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Tag: Yemi Osinbajo

  • Women not subordinate to men, says Osinbajo

    Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo yesterday urged men to love and honour women.

    He reminded men that women are not subordinate to them.

    According to him, women are created equal with men.

    The Vice-President stated this when he addressed State House correspondents after celebrating this year’s Fathers’ Day at Aso Villa Chapel in Abuja.

    He was joined at the service by his mother, Mrs. Olubisi Osinbajo; Senate Deputy President Ovie Omo-Agege; the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Mr. Boss Mustapha and others.

    Osinbajo said: “I think the responsibility of the father is incredible indeed and I think what is most important is to teach our men, young men growing up, that they must honour women, not just their wives.

    “Of course, you must honour and love your wives, but I think that it is very important that we honour women.

    “We don’t treat them as subordinate to us; they are created equal to men. But most importantly, we must honour them and recognise their role as partners, not just in families, but in society as well.”

    Emphasising that men have important roles to play in the society, Prof Osinbajo said: “It is not the ability to father a child, the ability to have a child that makes you a father; it is the courage to bring up one, the ability to raise one. That’s what really makes you a father. I think the responsibilities of fatherhood are so many, whether one is a biological father or whether one wants to take care for other children.

    “I think that all of us, as men, have a role to play in the life of so many, not just our biological children, but so many of them who have no fathers, even to some who have fathers to whom we have the responsibility to set an example to lead exemplary life, to bring them up as the scripture says: in the way of the Lord.”

    Read Also: Osinbajo receives Indian delegation after Democracy Day celebration

    Ovie Omo-Agege, who earlier took the first reading of the service, from Malachi 1:3-6, said: “It is not what we tell our children but the lives we lead and they see us lead that is important in the life of fathers.”

    He said this would help a lot in the formative years of children and make them responsible members of the society.

    Mustapha said the Fathers’ Day was not about the celebration but a reminder of the role men have to play in their families as physical and spiritual head.

    “It’s not about the celebration; I think it’s a constant reminder about our responsibilities as fathers.

    “We are reminded of the fact that, first, we are the priests of our homes. So, we ought to pray for our families.

    “And when you have children that are aware that as a father, you are praying for them, the chances of their drifting will not be there because they know that the eyes of their father are constantly on them.

    “Constantly, you are reminding God that He has entrusted you with this responsibility and you ought to live up to the responsibility.

    “The second thing is that as fathers, we are supposed to exemplify the life of Christ in the lives of our children because we are just like letters that our children read on a daily basis. It is not about how much we say or what say; it is about our lifestyle.

    “The other reminder is that we are bread winners in our families and we ought to provide for our families.”

    The Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel, Reverend Seyi Malomo, urged fathers to be sensitive to discern any aggression that could harm their families.

    The cleric admonished fathers to lead their children in spiritual exercises, like fasting and prayer, reminding them that their actions have direct implications for their children.

    Prayers were said for President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, the Legislature and the Judiciary in Nigeria.

    The congregation also prayed for unity, peace and progress of Nigeria.

    Highlight of the service was the presentation of gifts to President Buhari, Vice-President Osinbajo, Senate President Ahmed Lawan, House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila and others.

  • Presidency gives task force two more weeks to clear Apapa gridlock

    The presidential task team on the clearing of Apapa Port gridlock has been granted two more weeks to complete its task, The Nation learnt at the weekend.

    The extension followed a full briefing received by the presidency on the activity of the team, which was established following the May 23 directive of President Muhammadu Buhari to truck drivers to clear away from Apapa Port and all access roads and bridges.

    The committee had met with the Vice President at his State House office on June 12.

    Speaking with our correspondent at the weekend, the Vice Chairman of the team, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, said the presidency, happy with the team’s capacity to restore law and order in Apapa, has “graciously agreed to extend its deadline by another two weeks.”

    According to him, the team has restored order on the Western Avenue axis access to the port and concerted effort is ongoing to sanitise the operations of trailers and trucks on the Apapa-Oshodi access and to control activities, especially at the Coconut area to Tin Can.

    He said: “we have concentrating all our attention right now on controlling truck movement on the major truck route into the port, which is the Apapa-Oshodi expressway and work on that axis has been slowed down as a result of the bad state of the road network between Mile 2 and Apapa.”

    Read Also: Repair of Apapa Road begins

    Opeifa said the committee’s activities have been slowed down in the past two days by the rain, which has further worsened the state of road and made access more challenging.

