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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • Buhari extols Osinbajo’s virtues at 62

    On the occasion of 62nd birthday anniversary of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, President Muhammadu Buhari has described his relationship with his vice as one of a special bond.

    The President, in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Friday, said he joined Mrs. Dolapo Osinbajo, her children and other Nigerians across the country as well as friends around the world to celebrate Prof. Osinbajo.

    “I join the world in celebrating this erudite scholar, Minister of the Gospel and a very dependable deputy with whom I share a very special bond,’’ Buhari said.

    Read Also: Osinbajo to meet Aba traders today

    Buhari expressed gratitude to God for preserving the life of Osinbajo.

    He added that in the past four years, Osinbajo has diligently championed the values of setting the foundation for the peace, progress and stability of the country, working very hard to build a resilient economy, while promoting transparency and accountability.

    The President also extended special appreciation to the Vice President, wishing him many more years of robust health, happiness and fulfillment in his service to God, the nation and humanity.

    According to the President, he looks forward to sharing many special moments of celebration with Osinbajo as they take the country to the ‘Next Level’ in the years ahead.

    NAN

  • Video: Life, time of Osinbajo at 62

    Nigeria’s Vice President Yemi Osinbajo turned 62 years today, with the professor of law along with wife, Dolapo giving praises to Jesus as the “lover of his soul” and ‘strong tower’.

    Osinbajo, who escaped death last month in a helicopter crash in Kogi state, won re-election on February 23 for another four year term, along with his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari.

    A video post on Osinbajo’s Twitter post, where he commands almost two million followers, shows him and wife sing to the glory of Jesus.

    Osinbajo was born on March 8, 1957 in Lagos.

    He attended the Igbobi College, Lagos, University of Lagos (UNILAG) from 1975 to 1978, and London School of Economics and Political Science.

    He was Attorney-general and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State from 1999 until 2007.

    Osinbajo worked as a Professor of Law at the University of Lagos for many years; he was also a Senior Partner with SimmonsCooper Partners, a commercial law practice.

    In 2015 presidential election, he was President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate and was inaugurated as Nigeria’s Vice President, on May 29, 2015.

    On Feb. 23, Osinbajo and President Buhari were reelected for a second term in office.

    He is also a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).

    Osinbajo and his wife Dolapo Osinbajo have three children.

  • Abiodun lock downs Ogun as Osinbajo, Osoba campaign for APC

    Prince Dapo Abiodun, the All Progressives Congress(APC) governorship candidate locked down Abeokuta, the Ogun state capital on Wednesday as Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, former Governor and leader of the party in the state, Chief Segun Osoba, and Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola joined him in a final push to ensure his victory on Saturday.

    Osinbajo, Osoba, Abiodun, Adeola and enthusiastic thousands of party members and supporters marched on Ake area of Abeokuta, in unison, chorusing repeatedly they will vote for Abiodun and other APC candidates.

    They also expressed confidence the APC governorship candidate and others going to the state House of Assembly will win landslide.

    Osinbajo, who addressed the mammoth crowd, said just as they voted for him and President Muhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates to emerge winners during the Presidential and National Assembly elections, they should also come out en masse  to cast their votes in bloc for Dapo Abiodun and APC state House of Assembly candidates.

    Read Also: Ogun forum canvasses support for Isiaka

    The Vice – President assured them the Saturday’s election will be peaceful as the Federal Government had made adequate arrangement for security agents to provide effective security to lives and properties during and after the poll in the state.

    The APC leaders also used the occasion to receive a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state, Hon. Kayode Amusan and former Speaker of the state House of Assembly and Senatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress(ADC) for Ogun Central, Titi Oseni – Gomez into the fold of APC.

    The duo had just defected to APC with thousands if their supporters to help push for the victory of Dapo Abiodun.

  • Osinbajo to meet Aba traders today

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will today hold an interactive session with members of the Aba business community.

    It was learnt that Osinbajo was earlier scheduled to visit on February 14 to interact with members of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), but the meeting was rescheduled because of his engagement in Kwara State same day.

    Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Benedict Godson, who confirmed the visit through a telephone interview, said Osinbajo’s visit underscores the importance of the Aba business community to President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

    According to him, the president is determined to ensure that traders in Aba, Southeast and Nigeria enjoy ease of doing business.

    Godson said the visit would ensure that Osinbajo has firsthand information on some of the challenges facing traders in Aba.

    Read also: Defections, court battles as parties intensify campaigns

    He said: “You know that the Federal Government has initiated various policies, plans and programmes to ensure that some of the bottlenecks facing ease of doing business in the country is addressed.

    “You know of the trader moni, and the government recently signed an agreement with Abia State to establish the Economic Trade Free Zone to take off in Ukwa. It is expected that the Free Trade Zone will promote trade and investment at the Enyimba Economic city…”

  • Why APC got high number of votes in North-East – Ndume

    Sen. Ali Ndume, (APC-Borno South) says the relative peace in the North East contributed to the high number of votes President Muhammadu Buhari got in the area in Saturday’s presidential election.

    Ndume, stated this on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, while speaking with State House Correspondents shortly after a visit to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.

    He said, however, that he had a higher expectation than what the party got in the North East.

    The North East Director of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council said the postponement of the election negatively affected the turnout of voters in the area.

    “First of all, let me say that in 2015, we delivered close to half a million votes for the president in Borno; giving him up 95 per cent.

    “I was thinking that we were going to improve on that; I was looking at 97 per cent and this time around, we had 836, 496; it is okay;  but I was expecting much more than that to be frank.

    “The postponement actually contributed in the reduction in turnout; so I was surprised when the PDP presidential candidate was talking about Borno.

    Read Also:  APC candidate rejects Ikpoba-Okha/Egor results

    “Last time, in Borno, we gave the president half a million; this time around we gave over 800; because we have more relative peace; in 2015, most of us were scattered all over the country, even outside as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs).

    “This time around I was able to go and vote in my Local Government Area (LGA); I slept in my area; the last time, in 2015, we held our election in IDP camps and turn out that number of vote; this time around we went home to vote with our people and turn out the number,’’he said.

    Ndume expressed optimism that the turnout of voters would be higher in the governorship election in Borno as APC would win with a landslide.

    The former Senate leader said APC already has 64 APC Senators and is still hoping for more, adding that the party would not repeat its previous mistake in the Senate.

    “When you make a mistake, you use that mistake to improve the future; we are going to have a very good 9th assembly by God’s grace.

    “This time, the party will play its role; we have learnt from the mistake we made last time; we are not going to repeat that mistake,’’ he said.

    NAN

  • Presidency to supporters: don’t incite opposition

    The Presidency has appealed to the supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari not to incite the opposition party to anger as they celebrate his victory in the February 23 Presidential election.

    It also called on all candidates for the governorship and House of Assembly elections to measure their campaign words in order to ensure maintenance of peace better than what was experienced during the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Senator Ita Enang spoke with State House correspondents after meeting with President Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Congratulating the President and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for the victory at the poll, Enang said that those celebrating the success should be temperate and humble in order not to do anything that could infuriate the opposition.

    He said, “Let me first of all congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo in the victory as president and vice president on the Next Level and the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “What we as a government and a people should do is to ensure that our statements, our actions, our celebrations and our reaction to those who lost should be tempered, temperate, measured, humble and such that are not capable of inciting the other party to anger.”

    He advised those that won as senators and members of the House of Representatives to talk to their followers to speak less and work more to bring about unity and integration of those who have lost.

    “The real winners in this election are the Nigerian voters; and we are conscious that about 11 million people voted for the other party while 15 million voted for our party.

    “For the incoming members of the National Assembly, first, for the members who have been re-elected; first as Senators and members of the House of Representatives is to congratulate them; for those who are elected new and are coming in, we congratulate and welcome them.

    “We are praying that their actions should also be conciliatory. In the next election we are going in on March 9, next week, we should look at as a party and as a government, the areas and the pitfalls and address them so that there would be peaceful election.

