group a ‘game changer,’ says Osinbajo

    Dangote Group a ‘game changer,’ says Osinbajo

    •Buhari makes case for made-in-Nigeria products

    vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described Dangote Group as a ‘game changer’ in the Nigerian economy.

    Speaking at the Nigerian Economic Summit yesterday in Abuja,  the Vice President described the: “Dangote Group is an example of a game changer private sector that has been supporting the economy in many areas.”

    “Once the Dangote refinery comes on stream, it will help with the forex issue and create jobs for our people,’ he said.

    Dangote Refinery is constructing a r 650,000 barrels a day refinery, one of the largest in the world.

    Osinbajo said the Buhari government has a ‘very clear policy and objective,’ eand urged Nigerians to have confidence in the government.

    Declaring the summit open, President Muhammadu Buhari said the private sector is key to his administration, adding that the theme for the 22nd summit: ‘Made in Nigeria’, is apt in view of the need to look inwardly and support local manufacturers.

    According to him, increasing local production of goods and services will not only create jobs for the youths but move Nigeria from an import-based to an export-based economy.

    He said: “I am also delighted that your theme is: ‘Made in Nigeria’ which lies at the heart of so many efforts we are making to lead us through this trouble times and lay a firm foundation for the future.

    “As I have said in the past, we need to diversify the economy so that we will never again have to rely on one commodity to survive as a country. So that we can produce the food we eat, make our own textiles, produce most of the things we use and create the right environment for our youth to be able to benefit and create jobs through technology.

    “This has been the commitment and the mandate of this administration and I have remain focus on it since the assumption of this administration.

    “There is clearly no better way to achieve this without building out economic foundation of made in Nigeria goods and services. Fortunately, we have champions of made in Nigeria that have defied the odds over the years to produce locally and contribute to our economy.

    “I hope by the end of this you will make useful and realistic recommendations and policies,” he said.

    The President added: “Initiative and incentives that will enhance your work we are already doing by this administration, I encourage more local production, to improve ease of doing business environment, transfer our technology and innovation capabilities, improve quality and standards, promote export and change our old attitude and behaviours to made in Nigeria products and services.

    “My greatest desire is that Nigeria moves from import dependence to self sufficiency in local production and become an export-led economy in goods and services.”

    Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group(NESG)  Kyari Bukar who commended the Dangote Group for its sponsorship, said the private sector is the engine of the economy and that it was time to diversify to other sectors.

    He said the summit: “Is an opportunity to tell ourselves the bitter truth and swallow the hard truth.”

    An Associate Professor from the Lagos Business School, Dr. Doyin Salami, said the Made in Nigeria concept was apt but that it must cover production, global competitiveness, inclusiveness and value addition to global economy.

    He regretted that the economy is shrinking and contracting, “and worse than stagflation.”

    “We don’t live in the past. It is not what has been done that matters. But what remains to be done,” he said.

    Minister of Mines and Steel Development Dr. Kayode Fayemi said his ministry is bringing in big ticket player into mining sector, just as he said that the sector has great potentials as Nigeria diversifies its economy.

    According to Dr Fayemi the Buhari government had pruned the cost of governance.

    The Dangote Group is one of the major sponsors of the three-day Nigerian Economic Summit in Abuja.

  • How Tinubu nominated Osinbajo as VP – Bello

    How Tinubu nominated Osinbajo as VP – Bello

    The Secretary to Lagos State Government, Mr. Tunji Bello, on Thursday picked holes in the biography of President Muhammadu Buhari, saying the author, John Paden, distorted facts and gave false account of how the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, was nominated as Buhari’s running mate.

    Bello, who played a prominent role in the emergence of Buhari’s running mate, said the process of Osinbajo’s nomination started immediately after Buhari emerged as the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate at the party National Convention held at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, on December 11, 2014.

    In a statement he personally signed, Bello said the APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, nominated Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate, adding that Paden’s account was not entirely true.

    Paden had submitted in the book that Buhari chose Osinbajo despite much pressure from Tinubu, who was allegedly interested in the position.

    But Bello said Nigerians were fed with half-truths by the author on how Osinbajo became the vice president, detailing how Tinubu summoned a meeting to decide who would be Buhari’s running mate the morning after the President emerged the APC candidate.

    Bello named the party chieftains in attendance to include former APC National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, former Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, Osinbajo and a renowned pastor.

    He said: “I do not know how the author came about his story, but he totally got it wrong because what he wrote basically is based on falsehood that reeks of deliberate misinformation and mischief.”

    He, thus, explained how he received a phone call from Asiwaju “to see him the morning after Buhari emerged the APC candidate.”

    Bello added: “On my way to his house, I discovered that a car at a reasonable distance was that of former Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Dele Alake, who was, ostensibly, heading towards Asiwaju’s house in Ikoyi.

