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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • Osinbajo in Akure for Niger Delta meeting

    Osinbajo in Akure for Niger Delta meeting

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday arrive Akure Airport at 10:54 am for the 2nd National Council on Niger Delta meeting.

    There was tight security at the airport and venue of the meeting provided by the police, Army, Civil Defence Corps and road marshals among others.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo would deliver the keynote address at the event and later meet with communities of riverside areas of Ondo State.

    Osinbajo, accompanied by the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Usani, was received on arrival by Gov. Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.

    Also on the vice presidents entourage were the Minister of State, Niger Delta Affairs, Prof Claudius Daramola, and Sen. Victor Udoma, Chairman, Niger Delta Development Commission.

    Others at the airport to receive the vice president were the Speaker, Ondo state House of Assembly, Mr Bamidele Oleyeloogun, Secretary to the State Government, Ifedayo Abegunde and other top government officials.

  • Flood: Tor Tiv Lauds FG’s prompt intervention

    Flood: Tor Tiv Lauds FG’s prompt intervention

    Prof. James Ayatse, the Tor Tiv and Chairman, Benue Council of Chiefs, has commended the Federal Government for its prompt intervention toward tackling the flood sweeping through the state.

    Ayatse made the commendation on Wednesday in Makurdi, when the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, visited him during his (Osinbajo) assessment tour of flooded areas in Makurdi.

    The monarch said that government’s quick response in providing relief materials had cushioned the hardship faced by victims of the disaster.

    “The gesture showed a clear demonstration of the President’s love for the people of the state,” he said.

    He, however, appealed to the Federal Government to award the contract for the construction of Makurdi-Gboko, Makurdi-Otukpo roads, and declared the two roads as “deplorable death traps”.

    Ayatse said that Benue was an agrarian state and therefore needed good roads to transport food produce to other parts of the country.

    He appealed to governments at all levels to make the payment of workers’ salaries a priority, and urged the Federal Government to assist Benue to defray its backlog of salaries.

    The monarch assured government of the support of traditional institution in the implementation of policies.

    Earlier, Osinbajo had assured the traditional ruler that the government was determined to find a lasting solution to flooding in the state.

    The Vice President, who admitted that paucity of funds was a major setback of the administration, however, assured that efforts would be made to find ways of tackling some of the issues raised by the Tor Tiv.

  • NCP approves privatization of Afam power plants

    NCP approves privatization of Afam power plants

    The National Council on Privatisation ( NCP ), which is chaired by the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, has approved the commencement of the privatisation of Afam Power plants 1 to 5 in Rivers.

    According to statement issued by the Vice Presidential Spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande, on Monday the measure is to inject additional power into the national grid and improve electricity supply nationwide.

    Read also: NNPC increases gas supply to power plants by 123%

    Akande said this and other decisions were taken during the meeting of the NCP, between Aug. 22 and Aug. 23, 2017 at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    NCP is the highest decision making body on policies relating to the privatisation and commercialisation policies of the Federal Government.

    According to Akande, the Council also approved the pursuit of an out-of-court settlement involving the privatisation of Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON).

    The move, he said, aimed to resolve the lingering dispute between the Federal Government, BFIG and United Company RUSAL through the mediation of the Secretariat with the active collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development.

    The council advised that “the mediation efforts should take a holistic view of the entire sector and the overriding national interests to jumpstart industrial development through the steel sector in arriving at a resolution on the matter.”

    The council also  reviewed the proposals presented by its Secretariat, the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), for the reform and restructuring of various sectors of the economy.

    Read also: Senate to probe Kaduna power plant failure

    Consequently, it approved the immediate revocation of the concession of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex and the immediate commencement of a fresh privatisation of Yola Electricity Distribution Company.

    The approvals, he said , were aimed at giving traction to key infrastructure facilities in the country presently under concessions but had been adjudged to be performing sub-optimally.

    Other key decisions taken by the council included the approval of the amendments to the Work Plan for the conclusion of the transaction involving the concessioning of Terminal “B” Warri Old Port.

    The Council also approved the  restructuring and recapitalisation of Bank of Agriculture.

    “The restructuring of the BOA is in alignment with the Government’s desire to make financing options readily available to farmers for an aggressive diversification of the Nigerian economy.”

