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  • Buhari, Osinbajo, Tinubu in Presidential Campaign Council

    Determined to secure a second term ticket, President Muhammadu Buhari may head his party’s Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) to drive his electioneering.

    The list of PCC members is being scrutinised by the President  – to give the campaign of the All Progressives Congress(APC) “a bite”.

    But  the party leadership is seeking a central role from the President  in the re-election campaign instead of allowing only the PCC to take over the process.

    He said Atiku is no match for Buhari by any yardstick.

    Some of those on the PCC list are: Buhari (chairman); Vice President Yemi Osinbajo(Deputy Chairman); Asiwaju Bola Tinubu (Co-chairman); the National Chairman of APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole;  all APC governors; the Director-General of the council, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha;  some ministers, including Hadi Sirika (Aviation); Adamu Adamu (Education);  Abdulrahman Dambazzau; Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and so on.

    A source said: “APC is set for the battle ahead. The President is taking a direct control of the PCC but we are hopeful that in the next one week, the list will be released. What he is doing is to make sure that it is all-inclusive and representational.

    “The last segment of consultations on the list will be with the leadership of the party which wants to play a central role in the campaign. Within the next few days, there will be discussion at that level.

    “The party’s position is that it has the candidate belongs to it and it has the responsibility to market President Buhari.

    “The leaders of APC are saying that the PCC should reflect the desire of the party.”

     

  • Tinubu to PDP: Nigerians will never return to Egypt

    Buhari Groups fixated, says PDP

    Frontline politician  Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has advised Nigerians not to allow the nation return to the path of destruction on which he said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) put it for 16 years.

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart who spoke at a National Consultative Forum organised by the National Committee of Buhari Support Groups in Abuja, accused the Atiku Campaign Organisation and the PDP of trying to blackmail the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police with the accusation of plots to rig the 2019 elections because “they know that they will not win”.

    He also accused Senate President Bukola Saraki of using the mandate of the APC to negotiate and give a lifeline to the opposition. “He left the PDP, joined us, got elected, got our mandate, our majority and sold it for a pot of pottage. God is honest, Saraki is not,” Tinubu said.

    The former Lagos State governor recalled how the rigging machinery of the PDP almost denied him his re-election in 2003 when INEC published what he described as “fake results” on its website, adding that the then Resident Electoral Commissioner insisted that what was published was not the real results for his election to be validated.

    He said it was a shame for the opposition party to be celebrating an American visa for its presidential candidate who, he said, has so many party membership cards enough to build a house. “That is why they are confused,” Tinubu said.

    He went on: “Come February, we will re-elect Buhari. It is not easy to put together a National Committee, but we are in the same family. As free-minded people, you are all free to be doing other things this morning, but you are here because you have the vision and the determination that Nigeria must continue the foundation and the progress of the future.

    “Working together to re-elect Buhari is a task that must be achieved. Why are they complaining? Buhari is too busy to exchange words with them because he building a foundation of a prosperous Nigeria that will magnify the economy and provide employment for everyone regardless of the status in the society.

    “A fervent man like him will not have time for the nonsense being thrown at him. I give you one message for them and there will be many such messages. Their candidate who is supposed to beat Buhari, has been in our party and many other parties. He has more party membership cards to build a house.

    “All you have to do is to go out there and tell him that a house built on cards will be collapsed with a single stroke of broom. He said they are reformed, but reformed what? Reformed PDP. No. Tell them as you go out that we accept the admission of guilt that they were vagabonds before and now being reformed.

    “But they have not served enough probation. You can only be reformed if you are an ex-convict, a drug addict or a political prostitute. It is because Buhari has no temperament and no tolerance for corruption, he is vigorously ridding the nation of blemish and looting,  bad reputation.

    “I can see them celebrating the visa. What a shame? Yet you want to lead this country with the most vibrant economy in Africa? Why should we allow them?

    “They ran this country from 1999 till 2015. They were planning for 60 years of doing nothing, lack of direction and concern for the citizens.

    “Are we still in this nation where visionary leadership is required? If yes, then they are not competent and not qualified to be leading Nigeria again and say they want to come back to government. If they left our schools in such dilapidated condition, left out hospitals without medicare, they don’t deserve to come back.

    “They say we should not talk about their past anymore because they are ashamed of it, but we cannot go forward  without talking about it because a nation has no history if there are no references. If you give me an application for employment which is the application of Atiku Abubakar, I must look at what you have done before, your experience.

    “We have to look at Halliburton and why they left Nigeria. Go and ask those questions. They spent $16 billion of NEPA money and what they gave us is darkness and when they knew that we were kicking them out, they shared the company through irregularities called privatisation, which I call personalisation of the wealth of Nigeria.

    “We won’t allow that to happen again and I will recommend that we campaign on that. We should find a way to technically dissolve those companies they shared among themselves. There is no way you can industrialise a nation without providing electricity.

    “So many industries in Kaduna, Ikeja and other parts of the country. What were they doing for 16 years? That is why we believe that President Buhari is the best person to lead us and got him elected in 2015.

