The Presidential Task Force for the Control of Coronavirus (COVID-19) says it has not received any money from the funds donated by the private sector towards the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, a member of the task force, disclosed this on Friday when he appeared on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum to give update on the activities of the force in the fight against the pandemic.
Mohammed expressed dismay over reported calls by some non-governmental organisation seeking the probe of the task force over the deployment of funds gathered from the donations.
“We have not received even one kobo; people want us probed for how we spent monies we have not even seen,” he said.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had similarly called for the disbandment of the task force to be replaced by eminent Nigerians to manage the donations from the private sector and palliatives from the Federal Government.
Mohammed said that such criticisms were unfounded.
“I can say without any fear that as of this moment, the task force has not receive a kobo from anybody.
“The only money we will be able to account for is whatever money we receive from the Federal Government.
“The Nigeria Economy Group-led private sector has said it is not going to give a penny to the task force; it says it will only raise the money and ask us what our needs are,” he explained.
Mohammed said that the task force had already compiled the needs.
“We have asked for more equipment and facilities, especially for those who might test positive to the virus,” he said.
“We anticipate a spike in the number of people that will test positive but there should be no cause for alarm.
“What we need now are equipment and bed facilities where those who have tested positive can be admitted because we do not want a situation where there will be no bed space.
“When people test positive, it depends on the stage. If it is mild, such persons do not need to go to hospital. It can still be managed at the isolation centres.”
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently said that monetary contributions by the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) had totaled up to about N15 billion so far.
According to its spokesperson, Isaac Okorafor, the fund, domiciled in an account set up under CACOVID, has so far received donations from 37 donors including individuals, banks and other corporate organisations.
Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, on Thursday, signed the Diseases Emergency Prevention Regulations 2020.
This is in a bid to enforce the lockdown order with a view to preventing the spread of coronavirus in the state as the state coronavirus cases jumps to 20 today.
Oyetola noted that he made the prevention order in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and other relevant provisions of the State of Osun Public Health Law.
The law is aimed at preventing and containing the spread of coronavirus anywhere within the territories of Osun State.
Following the signing of the law, anybody who violates the sit-at-home order will be sentenced to six-month imprisonment or an option of a fine upon conviction.
Under the law, transmission or dissemination of false information regarding coronavirus is also an offence and it attracts the same punishment.
Similarly, the promotion of unverified, untested, or unapproved cures, vaccines or other similar items that purport to cure, alleviate or reduce instances of persons infected with coronavirus, also constitutes an offence and offenders, upon conviction, will be liable to six-month imprisonment or an option of fine.
“The governor may direct the removal of a potentially-infectious person, where such a person fails or refuses to go to a place specified for screening and assessment. The governor may direct a potentially-infectious person within a local area, to go into isolation for an initial period of 14 days,” parts of the emergent regulations read.
Signing the regulations, the governor said: “It has become imperative to go beyond making suggestions and giving directives in order to stem the tide of the spread of Covid-19, save lives, reduce ill-health and ensure that the economy in which the people of the state of Osun operate does not become weakened and stretched.
“I make the following regulations for the good order, safety, security and public health in the State of Osun.”
The management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu has reacted to the peaceful demonstration by the nurses demanding for sufficient protective materials, disclosing that the State Multi-sectoral Rapid Response Team including the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) WHO, UNICEF, other development partners and philanthropists have provided enough quantities of those materials for which the nurses demonstrated.
A joint statement by the management of the hospital, leadership of the nurses in the institution and Chairman of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Ben Asogwa, stated that "these nurses were a few who were apprehensive of their frontline status in the management of COVID-19 pandemic".
While regretting the incident, the hospital management and leadership of the nurses assured the public that they will continue to render health services at the highest level of care as has been the case.The management of Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Enugu has reacted to the peaceful demonstration by the nurses demanding for sufficient protective materials, disclosing that the State Multi-sectoral Rapid Response Team including the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) WHO, UNICEF, other development partners and philanthropists have provided enough quantities of those materials for which the nurses demonstrated.
A joint statement by the management of the hospital, leadership of the nurses in the institution and Chairman of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), Comrade Ben Asogwa, stated that "these nurses were a few who were apprehensive of their frontline status in the management of COVID-19 pandemic".
While regretting the incident, the hospital management and leadership of the nurses assured the public that they will continue to render health services at the highest level of care as has been the case.
The statement read; “The Management of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital Parklane, Enugu in conjunction with the leadership of the Nurses of the same institution regret what happened today regarding nurses who were demonstrating.
“These nurses were a few who were apprehensive of their frontline status in the Management.
“The Enugu State Multi-Sectoral Response Team including NCDC, WHO, UNICEF, other development partners and philanthropists have provided enough quantities of those materials for which the nurses were demonstrating.
“We assure the public that the hospital will continue to render health services at the highest level of care as has been the case.”
The deposed Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi, has filed a legal suit against the Inspector General of Police and the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) over his post-dethronement detention and confinement.
