₦airaland Forum

Re: Goodnight from Aso Rock, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, By Olaitan Joseph

Just last week in January, during a one-day working visit to Kano State, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, was busy as usual doing his job, as he has done with dedication since the onset of the Buhari administration in 2015.



During the visit to the State the VP commissioned some projects, including the Aminu Dantata flyover of over 2km, at the Murtala Muhammad Way, and the Tijjani Hashim Galadima Kano underpass way, in Kofar Ruwa.



In Abuja, the VP received the new US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs Mary Beth Leonard, on a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa. During the meeting, he noted that the increase in activities and threats by terrorist groups in the Sahel region can be largely curbed by stepping up relations between Nigeria and the United States of America.



Also, last Tuesday, Prof. Osinbajo received at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, a Turkish business delegation led by Turkey’s Minister of Trade, Ruhsar Pekcan. He noted that Nigeria is open to more investment from foreign companies, including from Turkey, in the areas of construction, manufacturing, technology and other sectors.



Osinbajo also attended the 2020 Armed Forces Remembrance Day Parade held at the Eagles Square, alongside President Muhammadu Buhari.



In a nutshell, the Vice President has continued to do his job with dedication and excellence to improve Nigeria’s image, economy, and development; in line with the objectives of the Buhari administration. Raising unfounded allegations and insinuations about the VP’s position would not change that.



For the writer to insinuate that “if you’re looking for where to read newspapers in Aso Rock, visit the Vice President’s office, is simply outright fabrication aimed at amusing some readers. This is because the article is not only laced with falsehood and mere conjectures.



The impact of the EMT and the world bank’s rise in ease of doing business reforms driven through PEBEC. Since 2016, Nigeria hase risen by an aggregate of 39 places on the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings. Also, the World Bank also rated Nigeria as one of the 10 best reforming economies in the world.



This is as a result of the efforts of the Osinbajo chaired Presidential Business Enabling Council (PEBEC) and the Economic Management Team (EMT) through the ease of doing business reforms among other initiatives to improve the business climate in Nigeria.



Even the National Economic Council (NEC), comprising the 36 Governors of the Federation, FCT Minister and Governor of the Central Bank, commended President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Osinbajo for driving Ease of Doing Business reforms.



That the EMT has been replaced with the Economic Advisory Council does note negate the great work it has done under Osinbajo. Instead, the new Council would build on the strong foundations it has laid to improve Nigeria’s economy.



On the issue of poverty, Nigeria, the Buhari administration is ramping efforts to to lift Nigerians out of poverty. Recall that on June 12 last year, the President noted that his administration “intends to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty over the next 10 years”.



No matter what critics say, this government is committed to that goal and is already on track with its Social Investment Programmes (SIP), which provides the largest social safety net in sub-Saharan Africa and is impacting the lives of millions of Nigerians



Under the SIP, there is the GEEP programme, which includes TraderMoni and MarketMoni, which has provided microcredit to almost 2 million petty traders. Under the Trader Moni micro credit scheme, the Federal Government (FG), through the Bank of Industry (BOI) provides interest free and collateral free loan to petty traders and artisans. The loan ranges from N10, 000 to N100,000 per beneficiary. Last year, the programme won the AfDB prize for financial inclusion because of the work that was done with TraderMoni.



Also, under the SIP, here is the N-Power job scheme which provides employment for over 500,000 young Nigerians in all the Local Government Areas nationwide; the Conditional Cash Transfer scheme, which provides monthly stipends to the most vulnerable in society; and the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which feeds almost 10 million school pupils a free nutritious meal day.



Asides from that, the Federal Government is putting up measures and policies to improve the country’s infrastructure to provide more jobs, as well as agriculture, manufacturing, technology and other sectors.



Let’s not forget the humongous corruption in past administrations which would take years to undo. But the good thing is that Nigeria is well on track to becoming a favourite destination for investors with the foundations the Buhari administration is laying.



The writer did state that the vice president has been chairing the governing boards of the National Emergency Management Agency, Border Communities Development Agency, the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, and is the Chairman of National Council on Privatisation.



The VP keeps serving his fatherland with utmost dedication. Naysayers would always spin a tale or two to get traction but this does not take away the hard work of the VP as number two working with President Buhari to make Nigeria better.





In case, the writer is also unaware, the constitution empowers the VP and by the constitution, his roles are clearly defined. Order precedes any sane democracy. The Vice President remains the deputy to President Buhari and he is discharging his duties very well as stated by the constitution. Speculations that the VP is nursing the top job remains what it is, mere speculation. What the VP is solely focused on is service to his fatherland.



Then, for the writer to even insinuate that before the VP could take any decision or action now, approval must first be sought and obtained by him from the ‘almighty’ cabal is absolute falsheood. Pray, tell, who is this cabal? The VP is number two man and reports directly to the President. He was elected alongside President Buhari to govern this country. It is absurd and laughable to claim that the VP requires any approval from a cabal before he takes any decision.



Again, on Tradermoni, the VP'S office is no longer directly in charge of SIP, of which Tradermoni is one of the schemes. Since the tail end of last year, the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development, now superintends that. Nevertheless. The SIP is still ongoing, and has been budgeted for in the 2020 Budget. Several testimonies of beneficiaries are awash the Internet and Social Media. The writer might want to check them out.



Also, the VP’s aides were not sacked, but only moved to Ministries. The VP still has people working for him, and he is still doing his job.



It seems the writer is obsessed with the figments of his imagination on the Vice President and the so-called cabal. But the fact is the VP’s significance remains as strong as ever. Despite the warped narratives being spurned by some cynics, VP Osinbajo has played and continues to play a crucial role in the Buhari administration as it continues to make efforts to improve the nation’s economy, security and curb systemic corruption.

Osinbajo and the 2023 race: Too far, yet so close.

Even when it is not yet ripe to discuss 2023 General Elections, political analysts have taken over the media space to air personal opinions on this topic. Yes, I mean their opinions which are not the ways of God but mere display of human intelligence.

Although, human may be right in their analysis, but there is no way you can discuss 2023 general elections without mentioning the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo SAN. This shows his popularity and why all pundits are centered on him, needless we talk about the continuous media fight against him. This is more proof of his soaring acceptability among the average citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Although many columnists and political analysts may not want this to be clearly stated based on bias, the President has the right to shuffle his cabinet and reassign duties as it best suits him at any point during his tenure. Nonetheless, the brilliant minds and exceptional leaders will also stand out, such is the stature of VP Osinbajo.

Needful we say this, Osinbajo is the most active and the busiest Deputy in the history of Nigeria, performing excellently at every given opportunity. Testimonies of his brilliant performance can still be felt at his supervision of Trader Moni, a non-interest loan initiative from the federal government of Nigeria targeted at petty traders who require very little capital to startup or boost their businesses. The scheme had since gained global recognition, winning awards across Africa and beyond.

Just about three months ago, Nigeria, China, and India made the top 10 list of governments that have done the most in the past year to improve the ease of doing business in their countries, according to the World Bank Index.

With the Osinbajo-led Presidential Enabling Business Environment Council (PEBEC), Nigeria is still counting her gains as one of the most improved economies and investors’ destination. Evidently, the global ranking has affirmed the improvement, but some parochial driven mindsets of some individuals would still try to play down these achievements for political interest.

Even though, the Vice President wishes not to contest for the top seat in 2023, he is already a fulfilled man. Nevertheless, he didn't lobby for the seat of the Vice President of Nigeria in 2014 but God singled him out and same can still happen in the nearest future.

The last time after tantrums were thrown at the vice president for his absence at public functions even though that was the first working week of the New Year 2020, the people replied with massive cheers at the VP when he attended the commissioning of project in Kano State. The only public figure that can get a more rousing welcome today is his boss, President Muhammadu Buhari.

Osinbajo will always stand tall irrespective of his tribe, political history and his geopolitical zone. Because he has shown capability, he is tested and also trusted at all times. Osinbajo remains the most academically educated to attain the seat of the Vice - President, and he is likely to repeat the same feat if he takes a shot at the top seat. You can take that to the bank.

Another factor various political analysts and columnists have failed to discuss is capacity and credibility over tribal, religion and political affiliations. If this is considered, then, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo SAN stands the chance with the masses always fully in support of the former university teacher.

A new case for a Commonwealth based on trade

By Muhammadu Buhari

The United Kingdom’s exit of the European Union is now all but certain. Only the passage of time will reveal what their new relationship shall be. But with this new arrangement, I – like many other Commonwealth leaders – also seek a new settlement: not only of closer relations between the UK and my own nation, but of unleashing trade within the club in which we together shall remain.

Relations between Nigeria and the UK are close and longstanding, most recently reiterated in our 2018 bi-lateral security pact and our collaboration in anti-trafficking. But in recent years, our relationship – particularly economically – has become increasingly defined by Britain’s membership of the European Union.

A new free trade agreement would reconfigure this, presenting new opportunities for both. As the largest economy in Africa, my country of nearly 200 million people has a great deal to offer: Nigeria’s vast natural energy and mineral resources, unbarred through the ending of customs barriers, could help supply growth for companies in all corners of the UK. Greater access would also be forthcoming to one of the world’s fastest expanding groups of consumers – the Nigerian middle classes.

For my country, greater UK engagement in its economy would bring jobs to under-tapped sectors, such as agriculture and manufacturing. Millions of highly skilled, English-speaking but underemployed young people, are eager to work but without the opportunities that foreign investment can bring to create jobs and build businesses.

Yet there is also a case to be made that our two Commonwealth countries should try, with other members, to deliver more – collectively. In 2015, I became the first head of a new Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council tasked with boosting trade and investment within the wider organisation. Now with the United Kingdom – the Commonwealth’s largest economy – no longer obliged to ringfence its economy with tariffs, this mission will be given a jolt of vitality.

However, we must be realistic: the commonwealth will not suddenly become a multilateral-free trade zone. Today many members reside within regional free trade and customs zones of their own. Yet without any of us needing to relinquish these ties, we can work together to minimise – consistent with respective memberships – as far as possible many of the tariffs and barriers on commodities, products and services. Because member countries’ national laws are built on the principles of English jurisprudence, we might work together from this common platform to better align regulations on investment, certification and trade.

A renewed sense of Commonwealth solidarity would also be of enormous benefit to the large and vital diasporas – particularly from Africa and the Indian subcontinent – that live in Western Commonwealth countries such as Britain, Canada and Australia. These communities still maintain the strongest of cultural and family links with the countries from which they and their forebears emigrated.

Yet visa restrictions and customs barriers must be reduced to fulfill the potential these connections could bring to the nations where they today reside. As an African leader I have an obligation to speak of the fact that while many in the African Diaspora enjoy considerable benefits from life in the West, they do not always feel at the heart of the community. A renewed sense that there are ties that bind us through the Commonwealth, and a concerted effort to grow those links through trade, could act as a spur to encourage togetherness and the certainty of belonging.

This year provides two critical summits in which this new determination could take seed. In January, London shall play host to the UK-Africa Investment Summit. (The continent is the Commonwealth’s largest constituent, providing over a third of its membership.) And then back to Africa, where Rwanda will welcome countries to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. It is at this biennial summit that many of the organisation’s milestones have been achieved – particularly in democracy and human rights. The 2020 summit could be the wrench that begins to tighten our economic structures, drawing strength from our shared bonds of history, friendship and language.

Time will tell if Britain’s new ability to strike free trade deals directly with other countries once it departs the EU can be built into more than bilateral economic cooperation. But there is no reason why, collectively, we should not try.

Nor should we dismiss the potential for making the Commonwealth of Nations more than a voluntary organization of equals based on a shared history that it is today. Instead it is in all our people’s interests to labour, dispassionately, to increase our focus on lowering barriers to achieving what truly brings freedom, friendship and equality: prosperity through trade.

Muhammadu Buhari is President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
 
PRESS RELEASE
 
 
 
FINANCE ACT 2019: 20 BASIC FOOD ITEMS, SANITARY PADS, OTHERS MAKE LIST OF VAT EXEMPTION LIST
 

*New Law also promotes fiscal equity & supports MSMES
 
 
In a bid to ensure that the cost of living does not rise for Nigerians because of the changes in the Value-Added Tax, several basic food items, locally manufactured sanitary towels, pads and tuition relating to nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary education have been added to the exemption list of goods and services on the VAT under the Finance Bill 2019, signed by President Muhammadu Buhari last week, on the 13th January 2020.
 
Amongst other benefits, the law will consolidate efforts already made in creating the enabling environment for improved private sector participation and contribution to the economy as well as boost states’ revenues.
 
According to the President, “the Finance Bill will support the funding and implementation of the 2020 Budget. We shall sustain this tradition by ensuring that subsequent budgets are also accompanied by a Finance Bill.”
 
Below are the details:
 
 
The Finance Bill, 2019 was submitted to the National Assembly by President Muhammadu Buhari alongside the 2020 Appropriation Bill, and signed into law by the President on January 13, 2020.
 