    “They said he will die, but he did not die and is back hale and hearty and when they saw seriousness on his part, they now said he was cloned. That is because they know so much about forgery. I am glad he told them he is real. They exist to lie.”

    Tinubu also attacked former President Olusegun Obasanjo who he described as PDP’s “new found Jehovah Witness”. After they disgraced the office of the President, fighting in public and abusing each other, telling us how they stole money and dancing naked in the market square, Obasanjo said he has spoken to God never to allow Atiku to become President,” he said, adding:

    “Which God is he now talking to, to say Atiku should be President? I believe he is not telling the truth and not to the God we know. He is just talking to himself.”

    Tinubu went on: “We have sacrificed too much under the PDP and we cannot go back.

    “People must ask you why you belong to this support group. Tell them that you are members of a very committed rescue mission that started in 2015. I remember how things were. So, remind them of what happened because they can’t shut us up.

    “They had the best opportunity for prosperity, but they are now complaining. They were there for 16 years and never added one barrel capacity to the refineries in Nigeria. They didn’t even pay counterpart funding for our rail, electricity and we cannot industrialise a nation without the power source.

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    “I stand before you as a very proud individual. When I introduced Independent power generation to fire the industries at Ikeja Industrial Estate, they killed it because there was bribe under the table.

    “Imagine what Buhari is doing today in rail and in feeding our children which creates opportunity for the farmers; it creates small scale business for those cooking the food and a lot of people involved are doing better and we are battling poverty with the best weapon, which is education.

    “They are busy changing parties and that is why they are confused. Atiku is now PDP Aladdin. He is going to create 14 million jobs and I say how? They will turn Atlantic into fuel to crash the prices without the refineries working and the population is expanding and people must move around. He just talk of crashing the prices of fuel. They are lying again because a leopard cannot change its skin.

    “They had 16 billion of unprecedented resources and yet, they didn’t bring power to Nigeria. They invested that money in their personal industries. They bought turbines from General Electric and did not add one pipeline to bring gas to the plant.

    “They can say anything now about Buhari. I agree with Okonjo-Iweala that it is difficult to fight corruption. The agents of destruction are there fighting us, but We will win with strong determination.

    “Don’t let them weep things under the carpet  – that when we came in as a government, before then they had too much resources in their hands, but Buhari funded states to pay salaries. In that period, 27 states were unable to pay salaries as at May 2015. The states and local economy would have collapsed long time ago.

    “If PDP members truly love this country, they should humbly step aside and allow Buhari continue with the work of addressing the ills of our nation. However, since they seems to obstruct and remain focused as applicants, we say no job for them.

    “No matter what they say, don’t listen to them, don’t kind them. What they want is to continue to distract with the talk of rigging because they know that they are losing. They want to blackmail INEC and the police. I remember my own election for my second term.

    “On the website of INEC, they announced a funny result, but a woman of great character who was the State Resident Electoral Commissioner said, ‘no’, the result she got from the field are the valid results and not the fake ones published and upheld our election. They know they cannot win.

    “That is why all the noise from either Saraki, a man who used our mandate to negotiate and give lifeline to the opposition. Leadership is about character. How can he now ask us to vote for PDP? He left the PDP, joined us, got elected, got our mandate, our majority and sold it for a pot of pottage. God is honest; Saraki is not.

    The APC chief spoke also on the herdsmen/farmers clashes. He said: “They talk about farmers and herders clashes. If they are honest, they should know that it also happened during their time, but they have … no capacity to convert tragedy into economic prosperity. We have the capacity in this country to do irrigation and utilize our water resources, to create pastures and ranches so that we can convert that misery, that tragedy to opportunity for our people. Livestock is economy.

    “It is not about intellectual talent alone. There are so many unrewarded talents across the world. It is about character, determination, the love of a country and our commitment to nation building. That is what PDP is opposed to and APC is determined to continue as a progressive entity and the man to lead the nation on that path is President Buhari. Tell Nigerians that after Moses crossed the Red Sea, he is not going to return to Egypt”.

     

  • Tinubu: Why I’m re-contesting for Senate

    Senator Oluremi Tinubu represents Lagos Central District in the Senate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC). She spoke with reporters in Lagos on her legislative activities, achievements, vision for good governance, re-election bid and preparations for next year’s polls. Group Political Editor Emmanuel Oladesu was there.

    Despite moving a motion three years ago on the gridlock along the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, the problem has not ameliorated. Don’t you see this as a negligence of the executive to Senate proposals, including your zonal intervention projects?

    You have seen that the Minister of Works recently flagged off the work which is being done in partnership with Dangote. I was honoured to have been invited for the ceremony. This was the aftermath of such motions and that is why for me to raise a motion in the Senate is something that should be thought out; it is not something that is to seek attention. We really look at what is affecting the district.

    Actually, that motion was supported by all the senators. It was something very, very sensitive and important for us and I believe that the resolutions were part of what we are witnessing, even if it has taken some time.