Sanusi’s lawyers led by Lateef Fagbemi filed the suit on Thursday before the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Also named as respondents in the suit are the Attorney-General of Kano State and the Attorney-General of the Federation.
Sanusi asked the court for an interim order releasing him “from the detention and or confinement of the respondents and restoring the applicant’s rights to human dignity, personal liberty, freedom of association and movement in Nigeria, (apart from Kano State) pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s originating summons.”
Sanusi was dethroned on Monday by Kano State Government. He has been in detention since then in Awe, a town in Nasarawa State.
The Chinese coronavirus, a cousin of the SARS virus, whichhas claimed over 1,000 lives since the outbreak began in Wuhan, China, in December has finally been given an official name.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) made this known on Tuesday, February 11, 2020.
The deadly disease was dubbed 2019-nCoV, which means it is a novel (new) type of coronavirus discovered in 2019, but this is just a temporary placeholder.
Other unofficial, potentially inaccurate, names for it have emerged, including the China coronavirus, Wuhan coronavirus and even 'snake flu'.
However, speaking with newsmen in Geneva, Switzerland, WHO head, Tedros Ghebreyesus, said; “Covid-19” would be the new official name for the deadly coronavirus.
He explained that ‘co’ stood for ‘corona’, ‘vi’ for ‘virus’ while ‘d’ for ‘disease’.
Former Group Executive Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr Chris Ogiemwonyi, has rolled out his nine-point agenda that would serve as major pillars of development blue print if elected as next Governor of Edo.
Ogiemwonyi, a former minister of State for works, stated this on Saturday in Benin in an interview with newsmen.
Ogiemwonyi said that his administration would guarantee security of lives and property and accord positive recognition for the welfare of people with disabilities
He said that he would offer the state functional education that would ensure construction and equipping of model schools and preventive healthcare delivery.
He listed others to include, agricultural development, solid mineral development, infrastructural development, effective public service delivery, sports development and rural-urban development.
He promised to effectively diversify the huge potential of the state in mineral resources, rich agriculture, oil and gas, arts and crafts, other natural endowments and the strategic location of the state.
He said all those would be geared towards making the state the commercial hub of the South South region of the country and, by extension, the country in general.
He added that youth employment would be accorded a priority while the fight against poverty would be vigorously pursued by his government.
On the crisis rocking the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ogiemwonyi said that leaders and stakeholders of the party were desperately waiting for the reconciliation committee headed Senate President Ahmed Lawan.
Speaking further on the move by various regions and geo political zones to set up their own security outfits in the wake of increasing cases of insecurity across the country, Ogiemwonyi said there was the need for states and regions to have a rethink.
He said that the measure had the potential of spelling doom as the outfits could be tools in the hands of politicians and highly placed individuals to deal with opponents.
He further warned that the consequences of formation of the regional or separate security outfits would scare investors in most states where they exit as it had the potential of serving as “a new and dangerous concept in terrorism”.
The former NNPC boss also called on Gov. Godwin Obaseki to institute a probe committee to thoroughly look into the alleged recent bombing of residential buildings and offices of some leaders and members of the ruling party in the state.
He said that the state government must take steps towards nipping such ugly trends in the bud as such constituted “an index of insecurity”.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, February 6, announced September 19 for the Edo 2020 Governorship election.
As the governorship election in Edo state gets closer, Governor Godwin Obaseki on Thursday, February 6, unveiled his campaign office and van, with a message urging Edo citizens to vote for "Dynamism in Governance".
It was gathered that the new campaign office is located at the former Prest Casino Night Club at Airport Road, Benin City.
The old one used in 2016 was located in G.R.A.
Appear to be missing on the campaign van is the logo of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and this could be due to the recent crisis rocking the Edo state chapter of the party.
The rift is between Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki and the APC National Chairman Oshiomhole and it seems not to be ending anytime soon.
The APC had on November 18, 2019 set up a 10-member committee headed by Lawan to resolve crises among its members.
However, Obaseki, during an interview with an online newspaper website called for the dissolution of the committee, which among others, was saddled with the responsibility of resolving the dispute between the governor and the National Chairman, Mr Adams Oshiomhole.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Thursday, February 6, announced September 19 for the Edo 2020 Governorship election.
Investors did not stage any protest at the Lagos office of late trado-medical expert, Fatai Yusuf, popularly called Oko Oloyun, residents have told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
Oko Oloyun, 43, was killed by unidentified gunmen last Thursday on his way to Oyo State. He has since been buried according to Islamic rites.
Residents around the Igando area where the office is located told NAN reporter that the deceased was a generous philanthropist during his lifetime.
They also said they were not aware that some of the people who invested in his Ponzi scheme called `Option C’ ever staged a protest thereafter his untimely death.
Reports had said that some of those who had invested in a Ponzi scheme called ‘Option C’ allegedly sponsored by the deceased staged a protest in front of the deceased’s office demanding a refund.
