The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Vice President Yemi Osinbajo

  • NATBO congratulates president

    A group, No Alternative To Buhari-Osinbajo (NATBO 2019), has congratulated  President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on the victory just secured at the polls.

    The group also congratulated Executive Committee members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), members of the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), all APC members, all NATBO 2019 members as well as all other Buhari support groups.

    According to a statement signed by its national Co-ordinator, Vincent Uba, NATBO described the victory as a referendum on Nigerians’ quest to step up to the next level on the path of greatness and fulfilment for a better rewarding future.

    “We are delighted that the effort we all put into this project by way of time, talent, treasure and all forms of sacrifices and risk did not end in vain.

    “Now that we have all delivered on our mandate to convince Nigerians that there is no alternative to Buhari-Osinbajo in the election, and they agreed and voted to re-elect the duo, the ball is now back in their court to continue the good work they have started,” the group stated.

    The group prayed for Buhari’s good health and wisdom to lead the country to the promised land and assiduously strive to banquet the legacy of a strong economy, corruption free and secured country for the citizenry.

  • Governors greet Buhari, Osinbajo on re-election

    GOVERNORS across the country have congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for their victory in the presidential election.

    They spoke through their individual statements issued yesterday.

    President Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was in the early hours of Wednesday declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu.

    The President polled 15,191,847 votes to defeat his closest challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), who got 11, 262,978 votes.

     

    Ambode: victory well-deserved

     

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said the victory was a confirmation of the people’s love for Buhari and an attestation that Nigerians were happy with the progress the Federal Government has made in the last four years.

    The governor said: “Let me join millions of our loyal party faithful in the state and across the country to congratulate President Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo for their resounding victory at last Saturday’s polls. “

     

    Re-election is appreciation of good governance, says Oyetola

     

    Osun State Governor Gboyega Oyetola, in his congratulatory message, described President Buhari’s victory as the appreciation of good governance and quality leadership.

    Oyetola, who maintained that “the outcome of this election shows that President Buhari has done very well and his victory gives hope for our democracy,” said Buhari’s triumph is well-deserved.

    The governor spoke with reporters at the Government House in Osogbo while reviewing the outcome of the presidential election.

    The governor, who congratulated the President and APC members said: “This is a renewed hope for Nigerians. I feel great and very happy that President Buhari has been re-elected. This victory depicts that our President has done very well in all areas.”

    On Tuesday, the governor went on a road show across major streets of Osogbo to join the people in the state capital, who trooped out in large number to celebrate Buhari’s victory.

    The governor said the state would continue to benefit massively from the social investment initiatives of the Federal Government.

     

    Masari: president ’ll build on APC’s successes

     

    Katsina State Governor Aminu Bello Masari described the President’s re-election as an act of God.

    Masari, who spoke with reporters at the Government House, congratulated the President and expressed confidence that he would use the opportunity of his second term to build on the successes already recorded by the APC administration since 2015.

    According to Masari, “we thank God for making this victory possible for President Buhari and for Nigerians. We had a very successful presidential election with few minor incidences that are natural for an occasion of this size and nature.

    “We thank the people of Nigeria for re-affirming their confidence in the ability and capacity of President Muhammadu Buhari to steer the affairs of this nation for the next four years.”

     

     Buhari’s election was a referendum, says Ajimobi

     

    Oyo State Governor Abiola Ajimobi described Buhari’s re-election for another four years as a referendum in support of integrity, good governance and the fight against corruption.

    A statement by the governor’s Special Adviser on Communication and Strategy, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, congratulated the President for his landslide victory over his major challenger, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

    Ajimobi thanked the Oyo State people for their steadfastness and support for the APC over the years, which he said puts a question mark on the purported victory of the PDP in the presidential election result in the state.

    He also expressed gratitude to the people for ensuring the emergence of nine out of 14 House of Representatives candidates of the party and two senatorial seats out of three, which he said would give the state a strong voice in the National Assembly.

     

    Yari expresses happiness

     

    Zamfara State Governor Abdul Aziz Yari hailed Zamfara people for successful and peaceful conduct of the elections despite insecurity bedeviling the state.

    Yari spoke in an interactive session with reporters at his residence in his hometown of Mafara in Mafara Local Government Area.

    He hailed the media for a very good job in disseminating information that is based on facts and not biased.

     

     Okorocha: it’s best political development

     

    Imo State Governor and the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum Rochas Okorocha, in a statement signed by his Chief Press  Secretary,  Mr. Sam Onwuemeodo, said  the “election of President Buhari for second term could be adjudged the best political development for the nation at the moment because there would not have been any better alternative in the circumstance”.