    Even, if we raise a motion, that doesn’t mean that the Federal Government is not attending to it. At times, motions can be political, but that of the gridlock, I can tell you that as we speak, Dangote is giving us a time frame of two years. So, we are hopeful. Alhaji Dangote is a credible man; he has the money to do it. So, we are quite hopeful and I particularly, I am quite excited at the move and I can tell you that it would have stemmed from the motion in the Senate.

    On the zonal intervention projects, I cannot speak for my colleagues, but mine is for me to be true to what I have been given in the Senate and what has been my own allocation. I have even gone beyond what I receive from the Senate (appropriated for constituency) to assist in the work in my district and that is why whatever I do, I stay true to it and be God -fearing in the process and even if the people don’t see me, God sees me. And as a Christian, I believe that He that sees in secret will reward us openly. I am not saying that I am perfect, but I am striving for perfection.

     You have been passionate about special status for Lagos…

    These two concepts are two different things. They are never the same. When I introduced the Special Economic Assistance, they twisted it out of context. When we are looking at the Special Status, we are talking of money being taken from the Federation Account and if you had followed what my colleagues did in the Senate, they gave the Northeast Zone, I think about 2-3 per cent from the Federation Account and this is like a special status given to the Northeast Zone because of the security situation.

    Special Economic Assistance came from the point that Lagos State gives a lot through taxes, VAT to the Federal Government from Lagos. Special Economic Assistance is requesting that, even if it is 1 per cent of money that is being taken to the Federation Account from Lagos State should be given back to Lagos State, which can help things like the gridlock and the infrastructure damage that we are experiencing.

    So, these monies are supposed to be used to augment most of the projects in the state either; education, health sector or roads. That is what we are asking for. The National Assembly will determine the percentage to be channeled back to Lagos State and the State Assembly will appropriate for the money for state use.

    However, my colleagues took it out of context; maybe because of the mood of the Senate. If you witnessed what happened, I had never seen such hatred for a bill in my life and I think that bill sparked very, heated argument in the Senate. They were even telling me to bring it back, but I said no; that somebody else can take it up, that I am done because since 2011 I had been advocating for it.

    What about the Zonal Intervention Programmes?

    I can tell you that the day that we were launching the compendium (compendium of her projects), we sent a copy to our party chairman and you know our party chairman is a dynamic man and he went through it and by the time he came; he actually gave a thumb up to zonal intervention programmes.

    One of my husband’s colleagues, Ambassador Kazaure, I gave a copy to him. He read it and he was really, really proud. He said you did these?

    Immediately we get back by the grace of God, if I am voted back to represent my people and even if I am not, I am going to be giving that book to every senator. And I believe that not all the senators are retuning and that has been the trend in the Senate. There is a lot of brain drain in the Senate. We lose a lot of people who are very cerebral men and women. But you see, politics is really a game of being able to inspire your people, inspire them in the sense for them to trust you enough for them to say, please represent us.

    So, my message to my colleagues and people who are running for office is that you cannot take people for granted. Even if you win well, you want to go back to do well for your people, you can’t take them for granted.

    How can the leadership crisis in the Senate be prevented?

    For the leadership (issue) in the Senate, I experienced it and I believe the president also learnt from what happened. We don’t have to say that we are preventing it, because most of the work he could have done, if we had the right leadership we wouldn’t have been going through what we are going through today.

    So, I believe that the president would have learnt one thing or two because when he came in, he said he doesn’t belong to anybody, but I know that by this time, he knows those people who belong to him. He will know that some people have his best interest at heart and some don’t.

    What can the president do to smoothen relations between the executive and the legislature between now and May 29, 2019.

    I don’t think much can be done now. It will lead to blackmail. For me, we are going to run and walk with what we have and I don’t think a PDP administration has much to offer us. They are the ones who got us into this rot in the first place and we are trying to get out of it.

    To me, there is hope returning back to this nation and Nigerians should give the APC led administration another four years and they can decide thereafter. Four years is not enough for any president to make….He is not a magician to just wave a wand and everything is back to normal. We didn’t get there overnight. Executive and parliamentary parley I think is gone. The president will still try and I think he is doing that, but that is why I said that it is more of blackmail but politics is like blackmail and I think he would be able to handle it.

    But, I don’t see our president yielding to blackmail and I think Nigeria needs such people. And I pray that he would remain focused and continue to steer the ship so that we can have a safe landing.

    You have been away for two terms and you are going for the third term. Who has been taking and will take care of Asiwaju?

    You know and that was why I didn’t even want to go for the third term, but you can see how busy even Asiwaju too is. I may look very tiny, but to God be the glory, I am somebody that God has given the little strength that I have to take care of family. My family is not like every other family. I have gone to women who have the same calling like my husband, I have spoken to them, I have learned from them how they manage the home front. For me going to the Senate, you can see that Asiwaju doesn’t really have any assignment to speak. What he is doing is somebody just fighting for the masses and making sure that things go well. Not that he can stay at home if he wants to.

    I am here in Lagos every weekend, I never regard Abuja as home, it is a place of work.

    You once said you were the new face of labour. What is your position on the new minimum wage demanded by labour?

