₦airaland Forum

Sunday, January 20, 2019


PRESS STATEMENT BY APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL

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In our press release issued on Sunday, December 30, 2018, titled “WHEN THE THIEF IS SHOUTING THIEF”: THE CASE OF ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR”, we correctly predicted as follows: “By running for President of Nigeria, Atiku intends to get some immunity from prosecution. Already he is hoping to obtain a visa to visit the US, as a guest of the State department, a concession that the US will grant to a Presidential candidate of Africa’s biggest Nation”.

Therefore, we were not surprised by his visit to the U.S. For us, this visit is really a non-event considering the issues involved in the forthcoming election. However, we have bad news for those who think this is a momentous event for Atiku Abubakar: the visit was nothing but a downright catastrophe because rather than dispel the fact of indictments hanging over his head, it further confirms and reinforces those facts for the following reasons:

(1) The visit had all the trappings of a fugitive sneaking into America under a “special diplomatic waiver”. For the candidate of the major opposition party in Nigeria, it is an absolute disaster that the visit was not announced ahead of time in Nigeria, with his programmes and itinerary clearly spelt out, the decent and customary minimum standard of such visits. This culminated in his close aides issuing conflicting statements about the visit when he was already on his way there. In fact, one of them called Paul Ibe actually spoke to the Press that his principal was nowhere near America! Such was the secrecy of the planning and execution of that visit.

(2) It is shameful that a presidential candidate of a major opposition party in Africa’s most populous country would visit America, and the international press was kept in the dark: There was NO SINGLE press conference with the array of international media and correspondents required for such ‘high-profile’ visit. Atiku knows he has no moral stamina to withstand the avalanche of hard questions bordering on his sordid past in America. In fact, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar claims he visited the Voice of America (VOA) but only did two carefully-packaged interviews with the Hausa service and the English to Africa program - platforms that have always been available to him back home. How strange! In fact, both the Twitter handle (@VOANews) and official website of VOA did not mention any such visit of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to their station. For news hounds, you would agree with us that such an ‘important personality’ cannot walk into a news premises without reporters swooping on him. Whatever he went to do in the premises of the VOA must have been a carefully-arranged private visit for the photo-ops, which was intended to scam Nigerians. What more evidence do we need of a “sneak-in-sneak-out” arrangement than this?.

(3) For a candidate who claims he wants to “get Nigeria working again” (a meaningless phrase) to sneak into America without meeting major players in private businesses is a curiosity and an indication that we are dealing with a candidate with a dodgy and questionable character. He claims he went to the U.S Chamber of Commerce, which is supposed to be a business federation. Again, the Twitter handle (@USChamber) and the website of the organization make no mention of the visit of such an ‘important personality’ to them. Maybe their famous American lobbyist on a salary of N9million per month can help them ‘do something’ about this after this press statement.

(4) It is also an anomaly that the candidate of the major opposition party in Nigeria sneaked into America and did not meet large sections of political leaders of similar ideologies and persuasions towards which he claims to be inclined. For all his claim to be going to America to meet “U.S Government officials”, he only succeeded in meeting a certain “Congressman Smith”, who is the equivalent of a member of the House of Representatives in Nigeria. You would agree with us that as dignified and respected as the office of a Member of the House of Representatives is, an important personality cannot come to Nigeria on an official visit and claim he has met the “Nigerian government officials” after he pays a private visit to that Member. For all we know, the Congressman Smith may just be a private friend of Dr. Bukola Saraki or Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. That reminds us of Atiku’s famous legislator friend he threw under the bus, Williams Jefferson, who taught us how to hide laundered money ( which was meant for Atiku Abubakar) in the deep freezer when the cops came knocking on his door!

In all, it is very obvious now that the so-called American trip was a desperate trip for photo-ops. Throughout the trip, Atiku Abubakar looked cagey, frightened and on edge. We note the close support always provided by Senate President Bukola Saraki like a comforting guardian angel. The visit and arrangements smack of things local yahoo yahoo boys do to scam their victims. It is utterly disgusting and puerile that it has been brought into a serious political contest.

Rather than being the highpoint of his campaign, the American visit is indeed the lowest watermark of Atiku Abubakar’s campaign. It was a political and P.R disaster. The statements he released from there only to the Nigerian Press back home that he intends to alienate other countries and do business with the U.S is actually the antithesis to our policy of non-alignment.

For the information of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his handlers, Nigerians know that Nigeria is already working again for everyone and not for a few. As confirmed by him in a town-hall meeting a few days before his disastrous trip to the U.S, he said he wants to “get Nigeria working again” only for few of his friends who he claims he wants to make rich. If he cannot get them rich now from his private businesses, it is obvious that he is referring to the use of public funds to make his friends rich. Nigerians should judge for themselves whether this is the type of President they want.

Finally, whoever advised Atiku Abubakar to undertake that trip to America just destroyed his entire campaign and exposed him for who he is – a questionable character who has continued to leave huge questions over his suitability for the highest office of the land and as such cannot be trusted by the Nigerian people.

Thank you.



FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)

Director, Strategic Communications,
APC Presidential Campaign Council.
(Official Spokesperson).

Saturday, January 19, 2019

PRESS STATEMENT BY APC PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN COUNCIL:
WHY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI DID NOT ATTEND THE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE ORGANISED BY THE NIGERIA ELECTION DEBATE GROUP AND THE BROADCASTING ORGANISATIONS OF NIGERIA

The President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who is also the APC Presidential Candidate in the forthcoming Presidential Election, President Muhammadu Buhari, could not attend the Presidential Debate organised by the Nigeria Election Debate Group and the Broadcasting Organisations of Nigeria which held today, Saturday, January 19, 2019 for the following reasons:

Firstly, out of several opportunities afforded our candidate to interact with the Nigerian people directly by different organisations, our presidential candidate has taken full advantage of another town-hall meeting organized by another group which held on Wednesday, January 16, 2019. He was also joined at that town-hall meeting by our Vice-Presidential candidate who is also the Vice-President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN. Nigerians from all walks of life who were physically present and through on-line platforms asked uncensored questions which were adequately answered. It was also transmitted live by various broadcast networks in Nigeria.

In addition, the busy and hectic official and campaign schedules of Mr. President clashed with this programme. Today, Mr. President commissioned the Baro Inland Water Port in Niger State and campaigned in Niger and Plateau States where his time was over-stretched by the tumultuous and mammoth crowds in both States, (as seen by Nigerians on live television) and only returned to Abuja late this evening.

Whilst we thank the organisers for the invitation, we want to assure Nigerians that we shall continue to hold these debate groups and Nigerians in high esteem which our candidate has demonstrated during past election debates when he honoured similar invitations. Nigerians will also recall that a few weeks ago, our Vice-Presidential candidate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, also attended the debate organized by the same organisations.

Lastly, we note the statement of the candidate of the PDP, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who actually came for the event and left the venue when he did not see Mr. President, who is our candidate. According to him, he would not want to “attack” Mr. President in his absence.

It should now be obvious to Nigerians that for Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, this election is all about attacking the person and programmes of Mr. President and not about proffering their own solutions to the problems they created during their sixteen years of misrule, maladministration and looting of the nation’s resources. When they cannot see President Buhari to attack, the content of their campaign becomes hollow, empty and “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing”. Now that Atiku Abubakar had a unique opportunity to explain to Nigerians his own vision and mission without a President Buhari in the picture, he ran away. Afterall, he has his own eight years of crass and grand corruption as Vice President to defend before the Nigerian people.

On February 16, 2019 we urge Nigerians to demonstrate to Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and the PDP, through their votes, how empty indeed their campaign has always been and to vote massively for President Muhammadu Buhari and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN who have started the rebuilding process of our great nation.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO,SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Director, Strategic Communications,
APC Presidential Campaign Council.
(Official Spokesperson).

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE
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SPEECH BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE NIGERIA- BRAZIL COOPERATION PROJECT ON AGRICULTURE – “THE GREEN IMPERATIVE”, ON THE 17TH OF JANUARY, 2019



After the most eloquent speech by the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Mr Audu Ogbeh, I really would have preferred not to say anything more, because I think he has captured practically everything.

It is a special privilege for me to host you all to the launch of the “Green Imperative”, our agriculture mechanization project in collaboration with the Brazilian government. The project is crucial to our signature focus on agriculture as the centerpiece of our economic diversification efforts. Practically everything you have heard about the Buhari administration has centered round agriculture, and I’m sure that we are going to hear a lot more about this focus on agriculture.

Frankly, we believe we cannot bring our nation out of poverty, especially the large numbers of the poor without significant investments in agriculture and, of course, mechanized agriculture. But also because we know the sheer number of young people who are coming into our population in the next 10 – 15 years, will certainly not only need to be fed, but will also need to have jobs, and the sort of jobs that these young people will want will not be jobs requiring hoes and cutlasses. They are going to want jobs that are more dignified and of course, jobs that would mean a decent wage and living.

This explains our focus on agriculture and especially the agro-allied value chain. It is this value chain we believe that this particular project will service, and this is where we think the game changer for this agricultural development lies.

With mechanized agriculture, everything suddenly becomes different, because even now, we have been able to do a lot more in terms of rice production and several other grains without mechanization at the level it ought to be.

Today, we are producing paddy rice as much as we need but milling and the other processes are where we fall short. So we are not able to produce and mill all of the rice that we require, but that is only a matter of months.

The key thing today is that with mechanization, whatever it is that we are able to do; we will be able to do in multiples. I think that portion of it is extremely important for us.

I think the only way we can make the quantum leap that is required, in order to advance our economy and provide the number of jobs we require, is simply what we are doing today.

As we have heard, there will be a combination of service centers where technical capacity and training will occur, to the local assembly of tractors and other agricultural machines, and we will also have processing centers where agro processing will be done.

The major dividends of all of this are the hundreds of thousands of quality jobs, that young men and women will be able to access.

We also know one of the reasons why young men and women do not warm up to agriculture in the way that they ought to and why we have such an aged farmer population is because it just isn’t attractive. But I know that from now on, all of that is certainly going to change and our young men and women would be far more interested in agriculture than they have ever been.

Today, we have made a significant difference in our journey, not just in self-sufficiency in food production, but also in creating the kinds of jobs that we could have from agriculture.

Also crucial is the private sector, an important component of this enterprise. When you hear about government projects, people tend to think that with the way government works sometimes, you don’t want to entrust all of these kinds of activities to government. But we have ensured that this will be private sector driven and we have here today, both Nigerian and Brazilian investors committed to investing and working on this project.

So we expect that this will be collaboration not just between the governments of Nigeria and Brazil, but also between Nigerian businessmen and Brazilian businessmen.

Let me therefore thank the Brazilian government through Ambassador Ricardo de Araujo, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, who has encouraged many of us to go into farming.
Mr President clearly set forth our agricultural agenda from day one. To quote him: “we must produce what we eat.” We have to be self-sufficient in food production.

Today, the President’s dream has moved closer to realization and in the next few years by God’s grace, with this project, we will with our own brains and innovation and the collaboration of our friends, especially our Brazilian friends, will realize the dreams of our people not only to produce our own food, but also to employ every able Nigerian, not just in agriculture, but in all of the agro-allied value chain and manufacturing also.

On this note, it is therefore my very special pleasure and privilege to launch the Green Imperative.

Thank you very much.

Released by:

Office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE


*VP continues engagements, family chats in Karu, Kubwa, Mpape, FCT communities

The implementation of the Buhari administration’s micro-credit schemes namely; the TraderMoni and MarketMoni, and other initiatives are some of the ways by which the Federal Government is incrementally lifting Nigerians out of poverty, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

The Vice President who stated this on Thursday when he continued interactions with Nigerians across diverse backgrounds with visits to Karu, Mpape and Kubwa, all satellite towns in the FCT, said more Nigerians would be lifted out of poverty if the is government re-elected for another term.

According to him, "for the very first time in the history of this country, loans are being made available for petty traders, small traders.

“It is the love for the common man that informed this government's decision to empower the poor.”

At Mpape community, Prof. Osinbajo told a gathering of artisans, women, community leaders and youths that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari was for the common people and had demonstrated same through the various empowerment schemes.

"There is MarkeMoni; there is TraderMoni; the TraderMoni is for the petty traders, the small traders, selling groundnut and other small businesses; we give them N10,000 when they repay, they get N15,000, N20,000 and on and on like that.

Explaining the rationale behind the micro-credit schemes of the Buhari administration, the Vice President said it was a step to help the traders move up.

"Because every one of us must start from somewhere; when you start poor, somebody must help you to become rich; if you are a small business woman, somebody will help so that you too will become a big business woman.”

Continuing, he said, “that is why President Muhammadu Buhari started this TraderMoni so that market women can grow their businesses gradually and after a while, they too will have enough money to be able to build their own houses and everything they want to do.

"The MarketMoni is for the bigger trader and artisans, it starts at N100,000, but you must be part of a cooperative in order to benefit from the MarketMoni.

“So, we are trying very hard, God helping us, if we are voted in, February 16, it’s the Next Level. Next Level for TraderMoni, for MarketMoni, for all the programmes that we are doing."

He assured the artisans that the Buhari administration was setting up a bank to be called the PeopleMoni Bank to lend money to artisans so that they could also grow.

Earlier at Karu, Prof. Osinbajo addressed enthusiastic members of Karu-Jikwoyi Women Progressive Movement, assuring them of the commitment of the Buhari government to improve the lots of women.

He told the women that petty traders among them would benefit from the TraderMoni scheme and other initiatives designed to uplift their lives and those of their families.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Aisha Abubakar, also addressed the women on how various social intervention programmes would impact their lives.

In Kubwa, the Vice President’s first point of call was the Yekini Aminu family at Information Quarters, where he was received by an excited and jubilant crowd among them youths who thronged the streets, danced and chanted 'four plus four, four plus four, as the Vice President's motorcade arrived Phase 4 area in Kubwa.

After a brief chat with his host, the Aminu family, the Vice President addressed the crowd on the various empowerment schemes of the Federal Government and proceeded to the Gbazango area of Kubwa to continue his visit to the area.

At Gbazango, Prof. Osinbajo and entourage proceeded to the family compound of 102 year-old Sunday Kukwaba Gazazhin, a respected Gbagyi family, accompanied by a jubilant crowd comprising residents of Gbazango and environs, including traders from the Kubwa village market.

He had a chat with the patriarch of the family and other family members through an interpreter before leaving Kubwa.

Vice President Osinbajo who had earlier launched the “Green Imperative”, an agricultural sector mechanization initiative, and chaired the monthly meeting of the National Economic Council, before leaving for the engagements in the FCT communities, returned to the State House to receive a coalition of Buhari 2019 support groups under the auspices of the “We Believe Movement”, who had embarked on a solidarity walk from the Unity Fountain to the Eagle Square.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
January 18, 2019
Show more

…INEC ON THE HIT LIST

HOW PDP, ATIKU PLAN TO RIG ELECTION

…INEC ON THE HIT LIST

The Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) says it has unearthed plans by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its Presidential Candidate Atiku Abubakar to rig next month’s Presidential election.