    He said the council also approved the immediate commencement of the reform and commercialisation of the River Basin Development Authorities to revitalise the irrigation and river basin potential for agricultural purposes.

    Similarly, to harness the nation’s untapped tourism potential, the council approved the partial commercialisation of the National Parks using three key national parks as pilot projects.

  • Osinbajo takes over FG, ASUU negotiations, says Ngige

    Osinbajo takes over FG, ASUU negotiations, says Ngige

    To find lasting solution to the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) strike, Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo has taken over the headship of the Federal Government negotiation team with ASUU.

    The Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige briefed State House correspondents at the end of the FEC meeting chaired by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    Ngige also blamed the private sector of being responsible for the delay in announcing the Chairman of the Minimum Wage Review Committee.

    According to him, the Federal Government was ready and will announce Chairman of the Committee when all the names of representatives of the private sector is received.

    ASUU had embarked on nationwide strike since August 13 over the failure of the Government to implement an agreement it reached with the union in 2009.

    The union also alleged that the Federal Government did not implement the Memorandum of Understanding the two sides signed in 2013.

    The union, in a statement on Tuesday, said it would call off its strike after receiving a positive response to its demands from the Federal Government.

    The union boycotted a meeting which was scheduled to hold between the government and the union on Tuesday.

    END (Details later)

  • FG, U.S. partnering on loot repatriation, says Osinbajo

    FG, U.S. partnering on loot repatriation, says Osinbajo

    The Buhari administration has reached out to the U.S. government to increase its assistance in ensuring that corrupt officials do not get a safe haven abroad for their loot, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo said on Monday.

    The Vice President, who said this during the visit of a U.S. Congressional Delegation to the Presidential Villa, said both countries were working on a prompt repatriation of the funds.

    According to Prof. Osinbajo, “we have reached out to the US government with respect to helping with repatriation of proceeds of crime and proceeds of corruption.’’

    Osinbajo, who was appreciative of the support given by the U.S. so far said the Buhari administration regarded “corruption is an existential threat’’ that must be dealt with at its root.

    “We have worked quite closely with the U.S. government on repatriation of funds. We have seen some results,’’ he said adding that the Federal Government expected more improvement in the process.

    He noted that what tended to happen with corrupt public officials was that if they were able to find a safe haven for the proceeds of their criminality they continued with the crime.

    Osinbajo stated that there was the general feeling that “if I am able to get the proceeds out of the country I might just get away with it.

    “This is one of the reasons we have taken several actions to ensure that we are able to deal with it.

    “Because some of the major dislocations in the economy are on account of the problems that we have seen with corruption.’’

    He said the Buhari presidency’s strategy which is one of “the most effective ways of fighting corruption is ensuring that these proceeds are unsafe.’’

    He added that the strategy was for people to know that they would be found out and would be punished for it “and we would seize whatever profit they had gain.’’

    On the return of the Chibok girls, the Vice President said, “it is a front burner issue for us all the time, there is no question of not continuing to negotiate and looking for the girls.’’

    He expressed gratitude to God for the hope that the girls are still alive and would be released.

    The Vice President noted that “negotiations were continuing and government would keep looking for the opportunity to bring them back.’’

    The Vice President thanked the U.S. government for its recent decision to sell Super Tucano aircraft to Nigeria to aid its fight against insurgency in the North-East.

    Sen. Christopher Coons, who led the delegation, said the visit was to reaffirm the relationship between Nigeria and the U.S., noting that the U.S. had “an enduring enthusiasm and partnership with Nigeria’’.

    Other members of the Congressional delegation include Senators Gary Peters, Jeff Merkley, Michael Bennet, Reps Lisa Blunt Rochester, Terri Sewell, Charlie Dent, Barbara Lee and Frederica Wilson.

    The delegation was accompanied by the U.S. Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington.

    Also in attendance were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Geoffery Onyeama, Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babgana Monguno, and the Chief of Air Staff, Air Marshal Sadique Abubakar.

  • Unbreakable bond

    Those still in doubt about the closeness between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo might have seen a clearer picture penultimate weekend.

    After 103 days in the United Kingdom on medical ground, President Buhari returned to Abuja that Saturday.

    First to welcome him as he stepped down from the plane at the Presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport was the Vice President.

    With the way Buhari gripped Osinbajo’s hands with one hand and waved to the crowd with the other hand, it reflected the deep love and bond between them.