    My antecedents will tell you that I was in the trenches with my husband and I have been through a lot. I am with the people and relate well with the boys and girls on the streets. These are the people that will show you their voter’s cards. I owe them much. I speak their language. At times when they come home to tell my husband and he says my wife doesn’t talk like that, I just look!

    Sometimes when I speak their language, they will say, why are you talking like us? Like yesterday. I will speak truth to them like a mum and they listen! I was there, I asked why are you all smoking weeds here?

    The audacity with which crime is being perpetuated in our society is alarming. Am I scared? No! And that is the soul and heart of a comrade. Whatever I wear, they all trust me and believe that I am with their cause, I understand their pain and do the bit that I can for them.

    On the minimum wage, I will say that I support people to be taken care of. Leadership is about sacrifice and I believe that the president too supports the minimum wage. If all of the big executives can cut down on their allowances, we can make it. You know Lagos does not have such problem, they will pay and that was why I said even my Work Experience Programme, I am going to pay even more than the monthly minimum wage and this will come through my salaries and allowances.

    If I am going to take like 100 youths, I will look for good corporate organizations that can employ them, they don’t have to pay them, but they will just come in as interns and I could pay them about N40,000 for lunch and transport and to dress well to go. That could be my contribution. Like the boy we set up a barber shop for, somebody gave me a slot to go to Mecca, I gave it to him! So, I have to change one life at a time, it doesn’t have to be a lot, but if I am in the executive, maybe I can do more, but as a legislator, your hands are tied.

    What would be your message to critical stakeholders  in the campaign ahead of the 2019 elections?

    With my campaign director-general, I decided that I wanted to do things differently.

    We can learn from best international practices. How do they run campaigns? We are starting with door-to-door campaigns. Door to door is how Obama got there. And we have gotten vehicles because we are not going to be making noise and we have foot soldiers who will be in uniform, and they are going to homes and whatever campaign materials we have, we share.

    I am trying to see that we are still getting to the people but using different methods.

    You see, why we have this fear about election campaign is because we have people who are afraid of losing. When you are afraid of losing, you try to threaten people and I think we should go past that and play fine politics.

    What are you doing to ensure that more women come into politics?

    This is one question I have tried to avoid without sounding very harsh. Most people will say because you are married to Asiwaju, you are so privileged and that. Yes, I am privileged to be married to him, but it has been the work of two, not one person. So, whatever I am enjoying being married to him, I have also worked for it. So, it wasn’t something that came cheap. I have always advocated for women to be in elective positions, but most women would rather opt for appointments. With appointments, you cannot really do much. You will see that there are people who get these appointments, but they don’t impact other women.

    How have they impacted other women? They select the women they impact. They impact women who are like them. They call the elite together and they even write books. I don’t have to write books. You can see the types of books I do. I do books all the time and when I write, I talk about my struggles. I am very real to the people, I mentor young girls for the next generation. I don’t give up on girls. But you see the women we have, they have to have the proper orientation of service, they don’t have it and that is why when they fall, they fall on their paws, nobody to pick them up. You can see the case of Dino and myself, you can see how the women rose up. When you impact the life of other women, it will speak for you. In fact, some were calling me from the barracks, saying we want to join the protest! That is why I said if you do things in secret God sees you and it will help you one way or the other.

  • …Buhari, Tinubu, govs, others pay tributes

    President Muhammadu Buhari has commiserated with the Yoruba nation over the passing of the founder of Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun.

    The President, in a statement by the Special Adviser on Media and publicity, Femi Adesina, also condoled with the family of the medical practitioner and the government and people of Ondo State.

    He recalled the prominent role Dr Fasehun played as a member of the defunct National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) which campaigned against military rule in the country.

    The President prayed that Almighty God comforts all those who mourn the octogenarian and grant peace to his soul.

    All Progressives Congress (APC) national stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu described the late Fasehun as a renowned pro-democracy and good governance activist, committed democrat, tested political player and Yoruba nationalist who left behind fine legacies.

    He charged the Fasehun family and other associates of the late leader not to allow his legacies to die.

    Tinubu, in his reaction to the death of the Afenifere chieftain in a statement by his spokesman Tunde Rahman, said: “Dr. Fredrick Fasehun was a renowned pro-democracy and good governance activist, committed democrat, tested political player and Yoruba nationalist. I say all of that because I knew him well. We related very closely.

    “He was known for his Yoruba nationalistic fervor. Like an Afenifere chieftain that he was, he fought stridently for the Yoruba cause.

    “He canvassed true federalism and political restructuring. He fought as well for the cause of the Nigerian nation.

    “The good thing about Baba is there was never a time that he sat on the fence.

    “Although trained as a medical doctor, he was very active politically. We were together in the forefront of the agitation for the de-annulment of June 12.

    “He founded the Oodua Peoples Congress to actualise June 12 but espoused non-violence.

    “Nonetheless, he remained a torn in the flesh of the military. It was therefore no surprise that Dr. Fasehun was imprisoned for 19 months from December 1996 to June 1998 by the General Sani Abacha regime.

