₦airaland Forum

Analysiscorner:
Hope, every citizens can access the library.

deomelo:
Oopl.

deomelo:
It was privately funded.

Everything is not about your stupid oil money.


Stop the hate, bitterness and bad bele.

Vanguard Online
Gani sues Obasanjo over N7bn library fund
By Eze Anaba
Posted to the Web: Tuesday, May 24, 2005

ABUJA" THE controversy over the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) yesterday deepened with the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja set to rule on whether or not the President abused his office and violated the constitution in initiating the project.

The court was also challenged to order the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate all the contracts awarded by the Federal Government from 1999 to date "in so far as the donors of the gifts of money received at the launch of the Presidential Library at Abeokuta, Ogun State on May 14, 2005 are involved in such contracts and for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent and Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to take appropriate actions against the President and the donors."

Frontline human rights crusader and lawyer, Chief Gani Fawehinm (SAN)i, who filed the writ in Abuja claimed that President Obasanjo violated section 15 (5) of the constitution which states: "The state shall abolish all corrupt practices and abuse of power." He said President Obasanjo also abused Item 1 Fifth Schedule, Part 1 of the Constitution which states that "A public officer shall not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his duties and responsibilities."

Chief Fawehinmi alleged that the President also "flagrantly disregarded" the Code of Conduct for public officers contained in Item 6 (1) (2) of the Fifth Schedule, Part 1 of the Constitution which states in 6(1) A that: "A public officer shall not ask for or accept property or benefits of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties.
(2) "For the purposes of sub-paragraph (1) of this paragraph, the receipt by a public officer of any gifts or benefits from commercial firms, business enterprises or persons who have contracts with the government shall be presumed to have been received in contravention of the said sub-paragraph unless the contrary is proved."

Government is expected to react within eight days whether as a serving President, President Obasanjo breached the constitution by receiving gifts from Federal Government contractors both local and foreign.
Chief Fawehinmi also wants the court to determine whether in view of section 22 of the constitution, the mass media have a right to have access to the declaration of assets filed in the Code of Conduct Bureau by President Obasanjo.

The court will also determine whether the chairmanship of the board by Nigeria's High Commissioner in London, Dr. Christopher Kolade; the membership of a serving governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel; and a serving Commissioner of Health in Ogun State, Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello; and Messrs Karl Masters Vernon Jordon (USA) and Richard Brandson (UK) being foreigners of the Board of Trustees of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library at Abeokuta contravene the provisions of Sections 15(5) and 23 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria
The writ wants the court to declare that the gift of money to the President at the launch by various contractors to government and other beneficiaries of government policies and programmes including Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his group of companies, Chief Mike Adenuga Jr. and his companies, oil firm majors, consortium of banks and others who are benefitting or have benefitted from policies and programmes of President Obasanjo's government contravenes Section n15 (5) of the Constitution.
Other reliefs sought by Chief Fawehinmi include:

lA mandatory order directing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to investigate all the contracts awarded by the Federal Government from 1999 to date in so far as the donors of the gifts of money received at the launching of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library at Abeokuta, Ogun State on Saturday, 14th May, 2005 are involved in such contracts and for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to take appropriate actions against the President and the donors of the said gifts of money within the provisions of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (Establishment) Act No. 1 of 2004 and the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act respectively, including forfeiture of (a) the entire project (b) Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Fund if there is contravention of any of the two Acts i.e. EFCC and ICPC, by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo.

lA mandatory order compelling the 4th Defendant, Code of Conduct Bureau to publish or allow the mass media pursuant to their duties under Section 22 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 access to the declaration of assets filed in the Code of Conduct Bureau by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo before he assumed office as President in 1999.

lA declaration that the composition of the Board of Trustees of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library being a private project of a serving President is both a violation of Sections 15(5) and 23 of the Constitution
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 in that:
(a) the Chairmanship of Dr. Christopher Kolade, a serving public officer being the Nation*s High Commissioner in Britain is incompetent to spend public time and money to serve*General Olusegun Obasanjo's private business;

(b) the membership of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a serving public officer who is the Governor of Ogun State is incompetent to spend public time and money for President Olusegun Obasanjo private business;
the membership of Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello who is a serving public officer and Commissioner for Health in Ogun State is incompetent. to spend public time and money to serve a private project of a serving President, General Olusegun Obasanjo, her father.

lThe membership of Messrs Karl Masters, Vernon Jordan (USA) and Richard Branson (UK) who are foreigners are incompetent to serve the private project of a serving President of Nigeria in that their identities are unknown to Nigerians as the national security of Nigeria can be compromised in this respect and in particular Mr. Richard Branson is a substantial shareholder of the new National Carrier, Virgin Nigeria as well as a substantial shareholder of Vmobile Telecommunications which is now Virgin Mobile.

lA declaration that the entire establishment of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library whilst President Olusegun Obasanjo is still a serving President amounts to abuse of office and is capable of engendering corrupt practices contrary to Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 which provides as follows:

A declaration that the licence which the 1st Defendant, General Olusegun Obasanjo sitting as the Chairman of the Federal Executive Council meeting in 2003 approved for himself for the establishment of the Bells University of Technology to which the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library will be affiliated is an abuse of power and is contrary to Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

He said:lThat among the donors are many businessmen and companies that have been beneficiaries of large contracts from the Federal Government of Nigeria since General Olusegun Obasanjo came to power in 1999, notably Alhaji Aliko Dangote and his Group of Companies, Chief Mike Adenuga and his companies, oil firm majors, consortium of banks and others.
lThat General Olusegun Obasanjo set up a board of trustees for the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library with the following members: Dr. Christopher Kolade as chairman who is a serving public officer (Nigeria High Commissioner in Britain) to serve in the private project of General Olusegun Obasanjo;

Otunba Gbenga Daniel as a member who is a serving public officer (Governor of Ogun State) to serve in the private project of General Olusegun Obasanjo; Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello as a member who is a serving public officer (Commissioner for Health, Ogun State) to serve in the private project of General Olusegun Obasanjo, her father; Messrs Karl Masters, Vernon Jordan (USA) and Richard Branson (UK) as members who are foreigners and whose true identities are unknown to Nigerians in view of the security implications to the nation.

lThat one of the members of the Board of Trustees of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Mr. Richard Branson (UK), recently negotiated a successful deal with the Federal Government of Nigeria after the Government of General Olusegun Obasanjo had successfully liquidated the National Carrier, Nigeria Airways whereby the Richard Branson's Virgin Atlantic became the substantial shareholder of Virgin Nigeria Airline which is now the Nigeria National Carrier.

lThat in addition, Richard Branson's company, the Virgin, has just bought over Vmobile Telecommunications as a majority shareholder which has now become Virgin Mobile, a beneficiary of President Olusegun Obasanjo privatisation policies and programmes.

lThat before the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library fund was launched on Saturday, May 14, 2005 in Abeokuta, Ogun State, President Olusegun Obasanjo had done the architectural drawings of the Library project.
lThat the Federal Government has initiated and implemented policies and programmes including privatisation of public enterprises which has conferred enormous financial functions on some of the donors to the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Fund launched on Saturday, May
14, 2005.

The court was also tasked to declare that:

lthe Chairmanship of Dr. Christopher Kolade, a serving public officer being the nation's High Commissioner in Britain is incompetent to spend public time and money to serve General Olusegun Obasanjo's private business;

lthe membership of Otunba Gbenga Daniel, a serving public officer who is the Governor of Ogun State is incompetent to spend public time and money for President Olusegun Obasanjo's private business;
lthe membership of Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello who is a serving public officer and Commissioner for Health in Ogun State is incompetent to spend public time and money to serve a private project of a serving President, General Olusegun Obasanjo, her father.

lthe membership of Messrs Karl Masters, Vernon Jordan (USA) and Richard Branson (UK) who are foreigners are incompetent to serve the private project of a serving President of Nigeria in that their identities are unknown to Nigerians as the national security of Nigeria can be compromised in this respect and in particular Mr. Richard Branson is a substantial shareholder of the new National Carrier, Virgin Nigeria, as well as a substantial shareholder of Vmobile Telecommunications which is now Virgin Mobile.

lA declaration that the entire establishment of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library whilst President Olusegun Obasanjo is still a serving President amounts to abuse of office and is capable of engendering corrupt practices contrary to Section 15(5) of asanjo sitting as the Chairman of the Federal Executive Council meeting in 2003 approved for himself for the establishment of The Bells University of Technology to which the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library will be affiliated is an abuse of power and is contrary to Section 15(5) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

Monday, May 16, 2005
Donations into the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) project which was launched in Abeokuta at the weekend may have reached N6 billion. This leaves only a shortfall of about N1 billion to raise the N7 billion for the project.

Sources close to the organisers of the launching indicated that though there were reports that about N4 billion were realised at the launching, the figure excluded the $20 million (about N2 billion) donated by oil firm majors operating in the country.

The donation by the oil companies became one of the largest to the project which was patterned after the Presidential Libraries concept in the United States, which was pioneered by President Franklin Delano Roosevett.

Other big donors to the project were Dr. Mike Adenuga, chairman of Globacom Communications who donated N250 million, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, president Dangote Group, N211.6 million and Mr. Femi Otedola, chairman of Zenon Oil Limited. N200 million.

The major oil companies' donation which is now the biggest to the project was however not made public.

It is believed that the presidential library project may be the first significant step of President Obasanjo's preparation for life after office in 2007.

The library complex located on the outskirts of Abeokuta, the president's town is founded on three philosophical cornerstones - leadership, transparency and agriculture.

According to the board of trustees, "these three policy trusts guided President Obasanjo throughout his years of public life and allowed him to lead, achieve and create a vivid, lasting legacy that continues to shape and influence, form and guide the times in which we live right now."

The site is divided into three major zones, the museum/library, recreation and leisure and housing/support services.

By the desigh, the museum/library will be located on the high rocky zone with 'a dignified, architectural statement from atop the high rock... and its elevated location (will) provide an isolated tranquility necessary for scholarship and museum appreciation."

The structure shall consist of a library 'an archive and museum including a policy centre (for research, seminars and workshops). While the presidential library will hold the presidential files and papers which covers all issues of public policy, the archive will act as a repository for the presidential papers and historical materials of President Obasanjo. The museum will however exhibit present significant documents, photographs, films, video tapes, sound recording and memorabilia that depict stages of the president's life, the important policy trust and decisions of his administration.

The auditorium of the proposed library is expected to take about 1,500 people. There will also be 144-research fellows/guest chalet.

The project trustees hope to fend for it through offer of services like guest houses, cyber cafe, publishing souvenir/gift shops, auditorium (seminars/workshops, exhibitions, social events), museum, amphitheatre, restaurant, pack/garden, artificial lake/ stream/waterfall, zoo and gym for recreation/keep fit centre.

The trustees include Ambassador Christopher Kolade, Nigeria's high commissioner to the United Kingdom, as chairman, Mr. Carl Masters, an American as co-chairman, Ogun State Governor Gbenga Daniel, Hon. Vernon Jordan, an American, Mr. Richard Branson, owner of Virgin Atlantic Airline, Dr. Onaolapo Soleye, Minister of Finance under the Buhari administration and Mr. Jim Ovia, MD/CEO Zenith International Bank.

Others include Dr. Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello, the president's eldest daughter and Ogun State commissioner for health and Mr. Nyaknno Osso, the president's librarian who serves as secretary.

#1Zaiyol, May 17, 2005

Icon79:
In America, former Presidents raise funds to build their Presidential Library. In Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo stole Nigeria's money to build his presidential library. God will definitely judge everyone of them! Mark my words!!


O pari

AbelDjassi:
Stop telling outright lies.
That white elephant project - a personal museum no more, no less - was funded at the expense of the Nigerian taxpayer.

You must think we all have very low IQs.

OBJ Library mosque fund exceeds target

By Kehinde Akinyemi, Abeokuta | Publish Date: Nov 24 2012 5:00AM

Indication that former President Olusegun Obasanjo is still very much in control of the political ladder of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), emerged in Abeokuta, yesterday, as state governors from the party’s controlled states ensured that the N350million projected fund for the building of Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Mosque is exceeded.At the stone breaking event inside the complex, governors of Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Niger, Kwara, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kogi, Adamawa, Zamfara, Jigawa and Ogun states donated N20million each, about 80 per cent of the total fund expected.
Obasanjo in his remarks thanked the donors “for being here. What are we here for? We are here on this site, trying to put down the legacy of prosperity.”

Obasanjo, who was highly emotional in his address noted further that “if the community will be served, it must have a place of worship.
“You have come here to appreciate our community. I thank you most sincerely for that. We have come here to have a place of worship for an important segment of our community and I want to particularly appreciate my Obas and governors who are here, who have responded to our invitation. Just as you have taken seriously the work of God, God will continually expand your coast,” Obasanjo said.
Other donors at the well attended ceremony are Aliko Dangote N25million, Sen. Adamu Aliero N10million, former Kwara state governor, Bukola Saraki N2million , Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal N2million and former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar N5million.

deomelo:
If you are going to dispute anything, make sure you present facts and data with proof of funding by the FGN, not some gossips, fake and fabricated irrelevant cut and paste nonsense from the internet.


You even added the Vanguard to fool people that your fake rubbish is genuine.


You people just another hate mongering, sad, bitter and pathetic souls with nothing better to do but to show the world how hopeless you are with your horrible existence.


I have reported your fake news and false info.

Professor Soyinka, speaking to reporters in Ibadan after delivering a lecture to mark the 80th birthday of the first female Head of Service in Nigeria, Princess Tejumade Alakija, said the library launch contradicted President Olusegun Obasanjo's anti-corruption crusade.

He said: "There is a contradiction if you have an anti-corruption crusade... And in my view, Obasanjo is a very transparent man and he did it transparently. What happened in Abeokuta was an executive extortion and it is a contradiction to the campaign against corruption. What I like about it is that it was transparently done. It was transparent and open."

On the proposed national conference being put together by the Pro-National Conference Group (PRONACO), Prof Soyinka said the June date initially fixed for the conference was no longer feasible. Said he: "We are now looking at the possibility of hosting the conference in August because the June date is no longer feasible."

How NNPC asked banks for N20m each

Already, the private sector donation to the library preject is generating ripples in business circles. Yesterday, some shareholders, bank managers and others who spoke to Vanguard expressed anguish at the way donations were made at the venue. Some bank managing directors alleged they were compelled by an invitation letter from NNPC to make contribution to the project. Some expressed anger that a private project of the President could be turned into a near compulsion for businesses to donate shareholders' money.

According to the managing director who spoke to Vanguard, banks which had direct dealings with the NNPC were invited by the corporation to make contribution to the project. He said banks handling NNPC accounts were invited through a letter signed by the Finance Director of the corporation to donate to the project.

The bank chief, however, said that the letter did not make it mandatory for them to donate but it was easy to read the subtle threat in the letter from an organisation from where deposits are sourced and a corporation which the President has supervisory power.

It was learnt that each bank was asked to contribute N20 million. The Managing Director of Zenith Bank PLC had at the venue of the donation told the public that the donation made by the consortium of banks would not be made public before Hallmark Bank CEO announced its own donation. Sources said 76 banks made pledges which on the average amounted to N1.4 billion. Confirming the fact that banks were approached by the NNPC to make donation, managing director of a new generation banks said the letter from NNPC did not stipulate any amount to be donated but that it was a free-will thing.

AbelDjassi:
See the way Nigerians are fawning over this personal project, without questioning the diversion of their commonwealth.
Alas too many of my people continue to succumb to their own docility.

AbelDjassi:
Put a sock in it.
That personal museum was rightly condemned by many objective minds at the time it was launched.

deomelo:
[s][/s]


Look at this loser actually proving to us that it was indeed privately funded.

Stop crying, show us facts that the FG paid for the library.

deomelo:
[s][/s]


https://greenlegacyresort.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/DRONE_SHOT_OF_GREEN_LEGACY_RESORT.jpg




You want's something to hate, I'll give you plenty..

Lajet:
Our oil money at work

PDP governors were compelled to donate to Obasanjo presidential library – Fayose

March 6, 2017Josiah Oluwole

https://i2.wp.com/media.premiumtimesng.com/wp-content/files/2017/01/IMG-20170119-WA0029.jpg

Governor of Ekiti State, Ayo Fayose, has disclosed that 30 governors of the Peoples Democratic Party were compelled to donate N10 million each to the Obasanjo Presidential Library in 2005.

The governor made the disclosure at the opening of a caucus meeting of the PDP in the South West in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Monday.

“We were compelled to make the donation as PDP governors in 2005 and now I need the return of my money with interest,” he said.

The Obasanjo presidential library was officially commissioned on Saturday in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Mr. Fayose did not say who compelled the governors to make the donation.

At Monday’s meeting, the PDP caucus passed a vote of confidence on the Ahmed Makarfi leadership of the party, while branding the Ali Modu Sheriff’s faction of the party “usurpers”.

AbelDjassi:
Are you slow on the uptake or what?
Did each of those state governors dig into their own pockets or budgets allocated to their respective states?

I despise nincompoops who are incapable of elevated reasoning.
Wait, I dey go come.