    He however saluted men of the police force led by Police Commissioner Hakeem Odumosu and the Commander MOPOL 40, Bayonle Sulaiman, who has continued to work assiduously to ensure that the situation at the Coconut-Tincan road is brought under control.

    He assured Mr. President that the team would be able to sanitise the access roads and put in place a call-up system coordinated by the Nigerian Ports Authority, to manage the traffic on the roads.

  • Nigeria’s economic incubus

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s declaration at the USA Fair 2019 that Nigeria needs $140 billion external loans to tackle infrastructural decay over the next four years to improve the ease of doing business towards creating more jobs was jolting! This is because the debt tool has become a sensitive economic differentiator between various countries in its treatment as an economic vitamin or a toxin based on stages of development, world view, vision/mission, resource endowment, financial discipline/integrity and debt tactics within their macro-economic management.

    Nigeria’s case in debt need and use has remained controversial between borrowing for consumption and investment for long-term growth which always mirrored the capacity, competence and patriotism of those entrusted with the economy’s management. Thus the statistics and history of Nigeria’s external debts have been confounding, starting with $1 billion in 1977 and $1. 456 billion in 1978 that ballooned with economy-hemorrhaging debt-servicing ratios from less than 1% in 1977 to 8.9% in 1982 and 30.5% in 1983 that continually influenced the pendulous swings of the economy and socio-political stability.

    By 2004, external debt was $35.945 billion and domestic debt was $10.3 billion, totaling $46.2 billion or 64.3% of GDP excluding contractor and pension arrears. After obtaining the $18 billion debt relief by paying $12.4 billion to creditors, external debt was reduced to $3.544 billion while domestic debt increased to $13.8 billion, totaling $17.344 billion with a debt/GDP ratio of 11.8% in August 2006. In August 2011, external debt increased marginally to $5.67 billion while domestic debt soared to $42.23 billion, totaling $47.9 billion. But on June 30, 2015, external debt increased to $10.317 billion and domestic debt galloped to $53.489 billion (FG, $42.633, States, $10.856) totaling $63.806 billion i.e. total debt increased by $46.462 billion ($6.773 billion external, $39.689 billion domestic) or 268% between August 2006 and June 2015!

    This was significant because while Nigeria obtained debt relief when it became unserviceable at $46.2 billion after 29 years with crude oil sales of $48.1 billion annual average during 1999 to 2009, she increased her debt by $46.462 billion to $63.806 billion in only the following nine years! And domestic debt rose “sharpest” by $39.689 billion (85% of the increase!) between 2010 and 2014 when $76.2 billion annual average was earned from crude oil with enough resources to clear arrears and avoid new debts.

    Comparative data between June 2015 and December 2018 (latest DMO data) showed that total debts increased by only 24.5% from $63.806 billion to $79. 437 billion despite 47% decline in crude oil revenue to $40.24 billion annual average between 2015 and 2018. This comprised additional $14.957 billion that increased external debt by 14.5% to $25.274 billion from $10.317 billion while domestic debt increased by 1.3% with $672.72 million from $53.489 billion to $54.162 billion through strategy change: external loans for capital projects and shift to external than domestic loans to reduce interest charges and pressure on the private sector, albeit with exchange rate fluctuation risks along with the new fiscal strategy of more local production than importation for consumption needs and gradual reversal of the trade-over-investment conundrum. Hence, whereas total domestic debt increased by only 1.3% from $53.490 to $54.162 billion, federal government’s share reduced by 2.4% from $42.633 to $41.610 billion while the states/FCT share increased by 24.5% from $10.856 billion to $12.552 billion.

    But it is surprising that despite the rigorous template to check debt increase in the states/FCT in compliance with the Fiscal Responsibility Act and $5.4 billion Paris Club refunds, their debts still increased by $1.695 billion or 24.5%. Overall, domestic borrowing could have been reduced if duplicated functions in MDAs were merged. Also the11,886 “constituency projects” on which N7.78 trillion was wasted is a lingering issue in public revenue mismanagement. Moreover, AMCON seems to have hit the rocks on recovering the N5 trillion debts. Thus, with these cumulonimbus clouds of debt hanging on the public and private sectors, by how much faster can Nigeria walk/work again with her debt-manacled feet or faster economic growth be achieved without pressing dangerous fiscal-measure buttons like reckless public asset sale or sporadic tax/tariff increases?

