₦airaland Forum

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Today is the birthday of Nigeria's Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. Hence, we have decided to highlight major information about him.

Below are 16 things you should know about the Vice President:


1. Yemi Osinbajo is 61 today. He was born on 8 March, 1957 in Lagos.

2. The Vice President's full name is; Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo.

3. Osinbajo is married to Dolapo (née Soyode) Osinbajo, a granddaughter of Obafemi Awolowo.

4. Osinbajo and Dolapo have three children together.

5. He studied for his undergraduate degree in Law at the University of Lagos, where he was awarded a LLB Law degree from 1975–1978. He got his Master of Laws after attending the London School of Economics in 1981.

6. Osinbajo began lecturing at the age of 23.

7. He was a former lecturer at the University of Lagos, Nigeria and Lagos State University.

8. Osinbajo was an Adviser (legal advice and litigation) to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Bola Ajibola.

9. From 1999 to 2007, Osinbajo was Member of Cabinet, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, also Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

10. Osinbajo was also the Pastor in charge of the Lagos Province 48 (Olive Tree provincial headquarter) of The Redeemed Christian Church of God, Ikoyi before his inauguration into office as the Vice President of Nigeria.

11. Osinbajo was one of the notable Nigerians who designed and produced a manifesto for the All Progressives Congress (APC) when it was formed in 2013.


12. The free schools meal plan, a conditional cash transfer to the 25 million poorest Nigerians if they enroll children in school and immunise them were part of the contents of the Manifesto drafted by Osinbajo and his group.

13. Osinbajo assumed office as the Vice President of Nigeria after taking the oath of office on 29 May 2015 at the Eagle Square, Abuja.

14. President Goodluck Jonathan conferred on Osinbajo the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on May 28, 2015.

15. Osinbajo is the 14th Vice President of Nigeria.

16. He was Nigeria's Acting President between 9 May 2017 and 19 August 2017.


(Source: Wikipedia)

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Estelí Meza – “My Aunt Blossoms”

1. Anna Haifisch – “Nov 1989”

Google is celebrating the 2018 International Women’s Day (IWD) with some interactive animation.

Google uses its search engine homepage to honor important figures and events. These are depicted with doodles, which are archived as “Google doodle.”

International Women’s Day is celebrated around the world as a call to action to shed light on women issues on the 8th of March and googles 2018 theme is #HerstoryOurstory

On the google home page you can press the play button to view the personal narratives of a dozen women artists from around the world with stories ranging from being a mother, ageing, self-love, single mothers, women as bread winners, brave women and so on.

Each story represents a moment, person, or event that has impacted their lives as women,” the site wrote in a statement. “While each artist tells a unique story, the themes are universal, reminding us of how much we often have in common.”

The artists and their doodles

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/google-celebertes-womens-day-with-interactive-doodles-on-herstoryourstory.html

A former Governor of Jigawa State and PDP presidential aspirant, Alhaji Sule Lamido, yesterday in Calabar, alleged that Nigeria has been hijacked and is being ruled by men who lack ideas.

Lamido said the ruling APC was only implementing what the former ruling party, the PDP, drew.

He stated this when he paid a consultative visit to Governor Ben Ayade on his presidential aspiration.

Lamido alleged that whereas PDP was accused of spending about N6tn on some national projects in 16 years, the APC had wasted more than N20tn in three years and had nothing to show for it.

He, therefore, wondered why only people in the opposition were being vilified and labelled as corrupt.

On security, Lamido said killing and destruction were no longer strange, but that the question now was, “How many have been killed today?”

Ayade on his part, described Lamido as “humane, people-friendly and man of depth and concern who turned Jigawa State into an Eldorado.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/nigeria-hijacked-by-men-with-no-ideas-sule-lamido.html

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has extended its free e-dividend registration deadline to March 31, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt on Wednesday.

A senior management staff in the commission, who pleaded anonymity made the disclosure in an interview with NAN in Lagos.

The official said that the deadline was extended in principle for the third time for the operators to clear their e-dividend backlogs.

