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Tag: Vice president

  • Police confirm attack on Osinbajo’s campaign train in Ilorin

    The Kwara Police Command has confirmed an attack on the campaign train of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Thursday in Ilorin.

    The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Ajayi Okasanmi, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Ilorin.

    He said the Vice President was not at the scene where the unknown gunmen shot at the mammoth All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters, who came out to hail the Prof. Osinbajo at Isale Aluko area in Ilorin.

    The Kwara Police spokesman confirmed that two persons sustained gunshot injuries while others who ran for safety suffered various degrees of injuries.

    Read also: Police foil plot to kidnap oil merchant by employees

    He said first information available to him has it that the attack was allegedly carried out by the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) thugs in the state.

    Okasanmi said investigations into the matter had begun and promised that the police would unravel and bring those involved to justice.

    NAN reports the Vice President was in Ilorin to conclude the door-to-door campaign to mobilise votes for the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Meanwhile, Kwara PDP has denied involvement of its members and supporters in the attack on the vice-president.

    The denial was contained in a statement by the party’s Publicity Secretary, Mr Tunde Ashaolu.

    He, however, said that the incident was an intraparty affair involving members of the APC arising from the endless crisis confronting the party. (NAN)

  • Nigerians count losses from polls shift

    • We’ll lose billions of naira, say NACCIMA, others • Lagos, Aba markets record low patronage

    How much could Nigeria have lost to the unexpected postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections?

    Although, we may never have an accurate figure, the millions of Nigerian traders, artisans, farmers and motorists who had to stay at home yesterday doing nothing are already counting their losses on account of the polls shift.

    The Vice President, National Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, (NACCIMA), Mr. Tony Ejinkeonye, says Nigeria will lose billions of naira.

    Ejinkeonye, who is also the Director, Business Development for Africa, Esilknet Africa Network Ltd., told News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja that the postponement would affect the economy adversely.

    “It is quite unfortunate that the election was postponed. Economically, billions of naira have been lost and will be lost in the coming weeks. Industries, businesses, including airlines, were affected by the movement restriction.

    “We expect also the same thing happening in the coming weeks. Most important effect is the perception of the international financial community.

    “Situations like this will create panic with massive withdrawal and stoppage of funds inflow to Nigeria. I dread the effects in the stock market on Monday,” he said.

    Ejinkeonye, who said that it would be difficult to determine the actual figure of the loss but would be in billions of naira, said however that the real cost would be the loss of investor confidence.

    Also speaking, the President, National Association of Nigerian Traders (NANTs), Mr. Ken Ukaoha,  said the country would  lose more than N140 billion due to the postponement.

    Ukaoha noted that the postponement would affect the economy adversely in terms of money that the government, political parties and ordinary Nigerians had already expended on logistics and otherwise.

    He described the election postponement as appalling and unfortunate which could make the nation become a laughing stock among the comity of nations.

    “The loss is monumental; if you look at the economic consequences, essentially if you look at trading; Nigeria depends so much on daily turning of fund through distribution and redistribution of goods and commodity.

    “I am telling you that with this calculation I have just done here, we are losing nothing less than 140 billion naira, because we all got this information so late

    “If you go round now, you will see that the shops are closed, so we are losing a lot  of money just for this incident.

    “We are not talking about the manufacturers and the industrialists because they have all sent their workers away to go and perform their civic duty.

    “Farmers did not go to their farms because they want to exercise their franchise. If you do the computation, your guess is as good as mine in terms of what the nation is losing, we should learn.”

    An economist, Mr. Chijioke Ekechukwu, believes the  postponement of the elections will affect credit rating and already threatened portfolio investments in the country.

    Ekechukwu noted that the investments would likely flow out in large value.

    According to him, beginning from Feb. 16, the stock market will go bearish due to the postponement.

    “What will the international observers who already had their return tickets for Monday or Tuesday do after the failed election.

    “They will indeed fly back and not come back as they didn’t budget for any extra cost and extra stay.

    “What will happen to school children who are at home presently because of the election.’’

    Ekechukwu expressed worry that Nigerians would be made to bear the losses.

    A Lagos businessman, Damilare Akinseye, said INEC completely destabilised him by the postponement announcement.