    Read Also: Opposition is jittery, says Oshiomhole

    “I will advise that all those who are going for the election, campaigning, the governorship candidates and the House of Assembly candidates who are going in for the elections, they should also measure their campaign words and they should maintain peace better than was maintained in the presidential and National Assembly elections.” he said

    In the forthcoming governorship and house of assembly elections, he said, tempers would likely go high because the positions are closer to the people.

    “This election is closer to the people; closer to the grassroots and tempers are likely to be higher, so they should measure their campaign actions and speeches,” he said.

    Senator Enang commended the security agencies for maintaining peace during the exercise and appealed to them to maintain the tempo.

    He said “The military agencies did well; they should maintain the tempo as they did so that their neutrality will be sustained; the police, the Army, NSCDC and all other security agencies should maintain absolute neutrality in that exercise; they should sustain that so that the credibility that has been given to this election by the monitors and the international community should be sustained.

    “Finally, I will urge the opposition party which has lost the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) to be measured in their statements and reactions and their decisions. If they have grievance, let pursue the appropriate constitutional channel of a petition.”

  • Buhari’s victory well deserved, says Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Wednesday congratulated President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for their victory at the 2019 presidential election, saying that it was a victory well deserved.

    Governor Ambode, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, said the victory was not just a confirmation of the people’s love for President Buhari but 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 Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo for their resounding victory at last Saturday’s polls.

    ‘This is indeed a historic moment because Nigerians have used their votes to show Mr. President that they are happy with the progress the country has made on several sectors of the polity.

    “This is a victory for democracy; it is a victory for good governance and a clear statement from Nigerians that they are ready to move to the next level with President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Read Also: Ambode: polls peaceful, best so far in Nigeria

    He expressed confidence the Buhari-led administration would consolidate on the achievements of the last four years and justify the renewal of his mandate by millions of Nigerians at the polls.

    “This is a threshold of our political history. I urge Nigerians to rally round the Federal Government and support the drive to take the nation to the next level,” Ambode said.

    He also commended Lagosians for coming out in thousands and for being peaceful and orderly throughout the period of the elections.

    Besides, the Governor congratulated candidates of the party in the National Assembly elections who emerged victorious, saying that with APC in the majority in both chambers, President Buhari would get the needed support from the legislative arm of government to transform Nigeria for good.

  • I’m confident of victory – Fela Durotoye

    The presidential candidate of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), Fela Durotoye, has said he is very confident that he will emerge victorious by the time the result of Saturday’s presidential election is announced.

    He said this after casting his vote at polling unit 033 in Victoria Garden City (VGC), Lagos.

    The motivational speaker was welcomed with loud applause by the crowd when he was invited for accreditation and voting. This was shortly after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife had voted in the same polling booth.

    He however lamented that the voting process has been very slow. “A couple of the card readers are having battery issues because the batteries have run down and they did not have recharge. We learnt they are bringing rechargeable batteries and all of that. The voting process has been very slow and I hope they can speed up the process before voters start getting agitated due to the delays,” he said.

    Read Also: I’m not a politician — Fela Durotoye

    Durotoye, who said he did not vote for himself but “for my party and for a new Nigeria,” said the country is at a juncture which requires “a new direction for our nation and the new generation that will lead us there.”

    He expressed hope that the votes would count. “We hope the process will go well. As we see here. The process is peaceful. We hope that our votes will count and it will be a free, fair and credible election. We have an opportunity to vote new leaders and I hope that is what we are doing,” he said.

  • Osinbajo to Nigerians: don’t be discouraged

    From Bisi Olaniyi, Precious Igbonwelundu, Adekunle Jimoh, Gbenga Omokhunu, and Rosemary Nwisi.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged Nigerians not to be discouraged by the earlier postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections.

    The vice president made the plea in Ilorin during a courtesy visit to the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari.

    The vice president was in Ilorin to conclude the door-to-door campaign to mobilise votes for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Osinbajo said the only way Nigerians could assist to sustain the nation’s democracy and promote good governance was to come out en mass on Saturday and vote for continuity.

    He commended the monarch for his fairness toward political parties and their candidates in the state.

    The vice president  said he did not envy the monarch who “has his sons vying for different positions across different parties in Kwara.’’

    The vice president prayed for the victory of the president and all All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates in the general elections.

    The emir, in his remarks, welcomed the vice president and wished him and his entourage well in the elections.

    The vice president was accompanied by Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed, who is the leader of  APC in Kwara.

    Also on the entourage were the governorship candidate of the APC in  Kwara, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, the party’s chairman in the state, Bashir Bolarinwa,  and other party stalwarts.

    The vice president and his entourage were welcomed by an unprecedented crowd who thronged the streets leading to the palace and were chanting “ O to ge’ (Enough is Enough).

    From Adabata to Pakata and on to  Isale-Aluko as well as Oja Gboro and Ipata,   the people in their thousands, particularly women and youths,  lined up on the streets with brooms chanting that they were tired of the old order and in need of  a change in Kwara.

     

    APC, PDP clash over attack in Ilorin

     

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday accused suspected thugs loyal to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of attacking its supporters after the convoy of the Vice President Yemi Osibajo passed through an area in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital. But the PDP last night denied the allegation.

    Two supporters of APC sustained injuries.

    A police source revealed that the incident happened around Isale-Koko, Ilorin suburb, after the vice president’s convoy had left the area.

    Police spokesperson Ajayi Okasanmi could not confirm the incident.

    The APC governorship candidate in the state, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, condemned “the brazen attack today in Ilorin on the convoy of the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo by armed PDP thugs.”

    In a statement, Abdulrazaq’s media aide Rafiu Ajakaye said: “The vice president was at Isale Aluko suburb of Ilorin on a door-to-door campaign when some dare-devil gunmen opened fire at his convoy which included thousands of APC members and supporters.

    “In what is a reminiscence of the Offa robbery, this attack is the height of recklessness on the part of these street urchins who have long been empowered and armed by the discredited dynasty to terrorise our community and anyone who has contrary views to their amala politics.

    “Coming just a day after two of our supporters were killed in Ojoku in the convoy of our senatorial candidate Arc. Lola Ashiru, this is becoming too much and the madness must stop.

    “Going into an election with these thugs clearly on the loose is an existential threat not just to all of us challenging the misrule in our state but to the entire people of the state and their properties.

    “We call for immediate arrest and prosecution of these thugs. We also demand investigations to reveal those who gave the orders for these deadly attacks. We call for all measures to be taken to ensure safety of lives and properties and sanctity of the ballot box in Kwara and beyond.

    “No one’s political interest should be at the expense of human lives and their properties.  We insist that a political contest is a contest of ideas and no one must be allowed to cow or kill others in the process.”

    The PDP, in a statement by its spokesperson, Tunde Ashaolu, said the incident was an intra-party issue involving members of the APC.

    The statement reads: “It was also gathered that the money released to be shared among party supporters triggered the violence.

    “Our party has no time for violence as we have been busy preparing for the presidential and national assembly elections coming up on Saturday as well as the governorship and State Assembly elections.”

     

    Rivers polls: Wike, kinsmen, Cole, APC leaders in fight to the finish

     

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, his Ikwerre kinsmen in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),  All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain Tonye Cole and other APC leaders in the state are in a fight to the finish over the general elections.

    Wike, yesterday in a broadcast, urged APC members to allow  peace in Rivers to continue and to prepare for 2023 polls.

    PDP kinsmen of Rivers governor in the four Ikwerre Local Government Areas of Port Harcourt City, Obio/Akpor, Ikwerre and Emohua, also alleged that unending atmosphere of hostility was being foisted by the unholy relationship between the Rivers APC and the security agencies, which was described as a major source of worry, threatening peace and communal tranquility.

    Cole and some leaders of APC in the state, at a news conference in Port Harcourt, however, declared that candidates of the party would not only participate in the 2019 elections, but would win.

    Wike, in the broadcast, called on the leaders of the APC to accept the reality that their party would not be on the ballot for the 2019 general elections in Rivers.

    The governor said: “Truth be told, the Supreme Court has spoken. Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed. It is the will of God and there is nothing anybody can do to return the APC to the ballot for the 2019 general elections in Rivers State.”