    Read Also: Cadbury Nigeria wins three HR awards

    This intervention is necessitated by the economic-gloom merchants who ignore the fact that, weakened with the highest debt level in history, Nigerians were living above their means with artificial growth rate by borrowing for consumption pre-June 2015 despite the relatively abundant resources. The recession-led reset to its realistic level, without consumption loan-props, has armed cynics with the Nigeria-is-the-poverty-capital-of-the-world stigma. Thus some quick-fix “experts” started dictating panic 2020 budget fiscal measures to escalate socio-economic tension perhaps unwittingly ahead of the 2020 budget preparation. It is crucial that the Budget Office thinks outside the box by not complicating the economic problems with fiscal measures without their holistic implications for the economy’s fragile status by simplistically exploiting the global statistics of tax revenue to GDP ratio of Nigeria’s 6.1% compared to Egypt’s 15.8%, Kenya’s 18.4%, Ghana’s 20.8% and South Africa’s 26.9% for sporadic tax/tariff increases. This will ignore the fact that the tax/tariff level in each country reflects its economic structure (formal/informal), level of infrastructural development and the need to match the measures with her economic status e.g. a post-recession convalescence.

    Although it is not yet clear if the estimated $140 billion external loans required in the next four years are included in the available global forecast up to 2024, the current estimate of “future gross government debt as % GDP” of 35.885% in 2024 for Nigeria is very handsome compared to Ghana’s 50.204%, South Africa’s 66.465% and Egypt’s 72.758%. But Nigeria’s economic incubus appears to be the inherited $63.806 billion debt which has been unsettling the economic system by increasing the debt/revenue service ratio above 65% along with its several whammies of depriving the nation financial resources for maintaining critical services in many sectors, compelling more domestic borrowing to maintain those services and increasing loans for infrastructural development as it is difficult to trace the assets acquired with the increased $46.462 billion debt and/or their contributions to the GDP since even the privatization proceeds were expended rather than re-invested for infrastructural upgrade/development.

    Hence, a reflexive increase of revenues through taxes and tariffs to reduce domestic borrowing for financing the budget deficit may nominally increase growth but will shrink the post-recession economic base further in real terms due to the inverse relationship between price increase and volume growth. This can undermine the critically needed expansion being marshaled with the diversification into the non-oil sector, scare more potential FDIs and prevent the early conversion of the existing $90 billion FDI MOUs into growth-engineering investments or even trigger their emigration. These are very serious risks! Also, the hyper-tight impact of the TSA and import/export duties collection at the ports and borders on liquidity and pricing along with other monetary measures indicate the risks of increasing taxes and tariffs triggered by the servicing costs on $63.806 billion debt incubus.

    Furthermore, it is crucial to note that if Nigeria did not secure the debt relief that reduced the $35.945 billion external debt to $3.544 billion, it could have ballooned to $100 billion by now with the cyclically re-emerged scenarios of bearish crude oil pricing forecasts regardless of the quantum of increases in taxes and tariffs that would also have triggered an economic collapse. Similarly, unless the pre-June 2015  $63.806 billion debt is addressed possibly through debt restructuring (since 84% of it is domestic) as a lower risk to increases in taxes and tariffs, the growing socio-economic groaning from the stress of this economic incubus will be worsened. This can be done in tandem with further tightening domestic borrowing by states/FCT, recovery of AMCON debts, merger of duplicated functions in MDAs and abolition of “constituency projects”.

    Therefore, it is necessary to give the inherited $63.806 billion debt in June 2015 or 80.32% of total debt in December 2018 the urgent holistic treatment it obliges to reduce the growing level of socio-economic tension. This is because more loans for infrastructural development are needed to support the diversification of the economy into the non-oil sector since Nigeria has no alternative, given the long-term global uncertainty in the oil sector.

     

    • Okunmuyide writes from Lagos.

  • Osinbajo: why we’re celebrating Democracy Day on June 12

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo  on Tuesday spoke on the importance of the June 12 Democracy Day.

    He said the celebration of the day has attested to the President Muhammadu-led administration’s commitment to progressive ideals, “especially as it relates to the political history of the country”.

    Prof Osinbajo gave the explanation when he received at the Presidential Villa, Venezuelan Vice President, Aristobulo Isturiz, who is leading his country’s delegation to Nigeria’s Democracy Day.

    Mr. Isturiz is among world leaders at the head of their countries’ delegation attending the maiden June 12 Democracy Day activities in Abuja.

    Explaining Buhari administration’s beliefs in resolving some of the issues around the annulled June 12, 1993 presidential election, Osinbajo added: “One of the principal issues, politically, was the recognition of that election in 1993 which was won by, now late, Chief MKO Abiola, an important progressive opposition leader.

