Headline

Osinbajo: The Travails of a Sitting Vice President

Published

5 years ago

September 21, 2019

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Much as Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the pastor-Vice President and his team try to hide it, it is obvious, as observers have noted that this is not the best of times for the legal luminary, who was against all odds, chosen to be President Muhammadu Buhari’s running mate in the run off to the 2015 Presidential election.

As presented to the average onlooker, things appeared to have gone down well as the rappour between the Vice President and his principal was classic, necessitating the Vice President to describe Buhari ‘like a father to him’. The President’s men have never hesitated to transmute power properly to the Vice president each time there is a reason for the President to be away from duty. In fact, between 2016 and 2017, Osinbajo assumed the exalted position of Acting President when Buhari was in and out of the hospital. This was for a whopping 150 days cumulatively. Within this period, Osinbajo took far reaching decisions that changed game plan, and surprisingly achieved results that endeared him in the hearts of not a few Nigerians.

Most of his far reaching policy decisions included ordering the Central Bank of Nigeria to pump in more foreign currency into the money market, thereby helping to douse the biting recession the country went into, albeit unnecessarily. Again, Osinbajo was instrumental in wielding the big stick leading to the sacking of the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura in August 2018; a man who hails from the same area as President Buhari. Daura’s men in hoods had invaded the National Assembly; an action that was intolerable to democratic principles. Many had believed that the super spy was untouchable. But Osinbajo did the unexpected though desirable. Daura was booted out of office and replaced by Mr. Matthew Seiyefa from the Niger Delta (South South) region. Mr. Seiyefa was unceremoniously removed and retired immediately Buhari stepped foot back into the country.

Not standing for injustice, he saw to the confirmation of Justice Walter Onnoghen as the Chief Justice of Nigeria after the retirement of his predecessor. It is worthy of note that every action taken then, save for the economic decision that took the country out of recession, has been revoked, or persons involved sacked, retired or both.

The actions of the Vice President have not only been thwarted, but stakeholders believed that it has turned around, many months after, to hunt the number two citizen.

Penultimate Tuesday, the nation woke to the news that the Osinbajo-led Economic Management Team, has been disbanded, and in its stead is the Prof Doyin Salami-led Economic Advisory Council with Prof. Charles Soludo, Bismark Rewane and others as members. This committee draws its mandate straight from the President and reports directly to him. Other members are Dr Mohammed Sagagi (vice-chairman); Prof Ode Ojowu; Dr Shehu Yahaya; Dr Iyabo Masha; and Dr Mohammed Adaya Salisu (secretary).

A presidential spokesperson, in defence, said the change was made to bring “a new energy to refocus government to revamp the economy”. However, in other quarters, it was said that the vice president was underperforming, and that necessitated the sudden hammer.

But before that could die down, Buhari followed it up with an order mandating the Vice President to desist from direct supervision of all agencies under him. All instruction must henceforth pass through the President. The VP was once more stripped of his oversight functions; two of the major constitutional functions he performs. The VP’s office however, denied the issue as false. The VP may just be saddled with the responsibility of chairing the National Economic Council (NEC).

Some of these agencies which Osinbajo oversees are the National Emergency Management Agency; the National Boundary Commission; the Border Communities Development Agency, NEMA and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

Presidential source, which craves anonymity confirmed to the Boss that there may be plans on the way to further strip the VP of some of his initiatives such as the Social Investment Programme which comprises the Trader Moni initiative, N-Power, school feeding programme.

“Why do you think the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development headed by Sadiya Umar, was created. Osinbajo’s welfare programmes will soon be fused into the ministry, and then, he will go back to the markets to distribute money again.

“I may not know what preempted the sudden attacks on the VP but I can say that it is capable of ending his stewardship in the Buhari administration,” the source said.

Unconfirmed reports have suggested however, that some prominent South West sons are being pencilled down to replace Osinbajo in the case of eventual resignation or impeachment.