A part of the plan “to subvert the will of the people”, according to the group, is PDP’s recent recruitment of a former INEC Chairman known to have presided over the worse election in Nigeria’s recent political history.

BMO said in a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, that the rigging plot also involves spending huge sums of money on police personnel and election officials in many parts of the country.

“With their campaign daily losing steam, PDP has also resorted to accusing everyone directly or remotely connected to President Muhammadu Buhari of corruption; after realising that Nigerians are not buying any of their Dubai Strategy of lies”.

“Their leaders had been working on this plan for a while and had consciously been raising all sorts of allegations and attacking national institutions involved in the electoral process in order to divert attention from their devious agenda.

“Part of the plot is to discredit INEC’s new election guidelines which included simultaneous accreditation and voting, and which also barred collation officers from making or receiving calls on election day.

“This same style was successfully test run in all bye-elections in recent months including those won by PDP candidates, but the party did not see anything wrong with it until the Commission insisted that it would be used during the next elections”.

BMO noted that PDP is also working on infiltrating INEC by embedding its supporters among ad-hoc electoral officials as part of its rigging plan.

It consequently advised the Commission to be cautious in its recruitment plan for the general election.

“We want to place Nigerians on notice that they should be at alert and not allow PDP elements at all levels to subvert the will of the electorate.

“There is also a need for the election management body to properly scrutinise ad-hoc staff to be recruited for Election Day duty as well as pay more than a passing attention to its officials in the run up to the February 16 election.

“This is because PDP, a party that is known for electoral manipulation, and which has a lot of dirty schemes in its kitty to rig the process in favour of its Presidential candidate, needs to be put under close surveillance”, BMO concluded.

President Muhammadu Buhari has no reason whatsoever to rig next month’s Presidential election and any fear by the opposition elements that President Buhari is preparing grounds to rig the election is a mere conjecture and completely false.

According to the Buhari Media Organisation(BMO), the All Progressives Congress (APC) has all it takes to win the coming election fairly and creditably, with a landslide.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO said President Buhari’s unmatchable and verif iable achievements have gladdened millions of Nigerian voters who are going to vote for him massively.

BMO asserted that the Peoples’s Democratic Party (PDP) was raising false alarm because it foresaw its failure in the election as its campaign “has been wobbly, inconsistent and incoherent, principally du e to the fact that it has nothing positive to campaign with and attract votes.

“President Muhammadu Buhari on the other hand has multitudes of consistent followers and ordinary Nigerians whose lives he has impacted positively; these include the 500,000 N-Power beneficiaries, parents of over 10,000,000 children being fed under the Home Grown School Feeding Programme, the 200,000 cooks and local farmers involved in the school feeding programme. Others are the 12,000,000 farmers and fishermen who actually donated money to his campaign, a majority of the 22,000,000 students of tertiary institutions in the country.”

The BMO added that: “2,000,000 petty traders in the Market Moni and the Trader Moni loan schemes, the 350,000 Nigerians being empowered by the Government Enterprise and Employment Programme (GEEP) have all indicated their determination to vote for the President.”

The Buhari Media Organisation says that given the loyal followers and supporters of the President in 17 of the 19 states in the North, his huge support base in the South-West and some areas in the South-South, “victory for President Muhammadu Buhari is a given.”

The usual people have been on steroids since President Buhari and his deputy came on NTA for a LIVE Television Townhall Interview. Everyone reserves their views on how they rate his performance. Below is my personal recap of what he said though not in his exact words but I took enough care to recall what he said without much deviation.

Kadaria Ahmed: Why are you running again and why Nigerians should Vote for you for another 4years.

Buhari: My party nominated me and in last election we campaigned on three major issues of security, fight against corruption and economy. We want to tell Nigerians where we were in 2015 and where we are now given what we have done and available resources. And what we have done with available resources.

Kadaria: There is rising insecurity in North East in a Boko Haram war govt said has been technically defeated.

Buhari: It is the people of North East who can say what we have done. They know the difference. Those who can now go to their farms and do their business can tell better. When we took over in 2015 Boko Haram was holding 17 local govts in Yobe, Borno, Bauchi and Adamawa. They no longer hold any territory but now using hit and run attack. You journalists really need to go to these places to investigate not just go Maiduguri where you stay in a hotel and be reporting what is happening at the theatre of operation.

Kadaria: There is issue of farmers and herder what are you doing about it.

Buhari: We have great leaders of first republic who thought of solving this problem with grazing reserves and grazing routes. But powerful people took over these routes. A governor made a law banning grazing. The herders are Nigerians who can move within the country in search of water and green pasture for their cattle. They have a period they move down South or to where they can get water for their cattles. A governor said they can graze in Benue, if they move to further down to Bayelsa and Bayelsa say they can't graze do you want to chase them to the Atlantic?

Osinbajo cut in: He provided a more nuanced response and how far the FG has gone with National Economic Council working with governors to have a permanent solution through a combination of Ranch and Grazing Reserves.

Kadaria: what are you doing about issue of almajiri and out of school children

Buhari: Issue of almajiri and school children is a matter for local governments and states. You elite and journalists need to investigate what is happening to local government fund and make enough noise about it. We have a situation where governors just give the local government about 25% of their fund and the governors just spend the local governments money. We have cases of states we are investigating on misuse of local government money.

Kadaria: This also brings the issue of restructuring to allow the federating units operate at their level. What is your thought on that given there is a Federal agency UBEC that is involved with primary education which you said is the job of local government.

Buhari: (he didn't answer the question directly) the import of his response was not lost when he said restructuring is about more resources from the centre to the states and local governments. He reduced it to corruption. Simply saying if it is restructuring that will make the states to spend money judiciously. He threw it back that elite and media should focus more on what is happening in states and local govt.

Kadaria: On soldiers welfare and protest by soldiers on battle front.

Buhari: He said soldiers welfare has improved and he ensured cash payment to soldiers that is open to abuse is removed. Soldiers on battle front he said have bank accounts through which they are paid their allowances and salaries. He also said Nigerians do not seem to understand the country is under war situation and emergency. He said soldiers are not supposed to publicly demonstrate under any condition and those who protested will be court marshalled and subjected to military discipline. He also alluded to the fact that some joined the military for wrong reason which is just to get a job that pays them salary without the readiness to face the demand of soldiering. Those who the people that complain and give excuses. He said other genuine complaints will be looked into any officers shortchanging troops will be fished out.

Kadaria: On Disability Bill

Buhari: He obviously does not know if the Bill is waiting for his assent. He responded saying there are bills before NASS the two chambers have not considered or wasting time on. Again he wants media to bring up these issues. Anyone expecting a President to know everything that comes to his office daily should not be taken serious. The State House Legal Team may still be studying the Bill before it is presented to him to either sign or reject.

Kadaria: On corruption and perception the President is only prosecuting opposition members while protecting his associates.

Buhari: That is unfair comment. We can't just arrest people and detain them without evidence. If you have evidence against anyone with bank accounts, contracts and misappropriation bring it we will ask the EFCC and ICPC to investigate. We must trust the system to function. The demand of democracy is different from when I was military Head of State where I can arrest and charge you guilty and say you are guilty until you can prove you are not. I can't do that now. We must trust the system.

Kadaria: You have not done anything about Governor Ganduje and you have gone to Kano to raise up his hands for second term.

Vice President and the hall cut in: No no. That is not correct.

Buhari: You are not correct. I have never gone to Kano to campaign. I have seen the clip. I don't know the technology used to show that seeing a governor collecting bribe and put it under his agbada and smiling. Is it that even if he wants to take money he can't see anyone to trust to help him keep the money. That is why I said I don't know the technology used to record him. It is really a matter for the State House of Assembly and the matter is in court. I hope before I go to Kano to campaign the matter would have been solved either by court or the House of Assembly.

Kadaria: What will you do with recovered money.

Buhari: Every money now goes into the TSA and we have a view of what we have. I will tell ICPC, EFCC and other agencies to publish again what has been recovered and from who. We have serious infrastructural deficits. We will spend recovered money to improve our budget deficit. We have always said recovered money will be spent on infrastructure.

Kadaria: will you accept defeat and go home if you didn't win this election.

Buhari: I am not new to losing elections. I lost in 2003 I was in court for 30months, I lost in 2007 I was in court for 18 months, I lost in 2011 I was in court for 8 months up to the Supreme Court. What PDP used to do before was to allocate result per constituency and say whosoever is not happy should go to court. My supporters do not have money to spend in court and they will say God dey. By 2015 God dey. Through God factor, PVC and card reader they couldn't allocate result.

PS:

I should think President Buhari was clear in his responses and upfront. Of course he didn't give straight answers to few of the questions. He is a man of few words by nature. He usually would make a detour and answer questions his own way which is what people do. Those who have been writing epistles and distorting what he said can't be helped. I would have been surprised if they did otherwise.

The Vice President, Professor Osinbajo commendably provided the missing links and gave the right support and balance. That is why it is a joint ticket and both men compliment each other.

President Buhari is not a smooth talker who can dazzle with words. Nigeria at this point does not need talkers and conmen again. We have had such men and women in the past. Atiku, PDP and the mushroom candidates are talkers. Atiku has already said he is coming to sell NNPC to enrich his friends.

Nigeria needs doers like Buhari who is fixing abandoned infrastructure the economy needs to grow. Nigeria needs a committed leader like Buhari who is dealing with legacy issues in a sustainable manner. He is a forthright leader who is very clear, honest and comitted to where he wants to take the country to. Buhari is creating a country that will work for the citizens especially the poor people who have been neglected and impoverished by elites' conspiracy.

Buhari wont sell Nigeria to vested interests like Atiku has told us he will do.

We read the various statements issued in the press by the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP with the latest personalizing their attacks on President Muhammadu Buhari.


This is an uncalled for attack on the administration that crosses the line in a democracy. A call for disobedience to government is a call to anarchy and should not be called opposition politics.


Seeing people go down as the PDP and its leaders are heading to in the elections is pitiful but to seek to bring down the roof on everyone is tragic, selfish and the height of desperation. Happily, these acts do not reflect the true feeling of citizens across the whole nation, and that is why the PDP is sinking deeper and deeper into the oblivion. They are losing memberships in droves and their campaign is just a caricature of a proper campaign.

It is high time Nigerians separated the chaff floating around in the air in the name of opposition from the crude and disgraceful invective being thrown personally at President Muhammadu Buhari.

The problem of the opposition is that they are not talking about solutions. Rather, each of them, led in the pack by the PDP is an expert at counting problems. That is the reason why the voting population is coming around the Buhari-led All Progressive s Congress,APC.

For years, the PDP had been a bastion of corruption and impunity and it is difficult for them to change from their rentier way if life in the nation’s affairs. But CHANGE has come, and has come to stay.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT



PRESS RELEASE

“I trust that you will find the principle-based approach and the constructs in the code helpful and consistent with our focus on making it easier to do business in Nigeria.”



“With today’s event, Nigeria is taking a big stride in our efforts to be a preferred investment destination.” – VP Osinbajo





REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE LAUNCH OF THE CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CODE ON THE 15TH OF JANUARY, 2019



PROTOCOLS





I would like to thank the governing board of the Financial Reporting Council and other stakeholders that have contributed to the code that we are about to unveil. I should also thank the many captains of industry, heads of regulatory agencies, development partners and others that have taken time not just to review and contribute to the process of developing the code, but are here to witness this occasion.



We are all familiar with the journey that has culminated in today’s ceremony and I am pleased that we now have a widely accepted National Code of Corporate Governance ready for use.



The code has been long awaited and I believe that it will satisfy our desire for higher standards of corporate governance and ethical practices in our business environment and help to rebuild public trust and investor confidence in the Nigerian economy.



The implementation of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance 2018 is important and will promote corporate success and economic growth, lower cost of capital and perhaps, help to minimise the wastage and corruption.



I, therefore, encourage companies, regulators, the media, to be publicity agents in spreading the news of the release of the code and the imperatives of its implementation.



To our business leaders here gathered, let me reiterate that the government very much looks forward to your enthusiastic implementation of the code and to your being corporate role models in this regard.



I trust that you will find the principle-based approach and the constructs in the code helpful and consistent with our focus on making it easier to do business in Nigeria.



With today’s event, Nigeria is taking a big stride in our efforts to be a preferred investment destination.



I congratulate the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria for this development. The unveiling of the Nigerian Code of Corporate Governance today amounts to not just a symbolic presentation, but also to presenting an internationally accepted best practice standards for business conduct in Nigeria, the benefits of which will be enjoyed by investors, the entities applying the code and our economy.



Finally, as we promote and imbibe best practices in corporate governance, I’m hopeful that given the constant flow of talents from the corporate world to the political space and vice versa, we would also be promoting and demonstrating high standards of governance in the political space over time.



I hope and wish we could extend this code of corporate governance to political players; at least it might help a bit in stemming defections and counter defections.



Ladies and gentlemen, I hereby formally unveil the corporate governance code.



Thank you.



Released by:

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

Office of the Vice President

January 15, 2019

My Lord, Tell Me Where To Keep Your Bribe?
By Niyi Osundare
A poem by the renowned Nigerian poet


My Lord

Please tell me where to keep your bribe?

Do I drop it in your venerable chambers

Or carry the heavy booty to your immaculate mansion


Shall I bury it in the capacious water tank

In your well laundered backyard

Or will it breathe better in the septic tank

Since money can deodorize the smelliest crime


Shall I haul it up the attic

Between the ceiling and your lofty roof

Or shall I conjure the walls to open up

And swallow this sudden bounty from your honest labour


Shall I give a billion to each of your paramours

The black, the light, the Fanta-yellow

They will surely know how to keep the loot

In places too remote for the sniffing dog


Or shall I use the particulars

Of your anonymous maidservants and manservants

With their names on overflowing bank accounts

While they famish like ownerless dogs


Shall I haul it all to your village

In the valley behind seven mountains

Where potholes swallow up the hugest jeep

And Penury leaves a scar on every house


My Lord

It will take the fastest machine

Many, many days to count this booty; and lucky bank bosses

May help themselves to a fraction of the loot


My Lord

Tell me where to keep your bribe?


My Lord

Tell me where to keep your bribe?


The “last hope of the common man”

Has become the last bastion of the criminally rich

A terrible plague bestrides the land

Besieged by rapacious judges and venal lawyers


Behind the antiquated wig

And the slavish glove

The penguin gown and the obfuscating jargon

Is a rot and riot whose stench is choking the land


Behind the rituals and roted rigmaroles

Old antics connive with new tricks

Behind the prim-and-proper costumes of masquerades

Corruption stands, naked, in its insolent impunity


For sale to the highest bidder

Interlocutory and perpetual injunctions

Opulent criminals shop for pliant judges

Protect the criminal, enshrine the crime


And Election Petition Tribunals

Ah, bless those goldmines and bottomless booties!

Scoundrel vote-riggers romp to electoral victory

All hail our buyable Bench and conniving Bar


A million dollars in Their Lordship’s bedroom

A million euros in the parlor closet

Countless naira beneath the kitchen sink

Our courts are fast running out of Ghana-must-go’s*


The “Temple of Justice”

Is broken in every brick

The roof is roundly perforated

By termites of graft


My Lord

Tell me where to keep your bribe?