    “That is why we are celebrating June 12 as our new Democracy Day. So, we are really very happy that you are able to share with us a very special event – the celebration of our new democracy day.”

    On deepening ties between Nigeria and Venezuela, Prof. Osinbajo said: “We believe that the collaboration between our countries in the economy, culture and science, amongst others, will be useful to our people. We need to do a lot as there are many areas for potential cooperation including in agriculture, oil and gas and mining.”

    Read Also: Nigeria set for breakthrough, says Osinbajo

    Isturiz spoke on the need for improved cooperation between both countries, including the auspices of the non-aligned movement, describing Nigeria as an important mobiliser on the African continent.

    Receiving North Korean Vice Premier of North Korea, Mr Ri Ryong Nam, said the potentials for an enhanced cooperation between both countries were enormous.

    Osinbajo said: “I agree that we can work out a more dynamic model of cooperation, especially in agriculture and technology.

    “Food processing is one major area that we can look into. I hope we will be able to advance discussions on cooperation in the identified areas, and there are many other areas where we can deepen this cooperation.”

    The vice premier congratulated Nigeria on the occasion of the country’s Democracy Day.

    He said that his country acknowledged the efforts of the Federal Government under President Buhari to improve the economy and ensure socio-economic stability.

    Mr Ryong Nam said: “I am moved by the efforts made by your government to ensure social stability and unity. Your country has also achieved eye-catching successes, through reforms, in the economy, making Nigeria a leading economy in the region.”

  • Adebanjo, George must work for Yoruba’s interest, says Salvador

    A Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Moshood Salvador, has urged Afenifere leader Ayo Adebanjo and former Deputy National Chairman of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Bode George to work for Yoruba’s unity and progress.

    Salvador, who spoke at a news conference in Lagos, said they should leave the issue of who becomes the president in 2023 to God and stop casting aspersions on illustrious sons of Yorubaland.

    The APC chieftain frowned at their statements attacking the APC stalwart, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, for aspiring to become the president in 2023.

    Salvador said any statement emanating from them were personal, noting that they never represent the interest of the Yoruba people.

    He wondered why the elders, who should be there to guide the youths, were sowing the seed of discord ahead of 2023.

    According to him, all efforts at this point should be to provide the guardian on how those in governments would succeed in their primary responsibility.

    Salvador said it was abnormal for any Yoruba elder to be seen going against the aspiration of any Yoruba person, who wants to become president in 2023.

    He maintained that they should leave the issue of 2023 presidency to God and Nigerians to decide, stressing that “it is God who gives power”.

    Read Also: We’ll protect Yoruba’s interest, says OPC faction

    He said: “Have you ever heard of any derogatory statement from a Northern leader against aspiration of a Northerner in favour of any other aspirant from another region? Have you ever heard of Ohaneze leaders condemning or speaking against the aspiration of another Igbo man?

    “Have you ever heard Edwin Clark or any of the South-South leaders speaking against the aspiration of their son? It is only these Yoruba Afenifere leaders that believe that Yoruba does not deserve good things, claiming to be nationalists. Remember the statement of Baba Abraham Adesanya, ‘I am from Adesanya family before I became an Ijebu man. I am an Ijebu man before a Yoruba man. I am a Yoruba man before a Nigerian and I am a Nigerian before I can be called an African.”

    According to Salvador, the same set of Yoruba elders said Yemi Osinbajo would not be vice president in 2015, “but when God decides, nobody can stop it”.

    He said in 2019, Adebanjo, an Ijebu man from Southwest, and others were busy campaigning for Peter Obi against their son, Osinbajo.

    The APC chieftain noted that if it was the wish of Almighty Allah that a Yoruba man would be president in 2023, nobody would stop it, “not even the Afenifere elders”.

    Salvador said the claim by Adebanjo that no Igbo man had been president since independence was spurious, noting that Nnamdi Azikiwe, the first Nigerian president, was an Igbo man.

    He said Tinubu, an illustrious son of Yoruba land, who apart from Awolowo, took the Southwest to the centre and had also empowered so many Yoruba people, produced captains of industries and political leaders.

  • Kiki Osinbajo writes touching message to father

    Daughter of Prof Yemi Osinbajo, Kiki, has penned a touching note to celebrate her father, vice president of Nigeria, on social media.

    The 26-year-old shared lovely photos as she explained in a lengthy post how much her father means to her and her siblings as she described him as the best dad anyone can ask for. Kiki explained that her father was always available when it comes to showing up for his family on important days even if it was just with a phone call.