However, facts emerging from various sources have not faulted intimidation of the VP as reason for the ‘witch hunt’. It hinted that the cabal in Aso Rock is bent on rubbishing Mr. Vice President for his decisions, and how he came about them. A source posited that one of such decision was the sacking of Daura. It said that the vice President had ‘blackmailed’ the cabal with resignation if he was not allowed to fire Daura. Recall that the resignation of the Vice President at the time (Buhari was away and terribly sick) would have created room for the then Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, to smell the Presidency, even in acting capacity. And that was one risk the cabal would never take. And so they gave in to Osinbajo’s demand, allowed him to fire Daura, and waited patiently for pay day.

The story of Onnoghen also added another twist to the problems bedeviling the VP. Another source had said that it was never in the agenda of the Buhari administration to appoint or confirm the ousted CJN, the recommendation of the Nigeria Judicial Council notwithstanding. That, according to the source, made the government swear him in on acting capacity even as he was the most senior Justice of the Supreme Court. Without much ado, Osinbajo as Acting President had forwarded Onnoghen’s name to the Senate for confirmation in February on the dot of the three months period allowed for acting, and swore him as substantive CJN a month later. This was an action the President refused to perform despite public clamour. The cabal took note, and waited.

It was obvious the VP was kept in the dark prior to the trial of Onnoghen, and his attempt to defend the President as not being aware was punctuated by the suspension handed down by the President himself even as the trial was yet to be concluded.

Buhari had justified his action, saying that “Although the allegations in the petition are grievous enough in themselves, the security agencies have since then traced other suspicious transactions running into millions of dollars to the CJN’s personal accounts, all undeclared or improperly declared as required by law.”

Quoting a source, The Punch wrote, “The VP underestimated the level of vindictiveness some of these people have towards him.

“They accused Osinbajo of sidelining them when he took critical decisions during Buhari’s medical leave. If you remember, there was a lot of drama surrounding the confirmation hearing of (Walter) Onoghen and the removal of Daura.

“They were also not happy about the issue of the presidential panel on recovery of public assets. Obono-Obla developed a life of his own in handling the assignment given to him. They thought the VP was supposed to have checked him.”

But the Vice President is still carrying on as if nothing happened. He boldly posted on his twitter account of how he chaired the meeting of the NEC on Wednesday. This is as most of his personal aides have been redeployed out of the Villa, to ministries and parastatals. It is believed there’s a grand design to make the VP irrelevant.

The Office of the Vice-President has however, insisted that governance was not affected in any way by Monday’s scrapping of the Economic Management Team by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Most respondents to The Boss opinion poll said nothing has gone wrong as the Vice President still performs his constitutional role. Some believe some people are trying to create a rift between the Vice-President and his principal.

The newly created EAC will advise the President on economic policy matters, including fiscal analysis, economic growth and a range of internal and global economic issues working with the relevant cabinet members and heads of monetary and fiscal agencies.

Again, it will have monthly technical sessions as well as scheduled quarterly meetings with the President. The Chairman may, however, request for unscheduled meetings if the need arises.

The Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, has dismissed the controversy arising from the disbandment of Osinbajo’s team and many other issues as unnecessary, saying the presidency remains one. He hinted that the presidency has no plans to remove the Social Investment Programme from Osinbajo’s control.

“Nothing out of the ordinary is going on. Governance continues and the Presidency remains one. And this Presidency just wants to do what’s best for Nigeria,” he said.

He lambasted some Nigerians for trying to create another meaning to the issue on the ground and create enmity the President and the Vice-President.

But the Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, believes Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo’s office has been rendered useless, impotent and irrelevant though it cautions against hasty decision.

“For now we will not jump into any premature conclusion that this is about 2023 alone. We will need to know if we will need more information to know whether it is political or whether there was abuse of office or process.

“But the barrage of the last 48 hours shows that there is something wrong. We will wait to have all the facts because we don’t want to say a Yoruba man is being attacked.

“They may have had a justifiable reason to do so. But we are taking note of every development and at the appropriate time, we will make our position known. But clearly, what has happened is that the VP’s office has been rendered impotent, useless and irrelevant,” the group said.

The Nigeria Vice President is empowered by the Constitution to participate in all cabinet meetings and, by statute, membership of the National Security Council, the National Defence Council, Federal Executive Council, and the Chairman of National Economic Council.