The Bill, now an Act, has the following objectives:
 

Promoting fiscal equity by mitigating instances of regressive taxation;

Reforming domestic tax laws to align with global best practices;

Introducing tax incentives for investments in infrastructure and capital markets;

Supporting Micro, Small and Medium-sized businesses in line with the administration’s Ease of Doing Business Reforms;

Raising Revenues for Federal, State and Local Governments.

 
FACTSHEET ON NEW FINANCE ACT 2019
 

The new Act is the first legislation created to accompany an Appropriation Act since the return of democracy in 1999.

 

The new Act raises VAT from 5% to 7.5%.

 

To allay fears that low-income persons and companies will be marginalized by the new law, reduce the burden of taxation on vulnerable segments, and promote equitable taxation, the Finance Act 2019 has extended the list of goods and services exempted from VAT. The additional exemptions include the following:

 

Basic food items – Additives (honey), bread, cereals, cooking oils, culinary herbs, fish, flour and starch, fruits (fresh or dried), live or raw meat and poultry, milk, nuts, pulses, roots, salt, vegetables, water (natural water and table water)

 

Locally manufactured sanitary towels, pads or tampons.

 

Services rendered by microfinance banks

 

Tuition relating to nursery, primary, secondary and tertiary education.

Nigeria’s increased new VAT rate of 7.5% is still the lowest in Africa, and one of the lowest anywhere in the world. (South Africa VAT: 15%; Ghana: 12.5%; Kenya: 16%; Egypt: 14%; Rwanda: 18%; Senegal: 18%)

 

Under Nigeria’s revenue sharing formula, 85% of collected VAT goes to States and Local Governments. This means that the bulk of additional VAT revenues accruing from the increase will go towards enabling States and Local Governments meet their obligations to citizens, including the new minimum wage as already noted by State Governors. Before now, the Buhari administration had firmly resisted previous suggestions to raise VAT.

The new Finance Act exempts Businesses with turnover below 25 million from VAT payments.

Companies Income Tax (CIT)
 

Under the new law small companies – companies with less than N25 million in annual turnover are charged Zero CIT.

 

CIT for Companies with revenues between N25 and N100m (described in the Act as “medium-sized” companies) has been reduced from 30% to 20%

 

Large companies – with annual turnover greater than N100m – will continue to pay the standard 30% CIT

 

The new Act includes a provision that grants to all companies “engaged in agricultural production” in Nigeria “an initial tax-free period of five years”, renewable for an additional three years.

 

The new Act also provides incentives to promote tax compliance through bonus reductions in CIT for early remittance:

*2% bonus for medium-size companies
*1% bonus for other companies.
 
Personal Income Tax Act
 

The new Act now includes “electronic mail” as an acceptable form of correspondence for persons disputing assessments by the Tax Authorities.

 

Contributions to Pension and Retirement Funds, Societies and Schemes are now unconditionally tax-deductible.

 
Stamp Duty Act

With the new Act, the N50 Stamp duty charge is now applicable only to transactions amounting to N10, 000 and above, a significant increase on the former threshold of N1,000.

 

The new Act also expands the list of items exempted from stamp duty.

 
Customs and Excise Tariff

To reduce unfair advantages previously conferred on imported goods at the expense of locally manufactured ones, certain imported goods are now subject to excise duties similar to locally manufactured goods.




 
Laolu Akande
 
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
 
19th January, 2020

JUSTICE TANKO: THE BURDEN OF JUDICIAL NEUTRALITY — Maiwada Dammallam

With equally powerful and just as unrelenting political opponents vying for the affirmation of the Supreme Court to either actualise or sustain various mandates on the schedule of the Court, hardly would anyone envy the Justices of apex Court least of all, the Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Tanko Muhammad, the highest ranking jurist of the court.

Even without saying, it’s easy to assume all contenders in almost every case brought before a court of any ranking for adjudication, expect justice to swing their way by hook or by crook. It is this subscription that makes the job of Judges tricky and cumbersome while the crooks among them make it worse. This is where Justice Tanko stand tall among his peers; restoring confidence to the bench while keeping an eagle’s eye on the bar.

Justice Tanko made his mark early enough and loud enough to express the neutrality of the Supreme Court and provide the needed confidence among politicians to rely on the judiciary for fairness while in pursuit of their ambitions. And of course, not without, simultaneously, telling the unscrupulous among them that the days of perpetrating impunity and seeking for shelter under the flowing robes of Judges is over.

Against all expectations, the Supreme Court, under Justice Tanko Muhammad, gave victory to PDP — from top to bottom — in Zamfara State, a very critical state fully subscribed to the APC/Buhari for as long as anybody could recall. The landmark judgement was an unprecedented judicial feat even to those either wearing their thinking caps wrongly or wearing none at all. It left the PDP beneficiaries more mesmerized and dumbfounded.

The Wadata Plaza accolades that greeted the Zamfara verdict on the Zamfara State imbroglio almost painted the taciturn and highly principled jurist as the National Chairman of the PDP rather than the unbiased Chief Justice of the Federation that he is. Many people were tempted to believe the insults and allegations of corruption and nepotism that greeted the appointed of Justice Tanko sponsored by the PDP were only a figment of their imaginations.

With a single stroke of the gavel, Justice Tanko recovered all his professional integrity and moral uprightness staked and bastardized by the PDP to protest the sacking of the former Chief Justice of the Federation, Justice Walter Onnoghen who was caught pants down changing the job description of the office of the CJN to a little more than that of a Bureau de Change.

As it turned out, PDP is the best beneficiary of President Buhari’s wisdom in avoiding the boobytrap that was CJN Onnoghen. I doubt if Zamfara State would be in the kitty of the PDP if Justice Onnoghen (rtd) is still calling the shots at the apex court. The moral settings of the apex court might’ve remain what it was complete with the tendencies that striped it of public respectability. It’s also likely that almost 300,000 disenfranchised voters in 388 polling units of Imo State wouldn’t have recovered their invalidated votes to have leaders they believe are cut for their developmental aspirations.

Nigerians should be thankful to President Buhari for having he wisdom and strength of character to appoint a Chief Justice of the Federation who’s not afraid to step on toes of even the ruling party. Now politicians are careful to invest their funds in rigging elections because of Justice Tanko and the culture of fairness he revived in the judiciary. Just like President Buhari, he’s for everybody and belongs to nobody.

The rich debates provoked by the Supreme Court verdict on Imo State clearly proved a new respect for the apex court. Majority of those who disagreed with the judgement did so on the basis of their political sentiments and or worse, just to affirm their allegiance to an “oath of wailing” members of the PDP seem sworn to.

The purpose of this piece is not to eulogize Justice Tanko but to expose Nigerians to the cumbersomeness of judicial supervision of a complex society like Nigeria. No matter the facts of a case, many people would argue the case to suit their sentiments and convenience. There are some that argue a case without even knowing the details — same as arguing details of a movie without watching it — it’s that bad! And if anything, that’s why Nigeria should be happy for having a CJN fully subscribed to the oath of his office and fearless to express it.

In the next few days Nigerians would enter another round of judicial review after the apex court’s decision on Sokoto, Kano, Bauchi is put on the table. It’s advisable to understand that facts and figures at the disposal of the Supreme Court Judges are always finer and more reliable than those obtainable on the internet. A clear example of confusing analysis that may be provided to deliberately or ignorantly challenge the integrity of the judiciary was the beautiful albeit, angry and inconsistent opinion of ace journalist, Segun Adeniyi.

Adeniyi must have lost his cool and composure due to his close friendship with the sacked Governor of Imo State, Ihedioha. He might have raised pertinent questions relevant to the case but, somehow he refused to provide critical details to make a complete sense of his opinion. Even more important, he pretended not to know that Judges work with only facts at their disposal. For instance, it’s not for the Judges of the SC to ask why Udozinma score more votes in the 388 polling units invalidated which the court revalidated. Their responsibility is only for them to ascertain the votes were legit. Ditto, it’s not for them to ask why Udozinma’s APC didn’t win any House of Assembly seat in the state. That’s for APC to determine and improve its chances in future. This is saying, the arithmetic of injustice seen by Adeniyi is probably visibly only from his elevation and not the higher more reliable elevation of the jurists that gave the verdict.

*Jackson Ude Lied Again: VP never discussed case with Ihedioha*

* The PDP operative's lexicon of lies and the unsuspecting Nigerians*

When a former Director of Communications to an ex-president goes about deliberately fabricating tales which have zero factual basis, one can only wonder at the professional character of such an individual.

The antecedents of this fellow also will never do his credibility any justice, as he is fond of distorting facts on social media, when he actually ever mentions anything remotely close to the facts.

His pointblanknews.com blog is a well-known blackmailing tool in journalism circles with cases dating as far back as 2011, so this is not a recent development. One notable incident was when they tried to blackmail the wife of Sam Amuka, the publisher of Vanguard newspapers. Money actually exchanged hands and his accomplice , one Chinua-Ogwu, a dismissed police officer was later detained as investigations unfolded. Mrs Oyindamola Sam Amuka would later testify in court how they collected 4 million naira from her in order to quash a fabricated case. All this took place at State CID Panti, Lagos with the connivance of dubious police officers who were later dismissed or at large.

The same Chinua-Ogwu was also the pick-up guy when Jackson tried to dupe Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala after threatening to publish fake news about her ownership of a billion naira mansion in Abuja. Strangely enough he found his way into Jonathan’s government. That is a story for another day.

Jackson lives in faraway New York, but he continues to posture on Twitter like he is an appointed official inside Aso Villa. Believe him at your own peril. He cannot claim to be privy to any conversation during the VP’s visit, so how does he begin to ‘authoritatively’ sell us this bunch of hogwash?

The Supreme Court judgment was unanimous and the law has concluded on the matter. Peddling hearsay on Twitter will not get this brother anywhere near the corridors of power, to which he so desperately yearns to return. Anybody that has his contact should advise him to get a real job.

Osinbajo To Commission Major Road Projects In Kano

•VP to lay foundation for first state-owned Cancer Centre



Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will on Monday commission some major road projects constructed by Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State.

During the one-day official state visit, the Vice President will also lay the foundation stone for the first state-owned Cancer Centre in the Nigeria.

Prof. Osinbajo will be accompanied by Governor Ganduje and other senior government officials in the state.

He will commission the Tijjani Hashim Underpass in Kofar Ruwa, the Aminu Dantata Flyover in Sabon Gari amongst other project constructed by the Kano State Government under Governor Ganduje.

The Vice President will also make history when he lays the foundation stone of the Kano Cancer Centre, which is the first state-owned cancer Centre in the country, amongst others.

The official visit to Kano comes a day after Prof Osinbajo headlined the annual Armed Forces Remembrance Day service at National Christian Centre, Abuja on Sunday.

Osinbajo who paid glowing tributes to Nigeria’s Armed Forces spoke in appreciation of men and women who have put down their lives to serve Nigeria.

In a speech titled 'A Debt We Cannot Repay' the Vice President said the sacrifice of the men and women in uniform has never gone unnoticed.

BISHOP KUKAH: A SINCERE CONCERN OR MERE MISCHIEF — Maiwada Dammallam

Kukah: Only bomb differentiates FG from Boko Haram — Bishop Kukah, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese

Source: The Cable

It’s quite unfortunate that Bishop Kukah would throw caution to wind and reduce himself to less than a mixture of reckless doomsayers like Femi Fani Kayode and clownish blind attackers of President Buhari like Buba Galadima. I have enormous respect for Bishop Kukah. He’s intelligent albeit witty. Still a delight to chat with. However, his pluses seem to be his minuses at least, in this round of controversy.

You see, no sense of logic would accept Bishop Kukah’s latest round of vituperation against the Federal Government viz-a-viz Islamic dominance of Nigeria by muslims courtesy of Buhari’s presidency — not a with a reputable Pastor as a carried along and fairly functional Vice President anyway. For this reason and glaring others, many people would find Bishop Kukah’s advocacy suspicious especially given the choice of forum and venue. Kukah’s advocacy was made while speaking with Catholic Charity Aid to the Church in Need, in the UK.

Superficially, Kukah’s “Boko Haramizing” of the Federal Government was provoked by the killing of 10 christians by the Islamic State of West Africa Province (ISWAP) on Christmas eve. However, Bishop Kukah, for reason(s) best known to him refused to enlighten the forum about the genesis and motive of the reckless killing of 10 innocent citizens which ISWAP, even as reported by Daily Mail of UK, claimed they killed the captives to avenge for the killing of their leaders Abu bakr al-Baghdadi and Abul-Hasan Al-Muhajir in Iraq and Syria. For reasons I will mention shortly, Kukah’s campaign is far removed from ordinary concern for the welfare Nigerian christians displayed as his primary concern.

First of all, Bishop Kukah would not deny not knowing that Boko Haram is no longer the localized Nigerian problem it was 4 or 5 years ago. That Boko Haram has mutated and is now an international franchise of blood is globally acknowledged and could be seen in most media reports about the repulsive Christmas eve killings. Kukah’s insistence to see it as a local event left more than enough room to speculate about his motives.