    If not for protocol, the President would probably not have hesitated from hugging and carrying the Vice President in his hand as he was so pleased with the way Osinbajo steered the ship of State in his absence.

    The length of period of the President’s stay in London was not only enough to give an over ambitious deputy some selfish ideas, but more than enough time to perfect plans with other influential elements for political gains.

    This was the main reason most past leaders stay tight and never give their deputies opportunities to act in their absence,  even for a day.

    But President Buhari in his previous 50 days stay in London on medical ground, between January and March, didn’t think twice before communicating to the National Assembly to pave the way for Osinbajo to be Acting President in his absence.

    Osinbajo even remained more committed in the latest President’s 103 days in the UK.

    In the two instances, the Vice President did not let the politics of the day get into his head as he remained focused and not letting his eyes off the ball.

    Although Buhari and Osinbajo have severally claimed that the relationship between them was a father to son relationship, the bond between them has proven to be more than that.

    While there have been several stories where sons go to the extend of betraying their biological fathers one way or the other, the case of Buhari-Osinbajo has been different.

    Osinbajo has proven to all that his loyalty to his superior can never be in doubt.

    Even when there were reported controversies on whether the 2017 Appropriation bill will be taken to London for the President’s assent, Buhari had insisted then that Osinbajo, who was the Acting President should sign the bill into law.

    Because of his respect for the rule of law and the bond between them, Buhari was even reported to have sent back some top government officials who took files to him in London for approval.

    Osinbajo, who is a Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), have no doubt exhibited the fruits of the spirit found in the Holy Bible in Galatians chapter 5: 22-23 including love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance.

    So, President Buhari’s firm grip on Osinbajo’s wrist on his arrival at the airport on that Saturday really spoke volumes about the unprecedented relationship between the number one and number two citizens.

    Speaking on the President’s return, Osinbajo said: “As you can see from the many Nigerians who lined up on the road to receive the President as he came back, many Nigerians are happy that the President is hail and hearty and that he has come back.

    “It was a natural reaction, most people heard of his arrival only a few hours before then, but as you can see, the response was so spontaneous. So, I think that people were so excited and very happy.” he said

    On the message to Nigerians, the Vice President said “Oh, the message to Nigerians is that, the recovery and recuperation of the President is in some sense symbolic of the recovery of Nigeria.

    “Nigeria is going to recover. We are on the path of strong economic recovery and this is an excellent sign that the country is on the right side.

    “There is great hope, there is great excitement and we are going to make it as a nation.” he stated

    Commending Osinbajo on how he ran the country in his absence, Buhari said “The efforts by the Vice President are commendable. He used his intellect to run all over the place. I was seeing him 24 hours on NTA.

    “I congratulate them and I allowed him to come and see me to thank him personally for what he has done.” he stated

    This relationship of peace and harmony at the top will no doubt reflect positively on the development of the country.

    It is also hoped that such will continue to the end of the administration and the future number one and number two citizens that will come after them.

  • No cabal can cage Buhari, says Presidency

    No cabal can cage Buhari, says Presidency

    The Presidency on Sunday declared that no cabal or official in the Presidency can hijack the powers President Muhammadu Buhari.

    According to a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on media and publicity, Garba Shehu, the President is very thorough in carrying out the the responsibilities and duties ascribed to him by the 1999 constitution.

    He also explained that it is impossible for any official in government to manipulate Buhari as he pays attention to all necessary details.

    “Over the past few months, some media organizations have published a stream of allegations against some persons around the President attributing them to “persistent rumors and speculations,” with no other objective but to generate hatred and disgust against these hardworking people.

    “As the good Nigerian public can imagine, little time would be left for other tasks more beneficial to the entire nation, if the Presidency were to respond to every single fable published by the free Nigerian press.  However, in the process of advancing their suspicious anti-Buhari agenda, whoever is behind these allegations knowingly or unknowingly has cast some of the most ridiculous aspersions on President Buhari’s competence as a leader of a great country.

    “To begin with, it is absolutely nonsensical and absurd to write that in one week of the President’s return, the Vice President has been sidelined.

    “Quite to the contrary, the Vice President remains the confidante and  the closest adviser to the President,” Shehu stated.

    According to him, the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, has attended all the President’s engagements in the last one week, except two functions including the one held while the Vice President was away in Taraba State and the Juma’at Muslim prayer because Osinbajo is a Christian.