NAN reports that e-dividend refers to online payment of dividends to investors rather than through post.

The advantage of e-dividend is that it allows all accrued dividends to be credited to an investor’s bank account directly.

The aim is to stem the rising problem of unclaimed dividends in the capital market.
The source said that the main reason for the extension was to clear the backlogs and to work out details of how the parties involved in the exercise would get their share.

The source said the parties involved in exercise were the registrars and the Nigeria Interbank Settlement System, adding the appointed banks were currently working out the sharing formula for the registration fee.

He said that the commission would not come publicly to announce another extension, noting that no investor would be charged for delay in the registration until April 1.

The source said that low investors’ response to the exercise contributed to the commission’s decision to give room for enrolment of more investors.

SEC in June, 2017 extended the underwriting cost of investors’ e-dividend registration to Dec. 31, 2017 against the earlier deadline of June 30, 2017.

It also on Jan. 18 extended the deadline to Feb. 28, 2018, to encourage more shareholders’ participation in the scheme. (NAN)

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/sec-extends-e-dividend-registration-deadline-to-march-31.html

20 per cent of the budget wasted on senators..

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Good one!

Happy married life

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sai baba

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Three people have been killed in renewed hostilities between Fulani and Irigwe youths in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State.

Daily Trust gathered that the corpses of two Fulani youths were discovered on Monday evening around Rafin Bauna in Bassa and a few hours later, the corpse of an Irigwe youth was discovered in the area.

The Chairman of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) in Plateau State, Muhammad Nuru Abdullahi, said Ishaq Yusuf, 19, was shot in the neck on while Abubakar Shehu, 22, was found buried in a shallow grave near a mining site. He said the assailants killed 31 cattle and injured eight others.

Abdullahi said one person was still missing while another had sustained injuries and was recuperating.

Operation Safe Haven Media and Information Officer, Major Adam Umar, confirmed the killings of the three people, adding that two other Irigwe youths had sustained injuries and had been hospitalised.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/3-killed-in-plateau.html

The Accident Investigation Bureau (AIB) on Tuesday released the preliminary reports for the on-going investigation into the serious incidents involving Delta Airline plane, Dana Airline and another private jet operated by Nest Oil.

The three incidents happened on January 25, February 13 and February 20 this year.

Delta Airbus A330-223 aircraft with registration N858NW had made an emergency landing after take-off from Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA).

Also, the Dana Air MD – 83 aircraft marked 5N-SRI overran the runway at the Port Harcourt International Airport while a Gulfstream G200 aircraft belonging to Nest Oil with registration number 5N-BTF occurred at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja.

In the preliminary report signed by the spokesman of the bureau, Mr. Tunji Oketunbi, the AIB said the Number One engine fire warning came on about a minute after take-off, while the crew declared emergency.

The report stated that the aircraft landed at about 2259hrs and stopped on runway 18R, where the Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting Service first reported observing smoke, and fire on the Number One engine.

It said investigative actions may include engine examination, material testing for the fuel manifolds, engine oil and hydraulic lines, inspection of fuel manifolds for crack and inspection of fuel nozzle braze joints for leaks.

On the Dana Air incident, he said the flight which took off from Abuja had “an uneventful” flight to Port Harcourt and was cleared to land by the Air Traffic Control.

“The crew reported that the runway had experienced recent rain before arrival and after touch down looked and felt contaminated with flood of water that did not drain well”, it said.

Other findings include the fact that after the aircraft came to a complete stop, emergency evacuation was carried out using only the left forward main door and the escape slide on this door did not deploy just as the Public Address System did not work.

On the Nest Oil aircraft incident which lost its tires, the bureau said the aircraft lost directional control during the landing roll; the aircraft veered off and came to rest on the right shoulder of the runway.