Beside accusing the Federal Government of failure to tackle Boko Haram, he’s also of the opinion that the FG has created a room for the group to operate as it is doing currently. Despite his eloquence and ease of articulation, he did not say what the Federal Government is doing or not doing that created room for Boko Haram, ISWAP or whoever to operate freely in the manner he rolled out to his audience. I expect a meticulous activist like Bishop Kukah to present his well researched facts to the forum given the sensitivity of his allegation if not to be fair to the FG at least, to preserve credibility. There was none hence, lending credence to suspicions about unholy motives of his watery lamentations.

The most bizarre of Bishop Kukah’s lamentations was the opinion that the Federal Government is up to some agenda to achieve Islamic supremacy in Nigeria. He said and I quote: “They (the Federal Government are using the levers of power to secure the supremacy of Islam, which then gives more weight to the idea that it (the supremacy) can be achieved by violence.” Unquote.

This is quite petty coming from as respected and intelligent personality as Bishop Kukah. That he has jumped to the level of theorizing about a non-existing agenda of Islamic supremacy in Nigeria when a lesser theory of islamizing Nigeria has refused to fly indicates high level of desperation to create unnecessary chaos to achieve hidden motives which probably when discovered would give meaning to Kukah’s phantom and baseless lamentations.

How’s President Buhari suppose to pursue an agenda of Islamic Supremacy in Nigeria with a Pastor-Vice President, some Christian heads of security agencies, a mixture of Christian/Muslims Armed Forces and same mixture of two chambers of the National Assembly? Unless Bishop Kukah is of the conviction that President Buhari has some supernatural powers or a magic wand to flick and make the so called supremacy happen, nobody could miss the fallacy of his fears (I hate to use the word mischief out of respect).

Bishop Kukah said if those in authority do not do enough to integrate Christians, “then they give oxygen to Islamism.” Honestly I’m lost here. What exactly does Kukah means by not doing enough to integrate Christians? Is Buhari’s cabinet in any way operating against the dictates of the Nigerian constitution? If so, why is Kukah somewhere in Britain wasting his “facts” when he has the muscle to mobilize the National Assembly to remove Buhari out of office. Even easier, why is he not in court even by proxy to challenge Buhari on the “illegalities”. The answer is simple. Bishop Kukah is sure his grudges would not pass even shallow scrutiny.

By the way, Bishop Kukah is in the best position to know there isn’t any agenda to achieve Islamic supremacy in Nigeria under Buhari or at any other time. He won’t be supervising the most visible Catholic Diocese in Sokoto the heart of the Caliphate where in no distant past, Muslim travelers to Mecca had to branch to pay homage to the tomb of the 18th Century Islamic reformer, Sheikh Usman Danfodio. Not only is Bishop Kukah supervising the Sokoto Diocese as he wishes without hindrance, he’s doing so complete with the freedom to make provocative proposals like his clearly unworkable over-ambitious plan to rehabilitate 10,000 “Almajirai” which was only a witty way meant to embarrass religious and political leaders of the Islamic North.

Just as much, nobody is yet to challenge the rights and freedom of Bishop Kukah or any Christian on the inroad Christian missionaries are making in the nook and crannies of the Islamic North. Without the tolerance he went to the UK to deny the Federal Government, Christian missionaries would not be knocking the doors in Muslim communities to preach their gospel much less, gain converts.

The truth is, the Federal Government is more a symbol of our unity and diversity than a magical wand to flick and make things happen. The burden of creating a great Nigeria is more on its citizens than its leaders. Only when we shun divisive tendencies as those exported to the UK by Bishop Kukah could Nigeria unlock its potentials and move to the next level people like Bishop Kukah are making pretentious efforts to speed up the process.

Of course, Nigeria is so battered that many people don’t have any problem using its misfortune to score cheap global popularity. Still, I expect senior citizens like Kukah to be sensitive to the fragility of Nigeria and avoid experimenting with its dangerous fault lines. Giving Nigeria’s complex set-up, a religious crisis of the magnitude advocacies like Kukah’s could precipitate would be disaster not only to Nigeria but to Africa as a continent.

Elulade Promises Engaging Stakeholders Conference, Says LASIMRA’s Operations, Processes Will Henceforth Be Automated- By Eric Elezuo

The General Manager, Lagos State Infrastructure Maintenance and Regulatory Agency (LASIMRA), Engr, Funsho Elulade, has said that henceforth all operations and processes of the agency will be automated, and activities carried out more online than across the counter.

Elulade made the remarks when he addressed the press at the agency’s complex in Ikeja on the agenda of his administration and the direction of the forthcoming stakeholders conference billed to take place on January 14, 2020 at the Muson Centre, Lagos Island.

In his speech, the General Manager, who was flanked by the Deputy General Manager, Engr. Bisoye Coker-Odusote, and the Head, Administration and Human Resources, Mrs. Oluwatoyin Oladeji, said his mandate is in line with the vision of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who in his wisdom realised that LASIMRA has the capacity to generate revenue to the tune of what is obtainable with the Lagos Internal Revenue Service to create a Lagos of everyone’s dreams. And as a result, he ‘deemed it fit to put a formidable team together to realise that agenda’.

Appointed in November 2019 to propel LASIMRA to another level of achievement, Elulade, who has performed creditably in his previous assignments, is calling a stakeholders conference to among other things, carry the people along in all his endeavours.

He said: “This is the major reason for holding the stakeholders conference. We found out that changing our processes, increasing or upgrading and decreasing tariffs, we need to carry people along; we need to get the public buying and we need to get our stakeholders’ buying. So the first thing we believe is necessary is to undertake a stakeholders conference and of course that is where we will lay down the new rules and regulations in line with Lagos State government agenda.”

He noted as well that his mission will include correcting all the anomalies in carrying out the activities of the agencies as regards the rules and regulations guiding LASIMRA.

“It will interest you to know that LASIMRA was established in 2004, and its establishment was in line with what existed during that time. So some of the regulations were not really captured. I’ve undertaken all the processes,” he said.

Mr. Elulade itemised some of his visions in the coming days as follows:

“Firstly, we are increasing all the tariffs in line with what is obtainable in all the other states. Lagos is interestingly one of the states in Nigeria that doesn’t undertake site assessment report. We will introduce that, Again, we will automate all our processes as stakeholders can do whatever it takes to obtain permits without coming to the office. Everything will be done online. And they will be able to track the books of their submission. In addition to that, the only way they will have their contract renewed is when they submit their technical report. It is imperative that our in house engineers do site inspections to ensure everything is in order.

“Again, I will sensitise our stakeholders that LASIMRA’s law covers everything in comparison to others. We need to further inform that this new management will undertake full operationalistion of LASIMRA law. Everything will be used to regulate utility infrastructure.”

For those who believe that LASIMRA is just all about regulating telecommunication companies and internet services providers, Elulade informed.

“A lot of people think LASIMRA only regulate telecom companies and internet service providers, no. It involves anything infrastructure; telecommunication, IPS, power, water, gas, roads – anything underground, on ground and in the air, according to the law,” he said.

He further stated that the safety of Lagosians was of paramount importance to the agency, even much more than revenue generation, and so will ensure maximum compliance from operators and owners of Telecom companies using the instrumentality of the law.

“We will use the law to make sure Lagosians are safe. The operators and owners of telecom will no longer be permitted to indiscriminately cause congestion on the roads by digging to mount their equipment. We will come up with comprehensive traffic management that will not further prolong congestion in Lagos. We will scrutinise their designs of towers to prevent collapsing and killing Lagosians.

In his conclusion, Elulade exposed that going forward, the agency will operate three satelite offices in Ikorodu, Epe and Badagry to achieve LASIMRA’s goal and in turn achieve Lagos State’s goal.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE



RESPONSE TO RECENT STATEMENTS FROM THE CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA



The security forces of Nigeria are working continuously to return those taken hostage by Boko Haram to their families, friends and communities. In doing this, the government has full confidence in their ability to accomplish the task.



On its own part, government has condemned some of the appalling acts of terror, especially following the festive period. Yet, to continue to see these happenings solely in religious terms – removed from social, economic and environmental factors – simplifies complexities that must be heeded. Not seeing them as they should be is exactly what the terrorists and groups wish: they want Nigerians to see their beliefs as reason to turn against one another.



On the contrary, Christians and Muslims alike are united in their opposition to Boko Haram and the hatred for decency that the infamous group stands for.



Nigerians must continue to be united in ensuring that they do not subscribe to the terrorists' message of division. Unfortunately, some leaders and politicians seek to make political capital from our religious differences. As we fight Boko Haram on the ground, so too must we tackle their beliefs: stability and unity in face of their hatred is itself a rejection of their worldview.



This government shall never tolerate religious intolerance. We clearly and unambiguously restate our support for the freedom to practice whichever belief you wish. The politicisation of religion – as forbidden by the constitution – has no place in Nigeria.



Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media & Publicity)

January 07, 2020

A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT AT NEW YEAR




My Dear Compatriots,



NIGERIA’S DECADE



Today marks a new decade. It is a time of hope, optimism and fresh possibilities. We look forward as a nation to the 2020s as the opportunity to build on the foundations we have laid together on security, diversification of our economy and taking on the curse of corruption. These are the pledges on which I have been twice elected President and remain the framework for a stable, sustainable and more prosperous future.



Elections are the cornerstone of our democracy. I salute the commitment of the millions who voted in peace last February and of those leaders who contested for office vigorously but fairly, submitting to the authority of the electorate, the Independent National Electoral Commission and judicial process. I understand very well the frustrations our system has in the past triggered. I will be standing down in 2023 and will not be available in any future elections. But I am determined to help strengthen the electoral process both in Nigeria and across the region, where several ECOWAS members go to the polls this year.



As Commander-in-Chief, my primary concern is the security of the nation and the safety of our citizens. When I assumed office in May 2015 my first task was to rally our neighbours so that we could confront Boko Haram on a coordinated regional basis. Chaos is not a neighbour any of us hope for.



We have been fighting on several fronts: violent extremists, cultists and organised criminal networks. It has not been easy. But as we are winning the war, we also look to the challenge of winning the peace, the reconstruction of lives, communities and markets. The North East Development Commission will work with local and international stakeholders to help create a new beginning for the North East.

The Federal Government will continue to work with State Governors, neighbouring states and our international partners to tackle the root causes of violent extremism and the networks that help finance and organise terror. Our security forces will receive the best training and modern weaponry, and in turn will be held to the highest standards of professionalism, and respect for human rights. We will use all the human and emerging technological resources available to tackle kidnapping, banditry and armed robbery.



The new Ministry of Police Affairs increased recruitment of officers and the security reforms being introduced will build on what we are already delivering. We will work tirelessly at home and with our allies in support of our policies to protect the security of life and property. Our actions at all times will be governed by the rule of law. At the same time, we shall look always to engage with all well-meaning leaders and citizens of goodwill to promote dialogue, partnership and understanding.



We need a democratic government that can guarantee peace and security to realise the full potential of our ingenious, entrepreneurial and hard-working people. Our policies are designed to promote genuine, balanced growth that delivers jobs and rewards industry. Our new Economic Advisory Council brings together respected and independent thinkers to advise me on a strategy that champions inclusive and balanced growth, and above all fight poverty and safeguard national economic interests.



As we have sat down to celebrate with friends and family over this holiday season, for the first time in a generation our food plates have not all been filled with imports of products we know can easily be produced here at home. The revolution in agriculture is already a reality in all corners of the country. New agreements with Morocco, Russia and others will help us access on attractive terms the inputs we need to accelerate the transformation in farming that is taking place.



A good example of commitment to this inclusive growth is the signing of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the creation of the National Action Committee to oversee its implementation and ensure the necessary safeguards are in place to allow us to fully capitalise on regional and continental markets.

The joint land border security exercise currently taking place is meant to safeguard Nigeria’s economy and security. No one can doubt that we have been good neighbours and good citizens. We have been the helpers and shock-absorbers of the sub-region but we cannot allow our well-planned economic regeneration plans to be sabotaged. As soon as we are satisfied that the safeguards are adequate, normal cross-border movements will be resumed.



Already, we are making key infrastructure investments to enhance our ease of doing business. On transportation, we are making significant progress on key roads such as the Second Niger Bridge, Lagos – Ibadan Expressway and the Abuja - Kano highway. 2020 will also see tangible progress on the Lagos to Kano Rail line. Through Executive Order 007, we are also using alternative funding programmes in collaboration with private sector partners to fix strategic roads such as the Apapa-Oworonshoki Express way. Abuja and Port Harcourt have new international airport terminals, as will Kano and Lagos in 2020. When completed, all these projects will positively impact business operations in the country. These projects are not small and do not come without some temporary disruption; we are doing now what should have been done a long time ago. I thank you for your patience and look forward to the dividends that we and future generations will long enjoy.



