The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

  • Buhari’s anti-graft battle not one-sided, says Osinbajo

    Buhari’s anti-graft battle not one-sided, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday declared that the fight against corruption under the current administration is not one-sided.

    A statement issued on Tuesday night by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the Vice President made the remark while speaking with journalists at the end of the 27th Ordinary session of the African Union (AU) in Kigali, Rwanda.

    According to Osinbajo, corruption in the country is being looked at from all possible facets.

    He said: “I think it’s entirely absurd, I think that view is absurd and without foundation or basis whatsoever. We look at corruption from all possible facets.

    “If you look at for example, corruption on the military, from military procurement, obviously the only individuals responsible for that could be persons who had held office within the period in question and that has been done and clearly the opposition was not in the office at that time.

    “Those who were in the office were not necessarily opposition individuals. These were Service Chiefs and other personnel who had served for a while.

    “The other issues for example is the fraud and the corruption that is associated with large sums of money given out by the past National Security Adviser which went to several political figures and again these were large huge sums of money, over 2 billion US Dollars and the sheet size and the enormity of what we are talking about,  must not be diminished in anyway or trivialised in anyway by any suggestion that it is partisan. How? in what way?” he queried.

    He said that those who made the suggestion that the anti-corruption fight is one-sided only want to trivialise a very important programme of the government.

    The allegation, he said, is aimed at working against the strong effort of the government to recover huge sums of money that have been stolen from Nigeria.

  • Presidency: Why private sector not in economic management team

    Presidency: Why private sector not in economic management team

    The Presidency on Thursday gave reasons why the Economic Management Team headed by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has no private sector representation.

    Similar economic teams in the past administrations usually have private sector representatives on such government team.

    In an interview with journalists in Abuja, the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, said that the administration considers the management of the Nigerian economy as government’s responsibility.

    According to him, the government did not believe in having private sector representation in the economic team, which will make them part of decisions that will directly benefit from.

    He said: “We have to understand that the attitude of this Presidency is to consider the management of the economy as a government responsibility. It is not something that this government believes should be done by bringing in some of the private interests into the economic team to take a decision that they will be directly involved with.

    “So our stand is that the management of the economy is a government responsibility,” he added.

    But he explained that the private sector is not completely left out as other stakeholders are regularly engaged by the government.

    He said: “For instance, we have started meeting on constant basis with Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN). There have been meetings with arms of the economic sector of the country. There have been meetings with the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and some other economic interests with companies, making presentations.

    “But generally, this thing is a government team and the team has been able to set out before the budget trying to figure out what the budget ought to focus on. After the budget was presented and eventually signed, there was also the publication of the strategic implementation plan which was produced in a reader friendly format.

    “All of these are the outcomes of what Economic Management Team does and it is also in the team that you have the heap of the whole physical and monetary policy and don’t forget that the monetary policy is always the duty and responsibility of the Central Bank which is an economic arm of government,” he added.

    Noting that the past administrations did not save money for the raining day, he said that the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has been working hard to rebuild the economy.

    He said that the administration has already changed the direction of the Nigerian economy and that Nigerians will soon start seeing better things from the government.

    He also disclosed that the social welfare schemes of the administration were slightly delayed due to delay in the passage of the 2016 Budget.

    Akande also denied the reports claiming that illegal recruitments were going on in some government agencies Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).

    “Some of these reports are inaccurate. What we heard is that government is working to ensure that we develop going forward in more transparent process. We are committed in going forward to ensure that some of these procedures are refined, fine-tuned and made to become more transparent,” he said.

  • Nigeria needs Buhari now, says Osinbajo

    Nigeria needs Buhari now, says Osinbajo

    • Says Buhari is honest and straight forward

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday said that Nigeria currently needs President Muhammadu Buhari at the helm of affairs as a honest, straightforward and with a genuine heart.

    He spoke during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Deeper Christian Life Church, led by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Even as some people have noted that President Buhari is strict because of his forthrightness, he said he is the kind of leader the country needs now.

    He stressed that he is a president who will not cut deals and who is only interested in moving Nigeria forward.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “We are very happy that we have a President who is honest, a President who is straight forward, a President who is operating from the genuineness of his heart, this is the kind of leader that we need now,”

    He also said that he has worked together very well with the President.

    Acknowledging the current economic situation in the country, the Vice President said that the current administration did not create the problems.

    He said: “The reason (we are here at this time,) is known to the Lord Himself. Everyday I wake up knowing there is a cause for being here and it is to move the country forward.”

    Osinbajo told Pastor William Kumuyi that the clean-up of Ogoni and the Niger Delta is very important.

    He said: “The situation is very bad, I have been in the area a few times, but we need peace in the area to be able to carry on with the clean-up exercise.”

    He also said the clean-up exercise will take decades but with the phased implementation people can gradually return to fishing and farming.

    On the power sector, he noted that by February this year, the country was doing 5000MW of electricity for the first time in history, and that the militants’ attacks on the pipelines have made things bad not only regarding electricity, but also cutting the oil revenues of the nation.

    He however assured that government is working diligently on effective solutions to those challenges.

    He was clear that God has a purpose for choosing the President and himself to serve at this time, saying “this is the doing of the Lord.”

    The Vice President thanked Pastor Kumuyi for coming, noting that “your visit is a wonderful gift.”

    Speaking earlier, Pastor Kumuyi said he is in the Federal Capital Territory for a crusade and thought to pay a visit to the Vice President.

    He thanked God for the progress made so far by the Administration, adding that “God will fulfill the purpose for which He brought you at a time like this.”

    While inviting the Vice President to the crusade, Pastor Kumuyi pledged his contributions and prayers for the Buhari administration, and also for the progress of the country.

  • Nigeria’s future dependent on elites, says Osinbajo

    Nigeria’s future dependent on elites, says Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has harped on the significant role elites play in the development of a country like Nigeria.

    According to him, the weight of what happens in the society whether good of bad rests on the shoulders of the elites.

    He made the remark while speaking to lawyers on Wednesday night at the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Section on Business Law Dinner at the 10th Annual Conference of NBA in Abuja.

    In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice President said that elites like the lawyers, who formed the better part of the audience, are the repository for knowledge and information and therefore must use their knowledge for the common good of the nation.

    Osinbajo who had in the past called for a “new tribe of Nigerians,” to rid the country of corruption, reiterated a similar message of elite responsibility.

    He said: “Whether we accept it or not, the weight of what happens in our society really rests on our shoulders (as elites). Therefore the society would depend a lot on the elites in the coming years and that is a huge responsibility.”

    According to him, no country can move forward if the elites have not come to consensus on certain values, adding that “the challenges facing Nigeria is huge yet the elites are yet to come to consensus.”

    “There is no consensus (as yet) on ethics, integrity and even corruption. To what extent do we accept corruption; that is, to what extent do we think it is most unacceptable, that it would destroy our country.  We need consensus on what is right to do, for self-preservation and for that-(the preservation) of the country, it is essential.”

    He said that there is no society that has been successful where the elites don’t have consensus on questions of integrity and morals.

    Forging such consensus regarding vital issues, he said, is the only way to go if Nigeria is to grow.

    “We do not have to belong to the same religion or tribe, state or geo-political zones.” he said

    On the ease of doing business, the Vice President said the Buhari administration has recently set up a Presidential Ease of Doing Business Council which he chairs, adding that the Council will work to create an enabling environment for business, removal or relaxation of some of the rules and making more use of electronic applications.

    He also noted that the area of adjudication requires some radical thinking and changes.

    Noting that commercial litigation is the area that feels the pinch the most, he said that the system is so slow that it has attracted a lot of negative comments outside the country.

    The Vice President has also urged Christians to deal with challenges and conflicts in the body of Christ with due diligence as expected of believers and based on Scripture.

    He made the remark on Thursday during a meeting with a delegation of the Christian Arbitration Centre led by retired Supreme Court Justice James Ogebe, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    While expressing his delight at the formation of the centre to resolve conflicts among Christians, the Vice President told the delegation to seek the buy-ins from trustworthy Christian leaders to support the Centre ahead of its summit in September.

    Speaking earlier, the leader of the delegation, Justice Ogebe, said the reason for setting up Christian Arbitration Centre was for Christians to have a place where Christians can go for justice without going to the regular courts for matters that are strictly Christian.

    He said it is sad when church matters such as allegations and conflicts are treated at the secular courts.

  • Pray more for Nigeria, Buhari urges cabinet members

    Pray more for Nigeria, Buhari urges cabinet members

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night urged members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) to redouble their efforts in praying to God for a better and peaceful Nigeria.

    He spoke during the breaking of fast dinner for members of FEC at the new banquet hall of the State House, Abuja.

    He said the Month of Ramadan was a special time when God listens and answers prayers of the faithful.

    According to him, the Ramadan period provides leaders the opportunity to be more conscious of their responsibilities to the people they governed.

    He said: “It strengthens our resolve to build our country to make it stronger and to make sure that the incoming generations are sufficiently motivated to be patriotic.

    “It is no news that we are the biggest country in Africa, we are the economic engine of Africa, which are true by the way.

    “But, we must always be patriotic in our dealings with others. This (Ramadan) month of prayers and service to God, let us keep on these prayers all the times, believing that God in His infinite mercy will listen to our prayers, give us peace, security and better the economy once more, so that we can quickly rebuild and even do more for the  country.

    “Let me assure that the time of Ramadan is making us more conscious of what leaders at every level ought to do, and leading the people is not a joke. It means accepting responsibilities for good or wrong,’’ he said.

    The president stated that the country needed a lot of prayers in view of the economic and security challenges facing the nation.

    He, particularly, cited the activities of the militants and those agitating for the state of Biafra, reminding such people and their sponsors of the calamities that befallen the country during similar agitations between 1967 and 1970 were about two million lives were lost.

    “We need a lot of prayer. Certainly, with the nation’s economy going down. Haven’t developed the agriculture, we are still trying to talk about those who will come and develop the solid mineral for us.

    “The militants in their various homes. We need to reflect very seriously on what happened between 1967 and 1970 were about two millions Nigerians lost their lives.

    “And at that time, as young military officers, you hardly heard of anything about petroleum or whatever money you got from it.

    “Look at what Gen. Gowon said; ‘To keep Nigeria one is a task that must be done’ and every soldier, whether he has been to school or not knew what the General meant.

    “But, we were quarrelling with our brothers, we were not fighting an enemy and then somebody is saying that once again he wants Biafra.

    “I think this is because he was not born when there was Biafra. We have to reflect on the historical antecedence to appreciate what is before us now and what we intend to leave for our children and our grandchildren,’’ he warned.

    He thanked the ministers and other members of the cabinet for accepting to serve, and to identify with the APC-led Federal Government.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who spoke on behalf of members of the FEC, thanked President Buhari for inviting them for breaking of fast dinner.

  • Photos: Buhari resumes duty

    Photos: Buhari resumes duty

    Buhari Res
    L-R: President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

     

    Buhari Resumes

  • FG sets up panel for prosecution of corruption, criminal cases

    FG sets up panel for prosecution of corruption, criminal cases

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Friday inaugurated a National Prosecution Coordination Committee, (NPCC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The committee is to ensure effective prosecution of high criminal cases in the country.

    The committee, according to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, is headed by the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami at the event attended by several government functionaries including the National Security Adviser, Brig-General Babagana Munguno, rtd, and heads of the ICPC and the CCB among others.

    Osinbajo, who represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the ceremony, said that the President is not interested in tele-guiding the anti-corruption agencies or prosecution authorities in the country.

    He said: “When you look at the way that the EFCC and other law enforcement agencies have acted in recent times you will notice that they are not under any kind of direction of influence of the President.

    “They are given the independence to act; they are given the authority and backing to act on their own and to use their own discretion appropriately at all times. You don’t get any situation where the president says go get that person or back off that person.

    “All of us know that the President is completely committed to fighting corruption and economic crimes and terrorism,” he added

    He said that such external influence does not exist under this administration, as the agencies are given the full authority to act and they do so using their best judgment.

    The administration, he said, expect the agencies to use their powers with fairness, devoid of any prejudice.

    According to him, the same responsibility has been given to the newly formed NPCC to bring justice to the people.

    Addressing the 20-member Committee, the Vice President said: “That is the sort of responsibility placed on your own shoulders as well, the responsibility to exercise prosecutorial power independently and without any direction except of course from the learned Attorney-General who is the constitutional and prosecutorial authority in the country.”

    “It is a very serious responsibility because it also involves making sure that people are treated fairly or that people are not pursued by reason of bias or any other such consideration,’’ he added.

    He said that it was important that those being prosecuted were not embarrassed needlessly by the prosecutors.

    He stressed that it is important that everybody observe “that the system is fair and that the system works in the interest of the Nigerian people. When the system is fair everybody buys into it and it is not difficult for people to relate with it and support it.’’

    The Vice President said that the selection of the committee members took into consideration not only their legal skills and learning, but also their integrity and strength of character in order to chart a new course in the nation’s criminal justice system.

    Even as he noted that legal background was important, he said that particular consideration was given to those who have courage and would not allow themselves to be cowed or influenced by tribe, religion, and friendships.

    He said: “Given the nature of economic crimes and the enormity sometimes of the money that is involved and the influence of those who may have to be prosecuted, you need more than legal skills. You need men and women of strong character and courage who will not only be able to turn down inducements of any kind but also act without consideration for tribe, friendship, religion or any other parochial considerations.’’

    The Vice President observed that the composition of the committee was notable as they take on their tasks at a time of an upsurge in pipeline vandalism among other criminal acts.

    He said: “This is a very important committee because the administration itself is committed to ensuring that we are able to deal with not only question of corruption which is a big item on our agenda but also other economic crimes. Terrorism has assumed different shapes and proportions of late, and the vandalism that we see in parts of the Niger Delta, which has affected so many different things including oil production, power supply,

    “We are in a very crucial time in our social development and a committee such as this is very necessary and historic because I do not know of any other of such committee in the history of this country,’’ he added.

    He congratulated the committee members for being chosen to perform the task and expressed the hope that the committee would be making a huge difference in the actual delivery of results in the next few months.

    Speaking earlier, the Attorney General and Justice Minister said that the committee comprised 12 ex-officio and eight external members of proven integrity and competence.

    To fast-track the work of the committee, he said that the ministry has created 20 prosecution teams with four members each and had requested the all agencies exercising police powers to recommend five experienced investigators to support the committee’s work.

    “The aim is to ensure effective investigation and prosecution of high profile criminal cases in Nigeria,” the minister said

    According to him, the committee was not a duplication of the existing anti-corruption agencies but would collaborate with such agencies for effective service delivery.

    Other members of the committee included Mr. Taiwo Abidogun-Solicitor-General/Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Dipo Okpeseyi, SAN, Mr. Chukuma Machukwu, SAN, Professor Bolaji Owasanoye, the Executive Secretary of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti-Corruption, Mr. M.S. Diri, Director of Prosecution, Ministry of Justice, Mr. Pius Oteh, Esq., Okoi Obono-Obla Esq., Mrs Juliet Ibekaku, Mr. Abiodun Aikomo, Esq., Mr. Kehinde Oginni, Esq, Mr. Salihu Othman Isah-Special Adviser, Media & Publicity to the Attorney-General, Al-Amin Ado Ibrahim, from the Office of the National Security Adviser, Nafiu Yakubu, Tunji Oluborode, Esq., Eric Onokif Ifere Esq., Mrs Diane Okoko, Temitope Adebayo, Esq., DIG Abdulrahman Yusuf, RTD, Sylvester Imhanobe, Esq as Secretary to the Committee.

  • Buhari seeks understanding

    Buhari seeks understanding

    •President hails Ambode

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday urged Nigerians to support his administration, despite the economic hardship they are going through.

    The President spoke during a visit to Lagos to inaugurate some projects carried out by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration.

    He was represented by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who said: “This country is going to be a nation where there will be abundance and prosperity, but there are teething problems and a lot of repair to be done. There is a lot of re adjustment and a lot that we have to do to ensure that our country becomes the kind of country that it really should be.”

    He added that the government had approved N500 billion for social investment as part of its measures to tackle the myriads of economic problems and provide palliative to  unemployed graduates.

    He said the investment plan will address the challenges of unemployment, industries,manufacturing, Agriculture, among others.

    According to him, there were plans to create 500,000 employment opportunities for graduates with another 370,000 for non-graduates.

    He said besides, there would be provision of micro loan facilities for market women, using the various market unions and associations.

    Projects inaugurated the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Response Unit in Cappa, near Oshodi, which  he described as not only the first of its kind in Nigeria, but one that would go a long way to improve response time during emergencies.

    “With this special rescue unit, it is evident that we have moved a notch higher. There is no question at all that this facility is a world class facility.”

    The LASEMA Response Unit boasts of an initial acquisition of 51 equipment including three Forklifts, one Crane, 13 trucks, 10 Paramedic Motorbikes, two Fire Trucks, Ambulances, among others.

    Also inaugurated was the Ago Palace Way, Okota road, which he described as an important economic road to promote trade and investment and enhance movement along that corridor.

    The Ago Palace Way is a link road that connects about four local governments, providing a viable alternative route for motorists trying to access Festac, Mile 2 and Apapa areas with ease thereby reducing travel time.

    At the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, where he handed over security equipment purchased by the State Government to the tune of N1.85billion, the President said that it was a testament to the premium the administration of Governor Ambode has placed on safety of lives and property of its citizenry.

    Among the equipment are 140 brand new Ford Ranger Pick-Ups and 335 Power Bikes fitted with communication gadgets, Helmets, Bullet-proof vests and other kits.

    The President said: “I have also seen already so much attention being paid to security. In fact virtually all the security agencies including immigrations and Customs including NDLEA are to benefit from this latest gift of the Lagos State Government.

    He said the State Government was blazing the trail with several commendable projects, including the two roads being constructed in each of the 20 local governments and 37 local council development areas of the State.

    He commended Governor Ambode for the achievements recorded within the first year of his administration assuring that now that the state is in the same party with the government at the centre, it will certainly get all the support that is due for the Lagos.

    “I’m amazed by the achievements of the Lagos State government so far, he said.

    The president said the Federal Government will soon embark on  infrastructural  development in the state adding that the Lagos stands a great deal to benefit from this corridor.

    “The focus of the Federal government budget is on infrastructure and parts of that infrastructure are the rail route. Both rail routes start from Lagos the Lagos to Kano and Lagos to Calabar. So they are incredible opportunity for Lagos with the development of the rail routes both the one going to the north and the coast one going to calabar.

    “The Lagos-Ibadan expressway is also an important project which we will be focusing on in this budget circle. I am convinced that we have everything going and this state has a lot to benefit from this government.

    Ambode expressed his administration’s commitment to the protection of lives and property and urged security personnel to continue their good work by making Lagos safer for all and sundry.

    “My administration is committed to improve security being a sine-qua-non for economic and social development.”

    Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase who received the equipment on behalf of the other security agencies, assured government that his men will reciprocate the gesture by putting more effort in ensuring security of life and property in the state.

    Arase said: “When you (Governor Ambode) gave us the first set of equipment, I did promise you that to whom much is given, much is expected and the officers and men of the Command have worked tirelessly and assiduously to ensure that the crime rate in Lagos is within tolerable limit that will attract foreign direct investment and other investment to the State.

    “I can’t thank you enough but I can also promise you today that we are not going to rest on our oars. We will continue to work and ensure that the peace and stability of Lagos State is guaranteed.”

  • Fuel price hike, tough decision-Osinbajo

    Fuel price hike, tough decision-Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Tuesday said the decision to increase the price of petrol from N86 per litre to N145 per litre was a tough one for President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Osinbajo spoke at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja, during the public presentation of a book “Anatomy of Corruption in Nigeria, Issues, Challenges and Solution”, written by Alhaji Yusuf Alli (SAN).

    He told the gathering that several things that ought to have been done to address the sufferings and pains of Nigerians by the administration of President Buhari could not be done because of massive stealing and the depletion of Nigeria’s external reserves.

    He said: “I want to just quickly say that corruption as we all know is not just a social evil, it is an existential threat to our country. There is no doubt at all that unlike in other countries, people say there is corruption everywhere which is true, but I think there is one distinguishing feature for Nigeria and for many other country, it is that it is a threat that directly affects the lives and livelihood of everyone.

    “It is not just an evil, it is not just an immorality, it is existential because it could truly destroy lives and it has destroyed many lives and has continued to destroy the Nigerian economy.

    “And I think that the reasons are very obvious if you just take a clear example. All through the period when Nigeria was earning huge sums of money as proceeds from oil sales for almost five years, the external reserves of Nigeria remains much the same.

    “It did not increase at all despite the high earning, now we know also that we are investigating cases which showed that over $15 billion was lost in one type of contract alone. We are not talking of oil contract, we are talking of security-related contracts, $15 billion. We have not talked at all of oil contracts in several billions.”

     

  • Pipeline vandalism: Osinbajo meets security chiefs, others

    Pipeline vandalism: Osinbajo meets security chiefs, others

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday night held a closed door meeting with some stakeholders over the current attacks on pipelines in the Niger Delta region.

    He first met with some security chiefs including Navy and Army and the Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, and some other government officials.

    The Vice President later met separately with Bayelsa State Governor, Sariake Dickson; and the Amayanabo of Toun Brass, Bayelsa State, King Alfred Diete-Spiff.

    Osinbajo, in the company of Dickson and Diete-Spiff, also met with representatives of some oil companies including Shell, Total, AGIP, NLNG and Chevron.

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