    “And when democracy fully returned to the country he participated actively.

    “He was an extremely humble and modest man. I will miss him dearly. The Southwest, particularly Lagos and Ondo states, will miss him. Nigeria will miss him also.

    “I commiserate with the government and people of Ondo State. My sympathy and condolences particularly go to the Fasehun family at this moment.

    “I hope and pray that God Almighty imbue them with the courage and strength to carry on. I enjoin them to continue with the fine legacies left behind by Baba.”

    Ondo State governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu praised the late Fasehun as a disciplined citizen, a Pan-Yoruba and nationalist to the core.

    He said the intelligent medical practitioner used his energy and other resources to fight for the interests of his people and the common man.

    He described as a shock to Ondo State and the entire country, adding that the deceased would be sorely missed by lovers of justice and peace.

    Akeredolu in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Segun Ajiboye, said the late Fasehun’s argument for egalitarian society where merit and equity are made parametric conditions for selecting leaders or people’s representatives would continue to dominate socio-political discourse.

    The governor said social scientists would also remember the deceased as a detribalised Nigeria per excellence whose place in the nation’s political history cannot be wished away, even in a hurry.

    Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II lamented the death of the late OPC chief.

    In a statement by his Director of Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, the Ooni, who is the Spritual Head of the Yoruba race, commiserated with the people and government Ondo state and Yoruba nation.

    He said: “Baba Ooni sees Dr. Faseun a true Pan Africanist, a fearless Nigerian nationalist and committed Yoruba patriot, who as an Oodua Self-Determinationist spent the last 26 years of life struggling for the survival of the Yoruba people within and outside the shores of Nigeria.

    “It’s a pity we have lost such a  wonderful descendant of Oduduwa, who always defended and promoted the interests, integrity and the cultural values of the African People, Yoruba race in particular.

    “The Royal Court of Ife will never forget Dr Fasheun for his incorruptible loyalty to the sacred throne of Oduduwa.

    “The good people of Ile-Ife which is the ancestral home of the Yorubas will miss him for the love and respect he ceaselessly showed on us.

    “The Yoruba people all over the world will miss him for his committed struggle for the socio-political/economic survival of the race and Nigerians will miss him for his fights for fairless and justice as a Nigerian human right activist.”

    The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, Telu I, in a statement by his media aide, Alli Ibrahim, said the late OPC leader had spent his entire life defending the interest of the Yoruba and Nigeria and therefore deserved to be immortalized.

    The royal father said Nigeria has lost an illustrious citizen whose  experience in peace process and nation building is most needed at “this critical of our national life.”

    He enjoined governors of the South West to declare mourning period for the loss, which he described as colossal.

    The Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Chief (Dr) Gani Adams described the death of Fasehun as a great loss to the Yoruba race.

    Adams also said the death was a great loss to Nigeria and the world at large, pointing out that Faseun left behind a worthy legacy.

    Adams, in a condolence letter, pointed out he received the news of the death with shock and disbelief.

    The Aare Ona Kakanfo added the deceased in his life time made outstanding contributions to the progress of the nation in many capacities, and no doubt left behind a worthy legacy through his careers as a renowned medical doctors and politician among other achievements.

    “Baba deserves all respect because he acquitted himself so diligently, and will also be remembered as a distinguished leader in all ramifications, and one that was greatly admired by the general public and his peers as a straight forward and complete gentleman.

    “He demonstrated wisdom, honesty and good leadership, established friendship, harmony and accommodation across board.

    “He was as a community leader and a prominent patriot, which was no doubt a testimony to be reference to.

    “Baba exhibited very good leadership qualities, wisdom and wealth of experience which indeed he put to use in the discharge of his responsibility as well as upholding the institution’s tradition of excellence while alive,” said Adams.

    Chairman of Senate Committee on Local Content Solomon Adeola praised Fasehun for contributing immensely to human and democratic rights in Nigeria.

    In a statement by his Media Adviser Kayode Odunaro, Adeola said: “My senatorial district has lost a prominent Nigerian who stood for truth and fought the rights of his people in Nigerian federation.

    “His role in the fight to enthrone democracy against military rule in Nigeria remains indelible in history.”

  • Tinubu, Ambode for EHOAN conference

    THE  50th Annual Scientific Workshop and First International Conference of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN) will hold today at the Golden Tulip Hotel, FESTAC Town, Lagos.

    The event will be declared open by Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode.

    It has as theme: “Climate change and environmental health: Consequences, concern and mitigating factors on socio-economic status”.

    At the event, environmental experts from across the world, with their Nigerian counterparts, would brainstorm on the theme,  to find sustainable solution to the intractable issues resulting from climate change in the world, will also focus on Nigerian at the conference, tagged “Eko Akete 2018”.

    Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the Chief Host, will deliver a paper titled: “Historical  perspective on development of environmental health services in Lagos State 1999-2009”, while the Minister for Environment, Alhaji Jibrin Ibrahim, will speak  on “Climate Change and Environmental Health: How have the Federal Government, State and Local Government Responded?”