Power has been a problem for a generation. We know we need to pick up the pace of progress. We have solutions to help separate parts of the value chain to work better together. In the past few months, we have engaged extensively with stakeholders to develop a series of comprehensive solutions to improve the reliability and availability of electricity across the country. These solutions include ensuring fiscal sustainability for the sector, increasing both government and private sector investments in the power transmission and distribution segments, improving payment transparency through the deployment of smart meters and ensuring regulatory actions maximise service delivery.



We have in place a new deal with Siemens, supported by the German government after German Chancellor Angela Merkel visited us in Abuja, to invest in new capacity for generation, transmission and distribution. These projects will be under close scrutiny and transparency – there will be no more extravagant claims that end only in waste, theft and mismanagement.



The next 12 months will witness the gradual implementation of these actions, after which Nigerians can expect to see significant improvement in electricity service supply reliability and delivery. Separately, we have plans to increase domestic gas consumption. In the first quarter of 2020, we will commence work on the AKK gas pipeline, OB3 Gas pipeline and the expansion of the Escravos – Lagos Pipeline.



While we look to create new opportunities in agriculture, manufacturing and other long neglected sectors, in 2020 we will also realise increased value from oil and gas, delivering a more competitive, attractive and profitable industry, operating on commercial principles and free from political interference. Just last week, we were able to approve a fair framework for the USD10 billion expansion of Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas, which will increase exports by 35 percent, restore our position as a world leader in the sector and create thousands of jobs. The Amendment of the Deep Offshore Act in October signalled our intention to create a modern, forward-looking industry in Nigeria. I am confident that in 2020 we will be able to present a radical programme of reform for oil and gas that will excite investors, improve governance and strengthen protections for host communities and the environment.



We can expect the pace of change in technology only to accelerate in the decade ahead. Coupled with our young and vibrant population, this offers huge opportunities if we are able to harness the most productive trends and tame some of the wilder elements. This is a delicate balance with which many countries are struggling. We are seeking an informed and mature debate that reflects our rights and responsibilities as citizens in shaping the boundaries of how best to allow technology to benefit Nigeria.



During my Democracy Day speech on June 12, 2019, I promised to lay the enduring foundations for taking a hundred million Nigerians out of mass poverty over the next 10 years. Today I restate that commitment. We shall continue reforms in education, health care and water sanitation. I have met international partners such as GAVI, the vaccine alliance, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation who support our social welfare programmes. I will continue to work with State and Local Governments to make sure that these partnerships deliver as they should. Workers will have a living wage and pensioners will be looked after. We are steadily clearing pensions and benefits arrears neglected for so long.

The new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development will consolidate and build on the social intervention schemes and will enhance the checks and balances necessary for this set of programmes to succeed for the long term.



I am able to report that the journey has already begun with the passage and signing into law of the 2020 Appropriation Act. As the new decade dawns, we are ready to hit the ground running. Let me pay tribute to the Ninth National Assembly who worked uncommonly long hours to make sure that the 2020 budget scrutiny is both thorough and timely. The close harmony between the Executive and Legislature is a sharp contrast to what we have experienced in the recent past, when the Senate kept the previous budget for 7 months without good reason just to score cheap political points thereby disrupting the budgetary processes and overall economic development plans.



Our policies are working and the results will continue to show themselves more clearly by the day. Nigeria is the most tremendous, can-do market, offering extraordinary opportunities and returns. Investors can look forward with confidence not only to an increasing momentum of change but also to specific incentives, including our new visa-on-arrival policy.



They can also be certain of our unshakeable commitment to tackle corruption. As we create an environment that allows initiative, enterprise and hard work to thrive, it is more important than ever to call out those who find the rule of law an inconvenience, or independent regulation an irritation. We are doing our part here in Nigeria. We will continue to press our partners abroad to help with the supply side of corruption and have received some encouragement. We expect more funds stolen in the past to be returned to us and they will be ploughed back into development with all due transparency.



This is a joint initiative. Where our policies have worked best, it has been because of the support of ordinary Nigerians in their millions, numbers that even the most powerful of special interests cannot defy. I thank you for your support. Transition by its very nature carries with it change and some uncertainty along the way. I encourage you to be tolerant, law abiding and peace loving. This is a new year and the beginning of a new decade - the Nigerian Decade of prosperity and promise for Nigeria and for Africa.



To recapitulate, some of the projects Nigerians should expect to come upstream from 2020 include:



47 road projects scheduled for completion in 2020/21, including roads leading to ports;
Major bridges including substantial work on the Second Niger Bridge;
Completion of 13 housing estates under the National Housing Project Plan;
Lagos, Kano, Maiduguri and Enugu international airports to be commissioned in 2020;
Launching of an agricultural rural mechanisation scheme that will cover 700 local governments over a period of three years;
Launching of the Livestock Development Project Grazing Model in Gombe State where 200,000 hectares of land has been identified;
Training of 50,000 workers to complement the country’s 7,000 extension workers;
Commissioning of the Lagos – Ibadan and Itakpe – Warri rail lines in the first quarter;
Commencement of the Ibadan – Abuja and Kano – Kaduna rail lines also in the first quarter;
Further liberalisation of the power sector to allow businesses to generate and sell power;
Commencement of the construction of the Mambilla Power project by the first half of 2020; and
Commencement of the construction of the AKK gas pipeline, OB3 gas pipeline and the expansion of the Escravos – Lagos pipeline in the first quarter of 2020.


Thank you very much!



President Muhammadu Buhari

State House,

Abuja.

1st January, 2020

Former president Obasanjo has once again exposed himself as a man that is intellectually incapacitated or simply ineptitude in calculus. Although I failed mathematics with honors, but I can still remember what my teachers used to call, calculus. They used to say calculus, is a particular method or system of calculation or reasoning, and it deals with summation and differences, amongst others.

I used to fail that subject, but with people like former president Obasanjo, demonstrating their mathematical incompetence in public, by not knowing how to sum up figures and calculate differences, I think I must contact my former teachers, for the reassessment of my performance. Perhaps, not even perhaps. Certainly, I would come better than Obasanjo( in calculus), for sure.

In his usual attention seeking antics, the former president raised alarm about Nigeria’s current debt situation in Lagos last Friday, saying it is closer to the prevalent situation in the 70’s and 80’s, that led the country and the African continent as a whole into unserviceable debts.

He said Nigeria risks bankruptcy with its penchant for loans under the current administration, and the amount used in servicing the loans. Although he agreed that it might not be totally wrong to take loans to finance growth and development, such decisions ought to come “with a high degree of discipline, responsibility and foresight”, qualities he said, the present Nigerian government is “notoriously” deficient in.

“As at 2015, total external debt was about $10.32billion. In four years, our external debt grew to N24,947 trillion or $81.274 billion. To service this current level of indebtedness, we must commit at least 50 per cent of our foreign earnings, such a situation tells about an impending bankruptcy, because no entity can survive while devoting 50 per cent of its revenue to debt servicing.”-Obasanjo.

Let me start by asking Obasanjo how he arrived at such a huge difference in the volume of Nigeria’s debt within a period of four years. He is simply saying the country’s debt profile jumped from $10.32b to $82.27b under the leadership of PMB. This is exactly where I have to teach Obasanjo basic mathematics, and he has to take it, despite the fact that I failed that subject in school.

In 2015, the exchange rate of naira to the dollar was 199, i.e. for every dollar, you need 199 naira. Whatever was Nigeria’s debt at that time, was calculated at that rate. Today, the exchange rate of the dollar is 360, i.e. for every dollar, you need 366 naira. If Obasanjo were to calculate Nigeria’s debt today, at 199, the figure he would get would not be $82.27. Also, if he were to calculate the country’s debt in 2015 at 360, the figure he would get would not be $10.32b.

Obasanjo also failed to understanding the difference between his regime and the present regime of PMB, where every loan is tied to a particular project, with laid down guides for monitoring and regular evaluation. It wouldnt be like before, where the loans were taken, and the money diverted to private pockets and poultry farms.

Aremu is being economical with the truth, as well as exhibiting utter misunderstanding of basic mathematics and the procedure for computing figures. To say a leadership under PMB has no discipline, responsibility and foresight, is akin to calling a spade with a different name.

It is the same Obasanjo, who in the past, eulogized Buhari in one of his books, where he said, “As minister of petroleum and member of the supreme military council, Buhari is one officer that is diligent in his duties, who carried out whatever assignments that is given to him, with high sense of responsibility, patriotism and prudence”.

To make a total U-turn on the assessment of such a person, within a short period of time, gives me room to suggest one thing- the fear of going back to prison. Obasanjo is nervous and terribly jittery about the likelihood of returning to the Yola prison, as such, he wants to look for some inexpensive excuses.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has since begun the probe of the $16 billion power project of the administration of Obasanjo, while the Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Nasiru El-Rufai is also heading another investigative committee that has gone far on the same issue.

It is curious to know that, Obasanjo had terribly chastised El-Rufai in another book before. But few weeks back, pursuant to his lobby to water down the investigation, Obasanjo went to Kaduna to change position, by eulogizing El-Rufai with the most sugar coated words.

Obasanjo’s dilemma are undoubtedly many, amongst which is the magnitude of the $16b he squandered on power without the power. At what rate would the money be calculated? At 360, 199 or whatever was the value of the dollar at the time?

Whatever happens, and no matter his level of lobby or manifestation of mathematical ignorance, the road to prison is increasingly becoming signposted. Because that $16b is part and parcel of the problem, that increased the debt profile of Nigeria.

If Farook Kperoogi was a trader, his store would always have one police man and a customer inside, at every point in time. Why? He would have sold fake items, and the unsuspecting customers would have returned with the force of law to demand a refund and call for the shutdown of his store. Worse, if he was a pharmacist, he would have been responsible for the death of a great percentage of those who make the error of patronising him.

Farook Kperoogi is a trader indeed. But his stock in trade is not the sale of household items, pharmaceuticals or general goods. He is a merchant of fake news. Of lies and of stories that have no place in reality.



Farook Kperoogi is notorious for coming up with figments of his imagination and ascribing the status of fact to them, as if they were indeed so. He does not spare his unsuspecting readers in his most recent piece: A VOTE FOR APC ISN`T A VOTE FOR BUHARI.

In this ridiculous piece he points to the existence of cabals who he claims are stealing the common wealth of the nation. In his customary fashion, he shows no evidence, and provides no proofs. This has often made many question that he is a so-called lecturer. Shouldn’t a lecturer know better that you do not make assertions like this without at least any supporting evidence?

I have stumbled on some items of commentaries online on his lecturing by his students in Kennesaw University, and their reviews have helped me understand the absurdity that he is. They have most times noted that the Associate Professor is out of touch with reality and forces his wrong opinions on them.

In this ignorant piece that he attempts to sell, Farook makes an attack on the Vice President. A laughable one. He forgets that the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has his credentials of integrity and unquestionable honesty intact. All times Professor Osinbajo has been accused of a wrong, all times it has turned out false. This cannot be said of Farook who at every time he has put his pen to paper and churned out half baked lies, he has been ridiculed and embarrassed with facts to the contrary.



He claims the Vice President is a mere figure-head. A man who teaches comprehension and communication and sees all the activities the Vice President is engaged in, yet calls him a mere figure-head is indeed a trader of fake news.

To start with, compare the Vice President with former Vice Presidents and the roles they played in office. Professor Osinbajo has stood out in terms of his active de facto participation in governance, in the economy and even in politics. It is no news that he is the only Vice President Nigeria has ever had who has acted as President, and exercised those powers as if he were the President with no shortcomings or setbacks – from the President or in the quality of the decisions he made.

As Vice President, Professor Yemi plays the constitutional and critical role of heading Nigeria’s economy. And he has done this fantastically well. He is credited for being the mind behind taking Nigeria out of recession by leading an economic management team that came up with the unconventional policies that has put Nigeria on steady growth.

He is actively leading Nigeria’s journey to diversifying the economy through the route of improving our non-oil sector growth and creating inclusiveness for the poor. The poor today are being given an opportunity to come out of poverty and take advantage of sustainable opportunities that would enable them create wealth.



Vice President Osinbajo is known to manage the Social Investment Programmes: Nigeria’s most ambitious, most credible, and most effective Social Investment attempt. It is recorded that over ten million Nigerians are in one way or the other benefitting from the programmes.

If Farook was an honest man, he would at least have put these in the front burner when he scribbled the insult of an article he penned. A compulsive liar and an evil one too. 

He also puts on the table some events that he claims to have taken place in the villa and says they indeed happened. He is obsessed with the existence of a cabal.

Asides the fact that these events exist only in the imaginations of Farook, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo does not just enjoy the respect, loyalty and honour of the friends of the President, his inner circle and his appointees, Osinbajo also enjoys the support, respect and regard of President Buhari – who has said this and shown this time without number.

The Buhari – Osinbajo relationship is blessed and orchestrated divinely – it is the most proactive, balanced and in fact the best synergy between a President and his Vice we have ever seen.

The likes of Kperoogi, the bitter rotten lemons, who are morose when good things happen may continue to sell their fake goods and fake products to unsuspecting victims. But like all fake items, they do not last, they cause a rumble in the tummy, and they are thrown away. Nigerians are wiser, they do not buy nonsense anymore.