    He said: “They have thwarted all my plans. Things I was supposed to have done on Friday, I had to shelve them so that I could be around for the elections. Now, they want me to incur losses again next week?

    “It continues to baffle me why a country that has spent so much preparing for this election will at the last minute cancel it. Considering all the monumental sums that have been given to INEC, what is the issue of logistics here?

    A tomato seller at Mile 12 market lamented low patronage, stating that most of their customers had either travelled for the polls or were scared to  come out.

    She said: “You can see how everywhere is still empty. A lot of people travelled to their villages to vote. They should have made this announcement some days back so that people would not travel. Now, they have made us to lose money and next Saturday we will not sell. They should be considering the sufferings of ordinary Nigerians before taking such decisions,” she said.

    Island Club Manager, Olubunmi Fasan, said: “ a lot of economic gains that would have accrued if today had not been chosen earlier could not be achieved.

    “A lot of people had their occasions cancelled, students came back from school, foreign delegates who travelled to Nigeria to monitor the conduct of the election are now forced to stay back or go back to their base to come back next week for the same exercise.”

    Edo food vendors lament

    Food vendors in Edo State were hard hit by the postponement.

    Some of them had already arrived polling centres as early as 6 a.m. with cooked food to sell only to be told that the elections had been shifted by a week.

    One Mrs. Theresa Igbinosa, a food vendor at Western Boys High School in Ikpoba-Okha ward 2, said she spent about N50,000 to prepare the food.

    “I am not only sad but very angry. I spent so much money and woke up as early as 2 a.m. to prepare this food. I have not even slept at all,” she said.

    “My problem now is what to do with the food because nobody is here to sell to and I am so confused right now. I even borrowed the money from my neighbour with a promise to pay back after sales.

    “INEC is not fair to us at all. Why did they have to wait till this morning to cancel the elections?”

    Osifo Lucky, another food vendor, said, “there is no hope for the poor in the country. Nobody puts you into consideration before taking any decision. They just wake up and do whatever that pleases them.

    “As you can see for yourself, I am looking at my food and the food is looking at me too. No buyer; the school is empty.”

    A Kano resident, Madam Martha Moses was full of pity for one of her friends, who according to her, had to reschedule the marriage of her son from yesterday to Saturday, February 23, the new date picked by INEC for the postponed elections.

    “You can see this kind of situation, where parents have committed a lot of money to prepare for the wedding.

    “Now, the wedding cannot even take place on February 23. This is a shame, as we have lost a lot of money to the inefficiency of INEC leadership to organise this election.”

    Commercial activities in most parts of Lagos were dull for much of yesterday.

    Most markets and petrol stations remained shut until late in the day while vehicular traffic was very low.

    The situation was the same in Aba North and South, Ugwunagbo, Ukwa West, Umuahia North and South as well as Isiala Ngwa North and South in Abia State.

    Patronage at some of the markets in Umuahia and Aba, including Ubani Market, Ariaria, Eziukwu and  Ahia Ohuru  was very low.

    Kano residents count losses

    Mixes feelings trailed the sudden postponement of yesterday’s Presidential and National Assembly Elections in Kano as residents lament the adverse effects of the Independent National Electrical Commission’s decision.

    Apart from engaging in panic purchase of food stuff and unsolicited withdrawal of money through ATM, a number of non-natives resident in the state had travelled to their various home states for fear of the unknown.

    Speaking to our reporter, cross-section of residents condemned the postponement, citing its economic implication on the part of the citizens and the federal government.

    According to Chief John Ikuku, “the postponement of this election is totally unnecessary. How can INEC suddenly wake up from slumber and said it was no longer ready enough to conduct the elections when sensitive materials have already been distributed across the nooks and crannies of the country?

    “Look, my brother, I have never witnessed this kind of scenario and I don’t think it has happened this way anywhere in the world. I have a feeling that this could be a ploy to rig the election.”

    Madam Martha Moses said, “I am disappointed with INEC. I think they are not serious, despite all encouragement and support given to them by the federal government to conduct the election. More so, despite assurances from INEC leadership, they came at this 11th hour with this laughable postponement without recourse to the negative effects and consequences upon the average Nigerian.