    He said “It is difficult to understand what anyone wants to achieve peddling such falsehood that the President, himself a former military general and Head of State and Commander-In-Chief is subject to undue influence and manipulation. It is both ridiculous and inconceivable.

    “As someone who works very closely with President Buhari, I can testify to how my years of experience as a newspaper editor are often put to the test by the sheer thoroughness with which the President edits every single document brought to his desk.  Every memo, statement, speech, is subject to his intense scrutiny, right down to the placement of commas and full stops.

    “Therefore, alleging that President Buhari signs memos brought to him by government officials or a so-called cabal without reading them, immediately casts doubts on the credibility of the ubiquitous unnamed sources that the reporters of these articles quote.,” he added.

    Stressing that the President cannot do everything, he said, it was the main reason why he needs close and trustworthy officials, who will be willing to offend others in the process of ensuring Buhari’s safety and well-being, and the advancement of his vision for Nigeria.

    He pointed out that the attacks on Malam Abba Kyari, the Chief of Staff to the President, have been leveled with such imperiousness that they must no longer be laughed off as crazy.

    He said “The COS is like the headman of all the President’s political appointees.  He has direct responsibility for multiple levels of staff working for the President. Part of his role includes liaising with ministries and parastatals, so that he can have a full awareness of the issues being discussed whenever these groups meet with the President. It goes without saying that anybody who occupies such office has impeccable credentials of total loyalty to the President.

    “Clearly, some consider this oversight role as a usurping of the President’s powers, and it is their misunderstanding of the situation that some media organisations have swallowed hook, line and sinker.

    “Under this administration, as the ones before it, the office of the Chief of Staff is a branch of the President’s office. There are no power centers here. The only power center is that of the President who is sensitive to grassroots level administration which the Chief of Staff must ensure.

    “For Abba kyari, there is no life after work. He is available to the President 24/7.

    “President Buhari is working day and night to steer Nigeria through these trying times. There are important issues in the hand of government such as poverty reduction, turning around the economy, creating jobs, fighting corruption and terrorism, railway, agriculture, roads, power and rural and urban development that there simply is not enough time to be spent answering baseless allegations in the media.

    “As he builds a new foundation from the mess left behind by previous irresponsible governments, the President cannot do it alone.  He needs the absolute loyalty of his COS, he needs the acumen of government officials, he needs the courage and understanding of the Nigerian people, and he needs the support of institutions such as the media.

    “Publishing poorly-researched allegations and trying to pass them off as investigative journalism or as news may lead to more newspaper sales or to more clicks on a website; but they will also, in the long run, slow down the growth and development of our country, which right now requires the absolute focus of President Buhari and his carefully-selected team to build the Nigeria of our dreams.

    “Unfortunately, this is the path The Punch has chosen and there’s no one to help them but themselves.

    “It is appropriate at this point to dispel the false notion that anyone has tried to undermine the Vice President when he acted in the absence of the President.

    “This, I must say with all emphasis, is utter falsehood.

    “As Acting President, Vice President Osinbajo enjoyed the support of the Villa Staff and the entire cabinet. Otherwise he would not have succeeded and earn the praises of the President. These are just a few among the false and illogical accusations making the COS larger than life, with the aim of pulling him down.

    “No Chief of Staff including this one can create hurdles for a president and survive the next day. The roles and duties don’t warrant the kind of falsehood being spread.

    “When the President was away on the medical vacation, the Chief of Staff rallied the Presidency behind Professor Osinbajo because he knew that his boss,  President Buhari expected nothing less.

    “A careful assessment of some these allegations with a rational mind will show that there is an orchestrated campaign to smear the COS and indirectly the President.

    “If I can speculate on the matter, I will say that the problem Malam Abba Kyari has with most people is that he, like the President he serves, will not throw money at people in order to please them.

    “As COS, Malam has refused to keep cash imprest and has turned down a monthly grant of N200 million customarily given to the office. This is money freely spent because they were not required to account for what they did with it.” he stated

    He urged journalists with questions to ask concerning the President and the Villa administration to always approach the Special Adviser on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, Laolu Akande or himself.

    “Where we don’t have your answers, we are ready to obtain as much as we can, the correct responses to your enquiry,” Shehu  assured.

  • FG spent N1.3trn on capital projects in 2016, says Osinbajo

    FG spent N1.3trn on capital projects in 2016, says Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo said on Monday that the Buhari administration spent N1.3 trillion on capital projects in 2016, the highest in the history of the country.

    Osinbajo disclosed this at a plenary of the 2017 Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) national conference in Lagos with the theme: “African Business: Penetrating Through Institution Building.”

    The sub-theme of the plenary was “Conversations With The Vice-President”, moderated by Miss Zain Asher, a CNN news anchor.

    “The Federal Government spent about N1.3 trillion on capital projects in 2016, the highest in the history of the country.

    “The power sector reform is also ongoing as it is one of the most important sectors in the country,” Osinbajo said.

    Responding to Asher’s questions, Osinbajo said the administration had set a solid foundation for the nation’s economic recovery which, he described, as the most important reform of the administration.

    He said:“We were dealing with a mono-economy (relying on one major export or natural resource) and a financial industry that was essentially opaque.

    “We have set a foundation of rebuilding the economy, creating the Single Treasury Account (TSA), monitoring government’s spending, modifying the tax system to be more efficient and implementing executive orders.”

    According to the vice-president, the administration has also cleared what he described as a mess inherited from the previous administration.

    On whether poor Nigerians in the rural areas have felt the impact of the reforms, Osinbajo said diversification into agriculture had been embraced in most northern states with a lot of transformation.

    “For the economy, we are going to see a tripling in the harvesting of rice, prosperity is returning to some states like Kebbi and Zamfara.

    “The rural areas where the highest level of poverty is experienced, there is a turnaround as the highest number of people who went for 2017  hajj were farmers.

    “There is a lot of export of agricultural products, what we need to do is to engage in more value added exports and we have quite a few investors,” Osinbajo told the conference.

    He noted that agricultural sector had witnessed hi-tech farming and investments with more people taking to farming.

    The vice-president, who also spoke on the efforts of government in tackling corruption and laundering the country’s image, pointed out:“Government ownership of business encourages corruption. The more private sector involvement in businesses, the more efficient the system will be and the less corrupt the system will be.

    “We are currently working on a `one-government system’ to tackle bureaucracy.  For example, if you need five different approvals from five government agencies, under this system communication with one agency is sufficient as all the agencies will liaise with one another.

    “We have introduced technology in a lot of processes. For example, company registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC); tThe less human contact, the less incidences of corruption.

    “We must punish offenders, there must be consequences for offenders, fighting corruption is multi-sectoral and we have to work together.

    “ Convictions on corruption cases have been slow, from my experience as a former prosecutor, getting cases to court is slow, the system allows a lot of inefficiencies.

    “We have to try cases efficiently and secure convictions so people can see the consequences of corruption.”

    Osinbajo stressed the need for collaboration among the three arms of government to make the reforms a success.

    On the initiative get more wealthy Nigerians into the tax net, he said government had introduced the `Beneficial Ownership Scheme’ giving them a 90-day period of grace to disclose their property in order to pay tax or face the full wrath of the law.

    “We have got quite a few wealthy Nigerians approach us to disclose what they own.”

    Osinbajo noted that the global oil crisis had given rise to the promotion of the non-oil sector in the country, pointing out that all over the world, oil was losing its relevance, citing countries such as Japan, China and Britain looking for alternative sources of energy.

    Commenting on business opportunities in the country, the vice-president said: “There are more opportunities for entrepreneurs., imports are more expensive, there are more opportunities for local production.

    “There is no guarantee of immediate prosperity but the opportunities are there. Our commitment is to leave the country with sufficient resources as honestly and efficiently as we possibly can.

    “We are improving the economy, the electricity sector, manufacturing as well as the growth of the business environment.

    “We are committed to running a government that is efficient, serves the people and sensitive to the Nigerian people.

    “These are the projections that we make, the future is certainly bright for the country.”

  • NEC approves community policing, security operatives/intelligence agencies’ synergy

    NEC approves community policing, security operatives/intelligence agencies’ synergy

    The National Economic Council (NEC) has recommended the implementation of community policing and collaboration between security operatives and intelligence community for prompt response to crimes, especially terrorism.

    This is contained in the highlights of the deliberations of its Security Summit last Thursday issued by the Mr Laolu Akande, the Spokesman to the Vice President on Sunday.