Oketunbi said investigations continue to release final reports of the incidents.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/bureau-releases-preliminary-reports-on-3-aircraft-incidents.html

congratulations

Happy birthday mentor

Congratulations

The death toll of people killed after fresh violence in the Idoma speaking, Omusu village of Okpokpwu Local Government Area in Benue State has risen to 24 as more corpses were discovered on Tuesday.

The Benue State Police Command through its spokesman, ASP. Moses Joel Yamu, had earlier confirmed 16 people dead.

But, more bodies were recovered from bushes and homes after an attack on the community on Monday afternoon, bringing death toll as at press time to 24.

Governor Samuel Ortom, who paid on the spot assessment to the troubled area, has demanded the arrest and prosecution of the attackers suspected to be herders.

Among the deceased victims are 14 women and two children.

Ortom has directed that arrangements be made for the deceased mass burial by next Friday.

He lamented the level of destruction, describing the attack as, "unfortunate, barbaric act and unacceptable in the 21st century.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/fresh-benue-killings-death-toll-rises-to-24-mass-burial-holds-friday.html

The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Monday joined other Nigerians to celebrate former President Olusegun Obasanjo on the occasion of his 81st birthday.

The APC, through its National Publicity Secretary, Malam Bolaji Abdullahi, said that it joined family, friends, well-wishers and associates in celebrating the retired general who had emerged as a bastion of democracy, good governance and development in Nigeria and beyond.

The party said that Chief Obasanjo had inspired a generation of Nigerians in the areas of entrepreneurship, leadership and education, especially through his non-profit initiatives, the Africa Leadership Forum (ALF) and the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library.

The party also said that his legacy as President had continued to inspire good governance on the continent even after so many years, stressing that he remained an influential voice in different facets of our national life.

“As a true Nigerian patriot and statesman, Chief Obasanjo has over the years built solid bridges across political divides in the country, on the African continent and the world at large.

“Our prayer is that Chief Obasanjo continues to age in health and wisdom as he contributes to the unending task of nation building,” part of the statement signed by Malam Abdullahi read.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/apc-felicitates-with-obasanjo-at-81.html

The Buhari Campaign Organization (BCO) has reiterated that President Muhammadu Buhari would undoubtedly re-contest for the presidency next year.

The National Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Danladi Garba Pasali stated this yesterday at a press conference in Jos, in preparation for President Buhari’s visit to Plateau State tomorrow.

Pasali said Buhari had no option than to re-contest in 2019, saying failure to vie for a second term would truncate his diversification policy, anti-corruption crusade and fight against insurgency.

On why President Buhari refused to declare all this while, Pasali explained that the president was a man that had respect for the rule of law, and therefore waiting for the appropriate time to declare.

“Plateau is 100 per cent APC because of the good works of President Buhari and Governor Simon Lalong; that is why people would still vote for them next year,” he said.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/buhari-has-no-option-than-to-seek-re-election-campaign-org.html

It is a fact that 26 of the 45 presidents of the United States served in the military, and thousands of others have held many political appointments. This is true across the world. While the driving force may be different from what obtains in Nigeria, Africa and other developing countries, one thing that is clear is that military experience has paved the way for many into political prominence. Herewith, is our line-up of Nigerian top military brass who wield great political influence today.

Muhammadu Buhari

He is currently Nigeria’s president, since winning the polls in 2015. A retired major-general, Buhari had previously served as military head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985. There are many suggestions that he ventured into politics following intense pressure from friends and close associates, who believe he is the most-qualified for the job, as regards honesty, and incorruptibility. Many still view him as an enigma, whose appeal to the masses especially in northern Nigeria has not waned.

Until recently, Buhari, now 75, had been in the opposition. He contested for the presidency at four different times, and on three different political platforms. In 2003, he contested as the candidate of the defunct All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) and lost to Olusegun Obasanjo. At a time, he lost interest in politics and declared that he would never vie for any office again. But fresh pressure was mounted on him, and around 2013, talks began on a probable merger by some notable political parties. It culminated in the formation of All Progressives Congress (APC), upon which he broke the jinx and defeated an incumbent president in 2015.