Judges doze in the courtroom

Having spent all night, counting money and various “gifts”

And the Chief Justice looks on with tired eyes

As Corruption usurps his gavel.


Crime pays in this country

Corruption has its handsome rewards

Just one judgement sold to the richest bidder

Will catapult Judge & Lawyer to the Billionaires’ Club


The Law, they say, is an ass

Sometimes fast, sometimes slow

But the Law in Nigeria is a vulture

Fat on the cash-and-carry carrion of murdered Conscience


Won gb’ebi f’alare

Won gb’are f’elebi**

They kill our trust in the common good

These Monsters of Mammon in their garish gowns


Unhappy the land

Where jobbers are judges

Where Impunity walks the streets

Like a large, invincible Demon


Come Sunday, they troop to the church

Friday, they mouth their mantra in pious mosques

But they pervert Justice all week long

And dig us deeper into the hellish hole


Nigeria is a huge corpse

With milling maggots on its wretched hulk

They prey every day, they prey every night

For the endless decomposition of our common soul


My Most Honourable Lord

Just tell me where to keep your bribe.


* Large, extremely tough bags used for carrying heavy cash in Nigeria


** They declare the innocent guilty

They pronounce the guilty innocent

Prof. Niyi Osundare

Former Vice President and presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party(PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has been accused of inciting his followers to anarchy in the run up to the election.

Making this accusation in a press statement in Abuja yesteday, the Buhari Media Organisation (BMO) also accused Atiku Abubakar of contravening the terms of the peace accord signed by all Presidential candidates at the instance of the National Peace Committee.

In a statement signed by its Chairman Niyi Akinsiju and Secretary Cassidy Madueke, BMO said Atiku Abubakar’s recent posturing “is a blantant exhibition of bad faith.

“When the former Vice President and his party failed to show up for the agreement signing ceremony on a flimsy excuse, we raised an alarm that it was because they were not prepared to commit themselves to terms of the accord.

“Rather than focus attention on convincing Nigerians that Atiku Abubakar could do better than what President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have done in only three and half years, they have resorted to character assassination and inflammatory comments.

“It all started with pushing lies and false news to paint the President and his family in bad light. Now the PDP Presidential candidate is subtly instigating his supporters to anarchy having realised that majority of Nigerians are favourably disposed to re-electing the President".

“So for us at BMO, it is not surprising because this is what they had in mind when they initially refused to endorse the agreement”

The group also noted that Atiku, who few months ago, said he would focus on issues, has in recent times been launching personal attacks on the President and government institutions.

This, it says, is with a view to discrediting all institutions that would be involved in the forthcoming elections.

“With about a month to the Presidential polls, the opposition candidate has, directly and through proxies, been attacking President Buhari, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Police.

“The plan is clearly to discredit the President and relevant institutions in the run up to the election as well as instigate opposition supporters to resort to violence even before the first ballot is cast.

“Or how can anyone describe a situation where a former Vice President would boldly, without facts, tell PDP social media influencers that President Buhari is bent on stealing votes on February 16.

“He also alleged that the President was out to manipulate the electoral process by ensuring that ‘his relative’ collates the results even after INEC had cleared the air on Amina Zakari and her role at the National Collation Centre.

“Does it not amount to paving way for violence once it is clear that the outcome of the election does not favour him, as it is obvious from the manner the PDP is losing key members and its campaign losing steam?

“What is more shocking is that the PDP Presidential candidate through his supporters few days ago warned Anambra state governor Willie Obiano to stop campaigning for President Buhari.

“If this is not a call to violence by the militant arm of the opposition against a political leader for expressing his democratic right, we wonder what it is”, BMO said.

The group consequently urged former Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar and other members of the National Peace Committee to call PDP and its Presidential candidate to order.

*There is no way Nigeria is returning to its past

In this past three and a half years of the Buhari presidency, one, thankfully, has learnt, experienced and been part of quite a number of things. One of those things is the amount of dedication, the depth of patriotic zeal and sheer hard-work that is going on in this administration.

I know the President’s determination to end grand corruption, not only by his exemplary personal example, but by insisting on the proper processes and by empowering institutions. I know the level of intellectual exertions and sheer human rigour that the Vice President daily brings to his work. Even most, if not all Nigerians and close watchers of Nigerian events, have settled on the notion that not only are both gentlemen, honest people of integrity, but that they are also truly united in taking Nigeria to where this country truly belongs. We have seen the direction of the Change promised, it is a right direction, and direction is destiny.



Today, in the early days of a new year in which elections are due in a matter of weeks, there is simply no match for this team, be it in vision or political probability and other forms of readiness to take Nigeria forward. The choice can’t be more stark: between Buhari and Osinbajo on the one hand and Atiku and Obi on the other. Whichever way you dice it, this is a black and white, open and close case.



So, we have an opposition that is led by a politician that represents the failure of the past, backed by a running mate who seem determined to simply bamboozle the Nigerian people with any imaginable talking point regardless of veracity, who himself have openly conceded to being part of the problem.

Let us start from there. Former Governor Peter Obi concedes in a Channels TV video of August 2018 (which has actually gone viral) that he was part of the decision not to save for the rainy day; his own admission before he joined this race. His principal, former Vice President Abubakar Atiku admitted that he was in charge when the electricity power reforms were being bungled and, by his own admission, money simply went down the drain while he was VP and similarly in all the other PDP presidencies that followed. So, we have about $16B thrown out the window by the opposition and their flag-bearer indeed owned up to that confounding profligacy, and incredible acts of corruption, waste and mismanagement.



Just so we don’t leave matters to conjecture, or hearsay, here are the words of the former VP in a May 25, 2014 Channels TV interview: “We collected money from local governments, States and others. Five sets of contracts were given. Some contractors were paid 100%. We left, nothing was achieved. Then President Yar’Adua came, he also made available money and it went down the drain. President Jonathan came, he also made money available and it went down the drain.”



Now add to that, the matter of grand corruption. If you are in my job environment in the media and communication arena, you could even think this matter has been over-flogged. We have been told by some that we should stop talking about it and rather focus on what we have succeeded in achieving.



Yes, we have succeeded in relaunching a massive infrastructural era in the history of this country, spendingan unprecedented N2.7 Trillion in two budget cycles on capital expenditure, even when our revenues are at times 60% lower than previous administration. And we have the projects in practically every State and geopolitical zone. Yes, it is true that the World Bank endorsed the economic direction of the administration when it ranked Nigeria among the top ten reforming economies in 2017, the same year we moved up 24 places in the bank’s global Ease of Doing Business ranking.



Yes, we have put in place an Anchor Borrowers Programme for farmers, where close to 800,000 farmers have benefited from soft loans to help in the agricultural diversification of the economy. This explains in good part what The Punch Newspaper editorial of December 31, 2018 described as “Nigeria’s Rice Revolution,” praising the quest for self- sufficiency.



Yes, we have been paying pensioners (in different public sectors) their claims that had backlogged for years and which were not paid when oil was selling at over $100. Yes, we have hired half a million otherwise unemployed graduates across the country and are feeding about 9.3m primary school pupils in 26 States one free nutritiousmeal a day.



Yes, almost 2 million petty traders are collecting a N10,000 initial loan - a collateral and interest free micro-credit scheme called TraderMoni - to support their bottom of the ladder trading; traders who otherwise have no access to any form of credit. This is besides MarketMoni, where traders and artisans are getting between N50,000 to as much as N300,000 soft loans to enlarge their business. We have done about 400,000 of such loans. And yes, we have a Conditional Cash Transfer of N5,000 monthly to the poorest and most vulnerable among us, with almost 300,000 Nigerians benefiting, although we are targeting one million.



Now, the point is we were able do all these even when we are earning less, at times 60% less, simply because President Buhari has ended grand corruption! So, there is no such thing as ‘stop talking about grand corruption.’ My Principal has in fact come under some orchestrated media onslaught on account of the anti- grand corruption narratives. But we have to talk about it! We should not and would not relent because honest leadership is very central today for Nigeria’s leadership.



Nigerians are now comparing those highlights with the opposition party’s 16 years of grand corruption, lies and visionlessness. Certainly, the people are wiser and will not be given to the comprehensive display of grand deceit that is now hallmarking the campaign of the other party.



Besides, how can you set aside the several instances - at home and abroad - of settled facts regarding corrupt PDP leaders including its current presidential flag-bearer? In many of such cases these are open secret and theprosecution of these cases would certainly have to be taken to their logical conclusions sooner or later, both at home and abroad.



One example that readily comes to mind is the February 2010 report of the US Senate Permanent Investigations Subcommittee that implicated the PDP flagbearer. This is what the Chairman of that committee, Senator Carl Levin, had to say then:



“Our third case history examines Jennifer Douglas, a U.S. citizen and a wife of Atiku Abubakar, former Vice President and former presidential candidate in Nigeria. From 2000 to 2008, she helped her husband bring more than $40 million in suspect money into the United States through wire transfers from offshore corporations. Ms. Douglas is alleged in a 2008 civil complaint filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission to have received $2.8 million in bribe payments from a German conglomerate, Siemens AG. Siemens has pleaded guilty to criminal charges and settled civil charges related to the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, and told the Subcommittee that it sent payments to her account at Citibank. The Subcommittee located three wire transfers, substantiating $1.7 million in payments from Siemens to Ms. Douglas in 2001 and 2002. Of the $40 million, the Subcommittee traced nearly $25 million in offshore wire transfers into U.S. accounts controlled by Ms. Douglas, provided primarily by three offshore corporations called LetsGo, Sima Holdings, and Guernsey Trust Company.”



Continuing, the report added that, “Ms Douglas indicated that all of the funds came from her husband and professed little familiarity with the offshore corporations actually sending her the money. In addition, two of the offshore corporations wire transferred about $14 million over five years to American University in Washington DC to pay for consulting services related to the development of a Nigerian university founded by Mr. Abubakar.”



According to Levin in that report, this kind of corruption “is a cancer that corrodes the rule of law, undermines economic development and eats away at the fabric of civil society. Corruption can destabilize communities, and lead to failed states, lawlessness and terrorism.” In fact, the accomplices in some of the criminal cases that developed out of this are cooling their heels in jails, including a former US Congressman. Whoever thinks Nigerians will fall for the grand scale deceit that attempts to ignore this reality will learn a telling lesson next month!



Which is why I am confident that there is no way Nigeria is going backwards. It just won’t happen. The days of politics and governance based on outrightly raw personal aggrandizement have not quite disappeared, but you bet those days are now numbered.



Nigerians are now paying attention to the undeniable fact that a federal administration which earned less resources in a little over three years has more to show for it than all previous administrations in the 16 years before it, including several years when oil was selling in the international market for over $100.



That does not take rocket science to figure out. According to OPEC statistics between 2010 and 2014, Nigeria earned over $383B from oil sales. Yet at the end of 2014 and into 2015, the nation’s foreign reserves was as low as below $30B. Fast forward to 2015 to 2018, even when oil prices dropped, Nigeria’s foreign reserves has increased significantly. As at January 4, 2019, Nigeria’s foreign reserves stood at $43B, the highest in the last six years.



Let me conclude on a slightly personal note. I believe with all my heart that President Buhari & Vice President Osinbajo are on a restoration mission and it is divine. There are many like me who had prayed and hoped for a dutiful government that will reform the Federal Government. The truth is: that prayer has been answered. And while there is still so much left to be done, we as a people must ensure that we stay the course and give our nation a true opportunity to fulfill what I believe is a manifest destiny already. What use is their in going back to Egypt?

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT


PRESS RELEASE


REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, VICE PRESIDENT FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AT THE INTERDENOMINATIONAL CHURCH SERVICE FOR 2019 ARMED FORCES REMEMBRANCE DAY CELEBRATION HELD AT THE NATIONAL CHRISTIAN CENTRE, ABUJA ON SUNDAY 13, JANUARY 2019





Today, again we participate in an annual tradition of remembering and honoring our departed military heroes. This particular Remembrance Day is perhaps more poignant than any other. In the past few weeks, we have buried 13 soldiers and one officer, and just last week, 2 Air force pilots and 3 airmen; all these men died in battle fending off Boko Haram and Isis West Africa terrorists in the Northeast of Nigeria.



In the past few years we have seen patriotism at its highest; our valiant men and women of the Armed Forces have destroyed the backbone of Boko Haram who once attacked Abuja, Kano and Kaduna, with impunity and hoisted their tattered flags over 17 Local Governments in the North East of Nigeria.



Today, both Boko Haram and Isis West Africa operate as small, even if deadly guerilla bands, in parts of Borno State. But in these battles, we have been sharply reminded that indeed “freedom is not free”. That peace is often paid for with blood and gore. And that no Nation can secure its territory without the selflessness and the supreme sacrifices of many.



And truly as someone said: "Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it, it flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it."



So as we celebrate this Remembrance Day, we solemnly thank the Almighty God for giving us men and women ready to obey the call to fight and if need be, die for the fatherland.



We are grateful that they were faithful to the cause, that they did not betray the trust of millions, that they gave up all the comforts of life and the love and affection of family that we may enjoy the same.



Our posthumous thanks to them and their families, who not only bore the fearful apprehension of their going to war, but also the heartbreak of their deaths. But our gratitude must also mean a commitment to ensuring that their families are cared for, that their children do not ask why the sacrifices they made were made at all.



As important is to ensure that they did not die in vain, this unity and territorial integrity of the nation, for which they died, must not be jeopardized by the reckless utterances and actions, which play on the religious and ethnic fault lines of our Nation.



The ordinary people of Nigeria have demonstrated time and time again, that they share common problems and that they have a common destiny. The desire for food, shelter, clothing and decent jobs is not blinkered by tribe, tongue or faith. Our unity and peaceful coexistence is the best tribute to our fallen heroes.



Your Excellencies, my Lords, today on behalf of a grateful nation, I honour the bold and brave departed and pay heartfelt tribute to their families, indeed the families daily pay the supreme sacrifice by their loss, and I thank the Almighty God for our Nation, and for the men and women of honour and courage that gave all for it.



God bless the Armed Forces of Nigeria.



God bless Nigeria.



Released by:

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

Office of the Vice President

January 13, 2019

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE

*Adds - How Fake News damages public information, causing fear and alarm



“One of the great worries should be, for us, what harm is done to public information. I think that a time may come, if nothing is done, when nothing would be believed or nothing would be believable because as technology improves in its capacity to manipulate and its capacity to dissemble, after a while, there would be perfect videos using artificial intelligence and all of the other tools of digital technology” – VP Osinbajo



REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE NIGERIA 2019: COUNTERING FAKE NEWS EVENT ORGANISED BY BBC NEWS AFRICA SERVICE, IN ABUJA ON THE 9TH OF JANUARY, 2019



May I just say, how deeply honoured I am to be here and thankful that I got an invitation to be here. Because just as Adesuwa has said, I am one of the very many targets of fake news, and it is not just about money and sometimes, it may also cost you marital peace. About 3/4 weeks ago, I got a call in the office from my wife, and she said: “Yemi what are you doing with strippers?” I said, “What do you mean strippers?” So there had been a story on a famous blog that said “Osinbajo caught with strippers” and there was a photograph of me standing in between two perfectly clothed ladies, but just underneath the photo, was another photo of both ladies not wearing much.