    The Summit, presided over by the chair of NEC and then Acting President, also urged prompt action in the arrest and prosecution of perpetrators of terrorist acts, kidnapping and purveyors of hate speeches.

    The presidential directive to the Inspector-General of Police initiating community policing is pursuant to provisions of section 215(3) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended and section 10(1) of the Police Act Cap. P19, LFN 2004.

    He said the retreat highlighted the need for a more effective coordination between the security and intelligence agencies to build a security community that was well synergized.

    He said the meeting noted that without the synergy optimal performance of different security and intelligence agencies might be difficult.

    “The retreat discussed concerns about the delay in the entire criminal justice system and NEC members concluded that prompt action by law enforcement agencies was imperative.

    “To facilitate this, NEC advocated the designation of special courts through collaboration of judicial and executive arms of the Federal and State Governments.

    “The participants agreed that FG should help States to develop a template on how such special courts would be established, and managed,” he said.

    NEC members recognized that the conflict between farmers and herdsmen were essentially a problem of land use, which had however taken an ethnic and religious coloration.

    It was agreed that both the FG and States needed to properly define the problems and eschew the ethno-religious construction of what was otherwise an economic challenge.

    NEC members stated that it would be useful bringing the different herdsmen and the farmers together to discuss and also work out some of the issues that concern them.

    The NEC also criticized hate speech and adopted the directive by the federal government that the issue would be regarded as an act of terror and punished as such.

    Akande added that NEC noted that hate speech was retrogressive and constituted a threat to national unity.

    “On the funding of security agencies, NEC agreed that it was key especially with respect to the provision of equipment.

    “It, however, noted that defense budget and funding for other security agencies of government always formed some of the biggest component of the budget and called for greater accountability of the budget.

    Akande quoted Osinbajo  thanking members of the Council for their “patience and commitment to this whole process, saying it was “not surprising at all because every State Government as you know must be primarily concerned with security”.

    The retreat also commended the Armed Forces, Police and other uniformed forces for their extraordinary professionalism and dedication to the enforcement of law and order, despite the obvious challenges.

  • Thanksgiving for Buhari in Aso Villa Chapel

    Thanksgiving for Buhari in Aso Villa Chapel

    The return of President Muhammadu Buhari to Nigeria from the United Kingdom on Saturday caused celebration at the Aso Villa Chapel on Sunday.

    Worshippers, during the Sunday Service, expressed their joy in songs and dance.

    They sang various songs in Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba languages to give glory to God for healing the President.

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who had acted on behalf of the President for 103 days when Buhari was in the UK on medical ground, was among the worshippers.

    The Aso Villa Chapel’s Administrator, Rev Isaac Ambi, who presided over the service, said the church was happy that the President had a safe return.

    He said “We want to rejoice with our father, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, for the safe return of our President and our father, Muhammadu Buhari. And we also want to thank God on how He has used you in piloting the affairs of Nigeria while the president was away,”

    Prof Durosinmi Etti, urged the worshipers to celebrate the Lord for what He has done in the President’s life.

    He then sang the popular song: “What shall we say unto the Lord, All we have to say is thank you Lord..,” to rejoice with the President.

    Prayers of thanksgiving were also offered in the three major languages by the immediate-past Chairman of the Federal  Civil Service Commission (FCSC), Deaconess Juan Ayo; Reverend Ambi and Mr King Opuru.

    A special ministration with the title: “All Things are Working for My Good” was also rendered by the choir to honour the Lord for spearing President Buhari’s life.

    In his sermon entitled: “What is New for a Christian,” the church Administrator, Rev Ambi, urged everyone who has accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour to continue to live according to the dictate of Christ.

    He cited John 15:1-11 and Psalm 23 in the Holy Bible.

    He said “A Christian life is a matter of relationship; knowing the rules and the regulation. So what is your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ?

    “We are supposed to have a kind of relationship that draws our strength from Jesus Christ,” he said.

    He said that the new things a Christian has include a new position, a new possession, a new product and new focus.

    “As soon as we receive Christ, we will experience the great exchange  according to 2 Corinthians 32. So you have a new position because Jesus has taken the centre stage in your life and that is why a Christian must not engage in shady deals. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says if any man is in Christ, he is a new creature,” he said.

    Conspicuous absent during the service were the Wife of the Acting President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo; the Chaplain of the Aso Villa Chapel, Pastor Seyi Malomo and his wife.