₦airaland Forum

By John Mayaki
In Nigeria today, as the politics of 2023 takes center stage, it has become glaringly obvious that the nightmare scenario for a number of political actors is for the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to stand before a camera and make the following declaration: “I accept the call to run for the office of the Presidency.”

The reason is uncomplicated. For these persons who are already having wet dreams of ‘life in Aso Villa’, this outcome, in which the Vice President heeds what is now a deafening call from virtually every inch of the country to succeed his principal, represents a crushing blow.
It is a prospect they fear would present them a hurdle too tall to scale.

It threatens their cute, little project of running the country and emerging the Lords of the manor. To borrow a local saying, they are terrified that “e go pour sand sand for their garri.”

It is Yemi Osinbajo, the professor of law, foremost intellectual and outstanding public administrator.
The one who as State Attorney General achieved feats no one else has been able to repeat.

The Vice President who increased the stock and size of the office with his loyal, competent, and unblemished service. How do you compete against that? The argument for his emergence as President is ironclad. Best fitting as a natural successor, widely admired and trusted by all. He carries no ‘baggage’ at all.

When the topic is Yemi Osinbajo, Nigerians set aside their partisan leanings and acknowledge that “he is a good man”.

To many, he is a source of inspiration. Others say he has returned the dignity of public service. His speech and conduct elicit the highest form of endorsement from Nigerian parents across the country – a recommendation to their wards that he, the Vice President, is worthy of emulation. Love and respect that transcends politics; natural in origination, compelling in intensity.

How do you convince the people otherwise, even as the man continues to break new grounds? This is what troubles the political actors. It is the cause of their affliction.

Therefore, to avert this nightmare, they have entered into a frantic race, a war with their own insecurity and apprehensions.

With the complicity of a section of the media desperately craving political drama to increase clicks and sales, they have spent most of the year pitting the Vice President against interests and individuals he personally has no problem with.

The latest of the attention-seeking headlines they sponsored with their tattletales to the press, is that the Vice President was snubbed in London by the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, because the timing of his visit to the recuperating political leader was, according to them, questionable.

Whereas the Vice President held the fort at the presidency in the absence of the President, thus making the President’s trip and consequent visit to the National Leader possible, these persons twisted the events and gave it their own conspiratorial interpretation.

Instead of deeming the Vice President’s visit a mark of his goodwill as any other normal party would, especially after taking on extra duties to facilitate the President’s preceding visit, they chose malice and discord, and sold the same to the press.

To shoehorn benign events into their set narrative and project their political calculations on the Vice President, they have bent themselves into pretzels, holding up unrelated and innocent actions as the evidence of a grand plot. Per their reasoning, the fallout of the events in London has forced the Vice President to “throw his hat in the ring” and enter into a “fight of his life.”

Anyone with the littlest knowledge of the Vice President knows he is not one for messy political drama let alone a desperate fight for a position when it is God and God alone who gives power.

His approach to all things, including politics, is informed by the biblical instruction contained in the book of Romans chapter 12 verse 18: “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

It’s the reason he has successfully built a popular support base that transcends ethnic, religious, regional, and partisan divides. Even his strongest critics attest to his discipline, open-mindedness, and commitment to collective progress.

The real fight for Osinbajo is for these afflicted persons who need an open conflict to fill their pockets, titillate their crowd, and further their agenda to leave him alone and confront their insecurities. Because unlike them, he has elevated work to do, one that affects the fates of millions of Nigerians. He needs no further distractions.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/osinbajo-2023-presidential-ambition-mischief-makers-at-work/

One of the problems we are facing is from these guys that always writing jargons about politics

Wow! I pray it happen quick and be one of the best

Oh my God! Will you guys stop this trash and allow Osinbajo to rest

Contrary to speculations in certain quarters, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is very much in the race to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, the Dr. Aliyu Kurfi-led Progressive Consolidation Group (PCG) has restated.

In a statement yesterday, the group described those behind the report as citizens who meant no well for Nigeria.
Kurfi said as concerned stakeholders, PCG would not be drawn into “needless conflicts with others who wish to contest or back other candidates for the 2023 presidential elections.”

He maintained that Osinbajo’s “strong focus on his responsibilities, along with a decidedly non-desperate disposition towards the 2023 presidential race has further energised his support base nationwide.”

https://editor.guardian.ng/news/osinbajo-still-in-race-for-2023-presidency-group-insists/

Why nah, you guys should leave this man to concentrate on his primary assignment or why all this hulaballon ,he has not declared his intention not alone of dumping his presidential ambition

The Progressive Consolidation Group, a support group committed to working towards the emergence of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, as President come 2023, has denied reports that Osinbajo had dumped his purported Presidential ambition.

The group said Osinbajo’s focus on his current job as well as his non-desperation has increased his level of acceptance among supporters.

According to the PCG, speculations that Osinbajo renounced a Presidential bid long before he declared an interest smirk of mischief adding that the Vice President who has been appealed to accede to public demands to declare a bid was yet to make up his mind.

This is according to a statement titled, “2023: Job focus and non-desperation further reinforces supporters’ confidence in Osinbajo-Group,” signed by the Chairman of the PCG, Dr. Aliyu Kurfi, in Abuja, on Sunday.
He said, “Our dear Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), remains loyal to his boss, President Buhari, he is very focused on the job and he has never been known for desperate politicking.

“Specifically, it must be stated that an outrageous lie that the VP attended any meeting to renounce 2023 presidential ambition or bow to any politician for the same, remains an absolute falsehood; how can he renounce what he is even yet to accept or declare?

“The wishy-washy concocted reports about Prof. Osinbajo having any meeting with any individual or group about a purported withdrawal from the 2023 presidential race is about an illusory event which only happened in the fertile imagination of mischievous persons.”
The PCG, which was the first support group to be recognised by the All Progressives Congress, said it would not condone dirty politics.

Walahi ,all these have made him the best candidate for 2023 presidential ticket

There is nothing like clash between Tinubu and Osinbajo as there's cordial relationship between them ,more let the party decide of whom to run for the president come 2023

18th October
Vice President Osinbajo received a US Delegation led by White House Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer at the State House, Abuja.

He also gave remarks at the occasion of the International Conference On Health Access Beyond COVID-19 hosted by the governing board of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) at Transcorp Hilton Abuja.

20th October
VP Osinbajo virtually interacted with Fellows of the Mandela Washington Fellowship for Young African Leaders from Nigeria.

Discussions centered around varying issues of concern to young Nigerians.

21st October
Vice President Osinbajo attended Security Council meeting presided over by President Buhari.

Still on the same day, he attended as the Special Guest of Honor, the 6th year Anniversary of Future Assured themed; Securing the Future of Women and Children for National Development at the State House Banquet Centre, Abuja.

And later that day, VP Osinbajo delivered Keynote Remarks at the Book Launch of Sen. Ken Nnamani titled Standing Strong; legislative reforms, third term, and other issues” of the 5th senate at the ICC, Abuja.

22nd October
VP Osinbajo commissioned the Duchess International Hospital in Ikeja, Lagos state.

A well equipped hospital or well kit medical personnel will improve our health

In fact, I dont know why some people have interest in peddling fake news rather than the good ones, anyway there is a mutual understanding between Asiwaju Tinubu and Prof Yemi Osinbajo and for Osinbajo has not declared his interest to run for the president come 2023

All what I know is that we are waiting for the best and the best will soon come

By Oluwafemi Popoola

The 2023 electoral circle moves closer as Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has less than two years to complete his second term in office after his historic win on a joint ticket with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, in 2015. Political discussions across the country now verge on who takes over the topmost office in 2023.

The torchlight for the right candidate is a trending topic and the engagement has taken a centre stage in the media space. Political analysts and experts have set a premium for the topic which has also triggered public discussions.

The Nigeria’s two major political parties; the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have been busy jostling for suitable candidates for the hot job.

Evidently, the 2023 presidential election has thrown up so much in the air while there are still ongoing bickering and embroilment in both the APC and PDP over the control of the soul of their parties.

But, what appears more important is the interesting way some sections of the media have begun playing up the alleged presidential aspirations of two notable personalities in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the persons of the current Nigerian Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, and the former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who incidentally is the national leader of the ruling APC.

The two top shots have a long history of father and son relationship that started out in the administration of Lagos State more than over two decades ago, when the Vice President served as the Attorney General of the State and Commissioner for Justice, after which he also proceeded to offering legal and constitutional advice until his new role at the presidency.

With the 2023 presidential election in sight coupled with the widespread and dominant clamour for a Southern presidency, the former Lagos State Governor and the Vice President have been at the centre of discussions. There have been reports and speculations that Tinubu and Osinbajo might be individually interested in the presidency seat though both men have yet to publicly declared any intention to contest the exalted office in 2023.

While the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not given a go-ahead for 2023 politicking, some persons even the news media have resorted into different kinds of divisive engagement amongst the two presidential hopefuls.

One good example was a recent news publication from a particular online media platform of Thursday, October 21st, 2021 under the headline: “VP Yemi Osinbajo Drops Presidential Ambition For Tinubu Ahead Of 2023.”

The report claims one of Osinbajo’s reasons for jettison his presidential ambition was “the divisive dimension in which supporters of both Tinubu and Osinbajo have been engaging themselves in the unofficial campaign.”

It was also stated in the report that one unnamed aide had claimed he over heard the Vice President telling close associates and members of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) who paid Osinbajo unofficial visit at the Presidential Villa, saying “he has dropped his presidential ambition for Tinubu ahead of 2023.”

Reading the whole news report was indeed a torrid exercise. The writer penned the story in a blur of incomprehension, riddled with inaccuracies and outright falsehood, and such can only happen with someone obnubilated by corrupted thoughts.

First and foremost, how possible does a person drop an ambition he hasn’t made known to the public? From the last check, the Vice President has not declared interest in the 2023 presidential race and his office has continually distanced itself from different political and social groups mobilizing for the support of Osinbajo’s 2023 candidacy.

Then, as for the reported visit of Osinbajo to Tinubu’s home following his return from London this past weeks after a knee surgery. As far as the public space is concerned, Osinbajo is yet to visit Tinubu and there is no way the two will face off without the knowledge of the media. No news outfit would want to miss out on breaking such story considering the political situation that defines such visit. So, where is the news of him visiting the APC national leader coming from? Definitely it is a lie from the pit of hell.

In a statement made by the Special Adviser on Political Matters to the President, Babafemi Ojudu, on October 11th, 2021 he said “Osinbajo and Tinubu are members of the ruling party and both men welcome politics without bitterness and divisiveness.”

The presidential aide who works in the office of the Vice President went further to clarify that there is no conflict of political interests between the two politicians.

“We are not unaware of some people who may want to foist a crack among our leaders. Such an attempt is abortive. Osinbajo and Tinubu’s relationship dates way back and it shall continue to wax strong.

“Let me, therefore, call on individuals and media houses engaged in this act to desist from doing so. The APC remains one single, indivisible party and Osinbajo remains a loyal member of the party who respects both the party structure as well as its leadership,” Ojudu concluded.

While it is true that Vice President Osinbajo is one of the nurtured talents of the national leader of the ruling APC, it is believed Osinbajo, will forever be grateful to the former Lagos State governor, being someone with a credible personality, especially as a pastor, who understands the God’s fondness for gratitude.

Be that as it may, it is also good to note that, some political actors within the party are equally contributing to the ensuing controversy following the formation of the Southwest Agenda for Tinubu (SWAGA). Yet, the person they named the group after has not even publicly identified with it.

As if that was not enough, just on October 21st, a former Minister of Works said to be the national chairman of SWAGA, Senator Dayo Adeyeye, was reported in a section of the media to have said that 16 governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were supporting Tinubu’s presidential aspiration. How?

Though everyone has a right to make free speeches, but as we know, governors’ decisions are not what they shroud in secrecy. They either communicate it on their own or through their spokespersons authorised to do so. We are yet to see any statement to that effect.

Adeyeye reportedly said in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, while inaugurating the parallel APC ward and local executives, that, “they were queuing behind the APC stalwart because of his administrative acumen, mental capacity, rare leadership quality and unequalled political structures which cut across the six geo-political zones.”

Truly, no one is in doubt of Tinubu’s ability to lead. Recalled way back in 1999 to 2007 as the governor of Lagos State, Tinubu was a force to reckon with. Remember, when his fellow governors under the Alliance for Democracy (AD) that produced the Southwest governors including Tinubu then, could not win a second term in their states, it was only Tinubu that won in Lagos. He only left office after his second term to become a Senator, and when he was through with the Senate, ever since then without holding any political office, Tinubu has remained relevant in national politics till date.

As we can see, no one is in doubt of the qualities Adeyeye attributed to Tinubu. But, all these essential and distinguishing attributes, as a matter of fact, are same we know of Osinbajo, who today stands out as the best Vice President Nigeria has produced with his sterling and qualitative representation in power. Without mincing words, Osinbajo is a true “son” of Asiwaju, he really resembles his godfather! Tinubu himself must be happy to know this.

But all the APC governors Adeyeye reportedly said have allegedly bought into the undeclared Tinubu’s presidential aspiration, not even limiting it to them now, their colleagues in the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) too have publicly shown unalloyed respect to the personality and attested to the leadership qualities of Vice President Osinbajo, who is the chairman of the National Economic Council (NEC), whose meeting all governors attend as members. Some of them have equally played up Osinbajo as a leader to follow as discussions on 2023 elections gather momentum.

Only on October 14th, Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi, who is the Chairman of Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), described Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has a “huge bridge builder,” and “a leader worthy of emulation.” He spoke in Ado-Ekiti where Vice President Osinbajo was a special guest of honour at the Ekiti State Economic Development and Investment Summit, where he delivered the keynote address and also joined a panel discussion involving the Ekiti Governor and other governors from Lagos, Edo and Kaduna.

Dr Fayemi said: “We have for a VP someone who is a huge bridge builder,” as he specially acknowledged the ability of Prof Osinbajo to bring governors representing states and the FG together on the major issues of national interest. He noted that the Vice President is “someone who is able,” and a leader whom he said has “got shock absorbers to withstand the pressures from the States.” These are qualities needed to be the President of a nation.

He also lauded Prof Osinbajo’s achievements in government, saying: “At this point I would specially acknowledge the role of our keynote speaker, His Excellency, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo in implementing the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) which played a significant role in restoring the economy back,” while he commended the leadership role of the Vice President in ensuring Nigerian states survived the Covid-19 pandemic.

Speaking further, Governor Fayemi praised the Vice President, whom he said had used his office and leadership capabilities to develop a bipartisan approach to administration and implementation of the ESP, which he said led the nation out of the pandemic-induced recession, through the “sincerity of purpose and partnership between the federal and state governments, we can achieve results.”

That was Fayemi’s position, an APC governor, and he didn’t sound as someone who will oppose the interests of Osinbajo at any direction he chooses in furthering his political career come 2023.

Before his visit to Ekiti, Vice President Osinbajo had been to Kaduna State, as he was also invited by Governor Nasir El-Rufai, to be the special guest of honour at the KADINVEST 6.0, where he commissioned the solar power plant at a market in Kujuru Local Government community of Kusuwan Magani.

Same thing happened at this event, as Governor El-Rufai addressed the crowd who trooped out to welcome the state visitor, he also lauded the VP’s leadership qualities, saying: “Vice President Osinbajo has provided excellent leadership that even the opposition party’s governors commend him for that.

El-Rufai is also an APC governor, he still has more to say of Osinbajo thus: “You care for people, you care for Nigerians and you care for unity in diversity. You care about differences in religion and ethnicity and you always promote peaceful coexistence. This community, Your Excellency, needs an apostle like you to bridge unity and peaceful coexistence.”

Likewise, another APC governor, Abdullahi Sule, had joined the teeming pro-Osinbajo campaigners even when he hasn’t given anyone a go-ahead to campaign for him not to now talk of declaring an interest in a presidential office.

Notwithstanding, on September 20th, 2021, Governor Sule, welcoming Sule a political group, the Progressive Consolidation Group (PCG), who had visited to sell the Vice President as a potential presidential material ahead of the 2023 polls, described Osinbajo as a “sellable product.”

Governor Sule said: “We have the opportunity of having a gentleman that is a total party person, loyal man to Mr President. And I believe you are selling him earlier than he is selling himself, which is the way it is supposed to be. His statement here attested to the fact that Osinbajo has not told anyone he is contesting for the presidency.

He spoke further: “You are speaking about continuation, which is what we believe here in Nasarawa State. You have been speaking about consolidation, and we know the challenges of consolidation and continuation of our party. This is a political party that is lucky or unlucky to be built around one man. And for us, the progressive governors are seeing at how do we sustain the party beyond the one man.

“Then you want more details to be talking about Professor Osinbajo; a man of God, a professional lawyer, a family man; a man that I have come to respect, because I was even given the opportunity to speak on his last birthday on behalf of the governors,” Sule noted.

Governor Sule told his visitors that: “If you are going in that direction to sell this gentleman (Osinbajo), not every product is sellable, but Osinbajo is a sellable product,” adding that, if the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) would be willing to field him as their candidate, he has earned his support. The governor has spoken his mind as a straightforward person who won’t antagonise Osinbajo’s interest anytime, any day.

To cap it up, talking of the respect for Vice President Osinbajo as beyond tribal, religious or political party’s affiliation, on September 25th, 2021, when Prof Osinbajo visited Akwa Ibom State, as a guest of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Governor Udom Emmanuel, it is still same torrent of commendation poured on the Vice President.

Speaking, his host, Governor Emmanuel, who had invited him to inaugurate the 21-storey Dakkada Tower, in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, in celebration of the state’s 34th anniversary, described Osinbajo as the “pride of Nigeria,” saying jocularly, “how I wished our special guest was not going today, these women want to dance but we have to let the Vice President to go,” calling the Vice President “our brother, our teacher, our pastor, our mentor.”

This is how people speak well of Osinbajo across different divides in Nigeria, including the governors who have openly identified with the Vice President. So, as Nigerians, we need not wait on anyone to tell us the mind of our governors as far as 2023 is concerned. Yet, Tinubu’s personality as the national leader of APC who equally commands respect across the party’s hierarchies is not in doubt. No conflicting status, no identity crisis. When it is the time, after a candidate emerges at the party level, the Nigerian electorate will elect their leader.

But as of now, what remains to be seen is both the political godfather and son have not yet publicly declared their interest in the 2023 presidential race. Whether that will happen sooner, later or never it is still a matter of time and a puzzle still yet unsolved

Thanks to prof Yemi Osinbajo for this, our health sectors need be reformed and encourage our medical practitioners to work effectively

Wow! A man with bundle of knowledge

What is the meaning of all this nah

We need to educate our girls very well

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, yesterday called for the review of the revenue sharing formula with the Federal Government’s share dropping from 52.68 per cent to 39 per cent.
He also proposed that states’ allocation be reviewed upwards from 26.72 per cent to 35 per cent while that of the Local Government Areas be raised from 20.6 per cent to 26.72 per cent.
Bello made the proposals while delivering a welcome address at the opening of the North Central Zonal Public Hearing on Review of the Revenue Allocation Formula (RAF) by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation And Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
He said that the review of the formula is now long overdue, stressing that the burden on states is not commiserate with the allocation due to them.
“I urge this assemblage to look critically at the revenue allocation formula currently in use in Nigeria today and isolate the immediate and remote reasons why it has failed to achieve the desired developmental aspirations.
“To help us chart a new order for current and future development, I suggest a revenue sharing formula of 39 per cent, 35 per cent and 26 per cent for the federal, state and local governments respectively.
“I believe this new formula is more in keeping with the financial burdens on the various tiers and will improve the nexus between revenue allocation and economic growth in Nigeria.
“The Federal Government must now consider relinquishing portions of its share to the other two tiers.
“This is the time to make room for the extra, back-breaking, burden which states bear in catering for its over-bloated workforces, particularly at the third tier, which they cannot retrench,” he said.
Buttressing how unfair the formula is in view of the existential realities between the three tiers of governments, he said that the states, especially at the local level, had too many workforce.
Exemplifying with his state, he said that despite a rigorous staff verification exercise to remove ghost workers in his state, LGAs still had 43,788 workers with monthly salary obligation of N3.8 billion.
“This is quite different from the N3.206billion I need to settle salaries and remunerations every month at the state level for a workforce which also numbers into tens of thousands.
“Note that Kogi’s monthly income – allocations from FAAC and JAAC plus our internally generated revenue which this administration has painstakingly grown about 300 per cent, still hovers around N7 billion.
“The situation is dire and it becomes worse when you add our many other governance responsibilities such as meeting the needs of our people in all sectors – education, health, infrastructure and utilities.
“Clearly, the case for an enhanced revenue share for the 2nd and 3rd tier of governance has never been stronger. I strongly urge it this is the right thing to do and this is the time to do it,” he said.
Bello added that it is crucial to actualise the progressive agenda of the RMAFC that some measure of equity is implemented in the sharing.
He called on the commission to look at the facts which he had raised and activate principles of fairness and then apply them to the Revenue Allocation Formula.

I can as well say Prof Yemi Osinbajo is more than qualified ,he is the right man to be there

By Emmanuel Olorunda-Otaru
Vice-president Osinbajo has what it takes to be president of Nigeria.

From 1999, when democracy got rooted in the country, it has been precedential, for religious balance and harmony by rotating the nation's presidents and Vice Presidents, between the two great faiths, Muslim and Christian, and between the North and South. Where the President, a Muslim comes from the North, his Vice President, a Christian comes from the South. And a Christian President from the South succeeds a Muslim President from the North and vice versa. A perfect arrangement!

By this wisdom and mutual relationship, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian Southern President took over in 1999 with Atiku Abubakar, a Muslim as his Vice President .from the North. Late President Musa Yar'Adua, a Muslim with a Southern Christian Vice President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan did their turn, and succeeded by the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim, with a Southern Christian Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. The only exception was former Vice President, Namadi Sambo (Christian) from the North to President Jonathan.

This kind of gentlemanly agreement, though not written in the national constitution, has engendered cohesion, sense of belonging and national unity, in a vast and heterogeneous society like Nigeria. It can also be argued that the spirit and letters of the Federal Character clause in the constitution is a strong backing to this gentlemanly practice. From the foregoing, there is need to maintain this unity in diversity, by allowing a Southern Christian to succeed President Buhari, after his eight years tenure in 2023.

Among the strong likely contenders in the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South for the presidency, are incumbent Vice President Yemi Osinbajo (Christian); APC National leader, Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Muslim); Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi (Christian), to mention a few.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the other hand, may throw up a Southern Christian from among the unapologetic frontrunners governors, as revealed by THISDAY newspaper recently.

Apart from the above inherent sensitivity in the nation's political space, which is for the good of the country, any other sentiments should not be used to determine who should vie for the presidency. The Jagaban of Lagos, Bola Tinubu, is a great politician no doubt. He has laboured for the ruling party and is eminently qualified to vie for the president of the country. But is this enough to cajole him to vie for the presidency?

Though he has not come out to say he is contesting for the president, may be because of his health condition, the body language and feelers from his supporters are showing the signs. Earlier this year, his campaign posters surfaced in some parts of Lagos before they were later removed. Even now, a campaign group rooting for his candidature, South-West Agenda for Asiwaju (SWAGA), is already mobilizing and making consultation for the undeclared ambition. Tinubu's campaign posters have been seen in some strategic areas of the state, even as the electoral umpire, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has not declared electioneering campaign open for the 2023 polls.

It is a good advice that the Asiwaju of Lagos should rather pay attention to his health challenges, rather than carrying the heavy burden of leadership of the country on frail shoulders. The gargantuan problems of this country are too daunting for any ailing president again. At these trying times in the life of the nation, Nigeria needs a healthy and energetic president, a workaholic president. So that the country can move forward from the current degradation and misrule.

One sympathises with Tinubu for his health challenges. The question is, can Nigeria afford another sickly president? When former President Umaru Yar'adu was sick, the country was equally sick, drifting aimlessly, until after his demise, when Jonathan took over, before things began to normalise again. There is an adage which says, "Once beaten, twice shy". Have we learnt any lesson?

In the case of President Buhari, he has been frequenting foreign healthcare and Nigerians have been praying fervently for his good health. Who says the president's frequent trips for healthcare abroad is not telling on the nation's dwindling resources? And, invariably impacting negatively on the country's development by and large? Perhaps, if governments over the years have developed our healthcare facilities, there would be no need for our leaders to run abroad for healthcare, at a huge cost to the economy.

The same precedent that disallowed Tinubu from being the vice president to Buhari in 2015 as a Muslim- Muslim ticket, is still the same that will now favour a Christian successor to Buhari. Tinubu has nothing to lose if he throws his weight behind Yemi Osinbajo, his godson, to become the president of the country. He has been a kingmaker in Lagos State. Let him also become a national kingmaker. He has been mightily blessed.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, an erudite law professor, has the intellectual capacity and sagacity, coupled with energy, good health and determination to move the country forward if given the mandate. From the little time he acted for his principal, he demonstrated sterling leadership qualities, which were noticeable then. Osinbajo would be a good president for Nigeria. He believes in the unity of the country. His loyalty is unalloyed. His acceptability to Nigerians North and South, Christians and Muslims is not in doubt. He has no known baggage weighing him down. No wonder, a Northern governor and other traditional rulers in the North are already campaigning for him and urging him to run for the President in 2023.

This writer, as a Nigerian who yearns for quality leadership for this country, 'God's own country', believes in Osinbajo's leadership qualities. I equally urge him to run for the president. The youths of this great country would support him. The elderly also will support him. And the Almighty God would back him up for victory. So, that this great country would rise from the ashes of inept leadership since independence, and take her rightful place among the comity of nations.

Wow! This is a good news

The Central Bank of Nigeria has said it will support youths in tertiary institutions with grants to promote entrepreneurship and reduce unemployment.

The CBN disclosed this on Wednesday in a report, titled ‘Guidelines for the implementation of tertiary institutions entrepreneurship scheme’.

“Five top Nigerian polytechnics and universities with the best entrepreneurial pitches/ideas shall be awarded as follows: first place – N150m; second place – N120m; third place – N100m; fourth place – N80m; and fifth place – N50m,” it said.

It added that activities to be covered under the scheme would include innovative start-ups and existing businesses owned by graduates of Nigerian polytechnics and universities in areas such as agribusiness, information technology, creative industry, as well as science and technology.
The CBN said agribusiness would include production, processing, storage and logistics, while information technology would include application/software development, business process outsourcing, robotics and data management.
It said the creative industry would include entertainment, artwork, publishing, culinary/event management, fashion, photography, beauty/cosmetics; while science and technology would include medical innovation, robotics, ticketing systems, traffic systems, renewable energy, and waste management.

According to the report, the interest rate will be five per cent per annum and nine per cent effective from March 1, 2022 or as may be prescribed by the CBN.

The beneficiary must apply on the dedicated online portal and provide all requisite documentation to support the application, the CBN said.

It noted that priority would be given to innovative entrepreneurial activities with high potential for export, job creation and transformational impact.

https://amiloadednews.com/2021/10/cbn-introduces-n500m-grant-for-undergraduates-graduates-issues-guidelines.html

This is what all the youths should know that to make their dream come true and to achieve better in future they need to engage in politics

What I like most in Prof Yemi Osinbajo is that he values so much in youths and always eager to see that they succeed in future

This is just the handwork of some miscreants and enemies of progress

The voice of the masses is the voice of God,it's no more a news or rumour that everybody wants Osinbajo to be a President come 2023 by God grace

By John Mayaki

For all intents and purposes, it appears that the Nigerian media and its most prominent thought leaders (whether columnists, analysts, or contributors) have elected their own Presidential candidate for the 2023 election, an event that has enlivened Nigeria’s political space and compelled the casting of otherwise benign actions as the unfurling of a conspiratorial plot.
The evidence of this is present on the back pages of newspapers and the most popular columns. There, you will find numerous analyses and dissertations focused on the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. He only needs to step out of his office into the sunlight. Before dusk, the otherwise non-event would be the subject of intense scrutiny and heated conversations. There will be loud musings about whether his gait or strides are affected, mirroring those of any of the country’s previous Presidents, notably his principal President Muhammadu Buhari.

That is not to say that his coverage has solely been about trifle matters. A good number of the analysis and columns have been on his public service record, right from his days as a state Attorney-General when he single-handedly initiated and argued out reforms that improved the country’s understanding of her constitution and provided a legal framework of operations for several other states – even until this day.

For all intents and purposes, it appears that the Nigerian media and its most prominent thought leaders (whether columnists, analysts, or contributors) have elected their own Presidential candidate for the 2023 election, an event that has enlivened Nigeria’s political space and compelled the casting of otherwise benign actions as the unfurling of a conspiratorial plot.

The evidence of this is present on the back pages of newspapers and the most popular columns. There, you will find numerous analyses and dissertations focused on the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. He only needs to step out of his office into the sunlight. Before dusk, the otherwise non-event would be the subject of intense scrutiny and heated conversations. There will be loud musings about whether his gait or strides are affected, mirroring those of any of the country’s previous Presidents, notably his principal President Muhammadu Buhari.

That is not to say that his coverage has solely been about trifle matters. A good number of the analysis and columns have been on his public service record, right from his days as a state Attorney-General when he single-handedly initiated and argued out reforms that improved the country’s understanding of her constitution and provided a legal framework of operations for several other states – even until this day.

There have also been spirited efforts to peek into his mind to see and project what the ‘Osinbajo Presidency’ might look like. A respected and widely-read columnist recently invoked the term ‘Osinbajonomics’ to speculate on the set of economic policies the Vice President would pursue if placed in charge of the country as its number one citizen come 2023. He said this when he, like several others, analyzed and overanalyzed a simple statement by the Vice President that closing the gaping arbitrage windows in the country’s foreign exchange market is critical to achieving the CBN’s goal of stabilizing and strengthening the naira.

Regardless of the nature of this intense focus, be it the sublime or ridiculous, the serious or mundane, a common thread runs through the dissections and analyses: a subtle but telling endorsement of Vice President Yemi Osinbajo as the most suitable candidate to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari.
Attention, as most have come to understand, is an expression of admiration – even if the media and its independent minders conduct such affairs in an unusual way. To be admired and respected by these minders is to be subjected to a different, elevated set of standards. Love letters do not contain explicit, effusive praises. Rather you will find grudgingly conceded commendations (especially when the evidence becomes overwhelming like in the case of the Prof) and continuous probing to see if there remains any layer of a perceived veil remaining to pierce.

The problem with this, of course, is that it sometimes results in a loss of context and perspective and the mounting of undue pressure. It’s like the favorite child who is made to study extra hours after coming first because another pupil in a completely different school and environment had more percentage points, while the other children are celebrated for moving a position higher from the bottom three. Uneasy lies the head expected to wear the crown.
On the part of Prof. Osinbajo, his burden is not made any lighter by the fact that the tacit endorsement of the media, reflected by the almost unanimous decision that he is perhaps the only possible candidate with the body of work and mental agility to hold his own in an evolving, productive intellectual debate on the problems the country faces today, is an echo of the words on the streets in all parts of the country.

Whether in the South, North, and East, the popular opinion is that Prof. Osinbajo is by far the most ideal candidate for the presidency. Smart and scholarly, but not in the insular way of intellectuals whose orbit includes only like-minded persons. His ties to the common man, made stronger by grassroots engagement under social investment schemes he supervised to global commendation, has sharpened his insights on the immediate needs of the ordinary Nigerian and how to balance those needs with other concerns in the face of declining revenue.

To many, he is a talented politician who is not versed in the paralyzing, fruitless and self-aggrandizing power-play that others have come to symbolize and unwittingly advertise, to their detriment, as strongest claim to power. He is a breath of fresh air that knows his way around and can set Nigeria’s leadership and politics on a different path, thus perfecting that which President Muhammadu Buhari began with the vitality and brilliance capable of inspiring and restoring the faith of a generation in their country.

Like the people, the media has declared for Prof. Osinbajo. He is their favorite candidate to spar with. Their jabs he can withstand – and when he does return with his own powerful left, they are forced to do what thinkers love to do: reconsider the wisdom of their approach when confronted with a superior argument. Their articles represent a call to serve. They want him, they need him. Productive debates expand the media’s knowledge and raise relevance. But will the Prof answer? We have to wait and see.

https://www.vanguardngr.com/2021/10/2023-like-the-nigerian-public-media-analysts-declare-for-osinbajo/

Thanks to the US government for the donation of COVID-19 doses to Nigeria in order to reduce the number of affected people

By Dele Sobowale

“As for the exchange rate, I think we need to move our rates to be as reflective of the market as possible. This, in my own view, is the only way to improve supply.” – Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo

That pronouncement, as well as others we shall mention shortly came as a thunderbolt. And, its impact, deliberately or inadvertently, was as electrifying as the natural phenomenon.

Expectedly, the “experts” were divided in response to it. Great and unexpected departures from team position by a Vice Captain of a team on a long losing streak always provokes that sort of reaction.

But, before we go into interpretation of the VP’s very clear statement we need to ask a very important question which will help us to understand the motives behind the statements credited to the VP.

Will the real Osinbajo please stand up
He might not realise it, when VP Osinbajo uttered those explosive words, three individuals, Nigeria’s secular trinity, were addressing us – the current Vice President of Nigeria, a presumed Presidential candidate and a private citizen. Each of these individuals can legitimately offer opinions on public economic policy; but with varying degrees of relevance. I will start in reverse order.

If Osinbajo had made that statement in 2013, probably no newspaper would have published it on its front page. In 2013 Osinbajo was relatively irrelevant. Few people would care. Osinbajo, the Presidential candidate, is a little bit more relevant. He might eventually become President.

Whether Osinbajo realises it or not, he had served notice, premeditated or not, of the direction of economic policy in a future Osinbajo administration – if he is elected to office. It will be market and private sector-led. Those uncomfortable with that approach to managing the economy will need to find another candidate for their votes. It is Osinbajo, the current VP and the Chairman of the Economic Management Team, which includes the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, whose motives are obscure.

There is an unmistakable disagreement with the management of foreign exchange policy; as a result of which the country is not receiving the supply of foreign exchange it should. In other words, somebody has fouled up. Nobody needs to be told who is under attack here – the CBN.

Other charges piled on top

The VP was like a damn breaking on that day. He was not only critical of CBN handling of exchange rate; he condemned the CBN’s intrusion into fiscal policy in unmistakable terms. Let me give Osinbajo the floor once again.

“There must be synergy between the fiscal and monetary authorities. We must be able to deal with the synergy; we must handle the synergy between the monetary authority, the CBN, and the fiscal side.


Sometimes, it appears that there is competition, especially on the fiscal side. If you look at some of the interventions, you will find that those interventions are interventions that should be managed by the ministries.

“The Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investments should handle MSMEs (micro, small and medium enterprises) and we should know what CBN is doing. In other words, if the CBN is intervening in the MSME sector, it should be with the full cooperation of the Ministry of Industry….”.

Again, these thinly-veiled accusations against the CBN acting unilaterally can be subjected to the same interrogations regarding which Osinbajo is speaking – the private citizen, the candidate staking a position or the incumbent VP? However, one thing can be said about the observation about synergy. The VP is only stating the obvious. No economist will dispute the need for synergy between fiscal and monetary policy. The Executive branch, which includes the VP, is responsible for that. The CBN is charged with formulating monetary policy to complement the fiscal policy in the attempt to grow the economy, control interest and exchange rates and curb inflation while aiming to provide jobs.

The VP obviously strongly believes that there is no synergy; that the CBN is acting without taking the Ministries along. That is a serious charge. And, despite the fact that the CBN has issued no response, objective observers can still ask questions.

Primarily, was the VP being fair to CBN? Is the portrayal of Mr Godwin Emefiele, a true reflection of what went on the last almost six and a half years? Again an objective observer must note that everything revolved around the formulation and execution of a fiscal policy. Was there one? When was it announced? And when did implementation start?

Absence of fiscal policy invites CBN intervention

“Nature abhors a vacuum.” That is true of any aspect of life – including economic policy management. In that respect, the civilian governments since 1999 have uniformly failed to set out clear fiscal policies in their annual budgets. All they do is to announce how much would be spent and the sector allocations. This is amateurish. No single budget address has included the fiscal policies that would underlie the attempt to achieve the objectives stated in the budget – particularly, the GDP growth target. That explains why Nigeria has missed the growth target for six years in a row.

Under former military governments, I was privileged to attend for several years Budget Briefings by the Minister of Finance which occurred about a week after the Head of State has delivered the budget to the nation.

This was not the only difference in budgeting under military regimes. Each budget revolves round thirteen to eighteen targets which the country was endeavouring to achieve each year. Everybody was aware of the Budget Thrusts or priorities for that year.

The Minister of Finance, addressing top public officials, leaders of the Organised Private Sectors, OPS, Banking, Labour, Academia and the International Community would lay out the regime of taxes, duties, tariffs, fees, surcharges etc expected to yield the revenue projections. Most importantly, the address will announce the alterations to the list of products imported or exported. Three lists generally emerged, in black and white – goods under absolute import prohibition, goods under licence for importation and goods subject to unlimited importation. These decisions were never left to the CBN.

Why then is the CBN now prohibiting imports of goods under Buhari? The answer is simple. Buhari’s government allowed that intrusion into fiscal policy. And, it is amazing that the VP who is the Chairman of the Economic Management Team is just waking up to the fact that something was definitely wrong in the way they were running the economy – some would say to the ground. To me, the VP’s statement amounts to blaming the victim; CBN in this case.

Emefiele knows that a badly mismanaged economy results in exchange rate problems; that sooner or later devaluation of the currency will be the only option left. In the absence of any coherent, comprehensive and comprehensible fiscal policy, he had to act to prevent worse deterioration of our position.

The MSME example cited by the VP is very apt in this regard. When the Minister is not asleep, he is making outlandish projections which cannot form the basis of sound fiscal policy. The VP should thank the CBN for helping out. Without those unorthodox interventions, the Nigerian economy would have been wrecked beyond repairs.

Wiseandtrue:
Osibanjo All he does is talk, talk and talk!

Has he put any into practice

NO!!!!

What exactly is your problem? is there anything he has not done