    “INEC leadership has totally lost credibility and the chairman should resign in shame because he has failed Nigerians, and I don’t think he can ever get it right.”

    Madam Martha added that, “the most painful aspect of it is that a friend of mine is to wed today, but the wedding was put off and slated for February 23. You can see this kind of situation, where the parents have committed a lot of money to prepare for the wedding.

    “Now, the wedding will not hold next week. As such, this is a shame on the part of INEC as we have lost a lot of money due to the inefficiency of INEC leadership to organise this election.”

    The Nation reports that INEC in Kano has started retrieving sensitive materials conveyed to various Local Government Areas for onward deposit to the Central Bank of Nigeria for safety.

    Kano remains calm and quiet as at the time of filling this report, as everyone is moving about their businesses unhindered.

    Security operatives were however sighted at strategic positions, performing their normal duties.

    Speaking to our reporter, the spokesman of Kano State Police Command, Haruna Abdullahi, said there was no cause for alarm as police is on top of the situation.

    He urged residents to remain law-abiding and go about their normal businesses without fear.

    Sani Bello calls for patience

    Niger State Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello has described the postponement of the general elections by one week as unfortunate development but appealed to Nigerians to exercise understanding and patience

    He said INEC must have weigh the various options before arriving at the painful conclusion of postponing the election.

    In a statement signed by his Media and Publicity Coordinator, Mr. Jide Orintunsin, the Governor expressed hope that the decision of the electoral body is to ensure a credible election that would be satisfactory to the people.

    “The postponement of these elections are unfortunate but going by the INEC Chairman’s statement the decision to shift the election was necessary for the commission to successfully deliver its mandate of conducting a credible, free and election and for the consolidation of our democracy.

    Bride-to-be laments elections postponement

    The postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections has left a bride-to- be in a dilemma as the Independent National Electoral Commission’s  (INEC) timetable has disrupted her marriage plan for a second time.

    Miss Rita Osawende’s wedding was originally fixed for yesterday but was unexpectedly re-scheduled for Saturday, February 23, the same date she had picked because of the earlier clash of date.

    Osawende told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that all arrangements for her big day had been concluded for February only for INEC to upset her plan again.

    “INEC please help me revisit this issue,” she said.

    “The original date was fixed for February 16, but as soon as I knew its elections day, it was postponed to February 23rd.

    “What do I do? All arrangements have been made.

    “I have printed and distributed my invitation cards for the wedding. I am so confused,” NAN quoted her as saying.

  • VP Osinbajo takes TraderMoni to Warri, Asaba markets

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, on Friday visited the Warri Main Market and Ogbe Ogonogo Market, Asaba in Delta State to assess the disbursement of the TraderMoni scheme.

    TraderMoni is an Empowerment Scheme of the Federal Government created specifically for petty traders and artisans across the country.

    Under the scheme, two million petty traders across the country would get N10,000 collateral-free loans this year.

    Osinbajo, shortly after touching down at the Warri Airport, proceeded to the Palace of Olu Of Warri Ogiame Ikenwoli for a courtesy visit.

    Osinbajo was given massive welcome at the palace where he addressed an enthusiastic crowd.

    He explained that TraderMoni, a brainchild of President Muhammadu Buhari, was meant to empower no fewer than 2 million petty traders in 2018.

    “Today, I am here to flag off the TraderMoni scheme –one of those schemes initiated by President Buhari.

    “We have looked at the whole commercial landscape of Nigeria; the largest number of people engaged in commerce are petty traders.

    “They are small traders; some of them table top traders; some of them selling on trays and the whole is usually not more than N2000 to N5000.

    “The president then decided, following an experience which he had with the Katsina Foundation which he was the chairman, that it is important to give these petty traders some kind of a loan—N10,000.

    “When they pay back, we give them N15,000, when they pay back, we give them 20,000 and we keep increasing all the way to N100,000 so long as they come back.

    “It is meant to empower the petty traders,’’ he said.

    The vice president said that there was nothing political about the scheme as was being insinuated.

    He said it was unfortunate that because the scheme had gained popularity, some people were attacking it.

    At the Warri Main Market, Osinbajo was given a rousing welcome by a waiting crowd which cheered and hailed as the vice president acknowledged cheers.

    He went round the market lines and stalls to have a one on one exchange with the traders.

    Afterwards, the vice president proceeded to palace of Ovie of Ughelli Wilson Oharisi 111 on a courtesy call.

    At the Ogbe Ogonogo Market, Asaba, Osinbajo was also received by broom wielding crowd.

    He went round the market and had one on one interactions with the traders who told the vice president their successes with the TraderMoni.(NAN)

  • Goldcoast Foundation losses patron

    The Patron of Goldcoast Development Foundation (GDF), a Bayelsa based non-governmental organisation has passed on.

    The 72-year-old woman died at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Centre, Houston, Texas, United States.

    In a statement made available yesterday, signed by the founder, GDF, Mr Moses Dickson, who is also one of the sons of the deceased, described Mrs Dickson as a visionary and selfless mother to all.

    Dickson said through her legacy the foundation was established to positively impact the lives of rural women and children of communities within Bayelsa and the Niger-Delta region.

    He said her death was a huge loss to the family, but also a reminder that life is too short to live without purpose and contribution to humanity.

    “My mother is an inspiration to me, as she proved that hard work, determination, a positive disposition to life and concern for people less privileged than one is, is all life is about.

    ‘’In October 2018, the foundation was involved in providing over 10,000 relief materials to women and children affected by the flood in the Niger-Delta region and received a commendation from the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osibanjo, during his routine visits to flood-affected states,” he said.

    He explained that this is a testament to the example laid by Mrs. Goldcoast, as she has been a lifelong contributor to the lives of women and children in Bayelsa state.

    ‘’The burial schedule for Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson as announced by the family would begin with a service of songs on December 6, 2018 at the Bayelsa state Ecumenical Center, Igbogene, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. This would be followed by a wake-keep 7 December, 2018 and a commendation and thanksgiving service on 8 and 9 December, 2018, ‘’ he said.

    “Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know Mrs. Goldcoast have lost a dear mother and a true lover of humanity,” said Mr. Authority Benson, the coordinator of the foundation.

    Mrs. Goldcoast Dickson passed away on the 8 August, 2018 at the age of 72 and fondly known as Mama Gogo.

     

  • High fertility rate a problem for Nigeria – Osinbajo

    With over 180 million population, the country’s fertility rate poses a problem, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has said.

    Osinbajo who spoke in Abuja Tuesday at the opening of the 5th National Family Planning Conference in Abuja, warned that the nation risks having additional 68 million people by 2030.

    The Vice President who was represented by Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, said “if Nigeria’s prevailing annual population growth rate 3.2 percent persists, we will have an additional 68 million people by 2030, and will be the third most populous country in the world by 2050.”

    Read Also:Osinbajo challenges lecturers, administrators on state of education

    He explained that apart from Federal Government’s economic policies aimed at making lives comfortable to the nation’s population, the administration is committed to making family planning commodities available to those who need them.

    The nation, he noted failed to plan for its future when it raked in fortunes from oil and other revenue sources in recent past.

    “In the absence of basic social safety nets, and pro-poor policymaking, tens of millions of our people were left stranded, observing the statistics of economic growth from a distance, completely untouched by it…The sad reality is that for most of our history as a country, periods of economic growth have somehow managed to leave out the majority of our population.

    “Between 2011 and 2015 when Nigeria enjoyed some of the highest revenues in history, and overtook South Africa to become the largest economy in Africa, there was no commensurate impact in poverty alleviation and improvement of wellbeing,” the Vice president said.

    Speaking on the theme of the conference: Investment, Innovation and Inclusiveness, he said: “This is how I see the three “I’s”: Investment, innovation and inclusiveness are three very critical keys for unlocking the very beneficial contributions of family planning to Nigeria’s ambition of reaping all of its potential demographic dividend.

    “This demographic dividend is of course the catch-all term for the benefits and potential realizable from attaining the optimal age structure in a population. In the case of Nigeria, this optimal age structure would mean a combination of declining fertility and a simultaneous rise in the working age population.  Our main challenge, evidently, is with our current fertility rates.”

    He said investing in family planning has been proven to be smart, cost-effective, and life-saving; and is especially critical in a country like Nigeria with a very young and rapidly growing population.

    He added that estimated 63 percent of Nigeria’s population is below 25 years; with a significant segment of the population being sexually active and needing education and guidance to wisely navigate the issues of equality, choice and contraception.

    He argued further that achieving the SDGs and Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 depends significantly on how well sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and young people are prioritized.

    He said the nation must clearly insist on including young people at the very heart of its policies and its deployment of resources to achieve these policies.

    While urging participants at the conference to develop evidence-based approaches to population management, Osinbajo noted that time was no longer waiting for the nation. “We must act and move fast, because our challenges themselves are not simply sitting and waiting around to be solved. They are evolving and adapting in increasingly complicated forms, and our responses and solutions must keep up.

    “Family planning and population management generally are not just life-saving interventions but actually critical tools for economic and social development.”

    The three day conference has representatives of local and international organizations working on family planning, experts from medical field, government delegations among others.

     

  • More traditional rulers will go if found backing banditry – Yari 

    Zamfara State Governor, Abdullaziz Yari on Monday said that more traditional rulers will be dethroned if found backing banditry activities in the state.

    Security of lives and properties have become a great challenge in the state in recent times following increased banditry activities.

    The governor had at the weekend dethroned seven traditional rulers in the state over the issue.

    Read Also:Osinbajo, Yari meet in Aso Rock

    Speaking with State House correspondents after meeting with Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, Yari said “What we are trying to do is to kind of teach them a lesson because the problem we have in Zamfara State in the North-west is kind of a peculiar problem that some of the traditional rulers are supporting the banditry activities or taking advantage or taking money from them or having relationship that is very dangerous. To give you trust to manage people through tradition and then you are taking part, directly or indirectly, so that is not acceptable.”

    Asked how he was going to address the issue, he said “Anyone that we find wanting in this, definitely he must face punishment. And we are trying to use every avenue that we have to ensure that we fish out those that are within us – within the traditional rulers and outside.

    “That is why we hired intelligence; we hired the civilian JTF and all of them, so that they can help us by giving us the details.

    “For instance, we have about 2600 men and women that are working against these bandits but still it is not enough because of the terrain.

    “The terrain is not known to them, so we have employ sons of the soil that will lead the security agencies to their doorsteps and we have been getting very serious results to our advantage.”

    When asked if more traditional rulers will go if found wanting, the governor said “Of course! Absolutely! If you are talking about general public we are almost getting to 5 million and the total number of traditional rulers is about 300, so if we find any one! Anyone! Underline the word ‘anyone,’ found wanting, he would go!”

    On how many AK47 he has recovered, which he promised to pay N1 million each, he simply said “About ten”.

    Speaking on the purpose of his visit to the Vice President, he said “It is about the NEC, discussing of the good date for the NEC, because this is the end of the year and usually we used to have extended NEC and looking at who and who should be invited for the NEC, being the last year for the election.

    “That is what we discussed and we agreed that the NEC is going to be held on Friday, December 14. The NEC is to discuss the economy and to review the performance of the economy from January 2018 to date.

    Asked if he was doing anything about the report that Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun and Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha’s preferred candidates defecting to other parties, he said “If you want to discuss politics, you can go to party secretariat.”

    On the call for the declaration of a state of emergency in Zamfara state following the killings of policemen in the state, he said “Are there no killing of security officers anywhere else in Nigeria, except Zamfara? Why shouldn’t they call for that in the other places?”

     

  • Problem with Nigeria is finding upright men in authority, says Osinbajo

    The Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, says that the problem with Nigeria is finding upright men in positions of authority.

    Osibanjo said this on Friday in Enugu during a book presentation by former governor of Enugu State, Mr Sullivan Chime.

    The vice president said that the widely held belief that the problem with the country was ethnic and tribal based was wrong and misplaced.

    He said that those who wanted to privatise the resources of the country and build human capital were the major cause of friction in the country.

    He said that such leaders instigated the division of the country along ethnic and tribal lines in order to sustain their empire.

    “The problem of our country is finding forthright men in positions of authority,” he said.

    Osibanjo described Chime as a man with strong values who made the desired change in the state during his time as governor.

    He called on political office holders to discharge their responsibilities with good conscience and responsibility.

    Osibanjo said that the country would be a better place if politicians think of what the future would hold for their people rather than how to win their next election.

    “At the end of the day, integrity pays and I congratulate Chime for the successes he recorded during his time as governor,” Osibanjo said.

    In the book review, Prof. Chidi Onyia said that the book, written by the former governor, filled the gap in contemporary history of the state.

    Onyia said that the book, which encapsulated the good and rough times of the Chime administration, covered how to achieve growth in governance.

    He said that the book covered the achievements of the former governor, including the construction of 332 km rural roads, 222km rural connecting roads and 471km Enugu urban roads.

    Onyia also lauded the construction of bus stops, installation of street lights as well as implementation of a new waste management scheme in the state under the former governor.

    He pointed out that it was under the Chime administration that the Rockefeller Foundation named Enugu as one of the resilient cities in the world.

    “The efforts of the governor paid off and opened up the state for massive investments,” Onyia said.

    Earlier, the chairman of the event, Prof. George Obiozor, described Chime as an unsung hero who preferred to be a hero in thought and action.

    Obiozor said that the accomplishments of the former governor would remain a monument in the South East, adding that the continuity in developmental strides in the state was a pride to all Igbos.

    In a vote of thanks, Chime said that his administration did its best to bring smiles to the faces of residents of the state.

    The former governor said that he worked with an excellent team that saw one another as equals.

    “I am happy that after that, rather than people throwing stones at you, they see and appreciate what you did,” he said. (NAN)

  • Osinbajo advocates legislation against Female Genital Mutilation

    Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, says there is  need for state Houses of Assembly with high prevalence of Female Genital Mutilation(FGM) to legislate against the practice.

    Osinbajo expressed this view during an interaction with a team from Pearls Africa Foundation on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa.

    Pearls Africa Foundation is a Lagos-based social enterprise that promotes the cause and advancement of young girls and women using technology.

    The three girls in the team—Okpose Ayajenu, Mariam Matti and Moriat Alade, all built tech-based project/ websites through which they tried to solve already identified problems of their societies.

    Their respective projects are Makoko Fresh App, built by Ayajenu to connect fishermen and lovers of seafood, Hope Basket, by Matti to connect beggars and donors and Break the Blade Website, built by Alade to stop FGM.

    The vice-president said that what the girls were doing was innovative and should be encouraged.

    “Ordinarily it should be a crime to practice FGM, I think one of the things you should do is to write the state Houses of Assembly; and ask them to pass laws making it a crime punishable by a prison term to practice FGM.

    “That is one of the quickest means of bringing peoples’ attention to the issue, the advocacy is good but it will be better if the states pass laws, these things are within the jurisdiction of state governments.

    “This is very innovative; it is encouraging to see young girls, who are very sharp, very innovative, it requires commitment and a lot of hard work.

    “Sometimes you might find you are not getting as much attraction as you want within the period that you wanted, so you really need to be devoted over a long time, you need to be focused. People want to see that you are there.

    “For the Hope Basket, I do not know  how you are going to store the things; that is a challenge, you also need a standard for some of the things people might give, people can just come and dump some rags,’’ he said.

    Earlier, Mrs Abisoye Ajayi-Akinfolarin, Founder, Pearls Africa Foundation, said that the essence of the visit was to intimate the vice president with the activities of the foundation.

    She said that the foundation promoted various initiatives for girls and women, citing `Girls Coding’ where girls were taught computer programming to enable them identify problems in their immediate environment and provide solutions to them.

    “For instance, the three girls are team leaders of different projects.

    “When they identify these problems, we merge them based on common interests.

    “For instance the Makoko Fresh App sold over N200, 000 in less than two months, connecting buyers and sellers of seafood,’’ she said.(NAN)

  • Gbajabiamila: southwest won’t trade off Vice President

    Leader of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has said the Southwest will not drop the position of Vice President for a lesser office.

    Reacting to a report that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had zoned the office of the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF) to the Southwest, Gbajabiamila said: “Our resolve in the candidature of President Muhammadu Buhari and Professor Yemi Osinbajo cannot be traded away for any condescending offer.”

    The lawmaker spoke at another edition of his empowerment programme where ICT equipment were distributed to students and youths in his Surulere I Federal Constituency.

    Among the equipment were 350 new laptops, 28 desk top and 28 scan printing machines.

    Gbajabiamila listed what the Southwest stands to gain from the Buhari-Osinbajo presidency.

    He said: “We stand by the offer to give us Lagos-Ibadan rail project; we stand by the offer to give us Lagos-Sango-Abeokuta Expressway; we stand by the offer that just delivered Apapa-Wharf road. We also stand by the offer to deliver Apapa-Oshodi-Oworshoki-Ojota Expressway; we stand by the fight against corruption.”

    Apparently mocking the manifesto of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the PDP presidential candidate, Gbajabiamiala said: “We reject the offer to sell the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to friends and cronies. We stand solidly behind the Buhari-Osinbajo ticket.”

    He added: “For 16 years, our company recorded losses in all its transactions. So, the shareholders decided to change the MD/CEO with a clear mandate to rebuild our company and deliver good returns on investments. Two or three years into their assignment, naysayers within the rank of our shareholders convoked their Dubai caucus meeting to demand for the sack of our new top management singularly for their failure to deposit our company’s returns on investment into their personal accounts.”

    The House Leader described the February 16presidential election as straight fight between the gatekeepers and burglars.

    Gbajabiamila said: “Never shall we surrender to burglars. Our people want food in their stomachs and deserve a meaningful life; we are not oblivious of these facts. So, we shall continue to fight for our people. As we engage in this fact, we will encounter pains. But I can tell you we shall conquer.”

    On the beneficiaries of the equipment, Gbajabiamila said: “We have taken our time to look for indigent students and youths who will not sell these laptops and computers but make use of them to better their career.

    “We urge parents and teachers to ensure appropriate use of the laptops and computers.”

    The event was attended by the Lagos Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Tunde Balogun; the Onikate of Ikate land, Oba Lateef Adams; APC Secretary, Dr Wale Ahmed; APC Publicity Secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe and many party chieftains.

  • Buhari won’t be distracted by Obasanjo’s endorsement of Atiku, Says Presidency

    The Presidency on Thursday said that President Muhammadu Buhari will not be distracted by the endorsement of former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar by former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Atiku, who is the flag bearer of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 Presidential elections, visited and got the endorsement of Obasanjo in Ogun State on Thursday.

    But a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and publicity, Garba Shehu, said that the presidency is not surprised by the latest development.

    He said “The Presidency has received the news of former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s predictable U-turn and somersault on the endorsement of the PDP candidate, Atiku Abubakar, at a meeting Thursday, and to say that we are the least surprised by the well-rehearsed theatre.

    “They will lose together. Listening to the prepared statement of the former President after the meeting showed the usual ego trip and “I know it all” character of Chief Obasanjo.

    “In the first place, we dare to say that a pompous statement from the former President advising Nigerians on a vote against President Buhari is the best recommendation that can come at this time.

    “It also betrayed a lack of understanding of today’s politics which is about good governance.

    “The country voted for change in 2015 and a leader that ensures good governance which only President Buhari and the APC can provide.

    “Bent on these laudable goals, we will not allow ourselves to be distracted.” he said

    He also said that the administration is busy on various national issues including the restructuring and the diversification of the economy, fighting corruption, terrorism and other threats to national security; increasing the availability of electric power, improving education, health, and providing long-delayed infrastructure – roads, rail, airports and so forth.

    Stressing that many governments have come and gone, he noted that they did not care about some of the projects.

    He said “We were talking about these things for sixteen years under the PDP and nothing was done.

    “President Buhari is proud of his record because his achievements are verifiable, while that of the PDP is manifested by the devastating social and economic impact of large scale corruption during their governance.

    “The President will not relent in the war against corruption because the ordinary people are the ultimate victims if we surrender to corruption and let its perpetrators go unpunished.

    “Abandoning the war against corruption is not an option. President Buhari is in this battle against graft because he cannot allow a few, rapacious, and selfish class of the elite to divert the resources meant for the well-being of the ordinary people to their private pockets.

    “Nigerians trust President Buhari in this effort because they are convinced he is not in government for personal financial benefits, or for an ego trip. It is just eleven years ago that the former President and Vice President in their ugly fight for power accused each other of corruption. Nigerians are yet to forget all that.” he stated