Although the general has maintained sealed lips over his 2019 plans, there are strong indications that he might give it another go, as evidenced by a glaringly renewed commitment to party politics.

Olusegun Obasanjo

“After my release from prison, counsel of caution and withdrawal from public life sounded sweet to my ears. Yet there comes a time in the life of a patriot when abdication would amount to a betrayal if not outright treachery.” These were the words of two-term civilian president, and one-time head of state, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, in a speech titled ‘Lets Re-Build Together’, after his nomination by the PDP as its presidential candidate, on February 15, 1999.

The statement aptly captured Obasanjo’s foray into active politics, after a number consultations, which according to him, took him to South Africa, with some eminent Nigerians. He emerged the nation’s second civilian president, after Alhaji Shehu Shagari. Providence bestowed on him again, the opportunity to be re-elected for a second term in 2003, after alleged moves by him to extend his tenure. Till date, Obasanjo has never admitted that he actually wanted a third term.

In 2015, Obasanjo, in characteristic dramatic fashion, directed his party’s membership card be torn and announced his decision to quit partisan politics. But only last month, he floated Coalition for Nigerian Movement (CMN), but again made it clear that it has nothing to do with politics. He said: “If the movement decides to go into partisan politics, I will cease to be a member.”

Back in 2003, Obasanjo’s Vice, Atiku Abubakar became his major albatross in his quest to replace him. But Obasanjo’s choice, the late Umaru Yar’adua, was elected, reminding watchers what a deft politician the ex-president is. Also in 2010, former president, and Yar’adua’s deputy, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan got the tacit support of Obasanjo to replace his late boss.

Ahead of 2015, Obasanjo fell out with Jonathan and gave his support to the opposition party. His choice, Muhammadu Buhari, emerged victorious. He visited a popular market in Abeokuta, where he publicly campaigned for his fellow retired general-turned-politician. He had once disclosed there was no crime in being a retired soldier and joining politics. “It would have been a great disservice to the cause of democracy to create the impression among serving officers and men that a future role in politics, as civilians, was foreclosed for them by an argument unsupported by the constitution,” he said.

According to a public commentator, Zayyad I. Muhammad, Obasanjo’s foray into Nigerian politics had been through the bridges built by leaders outside his immediate political constituency, particularly in the North.

Born on 5 March 1937, Obasanjo is now 80, and like Buhari, he too had participated in the Nigerian civil war and at present, is not only involved in Nigerian politics, but actively at the continental level, and perhaps even the world at large. Only time can tell, if exigencies will make Obasanjo return to active politics.

Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida

Born on 17 August 1941, Babangida, a retired Nigerian Army General was military president of Nigeria from 27 August 1985 to 26 August 1993. He previously served as the chief of army staff from January 1984 to August 1985. Though he had long ago said he had exited from partisan politics, the way and manner politicians troop to his house whenever political realignment is in the offing, attests to the fact that his retirement is only limited to the fact that he might not vie for an elective office.

Controversial letters written by Babangida, popularly known as IBB, speak volumes in deep-rooted involvement in party politics. But the, his other nickname is ‘Maradona’, in homage to his twist-and-turn type of politics which have earned him a mythical status. He currently holds court at home, at his hilltop residence in Minna, Niger State.

Dambazau

Some believe that retired Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau, present Minister of the Interior, ventured into politics ‘through the back door’, courtesy of his military shared military background with President Buhari, getting deep in the murky waters of politics shortly after retirement from the army. Insiders say having retired under the PDP-led government, he returned to Kano State in an attempt to succeed then-governor Dr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso.

Dambazau, now 64, reportedly dropped the idea following advice from friends and close associates. But he was requested to head Buhari’s Security Committee for the 2015 presidential campaign, even though he did not publicly participate in political activities that led to the formation of the ruling APC.

Born in Zaria on 14th March, 1954, Dambazau had served as Chief of Army Staff (COAS) between 2008 and 2010. He was long before then the Aide de Camp to the Chief of Army Staff (1979), commanded military police units, among many other important positions and appointments.