They were alleged to have threatened to stage another protest on the day of the ‘fidau’ prayer in memory of the deceased.
Segun Rasheed, a commercial motorcyclist around the area, said he had been transporting passengers to the office on a daily basis since his demise and had never come across a gathering of people claiming that they were duped and wanted their money back from any scheme.
“I did not notice anything out of the ordinary since Yusuf’s death. The area has been calm and his office locked temporarily because of his death,” he said.
Festus Ogunwale, an artisan, claimed that he was aware of the Ponzi scheme but that he never participated because he did not believe in gambling.
Iyabo Ramon, a petty trader, said she was not aware that the deceased was running any Ponzi scheme alongside the herbal products he was selling to his customers.
Fatiya Ogunsola, another petty trader who sells fruits around the place, said she never noticed any protest after Oko Oloyun’s death.
Documentary on Oshiomhole’s `dark side’ out Jan. 30 – Ex-speaker
The immediate past speaker of the Edo State House of Assembly, Alhaji Kabiru Adjoto, says he is set to release a three-hour documentary, “exposing Mr Adams Oshiomhole’s dark waters.’’
But the Oshiomhole camp says the former Edo governor has done no wrong.
Speaking in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin on Monday, Adjoto said the documentary would be showed to the public on Jan. 30 in Abuja.
Adjoto, who descried Oshiomhole as his long-time political confidant, said the documentary would expose Oshiomhole’s “dirty malfeasance in his days as governor of Edo State.
He said that the documentary was part of his planned nationwide campaign against Oshiomhole, who is currently the national chairman of the ruling APC.
Adjoto disclosed that the three-hour documentary highlighted some shady deals allegedly carried out by Oshiomhole in Edo’s Central Hospital contract and the N30 billion Benin Storm Water project.
The former speaker named other questionable projects executed during the Oshiomhole era as the airport road contract and some other transactions, handled by Oshiomhole at the tail end of his administration.
“The problem I have with Oshiomhole is not personal but a disagreement over reversal of initially professed democratic principles.
“Every atom of principle he preached and benefited from is a sharp contrast to what he is championing today.”
Adjoto claimed that he had the backing of critical APC stakeholders, including seven governors, whom he said, had thrown their weight behind the ‘Oshiomhole must-go-campaign, which he said, would hit the streets soon.
Commenting on the forthcoming Edo APC governorship primaries, the APC chieftain reiterated that any team sent by Oshiomhole to conduct the primaries would be vehemently rejected.
He said that the rejection of Oshiomhole was because the APC national chairman had been suspended from the party and that he lacked constitutional powers to preside over any affair of the party.
“Oshiomhole should be ready for a Zamfara showdown in Edo State if he makes any attempt to spearhead the primary process because he is behind the crisis bedeviling the party in Edo State.’’
He said that Oshiomhole’s suspension from the party had been ratified in his ward, local government and the state’s executive committee of the party.
The former lawmaker noted that the incumbent, governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, must enjoy the right of first refusal during the primaries, otherwise the process would be enmeshed in catastrophe.
He disclosed further that he would be meeting with notable traditional rulers in Oshiomhole’s senatorial zone, including the Otaru of Auchi, to inform them of the looming consequences that would face the “suspended national chairman of the party if he failed to retrace his steps.
“Without mincing words, the next few weeks will be very interesting.
“After the release of the Oshiomhole documentary, Nigerians would judge if he’s qualified to lead a party, whose principal trademark is fighting corruption,” Adjoto added.
He advised the four APC governorship aspirants against falling into what he called “Oshiomhole’s crafty political web’’.
Adjoto said he would meet with the aspirants to make them see reason to queue behind Obaseki for the common good of Edo people.
But reacting to allegations of fraud against Oshiomhole, a member of the Oshiomhole camp, Mr Henry Idahagbon, said that Obaseki and the current Secretary to the Edo Government, Mr Osarodion Ogie, should also be included in any fraud charge against Oshiomhole.
Idahagbon, who was Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice during Oshiomhole’s administration said that every project executed during Oshiomhole’s era was approved by Obaseki as the chairman of the administration’s economic team.
He said that the contracts cited by Adjoto were over 90 per cent completed by Oshiomhole before he left office, dismissing accusations against the APC national chairman as unfounded.
Edo State is set for governorship elections in August this year. (NAN)
Imo State Governor-elect, Hope Uzodinma, has directed all financial institutions where state funds are held not to honour any draft till further notice.
Uzodinma’s order comes hours after the Supreme Court on Tuesday ousted Emeka Ihedioha and ordered that he be sworn in as governor.
Director-general of Senator Hope Uzodinma campaign organization, Cosmos Iwu, wrote in a letter addressed to the regional directors and managers of all the financial institutions in Imo that no withdrawal should be made on all accounts of the state domiciled in their banks till further directive.
“Following the Supreme Court judgment of 14 January 2020, I am directed by his excellency, Senator Hope Uzodinma to take this as your authority/instruction to place a post no debit order on all accounts of the Imo state government maintained in your various institutions,” the letter said.
“You are by this letter directed to comply and await further instruction from the office of His Excellency, the executive governor of Imo state. Thanks for your cooperation.”
The governor-elect of Imo State, Sen. Hope Uzodinma, has said that his stolen mandate has been recovered following Supreme Court judgement that annulled the election of Emeka Ihedioha.
Uzodinma, who spoke through his spokesperson, Declan Emelumba, shortly after the apex court declared him the duly elected governor of the state said that the court had demonstrated bravery.
The governor-elect accused the Peoples Democratic Party of not having good plans for the state.
He said, “The Supreme Court has declared Sen. Hope Uzodinma as the duly elected governor of Imo State. The beautiful thing is that our stolen mandate has been recovered.
“The governor will arrive in Imo State on Wednesday and he will address the people of the state. He has better plans for the people of the state. He is experienced and the state is in for good things.”
Several people have been arrested in Iran in connection with last week’s shooting down of a Ukraine International Airlines flight with 176 people on board.
“We conducted intensive investigations and several people were arrested in connection,’’ said Justice Ministry spokesperson, Gholam-Hussein Ismaili, according to the Isna news agency.
He did not say which divisions or organisations employed those arrested.
He added that the case is complicated and has many dimensions that must be investigated before a result can be reached.
Iranian President Hassan Rowhani also demanded a seamless investigation.
“This case is no normal case and has to go before a special court and investigated thoroughly by multiple experts,’’ he said, renewing his calls for a complete probe.
He said the investigation must be conducted transparently and, regardless of the findings, made public, with those responsible for the attack on the plane brought to justice.
“We have to make sure that this kind of tragedy never happens in our country again,’’ he said.
Rowhani also said he could not accept a version of events in which one person “who pushed a button’’ is solely responsible for the accident.
He said multiple agencies would have to share the blame which would be apportioned by the investigation.
He said the point is not simply justice for the dead in the plane, but to guarantee security in Iran in the future.
He said he deeply regretted the incident and had already spoken to the leaders of the countries affected by the attack, promising them a thorough investigation.
Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Monday brought Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano and the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II together when he visited the palace of the Emir.
Osinbajo, who was in Kano State on a one-day working visit was described by Ganduje as a “son of the soil”.
The Vice President was to commission a number of laudable road projects that were completed by the governor. He also laid the foundation stone for the first state-owned Cancer Centre in Nigeria.
On arriving Kano, the Vice President was received by the Governor and other senior members of the Kano State Government.
He then commissioned the interchange connecting Kano to Katsina state. The interchange will solve the problem of traffic jam in the area.
Osinbajo then went on to commission the 2km long Aminu Dantata flyover which cuts across one of the biggest markets in Africa – the Sabon Gari market.
He also laid the foundation of the Shahuci flyover, underpass and tunnel linking the Murtala Mohammed Hospital main building to the Emergency building located in the old Kano city with a 100 years old primary school.
The Vice President then proceeded to the palace of the Emir of Kano, Muhammad Sanusi II where he was treated to a rapturous welcome by residents of Kano. He was accompanied by the governor, whom many media reports had claimed to have fallen out with the emir. “This is an act of God to have Emir of Kano and Governor Ganduje under the same roof, especially in the palace,” said Abdullahi Sani, a resident of Kano.
Shortly after they were received by the Emir, Governor Ganduje declared that the Vice President was a “son of the soil” to the delight of everyone in the palace.
The Emir also showered praises on the Vice President noting that he always visited the palace whenever he was in the state of Kano.
Remains of 141 victims of 1994 Rwandan genocide against Tutsi have so far been exhumed from mass graves at Rubavu airstrip in the western part of the country, a local official said.
The official said the bodies were exhumed since the search started on Monday.
The search started after casual labourers at the airstrip, who were digging water channels dug out human remains on Saturday, Pacifique Ishimwe, Rubavu District Vice Mayor said on Thursday.
“With the help of excavators, we have so far exhumed remains of about 141 people from mass graves but the search continues,” she said.
On the first day of the search, remains of 28 victims, including that of women were exhumed from two separate mass graves adjacent to Rubavu airstrip and district stadium.
She said the women were buried with babies strapped on their backs.
She appealed to the public to come forward with information which could help in identifying the names of the victims who were buried in the mass graves.
Genocide survivors said in late April 1994 during the genocide, several Rwandans of Tutsi ethnic group were led to the stadium called Umuganda, where they were killed.
Remains of genocide victims are still being discovered in different parts of Rwanda two decades after the wanton massacres.
Rwanda’s National Commission for the fight against Genocide (CNLG), said in 2009 that government was considering use of ground penetrating radar to locate mass graves for remains of the genocide victims in order to give them a befitting burial.
In 2018 and 2019, the remains of 118,049 genocide victims were discovered in 17 districts of the country, according to CNLG.
About one million people, mainly Tutsi and moderate Hutus, were killed in the 1994 genocide against Tutsi which lasted 100 days.
It was a bitter pill to swallow as an unidentified woman embarrassed a lady after accusing her of having an affair with her husband.
The incident occurred at the Ikeja Shopping Mall on Jan. 4.
A video posted on twitter handle of “@khaleedtailors” explained it all as the accused lady could not utter a word or respond to the woman’s allegations.
According to reports, the woman accosted the lady after several warnings to leave her husband alone.
The incident got messier as the woman pulled off the lady’s wig to provoke her reaction but she still could not say a word to the woman.
She also called her a husband snatcher, yet, she kept her cool.
Mad o!!! this is tu early 4 2020 abeg: A woman humiliated her husband side chic in Ikeja Shopping Mall. But this is wrong!..u can't jst confront people in ds manner. Even if her story is true..instead of confronting d Lady,she should have confronted her man..#Chioma Vs #Sophia
Mad o!!! this is tu early 4 2020 abeg: A woman humiliated her husband side chic in Ikeja Shopping Mall. But this is wrong!..u can't jst confront people in ds manner. Even if her story is true..instead of confronting d Lady,she should have confronted her man..#Chioma Vs #Sophiapic.twitter.com/WeuniBbanV
— khaleed Tailor Networks 🇳🇬 (@khaleedtailors) January 2, 2020
A beautiful lady on social media identified as Kaylen Ward, has been tagged an Angel after she used a creative way to get people to donate money for the victims of wildfires in Australia.
Ms. Kaylen, a sex worker, offered to send her n* des to people who donate at least 10$ to fundraiser for the victims of wildfire in Australia.
“I’m sending n* des to every person who donates atleast $10 to any one of these fundraisers for the wildfires in Australia. Every $10 you donate = one nude picture from me to your DM. You must send me confirmation that you donated,” she tweeted.
Kaylen, whose social media followers has skyrocketed to over 40,000, was able to use her body to draw donations from around the world after her tweet goes viral with thousands of retweets.
As at the time of filing this report, the lady has been able to to raise over $60,000 (over twenty-one million naira) in 24 hours to the wildfire victims.
Social media is full of stories of community members offering generosity and support to devastated communities.
Australia is burning and being ravaged by the worst bushfire season the country has seen in decades.
The deadly wildfires, which have been raging since September, have already burned about 5 million hectares of land and destroyed more than 1,500 homes.
At least 23 people are dead, including at least three volunteer firefighters, and more are missing. More than 1,000 houses have been destroyed, hundreds more damaged.
Mass evacuations are continuing across the lower half of Australia’s eastern coast due to devastating bushfires, with potentially catastrophic conditions expected later this week.
More than a dozen towns in the states of New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria have been ordered to evacuate, including popular tourist areas and national parks, causing massive traffic queues and petrol and supply shortages.
There is growing global and celebrity support for bushfire fundraising efforts, with the reality TV star Kim Kardashian West among those lending support by sharing social media links on how to donate.
I’m sending nudes to every person who donates atleast $10 to any one of these fundraisers for the wildfires in Australia. Every $10 you donate = one nude picture from me to your DM. You must send me confirmation that you donated. Please RT #AustraliaOnFire #AustraliaFires
A vigilante group at Manyare village, near Kotonkarfe town, have reportedly killed four suspected kidnappers operating on Abuja-Lokoja highway.
According to report, three among the kidnappers were arrested at the scene while attempting to escape into the bush and were later handed over to the Nigerian Army.
Seven AK 47 rifles were recovered from the kidnappers alongside the motorcycles they used in operating.
It was gathered that the incident happened around 6.37 am on Tuesday, December 31, when the vigilante on patrol along the axis encountered the kidnappers.
When Ronald Reagan invoked ‘a shining city on a hill’ or George H.W Bush “a thousand points of light,” their words were engraved on the public’s consciousness as signatures to their personal beliefs and a catalyst for political action.
All through the year, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s messages have consistently aligned with this administration’s broad goals, reflecting his personality and rhetorical expertise.
His speeches are always tailored to inspire and unite our county, revealing our challenges, hopes, dreams and temperature as a nation, as much as they do the wisdom and perspective of the leader speaking them.
Presidential speeches are often remembered for one great phrase, memorable line, or oratorical flourish that makes its way into the history books; rather they should be seen as more than collections of memorable words – in fact, as documents of their time and place.
This year, Vice President Osinbajo touched every nook and cranny of Nigeria and beyond, spreading messages of hope and consolidation to the people and the international community. These speeches have become much more than words and are worthy of holding unto and it is significant to put the spotlight on these expressions as we yearn for a better country and a prosperous new year ahead.