    He also observed that “the way Nigerians voted for him only showed that he has done well in his first tenure and has enviable popularity among Nigerians”.

    Okorocha also lambasted the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo,  Chief Nnia Nwodo, for dragging the Igbo apex socio-cultural organisation into partisan politics for pecuniary gains.

     

    Abubakar asks Atiku to accept defeat

     

    Bauchi State Governor Mohammed Abdullahi Abubakar advised the PDP presidential candidate and his party to accept the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari  in good faith,  saying there is another chance to contest in future.

    The governor, who gave the advice through a statement issued by his press secretary, Abubakar Al-Sadique, urged the PDP to support the incoming administration in the onerous task of nations-building.

     

    ‘It’s the will of the people’

     

    Kano State Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje joined well-meaning Nigerians in congratulating the President and the APC for overwhelmingly winning the presidential election.

    Ganduje attributed Buhari’s victory to the successes recorded in his administration, which he described as one of the most successful in Nigeria’s democratic governance.

    The congratulatory message indicated that “the re-election of President Buhari is the will of the people, who are supporting his administration’s change agenda that has brought about transformation in all facets of development in the country”.

     

    Akeredolu: victory belongs to Nigerians’

     

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi  Akeredolu also joined millions of Nigerians to congratulate the President on his re-election.

    Akeredolu, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary(CPS) Segun Ajiboye, said Buhari’s victory in the keenly contested presidential election signified the acceptability of his leadership by the majority of the citizens.

    The governor noted that the victory belongs to all Nigerians, irrespective of their ethnic and religious beliefs.

    He was optimistic that the next level promised the citizens by the President would indeed take the country to unprecedented heights.

     

    Lalong: it’ll usher in prosperous Nigeria

     

    To Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong, the re-election of Buhari would usher in a prosperous Nigeria that would be a country of destination in the comity of nations.

    Lalong, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mark Longyen in Jos, said: “Mr. President, your taking over the reins of power in 2015 and re-election now is God’s divine intervention to usher in a new and prosperous Nigeria that will be the country of destination for the global community.

     

    ‘Re-election confirms Nigerians’ trust in President’

     

    Ekiti State Governor Dr. Kayode Fayemi said the victory of APC in the presidential and National Assembly elections represented true reflection of the peoples’ will.

    Fayemi said the President’s re-election was a great testimony to the fact that Nigerians appreciated Buhari’s efforts at making life more comfortable for the people in the last four years.

    The governor, who described President Buhari as a focused, compassionate and sincere leader with genuine concern for the overall good of the citizenry, said the Nigerian electorate have demonstrated that given a choice, they would readily choose a sincere leader, who cares for their well-being above other considerations.

    He added that the President would not take the trust for granted.

  • Osinbajo loses polling unit to Atiku

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo lost his polling unit to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the Presidential and National Assembly polls held on Saturday.

    At polling unit 033 in Victoria Garden City where the Vice President, who is also the running mate to President Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) voted, Atiku Abubakar of the PDP garnered 425 votes to defeat Buhari with 229.

    In the Senate, PDP also won with 414 to APC’s 261.

    In the House of Representatives seat, PDP got 268 to APC’s 190.

  • Osoba demands redeployment of Police chief

    Former governor of Ogun state, Chief Olusegun Osoba has called for immediate redeployment of the Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu for not been competent.

    He stated this after casting his vote at his polling unit, Ward 14, Unit 15 in Ibara Housing Estate, Abeokuta.

    He voted at about 11.12 p.m. at the centre.

    Osoba said events in the state have shown that the Police Commissioner is not competent to secure the state.

    “If he is competent, why is it that nobody has been arrested more than two weeks after the APC rally in Abeokuta?”, he asked.

    “His men overwhelmed those on the campaign ground and should have rounded up all those from where the stones were coming from but no single person has been arrested in connection with the attack on President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo,” he lamented.

    The former governor accused the police commissioner of protecting thuggery in the state.

    “I am saying this as an elder statesman in the state. He is a failure as Commissioner of Police in Ogun state.

    “Every day, they are tearing the posters of the Commander -in- Chief and as Commissioner of Police, you have not done anything or arrested anybody.

    “The man should get out of Ogun State. If anything happened today or anybody is injured or there is chaos anywhere, I will hold Iliyasu responsible for it.

    “He should of his own volition asked be excused from the state.

    “We are been provoked. We have no confidence in him.

    “Why is Iliya been protected over and over again? He was given signal to leave, he didn’t leave! Is that discipline?

    “We are not going to allow anybody to use him to condone indiscipline here”.

    Osoba accused the police boss of covering up for hoodlums.