Daily Trust learnt that the minister has an “unalloyed political allegiance” to President Buhari, but insiders lament that he has not been participating in any political activities in Kano.

Ike Umar Sanda Nwachukwu

Not much is being heard of, politically, from the retired general Ike Umar Sanda Nwachukwu upon his return after leading the South East delegation to the National Conference few years ago. Popularly called the ‘Ututu General’ by his kinsmen, being from Abia by paternity, his people always see him as a hero. He was the Military Administrator of Imo State from January 1984 to August 1985, during which he moved the Imo State University, now Abia State University in Uturu, to its permanent site.

From 1986 to 1987 he was Minister of Employment, Labour and Productivity where he founded the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to alleviate the problems of unemployment, especially graduate unemployment. He represented Abia North Senatorial District in the Senate between 1999 and 2003 on the ticket of the PDP.

Nwachukwu, now 76, served as Chairman of two Senate committees, the Senate Committee on Power and Steel and the Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs. He was Minister of Foreign Affairs from December 1987 to December 1989. In September 1990, he was re-appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs and was replaced in January 1993 during the transition to civilian rule. He was active and effective as Foreign Minister, taking an intellectual approach to diplomacy.

In the conference of 2014, he had canvassed for one six-year term for president, five-year term for governors and one four-year term for local government chairmen; rotation of presidency among the six geo-political zones and that areas that have dominated the office in the past should make sacrifice by allowing other zones to produce the president.

The retired general has also retired from active politics, but aspirants still consult him to get his blessing before contesting.

Ọlagunsoye Oyinlọla

He is a tireless retired general who wants to be governor again, at 68. Prince Ọlagunsoye hails from a royal family in Okuku, Odo Ọtin Local Government Area of Ọṣun State. He enlisted in the Nigerian Army as a Signals Corps Private in 1969. He attended the Nigerian Defence Academy, Kaduna and was commissioned as an officer in 1971 into the Armoured Corps of the Nigerian Army.

Oyinlola served as the military administrator of Lagos State during the General Ibrahim Babangida military regime, retiring with the rank of Brigadier-General in 1999. When he returned home after that, it was glaring that the retired senior officer was not tired. He joined politics, and was elected governor of Osun State in 2003 under the umbrella of the PDP. He was re-elected governor in 2007 in an election characterised by violence and his victory was upturned by the Court of Appeal, Ibadan on 26 November, 2010 in favour of the incumbent governor in the state, Mr Rauf Aregbesola.

When Oyinlola left the Government House after the Court of Appeal judgement, many people expected that he would retire from politics and enjoy his retirement but it was not so. He became the National Secretary of PDP when Alhaji Bamanga Tukur was the National Chairman of the party. However, the internal political intrigues in the PDP consumed him, and he was removed from office as national secretary.

As a result of the crisis in the PDP, Oyinlola joined the APC and supported Governor Aregbesola to defeat the PDP candidate in 2014. President Buhari appointed him as the Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) last year, a position he still holds.

Currently, Oyinlola is part of the Coalition for Nigeria movement, spearheaded by former president Olusegun Obasanjo. At the moment, he remains active politically, giving weight yo rumours that he is still nursing governorship ambition. His supporters are insisting that he could contest again since his second term in office was truncated by the Court of Appeal judgement, but he has not openly declared anything.

Muhammad Mansur Dan Ali

A retired Brigadier-General, he hails from Birnin Magaji Local Government Area of Zamfara State, and joined active politics in 2013 shortly after his retirement from the military. He pitched tent with the APC and was appointed member during the National Conference convened by former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Dan Ali served as member of the security committee of the conference. He then declared his intention to represent his zone, Zamfara North, in the Senate even though he withdrew his candidature to pave way for the current senator, Tijjani Yahaya Kaura. He was also a member of Buhari Campaign Organization in 2015 and chairman security committee Yari Campaign Organization in 2015.

After the 2015 general elections, President Buhari appointed him Defence Minister, surprising many in Zamfara, considering that his foray into politics is short, even if he was able to make impact at the grassroots within a short time.

T.Y Danjuma

Like many of his contemporaries, T.Y Danjuma is a civil war veteran. A 19-year military career saw the Taraba State indigene rise to the rank of Lieutenant General. He has served as Chief of Army Staff before retirement in 1979, at age 40. Now 80, he has been playing active role in political permutations at the national level and in his home state.

In 1999, he was appointed minister of defence by then-president Obasanjo. He has over the decades been as adept a politician as he is also a military strategist. Also famously, with other dogged politicians, Danjuma had practically opposed Obasanjo’s attempts in 2006 to perpetuate himself in office through the aborted third term.

Jeremiah Useni

At 75, Senator Jeremiah Timbut Useni, a retired Lieutenant-General, still wants to be governor of Plateau State. In spite of having served as a onetime military governor and minister in the 80s and 90s, and at some point regarded as one of the most powerful Nigerians, it seems he is not ready to quit. His entry into politics since the country’s return to democracy was at the beginning bumpy, but he now sits comfortably at the Senate (Plateau South).

In 2003, he served as the Deputy National Chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), before he later dumped it in 2006 to serve as the chairman of a new party, the Democratic People’s Party (DPP). Despite always being in the opposition, his popularity among very loyal followers still resonates. He had his eyes set on the Senate but lost to Sen. Victor Lar of the then PDP in 2011. He later found his way into the then-ruling PDP in 2014, and thanks to the party, now sits in the Senate. His Abacha days, fraught with drama, have no doubt shaped him to be the politician he is today.

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/generals-who-never-quit-politics.html

Malama Hawwa’u Jamilu, 24, is excited with her newborn twins. She has been engaged in fervent prayers, and she was safely delivered of twins on Sunday, 25th February, 2018. However, the joy that greeted the birth was shortened. The local nurses that delivered the twins noticed that one of them was born with four hands and three legs. Like wildfire, the news spread into the community and people began to troop to Kabiru Kafinta’s house, where Hawwa’u and family are residing, to see things for themselves.

Strangely, Hawwa’u was not perturbed about the physique of her baby. She told Daily Trust that she regarded it as part of the might of Allah. “Both of them are female. Of course, one would have loved to deliver the babies without any deformity. But since Allah in His infinite mercy had decided to create the twins like this, what can I do? This is why you see me relaxed, and I love them both.”

The only peculiar behaviour exhibited by the deformed twin, is a big appetite. “Apart from that,” Hawwa’u said, “she is normal like any other baby. Have you forgotten that I carried her in my womb for nine months? I love my daughter and I know that she is human, despite her physical challenge.”

Hawwa’u said she has given birth three times before now, making the twins her fourth delivery during her six years of marriage.

Similarly, Hawwa’u said she doesn’t attend ante-natal sessions, saying that she delivered her other children at home, same as the twins. “I think the problem is not failure to visit the hospital, because the twins are not my first. As I said earlier, it is just the will of Allah. I gave birth three times, and I have not experienced anything like this. This is the will of Allah and there is nothing one can do about it,” she said.

Daily Trust learnt that when the deformity was discovered, the babies were taken to hospital for examination. It was learnt that the case cannot be handled by a local hospital, but by a tertiary one.

A doctor at the Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital (ABUTH), Dr. Umar Abdul’aziz, said the extra leg and hands can be removed and the little girl can have a normal life. He added: “There is nothing to worry about. It is a case that can be handled by experts after certain investigations. It is however advisable for all pregnant women to be attending ante-natal for their health and that of their unborn babies. Many things can be detected during ante-natal that would assist in safe delivery and correction of abnormalities. It is not proper at this period of the world’s development for somebody to decide to ignore ante-natal and be giving birth at home.”

As Hawwa’u continues to nurse her twins, she is optimistic that the baby will grow up to be “a special person in life.”

https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/baby-born-with-4-hands-3-legs-in-kaduna.html