    “Asiwaju must have called him too for that task that could be explained underneath. As soon as we arrived, Asiwaju quickly asked us to join him in his car as we headed to a Guest House. At the Guest House, former APC Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Osinbajo and one renowned pastor joined us.

    “At the meeting, Asiwaju related to us the urgent need to pick a vice presidential candidate for the APC. He advised that we immediately discard the idea of his being nominated for the vice-presidential slot as it was no longer possible to pick a Muslim-Muslim ticket.

    “This, he reasoned, made sense if indeed we were to be realistic in our bid to defeat President Goodluck Jonathan in the 2015 election. He reasoned that what was important and imperative at that time was to look for a good Christian nominee to complement President Mohammadu Buhari.”

     

  • Tinubu chose Osinbajo for Buhari, says general

    Tinubu chose Osinbajo for Buhari, says general

    A retired general, Iliyasu Ibrahim, has faulted a report that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo became President Muhamamdu Buhari’s running mate despite pressure against it by former Lagos State Governor Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Ibrahim, in a statement yesterday, said the portion in the book by Professor John Padden on President Buhari, titled: “Muhammadu Buhari: Challenges of Leadership”, was wrong.

    The statement reads: “I became disturbed about this falsification of recent history. Why would the author say this and have it published when many of us know the truth? The truth is that Tinubu singlehandedly chose Yemi Osinbajo and sent the name to President Buhari. There was no pressure. Tinubu is Osinbajo’s political mentor. The latter was his attorney-general and commissioner for Justice in Lagos and both have a close relationship.

    “My worry stretched further when I recall the recent piece by Femi Fani Kayode on Tinubu and his huge contributions to the APC and how he is now being short-changed. Though I do not agree with all the claims made by Femi Fani-Kayode, I am convinced he made some reasonable arguments and his summation about Tinubu’s role in the current political dispensation can hardly be faulted. In some areas, he went overboard and you could see him gloating, the PDP apologist that he is. Also, the mention of Governor Ajimobi as one of the governors working against Tinubu is a fallacy and here he got his facts wrong. Ajimobi has remained consistently behind Tinubu and that is easily verifiable.

    “But back to the emergence of Osinbajo as Vice Presidential candidate. I was there the night before the final decision and subsequent announcement. I was there at the Lagos Lodge Annex in Asokoro, Abuja at Tinubu’s place. On the night in reference, Asiwaju insisted that three names would not be sent for the VP slot. He maintained that only one name would be sent. Eventually, the name of Osinbajo was sent to President Buhari. There was no issue of pressure.

    “Osinbajo was Tinubu’s man and that was the only person Tinubu was willing to accept to cede the VP slot. Shortly after Governor Amosun came around to the Lagos lodge. He came in and we greeted. Now, it seems clear that some fifth columnists are trying to distort recent history and we should not let them. This history is too recent to be mutilated.”

     

  • Osinbajo: God revealed to me how Nigeria’ll overcome hard times

    Osinbajo: God revealed to me how Nigeria’ll overcome hard times

    Nigeria has gone forward and it is moving forward, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo declared yesterday.

    He also spoke on how God revealed to him how Nigeria would escape the hard times.

    He spoke during the thanksgiving service at the Olive Tree Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) in Lagos.

    The vice president asked the congregation if they knew that God made a promise to the nation which was that the nation would be great and made the same promise to them as individuals.

    According to him, a lot of people were confused and asking if the promise would ever come true.

    He said: “This country has gone forward and it is going to keep moving forward.”

    Osinbajo recalled that while he was praying recently, the Lord reminded him of something he asked him to do on the eve of the 2015 Presidential election.

    He said that God asked him to take the communion because he was crossing over and when he did (take the communion) He took him through the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land.

    He said God reminded him of what happened in that journey.

    He added that the first thing that happened was that God himself said if he took the children of Israel through the path where the Philistines lived, they would be afraid and would be asked to return to Egypt.

    He said that God rather took the people through the Red Sea.

    Osinbajo explained that by the time they were about crossing the sea, there was a fight back from where they were coming from as Pharoah chased them and wanted to bring them back.

    He said the incident got Moses confused as he did not know what to do as God never told him there would be a Red Sea, a difficulty, in the journey.

    The vice president added that if God was with us, no one would be against us.

    “The reason I, Yemi Osinbajo, without asking for a position, was given the vice presidency of this nation is because God’s hand is in this business.

    “And so, I am completely confident that despite where we are today, it is the dawn of a new beginning.

    “It has begun to show and surely there is a very bright light at the end of the tunnel.”

    “God knows that this country has a plan and purpose in Africa and in the world; the lan and purpose will never diminish or be cut short.”

    Osinbajo said that the role of Christians as spiritual people was not to grumble, adding that Christians had been trained to be steadfast in times of difficulty.

    He recalled the injunction he gave to the parish in the past about having a role to play in making the country great.

    He said the vision of the Church and that of the country were tied together, stressing that every citizen of the country would eat of the good of the nation.