    “I have told Mr. President Buhari severally before the election that this man is covering up for hoodlums and that I don’t have confidence in him.

    “Who then is protecting Iliya? Must Iliya be Commissioner of Police here by force?” he asked.

  • Kwara APC condemns attack on members during VP’s visit

    The Kwara State Chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday  condemned the gun attack on party members during Thursday’s visit of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to Ilorin.

    The  APC Chairman in the state, Mr. Bashir Bolarinwa, asked  the security agencies to swiftly arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice.

    He said the unprovoked attack was the second of such in three days against APC members and supporters in the state.

    Bolarinwa recalled a similar attack on the campaign train of the party’s candidate for the Kwara South Senatorial district, Lola Ashiru, in Ojoku that left one dead, another fighting for his life and many others injured.

    He said it was  an unacceptable act of impunity for criminals to be so emboldened as to carry out an attack while the country’s number two

    man was visiting.

    “We are therefore calling on the security agencies to clamp down on these criminals and swiftly bring them to justice in order to create a peaceful atmosphere for the people of Kwara to exercise their franchise at the polls on Saturday and on March 9, “ he said.

    The Kwara APC Chairman said he is aware that the security agencies have started arresting thugs, hoodlums and other criminals across the state.

    He urged them to intensify their efforts in order to rid the state of those who are bent on sabotaging the elections.

    Bolarinwa commended APC faithful for showing restraint despite the unprovoked and obviously pre-meditated attacks against them, and urged them to continue to maintain peace before, during and after the elections.

    “Our members should never resort to self-help, because we have confidence in the ability of the security agencies to ensure the security of life and property across the state,” he said.

  • Monarch urges Fed Govt to establish education varsity in Ikere

    Ogoga of Ikere Ekiti, Oba Adejimi Adu Alagbado has called on the Federal Government to establish a university of education in his domain.

    The monarch said Ikere deserves the university because of its strategic location and contribution of its indigenes in the field of education in Nigeria and other parts of the world.

    The monarch spoke during a courtesy visit by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo to his palace in lkere Ekiti.

    Oba Alagbado, who also stated that the community was due for the establishment of a federal institution, made case for the establishment of a Federal University of Education in the town.

    “We have the highest number of professors in Ekiti State; with over 110 professors from this community. We have several medical doctors as well five Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs), the highest (in Ekiti) from this area. We are also the second largest town in Ekiti, therefore, we deserve a federal institution.”

    Ikere Ekiti had since 1978 played host to the College of Education which has created an identity for the community in the education sector.

    Former Governor Segun Oni’s administration in 2008 decided to site a state university- The University of Education, Ikere Ekiti (TUNEDIK) in Ikere and withdrew the College of Education, Ikere Ekiti, saying two institutions could not exist side-by-side. The decision led to bloody riots by indigenes of the town who insisted the college could not be taken away. The violence led to the death of one person and destruction of property.

    The monarch also applauded the Federal Government for making budgetary provision for Akure-Ikere Road in the 2019 budget.

    Earlier in his address, Prof Osinbajo, who was accompanied by the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi and other senior government officials, enjoined lkere residents to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration in making life easier for the citizenry.

    Osinbajo highlighted Buhari administration’s achievements to include improved power supply, youths empowerment, provision of basic infrastructure across the country, among others, promising that government would consolidate on the achievements if elected.

  • Osinbajo expected in Ilorin Thursday for door to door campaign

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is expected in Ilorin on Thursday in continuation of his door to door campaign for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates.

    In a statement on Wednesday in Ilorin, the Coordinator, Field Operations Directorate of Buhari/Osinbajo Project, Mr Olorin Adebayo, called on the people of the state to come out enmass to receive Osinbajo.

    “We are calling on Kwara residents to come out en mass to receive Nigeria’s number two citizen as they did last week when the president visited the state.

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    “The last time the Vice President was in Ilorin, he was equally received by a mammoth crowd.

    “We must repeat that feat, the people should troop out to receive the Vice President,’’ Adebayo said.

    The coordinator expressed gratitude to the leadership of the party for putting Kwara on its A list.

    “We shall reciprocate this very kind gesture with our votes on Saturday,” he said. (NAN)

  • Christians, artisans back Buhari, Osinbajo

    The Concerned Christians Initiative (TCCI) and 16 other groups comprising of Artisans, tailors, market  women and others have drummed up  support for  President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in Lagos.

    The TCCI which welcome  Osinbajo to the Palace of Anyangburem of Ikorodu, said artisans and other less privileged have benefitted imensely from the adminisration.

