₦airaland Forum

I'm Happy Nigerians know the truth now

Just recently, Tech Giant Google disclosed that it has trained 3 million Nigerians since its pledge to train 10 million Africans by 2022. So far Google has trained 5 million Africans, Mr. Doron Avni, the firm’s Government Affairs and Public Policy Director made the above statement when he led a delegation to meet with the Vice President of Nigeria, VP Osinbajo last week Thursday.

After this statement was made, no Nigerian has asked Google to provide the names of beneficiaries of their trainings. Since it’s a foreigner (and a foreign company), Nigerians have wholesomely believed that these beneficiaries actually do exist. Training 3 million Nigerians out of a population of 200 million is like a drop of water in an ocean, which is about 1.5% of Nigeria’s total population and Google will not falsify figures, meaning that these trainees actually exist.

The real question here is why no one is asking for the names, regions or even the selection process of these candidates. In a country where its citizens are quick to demand answers, Nigerians are unusually quiet. An instance is the over 2 million beneficiaries of the Federal Government’s Social Investment Programs, TraderMoni or the over 300,000 beneficiaries of the Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme where citizens have called out the FG for pushing out fake news and numbers of beneficiaries. Even with pictorial evidences of beneficiaries Nigerians still do not believe.

It is safe to say these beneficiaries do exist. As at 2019, 11.5 million Nigerians have benefitted from the different Social Investment Programmes and more to benefit in the coming years. 11.5 is still less than 6% of Nigeria’s total population, but this does not mean the beneficiaries are not scattered across the country. So next time you want to disbelieve the existence of the beneficiaries, do the math. Nigeria is the most populous country in Africa, with about 200 million people, it is normal for you not to know these beneficiaries personally, but that they do not exist is ignorant to say.

We often hear of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s brilliance and track record on a superficial basis, not many of us are thoroughly familiar with who or what he was before his giant leap to the Office of the Vice President in 2015. From previous discussions I have held and heard, a considerably high demographic of the Nigerian populace think he simply was a “Redeemed pastor who found grace.”

As a passionate admirer of his oratory prowess and an avid follower of his speeches at State functions, he commands your attention and leaves you enthralled through the entirety of his address; I casually say to my friends that if I could manage a public address as well as the man did, I would never stay quiet.

One of such occasions where I was blown away by his wisdom and the semantics he deployed was his address on the civil war. But it was his visit to the palace of the Emir of Lafia that blee me away.

The Emir, Hon. Justice Sidi Bage Muhammad, credited Prof. Osinbajo with revolution of judiciary in Nigeria. He glossed over some of his achievements as Attorney General of Lagos and how the federal government and state governments across the country replicated this stellar contributions to Nigeria's judiciary.

It was after mind blowing submission that I decided to read up on his educational background. A click became two and two, three… in no time, I was reading about Osinbajo the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; so sterling were his achievements that I thought I’d share some.

It is worthy of note that Professor Yemi Osinbajo first served between 1988 and 1992 as a Special Adviser to the then Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Prince Bola Ajibola (SAN). This probably ensured that he was not green behind the ears when he took over in Lagos State.

His appointment as Attorney General was informed by his reform-minded contributions to the justice sector while he served in 1999, as member and Secretary of a Think-Tank and Transition Work Group, a body set up by then newly elected Governor, Bola Tinubu, to deliberate on strategies for transition from military to democratic government in Lagos State.

On behalf of the state, He was engaged in a number of legal battles with the then Olusegun Obasanjo led administration.

Prof. Osinbajo always found himself (with the backing of his governor) on opposing aisles in a court room with the legal team of the Federal Government. Most of these cases he won.

One of such was the suit marked: SC.353/2001 between the AG, Lagos and AG of the Federation. It was filed in 2001 by the Lagos State Government to, among others, challenge the constitutionality or otherwise of the Urban and Regional Planning Act, 1992.

The Federal Government had sought to rely on the law to sell off some of its property in Lagos without any recourse to the state government. Issues raised for determination in the suit included:
*Whether Urban and Regional Planning (Town Planning) as well as the regulation of physical development in relation to any land in Lagos State were within the legislative and executive jurisdiction of the Federal Government.
*Whether the Urban and Regional Planning Decree No.8 of 1992 is inconsistent with the provisions of Sections 4 of the 1999 Constitution, therefore unlawful, null and void.
*Whether the ownership rights of the Federal Government over land in state territories include the power to control and regulate town planning and physical development in relation to such lands.
*Whether all approvals, permits, and licenses granted by the Federal Government or any of its agencies for any construction, building or physical development or use of Land in Lagos State without the consent of the state government are illegal, null and void.

On May 13, 2003 in its judgment, the Supreme Court held that the state government possessed control over the physical planning and developmental control within their territory. It also held that all development permits issued by the Federal Government to the buyers of its properties in Lagos from 1999 to that date subsisted, but henceforth, owners of such properties must obtain relevant permits from the state government.

The judgment gave Lagos State government the authority to impose all compartments of levies on everyone who bought Federal Government’s property.

A second case I found was one where Prof. Osinbajo also led the Lagos team in the suit marked: S.C. 70/2004 between the Attorney General, Lagos State and Attorney General of the Federation instituted in 2004 by the state government to challenge the directive by then President Obasanjo to the effect that statutory allocation to states that created local governments, be withheld by the Finance Minister.

In its judgment on December 10, 2004, the Supreme Court ruled in favour of Lagos State. It held, among other things, that it was wrong for the Federal Government to withhold statutory allocations due to the states under any guise.