His other duties are as determined by the President. Going by how vice presidents are chosen in Nigeria, it is not surprising that most of them are not given juicy functions. They sit and wait upon the whims and caprices of Mr. President. The selection of the vice presidential running mates most of the time are by arrangement, with or without the presidential candidate’s express permission, and Osinbajo was no exception. His emergence was a product of the alliance of three parties the CPC, ACN, and ANPP with a minute fraction of APGA led former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha.

Political watchers are of the opinion that if Buhari was in need of a vice president, it would definitely not be an Osibanjo. Many had believed that former President Goodluck Jonathan is the typical example of a badly treated vice president, but Osinbajo is fast overtaking the trend.

It must not be forgotten that only last month, Buhari had instructed that all ministerial authorities be channeled through his Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, for approval just as issues concerning the Federal Executive Council were also instructed to go through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha. Observers have questioned ‘wherein lies the vice president in all these.

Osinbajo, according to a respondent, may just have to make do with sharing tradermoni for now, attending condolence visits and enjoying the pleasures that come with being a VP while it lasts. And only God knows how soon it will last.

Headline

Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway: Prioritize Existing Unfinished Projects, Peter Obi Tells FG

Published

2 days ago

April 22, 2024

Eric

Mr. Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 general election, has advised the federal government to prioritize existing unfinished projects spread across the country instead of the Lagos-Calabar coastal highway project.

Obi, in a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, stated that the project was a misplaced priority given the numerous unfinished roads throughout the country.

The former governor of Anambra State mentioned that the budget allocated to the Ministry of Works is insufficient for significant progress on the country’s various unfinished roads, much less their completion.

Obi therefore, advised that the government prioritize the existing infrastructural projects in the country before embarking on any new and colossal projects like the Lagos-Calabar super highway project.

“The Federal Ministry of Works 2024 capital budget of N892,461,262,656.00, additional funding from multilateral loan projects of N94,828,535,243.00, alongside other expected contributions from sources like the China-Exim Bank and the World Bank, will not be enough for serious work on all the critical roads, some of which I enumerated above, let alone their completion.

So, why embark on another huge project that will not be completed in the next 20 or 30 years?

“To do so will only exacerbate the problem of abandoned, uncompleted projects that are not contributing to economic growth and overall development.

“Therefore, while acknowledging the potential benefits of coastal superhighway infrastructure, I urge prioritization of our existing uncompleted projects. We must allocate resources towards repairing and completing existing infrastructure.

“In any development formula, the primary focus should be on completing and rehabilitating existing infrastructure rather than embarking on colossal new projects that may never reach completion within the next 30 years,” Obi said.

Back in March, the Federal Government began constructing the 700-kilometer Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, designed to extend through 9 states with two spurs leading to the Northern States.

Recall that former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, had earlier described the project as a fraud.

“Umahi had announced that Hitech would fully fund the project, and based on this, there was no competitive bidding. He (Umahi) then said that Hitech could only raise just 6% of the money for the pilot phase. This smacks of deceit,” Atiku said.

Headline

2027 Presidential Race: Opposition Parties Under Attack

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2024

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

While it is still a whole three years before the next general election in 2027, The Boss has learnt that opposition parties in the countries are being muffled to pave the way for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to return to, and retain power.

From the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to the Labour Party (LP), and down to the New Nigerian Peoples Paty (NNPP), crises have engulfed the rank and files, in what a source told this paper was the attempt and making of the ruling party, APC, to decimate, destabilize and make redundant the machineries of the opposition parties.

It is believed that by 2027, the apparatuses holding together the various opposition parties would have weakened irredeemably to the extent the country would seemingly nosedive into the inglorious one party state that every civil right advocate and democrats abhor.

It is alleged that all the crises in all the opposition parties are being engineered by the President Bola Tinubu-led ruling APC, with the hope of getting the fibres of their system weakened, thereby luring the members of the crisis-ridden parties into the APC.

Slightly one year after the last presidential election, the two major opposition platforms, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party, have separately been embroiled in a crisis of confidence which has diminished their capacity to provide viable opposition to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

The crises in both opposition parties got to a head. The Labour Party led by its national chairman Julius Abure held its much-opposed national convention which was boycotted by its 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi; its only governor, Alex Otti of Abia State; federal and state lawmakers elected on its platform, and the organised Labour.