    The VP patiently listened to their questions and answered them all. The VP urged them not to relent in performing their civic responsibilities.

    Osinbajo warned that Christians would fail to positively influence the country unless  they committed themselves to living like the biblical salt of the earth.

    Osinbajo  was the guest minister at a special service of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG)’s The Open Door Parish, Odogunyan, Ikorodu, Lagos. The Vice President’s longtime friend Aina Ololade Salami, the Pastor-in-charge of the parish hailed

    Speaking on the topic  The church and the destiny of the nation, Osinbajo berated Church leaders who, through their teachings, “sometimes give the impression that there is no need for hard work.”

    He urged Christendom to remember the biblical command for people to pray for their leaders, like the Israelites prayed for Esther before she met the Persian King Ahasuerus and saved her people from genocide.

  • ‘Demonising Osinbajo is a joke carried too far’

    In this piece, Coalition of Democrats (CODER) Convener Ayo Opadokun reviews the consequences of not according Vice President Yemi Osinbajo his deserved respect.

    Since I resigned from Afenifere in 2001, I have refrained from commenting on anything related with Afenifere. The story of the circumstances that led to my decision will be part of my upcoming books. I hate to pick bones with otherwise respected elders and leaders in their own rights.

    Yoruba culture, custom and tradition provide and allow for plurality of views and opinions but the majority of Yoruba people will always insist that the best, most logical view should prevail. Even, in the golden days of our political progenitor, averter, philosopher and statesman’ there were the Chief Akinloyes, Chief Akinjides, Chief Tos Bensons, Chief Adeniran Ogunsanyas, Chief H.O Davies, Chief Remi Fani Kayode’s etc. who were not in the Action Group or Unity Party of Nigeria who were always propagating their different and contrary views. They were not called enemies of the Yoruba people.

    In the re-established Afenifere which I served as its General Secretary and Spokesman for 15 years, Afenifere recognized itself as a political platform, the Yoruba name for ACTION GROUP, a name that was suggested by Chief Meredith –Augustus Adisa Akinloye just after the formal launching of the Action Group at Owo in 1951, We were always guided to appreciate that we could not pretend to be speaking for the entire Yoruba people unless we secured their mandate. That was why we established the Yoruba Leaders Forum which made a lot of successes. Including the establishment of Odua Development Council in July 2000 at the Ikeja Airport Hotel, Lagos.

    I don’t want to be involved in the avoidable controversy as to which is the authentic Afenifere. The very idea that some otherwise respected Yoruba people have to be claiming that theirs is the authentic Afenifere is regretable. It shows the level of damage already done to Yoruba image and reputation.

    Once upon a time, Afenifere’s view was the barometer used to access the correctness or otherwise of central government policies and actions. Thanks to those who begged Senator Adesanya and I for long  before they were allowed to send 5 representatives each to Afenifere meetings but collaborated to hijack and destroy the once most respected, resilient and popular platform  for their private predilections.  Now, the veil has been lifted and their mercenary conduct are being exposed.

    There are fundamental matters to discuss:

    • When and where was the Representative Assembly of the diversed platforms in Yoruba land where a decision was taken to condemn the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo and to pronounce him as the enemy of the Yoruba people? Those who made such malicious declaration must be speaking for themselves as individuals and they are out of sinc with popular opinions of Yoruba people of Osinbajo’
    • Like they wrongly asked Yoruba people to vote for Jonathan in 2015, because according to them, Jonathan was the only one who could implement the outcome of Jonathan’s conference. The main demands of the Yoruba Nation for (1) Regional Government, (2) Fiscal Federalism, (3) State Police, (4) Parliamentary System of Government were all rejected. Yet, Jonathan had six months after the conference to initiate and implement some of their conclusions that needed no legislative decision, but failed to act on anything.
    • Can it be true that Osinbajo is opposed to restructuring? His pedigree prove such accusation as false, baseless and unfounded.
    • As A.G. & HCJ of Lagos State, he was the Legal Adviser that won for Lagos Four different cases like the AERON Independent Power Project crisis opposed by the Obasanjo’s government, Local Government Creation and the Seizure of the Lagos State LGA Allocations by Gen Obasanjo’s government.
    • LASG challenged the Central Government on the Land Use Decree as it affect lands acquired for overriding Public Interest but which the Central Government did not need any longer. The Court of Appeal has in 2016/2017 ruled in favour of the LASG.
    • LASG Fought for the control of Lagos Port but eventually was granted right to some charges from the Port Users. LASG now constitutionally is in control of Inland Waterways as decided by the superior Court.
    • Furthermore, LASG justifiably fought to secure greater resources to the Lagos State Government through consumption taxes called Value Added Tax, VAT that ought to be collected by States, and the Supreme Court decided to meet the two parties midway. Which one among the current promoters of National Restructuring has added just one thing new to what the revered philosopher and guardian of Yoruba progressive tendency, Chief Awolowo has enunciated. No new one.
    • The Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN deserve a minimum quotent of respect from all Nigerians including his biological parents. As parents, they deserve the right to cane him for wrong behavior in their family closet if that was still allowed. But as the No. 2 citizen of Nigeria with his level of Humility, civility, morality, spirituality, productivity and God’s grace, no group should arrogate to itself the undeserved proclivity to insult and denigrate his person and the office he currently holds.
    • Therefore, for individuals to misuse an otherwise respected platform to pass mischievous and inappropriate verdict on a very distinguished, dedicated patriot and Statesman, like Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is a misadventure against the wishes and opinions of the majority of Yoruba people who had openly spoken against the unwarranted pronouncement of the claimed “Authentic Afenifere”.
    • Come to think of it, why should a group in their desperation decide to utilize Afenifere for their Partisan Political purposes? The same set of people did the same thing in 2015 and they were castigated for attempting to sell Yoruba cheaply. They failed woefully to retain President Jonathan in office. This repetition is regrettable and it indicates they have learnt nothing.
    • The Yoruba Nation and its citizens deserve to be accorded same modicum of respect that even the non-so formerly educated ones among them have minimum understanding of how far they were neglected before President Buhari came into office as compared to Now. They also hope for an unprecedented possibility that awaits them in a neo liberal Colonialist State, where everyone is for himself and God for us all setting in Nigeria. The Yoruba people should therefore be left alone to elect their own favorites uncoerced and unmolested by any individual or groups of individuals to satisfy their partisan interests and prejudices.
    • After the 2019 elections, men and women of goodwill would have to start to undertake the onerous task of re-building bridges, re-focusing the pre-occupation of the Yoruba Nation towards the productive path of generating national consensus for restoration of Federal Constitutional Governance upon which Nigeria secured its negotiated Independence in 1960.

  • Restructuring: Between Afenifere and Osinbajo

    SIR: In Yoruba culture, you do not call an elder a liar. However, recent pronouncements by Afenifere elders about their own son and kinsman, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo that he does not believe in what the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo believed inabout federalism is very far from the truth. This they gave as a reason for endorsing Abubakar Atiku. Osinbajo has fought and won battles in law courts fighting for the entrenchment of federalism more than any of the advocates now accusing him of working against restructuring.

    It is a very sad commentary on the conscience of our revered elders led by Chief R.F. Fasoranti and Chief Ayo Adebanjo. Professor Osinbajo has become a role model for the Yoruba race. Indeed, the DNA of the late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo is running in his blood by marriage. His boss, President Muhammadu Buhari is described by the international community as being “STINGY” because he is taking his time to pour the oil in tricklesrather than all at once in his style of governance. It is said that the foundation of character is the quality of integrity. Integrity here means honesty: always telling the truth. It is an expression of the person you really are inside. You cannot determine the beliefs, goals and values of what a person says, writes, or declares when running for public office. It is what a person actually does that shows the real truth about that person as we were taught.

    Nigerians should remember on Saturday that it is going to be “CAVEAT EMPTOR – BUYER BEWARE” and also “VOLENTI NON FIT INJURIA” meaning in law “you cannot complain from an injury caused from your own voluntary act”. If you vote in looters, don’t complain about an empty treasury. Atiku’s strategy about restructuring may be courageous and brave but certainly he is swimming against the tide and he is on his own. He cannot score own goal and expect to be applauded by his people. Alexander the great wanted to be master of the then known world. At the age of 15, the Delphic Oracle had told him he could live a long life full of peace or a short life full of glory. He chose the latter. Research has confirmed that before Nigeria can be successfully restructured, there must be a convincing class/social and power structure on ground, suitable to absorb the shock of the reorganization that will result, in order not to leave our northern brothers in the cold, already stripped naked of their past glory in agricultural exploits due to the discovery of black gold in the Niger Delta region.

    Buhari was elected in 2015 with a clear mandate to deal with corruption. Nigeria stands to lose if we do not give him the opportunity on Saturday to finish the assignment. He is presently the only strongman with charisma that can finish the job of dealing with looters and jailing them. We must not allow anyone to terminate any progress made so far on the anti-corruption war. We cannot trust a goat to watch over our yams anymore. We must avoid opening the gates to locusts coming to devour us again and bring about famine and death.

     

    • John R. Jimoh, Sagamu, Ogun State.