    She wrote: “This new place brought our family even closer than ever before. We are so proud of the work you are doing and we are ready to follow you on this next level journey. For the next four years daddy, let’s make history.”

  • You are a hero, Osinbajo hails 83-year-old Muslim cleric who saved Christians

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has described the 83-year-old Muslim Cleric, Imam Abdullahi Abubakar, who saved the lives of hundreds of persons fleeing from attacks by suspected bandits in Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau as a hero.

    The people were fleeing from attacks by suspected bandits.

    Osinbajo’s spokesman, Laolu Akande,  in a statement on Thursday in Abuja,  said the vice president gave the commendation when he received the cleric at the Presidential Villa.

    The vice president received Abubakar; the Village Head, Damafulul Mangai, and other community leaders and a delegation which included diplomats from the US, UK and the European Union.

    Abubakar, who is Hausa and the Chief Imam of a mosque in Yelwan Gindi Akwati village, in the Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, alongside his assistant Umar Abdullahi, who is Fulani, saved the lives of over 200 persons when suspected bandits attacked communities in the LGA.

    The reported attack took place on June 23, 2018, on Yelwan Gindi Akwati, Swei and Nghar villages in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area of Plateau State, where scores of persons were killed by suspected bandits.

    Abubakar reportedly hid and rescued over 200 persons who fled from nearby communities, inside the mosque and in his personal house, until the attackers left.

    Many of those the Muslim Cleric provided shelter for were from the Berom ethnic group which are predominantly Christians.

    REad also: Osinbajo to Saraki: Thanks for not taking advantage of power vacuum

    Reports indicated that Abubakar, on defending “my guests”, insisted that the attackers would have to kill him if they refused his pleas not to attack those he was hiding.

    At a point, the Imam was said to be on his knees and then rolling o the floor to appease the attackers.

    Describing Abubakar’s act as heroic, the Vice President said that the Imam had done so much more to promote peace by his singular acts than most politicians could do and so deserves all the commendation and high honour.

    Osinbajo urged politicians to avoid using religion and tribal sentiment to create division among people, noting that Abubakar had demonstrated to leaders that the way to resolve whatever conflict was not by violence, but a demonstration of love.

    “I commend you for your wonderful act.

    “Imam Abubakar has demonstrated one of the most courageous acts any man can possibly do, by offering his own life, for those who are not people of his own tribe.

    “I have heard a lot of stories in our country, but this is one of the most compelling stories.

    “The love an individual can show for others not from their own tribe or religion, especially in a society like ours where tribe and religion often come to play.”

    The Vice President urged all Nigerians despite tribe and religion to eschew bitterness and embrace peace and harmonious living.

    “It is far easier for people to create religious tensions between Christians or Muslims through their acts or words.

    “And in a community where people have lived together in harmony and peace for so long, it shows how much a little of such tension created, in a matter of hours, can destroy harmony and peace built over the years.”

    Before the attacks, the community had reportedly lived in peace.

    Osinbajo said that most people in Nigeria did not see the differences in tribe or religion, but it was easy to stoke religious tensions and divisions.

    According to him,  one must be careful of those who want to play politics and create differences using religion and tribe as no tribe or religion is superior to another.

    “When people have been wronged, it is always easier for people to accept that revenge or vengeance is the right approach.

    “But as you know, vengeance breeds bitterness and hatred and doesn’t solve the problems created, but causes more deaths and harm.”

    The Vice President said it was wrong for anyone to kill in the name of religion, noting that Abubakar’s incredible act of courage in saving others passed a message to both Christians, Muslims and others of different tribes and religion.

    He said that Abubakar sent a message to Muslims and Christians alike and other ethnic groups that their own lives were as valuable as his own life.

    “This is a very powerful message. Also, by keeping them safe in a mosque, a sacred place; he sent a strong message to Muslims that other religions and lives are equally as important to God.

    “The Imam did not preach this by word but by deeds, love, by putting his life on the line to make a point. That clearly demonstrates to all of us that it is un-islamic to maim or kill people in the name of religion.

    “Like President Muhammadu Buhari said, anyone who says “Allah Akbar”, and then goes to kill someone either does not know his faith or is insane. It is the same in the Christian faith.

    ” The gospel of Jesus Christ says we must first love, even our enemies and those that despitefully use us. And anyone who preaches something different is certainly not speaking from the Bible or the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    “President Buhari also said during his meeting with the Catholic Bishops that all through his life as a public servant, he believes that people should be judged by their character and how they behave, and that everyone must have a right to worship God the way they chose.”