As it turns out, I had in fact taken photographs with these two ladies at an entertainment event, where they were perfectly clothed, but by the time the story was put out, it was as though I had taken the photographs with them at the time they were not perfectly clothed. Of course, I was not in the photograph of them not being clothed, but just the caption and the story gave the impression that I was in the company of these ladies at a point where they were obviously doing their business.



The capacity of Fake News to cause great harm is not in doubt. Time and time, practically every day, I see news that affects my work in a way or the other, which is fake. I think the mass publication of deliberate falsehood has been with us for as long as people have spoken to each other, for as long as men and women have exchanged words. There has been the realization that it is also a falsehood to manipulate words in a way that will dissemble or mislead.



I think it was Winston Churchill who said famously that “a lie gets halfway around the world before the truth gets a chance to get its pants on.” This was more than half a century ago. But today, with the Internet and social media, that lie would already be halfway to the moon also before the truth even realizes what is going on or where its pants are!



But why Fake News is now news is obviously because of the greater dimensions of content of the harm it can do and then the scope. A lot of these are on account of the advancement in technology, especially in the past two decades or so. But aside the damage done to the credibility and integrity of public information, the capacity of Fake News to cause alarm and fear, or even future violence, has been demonstrated again and again.



One of the great worries should be, for us, what harm is done to public information. I think that a time may come if nothing is done, when nothing would be believed or nothing would be believable because as technology improves in its capacity to manipulate and its capacity to dissemble, after a while, there would be perfect videos using artificial intelligence and all of the other tools of digital technology. There would be perfect videos of somebody making a speech that he never made, of events that never happened. And of course, it becomes more and more difficult to distinguish between what is true and what is untrue. If we discredit public information in that way, it’s a massive danger for society itself, aside from the capacity of Fake News to cause physical harm and all that.



I think that once we destroy the believability of public information, then really, the means of communicating with each have been soiled forever.



So, today, I think there are three important issues for us to look at. The first is to what extent can we hold local players, especially local media owners, to account. I think that with what we have at the moment, it has been pointed out already, that a lot of the disinformation, obviously, is from social media. The traditional press is, obviously, more responsible. And the simple reason why they are more responsible is that there are consequences. It is easier to sue the traditional media. Local laws bind them and it is much easier to hold them to account.



But social media is under multi-jurisdictional regulation if there is any such thing. I think there is an opportunity here for more collaboration, more multi-jurisdictional collaboration. In other words, shouldn’t we be looking at some kinds of conventions, some kind of agreements between countries, between nations that help us to regulate social media much more effectively?



The second point, for me, is how to deal with consequence without infringing on freedom of information and also freedom of the press because just as Prof Soyinka pointed out, everybody is the press now. So, freedom of the press means my freedom to own a blog, my freedom to disseminate information. But the question is, how do we regulate that without infringing on these fundamental freedoms?



I think that at the end of the day, it would come to some kind of a balance because, really, it would be impossible to regulate social media without substantially infringing on fundamental rights, especially freedom of expression. There is no way that you can leave that power in the hands of government or the hands of the legislature without your finding some level of overbearing activity on the path of the government or the legislature.



So, how do we create that balance? I hope that the conversations that we have here today will help at least in clarifying some of that.



One final thought from me is really to what extent should we hold even traditional media to account for the kinds of information from them? Because today you find a lot of the kind of information on social media also going into the traditional media and to print. What I find is that there is often really no attempt to interrogate these things. And by that I mean, not just fact-checking, but also some investigation on the part of the traditional media.



So, for example, you expect that if somebody says this is fact and presents it as fact, you’d expect the newspaper itself to express some opinion based on its own investigation. But what you tend to find now is that if somebody says, I said this, I’ll be quoted as “Yemi Osinbajo said.” Then, the other fellow countered and that is it. So, the purveyor of the information doesn’t do anything but just presents these two facts. So, these arguments continue forever. Nobody is often able to say, okay, we’ve checked this up, especially the traditional media, nobody says we’ve checked this up and this is what we found.



I think it is important that there is a bit more of that so that the public, at least, is helped to make its mind about different opinions.



The same goes for facts, even verifiable facts. So, somebody says the level of poverty in Nigeria is X%, but there is a source of information. Even the newspapers would not say what the National Bureau of Statistics or the World Bank says is X. Everything becomes a controversy because those who are responsible, the interlocutors and those who are responsible, are often not doing their bits, by at least presenting what the real facts are.



So, I think going beyond fact-checking, a bit more interrogation of some of these issues by offering some independent opinion might be quite helpful.



I’d just like to say that this conversation is long overdue and I hope we are able to provide some direction for the way in which we should handle this big problem and I hope that our deliberations here will eventually, at least, give us some light. As Prof Soyinka has said, very often, it is not just a matter of there being a lot of smoke without fire, sometimes there is even no flicker whatsoever. It’s just a creation of fertile imaginations of so many people. I hope that we will be able to find a way of resolving some of these issues. I will, of course, be happy to be a part of the conversations and ways to advance the issues in whatever we put down.



Thank you all very much.



Released by:

Laolu Akande

Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity

Office of the Vice President

January 9, 2019

Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo says members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and their presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, can’t deny that President Muhammadu Buhari is an honest man.

Osinbajo stated this while addressing the `Drive 4 Buhari-Osinbajo’ rally organised by the ‘I am Ready’ campaign group alongside other support groups on Tuesday in Abuja.

Referring to an earlier remark by governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Osinbajo said Nigeria’s wealth is safe with Buhari.

The vice-president said: “We will not allow them to come back. I think that the very right question has been asked; where will you rather put your money?

“If it is me, I will put my money in Buhari bank because even Buhari’s worst enemies know that he is an honest man; even the thieves know that he is an honest man.

“Even the enemies will put their money in his bank because they know that their money will be safe in his bank; we have today an honest man as president, a man who will use the money for what it is meant.

“Even his worst enemy knows that he is an honest man and that he will use the money. I pray for our country that our country will be great.

“And the only way our country would be great is if you and I vote for a man who is honest, for a man who is truthful, a man we know, even his opponents know, everybody in PDP knows that he is an honest man.

“Even Atiku knows that Buhari is an honest man; and he can never deny that; nobody can deny that; that is the kind of leader we want for our country today.”

Osinbajo said that the Buhari-led administration had made giant strides in the last three years.

*VP Osinbajo intensifies interactions with Nigerians

The February 16, 2019 Presidential election will be Nigeria’s date with destiny as it will determine whether the country will make progress or go back to the days of corruption and impunity, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

The Vice President stated this in Abuja on Tuesday when he addressed a cross-section of Nigerians at the “Drive 4 Buhari/Osinbajo Rally” - an initiative of the “I am Ready Campaign Group”, organized to mobilize support for the re-election of President Muhammadu Buhari.

According to him, “February 16, 2019 is our date! It is the date of our country with destiny; that is the date we will decide whether we want to go forward or we want to go backwards.



“All that President Buhari has tried to do in these past four years, is first of all, clean up the big mess that we met. The major problem of our country has always been corruption; stealing of the resources of the people. I have never heard it before, where a person after stealing your money says: “I am the one who can come back and help you”.



The “Drive 4 Buhari Osinbajo” Rally – one of the highpoints of Prof. Osinbajo’s Tuesday outings, started as early as 9 a.m. with thousands of volunteers within and around the FCT converging on the Eagle Square arena to register their support for the Buhari presidency.

The drive-through rally involved thousands of volunteers many of whom drove their cars and tricycles adorned with President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s posters from satellite towns of Gwagwalada, Zuba, Nyanya, Kuje and other suburbs of the FCT, through the various parts of the city to the Eagle Square, all indicating their support for Buhari’s re-election.

At the Eagle Square, thousands of admirers and supporters of Buhari and Osinbajo chanted victory songs to welcome the Vice President as he made a grand entrance into the arena for the final phase of the programme.

Also on ground to spice up the event were entertainers who danced and sang popular songs to the admiration of all.

Continuing, Prof. Osinbajo said the choice of whom to vote for in the coming elections should not be very difficult as President Buhari is renowned for his integrity, “even Buhari’s worst enemies know that he is an honest man, even the thieves know that he is an honest man.”



Speaking specifically about the programmes and projects executed by the Buhari-led Federal Government, the Vice President said the achievements recorded so far were as a result of prudent and transparent management of resources.



He said: “for the first time, our country is spending money on roads and railways. They have been talking about railways since, for the past 16 years, but we have just started building the Lagos – Kano railway now.



“We are earning less money but we are doing far more. We are also building the Itakpe - Warri railway and even the 2nd Niger Bridge. They commissioned the 2nd Niger Bridge before, but when they commissioned it, there was no design. Today, we have started to build the 2nd Niger Bridge.



“In every State in Nigeria, we are building a major road; we are going to complete the Lagos – Calabar railway, by the grace of God, Port Harcourt – Maiduguri is also going to be completed.”



In the Power Sector, Prof. Osinbajo said “after 16 years, 3000MW of power is all that we had, but today we are at 7000MW. But we have not even started yet, because we know that power is still a problem, so we are trying to solve the problem.”



He said the Federal Government in its determination to address the challenge had adopted measures to address issues of both generation and transmission.



“In Sabon Gari market, we have a separate solar power plant and many of the shops have power now. In Ariaria market in Abia, we have also done the same thing, we also did the same thing in Sura market in Lagos, and we also put power in Edaiken market in Benin.



“Very soon, our country will have enough power with the plan that we have, to provide power separately, only through the National Grid, but to provide power to the different parts of our country so that our country will have power”, the Vice President added.



Prof. Osinbajo assured Nigerians that “President Buhari has a plan, and he is an honest man, and he is making sure that he executes that plan”.



In a related development, the Vice President on Tuesday inaugurated the Buhari Media Centre; continued the Family Chat series, all in Gwarimpa and also interacted with artisans and traders at the UTC complex and the Tipper Garage market, all in the FCT.

At the UTC Plaza in Area 10 - a popular printing hub in the FCT, the Vice President paid a visit to artisans and traders, interacting with them on the activities and programmes of the Federal Government.



On arrival at the plaza, the Vice President was welcomed amidst cheers and dancing by the mammoth crowd.



Prof. Osinbajo interacted with some artisans and traders at the plaza, assuring them of a better Nigeria with President Buhari on the saddle beyond 2019.



Earlier in Gwarimpa, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo inaugurated the Buahri Media Centre in Abuja and had a brief interaction with Nigerians via a live Facebook interview on the activities and programmes of the Buhari administration.



He said: “there is no reason why young Nigerians can't be trained and equipped for outsourced jobs from big technology firms around the world to troubleshoot and handle customer care questions and be paid by those global tech firms. This explains the Federal Government's push towards technology.”





The Vice President emphasized that the business of improving Nigeria's economy is not just by talking and wondered why “those trying to come back did nothing, for example, to fix the Lagos-Ibadan expressway or the Second Niger Bridge for which there was not even a design until the Buhari presidency did it”.



He also made an unscheduled stop at the Tipper Garage Market in Gwarimpa where he interacted briefly with traders, shoppers and people in the market, many of whom received him with cheers and singing in what was an exciting atmosphere.

“O you who believe! Fear God, and stand with those who are truthful (in words and deeds).” These are the directives of Almighty Allah (Quran 9:119).



I was shocked by the content of an article titled ‘The North is Suffering and Smiling’ by Abu Shekara, Special Adviser on Media to Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal of Sokoto State, published online by thisdaylive.com on 5 January 2019. My shock stems from the personal knowledge I have of the author, having worked with him at various times, since the 90s. Abu was known to me as a person who paid great attention to details and was interested in accuracy of facts. The flowery and superficial article in the publication bears little resemblance to the quality I expected from the Abu Shekara I knew.

It is, however, a political season. And as Albert Einstein reflected “all of us who are concerned for peace and triumph of reason and justice must be keenly aware how small an influence reason and honest good will exert upon events in the political field.” Political agenda can becloud good judgment!

It is therefore not surprising that Abu Shekara will publish such scathing attack on the person and administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. What is surprising is his failure to point to the economic policies of the Government that were designed, as he claimed, to “adversely target” the Northern economic activities and have “ravaging impact on the livelihoods of the Northern masses.”

What I know, as a Northerner, is that going into the 2015 elections, our major concerns in the North were:

1. Insecurity, majorly in the North East, where insurgents were in full control of 17 Local Government Areas with frequent abductions; recurring ethno-religious and communal conflicts; and farmers/herders clashes;

2. Inadequate and dilapidated infrastructure, which had crippled economic activities with devastating implications on standard of living; and

3. Growing population of out-of-school children and fallen standard of education.

In the three-plus years of the Buhari administration, all the areas under the control of the insurgents in the North East have been recovered; hundreds of abducted persons have been rescued; deliberate and decisive steps have been taken to address the farmer/herders clashes and communal conflicts, with verifiable accomplishments. Admittedly, there are still pockets of asymmetric attacks by insurgents and criminal activities by hoodlums and bandits, who are on the run and being rounded up.

These three-plus years have also recorded numerous achievements in the execution of projects in the North. Some of these projects include:

1. The completed 135km Sokoto–Tambuwal–Jega Road, in Sokoto and Kebbi States.

2. The completed Shagari Irrigation Project, in Sokoto State.

3. The provision of power supply to Federal Universities including Usmanu Danfodiyo University – Main Campus, Sokoto; Bayero University – New Campus, Kano; Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University – Gubi Campus, Bauchi; and Federal University of Agriculture Makurdi, Benue.

4. Provision of 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers in Sokoto, Sokoto State.

5. Construction of Yauri-Koko-Jega Road, in Kebbi State.

6. Provision of 60MVA Transformer in Dan Agundi Substation, Kano, Kano State.

7. Provision of 2X60MVA Transformer in Kakuri Substation, Kaduna, Kaduna State.

8. Provision of 60MVA Transformer in Katsina Substation, Katsina, Katsina State.

9. Provision of 40MVA Mobile Substation at Zaria, Kaduna State.

10. Provision of 2x40MVA 132/33KV Power Transformer at Daura, Katsina State.

11. Provision of 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Hadejia, Jigawa State.

12. Provision of 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Funtua, Katsina State.

13. Completion of Galma Dam, Kaduna State.

14. Construction of 3,050MW Mambilla Power Plant, Taraba State.

15. Completion of 330/132KV Molai Transmission Substation in Maiduguri, Borno State.

16. Completion of 330/132KV Damaturu Transmission Substation, Yobe State

17. Provision of 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Bauchi, Bauchi State.

18. Provision of 40MVA Mobile Substation at Damboa, Borno State.

19. Provision of 28/40MVA Mobile Substation at Mayo Belwa, Adamawa State.

20. Provision of 30/40MVA Mobile Substation at Gombe, Gombe State.

21. Sabon Gari and Kantin Kwari Market Electrification Projects, Kano State.

22. Construction of 215MW Kaduna Power Plant, Kaduna State.

23. Construction of 10MW Katsina Wind Power Plant, Katsina State.

24. Construction of Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Highway.

25. Dualisation of Kano–Wudil–Shuari section of Kano–Maiduguri Road, linking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe–Borno States.

26. Dualisation of Kano–Katsina Road.

27. Construction of Kano Western Bypass.

28. Construction of Kaduna Eastern Bypass, Kaduna State.

29. Construction of Modern Medical Diagnostic Centre at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Zaria, Kaduna State.

30. Completion of Sabke Water Supply Project, Katsina State.

31. Dualisation of Shuarin-Azare section of Kano–Maiduguri Road linking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe.

32. Dualisation of Azare–Potiskum section of Kano–Maiduguri Roadlinking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe–Borno States.

33. Dualisation of Potiskum–Damaturu section of Kano–Maiduguri Roadlinking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe–Borno States.

34. Dualisation of Damaturu–Maiduguri section of Kano–Maiduguri Road linking Kano–Jigawa–Bauchi–Yobe–Borno States.

35. Reconstruction of Gombe-Numan-Yola Road.

36. Reconstruction of 122km Mayo Belwa-Jada-Ganye-Toungo Road.

37. Construction of 40MW Kashimbila Dam & Hydro Power Plant, Taraba State.

38. Construction of 29MW Dadin Kowa Hydro Power Plant, Gombe State.

39. Completion of Takum Water Supply Project, Taraba State.

40. Construction of Oju/Loko–Oweto bridge over River Benue to link Loko (Nasarawa State) and Oweto (Benue State).

41. Dualisation of Abuja–Abaji–Lokoja Road.

42. Dualisation of Suleja–Minna Road in Niger State.

43. Dualisation of Abuja–Abaji–Lokoja Road, Koton Karfe–Lokoja in Kogi State.

44. Dualisation of Lokoja-Benin Road: Obajana–Okene in Kogi State.

45. Rehabilitation of Enugu–Makurdi Road.

46. Construction of Otukpo-Oweto Road.

47. Completion of construction of 93km Ilorin-Jebba Road.

48. Dualisation of Abuja–Keffi–Lafia–Makurdi Road.

49. Rehabilitation of Suleja-Minna Road.

50. Construction of Nigeria’s Central Rail Line (Itakpe-Ajaokuta-Warri Standard Gauge Line), spanning Kogi, Edo and Delta States.

51. Rehabilitation of the Abuja International Airport Runway, and construction of new Abuja International Airport Terminal.

52. Completion of the Bill Clinton Drive Interchange Bridge along the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Road (Airport Road), in the FCT.

53. Construction of Apo–Wasa–Karshi Dual Carriageway, in the FCT.

54. Construction of the Inner Southern Expressway (Goodluck Jonathan Way) in the FCT.

55. Completion of Mangu Regional Water Supply Scheme, in Plateau State.

56. Completion of Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi Water Supply Project, Benue State.

57. Construction of 30MW Gurara Power Plant, Niger State.

58. Construction of 700MW Zungeru Hydro Power Plant, Niger State.

59. Provision of 150MVA 330/132//33KV Power Transformers at Kanji (Fakun), Niger State.

60. Provision of 2x60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformer at Lokoja, Kogi State.

61. Provision of 1460MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Kontagora, Niger State.

62. Provision of 60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformers at Okene, Kogi State.

63. Provision of 2x40MVA 132/33KV Power Transformer at Kainji (Dogon Gari), Niger State.

64. Provision of 2x60MVA 132/33KV Power Transformer at Kukwaba, FCT.

65. Provision of 60MVA Transformer in Karu Substation, FCT.

66. Construction of Abuja-Kaduna-Kano Expressway.

67. $12.4 million project funded by the Japanese Government for the upgrading (installation of power capacitor banks) of two Transmission Sub-Stations, in Apo, FCT and Keffi, Nasarawa to stabilise power supply to 7,000 households.

The N-Power Scheme of the Social Investment Programme (SIP) has recruited beneficiaries in each Local Government Area of the 19 Northern States, who are providing support in teaching, healthcare, agriculture, etc. The Home-Grown School Feeding Programme of the SIP has resulted in increase in enrolment and retention of pupils in Public Primary Schools, while providing employment to hundreds of cooks and farmers. The TraderMoni, MarketMoni and FarmerMoni have been disbursed in all the 19 States of the North, supporting small and medium traders with cash flow; while MSME Clinics provide technical support to entrepreneurs. The Anchor Borrowers Programme’s support to smallholder famers and millers has brought about unprecedented boost in agricultural production in the North; and the Conditional Cash Transfer to the poorest of the poor is providing succour to the hitherto forgotten underprivileged members of our communities.

I ask Abu, please which of the above economic policies of the administration of Muhammadu Buhari has ravaged the livelihoods of the Northern masses?

Perhaps Abu Shekara would like to refocus his attention home. Perhaps he would like to assist the people of our State, Sokoto, with a list of achievements recorded by our State Government from May 2015 to date. Even with what Abu Shakara has described as “failures” of President Muhammadu Buhari, the fact remains that, from May 2015 to December 2019, a total of ₦207,032,768,396.67 has been released by the Federal Government to the Government of Sokoto State.

These releases include:

1. Share of Federation Account ₦158,159,883,659.42 (May 2015 to December 2018);

2. Budget Support ₦17,569,000,000.00 (June 2016 to January 2018);

3. Paris Club Refund ₦31,303,884,737.25


Abu may wish to inform Sakkwatawa of the projects executed in Sokoto State that are commiserate with over Two Hundred and Seven Billion Naira. After all, governance is the shared responsibility of the three tiers – Federal, States and Local Government Councils.
As the record of President Muhammadu Buhari in the area of development in the North is examined, let us look inwards to also examine, in a similar dispassionate manner, the records and achievements of our State. Sokoto, the Seat of the Caliphate; the cradle of just governance; the exalted home of revered Sheikh Usmanu Bn Fodiyo and Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto.

The big difference here is: while President Muhammadu Buhari is open to, and actually invites scrutiny of his record, others find any enquiry about their records as “political witch-hunt”, “attempt to embarrass”, or “act of disrespect.” It is understandable that the overwhelming acceptance of President Muhammadu Buhari by the Northerners will be disconcerting to the opposition, however, the blatant attempt to manipulate the Northerners into thinking that their brothers and sisters from other parts of the country are now their enemies or that their capable and over-achieving President is being controlled into “abandoning” their cause is not going to work. Northerners are not gullible. Northerners crave facts not fiction; and they can certainly discern the motives behind outlandish and concocted allegations, mischief and misrepresentations.

My counsel to Abu Shekara: please do not allow political agenda to cloud your judgment.



Saidu is the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Research, Legal and Compliance Matters, Office of the Vice President

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

PRESS RELEASE


*VP receives rousing reception from huge crowds in Oke-Ogun towns, Oyo State

The forthrightness and sincerity of the Buhari government is not in doubt and Nigerians should stand with this administration in the coming elections, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this over the weekend during his visits to Igbeti, Igboho, Kisi, and Saki, in the Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State, where he was given rousing receptions by huge crowds at different stops.

The Vice President further said that the government of President Muhammadu Buhari is a government for the poor and common man who lives in every local government area of the country.

According to him, "all the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration is to empower the common man and the poor."

Speaking to the excited crowd at Igbeti town during a campaign rally/street chats on Friday, Prof. Osinbajo said the TraderMoni, MarketMoni and the N-Power programmes are designed to take the common people out of poverty."

"The TraderMoni is to empower the small, small traders, it is not for big business. Those in big businesses have their own, which is called the MarketMoni. We want to reach every village so that the people here will also benefit from this government, all of us will be going up, up, up," the VP emphasized.


He assured that hardworking people like artisans e.g tailors will be assisted with money to enhance their businesses, adding, "even those who are not graduates, but can read and write will be given a stipend monthly like those in the N-Power programme."

Singing a campaign song which he composed in Yoruba, "Up, up, we are going, up, up we are going," the VP enjoined the people to join hands with the government whose leaders will use the money meant for the masses to work for them and should not allow those leaders who will be stealing people's money to return.

“We have been able to do more with less resources,” Prof. Osinbajo added.

On his courtesy visit to the Paramount ruler (Onigbeti) of Igbeti Land, Oba Emmanuel Oyekan Oyebisi, Ofasegbejo III of Igbetiland, Prof. Osinbajo, commended the Oba and thanked him for a warm welcome.

Earlier, the Oba commended the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration, describing it as the people's programmes, and requested for the development of natural resources such as different types of marbles available in the town for the betterment of not only the indigenes but the country at large.

While assuring the Oba that his requests would be looked into, the VP said, "Kabiyesi, this coming election is for progress, we have already seen it but if we are not cautious we may be drawn back, but God forbid it."

Following his visit to Igbeti town, Vice President Osinbajo also went to Kisi, the headquarters of Irepo Local Government Area of Oyo State, where he was received by a mammoth and excited crowd.

Prof. Osinbajo urged them to stand with the government in the coming elections.

On Saturday, on his visit to Saki Local Government Area, the Vice President also received a rousing welcome by huge crowds at different stops.

On arrival, Prof. Osinbajo paid a courtesy call to the Bagii of Saki, High Chief Abdrasheed Gazali Adegoke, where he met with traditional rulers in the area, who commended him for being “a great Vice President.” They noted that the Buhari administration deserves a second term for its efforts in improving the welfare of Nigerians.

Also, in continuation of the Family Chats, Prof. Osinbajo on Saturday visited the families of Alhaji Ganiyu Akere and Mr. & Mrs Sunday Kolajo, in Saki, Oyo State.

At Saki, the Vice President addressed rallies where he emphasized the Social Investment Programme and the Next Level plan of the Buhari administration. He noted that one of the plans include the establishment of the People’s Moni Bank that would give soft loans to Nigerians.

Prof. Osinbajo added that the people of Oke-Ogun have seen the good thing that has happened to them within this short time. He noted that the Minister of Communication, Barr. Adebayo Shitu who accompanied him on the visits was from Oke-Ogun.

Continuing, he also assured the Saki people that their request for potable water, road infrastructure and power would be looked into, as the Buhari government would continue in its efforts to improve the lives of all Nigerians.

He assured that the people would benefit from the Trans-border International Market since Saki shares border with Republic of Benin and Togo.

At the Sango area, also in Saki, the Vice President addressed a huge crowd of people in the predominantly Hausa community, where he, again, assured them of President Buhari's concern for the poor.

He said, "the next level of change is to lift everyone from poverty and provide more infrastructural development."

The people of Saki pledge their unalloyed support for the re-election of President Buhari in the forthcoming presidential election, noted Barr. Abdulwaheed Lawal who spoke on behalf of APC, in Saki. Lawal added that the people would support the Buhari administration's Next Level agenda.

Earlier in the day, Prof. Osinbajo had attended the wedding ceremony of the son of the Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole, in Ibadan, while he also interacted with the League of Imams and Alfas, also in Ibadan, before he proceeded to Saki Local Government, wrapping up a two-day focus on the Oke-Ogun areas of Oyo State.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity
Office of the Vice President
6th January 2019

I refer to the opinion piece by Abraham Ogbodo, Editor of The Guardian, which was published in The Guardian On Sunday of December 30, 2018, titled, ‘Another Sermon on Professor Yemi Osinbajo.’
The first paragraph gave the writer away as being on a revenge mission with his pen, and his later quest for satire falls flat on its face. With painstaking efforts, the article aforementioned, instead of coming off as an intellectual exercise, exposed the bias of the writer. Unlike Ogbodo’s diatribe, let us address the issues he tried to twist out of context due to his compromised stance against the good works of the Vice President.

They say plain truth needs no flowers of speech. Fact is Vice President Osinbajo is one of the most hardworking Vice Presidents Nigeria has ever had. Fact is VP Osinbajo performed creditably in the Vice Presidential debate, backing up his argument with sound facts and figures; while Peter Obi, reeled off a trail of lies and concocted falsehood to hoodwink the public. It is on record that Obi made at least 10 false claims during the live debate; one being that Nigeria has only 2 million vehicles. But data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), noted that Nigeria’s estimated vehicle population, as at the second quarter of 2018 is over 11 million. Even if as claimed, the writer missed the fine moments from the debate, did he also miss the bare-faced deception and lies projected on live television by his preferred candidate from the PDP? Did he also miss the fact checks done by the media of which he is a stakeholder?
In a bid for satire, Ogbodo questioned VP Osinbajo’s selfless service to the nation, and his commitment to the welfare of the ordinary Nigerian through the TraderMoni scheme, which provides N10,000 collateral and interest-free loans to petty traders nationwide. Ten thousand naira might not mean much to the likes of writer, who has juicy privileges, but it means a lot to 1.2 million petty traders in 36 states, who are bottom of the rung, but contribute to the country’s informal economy, and are so far beneficiaries of the micro-credit loan that helps to improve their businesses.

The writer, again, took cheap shots by describing the TraderMoni loans as ‘osusu’, and subtly rehashing old allegations that the micro-credit scheme is vote buying. This issue has been repeatedly clarified in the media and public space. But if the writer had missed this moment, I would kindly ask his permission to remind him again: TraderMoni is under the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP), a part of this administration’s Social Intervention Programme, which was set up in 2016 as a critical platform to financially empower micro businesses, (traders, artisans, market women, petty traders). TraderMoni, conceived in 2016, is not vote buying, and it is not electoral fraud. Also, it is an insult to Nigerians to claim such, especially to those who are direct beneficiaries. It is obvious that the writer, like the PDP which he gleefully supports, is riled by the social impact that the micro-credit scheme is having nationwide. Pray, should he prefer that the billions be shared to his PDP cronies as had been done in the past administration, to the detriment of hard-working Nigerians?

Again, beneficiaries of TraderMoni are not required to show their Personal Voters Cards (PVCs) or any document to show proof of their political affiliations to qualify for the interest-free loans. This is why the enumeration is done in the open markets and wherever the traders ply their trade.

The issue of the N5.8 billion emergency fund for the North-East has been clarified in the public space. One wonders why the editor of a reputable media house like The Guardian would rather play the ostrich in the face of facts, which are sacred in journalism, the profession which he has practised for about three decades. The fact is there was no violation of any kind. NEMA held press conferences and issued statements to prove how the money was spent, showing the entire process from supplies to the distribution to the IDPs and how it was monitored by the nation’s security agencies.
Unlike Ogbodo alleged, the Vice President is not working for himself, but for the good of the country. He has shown this selfless attribute throughout and continues to show that he is committed to the welfare of the common man, just like President Buhari is. The VP has never nursed any political ambition, rather he is driven by public good and selfless service to the nation. He did not lobby to become Vice President, but the assignment was thrust upon him, and which he has been carrying out diligently and with dedication to the cause of the nation. So, insinuating that the VP was trying to buy the presidential slot for 2023 with Southwest votes for Buhari, is not only laughable, it is disappointing that it is coming from an editor who should know better.

Not only that, it is sheer mischief to even compare TraderMoni, a microcredit scheme that helps to improve the businesses of petty traders, with Fayose’s so-called ‘stomach infrastructure’ in Ekiti State when the latter was governor. While the writer admits that Fayose’s was a ‘money-sharing’ scheme, his attempt to lob the TraderMoni into his mischievous description was not only laughable, but false. It is a crying shame to try to denigrate a microcredit scheme that ordinary Nigerians are benefiting from, one that improves their businesses and welfare, and so the informal economy.

One thing the writer failed to acknowledge is that the Vice President is a man of strong principles. And unlike him, the VP does not sway like a leaf in the winds of political seasons. And if the stewardship of VP Osinbajo is appraised, these attributes that have defined his career for decades would certainly ring true; integrity, patriotism, selfless public service, dedication to humanity, love for the common man and to improve their welfare.
Ogbodo has shown where his sympathies lie, but his repeated attacks on the Vice President with unfounded claims are ways off the mark.
• Umukoro is the Special Assistant to the President On Communications Projects, Office of the Vice President.

I stumbled on an opinion piece by a columnist, Dele Sobowale titled *TALK OF SOUTH WEST PRESIDENCY IS ABSURD AND UNPATRIOTIC.*
The piece was an apparent reaction to a statement purportedly made by the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo SAN regarding the possibility of a South West Presidency in 2023, as an aftermath of a South West aided Buhari win in 2019.

First and foremost, reading through the verified reports, it is clear that certain elements have decided to play mischief with the Vice President's visit and closed door discussion with the revered Alaafin of Oyo.

It is disturbing that the same mischievous elements dreg up falsehood and then generate a debate around it using their media collaborators.

Regardless however, Sobowale’s piece does stand history on its head on many of the issues raised.

*The Zoning Issue*

Nigeria has at least 250 major tribes, all now agglomerated to 36 States and more than 700 local government areas. This is contrary to the 6 geo-political zone fiction that has been fed to us over time. The PDP instituted an unwritten rotation of the Presidency between the North and the South commencing from 1999. Accordingly, once President Obasanjo rounded up his 2nd term, the serious PDP presidential nominations in 2007 were almost unanimously from the North. Does this however make the zoning arrangement binding on every party or every possible contestant? My answer is NO!

As a pointer, there were several Southern contestants for the Presidency in the 2007 elections. This was notwithstanding the fact that the South just completed 8 years in the presidency.

In fact, the *South East presented 5 candidates for the 2007 Presidential elections!*
It would be disrespectful to argue that high caliber personalities such as *Dim Emeka Ojukwu (who contested as flag bearer for APGA) and Chief Orji Uzor Kalu (who contested under PPA) were unserious contestants.*

Assuming without conceding that zoning the Presidency is binding, it has *never* been tribal. To argue the contrary would mean each of the 250 tribes in Nigeria must serially occupy the office, perhaps in alphabetic order. If it was tribal, how come the Northern occupants of the office in this 4th Republic have all come from Katsina State in the North West and how come all South-West occupants from 1960 till date have come from Ogun State, Abeokuta to be precise?

Even if we are to tow the geo-political zone line, it is important to note that while the Igbos produced 2 leaders in the 60s – Nnamdi Azikiwe (albeit ceremonial) and General Aguiyi-Ironsi (1963-1966), there are many other equally important and illustrous ethnic groups yet to produce any president/head of state till date and are therefore more deserving of any so-called zoning preferential treatment.

*Numbers & Candidature*

The truth of the matter is that in a democracy, parties would most likely always choose a candidate from its largest support base. No party would choose a candidate from a zone where it is not supported.
Conversely, for a geo-political zone to stand a good chance during a presidential election, it should either align behind one serious contender (as did the North in 2015) or trade-off with other zones to be the only serious front runners (as did the SW in 1999).

This perspective on candidature exposes the fallacy in Sobowale’s allegation that late Dr. Ekwueme would have been elected as President in 1999 to heal the wound of the civil war. First, the unanimous concession to the SW in 1999 was compensation for the June 12 debacle and the demise of Chief MKO Abiola. Except Sobowale is attempting to rewrite history, he would remember that the 1979 choice of a SE Vice President was partly to bring the SE back to the mainstream after the civil war. *Even at that, the NPN lost massively in the 2 SE States of Anambra and Imo.* The respected Ekwueme (who earlier lost governorship nomination to C. C. Onoh) could not even deliver the minimum 25% in those States. How can anybody posit that he could have won in 1999?

Secondly, nobody serves power a la carte. Many dispassionate observers contend that the South East would still lose the election even if all main stream political parties decide to zone the Presidency to the South East.

*In this regard, the experience at the last NBA elections represents a good pointer* .

All zones had an unwritten agreement to zone the NBA presidency to the South East. Unfortunately, the South Eastern bar associations could not agree to work together and present a single candidate.

The aftermath was the emergence of *Paul Usoro from the South-South.* The new President was rumoured to be a reluctant candidate who took advantage of the division in the ranks of the South East lawyers. *He scored 4,509 to emerge winner after defeating Mr Arthur Obi Okafor (SAN) who scored 4,423 votes and Prof Ernest Ojukwu (SAN) who scored 3,313. Imagine if one SE candidate had stepped down for the other!*

It is also a wrong and irresponsible tactic to threaten *Civil War 2 if the Presidency is not zoned to the South East* . Or is Sobowale suggesting that the boko haram insurgents would be assuaged by zoning the Presidency to the North East? Dissemination of information, thoughts and opinion through the media deserves a bit of discretion. It is a trust that must not be abused in such a cavalier manner. It is very insensitive to wish civil war on a country battling insurgency if voters do not elect a South Easterner as President.

*Who Bells the Cat?*

Either by freak of nature or by collusion, no 4th Republic mainstream party has ever nominated a presidential flagbearer from the South East.
This is undesirable as the South East has eminently qualified individuals. The followership is however an issue. Beyond the late Nnamdi Azikwe, the South East has not trusted any of its men with pan- Igbo leadership. In 2007, we had an array of stars from the SE putting their names on the ballot. *If the South East could only give 5 illustrious sons a total of a paltry 813,000 votes, why should voters from other zones give them more?* If the SE voters do not trust presidential candidates from their region, why should others? Why would an Atiku step down after one term for an Igbo Presidency when the touted candidate as APGA governor of Anambra State could only command 155,947 votes for APGA in the 2007 Presidential elections? This is even with his deep pockets, the source of which is shrouded in shady rumours. Let us not forget that the 2007 elections held when Obi was at the peak of his powers as Anambra governor. That he could not deliver 25% votes in Anambra State to APGA tells a lot about the scam he perpetrated on Anambra while he was governor. It was indeed a latent defect that started unraveling when the governor he installed to cover his tracts turned against him.

Why would the South West, with proven leaders like Tinubu, Fashola, Fayemi, Amosun, Osinbajo, Ajimobi, Amosun etc jettison a chance to be president to favour a South East zone that spurned the chance to produce a Senate President when it did not produce a single APC Senator from the SE?

According to a Yoruba saying, (at least before the days of photoshop), there is no cheating in photography, you would see yourself exactly the way you positioned yourself. The South East has a golden chance to play profitable politics for once. A massive support for the APC can convince other stakeholders that the APC can win the 2023 Presidency with a candidate from the South East. It can be argued that the SE stands a chance in the PDP if Atiku serves only one term. However, Atiku has refused to commit any such promise to paper, opening the door of deniability. Secondly, would anybody in his right senses rely on Atiku’s word? This is especially as there are more verifiable facts of his public lies than truths.

So, as we all prepare for the 2019 elections, I strongly advise the so called Mr Sobowale to avoid rewriting history right before our eyes!

It is mischievous, but not entirely out of character, for former Governor Ayo Fayose to mindlessly attack TraderMoni, the interest-free N10,000 loans given to petty traders.



For the records, the issue of TraderMoni has been addressed several times in the public space. It is infantile for the PDP and Fayose to keep rehashing outright falsehood. It is clear from their actions that Fayose and his cronies are bereft of workable ideas and do not have any clear-cut ag enda for their campaigns, so they have no choice but to resort to regurgitating spurious allegations like this. Their resort to the unending generation of fake news as a campaign strategy is not shocking, coming especially from Fayose, but it is nonetheless pitiful.



But Nigeria can see through the deception. It doesn’t matter how long they keep trying, the truth would stand. The TraderMoni scheme is not just helping the lives and businesses of ordinary Nigerians like petty traders at the bottom of the economic ladder, it is, again, proof that the Buhari administration is irretrievably focused on improving the lives of the common man.



In case Fayose has forgotten, or better still pretends not to remember, under the Buhari administration, N2.7 trillion has been spent in two budget cycles on capital, the highest in the nation’s history. This would not have been possible if not for the prudent management of resources and the absence of grand corruption for which his party PDP is well known. This government has been able to do far more with less resources, than what was obtained under past administrations, where profligacy & gross mismanagement of the country’s resources were rife.



Thus, Fayose’s feeble attempt to lump the Vice President or the Buhari administration into the sordid happenings under the PDP in past administration through spreading falsehood is not only mischievous, but a disrespect to hardworking Nigerians in their millions who are now enjoying the impact of the Social Investment Programmes of this administration.



It must be emphasized that, for the records, the repatriated $322m is now currently being applied to support the Buhari administration’s Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme under the Social Investment Programmes. Part of the conditions under which the looted funds were restored to Nigeria is that the World Bank would be involved in over-sighting its disbursements, which is what is being done now.

Thus, any claim of re-looting of any kind is totally false and must be ignored by Nigerians. Fayose and his ilk merely cry wolf where none exists; a shameless habit for which he is now well known.



Currently, almost 300,000 Nigerians in 21 states are benefitting from the CCT, where they receive a monthly stipend of N5,000. The beneficiaries are registered in the National Social Register across these states and the process of selecting beneficiaries is transparent; it is based on the World Bank’s Community Based Targeting whereby the different communities themselves identify the beneficiaries in a transparent process that is open to review and public auditing, even by Fayose, if he chosen to be that reasonable.



That the Vice President is championing the scheme across the states is because of the commitment of the administration to the common man and to ensure effective implementation.



It obviously appears that the PDP are riled by the impact of the TraderMoni scheme, where over 1.2 million petty traders are beneficiaries at the last count. The disbursement process of the TraderMoni loans is transparent and direct, while the enumeration is technology-driven, whereby enumerators meet traders at their business locations to get their data, which includes names, phone number and account number. This process is largely tied to a phone number which also doubles as a mobile money wallet. The registered phone numbers are then credited with the loan via a mobile money platform, from which the agents transfer the money to the beneficiary’s bank account or give physical cash of N10,000 in cases where no account exists. The Bank of Industry facilitates the loan disbursements in partnership with third-party agents to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency of the process.

What is reassuring is that Nigerians are aware of the desperation of people like Fayose, who are rehashing old, baseless and worn-out allegations because they really have nothing to offer Nigerians, nor any shard of honour left to their names.

Signed by:

SIP Response Team, Presidency

BY JAMES AKINLOYE
Abraham Ogbodo seems to have an obsession with Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. He is constantly searching for what next the Vice President would do – but if he was searching with good intent it would have been better, unfortunately for this suspicious journalist, he is always on the lookout for whatever the Vice President would do with the intent to malign his character.

He claims to love him in his recent piece, ANOTHER SERMON ON PROFESSOR YEMI OSINBAJO, but I think he is mistaken love with pejorative obsession, and an embarrassing partisan slant that is easy to detect. Give it to him, Ogbodo knows what he is doing and the readers too understand his despicable mission.

Right from 2014 that President Muhammadu Buhari emerged as APC presidential candidate, this man decided to submit himself to the task of attacking the candidate. But when Prof Osinbajo became running mate, the matter became for him a lasting mission to embarrass seeing the undoubtable value Osinbajo brought to the table.



His latest article is another example of expression of this unwholesome mission. He makes an attempt to deceive his readers by painting a scenario as if the Vice President goes to markets to handover N10,000 to TraderMoni beneficiaries. Deliberate misinformation.
A click on Google to search for how the TraderMoni is disbursed by the Bank of Industry would have brought sense and clarity to Abraham’s position. Unfortunately his intent is to malign the Vice President and deceive his readers hence his conscious failure to make the necessary enquiries.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo’s visits to the markets have simply been to monitor the disbursements of these monies to the traders. He has never gone to the market to share money. The intent of the VP is simply to be with the people. Mr. Abraham may forget that leaders in government are elected for the people and there is nothing wrong whatsoever in the Vice President going to ensure a programme of the government is being carried out righteously. If Mr. Abraham Obodo is afraid that this will win the Vice President support, then he must be ready to live with this fear forever.

He fundamentally fails to understand that government is for the people and these traders are citizens as much as Governors, as much as Traditional Rulers, as much as Head of Parastatals and Agencies, and as much as business leaders who meet with the Vice President every now and then on official purposes. They are citizens as well and the Vice President has only shown himself to be a leader of the people by going down to meet with them and interact with them on their levels. It is unfortunate that his involvement in observing the disbursement of the Trader Moni loan scheme surprises people like Abraham. He perhaps looks down on the poor, and believes that nothing should be done to salvage and elevate them. A thinking derived from an aloof elitist mindset that government should be for the few, the wealthy while abandoning the majority who are poor.

Those baselessly making the accusation of electoral fraud are simply unaware and oblivious of the duties of government to the people at the least. Indeed if the government is working and fulfilling its promises to the people and that is termed vote buying then I think we need to encourage vote buying as an official practice.



Another item of controversy that Mr Abraham raises in his opinion article is the Vice President’s comment vis-a-vis the conversation on the 2023 Presidency.

This was an innocuous remark that has been taken out of context. The Vice President was only encouraging the South-Western region of the country to participate in deciding the equation of who produces the President in 2023.

Misinterpreting him is only to subject a simple democratic and political issue to the pettiness of ethnicity. We must not pretend not to know how Nigeria’s politics operates.

It is expected as a matter of unspoken consensus that in 2023 power will shift to the south, and that means the contest to produce the President will be between the South-West, the South-South and the South-East regions. Each of the regions would have a place in the contest.

The Vice President in a discussion with leaders in the South-West has only put forward the reality that the South-West must present itself as a relevant contender and one of them is delivering on votes to Professor Osinbajo’s party. This is a fundamental in democracy.

Do we expect the Vice President to act as if he is not a member of the APC, or as if he does not want his region to contribute massively to the votes that would retain his party in power in 2023?

In the same vain, Dr. Chris Ngige encouraging the South-East to throw in their votes as part of their own contribution to show that they are equally ready participants to contest for the position of President in 2023.

Vice President Osinbajo would leave a grand legacy after his tenure in office. His landmark feats would stretch from his legal practice to his days as Attorney General of Lagos State to his role as Vice President – his legacies will certainly outlive him. The reforms he has made as Attorney General, the reforms he is making as Vice President, his leadership style as chair of the National Economic Council, his astuteness, his brilliance and his management of the Social Investment Programmes that has invested and impacted the lives of over 15 million Nigerians will speak for him. Professor Osinbajo and his boss and partner, President Buhari have brought something different to the table of government: and that is government must not neglect the poor. An ideology they have held to heart in deploying resources of State for the Nigerian people. If Abraham Ogbodo’s obsession with the Vice President clogs his eyes to seeing this, millions of Nigerians can see it.