Nathaniel C. Adoji

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

WITH MR FALANA, DEBUNKED FAKE NEWS KEEPS COMING BACK

The popularly acclaimed human rights lawyer and formerly unsuccessful opposition candidate for governor of Ekiti state, Femi Falana, has boarded the free-publicity train, full of those seeking personal media attention in claiming the president is planning a third term in office.

To repeat: All and every claim that is made that suggest President Muhammadu Buhari will stand for a third term in office is false.

To reiterate, the President reminds all of those who wish it were otherwise, whether because they want a third term, or because they seek to make false claims for the purposes of their own publicity of the statement made on 2nd October 2019, which is repeated in full, below:

“The Presidency wishes to correct internet-based gossip and uninformed media commentary regarding presidential term limits, given credence by so-called support groups, staging street demonstrations asking President Muhammadu Buhari to do a third term.

“There are no circumstances – nor set of circumstances – under which President Buhari may seek to amend the Constitution regarding the two-term term limit on holding office as President.

“President Buhari intends to serve his full second elected term in office, ending 2023 – and then there shall be a general election in which he will not be a candidate.

“There is not even the faintest possibility that this will change.

“It is important to note that there was a past attempt to change the Constitution to allow for the then incumbent president to stand for a third term. That attempt was wrong, unconstitutional – and rightly rebuffed. No such attempt will happen under this President”.

President Buhari is a democrat. He respects the Constitution. Any activity aimed at altering the two-term limit will not succeed and shall never have his time nor support."

The President will have nothing more to say on this matter - apart from to repeat this statement, ad infinitum - that he will not be seeking, accepting, nor standing for a third term.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media and Publicity)
December 23, 2019

*TELL T. Y. DANJUMA THAT WE HAVE BEEN SLEEPING SOUNDLY*

By Tony Onyima

General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (rtd), a former Minister of Defence few days ago spoke himself into national news talking point. Danjuma says that “nobody in Nigeria will sleep again” if he reveals what he knows happening in Nigeria.
He spoke at the University of Ibadan during the launch of a book “70 Years of Progressive Journalism: The Story of the Nigerian Tribune” and the presentation of Tribune’s Platinum Awards. Danjuma, a former Chief of Army Staff (1975-1979) also chided the Southwest leaders for their silence over the state of affairs in the country.
His words: “In Yorubaland, everybody seems to have lost their voice, scared. And people appear not to care about what is happening. If I tell you what I know that is happening in Nigeria today, you will no longer sleep. We are in a big hole as a nation. And people who put us in this hole have continued today. So, we’ve to wake up. Only we can save ourselves. The fifth columnists’ activities going on among your people are not helping matters. May Almighty God continue to bless this country, but only we can save ourselves from ourselves.”

This is not the first time Danjuma will be threatening Nigerians about what he knows. In a newspaper interview published on Sunday, February 17, 2008, Danjuma said that his memoir will be a grenade. “You know what a grenade is - it explodes”, he said. Eleven years down the line, he is yet to drop the grenade.

But a few things will strike you after reading Danjuma. He presumes to know a lot of things happening in the country particularly at the corridors of power. Truly he may know given his background and reach. Again he assumes that he is performing a patriotic duty by alerting the nation to what’s happening. But what is it that Danjuma knows that will make Nigerians not to sleep if he reveals them? Perhaps he will tell us about the shadowy cabal behind the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. Mrs. Aisha Buhari has already told us that. Will he restate the acts of impunity of this administration? People like Femi Falana and other political ‘born agains’ have been shouting about the lack of rule of law in the country. Or will he talk about the humongous level of poverty in the country? The World Bank has already warned us that Nigeria may be the capital of poverty in the next few years if we do not tackle crushing unemployment in the country. I have been wondering what else will Danjuma tell us that will make us lose sleep. As a minority Christian Jukun in Taraba State will he talk about the nepotistic appointments made by this administration? That is in the public domain. So what else? As a businessman involved in the oil industry; will he tell us about how the oil blocks were allocated to friends and cronies? Nigerians, particularly people from Niger Delta, have always known that. So can someone tell Danjuma that we have been sleeping soundly and that there’s nothing he will tell us that make will wake us up from our slumber.
But there’s something worrying about Danjuma’s statement. One is his moral authority to tell us about the “people who put us in this hole”. Haba! But Danjuma has always been part of the “people who put us in this hole”, beginning from July 29, 1966, when he shot himself into national limelight. Even as recent as the Obasanjo administration, Danjuma has been in the power loop either as a participant, adviser, kingmaker or as a wheeler dealer. Is Danjuma angry now because he is no longer part of the “people who put us in this hole” who have continued till today? My second worry about Danjuma’s statement is the historic nature of the place where he made the statement. Recall that it was Danjuma who led a group of soldiers to desecrate Ibadan when they killed Major-General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, then Head of State and his host Colonel Adekunle Fajuyi, then Military Governor of Western Region. The Ibadan coup, historians have continued to insist, irreversibly put Nigeria on the path to civil war. Almost 50 years after the unfortunate war, Nigeria is yet to come out of the ‘hole’ Danjuma and his adventurers put the country into with their unbridled ambition. Yet, self-righteous Danjuma tells us that we cannot sleep if he reveals what’s happening in the country. I totally disagree. Please help me tell Danjuma that Nigerians have seen it all and there’s nothing he will say now that will make us lose sleep. Concluding, I will join Danjuma in his prayer for Nigeria: “May Almighty God continue to bless this country; but only we can save ourselves ...” from people like Danjuma.

Onyima, a media scholar, wrote from Umuoji

PLEASE TALK SIR — Maiwada Dammallam

If I talk about Nigeria, nobody’ll sleep again — T. Y. Danjuma

Excerpt: “Nigerians are in a 'big hole as a nation,' and President Muhammadu Buhari is not here to rule the country, but rather, 'dominate us'.

Listening to General T. Y. Danjuma (rtd) at a book launch making subtle efforts to create more suspicion and acrimony among Nigerians, one could swear he is not among the authors of the chaotic and underdeveloped Nigeria President Buhari is trying to sedate and restore back to normalcy.

It’s pure mischief for Danjuma to insinuate Buhari is not ruling but trying to dominate Nigeria. It’s petty for anybody to accuse President Buhari of trying to dominate Nigeria whether as an individual or as a representative of any of the divisive dogmas on which basis Nigeria was built. Dominate how? By military force or by political persuasion? An old soldier like Danjuma should know more than anybody that Buhari, presidential powers and all, lack the capacity to dominate Nigeria in a military sense.

Ditto, Danjuma is well versed in local and global politics to know that the office of the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria lack the powers to turn its occupants into dominating monsters as painted by Danjuma. This would leave Nigerians with only two options to define Danjuma’s tantrums. Either he is suffering from advanced stage senility or he is simply being mischievous or a mixture of both. Whatever, it’s time Danjuma and other “if-it-I-talk-heavens-would-fall” Nigerians operating with an inflated sense of entitlement save us these rhetorics or spill the beans and let the heavens fall. Nigerians are sure tired of having their sensibilities insulted by mostly the authors of their miseries.

Let’s even ask, what’s keeping these self-appointed moral compasses from spilling the beans and sharing the so called secrets of this government or Buhari. What’s with this irritatingly childish “if I talk, if I talk” anthem among mostly declawed and smoothly deactivated heavyweights that are clearly having trouble adjusting to a life of near zero political relevance and threatened economic relevance?

Sure, these irritants don’t want to have us believe it’s their love for Buhari or concern for Nigeria that’s holding them back from revealing the so called secrets they are holding back and making it as if they are doing any favor to Nigerians. I pray it comes to a contest of revelations between President Buhari and this shameless parasitic crowd for Nigerians to know which revelations could induce national sleeplessness and which not.

What’s the “if I talk” secret anyway? That Nigeria is a mess? That’s not exactly the kind of secret Nigerians are dying to hear. It’s the details of this mess they are dying to hear to make sense of the unnecessary poverty and penury the are suffering for no reason other than the misfortune of being citizens of a rudderless country with almost one dollar billionaire “ex-this & that” to each million of its 200 million citizens (I’m being modest).

We all know Nigeria is a mess, in case that’s what Danjuma is trying to teach. Even more, we know Nigeria was not messed up by any mysterious cosmic force but by deliberate inactions of its past leaders (read: “dealers”). We also know Danjuma is among the most recycled members of this group. This is saying, if there’s any secret to say that could potentially incinerate Nigeria, he’s one to pay money and suppress it. He certainly don’t belong to those who could use it to threaten others. That members of his groups are making these noises, “na shakara”! I dare them to cast he first stone.

Of course, there are secrets Nigerians are dying to know but certainly, these secrets are more than the hows and whys these seemingly invincible warlords were reduced to mere mortals complete with susceptibility to the dynamics of power. If we are talking about secrets, I’m sure many Nigerians would gladly offer their 2 ears to learn the secrets behind the easy abilities of the large community of retired military Generals who inexplicably spent an entire lifetime as career soldiers and seamlessly metamorphosed into billionaire businessmen and heads of blue chip multinationals.

If Danjuma has any secret to tell Nigerians it couldn’t be more than explaining why lesser endowed countries as Nigeria could achieve greatness and fame while Nigeria was left in diapers as seen to it by self-serving citizens privileged to be in position to guide Nigeria towards greatness but chose to use the opportunity to shortchange the system and built private empires. It’s not a coincidence that long after Africa is weaned of military dictatorship, Nigeria is still held in political bondage by its retired Generals. And we all know how expensive it is to be relevant in African politics.

It’s painful that Nigeria is operating on bizarre logics. People that ordinarily should be calling the shots in high security jails that respects seniority, are still holding tight to a non-existent respectability and improvised mandates. These are authors of Nigeria’s problems turning around to insult our sensibilities distracting those working hard to clean the mess they left. It’s time we are saved periodic tantrums of people that in saner climes are mere foot notes in history books by now.

With an impeccable record of service and high public regard and respectability, President Buhari is the envy of this morally lazy crowd hence, nothing would be spared by them to lower his esteem and credentials and induct him into their hall of shame.

Shine your eyes!

Speech by his Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria at the signing into law of the 2020 Appropriation Bill.

Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Tuesday, December 17, 2019

PROTOCOLS

1. It is my pleasant duty, today, on my 77th birthday, to sign the 2020 Appropriation Bill into law. I thank the National Assembly, in particular, the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and indeed all the Distinguished and Honourable Leaders, and Members, for passing the 2020 Appropriation Bill, expeditiously.

2. You will recall, that I laid the 2020 Appropriation Bill before the Joint Session of the National Assembly on 8th October, 2019 and forwarded the 2019 Finance Bill shortly thereafter.

3. I am very pleased that the National Assembly worked uncommonly long hours in the interest of our people and the national economy to ensure detailed legislative review and passage of the Budget within two months.

4. This patriotic zeal adopted by the Ninth National Assembly has restored our budget cycle to a predictable January to December fiscal year.

5. Furthermore, in the twenty years since the return to civilian democracy, this will be just the fourth time that the Federal Budget was passed before the end of the previous year, and this is the earliest.

6. The passage of the Finance Bill, which I am told will be done in the coming days, will also be a landmark achievement worthy of recognition, being the first time, this has been done in the last twenty years.

7. We look forward to receiving this Bill, shortly, for Presidential Assent. Once passed into law, the Finance Bill will support the funding and implementation of the 2020 Budget. We shall sustain this tradition by ensuring that subsequent budgets are also accompanied by a Finance Bill.

8. For these achievements, I must therefore congratulate and thank the Distinguished Senate President, the Right Honourable Speaker and indeed, all members of the Federal Legislature for their commitment and support.

9. I equally thank the Ninth National Assembly for supporting important legislations such as the Deep Offshore and Inland Basin Production Sharing Contract Amendment Act and the 2019 Finance Bill. These laws are vital to the successful implementation of the 2020 Budget.

10. I am aware of the regular high-level discussions that took place, between senior officials of the Executive and the Legislature during this period. I commend this renewed partnership, the mutual understanding as well as collaboration between these two arms of government.

11. Now, we are well positioned to effectively implement the budget and deliver our promises to Nigerians. Businesses will also benefit as they are now in a position to plan more effectively.

12. We have to sustain this harmonious working relationship. I expect that, going forward, this will be the norm.

13. I have directed that efforts be made to ensure the presentation of the 2021 Appropriation Bill to the National Assembly in September 2020. I am confident that all Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies will cooperate with the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning to keep to this timeline.

14. I will work with the Ninth National Assembly to give effect to the constitutional, legislative and other actions that may be necessary to address the various challenges currently associated with our federal budgeting process, including the enactment of an Organic Budget Bill.

15. The 2020 Budget passed by the National Assembly provides for aggregate expenditures of Ten-point-Five-Nine-Four Trillion Naira (N10.594 trillion), an increase of Two Hundred and Sixty-Three-point-Nine-Five Billion Naira (N263.95 billion) over the Executive’s Proposal that was submitted in October 2019. We have examined the adjustments and may revert to the National Assembly with a request for a Virement or other relevant amendments.

