Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said that he is fit and well.
Speaking after the helicopter crash in Kabba, Kogi State, Osinbajo said “I am fit, let’s carry on with the programme”
Details Later……
Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has said that he is fit and well.
Speaking after the helicopter crash in Kabba, Kogi State, Osinbajo said “I am fit, let’s carry on with the programme”
Details Later……
A Presidential Fleet helicopter has crashed near Kabba in Kogi state.
An impeccable Presidency source told The Nation that the helicopter was conveying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“The Vice President and his brother were among the occupants of the helicopter.
“It is a six seater helicopter and there was no casualty; everyone aboard survived.
“There is no indication of sabotage or anything extra-ordinary this far.
“The exact cause of the accident will be determined by experts in due course but it is important at this stage to know that there was no casualty,” the Presidency official stated.
Scene of Vice President @ProfOsinbajo helicopter crash in Kogi
Read here: https://t.co/cJRgdTQJJm pic.twitter.com/b9y73fFEeY
— The Nation Nigeria (@TheNationNews) February 2, 2019
In a tweet Laolu Akande, the media aide to the VP “VP Osinbajo’s Chopper crash lands in Kabba, but he and the entire crew safe. He is continuing with his engagements and plans for the day in Kogi State.”
The federal government National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP) employs over 94,422 cooks Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has stated.
The NHGSFP aims to provide free meals for children in public schools.
Osinbajo said the NHGSFP feeds 9.3 million children in 49,937 public primary schools in 27 states.
Osinbajo spoke in Benin City while launching the NHGSFP at Eyaen Primary School in Uhunmwode Local Government Area of the state.
He said over 100,000 small-holder farmers are linked to the programme while 594 cows are slaughtered, 138,000 chickens killed and 83 million tonnes of fish used in preparing the meals.
The Vice President said the NHGSFP is part of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programme which is one of the largest safety net programmes in Nigeria.
He informed President Muhammadu Buhari was able to achieve these because it fought corruption to secure the country’s resources and develop the nation.
According to him: “N-Power employs over 500,000 graduates and 200,000 non-graduates across the nation.
“Two million people benefit from our Micro Credit Scheme which includes Trader-moni and Market-moni.
“This will be expanded to the next level to enable more Nigerians benefit from it. We will be able to reach five to 10 million Nigerians.”
Governor Godwin Obaseki, who said the Social Investment Programme has added value to Nigerians, said it provided opportunity for vulnerable families to feed and send their children to school.
He explained the NHGSFP would be linked to the Edo Basic Education Sector Transformation programme to bring out the best in school children.
He thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and Osinbajo for the initiative to feed children in schools.
“This is a new dawn in Edo State that is ensuring that our children in schools across the state are not malnourished.
“The programme is targeted at making children healthy. We are starting from Uhunmwode and Orhionmwon local government areas before spreading to other areas in the state,” he stated.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday sent relief packages to the families and victims of the Iworoko Ekiti accident that claimed 15 lives.
Osinbajo, who had last week pledged N3 million to the victims and their families during a condolence visit to the community which lost its monarch, the late Oba Oluwafemi Aladejana, five days after the accident, also sent N5 million to them.
The community, led by the regent of Alaworoko Ekiti, Bolanle Ogundana and President of Iworoko Progressives Union (IPU), Tajudeen Olayinka, while sharing the relief to the families and victims, expressed appreciation to the Osinbajo for the gesture.
Recipients included representatives of the 15 dead persons, 14 injured persons and 28 others whose properties were damaged.
Ogundana said: “I want you to know that what you are being given today is a relief and not compensation for the victims.
“It is on this note that I want to humbly remind the federal and state governments of their promises to the people of Iworoko Ekiti in order to forestall the re-occurrence of this incidence”.
Among others, the Regent requested completion of remaining portion of dualised Iworoko – Ado Ekiti Road; relocation of vegetable market to a safer place and acquisition of buildings around the market place to pave way for extension of the market off the highway.
Olayinka assured the community IPU and the Alaworoko-in-council “will not renege on our effort in getting compensation for the victims”.
Olayinka commended Osinbajo for the kind gesture and as well Governor Kayode Fayemi and Deputy Governor Bisi Egbeyemi for prompt intervention and payment of hospital bills for the injured.
He added it was a relief that Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti was not in session when the accident occurred, saying: “this is not what we would have been saying”.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday tasked traditional rulers in the country to ensure peace and security in their domains during the 2019 general election.