In the Labour Labour, members have been embroiled in endless battle of supremacy with a faction led by Mr. Apapa steadily contesting the leadership of Julius Abure.

Consequently, the presidential candidate of the party in the 2023 elections, Mr. Peter Obi, reverence as a leader in the fold, noting that whatever the party faces presently, that Nigeria’s problems are far bigger than the crises in his party.

The LP has been embroiled in crises — ranging from allegations of misappropriation of funds, and leadership tussle, to calls for the resignation of the party’s national chairman.

TheCable reported that “On March 27, the LP conducted a national convention in Anambra state where Julius Abure was re-elected as its national chairman.

Obi did not attend the convention, fuelling speculations that he may be mulling over ditching the LP for another platform.

Speaking during an appearance on HaveYourSay247, an interactive online session hosted by Rudolf Okonkwo over the weekend, Obi said he is confident that the crises rocking the LP will soon be resolved amicably.

“Whatever is happening in the Labour Party is so minute compared to what is happening in the country,” Obi said.

“So, for me, it is something we will resolve amicably, and it is not anything to worry about. Let us worry about the country.

“Let us worry about how the average Nigerian would be able to have a means of livelihood to be able to eat, that should be our worry.”

Obi said he has no interest in being the party’s leader but only to make sure things are done properly.

“I don’t see what I do in politics as being the leader of any place or not. My position is that just like I always say, I am not desperate to be president of Nigeria, I am desperate to see Nigeria work because I know it can work,” he added.

“We have a more desperate situation. Parties are just a means to be able to contest elections. What is important is that being a leader of a party does not reduce the price of food.

In the PDP, the shenanigans of former Rivers State Governor, Mr. Nyesom Wike, has practically kept the party in constant crisis with many observers concluding that the now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is working for the APC, and is just a mole in the PDP. Wike has denied the allegation, however,

But news filtered in last week as that the immediate past Governor of Rivers State, and Minister may have concluded plans to attend the much advertised National Executive Council (NEC) meeting of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), billed to hold on Thursday, in Abuja.

Impeccable source, who is in the know, told The Boss that the minister, whose membership of the PDP is yet to be revoked even as he frolicks with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), and serving in the President Bola Tinubu government as a minister.

The Source told The Boss that Wike’s impending presence at the NEC meeting on Thursday was not unconnected with plans, already hatched with some governors, to weaken the opposition PDP.

“Yes, we have on good authority that FCT minister, Wike is planning to attend the NEC meeting tomorrow all in a bid to weaken the fabrics of the PDP, and pave the way for the continuation of the Tinubu administration come 2027, and by extension, relapse Nigeria to a full blown one party state.

“From every indication, Wike and his co-travellers, are bent on unleashing the same crisis ravaging the third force, Labour Party, and Senator Rabiu Kwankwaso’s Nigerian National People’s Party (NNPP) on the PDP for the APC to remain the only political party in the country, and ensure that Tinubu has no challenger, come 2027,” the Source said.

It would be recalled that Wike has boasted over and again that there’s no opposition against Tinubu’s re-emergence in 2027, and that they have made sure of that. He has been compensated with the Ministerial job after he withdrew support for his party, and supported the APC and Tinubu to emerge as national government.

The Source further revealed that in the attempt to actualize the intended one party state, a lot of funding is ongoing to ensure that concerned stakeholders are ‘settled’ handsomely.

Wike, prior, during and after the 2023 general elections, has been floating in between the two major political parties; the APC and the PDP. While he claim to still be a member of the PDP, he is functioning as a minister in an APC government, mocking the inability of his party to discipline him.

While political stakeholders concluded that the outcome of the Thursday’s PDP NEC meeting will determine the path Nigeria’s political trajectory will take, and that it may portend the end of multi-party system and political democracy if Wike succeeds in his plan; every page of what finally transpired at the meeting pointed to the fact.

The much touted removal of the party chairman, who is believed to be a crony of the Abuja minister, Damagum, retained his seat, with his executives.