    The leaders of Ikwerre ethnic nationality, at a world news conference yesterday at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, Port Harcourt, through a former Rivers governor, Sir Celestine Omehia, stated that they would not sit idly and watch Minister for Transportation Rotimi Amaechi cause their people unnecessary harm.

    Ikwerre PDP leaders said: “The Minister for Transportation has the penchant for fomenting trouble, which had caused the loss of lives in the past. Keen watchers of political events in our state have also noticed the bitterness exhibited by the minister (Amaechi) towards the governor (Wike).”

    At a news conference yesterday, Cole said: “I want to start by telling our supporters in APC and around the state that not only will we participate in the elections, we will win them. It is better to be prepared than for the opportunity to come and we are not prepared. The opportunity is coming. Be prepared.”

    A chieftain, Chidi Lloyd, while also speaking, stated that what could have resulted in a colossal loss of human lives and property in Rivers State was avoided by the postponement of the Presidential and National Assembly elections in the country on February 16, through violence and thuggery displayed by PDP members across Rivers, while again mobilising to unleash mayhem in the state on February 23.

    The party’s spokesman Chris Finebone condemned “the shameful use of card-carrying members of the PDP” by the INEC office in Rivers  as ad hoc staff, insisting that the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) of INEC in Rivers, Obo Effanga, and his staff were collaborating with the PDP to rig the elections, declaring that they would not get away with it.

    Read also: Avoiding excessive bleeding after childbirth (2)

     

    Rivers APC crisis:  Appeal Court strikes out Abe’s suit

     

    The Appeal Court Panel sitting in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital yesterday struck  out a case filed before it by the Senator representing Rivers South East in the National Assembly, Magnus Abe, for lack of merit.

    Abe and 42 others filed the suit shortly after the Federal High Court upheld the judgment of a State High Court which nullified the state congresses and primary elections conducted by the Ojukaiye Flag Amachree-led faction of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and disqualified all its candidates.

    At a news conference in Port Harcourt, shortly after the ruling, Abe said: “We had approached the Court of Appeal to help with the logjam arising from the current situation in the APC in the state.

    “We believe that that is not the sum of the judgement of the Supreme Court so in  consultation with our legal practitioners, we’ve asked them to approach the Supreme Court for a final response on that matter.”

     

    Group berates Atiku

     

    A prominent group, Media for Morals, has expressed support for the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, for vowing to ensure the armed forces remain apolitical and professional in the discharge of its duties.

    In a statement by its National Coordinator, Dr. Mairo Mudi, the group also berated the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),  Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, for “encouraging lawlessness in the armed forces by asking soldiers to disobey orders made by its superiors”.

    “All the hullabaloo about President Buhari’s warning for the military and the police to deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers is only indicative of the fact that some politicians, obviously of the opposition stock, were reliant on that method to get to power through rigging.”

     

    Lagos CP warns ballot box snatchers, others

     

    Lagos State Commissioner Zubairu Muazu yesterday warned ballot box snatchers and other electoral offenders to have a rethink or face the wrath of the law.

    Muazu spoke at his maiden interaction with reporters.

    According to him, the command would stop at nothing to ensure that offenders are prosecuted and convicted, reminding residents that the earlier deployment of 30,000 security personnel for the exercise would be maintained.

    Muazu said:“A very robust operation order to cover deployment of security personnel for the elections is on ground; so we will ensure there is a safe and secured environment for electorate in Lagos to go and cast their votes without fear and intimidation.”

     

    Police arrest INEC official, two others with card reader

    A senior official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and two others were Wednesday night arrested by policemen attached to the commission’s head office in Lagos for alleged illegal possession of card reader.

    It was learnt that the officials were taken to SARS office at Ikeja where they allegedly spent the night and were later escorted by policemen back to the commission following directives from the Police Commissioner Zubairu Muazu.

    Muazu confirmed policemen escorted Bello to take the card reader back after it was discovered that he did not steal it.

    The police chief said: “We confirmed that the official was posted to Surulere. The card reader in question had problems and he was supposed to turn it over. But there wasn’t enough security and he decided to hold on to it.

    “The said card reader has not been configured. We verified from INEC and as such, we detailed policemen to escort him back so that he will safely return the card reader. I am not aware of any attempted bribery incident.”

    INEC spokesman Olufemi Akinbiyi said he was not aware of the incident.

    He said: “I do not have that information. I am part of the team at the CBN ensuring that electoral materials are moved out without hitches.”

     

    Clerics cautioned against meddling into politics

     

    Clerics in Bauchi State have been cautioned against dragging religious matters into politics.

    Muslims youths and students leaders, in a statement by Prince Mohammed Sani Hassan, Comrade Alhasseenor  Adam and Babangida Bindis, said they were not happy with the way religious matters were being dragged into politics in the state.

    They said: “We are not happy as future leaders the way and manner religious leaders are dragging religion issue into politics in the state.”

    “In the history of politics since 1999 to date, Bauchi State has not produced a leader like Rt Honourable Yakubu Dogara, Speaker and National Assembly member representing Bogoro, Dass and Tafawa Balewa Federal constituency. He built more than 1000 mosques in all the nooks and crannies of Bauchi State, he sponsored  many Muslims to Hajj, he assisted both Christians and Muslims in Bauchi State, he catered for both religion in Bauchi State, he should not be condemned,”the group said.

    ‘Buhari’s directive on riggers has exposed PDP’s antics’

     

    The Buhari Campaign Organisation (BCO) yesterday praised President Muhammadu Buhari for exposing the rigging plot of the opposition through his directive to the military and other security agencies that they should deal ruthlessly with ballot box snatchers and other election riggers during Saturday’s elections.

    Buhari’s support group noted that reactions from the camp of the opposition to Buhari’s order were a clear indication that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its presidential candidate are planning to rig the 2019 polls.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by its Director of Communication and Strategic Planning, Mallam Gidado Ibrahim, the BCO stated that what the president did with his directive was to uncover a hornet’s nest in the camp of the opposition and stirring it up for Nigerians to know their plan to rig the polls.

    Ibrahim said: “We in the BCO give kudos to President Muhammadu Buhari for this marching order. Only the evil minded should be afraid of the order. The opposition are criticising President Buhari for his comment on ballot box snatchers because they want Nigerians to see nothing of those who denied them electricity and other infrastructure in the past 16 years.

    “The president said exactly what we have always wanted him to say: thuggery and ballot box snatching have no place in a credible democracy. The president is absolutely right, otherwise we will encourage the opposition and their thugs to dictate democracy for us. “

  • Osinbajo hails Ilorin monarch on political neutrality

    Vice president Yemi Osinbajo took his door to door campaign to Ilorin, the Kwara state capital ahead of the forthcoming elections.

    Prof hailed the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, for “maintaining balance “amongst political gladiators in the state.

    He said the emir has shown leadership and maintained balance despite the fact that some of his sons were contending with themselves in various elective positions in the 2019 general elections.

    The vice president spoke when he paid homage to the emir in his palace in Ilorin.

    He described the royal father as a respected judge during his active days on the bench.

    Osinbajo said he was in Ilorin to consult and have an interface with members of the All Progressive Congress ahead of the Saturday’s rescheduled presidential and National Assembly elections.

    Read Also: Osinbajo wades into Zamfara APC crisis

    “It is our desire that President Muhammadu Buhari be voted for second term and our governorship candidate, Alhaji AbdulRahaman Abdulrasaq and all our candidates for House of Representatives and Senate,” he said.

    He said the federal government will always “be grateful” to the emir for his “leadership, fairness and for maintaining balance” amongst his sons who are in the race for various elective offices.

    The VP was accompanied by the minister of Information and culture Lai Mohammed, APC governorship candidate in the state, Alhaji AbdulRahaman Abdulrasaq, former chairman, Federal character  commission (FCC), Prof Shuaib AbdulRaheem, Chairman Sobi FM ,and former governorship aspirant, Ahaji Lukman Mustapha among others.

    Responding, Sulu-Gambari who expressed delight over the visit, prayed for continued peace and development in the state and the country as a whole.