    Professor George Karani, of the Cardiff Metropolitan University, Cardiff, United Kingdom, who is the International Guest Speaker will deliver a lecture on the theme of the conference “Climate change and environmental health: Consequences, concerns and mitigating factors on socio-economic status.”

    Expected at the event is former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, the Grand Patron of EHOAN.

    Other dignitaries being expected at the event are Chairman, Senate Committee of Environment, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and Chairman,  House Committee of Environment, and Hon. Chidoka Omina, Chairman, House Committee on Environment.

    Professor Nkwa A. Amadi of the Academy of Environmental Health Science of Nigeria, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State , will speak on “Climate Change and environmental health: Consequences on Emerging and Re-emerging diseases and trans-boarder control”, Dr. Ado Bello, Bayero University, Kano, will present Challenges confronting waste management in Nigeria, The role and responsibilities of environmental health professionals and the Registrar of EHORECON, Dr. Dominic Abonyi, will speak on “Environmental Health Officers and Practitioner- Evolution, historical perspective, role in the 21st Century Nigeria”.

    Dr. Henry O. Sawyerr, dean, School of Allied Health and Environmental Science, Kwara State University wil speak on Environmental Health Science and the profession: Confronting the new reality of the 21st Century;  Prof. Adewoye Ladoke of the Department of Environmental Management Akintola University Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State and Dr. Olugbenga Olorunda,    Office of Allied Health Programme.

    An awards/gala night will hold.

     

  • 2019 poll: Why Buhari must continue, by Tinubu

    Buhari, Oshiomhole, governors in Osun as Oyetola takes over from Aregbesola

    At a packed stadium, All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday announced the resolution of the progressives  to support continuity of good governance.

    “There is no going back in the resolve to return President Muhammadu Buhari for another term in office,” the former Lagos State governor said.

    It was at the inauguration of Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola and Benedict Olugboyega Alabi as Osun State governor and deputy governor.

    The colourful ceremony, attended by many dignitaries and ordinary folks, took place at the Osogbo Township Stadium  in the state capital.

    Tinubu said Nigerians could not afford to go back to the “scavengers, who personalised governance because of their greed”.

    To the APC stalwart, there should be enough of greed and self-serving government that “has held back our progress as a nation”.

    He stressed that there was nothing to show for the 16 years of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in power.

    He said the PDP only laid the foundation for “greed” and “selfishness”.

    His words:  “Nigeria must never be allowed to go back to the corruption, greed and selfishness that have held back our progress. No shaking and no going back to the old foxes, old scavengers and old greed of this country. Look back at their years in government and find out if they laid any good foundation. They didn’t, except the personalisation theory of greed.”

    Tinubu, who was elated by the inauguration of the new government in Osun State, congratulated the former governor, Rauf Aregbesola, for handing over power to a progressive administration.

    He said: “I congratulate you, Aregbesola, for handing over power to a progressive. Now you have joined me in the club of former governors. You have really done very well. You have run progressive and welfarist programmes. I commend you for your performance in the two terms you have spent as governor.

    “You have done very well. Since eight years, which is like yesterday. You earned a progressive mandate and did it for four years and renewed it for another four years. It was a welfarist and progressive programmes now handed over to another progressive governor. Thank you for walking the path and doing a good job.”

    Tinubu, who congratulated Oyetola and Alabi, assured them that the administration would be supported by progressives in all parts of Nigeria.

    According to him, Oyetola’s emergence as governor is a continuation and testament of APC’s progressive ideology of governance started four years ago by President Buhari.

    He urged the new governor  to follow the path that will engender progressive development, put smiles on people’s faces and take the country to higher heights.

    The former governor said: “We want you to maintain the same path of progress. We are strongly behind you. Ride on, no going back. There is no any other party here in the Southwest.”

    President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, said the inauguration marked a peaceful transition from one administration to another.

    President, who commended the former governor for steering the ship of the state successfully for eight years and handing over power to an APC administration, thanked the people of Osun for conducting themselves peacefully during  and after the governorship elections.

    Buhari advised politicians in the 2019 general elections to make their campaigns focus on programmes and agenda capable of emancipating the people from hardship.

    He called on Oyetola to centre his administration around the welfare of the people of the state, especially women and youths, to make life meaningful to them.

    He said: “Public office is a trust. You must rule with a human face and the fear of God. You must ensure that all the ongoing projects are completed.”

    He assured the new governor of all the necessary support that would help him succeed.

    Buhari also called on Nigerians to vote for the APC in the 2019 general elections.

    He urged them to conduct themselves peacefully  – in a manner devoid of bitterness and violence, shunning hate speech and violence during the campaigns.

    He praised the Aregbesola for bringing “immense developments” to the state in the last eight years.

    He assured that the APC-led administration would continue to deliver the democracy dividends to the people.

    Among the dignitaries at the event were Senator Oluremi Tinubu,  Gen. Alani Aknirinade, Aregbesola’s wife, Sherifat and his former deputy Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori.

    There were Governors Akinwumi Ambode (Lagos), Rotimi Akeredolu (Ondo), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti) and Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano).

    Former Ogun State Governor Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and Osun State Chief Judge, Justice Adepele Ojo were there.

    Others were the APC National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, former  Osun State  Governor Chief Bisi Akande, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Olabomi, the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarin, former  House of Representatives Speaker Patricia Olubunmi Etteh, Osun state speaker of the State House of Assembly, Najeem Salaam, former state speaker, Adejare Bello, APC women leader, Chief Mrs Kemi Nelson, Senator Ayo Fasanmi, Senator Solomon Adeola , former Lagos deputy governor, Femi Pedro, Senator Babajide Omoworare, Senator Sola Adeyeye.

  • No regrets having Tinubu as godfather, says Sen. Adeola

    Senator Solomon Adeola (APC-Lagos) says he does not have regrets having the national leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Ahmed Tinubu as his godfather.

    Adeola, who made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Abuja said there was nothing wrong in having a godfather in politics.

    He was reacting to the belief by some Nigerians that his actions and inactions, particularly on the floor of the senate were geared towards pleasing Tinubu rather than his constituents.

    The lawmaker said while the interest of his constituents remained paramount to him, he had high regards for Tinubu, who had nurtured him through his political career.

    Adeola, who is Chairman Senate Committee on Local Content recently won the APC primary election for Lagos West Senatorial District.

    He expressed optimism that with Tinubu and the people’s support, he would return to the senate in 2019.

    “I want to thank my father, mentor and role model, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu who endorsed me as the party flag bearer.

    “If not for God and Tinubu, I would not have been here today.

    “I also want to thank all the party members for seeing me fit to go for another election.

    “I am here on a mission, to protect and defend our democracy.

    Read Also: 2019 Polls: Police will be fair to all Parties – DIG

    “I believe in the power of the people and they are the ones to decide those that will represent them,” he said.

    Adeola said the electorate had seen his performance over the years and were prepared to give him their mandate to represent them in the 9th National Assembly.

    He said, “I have had the opportunity of serving as a House of Representatives member and now I am in the Senate.

    ” In the last three years, I have sponsored 15 bills and two have been assented to by the President.

    “I have also sponsored several motions on matters of national importance.

    “I have also tried as much as I can to give my people a voice and I know they are pleased with my performance.”

    The lawmaker added that he had carried out constituency projects that impacted greatly on the lives of his constituents.

    “The things I have done in my constituency are evident. As we speak, we are planning a constituency outreach by first week of December.

    “All we are doing is to ensure that we remain in constant touch with the people.

    “It is a yearly thing and we will ensure that this year’s outreach impacts as much as the ones in the past if not better.”

  • Kachikwu, Wabote, Tinubu push Nigerian agenda at Oil Week

    Minister of State, Petroleum Resources,. Dr Ibe Kachikwu, Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Developing and Managing Board (NCDMB), Engr Simbi Wabote, and Oando PLC Group Chief Executive, Wale Tinubu were key participants at the recently concluded 25th edition of the Africa Oil Week (AOW) which took place at Cape Town International Convention Centre, South Africa.

    While Kachikwu and Wabote spoke extensively on Nigeria’s local content development approach and its overall contribution towards the African oil and gas industry, the Oando chief led several discussions during the course of the week.

    Dr. Kachikwu spoke extensively on the oil sector’s impact on the Nigeraian economy during the Ministerial Insights: National Exploration & Production Strategies’ panel. He said: “The oil sector has been a catalyst for growth in the Nigerian economy. It has also driven technology. Privately owned companies in Nigeria have gotten to a point where they can go to other African countries as investors and service providers.” The sessions covered various topics including future trends, hot spots and drilling programmes, governance, transparency and equitable growth, to future outlooks and energy transition outlook to 2050.

    Local content development was a major sub-theme at the forum. Speaking extensively during the session titled ‘The global private sector’s role in African socio-economic development, Wabote said: “Any company coming into a country to undertake business must have a positive reputation. This reputation is built on your commitment to deliver on your promise and ensure you are there for the survival of the nation as a whole. Local content is not CSR. For me it is an existential imperative for any country in terms of allowing its citizens participate in the oil and gas sector in particular.”

    The NCDMB has taken giant strides since the commencement of its 10-year strategic plan to increase local content in the oil and gas industry from the current 28 per cent to 70 per cent by 2027.

    In addition to being a platinum sponsor, delegates from the Oando provided the Nigerian business perspective on various panels. Speaking on an economic outlook panel titled: “Can Africa’s Upstream Play a Significant Role in the Context of the Global and Regional Energy Landscape.”

    Tinubu said: “We have been substantially supported by the Government’s local content policies which have effectively enabled indigenous players step in and play a significant role in the sector. In Nigeria today, out of the 2 million barrels of oil being produced, 400,000 can be attributed to indigenous production.”

    Alongside Tinubu on this panel,                         were Jens Frølich Holte, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway; David Hicks, Senior Vice President: Upstream, IHS Markit; Jasper Peijs, Exploration Vice President, BP; Mounir Bouaziz, VP Commercial/New Business Development South America & Africa, Country Chair Dubai & Northern Emirates, Shell and Paul McDade, CEO, Tullow Oil.