    The Vice President further said the Federal Government would look at further ways to improve the communities in Barkin Ladi, and others affected by ethnic/religious crisis.

    “We will look at how the Plateau State government and the Federal Government can help in the rehabilitation process.

    “Government has been doing this in phases, to restore areas devastated by crisis. But we would look at ways to help further,” he said.

    Abubakar, as well as his deputy, Abdullahi, were recently honoured by the US Embassy in Nigeria, for the heroic deeds.

    Osinbajo said that Abubakar should be celebrated everywhere in the world,, adding that he was  happy that the US Ambassador had honoured him with an award.

    In his remarks, Abubakar, who spoke through an interpreter, thanked the Vice President, noting that he did not want it  publicised.

    He said however, that he felt that God chose him to do what he did to be used as an example.

    The Imam said he told the attackers at some point that they had to kill him first before harming his ‘guests’–that statement dissuaded them.

    “I pleaded with the attackers in the mud and rain not to harm my guests.

    “By God’s grace, no one was hurt. God created mankind differently but he wants us to live together in peace and harmony, and not harm each other. Such incident (the attack) is rare in my community, but I hope such does not happen in my village again,” he said.

    The visit of the delegation at the instance of the U.S. deputy Chief of Mission, comprised of the United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Stuart Symington; Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, David Young.

    Others are the U.S. Embassy official, Kathleen Fitzgibbon; and the German Ambassador to Nigeria, Bernhard Schlagheck(NAN).

     

  • We’ll defend trust reposed on us – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Wednesday night assured that he and President Muhammadu Buhari, will defend the trust Nigerians reposed on them.

    He gave the assurance during the Presidential Inauguration State Banquet in his honour and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    The duo were earlier on Wednesday sworn in for second term in office.

    Osinbajo said those Nigerians best days just begun as the next level administration kicks off.

    He said: “We will defend the trust Nigerians reposed on us. The best years of Nigeria begins today.”

    Osinbajo, disclosed that between 12 midnight Tuesday to 10:30am Wednesday, there was no President and Vice President and commended Senate President, Bukola Saraki for not taking advantage and trying anything funny.

    The Vice President said: “From 12 last night to 10:30am there was virtually no President and Vice President. We were happy that there was no problem.

    “I will like to thank Mr. Senate President for not doing anything funny.” he said

    Many guests had difficulty accessing the venue of the dinner due to traffic jam.

    Read Also: Fayemi congratulates Buhari, Osinbajo, governors

    Some diplomats that managed to get to the old Banquet Hall, were pushed and shoved, as they were told the hall was full to capacity and could not accommodate them.

    Also a toast to the Federal Republic of Nigeria was led by the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole.

    Oshiomhole said those who thought Nigeria will be insurmountable are now having a rethink.

    He said no matter the challenges going through, the sum total is that Nigeria is bigger than her problems.

    Among those at the dinner included the Wife of the Vice President, Dolapo Osinbajo, former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon.

    Others are Senator Ahmed Lawan, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.

    Service chiefs, heads of Ministries Departments and Agencies, royal fathers, diplomatic corps also attended the dinner.

     

     

  • Nigeria’s future is bright – Osinbajo

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Sunday assured that the future is bright for the country.

    He spoke during the 2019 Presidential Inauguration Interdenominational Church Service in Abuja.

    The theme was ‘Setting the nation on higher levels of peace and development in the fear of God’s.

    The Vice President maintained  that Christians are to take the lead in giving hope to others.

    He was confident that the Nigeria’s future is bright.

    He said “Our days will be better and better. This is the reason why I am so confident; our ministry is that of reconciliation.

    “We must not permit anyone to take advantage of the fault lines. Our country stands at the threshold of phenomenal great, the end of the story light and joy.

    “We begin with darkness and confusion but the end of our story is bright, the future of our nation is bright.” he said

    The message was delivered by the Catholic Archbishop of Abuja diocese, Cardinal John Onaiyekan representing the President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Archbishop Augustine Akubeze.

    In a message titled “Let us choose life not death taken from Deuteronomy 30:19, he pointed out that God has set before the nation light and darkness, but that Nigeria should choose light for peace and development.

    He thanked God that Nigeria has remained in peace despite the build up to the 2019 general elections.

    According to him, it is now time for all Nigerians to pull their efforts together towards tackling the security and other challenges facing the nation.

    He also noted that it is not time to be pointing accusing fingers as it will not carry Nigeria far.

    Warning that the ranks of the poor are swelling in the land, he said that it has led to increased anger and criminality.

    Stressing that all hope is not lost, he said that it is an opportunity for the country to change its ways, especially as God has blessed Nigeria with adequate resources.

    Nigerians, he said, must have a change of hearts from the top to the bottom.

    He warned that Nigerians should be on guard against those that seek to manipulate religion for their selfish interest and not to be allowed to destroy the nation.

    Noting that Nigeria has been dancing on the brink of chaos, he said that there is need for drastic change of government system.

    He said “This inter-denominational Christian service is an important agenda on the complex programme of events marking the transition from one tenure of government to the next, the inauguration of the second term of our president and his team. We are gathered as Christians in this Holy space, as we place ourselves before the Throne of God’s Grace, praying for ourselves, for our nation, and in a special way for all those whose duty it is to lead our nation in the way of peace, harmony and prosperity. May the Lord hear our prayers. Amen.

    “First, we have to thank God. It is the christian thing to do, I all circumstances 1 Timothy 2:1-2. We thank God that, despite much fears and anxieties, we have arrived at this stage in relative peace. The last elections have left behind thick clouds of acrimony that are still to clear. We are still waiting for the final verdict of the tribunals, on which we now rely, in all spirit of peaceful contest, guided by the rule of law.

    “We thank God who has led us thus far. This is no time for celebration of victory or for lamentation over defeat. Rather, it is time to pull efforts together, with the grace of God, to tackle the serious challenges before us.

    “At this moment, we would do well to acknowledge our failure to do things in the right way. Here the words of the psalmist should challenge each of us: “If you Oh Lord should mark our guilt, who would survive?”

    “The blame game of pointing accusing fingers at others will not carry us far. For a positive change to take place, we must all be ready for a sincere change of heart, from the lowest to the highest, but especially at the highest levels. Empty boasts and bare-face denial of the realities around us cannot  build a nation.

    “We are in the house is God, and before God we must tell the truth. The Lord Jesus has told us that “The Truth will make us free.” The truth is that our nation is not in a state for us to rejoice.

    “The ranks of the poor are swelling by the day, hopeless and helpless, as they watch in frustration the affluence of the very few cruising in a different world. Such wide socio-economic disparity has led to anger, tension, violence and outright criminality in the land. All is not well.

    “But all is not lost either. As we embrace a new term of government, it should be for us a new opportunity to change ways and review habits of governance, for a better Nigeria. We can and we should do this. God has endowed us with adequate resources to achieve this, resources that we unfortunately turn into crises and problems. Ethnicity and religion are two cases in point.

    “At this moment, we should do well to acknowledge our failure to do things the right way. Here the words of the Psalmist should challenge each of us ” I’d you oh Lord should mark guilt, who would survive?” The blame game of pointing accusing fingers at other will not carry us far. For a positive change to take place, we must all be ready for a sincere change of heart, from the lowest to highest, but especially at the highest levels. Empty boast and bare faced denials of the realities around us can not build the nation.

    “We are in the house of God, and before God we must tell the truth. Th Lord Jesus has told us that ”The truth will make us free”. The truth is that our nation is not in a state for us to rejoice.

    “The ranks of the poor are swelling by the day, hopeless and helpless, as they watch in frustration the affluence of the very few cruising in a different world. Such wide social economic disparity has led to anger, tension, violence and outright criminality in the land. All is not well.

    “But all is not lost either. As we embrace a new term of government, it should be for us a new opportunity to change ways and review habits of governance, for a better Nigeria. We can and we should do this, God has endowed us with resources to achieve this, resources that we unfortunately turn into curses in point.

    “Our ethnic diversity is God’s will and gift that we ought to appreciate and celebrate. We should beware of those who seek to manipulate this in a game of divide and rule, for selfish interests.

    “In our emerging global world, we should be building on our long experience of living together across ethnic lines, if we are not to allow ourselves to be left behind in our fast developing modern world.

    “We are living in a world where many are abandoning faith in God, at great cost to humanity now and in the future. We do well to commend ourselves for our generally high level and of religious fervor.But if this is to translate into a righteous nation, we must all seek the will of God for good human relations.

    “This cuts across our religious differences and affiliations. Religion is good, but not enough. It is useful, and can even be worse than useless. If it does not promote good humma behaviour.(James 1: 27). We cannot deceive God. We may, by our human failure, give religion a bad name. But God will always be the Holy and Religious One.