“It is very clear to everyone that a lot of money politics is being played to cajole many loyal members of the party, forcing them into frustration, and eventually it of the party. The option afterwards, will be the APC. This, will for all intent and purpose actualize the intended one party state as an APC agenda.

The Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso-led NNPP is not faring better either. The only governor under their ticket, Abba Kabir Yusuf, just had the confidence of their party on him withdrawn. He was fighting for his political life until suddenly it was announced the the APC in Kano has collapsed its structure into the NNPP.

“This is just another APC strategy to actualize their hidden intentions. Time will reveal the very sinister agenda they harboring,” an analyst said.

Much as 2027 is still three years away, but intrigues are in play to render Nigeria a one party state, and perpetuate the APC in power. The three other opposition parties are basically under attack to bring to pass this unpopular agenda.

Headline

Akwa Ibom Government, Governor Umo Eno Receive Top Honors at the 10th Wonders of the World Expo in Lagos

Published

3 days ago

April 21, 2024

Admin

The Akwa Ibom State Government and Governor Pastor Umo Eno were recognized with Travellers Awards at the 10th Wonders of the World Expo in Lagos for their sustained enhancement of infrastructure, support for local talent, and dedication to investment in the tourism sector. The ceremony took place at the National Museum in Onikan, Lagos.

While Akwa Ibom won the Most Active Tourism State of the Year, Governor Eno was adjudged the most Tourism-Friendly Governor of the Year at the event that had Minister of Tourism, Mrs. Lola Ade John in attendance.

According to Amb. Ikechi Uko, Founder/Publisher of ATQ Magazine, the organizers of the event which is in its tenth edition, Akwa Ibom State won the top prize “in recognition of its valiant and resourceful efforts to drive and sustain domestic tourism by promoting the industry.

‘In 2023, Akwa Ibom was one of the states that hosted World Tourism Day (WTD ) events. The state also organized the famous Christmas Unplugged, which featured music, food, and cultures from all 31 LGAs as well as ensured friendly policies.”

While hoping that the Travellers Awards would spur Akwa Ibom to do more to dominate the domestic tourism industry, the organizers hoped that the state would gradually evolve into one of Nigeria’s top international tourism destinations.

That was not all, the state Commissioner of Culture and Tourism, Sir Charles Udoh was also recognized as one of the Top 100 Tourism Personalities in Nigeria for demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovation in the travel and tourism industry, while other Akwa Ibom indigenes and entity were also celebrated: Mrs. Ime Udo, Honorary Special Adviser to the Governor( Tourism) won Tourism Promoter of the Year, Favour Udo won Tourism Photographer of the Year, Loretta Effiong and Prince Uduak Sunday (Qua Tours) were listed among the Tourism Personalities of the Year and Ibom Air won Airline of the Year International.

In his remarks, Sir Charles Udoh, who represented the Governor at the event, thanked the organizers for the awards and noted that Akwa Ibom is certainly enjoying the golden era when it comes to tourism development. He stated that Governor Umo Eno is very keen on making Akwa Ibom a leading tourism destination with his programmes and policies.

He revealed that with the new Victor Attah International Airport nearing completion, the purchase of a ferry for the Oron-Calabar route, new developments along its coastline and the restoration work that will be done at all its major tourism sites, Akwa Ibom is well on the way to becoming the number one destination for all domestic and foreign tourists.

In her speech, Tourism Minister, Mrs. Ade John hailed the organizers for hosting the Expo, where practitioners were lectured by top experts while also rewarding those who have excelled in the past year.

She affirmed that her ministry is open to partnership with public and private sector operators, adding that tourism development can only be successful through collaborative efforts.

The event, which attracted leading and budding tourism professionals, also featured interactive and entertainment sessions.

Apart from Sir Charles Udoh and Mrs. Ime Udo, the Akwa Ibom State delegation, also included: Mr. Michael Effiong James, Senior Special Assistant (Lagos Liaison) to Governor, Mrs. Eme Bassey, Special Assistant to Governor (Lagos Liaison) and Akparawa John Offiong, Deputy Director ( Culture) Ministry of Culture and Tourism.

More photos below: