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In continuation of its empowerment initiatives, the Omoilu Foundation train today, 22nd of February, 2016, berthed at Imeko-Afon Local Government Area of Ogun State where it presented a bus to the local government's office for its operations.

Presenting the bus to Local Government Coordinator, Hon. Kayode Elegbede and other members of the Executive, the State Coordinator of. Omoilu Foundation, Comrade Niyi Osoba announced that two motorcycles will be added to further aid the foundation's operations.

Osoba said the gesture was to demonstrate the love and care of the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Foundation for the people.

"These donations are clear indication that the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation is fully committed to the masses at the grassroots," he said.

Osoba urged the coordinator to make sure everybody is given equal opportunity to access the soon-to-be commenced interest-free loan.

Replying, Elegbede expressed gratitude to Senator Kashamu for floating the foundation.

“I appreciate our Distinguished Senator Buruji Kashamu. A leader like him is difficult to find in Nigeria of today. I pray for God’s protection over his life,” Elegbede added.

...says party’ll sanction him

A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State and Chairman of the party in Ikenne Local Government, Hon. Gboyega Ogunfowokan has taken a swipe at the former Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe over his comments on the emergence of Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as National Chairman of the party.

In a statement he issued today, Ogunfowokan said it was preposterous that “a paper weight Abuja/Lagos-based politician like Okupe could speak so derogatorily about our party, and a three-term senator and two-term governor who has distinguished himself in his chosen endeavours. He does his politics online, on the pages of newspapers, and on Television and Radio.”

The statement reads in part, “Although we were not totally surprised at his outbursts since we know his penchant for stirring the hornet’s nest, we had thought that he would have learnt from the collateral damage that his usually combative posture and unguarded outbursts caused the immediate past PDP administration. But alas, it is obvious that his inordinate ambition to become the National Chairman of the PDP had further beclouded his sense of reasoning and fairness. That was why he backed his former colleague, Ahmed Gulak, in his (Okupe’s) vaunted ambition to become the National Chairman of the party through the backdoor. They had planned that Gulak would hand over to him after forcibly taking control of the party.

“Since he could not achieve his still-born ambition, he has resorted to casting aspersion on those who have distinguished themselves in their chosen endeavours. He says if the PDP chooses to die, he would tarry at the graveside. For his information, if his actions and inactions while in government did not kill PDP, it cannot and will not die again. The worse is over for the PDP. It is Okupe and his ilk that should be preparing their political burial since they have lost every atom of political relevance.”

Ogunfowokan said it was most regrettable that the same Okupe who was alleged to have been involved in some failed contracts, and diverted campaign funds and transformers in Benue and Ogun states, and yet could aspire to be PDP’s National Chairman, would turn round to say someone was not fit to be the National Chairman of the PDP “just because of a mere allegation that is yet to be proved”.

He recalled that Okupe has spurned a request by the disciplinary panel set up by the State Chapter of the PDP for him to explain how he and others managed campaign funds and materials, adding that, “with his latest outbursts, he has merely succeeded in committing himself the more and the appropriate organs of the party will sanction him accordingly”.

FOUNDATION DONATES VEHICLES TO SAGAMU,YEWA SOUTH,IFO AND IPOKIA LGs

In continuation of its massive empowerment drive, the Omoilu Foundation today (17th February,2016) stormed Sagamu,Yewa South, Ifo and Ipokia  local government areas where it presented vehicles to the people of the four local government areas.

Presenting the vehicles to the coordinators of the local government areas, the State Coordinator of the foundation, Comrade Niyi Osoba said the gesture was to demonstrate the love and care of the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Foundation for the people.

"These donations clearly show that the Senator Buruji Kashamu-inspired Omoilu Foundation is fully committed to massive empowerment drive and poverty alleviation," he said.

Osoba urged the coordinators of the four local government areas to ensure the foodstuffs and other household items the foundation donated are fairly distributed and must also make sure everybody is given equal opportunity to access the soon-to-be commenced interest-free loan.

This, according to him, is the minimum that can be done to support the foundation which offers the people of the Southwest a rare opportunity for breakthrough.

Speaking on behalf of the local government coordinators, Alhaji Olaiya Olaseni, from Ifo local government area, expressed gratitude to Senator Kashamu, for floating the foundation.
 
“Senator Kashamu has been a source of joy to the masses since 2009. This gesture will go a long way in rekindling the hope of so many of our people at the grassroots. It is a great relief to the people of the four local government areas. On behalf of my colleagues and our people, I say thank you to our distinguished senator,” Olaseni said.

The sleepy town of Atan in Ijebu North East Local Government literally came alive yesterday (12th February, 2016) when the Ogun East Senatorial Coordinator of Omoilu Foundation, Otunba Kola Akinyemi (a.k.a Kola Tonight), led other leaders of the foundation, including its State Woman Leader, Chief (Mrs) Remi Odubote, to extend the foundation's philanthropic gestures to the people.

Akinyemi thanked the people for their prayers and support for the Founding Trustee of the foundation, Senator Buruji Kashamu, especially during his trying period when the enemies sought to get through the back door what they could not get in an open and fair contest.

He prayed God to continue to reward the people for their steadfastness and love to the lawmaker.

Akinyemi presented the people some gift items, food materials and other household equipment.

Mrs Odubote, a former Executive Chairman of the Local Government and Otunba Akinyemi, led the people to sing different songs in appreciation of the founder's philanthropy.

She encouraged the people to remain resolute in their commitment to the foundation's mission of empowering all and urged them to keep praying for Senator Kashamu.

Mrs Odubote commended the leaders of the foundation in the local government for their courage and selflessness, adding that it was imperative for them to continue to lift the hand of Senator Kashamu.

The programme also witnessed presentation of bus to the local government coordinator of the foundation and two motorcycles for the foundation's operations.

Many of the beneficiaries praised the foundation an

As part of its efforts at poverty alleviation and promoting "stomach infrastructure", a non-governmental organisation, the Omoilu Foundation today (12th, February,2016) distributed rice, indomie, thousands of yards of clothes and other household materials to the masses in Ijebu-Ode, Ijebu-Ode Local Government.

Addressing beneficiaries at the event, the Ogun State coordinator of the Foundation,Comrade Niyi Osoba spoke of Senator Buruji Kashamu's predilection for putting smiles on the faces of the people.

He said that is what the lawmaker has been known for all his life, adding that it assumed a massive dimension since 2009 when he was invited to intervene in the socio-political impoverishment of the people.

His words: "Poverty is a serious national issue in our country. Senator Buruji Kashamu through the Omoilu Foundation is determined to help kick out hunger and poverty in Ogun State and the entire South -West with regular supply of foodstuffs and household items to the less-privileged in the society."


Oloritun Williams Odutola , the chairman of the LG Elders Council of Omoilu foundation, in his key note address commended Senator Kashamu for his unique philanthropy.


The Grand Patron of the Foundation in Ijebu-Ode Local Government,Alhaji Bisi Quadri expressed gratitude to the financier of the foundation and prayed God to enrich his pocket so that he can do more.

"On behalf of the good people of Ijebu-Ode,I am saying thank you to Senator Buruji Kashamu. I pray to God to bless him more so that he can do more of this," he said.

The Local Government Coordinator, Mr Segun Odeneye supervised the distribution of foodstuffs and other materials to the over 2,000 people at the occasion.

The event came to an end with Mrs Adijat Odubote saying the closing prayers.

Again,court stops AGF,others from arresting Kashamu

A Federal High Court in Abuja today restrained the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) and its immediate past Chairman, Ahmadu Giade from taking steps to arrest, detain or abduct Senator Buruji Kashamu, representing Ogun East.

Justice Gabriel Kolawole gave the order today in a ruling on an ex-parte motion filed in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/479/2015 by Kashamu.

The judge, who had granted a similar order on Monday, which he said, would lapse today. However, upon going through the processes filed by Kashamu and the evidence attached to them, the judge today in his ruling extended the order till the determination of a motion on notice filed by Kashamu seeking the committal of the AGF, NDLEA and Giade to prison for allegedly disobeying the court’s earlier judgment made on July 1 last year.

Justice Kolawole had, last year dismissed an extradition proceedings initiated against Kashamu by the immediate past Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Mohammed Adoke (SAN) on May 28, 2015 on the ground that it was without merit.

Kashamu, in his fresh application, alleged that the respondents, having failed to obtain the consent of any court to extradite him, have now resorted to “subterranean, perhaps invidious steps to circumvent the judicial process in order to achieve their ultimate goal of abducting him and shipping him, under the cover of judicial darkness, to the United States on allegation on which British courts had exonerated him.”

By the court’s order, the respondents and their agents are restrained from  “arresting, detaining, procuring or applying for any warrant for the arrest of the applicant for any purpose connected with the false allegation of unlawful importation of prohibited narcotic substances into the United States of America in respect of which the applicant has been exonerated by British court, including the purpose of transporting him to the US without recourse to due extradition process as prescribed by Nigerian laws, until for committal filed by the applicant is heard and determined.”

The judge, who expressed dismay over the allegation said, he hoped it was not true because such development was capable of casting the country in bad light. He, however, expressed confidence in the capacity of the current AGF, Abubakar Malami (SAN) to prevent such incident from happening under his watch.

Justice Kolawole said:  “Let me confess that when I read through the applicant’s depositions, my sincere hope and prayer is that the allegations are not true. Otherwise, the facts are so sordid that it would expose the Nigerian state, perhaps as a banana republic, where just anything goes.

“I am conscious of the fact that, at this stage of the proceedings, I am only exposed to the applicant’s account of issues and developments, which had necessitated his second recourse to this court to seek protection. I hope and pray once again, that the facts alleged in the applicant’s affidavit and the contents of the documentary exhibits annexed, are proved to be untrue by the respondents.

“If they were otherwise, it will be a sad commentary on the sanctity of the court process and will, constitute an unmitigated affront to the sanctity of the rule of law, which is an essential, perhaps a strategic pillar and a major lifeline on which democratic governance rests.

“On account of the ruling of this court of 1st of July 2015, judicial notice of which I take,  I have no doubt that the applicant already has a legal right which he can seek to protect,  by way of an order of injunction, which can be granted, even where the threat to the right that inures in an applicant is uncertain .This court, as a creation of the Constitution, has the constitutional responsibility to protect its own integrity and protect the sanctity of its own processes and orders duly made.

“It is in this regard that I am of the view that the applicant, on the strength of the ruling of this court delivered on the 1st of July 2015 entitled to the grant of prayer one in the applicant’s motion ex-parte filed on the 26th of January 2016. To do otherwise would amount to an unpardonable judicial negligence in the event that the facts alleged in the applicant’s pleadings turn out to be true. I hope that it is not true.

“The doubt which I have continuously expressed is perhaps based on my judicial assumption and knowledge of the professional integrity of the current Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), who by virtue of section 142(2)(J) of the Evidence Act 2011, I am required to take judicial notice, that as a senior counsel, who was elevated to the prestigious rank of the Senior Advocate of Nigeria in December 2008, who knows and truly understands, in that capacity, the weighty nature of the way the applicant is portrayed in the affidavit in support of the motion ex-parte should the incident of his abduction be effected by state actors under his watch  as the chief law officer of the federation.

“Prayer one in the motion ex-parte filed on January 26, 2016 is granted as prayed in the same terms as the interim injunction which I granted on February 8, 2016. The interim injunction is hereby renewed and shall remain in place pending the determination of the motion on notice filed on the 26th January 2016.

Justice Kolawole also granted the other prayers in the motion ex-parte, which included:

*An order dispensing personal service on the 1st alleged contemnor by serving the processes in this suit on the 1st alleged contemnor in the office of the 3rd alleged contemnor, Federal Ministry of Justice, Abuja.

*An order granting leave to the applicant to serve the processes in this suit on the 2nd alleged contemnor at 4 Shaw Road, Lagos outside the jurisdiction of this court.

He adjourned to February 24 for hearing of the motion on notice.

The Senator representing Ogun East Senatorial District, Prince Buruji Kashamu, has said corruption must die for Nigeria to live.
Kashamu, in a statement, said all Nigerians must support President Buhari’s anti-graft war.
The senator, who said he was not supporting the war because he planned to switch from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), added that “corruption by whatever colouration is bad and inimical to our growth as a nation”.
He said successive governments had made feeble and largely showmanship attempts to contain corruption with little or no results and without a sustainable plan of action.
“But right now, a more promising and visible attempt is being made to tackle it. Even my party, the PDP, supports the anti-corruption war in spite of some reservations about the way and manner it is being prosecuted. But that is to be expected. While the current government thinks it is normal for it to proceed from the immediate past, my party thinks it should be all-encompassing.
“In a nutshell, they – my party, the PDP and the government – are in agreement on the need to fight corruption, but the point of divergence is: where does it start from and how to go about it. Even at that, I am reminded of a wise saying which states that ‘you do not tell a man how to eat his own food’. The APC are the ones in government. We just finished our run and it is now their turn. They should be allowed to decide how to run their show and call the shots. Whenever and wherever they want to abuse the process, we can point it out and also use constitutional provisions to checkmate them,” Kashamu said.
He added: “Let me make it abundantly clear that I am not in any way romancing the APC. I do not have any plans to jump ship. My position is not borne out of my personal interest but the interest of the masses who are in the majority and the love for my country. Our people have suffered for too long because of a greedy few who amass our commonwealth for themselves and their families.
“If truly politics is about the people and a contest of ideas, I cannot understand why any politician that is worth the name would see an idea that will benefit the people and not support it, irrespective of political leanings. I will support good initiatives, just as I will criticise bad ones. But we must realize that the elections and campaigns are over. Whether we were elected on the platform of the PDP or APC, our people trusted us with their mandate because they know that we would represent them well and fight their course. It is a sacred responsibility that we must not betray.
“The probing of the last government is and must be seen as a warning signal to those who will serve in this present government as well as subsequent ones. The lesson to be learnt from the present scenario is that all public officers must learn not to live as if there is no tomorrow. They should know that nothing lasts forever.
“My earnest expectation is that this current fight against corruption will be unprejudiced, truthful and transparent. There is indeed no country in the world that is not plagued by the menace of corruption but the difference between nations that are doing well in the fight against corruption and those that are not is the inviolability of their penal systems. One other factor that could fast track the fight against corruption is the political will of the leadership. “No one doubts the fact that since we have been having Presidents, this is the first time we are having a President with the demonstrable political will to fight corruption.
“I am not unaware that some people have fled the country into hiding because it is believed that the new EFFC boss is a no nonsense man. This is buoyed by the President’s own reputation. His body language is unambiguously anti-corruption. The campaigns and elections are over. A new leadership has emerged. We now have a Federal Government of Nigeria, headed by a President who is the President of all Nigerians. As Nigerians, we owe it a duty to help him to succeed, for whether we like it or not, we have a common destiny as a people. His success is our success. His failure is our failure.”
He commended the president for depleting the ranks of insurgents.
“In spite of the isolated attacks from the Boko Haram elements, their capacity to violate Nigeria’s sovereignty has been clearly depleted,” he said.
Kashamu said despite its perceived slow start, the Federal Government has taken bold steps to fight corruption and revamp the economy. He described the Treasury Single Account (TSA) policy as a step in the right direction that will plug a lot of leakages.
- See more at: http://thecogitate.info/2015/12/21/corruption-must-die-if-nigeria-must-live-says-kashamu/#sthash.BKkpS9ct.YEUzYkd8.dpuf