Sunday James Akinloye is a democratic rights activist, political commentator and the president of the Initiative to Save Democracy Group (ISD)

A political group in Nigeria says Prince Uche Achi-Okpagha is tarnishing the image and acceptability of apex Igbo socio-political organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo.

Oganiru-Igbo Union (OIU) said statements credited to Achi-Okpagha does not represent what Igbos stand for, stressing that, Ohanaeze Ndigbo has been hijacked by some self-seeking individuals.


President of OIU, Chief Christian U. Amadi explained that Igbos and indeed Nigerians can see through the likes of Achi-Okpagha who have added no value to Nigeria and even Igbos.

“It is not Ohanaeze Ndigbo that is the problem, it is people like Achi-Okpagha (National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze) who is led by his belly. People like him add no value to our country, they only seek to divide us.

Amadi said only last month, the group’s youth council was praising President Muhammadu Buhari for all the road construction in the region.

In November, National President of Ohanaeze Youth Council, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro praised President Buhari in Abakaliki and said the Igbos were happy with him.


Quoting Isiguzoro, Amadi said, “I must tell you that the people of South East region are happy with President Buhari’s ingenuity particularly in the area of road rehabilitation, like the Enugu-Onitsha, Enugu-Okigwe and Port Harcourt highways.”

Amadi noted that groups like Ohanaeze Ndigbo should unite Nigerians and not divide the country. “Achi-Okpagha is causing people to believe that Ohanaeze Ndigbo is a divisive group that is not serving the interests of Igbos.


He added that South East governors have openly commended President Buhari and those are the people who lead the South East.

“The Home Grown School Feeding Programme has been endorsed and lauded by South East governors. The infrastructural achievements by this administration is there for all to see,” he said.

“N-Power, TraderMoni, FarmerMoni and other Social Investment Programmes have positively affected all Nigerians including Igbos.

OIU also rebuked Achi-Okpagha for saying Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is allowing President Buhari use him like toilet tissue.

“This group has no moral justification for such as statement, Amadi said, “The combination of Buhari and Osinbajo is the best Nigeria has had, they are two people with integrity, credibility and dignity.

“The chemistry between them is beyond the understanding of opposition groups like Ohanaeze,” he argued.

Amadi added that Buhari and Osinbajo will be re-elected based on the good job they have done in the last three and half years.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT
PRESS RELEASE

THIS GOVERNMENT IS FOR YOU AND WILL NOT ABANDON YOU, VP OSINBAJO ASSURES NIGERIANS
*Says Buhari administration remains committed to welfare of the poor, at Family Chats in Abuja

The Buhari administration is for all Nigerians, despite social class and status, and remains committed to improving their welfare so they can lead better lives, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Thursday during the Family Chats, where he visited the Sanwo Olatunji-David’s family at the Games Village, and interacted with Nigerians in New Kuchingoro village, and the Wuse II neighbourhood centre, all in the FCT, Abuja.

The Olatunji-David family runs a foundation called Life Builders Initiative for Education and Societal Integration, which runs a free education project called school without walls.

During the visit, the VP stated that the Buhari administration remains focused on improving the lives of Nigerians. He also highlighted the administration's Social Investment schemes, including the Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which currently provides a free, nutritious meal daily to over 9 million pupils in 26 states.

Shortly after interacting with the Olatunji-David’s family at the Games Village, Prof. Osinbajo proceeded to the neighbourhood park where he bought some local meat delicacy popularly known as Suya and interacted with some residents of the area.

“You’re the best Vice President,” excited Nigerians in the neighbourhood park said delightedly as he interacted with them.

At the New Kuchingoro village, near Games Village, the Vice President was also welcomed amidst singing and dancing by the residents.

Through an interpreter, Prof. Osinbajo assured the people there of the Federal Government’s commitment to address the challenges confronting them, adding that the Buhari administration remains committed to their welfare and that of all Nigerians.

“I want you to understand that this government is for you and will not abandon you, we will support you so you can live better lives by doing something for yourselves; that is what I can assure that we will do,” the Vice President said.

The VP added: “I have been informed of your challenges and I can assure you that the government of President Buhari has programmes that will address some of your immediate needs.

“Those of you who are into farming, we are going to support you with the necessary things that will make you less dependent – to feed yourselves, cloth yourselves and send your children to school. Those who want to trade, we are going to assist you through the TraderMoni scheme."

Citing the introduction of the N-power programme and the tech hubs initiatives, Prof. Osinbajo said Nigeria’s youths would be better placed if they leveraged on opportunities provided through the administration’s technology initiatives and the economic empowerment schemes.

While interacting with Nigerians at different points in the neighbourhoods he visited, and engaging them on issues, Prof. Osinbajo assured them of the Buhari government’s commitment to address the needs of all Nigerians, especially the poor.

During the visits, Prof. Osinbajo emphasized that the Buhari government was committed to ensuring that young people were empowered through the various initiatives introduced by the government since 2015.

At the Wuse II neighbourhood centre, the Vice President visited the Luxor Barbers shop and interacted with customers and staff. Excited Nigerians in the neighbourhood also thronged the vicinity to take photographs with the Vice President, amidst cheers from the crowd.

It would be recalled that last week Sunday, the Vice President had visited the leader of the Hausa community in Agege, Lagos, Alhaji Musa Muhammed Dogonkadai.

Similarly, on Christmas Eve, the Vice President continued the Family Chats in Wuse and Garki, Abuja, where he visited the families of Rtd. Col. Ahmed Zubair and Mr. Abdulwaheed Yusuf.

At the Family Chats, the Vice President meets with Nigerians in their homes and neighbourhoods, engaging them on issues and the Next Level plan of the Buhari administration.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
28th December, 2018
Copyright © 2018, Office of the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Thursday, December 27, 2018

PRESS RELEASE BY PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI CAMPAIGN ORGANIZATION

ETISALAT AND KEYSTONE BANK SHARES: PUBLIC ALERT ON PLANS BY PDP AND ATIKU TEAM TO RELEASE A SERIES OF WILD, UNSUBSTANTIATED ALLEGATIONS AGAINST THE PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENT.

With the latest refrain of the PDP linking some phantom shares in Etisalat and Keystone bank to the ‘family’ of the President, we have it on good authority that the Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party and his party are set to release a series of wild, unsubstantiated allegations against the President and Vice President including their friends and family members, in the next few weeks. With the latest revelation that the said shares are rather linked to relatives of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, it has became a case of the thief calling the farm owner the thief, as the Yorubas would say in a popular proverb. These impending wild allegations would naturally border on corrupt practices without any evidential basis. The purpose is to attempt to dent the greatest forte of the President and Vice President going into 2019 elections, which is their personal integrity. The latest tactics of the main opposition is premised on the following grounds:

a) Since their stuttering campaigns started, they have felt the pulse of Nigerians and realized Nigerians have not forgotten their misdeeds of 16 years whilst in office.

b) They have decided to run a campaign of “we-are-all-corrupt” rather than defend their sordid records of merciless looting of the public purse, which has brought us to where we are today.

c) The aim is to push Nigerians to equate an Alhaji Atiku Abubakar with President Muhammadu Buhari on matters of corruption. They want to deceive Nigerians to think that the 2019 elections is really a choice between two “corrupt” persons

d) By repeating the lies a million times, they aim to get Nigerians to begin to give some serious thought to the lies. This is how the “Jubrin from Sudan” story started, before even some well-exposed and educated Nigerians were nearly converted on that issue.

e) Their latest desperate diversionary tactics is because even the most uneducated Nigerian has now understood that all the issues upon which the main opposition is campaigning are self-indicting issues, especially on the Economy and Security. The foundation for the challenges in these sectors, are firmly rooted in their 16 years of disastrous governance. President Buhari has just started a re-building process.

Nigerians should therefore brace up for six weeks of despicable lies from the pit of hell against the President and Vice President, to try to suggest to Nigerians that the President and his deputy are part of the league of looters to which they belong. But Nigerians should understand that the choices before them have never been this clear: It is between a fugitive from the law in America and a President who has never been accused of stealing anything in his entire life and is respected both locally and internationally; It is between a man who claims he wants to ‘get Nigeria working again’ yet has always refused to pay his taxes AS AT WHEN DUE and a man who has NEVER cheated the Nigerian State. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has since kept an ominous silence over this damaging allegation of irresponsible and deliberate tax evasion that is now before a court of law.

Whilst the President and Vice President are prepared and willing to answer any genuine inquiry raised about their stewardship, Nigerians should always ask the critical questions as to “where”, “when”, “how”, names, dates, addresses, etc in respect of any allegation raised by the opposition before giving any credence to it. This is because as the Atiku Campaign continues to fall apart on a daily basis, we may hear such desperate allegation from them that President Buhari has sold the buildings in Aso Rock to the Israelis or Americans!!!

Nigerians should tell Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that it is too late in the day to impugn the integrity of Mr. President, or to “package” himself before Nigerians as a honest man. Nigerians only need to read the book by his former boss, ex President, Olusegun Obasanjo titled, “MY WATCH”.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar must bear the cross and tar of corruption alone (as pronounced by the Congress in America and his former boss). He should not drag President Muhammadu Buhari into that room of moral debauchery with him.

Thank you.

FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Director of Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson)
President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization.

Wednesday, December 26, 2018.


IF THE SYSTEM WERE TO BE WORKING BEFORE PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI TOOK OVER IN 2015, ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR WOULD BE IN JAIL BY NOW INSTEAD OF CONTESTING FOR THE PRESIDENCY.

Our attention has been drawn to a statement credited to the Presidential Candidate of the People’s Democratic Party, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar disputing the assertion by President Muhammadu Buhari that the system in Nigeria allows corruption to thrive because the system is slow in tackling corruption. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar further blamed President Muhammadu Buhari for perceived failure in addressing some instances of ‘corrupt practices’ under his watch.

Let us remind Alhaji Atiku Abubakar that he is one of the greatest beneficiaries of the failed system in tackling corruption that was in place before President Muhammadu Buhari took over in 2015. We know he is aware of this, hence his latest diatribe against President Muhammadu Buhari amounts to nothing but disgusting grandstanding and an attempt to mock the system.

If the system in Nigeria was indeed working, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would not have acquired substantial shares in INTELS in clear conflict of his duties as a Customs Officer whilst in office. Those shares would have belonged to the Nigerian people by now.

If the system in Nigeria was indeed working, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would not have run a monopolistic company called INTELS all these years, ripping off the Nigerian people and the Nigerian State before Muhammadu Buhari came and broke that monopoly.

If the system was working, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar would have been prosecuted and jailed for various acts of corruption and abuse of office after he left office as Vice President, some of which are:

(a) For himself and his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, granting themselves licenses to build universities as President and Vice President whilst in office in clear breach of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers. Those Universities would have been probed, seized and transferred to the Nigeria State and the Nigerian people by now.

(b) Laundering slush funds to the United States of America using phony companies, part of which was used to fund his present American University in Adamawa State through which he is also extorting Nigerians through exorbitant fees. It is public knowledge that this indictment is contained in a US Congressional Report that has led to the prosecution and conviction of his accomplices in the US, which are William Jefferson and Siemens. They were convicted under a system that works, whilst he has been walking free in Nigeria and even aspiring to the highest office in the land. It is also public knowledge that his ban from entering the United States was as a result of these indictments.

(c) His indictment and recommendation for prosecution by the Report of the EFCC over the PTDF scandal whilst he was Vice President.

We have also read with keen interest the case filed against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar by some public spirited Nigerians alleging that he never paid his Personal Income Taxes as at when due, yet he wants to ‘get Nigeria working again’. In this regard, we are also challenging Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to publicly display his Personal Income Tax receipts for the 3 years preceding 2018 to show that he did not just run to FIRS in 2018 to pay his backlog of Personal Income Taxes.

For the information of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, President Muhammadu Buhari’s gallant efforts in tackling corruption headlong has led to the conviction of the President’s own party men and ex Governors who served under PDP and for acts they committed whilst in PDP. 703 persons and institutions have been convicted by the EFCC under the watch of President Muhammadu Buhari since 2015. The biggest recoveries of stolen public funds in the history of Nigeria is being carried out by President Muhammadu Buhari. These recoveries were made from principally his party men who now wish to lead Nigeria with him. Some of these recoveries/seizures/forfeitures (interim and final) are:

(a) 407 Mansions since 2015.
(b) N794 Billion, over $261 Million Dollars, 1.1 Million Pounds Sterling, 8.1 Million Euros,
(c) 259 Automobiles.
(d) A fully functional hospital, St. Solomon Health Care Centre at 24, Adeniyi Jones Street, Ikeja Lagos e.t.c.

There are so many other instances too numerous to mention. These are a world apart from the few instances of the reluctant fight against corruption that Alhaji Atiku Abubakar claimed happened under his watch as Vice President. During his time, there was a competition for corruption between himself, his boss and public officers.

We also urge the PDP to stop making wild, unsubstantiated allegations of corruption without a modicum of proof. We have no time to respond to any allegation by the PDP without the backing of some kind of document or proof. When we see some scintilla of proof, we shall respond appropriately. And that is how we have treated the recent allegation of acquisition of shares in Etisalat and Keystone Bank by some supposed ‘family members’ of the President. No name was mentioned and no document was shown.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar latest adventure in trying to stand shoulder-to-shoulder in matters of integrity with President Muhammadu Buhari is a political suicide mission from which we thought his handlers would have tried to steer him away. But alas! They have decided to test the waters. Locally and internationally President Muhammadu Buhari stands several miles away from Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in matters of integrity. When the President used all his life in public office building a reputation and a name, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar used all his life in public office to build mansions and acquire personal wealth. Now Judgment Day has come when the credential needed by the Nigerian people for the highest office are not the buildings and wealth but the simple quality of integrity.

Alhaji Atiku Abubakar cannot eat his cake and have it.

Thank you.


FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK)
Director of Strategic Communications (Official Spokesperson)
President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organization.

President Muhammadu Buhari conceived the TraderMoni scheme way back during the years when he was Chairman of the Katsina State Development Foundation, which gave soft loans and micro-credits to people to assist them in their respective businesses, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Prof. Osinbajo further said the Buhari administration will continue to maximize the country’s huge resources for the benefit of the common man.

The Vice President stated this during the Family Chats on Sunday and Monday, in Lagos and Abuja respectively.

At the Family Chats, the Vice President met with Nigerians in their homes and neighborhoods, engaging them on issues & the Next Level plan of the Buhari administration, while noting that the Federal Government would continue to work towards improving the welfare of all Nigerians.

Following his visit on Sunday to the Palace of the Seriki of the Hausa community in Agege, Lagos, Alhaji Musa Muhammed Dogonkadai; the Vice President continued the Family Chats on Monday in Wuse and Garki, Abuja, where he visited the families of Rtd. Col. Ahmed Zubair and Mr. Abdulwaheed Yusuf, and addressed an excited crowd.