    “Religion evoke a strong emotions that ought to be deployed for solving the ills of our nation, not compound them. Those who manipulate religion for their selfish political interest end up destroying religion and harming the nation.

    “Our constitution is not perfect. But it’s basic provisions about freedom of religion are valid and must be scrupulously respected by all, especially by those who control state instruments of corrosion.

    “The greatest of God’s gift to us, life itself, is in danger all over our land. Gunmen- and women-unknown and known- have been sowing death, destruction and misery almost everywhere. Property, well-being, harmony and peace are endangered by generalized insecurity.

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    “Before God, this is the truth and not political propaganda mounted to discredit the government. The nation must be mobilized to join hands to face the disaster looming over all of us.” he said

    He added “Again, here we must tell the truth. For too long, we have been seeing what seems to be a policy of polarazation of the nation along primordial fault lines of ethnicity and religion. The result is that we have been indulging in the risky game of ’dancing on the brink of chaos’.

    “We do not know for how long we can continue to get away with this. But the handwriting on the wall is quite clear for all who care to see. It is sad that no condition is permanent: certainly not the present state of our nation.

    “In this new term of office, there is need for a drastic change of government system, if our nation is to be saved from imminent chaos. The sad fact is that many have already lost all hope in the future of this nation. According to them, we are to get ready for the worst.

    “Frightful conspiracy theories are making the rounds in the social media., shaping and twisting the attitudes and minds of many people. In this situation, the serious warnings from well-intentioned wise elders should not be ignored, less still denigrated without due respect.

    “There are, we hope, many more people who still believe in our ability to build a united nation under God, and thus to realise the dream of our constitution. Doing nothing but complaining and pointing accusing fingers at others is to wait for the worst to happen.

    “The positive and responsible option is to stand up to be counted and get involved in building the nation of our dreams. The Lord has put before us a choice between death and life. He urges us to choose life, for our own good and for His greater glory.

    “Let us end on a note of prayer. We pray for the wisdom and the courage to regain and strengthen our sense of national cohesion, in the midst of dangerous rumours of war and chaos, from within and from outside our national borders. It is God’s will that his children live in security in this land of ours.

    “We pray that all those whose duty it is to keep us safe will do their duty, with no more excuses or compromises.

    “We pray for Mr President. May he live up to the Christian and Muslim principle that all authority and power belong to God, and must be exercised under his will. May he be liberated from bad advisers and unhelpful associates.

    “May he see the wisdom of bringing on board every segment of the nation., for an improved sense of belonging, without which the problems of the nation. Will not be successfully addressed. God has given us a beautiful nation and wonderful people. May he give us the wisdom and the good will to make a success of it.”

    The former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, urged Nigerians to continue to love the country and defend it in whatever way they could.

    The first scripture reading was taken by Justice John Isoho from Habakkuk 3:16-19

    The second scripture reading was taken from Revelations 4:1-11 by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.

    Intercessory prayers were said for the nation, the President, vice President, other executive members, the legislature, judiciary and the unity of the church.

    There were also special rendition by the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Mass Choir, the Nigerian Tenors, and NCCN Mass Choir.

    Those who attended the service included wife of the Vice President, Dolapo, the former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.

    Others included service chiefs among other dignitaries.

  • Youths sue for participation in governance

    A gathering of 100 most influential Nigerian young leaders has called for more active youth participation in politics.

    The youth leaders took this stance at the Democracy Youth Roundtable 2019, hosted by The Central Working Committee, which held in Abuja on Thursday May 23rd.

    Among the special invitees were Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; Executive Director, YIAGA Africa, Mr. Samson Itodo; and the CEO Connected Development, Hamzat Lawal.

    Speaking at the occasion, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Barr. Boss Mustapha, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, OSGF, Festus Daudu, urged the youth leaders to come up with useful suggestions to assist the government in policy directions as concerning youth participation in governance.

    “This gathering could not have come at a better time,” he stated.

    “There are agitations in various quotas for increase of youth’s participation in the nation’s democratic process at all levels.

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    “With the Not Too Young To Run Act now in place, it has been observed that the concluded February 2019 elections witnessed tremendous increase in the number of youths that participated at all levels compared to previous elections.

    “This in itself is a good development indicating that better days and opportunities are bound for our youth.

    “I would also like to urge the youths to reciprocate the good gesture of President Muhammadu Buhari, who accented to the Act, which is in line with the administration’s change and next level agenda by presenting themselves in a matured manner as they participate in the democracy.”