He spoke through Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the 10th General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, NCTRN, in Abuja.
He said, “Given the activities of unscrupulous individuals who use the election season to forment trouble and disturb the electoral process, the role of security agencies is particularly crucial.
“But the backbone of effective security is quality intelligence and the most trusted repository of local intelligence is of course the royal father in his domain, and we encourage the security agencies to work closely with you in this enormous task.
“As a nation with diverse norms, cultures, traditions, ethnic nationalities and religions we have witnessed various degrees of conflicts and violence during elections in the past borne out of irresponsible utterances, hate speech, designed to incite and provoke disturbances.
“We must not tolerate this dangerous behavior. Your positions as traditional heads of your communities accord you considerable influence and the respect of your subjects.”
According to him, the general assembly of the traditional rulers came at the right time when Nigerians are preparing to vote in new leaders.
He urged the royal fathers to build synergies that are important in assuring free, fair and peaceful elections to enable them to contribute to voter education.
This, he said, would ensure that the electorate understands the processes to undergo during the election.
“Coming at this time, this annual gathering of the royal heads of our traditional institutions is indeed a blessing and the theme most appropriate.
“This is because the role of your royal majesties and traditional institutions are crucial for connecting the people of your kingdoms and domains to the federal and state agencies responsible for the conduct of elections.
“The major purpose of establishing that link is to educate the local electorate or reinforce information that they may have about electoral processes as laid down by INEC.
“For example, INEC has said that in the forthcoming polls, voters will be accredited and then vote immediately after accreditation.
“This is different from the old method of accreditation first and then coming back hours later to vote. This must be well disseminated to all.
“Similarly, the use of card readers, the role of party agents and other electoral actors will require some explanation and some dissemination, especially where the rules have changed.
“And we expect that INEC will be working in close collaboration with all of our royal fathers in your various domains to ensure that not are you adequately informed but also that your people are also adequately informed.” he said
The President also restated the commitment of the Nigerian government to deliver a transparent, free and fair, credible and peaceful election this year.
He said the security agencies have been directed to maintain peace and order and provide security during elections, warning that “any attempt to cause mayhem and undermine the electoral process would be met with the full force of the law.”
According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, is properly equipped and free to conduct the election.
“As a democracy in the 21stCentury, it is time for us to take our own place in the comity of nations as one to be reckoned with by ensuring that the 2019 general election meet all the standards civilized processes around the world and are free from all forms of irregularities,” He said.
In his comments, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who is the Co-Chairman of the General Assembly of the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Nigeria, promised that the royal fathers would galvanize their subjects to perform their civic duties by voting in the election.
Oba Ogunwusi said the royal fathers would also ensure a peaceful conduct of the 2019 general election in their domains.
Among traditional that attended the event were the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, who is the Co-Chairman of the Council of Traditional Rulers, the Obi of Onitsha, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, and the Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, says Nigeria’s economy will be better than it is now, if the present administration’s Next Level agenda is supported.
Osinbajo made the promise to supporters of the All Progressives Congress (APC), when he visited the palace of the Sarkin Bwari, in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Monday.
The vice president, who commended the council’s administration for its achievements, said that President Muhammadu Buhari relied on the people’s votes for a second tenure.
” We have come here to see our people and to re-assure that this second term will be better than the first.
” The president’s message to you is that the Next Level will be very much better than where we are today, you all know that the president is concerned about the common man and so, everything he does is about the common man.
” It is about how we can improve on those getting loans in the market so that they can get more to be able to trade and also improve on power, we need power especially in our businesses, ” he said.
He said that these, among others, were what the Buhari led administration was set to do if re-elected.
Sarkin Bwari, Alhaji Auwal Ijakoro, who spoke, said that the town was honoured by the vice president’s visit, who represented the president.
He assured the team of massive votes and prayed for the success of the 2019 general elections and also, for the safe journey of the delegation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Vice President also visited the palace of the Etsu of Bwari, Mr Ibrahim Yaro.
He was accompanied by Musa Dikko, the Chairman of Bwari Area Council and the party’s campaign team, among others.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and other prominent Nigerians at the weekend warned Nigerians to desist from throwing hate speeches at each other, saying such development would not only heat up the politics but lead to violence.
According to the Vice President, Nigeria as a nation already has its hands full of challenges that needed urgent attention, therefore it would be counter productive to compound the problem with hate speeches among the people.