16. The Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning will make a public presentation of the details of the approved budget.

17. With today’s global oil market outlook and our strategic approach to revenue growth, we are optimistic that we will be able to finance the 2020 Budget.

18. However, being a deficit budget, an appropriate 2020 – 2022 Borrowing Plan will be forwarded to the National Assembly, in due course.

19. Mr. Senate President, Right Honourable Speaker, for this submission, I will once again count on your usual cooperation and support by ensuring quick consideration and approval of the Plan.

20. To optimize the desired impact, I have directed the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning and all Federal MDAs to ensure effective implementation of the 2020 Budget.

21. I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Budget Office of the Federation, and all stakeholders, who collaborated and worked painstakingly, to produce the 2020 Appropriation Bill, that I have just signed into law.

22. I thank you most sincerely for your kind attention.

23. May God continue to bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

*WHY WE PUT SOCIAL INVESTMENTS IN APC MANIFESTO IN 2014 – OSINBAJO*

_SIP is the first phase of our plan to fight poverty_

*REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE SECOND ANNUAL ABIOLA AJIMOBI ROUNDTABLE SYMPOSIUM IN HONOUR OF THE 70TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION OF FORMER GOVERNOR OF OYO STATE, SENATOR ABIOLA AJIMOBI, IN IBADAN ON THE 16TH OF DECEMBER, 2019.*

PROTOCOLS

It is a special pleasure and privilege to be here to celebrate my egbon’s 70th birthday. I am pleased that an important part of the celebrations is this second annual Abiola Ajimobi round table. An annual conversation on issues of governance and development in Nigeria. This is as it should be.

At a book launch in honour of Baba Bisi Akande, I noted that a tradition of our political tendency is that of introspection or reflection. By our tendency, I refer to that established by Papa Obafemi Awolowo, which in spite of its various iterations and versions, we all agree to describe as progressive politics. The progressive tendency must be the thought leaders and the do leaders for our nation.

This particular conversation on “Managing the Dynamics of Nigeria’s Advancement” is an important one.

There are two issues I believe stand out: one is the environment for encouraging local and foreign investment and the second is eradicating poverty. We are behind in the race against poverty because there was no systematic and focused approach. So, this is why in 2014 into 2015, the APC decided as a matter of policy to write the social investment programmes into our party manifesto.

And we set it up as a first phase in our efforts to tackle poverty. It is a comprehensive programme and we have heard already from Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, it is a detailed programme. It is the first of its kind anywhere in Africa, it has been well scrutinized by the World Bank, a collaborator in the programmes, and several other independent agencies have scrutinized it.

Today, one of the programmes, the National Home-Grown School Feeding, accounts for feeding 9.5million children on a daily basis in 33 States of the Federation. With N-Power, we are employing 540,000 young people and many of them are in different local governments. I believe Oyo State has over 11,000 beneficiaries, and there are several aspects of the programmes. It is not perfect and there are issues here and there, but it is the first comprehensive approach to dealing with the issue of poverty in Nigeria.

It is important to bear in mind that India which used to have the largest number of poor people in the world, did exactly what we are doing now; a systematic and pragmatic approach to solving the problems of poverty. India increased it year by year and today, the country has taken a large majority of her people out of poverty although there are still large numbers in absolute terms.

The second point is on encouraging entrepreneurship and infrastructure development. Already, it is very obvious that we are doing a lot in infrastructure development. Today, we have completed the Lagos-Abeokuta-Ibadan end of the Lagos – Kano railway. Already we are launching the free service between Lagos and Ibadan this Christmas. We intend to continue to invest in infrastructure because that’s the first step, in my view, to developing our investment environment to the standard that we want.

We also expect that we would lower taxes as times go on because there is a need to create an environment for business to thrive. Of course, measures have been made already on enabling the business environment.

There is no part of the work of developing a nation that is easy, it is always going to be a difficult task. But this administration intends to remain focused, we have shown that a focused approach, step by step, fighting through the difficulties on a daily basis, will eventually get us to where we are going.

To my dear egbon, Senator Ajimobi, I must say that your sense of humour, youthfulness, and sheer energy, make it difficult to believe that you are actually 70!

We thank God for the way He has enabled you to do so well in this State and for the unique and indelible landmarks you have laid.

God has also enabled you to do a lot in governance, but also in guiding so many and ensuring that your fidelity to the party (APC), friends and associates, shows that it is possible to do politics with honour and integrity, and be a gentleman that you have always been.

We congratulate you on this day and I pray that all will be well with you, in the next ten years, you will be even stronger than now. When we come for the 80th and 90th birthday celebrations, you’d still be smiling as brightly as you are smiling today and looking well.

I also congratulate our dear aunty, Mrs. Florence Ajimobi, for taking such good care of you and it’s very obvious that but for her dexterity in taking care of you, you might not look this good.

God bless you and happy birthday Sir!

Released by:
*Laolu Akande*
*Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity,*
Office of the Vice President
16th December 2019

YET AGAIN, ANOTHER REITERATION OF A TISSUE OF LIES - BOSF

*So-called Unexplained FIRS N40B Campaign Fund

First it was N90B, but now N40B. Which is which? It took a disgruntled politician to convey the fake news of N90B, now it is the services of an unquestioning PR newswire that is passing on the unsupported, baseless N40B bogus allegation. Whichever way whoever is behind this, a lie is a lie!

In any case FIRS statement bears repeating. Please read it closely and decide for yourself who is lying.

"The attention of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, has been drawn to publication in some online and daily newspapers by a certain Comrade Timi Frank, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who claimed that the FIRS supported the`APC, through the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo with a phantom N90 billion.

The FIRS wishes to state as follows:

1.      That the entire allegation being spread by one Frank  Timi  that the  Federal Inland Revenue Service spent N90billion to fund the last election is mendacious, wicked, malicious and a calculated attempt to smear the image of the Service and that of his Excellency, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi  Osinbajo. This campaign of calumny and villifying false claims are entirely, libellous, unfounded in fact, irresponsible and a brazen assault on the integrity of the Service as a responsible and accountable organisation and demonstrates an abysmal ignorance of the budgetary and expenditure process of the FIRS.

2.      That in the last four years since Mr. Tunde Fowler has supervised operations at the FIRS, the agency had not received up to N100 billion, per annum, as Cost of Collection from the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee, FAAC. FAAC is a public institution, whose records are open to the public.

3.      That it is from the remittances from FAAC—which had never grossed up to N100 billion, PER ANNUM, that FIRS pays the salary and emoluments and trains it’s over 8000 staff, runs over 150 offices and provides for other needs of the Service.

4.      That given the above, IT IS NOT PLAUSIBLE nor DOES IT MAKE ANY SENSE that FIRS will commit its resources to a phantom campaign of N90 billion as suggested by Mr. Timi Frank and FIRS does not fund political associations.

5.      That FIRS is a creation of statute and its activities are governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and financials regulations and thus, IT IS NOT PLAUSIBLE, that its funds could be expended in such a cavalier manner as suggested by Mr. Timi Frank.

6.      That FIRS Budget and expenditure approval processes pass through the Budget Office and the Ministry of Finance, before such are presented to the National Assembly for Appropriation into Law. The National Assembly committees, consisting of all parties and inclinations exercise oversight function on all agencies of the Federal Government to ensure agencies keep to the letters of the Appropriation Act. Thus FIRS’ operations are subjected to Scrutiny and close monitoring by the National Assembly, the Federation Accounts Allocation Committee and the Ministry of Finance.

7.      It is therefore unthinkable, malicious and irresponsible for the said Frank to insinuate or infer that N90 billion or any part thereof could be spent illegally and without budgetary approval.

8.      It is equally alarming to note that this injurious falsehood and blackmail could find space in our mass media without proper scrutiny particularly with the availability of the Freedom of Information Act, which broadly allows Nigerians access to information on expenditure of public funds by government agencies. This all goes to show an orchestrated and invidious decision by paid agents to discredit the Service in order to achieve their diabolical ends, which is at variance from the interest of Nigerians.

9.      We ask members of the public to ignore the claims of Mr. Timi Frank, with the ignominy it deserves as the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the APC is seeking for cheap popularity and relevance.

10.     It is in the light of the foregoing observations, the FIRS demands an unequivocal apology from the said Mr. Timi Frank and a well publicised public apology in three major and leading newspapers within the next 24 hours. The FIRS shall pursue claims for aggravated damages in libel and injurious falsehood against the said Mr. Frank if he fails to meet these conditions in the next 24 hours.

11.      This invidious publication is targeted as derailing the revenue generation efforts for  the three  tiers of government in the nation. This is calculated economic sabotage and hereby referred to the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation officially.

12.     We finally wish to assure all Nigerians that the FIRS did not spend and could not have spent taxpayers money for political ends. For the avoidance of doubt, every kobo paid by taxpayers goes straight to the Federation Account domiciled at the Central Bank of Nigeria and that the FIRS does not possess the constitutional right to touch the said account or appropriate any kobo there from to itself.

The FIRS wishes to reassure members of the public that the FIRS is a PUBLIC TRUST, which the agency operates on behalf of Nigerians. Taxpayers money-including the operational funds of the Service- are sacred.  FIRS remains committed to public accountability and transparency in the sacred mandate of tax collection and public expenditure."

Buhari Osinbajo Solidarity Front (BOSF)
www.bosf.ng
December 15th, 2019

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT BUHARI PARTICIPATES IN PEACE AND DEVELOPMENT FORUM IN EGYPT

President Muhammadu Buhari will depart Abuja Tuesday for Aswan, Egypt to attend the Aswan Forum designed to set “An Agenda for Sustainable Peace and Development in Africa.”

The Forum which holds December 11-12, 2019, is an initiative to address the interconnections between peace and development in Africa while promoting Africa-led solutions through strengthening policies and practices.

The initiative is being launched by the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi in his capacity as the Chairman of the African Union (AU) and as an advocate of Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development in Africa – a recurring theme of his tenure as the AU Chairman. It is also grounded in the AU’s Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want, and the search for African solutions to African problems.

The gathering is expected to bring together heads of state and government, leaders from regional and international organisations, financial institutions, private sector and civil societies as well as scholars, visionaries and prominent experts for action-oriented discussions on the threats, challenges and opportunities.
It is also expected to end with a Declaration on the theme of the Forum and become an annual event.

Recall that the Speaker of Egypt’s House of Representatives, Ali Abdel Aal had delivered President el-Sisi’s message to President Buhari in Abuja on October 28, 2019 inviting him to the inaugural Aswan Forum.

The President will be accompanied by Governors Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Godwin Obaseki of Edo and Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

Others are: Minister of Defence, Gen. Bashir Magashi (Rtd); Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, Amb. Zubairu Dada; National Security Adviser, Maj-Gen Babagana Monguno (Rtd); and the Director-General, National Intelligence Agency, Amb. Ahmed Rufai Abubakar.

President Buhari is expected back in Abuja on Friday.

Femi Adesina

Special Adviser to the President

(Media and Publicity)
December 9, 2019

WORDS ALONE CANNOT CHANGE PREDISPOSITIONS TO INTOLERANCE, OSINBAJO TELLS UAE INTERNATIONAL PEACE FORUM
 



*"Only acts of deep humility and personal sacrifice can root out intolerance, bigotry"- VP
 
In a world increasingly plagued by activities of the agents of intolerance and religious extremism, it will take acts of deep humility and personal sacrifice, especially by leaders across board, in order to change the disposition to hate and prejudice, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. 
 
Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Monday in a keynote address he delivered in Abu Dhabi at the opening session of the Sixth Assembly of the Forum for Promoting Peace organized by the government of the United Arab Emirates. 
 
Speakers and participants at the conference were drawn from across the world, including countries like the United States, and there were representatives of Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Among representatives from Nigeria were the Catholic Archbishop Emeritus of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, and the celebrated Imam from Plateau State, Abubakar Abdullahi.
 
The Vice President was also received after the opening session by both the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheik Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nayan, and the Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Vice President, Prime Minister and Defence Minister of the United Arab Emirates.
 
The reception was at the Al-Ain Palace of the Crown Prince, who is also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the United Arab Emirates Armed Forces.
 
According to the Vice President in his keynote address, “no amount of words or platitudes can change the human predisposition to prejudice and parochialism. Only acts of deep humility and personal sacrifice can. 
 
“There is no question at all that this is the responsibility leadership places on those of us who are religious and political leaders in our countries. 
 
“The responsibility of leadership is not just words, it is not text, it is not just laws. The responsibility of leadership is self-sacrifice, it is putting our reputation on the line, it is putting our words into action.
 
“It is my respectful submission that the burden rests squarely on leaders, especially religious and political leaders, and others we may describe as the elite in our nations and communities.”
 
Continuing on the role of leaders of communities in promoting peaceful coexistence, Prof. Osinbajo said, “it is our role not only to articulate, as we are doing in this assembly today, the theoretical and doctrinal foundations for a more tolerant world, but more importantly, to make the personal sacrifices that would compel our societies to commit themselves to lifestyles of tolerance.” 
 
Speaking on how technology and globalization can also been used in promoting hate and intolerance, the Vice President said leaders who exemplified selflessness and love are better positioned to reverse the negative trend.
 
He said, “The defining paradox of our world today is that, thanks to technology and globalization, we have never been more connected than we are today, and at the same time, we have probably never been more divided than we are today, and this is the handiwork of agents of intolerance who weaponize our fear of the ‘other’. 
 
“In recent years, we have witnessed a rise of religious extremism, right wing populism and ultra-nationalism. We have seen extremists hijack the symbols and letters of the faiths and use them to prosecute violent campaigns that violate the sanctity of human life on a global scale: ISIS, ISWAP, Boko Haram etc.
 
“Therefore, if we are to prevent an endless cycle of strife and conflict, tolerance is a necessity.”
 
The Vice President added that it was the responsibility of leaders, “especially religious and political leaders, and the elite in our nations and communities, to bear the torch of tolerance and illuminate new pathways to a shared future.”
 
Citing the examples of some community and religious leaders in Nigeria who offered their lives to save people of different faiths from theirs, Prof. Osinbajo urged leaders of groups and communities to imbibe the principles of tolerance and empathy.
 
According to him, “the great conflict of our time is not between Islam and Christianity, or between Islam and other religions, but between extremism and human solidarity, between the forces of hate and intolerance and those of empathy and peace – that is the great conflict today.  
 
“We must emphasize the central place of the principle of empathy; this is a thread that runs through our moral traditions, and is summed up in the Golden Rule in the words of Jesus Christ where he said, “do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Jesus Christ goes further to say that “we must love our enemies; we must even pray for our enemies.” 
 
“This is the notion of self-sacrifice. In other words, all of these is summed up in the general principle that we must treat others as we ourselves would like to be treated, and this is embedded in the Abrahamic traditions and other major religions.” 
 
Earlier, the UAE Minister of Tolerance, Sheikh Nahayan Al Nahayan, spoke on the need for the world's major religions to embrace tolerance as a virtue and vehicle to promote peaceful co-existence.
 
 
Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
9th December 2019

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

NIGERIANS IN DIASPORA CRITICAL IN DRIVING NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT – OSINBAJO
VP adds: FG’s Diaspora Commission established to further harness Diaspora contribution to economic growth


Nigerians in the Diaspora can contribute more to the growth of the nation’s economy and other sectors through the sharing of ideas and investment opportunities with relevant agencies of government, according to the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Speaking during a meeting on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, with a delegation from the Nigeria Diaspora Group for Good Governance led by Dr. James Fadel, Prof. Osinbajo further stated that harnessing the contributions of Nigerians in the Diaspora was a major reason why the Buhari administration established the Diaspora Commission.

According to him, the establishment of the Diaspora Commission is an important milestone for government where all the activities of Nigerians in the Diaspora could be well coordinated for national development.


The Vice President added that the Federal Government, through the Diaspora Commission, with the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports alongside other relevant MDAs, will create platforms similar to Focus Labs, to further engage Diaspora investors and experts on very specific initiatives so as to take the ideas from the Diaspora to the next level.

The Focus Labs, organised by the Budget & National Planning Ministry, provided an avenue where investors and government agencies held detailed meetings over a few weeks to sort out issues mitigating effective investments.

According to the VP, such initiatives would help take some of the many ideas from the Diaspora community forward, noting that both the government and the people from the Diaspora have to move the ideas forward towards implementation.

He said, “I think one thing we have to do with the Diaspora Commission is to bring up these investors and the relevant agencies of government into the same room to share ideas. Some of these investors may be having difficulties in getting funds.

“What we need to do is to set up a structure to enable us meet with these investors so that we can take it step by step on how this (Diaspora) group can contribute more to the development of the country."

Continuing, the Vice President said the Federal Government has achieved significant milestones through its Social Investment Programmes, including the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme where almost 10 million school children are being fed a free, nutritious meal daily, and the N-Power Job scheme which has engaged over 500,000 young Nigerians nationwide.


In the agriculture sector and agricultural value chain, Prof. Osinbajo highlighted the growth of local rice production, noting that the country needs to consolidate on its gains in the agriculture sector for further development.


Speaking on technical education, the VP said the N-Power programme of the federal government is embraced by every state of the federation and what is needed now is the coordination of the activities in the states.


In his remarks, the leader of the delegation, James Fadel, said, “The Vice President has captured the admiration of Nigerians at home and abroad and we have come here to support you with the best, according to our capabilities as Nigerians in the Diaspora.”


Fadel added that the Diaspora group aims to invest in areas such as infrastructure, primary healthcare, skill acquisition in various sectors, so as to contribute to improving the living standard of Nigerians.


Also at the meeting were the Minister of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sunday Dare, and Dr. Sule Yakubu Bassi, who represented the Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa.

Bassi expressed delight that Nigerians in the Diaspora are willing to make various contributions in the areas of education, primary healthcare, etc, adding that the Commission is linking up with other groups and aims to provide vocational training for Nigerians nationwide.

Also, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare, highlighted the needs for skills training for Nigerian youths.

‘Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

Office of the Vice President.

6th December, 2019

*VICE PRESIDENT OSINBAJO PRIDE OF NIGERIA – NSCIA*

*Sultan of Sokoto says Osinbajo’s leadership from God

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has been described as the pride of Nigeria by the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) on Friday.
Prof. Osinbajo who gave a keynote address at the opening ceremony of the General Assembly of NSCIA was praised for his commitment to the country.

Ishaq Oloyede, Secretary General of NSCIA said Prof. Osinbajo has successfully combined his religious commitments with public administration, something that is worth emulating.

“He is a model of a person combining religious commitment with public administration. He has done that creditably well. Mr. Vice President we want to thank you on behalf of the Muslim community of this country. You are a pride to this nation, we thank you and pray that God will continue to be with you,” he said.

Also speaking at the event, President-General of NSCIA and Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa'ad Abubakar, applauded the Vice President for his leadership, which he said was given to him by God.

“We have the privilege of having the Vice President here who is a pastor, and I am pleased that he is here to listen to the comments we will make and to listen to him giving the keynote speech, which I believe he will say a lot having known him for some time.

“He has leadership given to him by the lord God Almighty, it is a trust and responsibility and he is here in his capacity as VP and we invited him to give the keynote speech as VP of Nigeria and he accepted to be here,” the Sultan of Sokoto said.

Prof Salisu Shehu, Deputy Secretary General of NSCIA praised the Vice President for gracing the event. “I believe as you have graciously accepted to be here to honour this event by coming personally, I believe that when resolutions are presented to you, we are sure that you’d give the necessary executive support to those resolutions.”

In his keynote address, Osinbajo commended the NSCIA for bridging the religious gap in Nigeria. “This Council is of particular importance to us as a nation because it not only promotes solidarity among Nigeria’s Muslims but also serves as an important intermediary between the government and the Muslim community and between Muslims and persons of other faiths.

“As the highest decision-making body of the Council, I offer to you this morning, both a commendation and a challenge.


“First, the commendation to you for the great leadership you have shown in galvanizing the Muslim community in Nigeria despite denominational differences. But also, for making the Council available for the promotion of interfaith peace, and religious tolerance in Nigeria.

“The challenge stems from the theme of this meeting which is “Islam and National Development.” Permit me to put the topic in context so that we do not miss the essence of the topic. So, I recast the theme to read as follows quote, “The Role of Islam in the Development of a Multi-religious and Multi-ethnic Nation.” This is the gravamen of the matter and I believe my brother, Isa Pantami (Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy who delivered the keynote address) did an excellent job.

“Decades ago in this same country, it would not have been a major topic. Leaders in the first republic did not consider religious intolerance as a major national issue, they were more concerned about the issues that touched everyone regardless of religion or ethnicity; they were concerned about providing food, shelter, education and decent livelihoods. But today, no true leader can ignore the threat that religious bigotry and intolerance poses for the development of our nation. That is just the way it is.

“But it is my respectful view that the burden of ensuring that faith promotes national development as opposed to impeding it is on leaders. This is the challenge I pose to you today.

“A few months ago, at an interfaith gathering, I told the story of an occurrence on the 20th of June 2018. Christians in their village Nshar Yelwa, Plateau State were attacked by a horde of persons who were said to be Muslims, who had attacked other villages and had killed several Berom farmers who were mainly Christians.

“As Imam Abdullahi was finishing mid-day prayers, he and his congregation heard gunshots and went outside to see members of the village’s Christian community running helter-skelter. Instinctively, the Imam ushered 262 Christians into the mosque and some into his home next to the mosque.

“The Imam then went outside to confront the gunmen. He refused to allow them to enter, pleading with them to spare the Christians inside the mosque and his home. When the assailants were adamant, he told them that they would have to kill him first if they were going to kill the Christians, he had given refuge. They eventually left without killing any of the Christians in the mosque or in his home. Imam Abdullahi’s selflessness and sacrifice saved the lives of hundreds of people of a faith different from his own.

“Imam Abdullahi not only refused to give up the Christians he had given refuge; he even offered his life in exchange for theirs. His moral courage is rooted in a profound recognition of our common humanity. His compassion, empathy and selflessness are an example to us as people of faith.”

APC National Secretary: Powerful Blocs That Are Backing Bulama

_By Segun Tomori_

It is no longer news that the seat of the National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is vacant, what is news is that there is a proposed National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the party on Friday, 22nd Nov, 2019 to fill the position and other vacant offices in the party's National Working Committee (NWC).

The NEC is expected to ratify the nominees presented by zones in which the vacant offices were zoned. The National scribe position was zoned to the North-East, and micro-zoned to Borno and Yobe which gives Arc. Waziri Bulama, an indigene of Borno, an edge to clinch it.

Apart from being the Deputy Director-General (Coordination) of the 2019 APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), Bulama was a frontrunner for the same position in the June 2018 National convention of the party before he was persuaded to step down at the last minute by party stakeholders for the out-gone scribe, now Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe State.

Over the past few months, Bulama's aspiration has garnered unprecedented momentum within the APC that has seen him bag the endorsement of powerful blocs within the party. Amongst the blocs that have endorsed him include:

1. Forum of State Chairmen of the APC at its meeting in July endorsed Bulama citing his experience and impeccable credentials.

2. Key chieftains of the APC in the North-East led by Gov. Zulum of Borno, his counterparts in other States, the 6 APC State chairmen in the zone, majority of members of the National Assembly have all thrown their weight behind Bulama.

3. Majority of the National Working Committee (NWC) members are also rooting for Bulama. He is seen as a unifier and a detribalised administrator.

4. The Buhari Support Organization (BSO) at a meeting of its State Coordinators sometime in July also unanimously adopted Arc. Waziri Bulama as its sole candidate for APC scribe.

The Chairman of the forum extolled his virtues stating he is the best man for the job.

5. A pressure group under the auspices of Tinubu Transformation Agenda (TITAN) has also since backed Bulama.

Other groups that have joined the Bulama for National Secretary advocacy include, the Coalition of Buhari and Osinbajo Movement (COBOM), APC in Diaspora, Women for Buhari/Osinbajo amongst others.

It is obvious that majority of stakeholders within the APC are in support of the emergence of Bulama as the party's scribe.

The long wait for the emergence of the new party scribe has reached feverish pitch. Party faithful across the country are now eagerly awaiting the announcement of the amiable Arc. Waziri Bulama as the substantive APC National Secretary at the party's forthcoming NEC meeting.



*Segun Tomori* is the Chairman, Media & Publicity, Bulama Support Group (BSG), Dep. Chairman (South), Bulama Youth Coalition (BYC).

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT BUHARI CONGRATULATES BAYELSA GOV-ELECT LYON, ON ELECTION VICTORY



President Muhammadu Buhari congratulates most warmly, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in the November 16 election in Bayelsa State, David Lyon, on his impressive victory.

President Buhari also commends APC supporters in particular and Nigerians in general in the State who exercised their civic rights in a peaceful manner, notwithstanding the pockets of unrest recorded in some locations.

Condemning the loss of lives in Bayelsa, particularly prior to the election, the President commiserates with the families of the victims.

According to President Buhari, ‘‘Violence during elections vitiates our commitment to demonstrate to the world and upcoming generation that we are a people capable of electing leaders in a peaceful and orderly manner.’’

He notes that while officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies did their best within the ambit of the law to ensure free, fair and credible elections, it is unfortunate that pockets of unrest, mostly sponsored by desperate politicians, were recorded during the poll.

The President looks forward to working with the incoming government to improve the lives of the people in Bayelsa State, while ensuring the security of lives and property of all citizens.

President Buhari urges Governor-elect Lyon to carry other divergent interests along in the next phase of governance, imploring those not satisfied with the outcome of the poll to seek redress through the constitutionally established channels.