At the Palace of the Seriki, Prof. Osinbajo emphasized President Buhari’s concern for the welfare of the common man.

He said, “President Muhammadu Buhari said, ‘I will fight corruption, I’m for the common man. I’m for the man in the street.’ I don’t know if you have heard about TraderMoni, the loans we are giving to petty traders. He (President) was chairman of Katsina (State Development) Foundation, where they were doing the same thing - giving poor people loans, credits, so that they will be able to do their businesses. He then told me, when we came into office, that we must do the same thing for all Nigerian traders."

The Vice President further noted that Nigeria is undergoing a rebuilding process under the Buhari administration.

He said, “The message from President Muhammadu Buhari is that our country is going to the next level. We are going to do better and better. We are going to use the money of Nigeria to help Nigerians. So that traders would have more money for their businesses, so that every Nigerian can prosper. Mr. President has said that he will not allow a situation where people steal our money. That’s why we are not going back to the past, our money must be used for Nigerians. That’s why we have schemes like TraderMoni, MarketMoni, and our Social Investment Programmes.”

The Vice President further said that Nigeria would be great as President Buhari is ensuring the right foundations are built for the country’s long-term prosperity.

He said, “When you are building a foundation, things will be hard. When you are not importing everything, things will be hard. We all know. But things will be better because it is an honest man who is there and the building process is still ongoing. Our country will be great. God has provided for this country a lot of resources, but it must go round, so that there would be education, health, houses for people.

Prof. Osinbajo highlighted the significant gains achieved under the administration’s Anchors Borrowers Programme as a pointer to improvement in agriculture, and other sectors.

He said, “Look at what is happening in the North now because of the Anchor Borrowers Programme. We gave many of the farmers, over 760,000 farmers, soft loans. So, now they are producing rice, producing millet, producing sorghum. We are not importing rice now. We are bringing rice from Kebbi, from Sokoto, from all over the country. By next year, we will not import rice. All our rice will be produced here. When you do that farmers will be rich. Farmers in other countries they are rich people. They are not poor. I’ve been to a country where farmers own airplanes. Why? Because their leaders are not thieves. Their leaders help them so that they can farm; they can expand their farms and they can earn money.

“I went to speak to them in Kebbi. Two of the farmers came to me and said, since this our government (came into power), they have been doing very well. One of them said, ‘now I have my money, I can pay for my hajj.’ Another one even told me that he has married a second wife and I said, one wife is enough. He said since he is getting some money he can marry a second wife.

“But the truth of the matter is that there is enough money for us in this country. I believe that we must give President Muhammadu Buhari enough votes to lead this country for four more years. If he leads this country for four more years, you will see the difference.”

The Vice President also pointed out the administration’s anti-corruption stance, noting that the Buhari administration is focused on improving the lives of the common man on the streets, while highlighting the impact of the Social Investment Programmes.


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
24th December, 2018

A leading Social Political group in Nigeria, The Progressive League has reacted to the PDP diatribes against Professor Yemi Osinbajo describing it as unwarranted, unfortunate and ridiculous.

This is contained in a statement signed its Acting Publicity Secretary, Mr Wasiu Ibraheem, the group stated that the PDP Publicity Secretary is not only playing God and seer of the future but deliberately dishing out lies typical of the drowned opposition party.

According to the group, "The PDP is still living in fool Paradise thinking Nigeria can be cajoled by their lies and deliberate distortion of facts about Buhari-Osinbajo leadership. It is equally ironical that PDP moribund campaign are the ones talking about the political relevance of the people's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo who has shown without fear or favor that the office of the vice president is not meant for selling off government properties but giving back to the people and uplift the less privileged for the greater good of our country.

The political sophistication of the South West will never make them fall prey to the gangs of looters working tirelessly to find their way back to the National Treasury against the consistency and tireless effort of Prof. Osinbajo. Without leaving any part of the country behind, we have no doubt the choice of good over evil is a easy one for the South West in particular and Nigeria in general.

The PDP efforts to continue to bandied fake corruption allegations against the vice president is another Dubai Strategy of PDP that is already falling flat.

On the N33bn NEMA Fund and Tradermoni, we say Osinbajo is a truthful, credible and a man of integrity whose contributions has brought Change to Nigeria as a public officer never found culpable of any corrupt practice in his political career.

The PDP should not forget that the House of Representatives has since exonerated the Vice President on the claims on the IDP funds. We also state that the TraderMoni is never an election or vote buying method, it is to further strengthen our micro economy.

The PDP should forget returning to power in 2019 as Nigerians are yet to recover from the maladministration and retrogression that bedevilled the country from 16 years.

The Progressive League hereby wants to remind the PDP that the government of the people for the people as represented by Buhari -Osinbajo will never depart this path to progress, this government will continue to build more roads and infrastructure for posterity and the fight against corruption will never cease as a symbol of corruption as represented by your presidential candidate will never lead this nation.

February 2019 is to seal the Next Level for Nigeria.


Wasiu Ibraheem
Acting Publicity Secretary
The Progresssives League

NASS: HOUSE OF LORDS AND CLOWNS?

By Ayobami Akanji

People must not do things for fun. We are not here for fun. There is no reference to fun in any act of Parliament - A.P. Herbert



It started like a scene out of an action movie - the Climax. The scene where the "Boss" gathers all his proteges, revelling in their plenty ineffectiveness in their last attempt to finish the "Actor". They rush out in Jeeps, strapped to the teeth waiting to meet death already prepared. The fight starts with them "beating" the actor and at times even forcing him to do their biddings, only for him to outsmart, outmuscle and "out-tact" them when things needed to get done. This best describes what comes out of the National Assembly lately.

However, the relationship between the Executive and Legislature embodies a central link in ensuring a smooth running of the federal government, and by extension consolidating the Nigerian democracy.

They can either grant or refuse potential Presidential authorisations, and this enthrones a sign of a politically positive relationship.

The National Assembly does this without much problems especially as seen in the past three and a half years when the leadership of the Legislature has been at odds with the political position of the President. Of course millions of Nigerians bore the consequence of these actions, like it is said - when two elephants fight the grass suffers.

A cursory look at certain events will lend credence to this argument; the budget debacle took a toll on infrastructural development activities nationwide, almost dragging the country back to recession. The recent why “I Cut” the budget oozes of the covert shenanigans in holding the nation to a stand-still for the interest of a certain bloc - the intention of which is to switch the angst of the populace on the current administration.

These ‘leaders’ would then be portrayed as owners of the economic wand to grow and make Nigeria great again; unknown to them the country is already on the path to the Next Level of economic inclusion and prosperity.

Nigerians just witnessed the ugliest public display of crass opposition from members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) when the President came to present the 2019 budget to a joint session, they behaved like children denied of candy. While the President was reeling out the achievements of his administration in the past three and a half years, there were boos and jeers from a section of the House. We applaud the President’s civility and respect for the leadership of both chambers.

These recalcitrant lawmakers should understand that it's permissible to dislike the person who is President, but you don't denigrate the office of the President on the platter of opposition.

However, whenever persons of leadership in the National Assembly has an issue with the law, the institution tends to be used against the Executive arm, and by extension, Nigerians.

The other time, it was a worried leadership of the National Assembly that convened what it called "emergency executive session". It was the first time since the inauguration of the 8th Senate that such a session held. It is instructive that despite the atrocities committed on a daily basis in States like Taraba, Zamfara, Benue and Plateau, the National Assembly never thought of an “emergency executive session”. Ditto for the bad state of the economy then. Thank God the Executive weathered the storm; the insecurity has been largely contained and we are out of recession.

It is also note worthy that no emergency session has been convened on corruption which is the very reason why Nigeria is where it is today.

Billions of dollars vanished, growth has been stunted, huge funds traced to accounts of individuals yet no “emergency executive session”.

According to the CBN, MTN, in cohorts with banks, unlawfully repatriated dividends worth $8bn between 2007 – 2015; the apex bank said it was illegal because there were problems with the certificate for capital importation (CCI).

The action of members of the National Assembly can be likened to a child who was given a stick of biscuit by his dad. He becomes protective of this stick to the point of being enemies with the one that gave him the stick. He becomes irritated when anything he deems inimical to his biscuit appears and shows his irritation by crying his lungs out. It’s very easy to be enemies with the National Assembly if, like the child above, you threaten their "biscuit".

Few months ago, members of a dreaded gang of sons of the devil who rained mayhem on the town of Offa were arrested. It was the best answer to questions of police's efficiency. More than 30 people were killed. 22 suspects were arrested Prebendal interests were at their ululative best, screaming "media trial" and "witch hunt" from both sides of their mouth, despite the fact that the Senate President and Governor Ahmed of Kwara State didn't outrightly deny knowing the devils. They chose to fight battles they single-handedly brought upon themselves with institutions of the State. They were the first to complain about how a member was bringing the House into disrepute just because he called for investigations into allegations of fraud against the Senate President; but they use this same Chamber to fight personal battles. They rule with severity, suspending anyone who dares to as little as raise a voice of opposition to their impunity.

They should be called "House of summons" as anyone threatens their biscuit is "summoned to come explain". They earn ridiculous allowances but have nothing to show for it. They criss-cross political geography, trying hard to sound pro-people, forgetting the nascent role they played in bringing us here. They're a select group of "honorables" but with different corruption cases hanging around their necks. They like to flex power and pass votes of no confidence on a man who has spearheaded the arrests of daredevil criminals. Mirrors are good. Had they looked at their images, they would see the stark opposite of who is in the mirror.

The National Assembly isn't a blanket for buffoonery. There exists a small group of truthers who are committed to seeing the progress of the country. They have been intimidated, harassed, hounded and humiliated but still choose to trudge the path of justice. These ones have a special place in history. We don't and won't take their sacrifices for granted. They should keep the fire burning. Nigerians are solidly behind them.

The kid gloves are off, the current Commander-in-Chief is a battle-tested war General. He has led and fought wars, commanding men to victory.

He has seen what is there to be seen. Tell me. What will the buzz of a bee do to the roar of a lion?

Akanji, is a political strategist, writes from Abuja.

2019 Budget Presentation: PDP Lawmakers’ Action Irresponsible - APC

We condemn in strong terms the action by lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the presentation of the 2019 National Budget by President Mohammadu Buhari on Wednesday.

The PDP should be aware that the disgraceful conduct and actions of its legislative caucus has succeeded in eroding the remnant of the public’s respect, (if any) that the Party has in the eyes of any respectable Nigerian. The PDP has further confirmed its unsavoury image in the eyes of well meaning Nigerians, that the party is largely populated by self-serving and unpatriotic members, whose sole aim in politics is to promote their self interests at the expense of the country’s interests.

By law, respect for the office of the president or head of government in any clime is not a matter of choice but a civic obligation sanctioned by laws. Being an opposition party or critic is no licence for such wayward conduct by the PDP legislative caucus; most especially against the president of the country.

Not even the admonition of President to the PDP lawmakers that “You are on international TV, comport yourselves. The world is watching us; we should be above this,” failed to calm the unruly PDP elements.

Nigerians are not oblivious of the actions and inactions of the National Assembly presiding officers, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara while the President was being heckled by the PDP legislative caucus. Their failure to rein in their unruly PDP colleagues, while their show of shame lasted clearly confirmed that the PDP members’ action was premeditated and orchestrated to embarrass the President.

When the APC was in opposition, Nigerians will recall statements by the PDP government that the immediate-past President Goodluck Jonathan did not personally present the national budget to the National Assembly based on fears that he will be heckled and embarrassed by the opposition federal lawmakers at the time. The fears turned out to be misplaced as that never happened when Jonathan eventually presented the national budget. Such shameful and undignified practice has no place in our progressive ideology.

The PDP lawmakers and their conniving leaders have a lot of questions to answer. First, we wonder why they cannot stomach the evident and verifiable achievements of the APC-led Government in the areas of power, rail and road infrastructure, social intervention programmes as contained in the proposed budget.

The APC commends President Muhammadu Buhari for remaining calm and focused during the budget presentation despite the provocation from PDP lawmakers, an act of statesmanship that has been acknowledged by Nigerians. We are equally proud of the APC lawmakers, who stood firm in defence of the President and our great party during the budget presentation.

We call on the National Assembly to rise above political and selfish interests by putting the country first in its consideration of the proposed N8.83 trillion 2019 national budget. The proposed budget provides a realistic and implementable framework that will spur the administration’s effort to achieve a a prosperous, strong and stable Nigeria.

SIGNED
Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu
National Publicity Secretary

2019 BUDGET SPEECH

(BUDGET OF CONTINUITY)

Delivered by:

His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari

President, Federal Republic of Nigeria

At the Joint Session of the National Assembly, Abuja

2019 Budget: PDP lawmakers total disgrace to Nigerians - Group

A political group in Nigeria has strongly condemned the unruly attitude and chants of Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers during President Muhammadu Buhari’s presentation of the 2019 budget.

The Initiative to Save Democracy (ISD) explained that the chant of ‘lies’ and rowdiness persistently carried out by the opposition party, was a disgrace to the country in its entirety.

President of ISD, Sunday James Akinloye, said the lawmakers made a mockery of themselves on national television, with the rest of the world watching how their unruly behavior painted Nigeria in a very bad light.

“I can’t believe this is happening in 2018. This is utter disgrace and shame to these lawmakers who have made a mockery of themselves on national television.

“Using words like “lies, lies, lies” while the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria addressed the world, is unthinkable and to do it repeatedly shows the kind of lawmakers we have in this country.

“They totally failed to live up their ‘Honorable’ tag by all yardsticks of decent public conduct as expected of civilized adults, in fact there is nothing honorable about these lawmakers.

“The irresponsibility they displayed will make us a laughing stock around the world. Very sad and unruly message they have passed to the rest of the world.

Akinloye explained that the attitude of the PDP lawmakers is the clearest indication that Nigerians must not vote for the party and its candidate in the 2019 election.

“If anything, they just did themselves a disservice with that pathetic showing. Nigerians must rise above electing indecorous persons in this kind of office.

The group however praised the budget presented by President Buhari, stressing that, it is a budget that adequately seeks to improve infrastructure, health, education and Social Investment Programmes.

“This is a people-oriented budget that seeks to affect the lives of every Nigerian positively. I hope the National Assembly will not delay its passage,” Akinloye said.

The group explained that the proposed N8.83 trillion of 2019 Aggregate Expenditure comprises of Recurrent Costs of N4.04 trillion; Debt Service of N2.14 trillion; Statutory Transfers of about N492.36 billion; Sinking Fund of N120 billion (to retire maturing bond to local contractors) and Capital Expenditure of N2.031 trillion (excluding the capital component of Statutory Transfers).

“The 2019 budget proposal will place the economy on the path of higher, inclusive, diversified and sustainable growth, in order to continue to lift significant numbers of our citizens out of poverty,” he said.

Quoting the budget presented by President Buhari, he said, “The underlying drivers of the 2019 revenue projections have been adjusted to reflect current realities.

“On the expenditure side, allocations to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of Government were guided by the 3 strategic pillars of the ERGP, which are, restoring and sustaining growth; investing in people and building a globally competitive economy.