    Also speaking on Private Sector: Creating Equitable Frameworks and High Quality Local Supply Chains, the Chief Operating Officer, Oando Energy Resources, Dr. Alex Irune said: “The indigenous private sector has an important role to play in taking the knowledge and value gotten from collaborating with the IOCs and other sector players in the country, transferring that down the value chain to build efficient and effective supply chains that are able to retain value in country.”

    Oando’s participation at the conference further reinforces its position as the preferred indigenous oil and gas company in the country. The company has truly carved a niche for itself as an independent indigenous oil and gas company flying the Nigerian flag at global events that shape the future of the sector and the world in general. Events such as the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, CERA in Houston, Oil Council, Africa Assembly, Africa CEO Forum, OPEC International Seminar, to name but a few.  At these events, Oando has engaged in open and transparent dialogue with a broad range of stakeholders to analyze and proffer solutions to global issues.

  • 2019: Why Atiku’s dream will crash, by Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu yesterday dismissed the plan by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to win the February 16 presidential election.

    He delivered a firm verdict on PDP presidential candidate Atiku Abubakar’s ambition, saying he cannot win because Nigerians “will not go back to the illusion of the PDP”.

    He said no matter the attempt to dress up the former ruling party, “the leopard cannot change its skin”.

    The PDP ruled for 16 years during which Nigeria earned so much money from oil but made no corresponding progress in infrastructure development — so goes the popular thinking.

    Asked if he was jittery about Atiku’s meeting with his party chiefs in the United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Tinubu said: “We don’t fear, whether it is in the jungle or in Dubai or in Abu Dhabi; people are free to meet and strategise in anyway they want but we are not going back to the illusion of the PDP. It is not possible; Nigerians will not do that.

    “They say slow and steady wins the race. We inherited that from our forefathers and knowledgeable people. We can’t go back to the pit that we inhabited for 16 years. They can strategise from anywhere but a leopard cannot change its skin,” he said.

    Tinubu spoke after a meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Aso Villa in Abuja.

    The meeting is believed to be part of the trouble-shooting effort by President Buhari on the issues that emanated from the APC primaries.

    Tinubu, who arrived at the State House at about 3.56 p.m, moved straight into the President’s office.

    The President’s meeting with the APC stalwart and National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole came less than 24 hours after Buhari hosted aggrieved APC aspirants  to a dinner at the State House.

    At the dinner were governorship, national and state assembly aspirants who failed to secure the party’s tickets. Oshiomhole did not attend the dinner.

    President Buhari had also met with Borno State Goveror Kashim Shettima.

    Asked if he is in support of Oshiomhole’s removal, Tinubu said: “No. We all have to respect party supremacy. You were all here when we had the Congress, we elected the new executives, the convention we had it, the NEC was formed and we surrendered to avoid conflict, to avoid domination, to avoid abuses of power, we surrendered our rights, all rights to the National Working Committee headed by Adams Oshiomohole.

    “That the National Working Committee should set up electoral bodies to supervise various state congresses and elections. ‘We signed off for it’. So, if it is not in our individual favour, so be it.

    “We gave three options, consensus; where there is no consensus because if you are more than two or three and you cannot agree to one candidate, you go to the next level.

    “The next level is the stakeholders delegate and you have to be supervised by the National Working Committee of the  party, national election committee of the party. That shows party supremacy or the freest option; the less cumbersome is to open direct primary, line up and count the number, 1,2,3.  If you win, you win and if you fail, go home.

    “Then appeal committee was set up to listen to all appeals; internal mechanism for conflict resolution. It was there; you cannot turn round against that, you cannot turn against all of that.

    “No. Party is supreme; party must be respected. Abuses will not do it and anger will not do it. It is party politics. Somebody will win and somebody will lose, too bad.”

    On the purpose of his visit to the Presidential Villa, Tinubu said: “The meeting is about the nation, the country, our people, peace, stability and economic progress.”

  • Anenih gave so much to party politics, democracy in Nigeria, says Tinubu

    All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has described Chief Anenih as “resolutely committed to the unity and cohesion of the country.”

    In a statement last night by Tunde Rahman of his Media Office, Tinubu added that “Chief Anenih was a foremost politician and elder-stateman. He was resolutely committed to the unity and cohesion of this country. He worked for the upliftment of his Uromi hometown and Edo State, as he worked for the growth and development of Nigeria.

    “A politician of immense repute. He gave so much to party politics and democracy in the country.

    As one of the founding fathers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he played a key role in the country’s resurgent democracy. It was no surprise that he later emerged the Chairman, Board of Trustees of PDP.

    “Our path crossed in the Social Democratic Party where he was our national chairman. I recall that he was an energetic politician who played politics with all that he is imbued with.

    “I commiserate with his family. I pray that they find the strength and courage to live without their patriarch. I also commiserate with Governor Godwin Obaseki and the government and people of Edo State”.