He said religious and traditional leaders have much to do to bring the people together in brotherly love and work towards enhancing the socio-economic and political growth of the country.
Osinbajo made the remarks at the launch of a book written by the former Commandant, National Defence College, Nigeria, Rear Admiral Samuel Alade (rtd) . The Book titled “The making of a million smiles: Reflections on Rwanda’s Rise from the ashes” was launched at the auditorium of the National Defence College, Abuja.
The Vice President who was represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mallam Muhammad Musa Bello, said Nigerians should learn from Rwanda’s mistakes and avoid the repetition of any of such in African countries, particularly Nigeria.
“It will be a wise thing if we copy the Rwanda’s progress after serious torture of unwarranted killings that took place in that country in 1994, we should avoid making hate speeches that would lead us into crisis.
“I am also calling on religious leaders and traditional rulers to live up to their responsibilities. They have the duty to advice politicians who are using hate speech as their campaign tool to also desist from that.
“We cannot shy away from the fact that we all have responsibilities to make a difference. You know we have security challenges, all across the country. We have the problems of Boko Haram operating in the Northeast, kidnapping, herders/ farmers clashes, as well as Niger Delta’s agitators. All these issues in one way or another affect our economy and social system, and as a matter of fact put our economy behind growth,” he stated.
Other prominent Nigerians who also advised Nigerians, especially political leaders to desist from hate speeches are the Defence Minister, Mansur Dan Ali, the Governors of Ondo state, Rotimi Akeredolu, the Governor of Ekiti state, Dr Kayode Fayemi, and former Minister of Interior, Major Gen. Ibrahim BM Haruna and the Chairman of Leadership Newspaper, Nda Isaiah.
Major Gen. Haruna who chaired the occassion expressed admiration for the language of delivery and quality of mind of the author, describing it as excellent and lucid.
Gen. Haruna said the message of the book should not be lost on us as a nation, saying it was a clarion call for leaders at all levels to rally the people around goals that would foster unity and rapid development of the country.
In his good message the chairman/ the publisher of the LEADERSHIP Newspaper Groups LTD, Sam Nda Isaah said that the Alade’s book has reflected him the memory of Rwanda’s 1994 genocide which is not advisable of any Nation to experience.
The Minister of Defence, Dan Ali who was represented by the Director Health Services in the Ministry, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade, lauded the efforts of the author, saying the book would add more values to the way we relate with ourselves in the country.
Ondo State Governor who was represented by his Deputy, Mr Alfred Agboola Ajayi commended the efforts of Rear Admiral Alade for putting the book together, saying that the Balogun of Akure would continue to leave indelible inprints in the sands of time through hardwork, dedication and service to fatherland.
Mr Nda Isaiah cautioned that he had witnessed similar experiences (hate speeches and crises) in Kaduna, warning the same scenerio is on-going in Zamfara State and called on the authorities to more proactive in addressing the challenges facing the country.
The founder of Elizade Nigeria (ltd) Chief Michael Ade Ojo, Dr Tunji Abayomi, senior military officers both serving and retired and the Commandant of the National Defence College, Rear Admiral Adeniyi Osinowo were among other personalities who graced the book launch.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday said he had fulfilled his campaign promises to Nigerians.
The President, who spoke at a mega rally of the All Progressives Congress in Osogbo, Osun State capital, ahead of the February general elections, reminded Nigerians of the condition under which he came into office in 2015.
Buhari spoke to thousands of the APC, chieftains and party supporters including the national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomole, the APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former interim national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, Osun State governor, Mr. Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola, and his deputy, Gboyega Alabi, immediate past Osun state governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, former governor of Rivers State and Minister of Transport, Hon. Rotimi Ameachi, and the national women leader of the APC, Chief Mrs. Kemi Nelson, among others.
Buhari said his administration on assumption off office in 2015 met the terrorist group, Boko Haram, occupying seventeen local governments in Yobe and Borno States and other parts of the North East but said no single council today is in the control of the insurgent group, adding that “except where they have soft targets market places and motor parks.”
According to him, his administration had significantly improved on agriculture.
Buhari, who also said had done his best in fighting corruption, assured that whoever that is found to be corrupt will not be spared, adding that “they will be prosecuted and brought to justice.”
Acknowledging people’s support for him, he expressed gratitude to the people for “trooping out and lining up the streets in the scorching sun to wave him and his entourage.”
Asking the people to vote for him and his deputy, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, in the February poll, he also appealed to them to vote for all candidates under the platform of the APC in the general elections, assuring that they would not let them down.
Also, the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said those contending power with the APC never meant well for this nation. In their resolve, they are determined to draw us back but by the grace of God we are moving on and higher.”
Earlier, the Osun State governor, Mr. Oyetola, advised the people of the state to return Buhari for the second term, saying his administration had done so much for the state in the area of social investment and youth empowerment, road construction, health, agriculture.
The governor said votes for Buhari will provide an opportunity for the people of the state to continue to enjoy good and quality programmes of the Buhari administration.
He advised the people not to allow corrupt politicians to over power in the interest of the future of the nation, saying “the APC is a party of today and the future.”
In his welcome address, Chief Akande thanked President Buhari for his love for the people of Osun and Nigeria.
Also, Asiwaju Tinubu said the People’s Democratic Party had deceived Nigerians for sixteen years and therefore must not to be allowed to return to power.
Tinubu, who spoke in Yoruba language, said the PDP’s “misrule” had denied the youths and many Nigerians jobs.
He pleaded with Nigerians not to allow the efforts of the progressives for 15 years to protect nation’s democracy go in vain, adding that Buhari had re-established importance of agriculture, which he said older Nigerian generation had utilized to train their children and contribute to the national development.
He thanked Buhari for recognizing June 12 as Democracy Day, for honoring it symbol, late M.K.O Abiola, as also for putting many people from the South West in position of authority.
For Aregbesola, who only sang to pass his message across, he enjoined the people to vote for the broom symbol, which he said staid for progress and development.
The APC national chairman, Oshiomole, who said the forthcoming general elections will be determined by the people, noted that “with the people’s enthusiasm today to identify with Mr. President is enough proof that all is well.”
Meanwhile, President Buhari had earlier met with Osun State traditional rulers at the Government House, Okefia in Osogbo, the state capital, to solicit their support for his re-election bid.
The President also called for the support of the traditional rulers for improved security in the country.
He explained that his administration had made positive progress in the area of security, economy and also fought bribery and corruption in the country.
The President said his administration intervention in agriculture had made the country to achieve food security.
Buhari said his administration wanted to engage more people in agriculture by providing soft loans to farmers.
He said: “With our intervention in agriculture, we have achieve food security. We now produce what we eat. I have also directed the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor, Godwin Emefiele, not to provide foreign excahnge for anyone who want to import for into the country except those who want to invest in the country.
“Since 2013 till date, I always request to see the traditional rulers in any state I travel to because of their closeness to the people. And I always appeal to them to secure the society by securing their communities.”
On the issue of security, Buhari urged the traditional rulers to assist government to secure the society by securing their communities.
The President said since the traditional rulers were closer to the people, their support for improved security was important.
Buhari appealed to the traditional rulers to ensure that their subjects eschew violence during the election.
In his remarks, Gov. Adegboya Oyetola, said people of the state would vote massively for President Buhari come Feb. 16.
Oyetola said in the same way people of the state voted for Buhari in 2015, they would repeat the same in Feb. 16.
He commended the president for his support for the state.
Oba Wahab Oyedotun, the Orangun of Ila, who spoke on behalf of other traditional rulers, promised that they would deliver the state to the President.
Oba Oyedotun said the good work of the president was enough to ensure his victory .
“Mr President, you dont have any problem in Osun, you are winning. You dont need to campaign because tge good work you have done in the state and the country will speak for,” Oba Oyedotun said.
In attendance was the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Adedotun, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, the Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Oba Abdulrashed Olabomi, the Orangun of Oke-Ila, Oba Dokun Abolarin, the Olufon of Ifon, Oba Adekunle Magbagbeola, among others.
President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as its National Chairman , Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, will on Wednesday, January 2019, lead other stalwarts to the flag-off of the party’s campaign in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital.
The flag-off is scheduled to hold at the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium Abakaliki.
The governorship candidate of the APC in Ebonyi State, Senator Sonni Ogbuoji, said the flag-off will be an opportunity for Ebonyi people to know his plans for the liberation of the state from the stranglehold of the purveyors of poverty and underdevelopment of the State.
“I am on a liberation mission in Ebonyi State. I have always believed that public officers should work to enthrone a government works with the people to enthrone a collective sense of common purpose and direction for the benefit of all stakeholders,” Ogbuoji said. “This belief has not changed; instead it has been strengthened over the years, necessitating my desire to serve the good people of Ebonyi State.”