The court also faulted the Federal Government’s position that the Local Governments created in Lagos were illegal. It held that they were legitimately created, but remain inchoate until the National Assembly played its part as stipulated under Section 8(5) of the Constitution.
The then Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mohammed Uwais, who read the lead judgment, granted the reliefs sought by the plaintiff.

"To sum up, the plaintiff’s action succeeds, all the reliefs sought are granted, but applicable only to the 20 Local Government Areas specified in Part 1 of the first Schedule to the Constitution.”

The court made a consequential order compelling the defendant (Fed Govt) to immediately pay all outstanding statutory allocation due and payable to the Lagos State government pursuant to the provisions of Section 165(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999,”
Professor Yemi Osinbajo had again led the Lagos State Government to victory.

Prof Osinbajo also led the prosecuting team when the state decided to prosecute former Chief of Army Staff, General Ishaya Bamaiyi; former Chief Security Officer to the late General Sani Abacha, Major Hamza al-Mustapha; Mohammed Abacha, son of the late military ruler; Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Rabo Lawal among others for alleged criminal offences during the military era.

He was instrumental in the prosecution of the suit brought against British -American Tobacco Nigeria Ltd (BAT), International Tobacco Limited and four others on the basis that they were allegedly targeting young and underage persons in their advertising and marketing in spite of the obvious knowledge of the adverse effect and severe health implications of their products.

For eight years while he handled the prosecution, the defence did all they could to frustrate the progress of the case. They preferred to remain in custody than stand trial.

As the Lagos AG, it was not all about litigation for Prof Osinbajo, during his tenure as Attorney-General and Justice Commissioner; he introduced major reforms that surged the state’s judiciary to the current height that makes it a reference point in judicial efficiency in the country.
He established the Office of the Public Defender (OPD) in 2003 to provide FREE legal advice and representation to indigent or disadvantaged citizens of the state in criminal and civil cases.

He also aided the establishment of the Citizens Mediation Centre (CMC) in Lagos to provide a non-adversarial forum for the mediation and settlement of a wide range of disputes between parties who, on invitation, voluntarily present themselves for mediation at the Centre.

Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s impact as Lagos State AG and Commissioner for Justice cannot be overemphasized; beyond the meek, amiable and unconventional politician you see is a legal giant and a profound intellectual.

This is Interesting one!!!
Osinbajo should be missed because the running of the N-power is quite different from the time of Osinbajo

danilmo:
Let him develop Oyo state first, not all this I sold bread, I once wore slippers, I reemploy sacked officer.

Meanwhile.
Osinbanjo/Zulum ll b fine, ganduje would have been better than Zulum if not for the dollar case. lol

What is your concern on that, please face your front

Always been special for calling your name you're indeed a great man

fairfora:
But it was easy and quick for same Buhari to sack fowler, muis banire osinbajo aides and co?

Who told you that the aides were sack

Very very big mistake

This news have make my day, thank you Lord� � �

According to the Constitution, the executive functions of the Vice-President include: participation in all cabinet meetings and by statute, membership of the National Security Council, the National Defence Council, Federal Executive Council, and the Chairman of National Economic Council.

Although the vice president may take an active role in establishing policy in the executive branch by serving on such committees and councils, the relative power of the Nigerian vice president’s office depends upon the duties delegated by the President.

What are the things Vice-President Osinbajo cannot do in Buhari’s absence?

Appointments: With the Presidency operating as one, the Vice-President cannot make any appointments of any sort as the Act establishing most government agencies and departments state expressly that “the President shall appoint.” Even the Vice-President’s personal staffers are appointees of the President, but are only seconded to his office.

Fire appointees: It will be recalled that Osinbajo had fired the acting Director-General of the Department of State Services, Lawal Daura, in August last year while Buhari was in London on vacation. Osinbajo was able to do so because he was acting President and could thus exercise the full powers of the President. But with Buhari’s refusal to hand over to him this time, Osinbajo cannot fire any appointee even if they’re found wanting. He will have to wait for his boss to return. Osinbajo also cannot reshuffle the cabinet or sack ministers.

Acting President Osinbajo signed the 2017 Appropriation Bill into law in 12 June, 2017 and the budget was born. Buhari, who had been on medical leave for over 40 days at the time, had earlier handed over power to his deputy to act in his stead. Now that the National Assembly had passed the budget, Nigerians would yet have to wait for Buhari to return the next week for the budget to be made into law.

In 2009, when Goodluck Jonathan was the Vice President he refused to swear in the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu. President Umaru Yar'Adua was on medical leave in Saudi Arabia. It was eventually the outgoing CJN, Justice Idris Kutigi, who inaugurated his successor.

The Vice President always know what to do in time like this I love him for that.

May your soul continue to rest papa

That will be an interesting event. May the soul of the departed Rest In Peace.

alsudan:
Who ever tagged Osinbade VP on condolence matters wasn’t wrong after all.

Your thinking is outside down

Nice say sir, Prof Osinbajo is that right man for Nigeria.

okefranci:
90% of Nigerians will vote for osinbajo because he is capable and willing to pilot the affairs of the nation

That's the real truth

Well say by the Vice President. The problem we have is we to come together and solve it ourselves with love and peace.

Let the best be done

All we want is a great man like Osinbajo, God will continue to strengthen him.

Interesting one

A big Thanks to our great man, this is indeed interesting in tech industry. We are enjoying the goodly WiFi

Wow!! This is interesting news

During PDP administration suicide bomb was a common occurrence in Nigeria down to the heart of the country's capital Abuja which happens on daily basis can you compare that with the APC administration never
To destroy a country's economy takes nothing but looting that for you PDP....

How will that solve our issues in Nigeria

A good person always being loved by great men and women