But beyond his speeches and remarks during his visitations and attendance at events, there is the other aspect of Prof. Osinbajo’s engagements both as Nigeria’s quintessential Vice President and a revered Man of God, that portrayed his personality and disposition to life– his body language. There were occasions where Prof. Osinbajo’s presence alone defined his character, the focus of the administration, carrying messages, stronger, louder and with more conviction than words could portray.
FIRST QUARTER, 2019
Typical of an electioneering season, the Vice President started the year 2019 (continuing from where he stopped in 2018, campaigning for the APC ahead of the 2019 general elections) with visits to important stakeholders ahead of the general elections, One of such visits was a courtesy call on the Palace of the Gbagii of Saki, Oyo state. There he reassured the people of Oke-ogun about President Buhari’s plan to bring more development to the town – from power, to the trans-border market, roads, railways and the establishment of a federal university or polytechnic.
On January 13, He joined in the annual tradition of remembering and honoring our departed Armed Forces heroes. At the interdenominational church service for 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day celebration, he thanked God for giving us men and women ready to obey the call to fight and if need be, die for our country. He sent his gratitude and prayers to the fallen heroes’ loved ones, assuring that they did not die in vain.
On 15th January, the Vice President joined President Buhari, service chiefs and other dignitaries to lay wreaths at the National Arcade, at an event that climaxed the 2019 Armed Forces Remembrance Day event.
The month of February, for the Vice President and his team will go down in history as a miraculous month because of a major event that happened in the course of the month.
Precisely on February 2, in Kabba, Kogi State in continuation of the electioneering campaigns, a chopper carrying the Vice President and some of his aides crash landed with no casualties recorded, to the glory of God. Few minutes after the incident, Prof. Osinbajo, in his characteristic manner, went to communities in parts of the state, carrying his party’s message of Next Level.
As he did in Kogi State, the Vice President, during the period under review, spent most of his time on the road campaigning and reaching out to Nigerians at all levels with reassurances of a better country in the second tenure of the Buhari administration under the Next Level agenda.
March
Prof. Osinbajo’s major feature in the month of March (after the success at the general elections) comprised thank-you meetings with campaign groups, other post elections activities amongst others.
The Month started with the PMB/PYO volunteers’ dinner in Abuja. There he observed a moment of silence in honor of the supporters who lost their lives during the course of the campaign; and recalled the past 4 years of governance under President Buhari’s leadership and what needs to be done moving forward.
“For many of us, as we went around the country, we realized the tremendous amount of work that we need to do and our capacity to do so much work and what our people need”.
Shortly after, he inaugurated the Policies and Programmes Audit Committee, a group tasked to take stock of efforts thus far and make preparations for the administration’s second term, as well as identify and highlight the residue of work and challenges that may militate against their successful implementation. The committee which consists of members of the cabinet and stakeholders was charged by the VP to be devoted and ensure objective and very critical analysis and reports.
Another prominent feature for the VP during the period is the 11th Bola Ahmed Tinubu Colloquium themed ‘Work For People’, held On March 28, in Abuja. He highlighted some of the government’s efforts in delivering its promised mandate to the people of Nigeria and the importance of being of great service. He also spoke about Tinubu’s rare leadership and doggedness and his commitment to transformative leadership.
“The next level promises to be exciting, though a bit challenging as possibly where we are coming from. But as the president has said repeatedly, we have no other focus but the progress of this country. And we will ensure that step-by-step, we get to where it is that we promised to take this country to.”
He was also conferred with the prestigious rank of Life Bencher at the Body of Benchers Award ceremony. He used the opportunity to salute his colleagues, commending them for internalizing the application of the rule of law in the most difficult circumstances, standing for the helpless through advocacy and called on them to continue to be transparent and accountable in all.
April
On the first day of the month of April, Prof attended the 50th Convocation Ceremony of the University of Lagos where he delivered the lecture of the day. The event which the VP referred to as a homecoming made him reminisce about his early days as a lecturer in the faculty of law and how the environment shaped his ideologies and beliefs.
“The dynamism and immeasurable potential of humankind in forms that the most crucial pillar of government economic policies must be on how to consistently improve the quality of Human Resources.”
Another prominent feature of the Vice President during the period under review is the combined 2015, 2016 and 2017 President’s National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Honors Awards ceremony, where he talked about the essence of responsibility and continuous sacrifice as a recipe for leadership.
Ahead of the democracy day and swearing in of government officials, VP was at the induction of new and returning governors at the State House in Abuja. He asked the governors to be steadfast and effective in solving problems for their people; imploring them to welcome more innovative and inclusive measures to bring about economic development in their states.
“States must in a few years, earn more in IGR. We must work effectively to collect VAT and increase our agricultural output, work with the federal government to make broadband infrastructure available all over the country so our young people anywhere in the country can do jobs from anywhere”
When the first ever Nigeria-U.K Economic Development Forum happened on the 30th of April, the VP made it clear that the long standing relationship between Nigeria and the U.K indicates that the current level of trade and investments between both countries is materially below potential than the relationship suggests, given that Africa only represents 2% of the U.K’s trade volume. According to him, the government is committed to improving Nigeria’s competitiveness and making our country one of the easiest places to do business globally.
“The Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC) under my leadership has made significant progress in reducing bottlenecks, eliminating redundancies and increasing transparency across government ministries, departments and agencies.”
SECOND QUARTER, 2019
The main engagements of the Vice President in the second quarter of the year characterized his meeting with his American counterpart, Mike Pence, his messages to young Nigerians at the 2019 MSMEs Awards amongst others.
May
An important engagement of the Vice President in the month of May was the May Day celebration – a day set aside to celebrate workers and their rights globally. In his message to workers nationwide, he assured them that government will continue to provide an enabling environment for high productivity, industrial peace and harmony, as well as a congenial atmosphere for effective collective bargaining amongst trade unions and employees while also protecting fundamental rights.
Entrepreneurship is one of the most important input in the economic development of any country – and this growth is the outcome of purposeful human activity. It was no surprise when VP Osinbajo announced that the FG will be setting up an entrepreneurship bank at the National Youth Entrepreneurship Empowerment Summit. At this event, 10 entrepreneurs went home with N1 million each and 12 months personal mentoring programme under the Tony Elumelu Foundation, courtesy of the Federal Government.
“We truly believe our nation is as strong and prosperous as those of you in this room, your skills, talents and hardwork are what nations require to become great. And so, we are deliberate in evolving plans, programmed and initiatives to promote youth development.”
June
In the month of June, Prof. Osinbajo led other dignitaries to the Eid-Fitr homage to President Buhari. Prof Osinbajo delivered a remarkable speech touching on why the rhetoric of division must not supersede that of unity. There he commended all leaders for making the annual gathering a tradition regardless of their religion, marking it as a demonstration to Nigerian people that this country is united and those who stoke up embers if division would not be allowed to do so.
“We may be different in our faiths, different in our ethnicities but we are one people, the Nigerian people are strong and united.”
Later in June, Vice President Osinbajo met with his United States’ counterpart at the White House, Mike Pence, during his visit to the country. Both leaders discussed important issues of importance to their countries.
Earlier on arrival in the US, Prof. Osinbajo, at an interactive session at the Council on Foreign Relations, in New York, discussed Nigeria’s economic prospects, population and other challenges facing Nigeria and Africa. He said the challenges may be huge but the prognosis is generally good. In his view, they present excellent opportunities for local and foreign participation in this final frontier for groundbreaking investments and innovation. From agriculture, manufacturing, infrastructure, power, security, technology and entertainment, no stones were left unturned.
July Vice President Osinbajo attended two armed forces events, 2019 Nigerian Army Day on the 6th of July and Passing out Parade of Direct Short Service Course 28/2019 of the Nigerian Air Force on the 10th of July. At both events, he stated the successes recorded by the Army and Air Force in their fight against Boko Haram, as well as the role of innovation and technology in combating crime and need for community policing.
On July 27, Prof. Osinbajo featured, along other world leaders and stakeholders at the Tony Elumelu Foundation Forum where he gave inspiring notes in the journey of entrepreneurship and how to conquer the challenges of their environments. He praised Tony Elumelu for focusing on what really matters – the youth and their dreams and his commitment to helping the next generation realize their dreams.
“Young African entrepreneurs will change narrative about the continent”
August
The 2nd National Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Awards was the main feature in the Vice President’s engagements for the month of August. At a ceremony held in Abuja, he congratulated the awardees for their innovation, hard work and commitment to vision.
He said Nigeria’s future will depend on what young businesses become, promising that the factors required to make business succeed include friendliness of regulatory environment, capital availability, infrastructure, power and broadband connectivity will be made possible.
As activities of the began to slow down, Prof. Osinbajo’s commitment to national unity, economic prosperity featured in some of the engagements that characterized his activities in the last quarter of the year.
In the month of September, in line with the resolution of the National Economic Council, which he chairs, Vice President Osinbajo, in Adamawa State, unveiled the National Livestock Transformation Plan. In his remark at the occasion, he highlighted the importance of the initiative and how it can solve problems of cattle grazing and destruction of farmlands.
He said the scheme also represents a practical response to the pressures on water and pasture by forces of climate change. He also cleared the air about the misconstrued narrative of RUGA, an idea launched by the Ministry of Agriculture, stating that the NLTP are endorsed by all the governors and can only be implemented with full participation and consent of the states.
He also attended the Presidential Appreciation Dinner on the 12th of September, where he spoke about the need for the media to be more responsible with their work of reporting the news/stories, as well as going the extra mile for fact finding.
At the 59th Independence Day Interdenominational Church Service on the 29th of September, Prof Osinbajo declared that “God Almighty has taken away the protection of the enemies of this nation. He has taken away their powers, the noise we hear, the turbulence we experience, are the last gasps of a defeated foe. The day of freedom is at the door.”
October
In October, Prof. Osinbajo started off the month with his remarks at the 50th Independence Day Dinner & Gala on the first of October. Here he showcased what makes us unique as Nigerians, calling it the “Nigerian Swag”. He referenced our music, sense of fashion, and Nigerians exceling in sports.
On the 4th of October, Prof Osinbajo’s remarks at Island Club Anniversary Lecture commemorating Nigeria’s 59th Independence focused on the subject matter, “The whole is only as great as the sum of its part”.
He called for strengthening of states, he stated that “building stronger States means ensuring the devolution of more power to the States, enabling them to control more of their resources and make more of their own administrative decisions, such as the creation of Local Governments, the establishment of State and community police forces, as well as, State correctional facilities; creation of special courts and tribunals of equivalent jurisdiction to the High Courts.
The point I am making is that States must have more powers and more rights.”
He further on carried the message of Nigeria’s economic prospects to the Nordic-African business summit in Oslo, Norway. At a business round table event, Prof. Osinbajo talked about Nigeria’s position on the African Continental Free Trade Agreement, government’s efforts in technology, renewable energy, agriculture, transportation and more. The aim was to facilitate direct foreign investments to the country and establish a stronger bilateral relationship between both countries.
Also during the period under review, Prof. Osinbajo gave insights about the dynamics of crime in the country at a retreat for strategic leadership officers of the Nigerian Police Force, in Lagos. He emphasized on funding, limited manpower profile, professional capacity gaps and issues arising from the relationship between the Police and the citizens as challenges that need to be addressed.
“You must prevent misguided ministry from destroying a great institution responsible for upholding fairness and justice.”
He ended his engagements for October at the 60th Anniversary of Western Nigeria Television which was the pioneer television station in Africa.
November
The main features in the month of November were the Diaspora Investment forum, the Cuppy Foundation event and the education summit, all aimed at giving hope and opportunities for Nigerians across diverse backgrounds.
Prof. Osinbajo spoke about mobilizing resources for both Foreign Direct Investment and Portfolio Investment at the 2nd Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit.
At the Cuppy Otedola’s Gold Gala In Support Of Save The Children’s Work in Nigeria, the Vice President talked about the need for more charitable causes to help solve the huge problems of extreme poverty, healthcare and education of children.
“Significance Is neither wealth or fame, it the reward that history bestows on men and women who invest their wealth, talents and even their lives, to bring justice, freedom, life and livelihoods to millions of the vulnerable, oppressed, persecuted or poor,” he added.
At the 2019 Nigeria Education Conference themed “Education for Sustainable Livelihoods”, Prof. Osinbajo spoke about how a focus on education for the Nigerian child can alleviate poverty.
“Education reduces economic inequalities. It was found that if workers from poor and rich backgrounds received the same education, the disparity between the two in terms of their inequality in earning is decreased by as much as almost 40%.”
December
The main feature of the Vice President’s engagements in the month of December was his participation at the Sixth Assembly of the Forum for Promoting Peace, in Abu Dhabi, where he delivered a keynote address.
The Vice President commended the UAE for designating 2019, the Year of Tolerance, and facilitating the forum to forge a consensual ethic for promoting tolerance. In a world connected by technology and globalization, our promotion and defense of human rights must be rooted in empathy.
According to him, “this recognition of our shared humanity is also the basis of universal human rights.”
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has denied the allegation that he is behind the Hate Speech Bill at the National Assembly.
Addressing newsmen on Monday in Lagos, the minister said the allegation made against him by Sen. Francis Fadahunsi representing Osun East Senatorial District, ‘is fake news”.
“You must have read the fake news attributed to Sen. Fadahunsi that I am behind the hate speech bill at the National Assembly, and that the senator who is sponsoring the bill is fronting for me
“This is a typical example of the fake news we are trying to fight.
“I am not the sponsor of the hate speech bill at the National Assembly. However, I remain committed to sanitising the social media.
“I have said that all stakeholders will be involved in determining the modalities for regulating the social media,” the minister said.
Fadahunsi had alleged that the minister was behind “the bill aimed at crippling quality and vibrant journalism”.
The lawmaker made the allegation while speaking with Journalists in Oshogbo.
The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Zamfara State Command has confirmed the death of two people in a road accident which also left 12 other people with various degrees of injury.
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the command, Yasir Shehu, who gave the confirmation, said that the accident happened on the Gusau-Futuwa road in the early hours of Saturday.
Shehu added that the crash involved three vehicles – a Honda, a Nissan bus, and Golf.
The spokesman for the command said that a total of 14 male adults were involved in the accident.
The PRO, who attributed the incident to over-speeding and wrongful overtaking, said that all the injured persons had been taken to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) in Gusau for treatment.
He then warn motorists against dangerous driving including wrongful overtaking and over-speeding as “those are the major causes of road crashes”.
Over a period of three days, families, friends and associates including my colleagues in the National Assembly honoured me with their presence at the wedding ceremony of my son, Ibrahim and his bride, Amani.
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