Femi Adesina
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Adviser)
November 18, 2019

APC To Gov. Seriake Dickson: Stop Making Unguarded Statements, Accept Your Coming Loss

The All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State Chapter has accused Governor Henry Dickson of making unguarded and spurious statements to sway public opinion against the APC regarding Saturday's governorship polls.

In a statement issued in Yenagoa, the State Chairman of the APC, Hon. Amos Jotham, condemned Governor Dickson for displaying, once again his garrulous character trait which is nothing but offensive.

Hon. Jotham expressed shock that Governor Dickson is calling for the cancellation of results in Nembe and Southern Ijaw and other LGAs that have not been announced, saying that Dickson, in a desperate bid to incite the public and all relevant agencies against the APC, only succeeded in exhibiting sheer ignorance with regard to democratic norms.

The party chairman advised Henry Seriake Dickson to accept the outcome of the elections as a referendum on his lacklustre performance since taking over the leadership of the state almost eight years ago.

Hon. Jotham said it is unbecoming of the governor as the chief security officer of the state to start raising false alarm in an election that his hand picked candidate had earlier declared as “peaceful and smooth”.

According to the APC chairman it is also wrong for Governor Dickson to drag the security agencies into his partisan ranting because they dared to be professional in the discharge of their duties.

The chairman called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and relevant agencies to be wary of Governor Dickson as he has a penchant for deceit.

SIGNED:
Hon. Amos Jotham
Chairman, All Progressives Congress, Bayelsa State

https://tvcnews.tv/koba2019-bayelsa-apc-accuses-pdp-of-making-false-claims/

President Muhammadu Buhari has explained that 35 aides were not sacked from the Office of the Vice President instead they were redeployed to a new ministry.

The President who fielded questions from NTA State House Correspondent at the Presidential Wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja, upon his return from a private visit from the United Kingdom described the interpretations of his directives as a sack as ‘unfortunate’.

The President described what happened as a re-organisation and not a sacking, stressing that, a new ministry has recently been created, that is, Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.

“They said 35 people were sacked in the Vice President’s office but we just created a ministry and we reorganized but people are giving it an ethnic and political dimension. It is unfortunate,” the President said.

It would be recalled that while media report had widely reported the sack of 35 aides including the circulation of a list of those sacked, informed sources insisted that what the President directed was a redeployment and not a sack.

The President’s comment in the NTA interview last night on arrival from his UK private trip indicated that although some Presidential aides had confirmed the sacking of 35 aides, the President only gave express instructions for redeployment to ministries not sacking.

Meanwhile, President Buhari assured Nigerians that he was more energized and ready for work. “We are going to work harder to be accountable and try to make Nigerians see why we do certain things. Accountability from bottom to top is absolutely necessary,” he said.

It would be recalled that some people had reported and claimed that President Buhari had sacked 35 aides in the Office of the Vice President to whittle down the powers and influence of the Vice President.

Some also claimed that the sacking of the 35 aides were to reduce the influence of the Vice President ahead of 2023 elections and were masterminded by a certain cabal with the Presidency.

The Presidency has however always maintained that the President and his deputy, Prof Osinbajo enjoy a very good relationship.

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

PRESIDENT BUHARI CALLS FOR FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY IN BAYELSA AND KOGI ELECTIONS

On Saturday November 16, voters in two states, Bayelsa and Kogi, will be left alone to decide who takes charge of the administration of their important states for the next four years.
Since the ban on campaigns was lifted a few weeks ago, their citizens have been called to attend political rallies of various hues and were bombarded with advertising on bill boards, radio and TV; texts, tweets, WhatsApp and Facebook posts in campaigns that sadly, have so far recorded not a few uninspiring incidents of violence and of intemperate use of language.
President Muhammadu Buhari has made a strong demand for exemplary conduct of non-partisanship on the part of election and law enforcement officials in the two states. All must carry out their functions with fairness and transparency; without let or hindrance and without fear or favour.
He said: “I call on voters in Bayelsa and Kogi States to exercise their franchise in a peaceful and orderly manner and in line with the law in all situations. Law enforcement officials must ensure that citizens are allowed to vote without harassment and intimidation and any attempt to steal or hijack ballots must be stopped using all legal means.
“In all democratic elections, there are bound to be winners and losers and the elections in Bayelsa and Kogi will not be different. All candidates should be ready to accept the outcomes and wherever they are dissatisfied, they should follow the due process of the law in seeking redress. There must not be a resort to self-help.”
The President wishes the two states and their peoples a safe and credible exercise as they vote in these historic and suspenseful elections.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media and Publicity)
November 14, 2019

RE-MAMMAN DAURA’s FLAMBOYANT BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION IN UK

Days ago, a quack online medium, Desert Herald – obviously acting the script of its sponsors, chose to cast aspersions on Elder Statesman, Mamman Daura through its ill-fated publication that alluded to a fictitious “Flamboyant birthday celebration” of the octogenarian in the United Kingdom.

Mallam Daura had clocked 80, a milestone worth celebrating by all standards, therefore it wasn’t unexpected that his children will pull out all the stops to make it memorable. However, they chose to do otherwise, opting instead for a modest birthday dinner in honour of the President’s nephew.

But Desert Herald would have none of that! They created a façade of a flamboyant party where there was none and even alleged that guests at the party which included his close family members and associates were all flown to London on a First Class ticket. Nothing could be further from the truth as guests footed their bills, while not all attendees flew in from Nigeria, as some of Mallam’s family are resident in the United Kingdom.

The bileful Editorial also attempted to vilify Daura for “making merry” whilst his countrymen supposedly suffers. It however forgot in its haste to crucify to acknowledge his rights as a private citizen who doesn’t occupy any public office. Comparing him with Sarduana or Tafawa Balewa who had held public office at the peak of their lives is outright irresponsible.

Finally, Mallam Daura is by no means a pauper having risen to the apex of his career as Managing Director of the New Nigerian newspapers, sat atop the board of blue-chip companies, was the Chairman of the defunct Nigerian Bank of Commerce and Industry, therefore it begs the question why a Birthday celebration in London will be such a big deal.

It is obvious even to the blind that the hatchet job of Desert Herald to cast Mamman Daura in a bad light has fallen like a pack of cards. Nigerians know better when they see a smokescreen!

Segun Tomori

ADDRESS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE OFFICIAL GROUND-BREAKING CEREMONY OF THE RAIL WAGON ASSEMBLY PLANT AT KAJOLA, OGUN STATE ON SATURDAY, 9TH OF NOVEMBER, 2019


It is my special pleasure this afternoon to perform the official ground-breaking ceremony of the Wagon Assembly Plant here in Kajola. The plant which is a private investment undertaken by Messrs CCECC. It is an important project for so many reasons. It is central in the production of rolling stock spare parts and maintenance equipment needed for the railway modernization programme being implemented by the administration of Muhammadu Buhari.


This ceremony is not just another event, it is a historic turning point, for us, the railway is not just an alternative and comfortable mode of travel, it holds the master key to transforming commerce in Nigeria and across the continent.


By linking our ports to rail lines and now, building the rolling stock locally, import and export business within and out of Africa’s largest market will be completely transformed. When completed, it is expected that the plant would produce some parts of the wagons for the Lagos – Ibadan and Abuja – Kaduna rail lines, but also for the central rail lines and to satisfy the needs of other rail operators within the West-African sub-region.


Secondly the citing of the plant here in Nigeria and the commitment to hiring Nigerians and Nigerian businesses affirms the Presidents directives in Executive Order 5 on prioritizing Nigerians and Nigerian businesses in the innovation, production and procurement of engineering projects and services.


The plant would offer an important platform for engineers, technicians, artisans and other professionals to gain the specialized skills required for the production and maintenance of rolling stock. This will invariably conduce to spin-off businesses in the region of operation in particular and across the country wherever rail networks are in existence. The plant is expected to generate about five thousand (5,000) direct and indirect jobs.


I have a message also for you from the President and this is to CCECC which is that we expect that you move on very quickly to the next phase of this project which is the assembly and construction of coaches and locomotives.


This for us will be a significant breakthrough and we look forward to hearing from you as quickly as possible when this will come into operation.


After completing the Abuja – Kaduna Railway project in July 2016, this administration commenced construction works on the Lagos – Ibadan Railway modernization project in March 2017, following which we initiated the rehabilitation and completion of the abandoned Itakpe – Ajaokuta – Warri rail line which was started over three decades ago.


Furthermore, last month, we signed an agreement with Messrs China Railway Construction Company International to construct the Itakpe – Ajaokuta rail line which will be extended from Itakpe to Abuja through Baro Inland Water Port in Niger State with a branch line to Lokoja in Kogi State. This rail line will link into the new Warri sea port being constructed under the agreement.

Also, we are optimizing the Lagos-Ibadan rail modernization project by extending it to the Apapa Port, the nation’s busiest port for the efficient movement of cargo from the port to various destinations. This will expedite import/export flows, decongest the ports, and depressurize our roads in the process.


Also, we are putting all mechanisms in place to achieve the swift completion of the Ibadan Inland Dry port which will off-take containers and cargoes from Apapa port through the Lagos – Ibadan rail line.


Let me take this opportunity to appreciate the support shown by the leadership of the host communities here in Kajola and around this environment, for this project and other relevant Federal and State government projects. The implementation of these projects is important. It is imperative that our host communities continue to support government’s efforts by effectively cooperating with the contractors in safeguarding and protecting these lasting investments so that we can ensure that all intended objectives and mutual benefits are attained.


Let me also commend the Federal Ministry of Transportation led by the very able and dynamic Hon. Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi or Chibuike Amaechi, (today he is Rotimi since we are in the South West) for the very hard work and commitment he has demonstrated from the inception of our rail modernization project. And also, to the Chinese government, particularly the investor, CCECC Nigeria Limited for this significant and strategic investment.


The vision you have shown and the initiative you have taken in the larger development journey of this great country will reap unparalleled rewards for you and great opportunity for our people.


In a few minutes, I will have the special privilege of performing the official ground-breaking ceremony for the establishment of this Wagon Assembly Plant here in Kajola Ogun State, and I hope that this will be only be the beginning of the development of the railway infrastructure, not only here in Ogun State, but across the country.

Thank you all and God bless.


Released by:

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
9th November 2019

STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE

BUHARI, OSINBAJO WILL, TOGETHER, SCRIPT A GLORIOUS FUTURE FOR NIGERIA

The Presidency wishes to confirm that there is, on-going, an unprecedented overhaul of the nation’s seat of government, arising from which a number of political appointments have either been revoked or not renewed in the Second Term.

The exercise, which has been ordered by the President, is to streamline decision-making, cut down multiple authorities and reduce the cost of administration.
It is also an appropriate response to the general perception that the Presidency has an oversized and bloated workforce which acts as a drag on efficiency.

As may have been noticed by discerning members of the public, a number of political appointees among the few that served in the office of the President were not returned for the Second Term.

The office of the Vice President, His Excellency Yemi Osinbajo has, in compliance with the directive of the President, equally been shed of a number of such appointees.

In carrying out these exercises, the overriding objective is to save taxpayer money and deliver needed service to the public. As far as the President is concerned, there is no scope for an excuse for administration after getting a huge mandate to run the country for four more years.

In the light of this, the Presidency wishes to strongly deny rumours of a rift between President Muhammadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. The relationship between the two leaders remains excellent and trusting. Together, they will script a glorious future for the nation.

The media reports of a soured relationship are originating from the minds and mouths of mischief makers, who are desperate for entertaining stories from the Aso Rock Villa with which to titillate the public. This ulterior motive is the basis of the wrong interpretation given to the recent exercise in the Presidency.

There has been a streamlining of staff going on for a while. The President has always had fewer staff than the Vice President, and there were always plans to reduce the number of staff at the Villa.

The streamlining was not personal or targeted to undermine the Vice President's office, as the so-called insider sources quoted by the media appear to make it seem.

The President is in absolute control of his government. The media should stop attributing non-existent powers to some people. There cannot be anyone too powerful for President Buhari to control.

Garba Shehu

Senior Special Assistant to the President

(Media and Publicity)

November 8, 2019

Following report that a photojournalist with Vanguard, Abayomi Adeshida, was beaten up by security aides of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, an eyewitness who also double as a security guard at the scene has described the report as “untrue” and “malicious”.

The security source who pleaded anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter disclosed to this reporter that the journalist was not beaten as claimed.

In an exclusive chat with the security source, he revealed that Mr. Adeshida breached the protocol that was being followed by participants and dignatories and was duly asked to go behind the cover set by the personnel of the Department of State Security (DSS) and continue his job like every other photo journalists at the event.

“Mr. Adeshida reacted and acted aggressively after being told to perform his duty behind the cover. Efforts by the officials of the DSS to appeal and calm him down was rebuffed.

“He wasn’t even rough-handled. That they pulled him off to leave that spot does not amount to being manhandled. Adeshida still came back shortly to take photos and continue his duties at the event. So his side of the story is pure sensationalism,” the security source said.

Recall that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, represented President Muhammadu Buhari at the Nigeria Diaspora Investment Summit which held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.