Other bigwigs of the party who are expected to grace the occasion include Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, Governor Nassir El-Rufai of Kaduna State, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, Chief Ajomole, former Chairman of All Chairmen of APC, and the members of the National Working Committee of the APC.
“For these people to come to Ebonyi State to support our campaign despite their already tight schedules, shows how significant the event is for the party,” said Senator Ogbuoji in a telephone interview. “Ebonyi people should rest assured that the governance of prosperity and progress which APC is bringing to the state will reach everybody.
“We will ensure that our youths are sufficiently empowered and taken off the streets of Nigerian cities – the era of Ebonyi street hawkers will be a thing of the past when APC takes over government in Ebonyi State come May 2019,” Ogbuoji emphasised.
Analysts who are familiar with political events in the State said that the flag-off accentuate the popularity of the party in the State and lay to rest any semblance of doubt regarding the capacity of the party to garner landslide victory in the February and March elections in the state.
Speaking about the flag-off ceremony, Prince Nweze Onu, the APC Candidate for Ebonyi South Senatorial Zone, said that Ogbuoji has used his position as a senator to attract many projects to the people of the State.
“Senator Ogbuoji went beyond his primary constituency to impact the lives of people from other parts of the State,” Prince Onu told journalists in Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State Capital on Thursday, January 24 2018. “His impacts have been felt in all aspects of life of Ebonyi people – from health infrastructure to education, electricity, portable water, good road networks and a myriad of empowerment projects.”
Onu said that Ogbuoji is a silent achiever who likes his works to speak for him, adding that the numerous projects of the incoming governor of Ebonyi State will be showcased to the people on the flag-off day as a peep into the good times that await Ebonyians when the people’s Senator assumes the political leadership of the State as the Governor.
Speaking about the event which he said will be the mother of all campaign flag-offs in Nigeria, Eze Nwachukwu Eze, the Ebonyi State Chairman of APC, said that the party has applied to the State Ministry of Youths and Sports for the release of the Pa Ngele Oruta Township Stadium, the arena that will host the event.
“We have duly written the Ministry of Sports to allow us the use of the Stadium to host our dear President Buhari and his teeming supporters,” Nwachukwu said. “We have made all arrangements to ensure that our people give Mr. President a heroic welcome.”
In a copy of the letter requesting for the use of the Stadium dated January 21, 2019 and made available to journalists, Nwachukwu said that the event will kick off by 8.00 am, and urged the Commissioner in charge of the Youths and Sports Ministry to grant quick access to the Stadium.
“Your quick response to enable us and the security agents to gain access to the Stadium from 28th – 30th January 2019, to make adequate preparations,” The Letter concluded.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday met behind closed doors with members of the National Council of State at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting started at 11.a.m prompt at the Council Chamber.
The meeting comprises of past presidents and heads of state, Chief Justices of Nigeria (CJN), leadership of the National Assembly, state governors among others.
Those at the meeting on Tuesday included former Head of Interim National Government, Ernest Shonekan, Olusegun Obasanjo, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Goodluck Jonathan.
As soon as he arrived at the Council chamber, Buhari went round to have a handshake with some of the past leaders including Obasanjo.
Obasanjo also offered the opening Christian prayer while Mohammed Uwais said the Muslim prayer.
One minute silence was observed in honour of former President Shehu Shagari, and late CJNs Aloysius Katsina Alu and Idris Kutigi
Former Heads of State Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida and former CJN Mariam Muktar sent apologises for their absence at the meeting.
Others at the meeting on Tuesday the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President, Bukola Saraki, former CJN Mohammed Uwais.
State governors at the meeting included Osun, Kebbi, Zamfara Plateau, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Edo, Lagos, Niger, Borno, Ogun, Ekiti, and Kogi.
Deputy State governors at the meeting included Bauchi Deputy, Kaduna Deputy, and Rivers Deputy,
Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Head of Service, Winifred Oyo-Ita, National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, FCT Minister, Mohammed Bello and Minister of Labour, Chris Ngige.
Without listing the details of the agenda during the opening session, the Secretary to the Government of the Federations, Boss Mustapha said that the meeting will discuss five-point agenda.
But issues expected to be considered at the meeting included the National minimum wage, and confirmation of the appointment of the acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Adamu.
The forthcoming general elections and security of the nation are also expected to engage the attention of the Council of State.
The meeting was still in progress at the time of filing this report.