OSINBAJO AND THE  BILE OF A GRASSCUTTER 
By Wale Adeduro 


The APC Presidential primary election has come and gone. Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, with tremulous hands, has received the flag of APC for the 2023 Presidential elections. However, myopic hirelings are still stabbing the untainted image of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. His offence is that he dared to aspire to become the next President of Nigeria just as their principal, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. With broken chords the traducers of Osinbajo continue to play the music of betrayal. They believe they are shaming Osinbajo but the world knows that Osinbajo did not lose the election to a better candidate.
 All the APC Governors who scurried out of the State box immediately Osinbajo made his speech during the APC primaries to teleguide their states' delegates not to vote for Osinbajo equally know that Osinbajo's competence as Nigeria's next President is not in doubt. It is now in the public domain how millions of dollars and choice properties in the United Arab Emirates influenced many privileged APC political actors to mobilise their cohorts against the dream for a new Nigeria, as represented by Osinbajo. These political perverts forget that lie, however far it runs, shall ultimately be overtaken by the truth. 

Despite losing the APC Presidential primary election on Wednesday 8 June, 2022, Osinbajo is not a loser. Osinbajo is the flagbearer of the teeming masses of Nigeria who desire a shift from money politics and unbridled corruption. A movement for a new Nigeria devoid of primordial hegemony has been conceived. Osinbajo is undoubtedly the forerunner of a new Nigeria that will be born in his active lifetime.
Minions and hirelings who insist on crushing Osinbajo do not know that Nigeria's erudite Vice President and Professor of Law is made of sterner stuff. He is a man of convictions who cannot be cowed by mockery and blackmail. He is also not in the class of grasscutters. 

Grasscutters are peculiarly vicious. My wife and I once had a strange experience with grasscutters. We bought three grasscutters, a male and two females, for experimental domestic breeding, on one of our trips to Songhai Institute, an innovative integrated agricultural farm in Benin Republic.
A few days after we took the three grasscutters home, we had to travel for some days. Our staff member who was saddled with feeding the grasscutters, for some inexplicable reason, forgot to serve them breakfast and lunch on a certain day. By the time he went to feed them later in the day, he didn't see any of the three grasscutters. He saw the freshly constructed kernel littered with bones and splattered with the blood of the grasscutters.
When we returned and discovered what happened I put a call through to our mentor at Songhai Institute. His explanation was shocking. Caged grasscutters, when denied the opportunity of feeding on grass, eat one another. It is a case of eating whoever denies an individual the opportunity of feasting, however unethical the meal is.
It is therefore not surprising that Engineer David Babachir Lawal, has gone to town with shining daggers to eat Osinbajo for lunch. The infamous former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) was sacked for fraudulently awarding a grass-cutting contract to his company, Rolavision for the sum of N544 million in 2017. The disgraced and sacked SGF believes that Osinbajo recommended his sack so he has waited all this while to take his pound of flesh and crack the bones of the unblemished Vice President of Nigeria. The millionaire grasscutter and former SGF who has also been charged for not being able to account for the sum of N220 million meant for the welfare of Internally Displaced Persons, IDPs, in the North-East should hide his head in shame for being the first SGF to be expelled out of office with ignominy in Nigeria. 
Everyone knows that Lawal is a drowning man struggling tooth and nail to use Osinbajo as a straw to keep his head above stormy waters. Lawal is also running from pillar to post, despite his pretensions of doing otherwise, to be chosen as Tinubu's running mate. That was why he, in his clumsy writing, replete with the bile of a grasscutter, advertised that he is a "Christian" and called Osinbajo "a demon". His statement portrays his ignorance and betrays his claim to Christianity. Otherwise, he won't be addressing a human being as "a demon". Every baptised Christian knows that demons are spirit beings and not human beings. Lawal should be forgiven because he has been overwhelmed by a seething rage against Osinbajo. His reasoning has been overcome with the bile of the grasscutter that he has become.
No matter how hard he tries, Lawal should know that a disgraced and unrepentant fellow cannot represent Christians in national politics. APC would be making a costly mistake to choose a grasscutter as the running mate to its flagbearer. If, as SGF, Lawal was caught with his hands in the cookie jar, would he not disappear with the cookie jar if he (God forbid!) becomes Nigeria's Vice President? 

City People Magazine, an indelicate entertainment publication, has also gone to town with a screaming headline in its current edition, "Why Yorubas Won't Forgive Osinbajo''. Such a ridiculous headline only tells you that some people are just lining up to take their own share of the largesse from the infamous bullion van. Meanwhile, Yoruba leaders of thought, as far back as 2019, had been reported by Vanguard newspaper as warning that, “whatever negative that happens to Osinbajo politically is an affront to the Yoruba race regardless of his political affiliation.”  In what way has Osinbajo, with his enviable pedigree and sterling performance as Nigeria's President, offended the entire yoruba race? Warped minds are postulating that, by aspiring to be Nigeria's next President and contesting with Tinubu, a fellow Yoruba leader, Osinbajo has committed an unpardonable offence. 
These developments are not strange. It is the way of dubious Nigerians. If Osinbajo had won the election as the presidential flag bearer of APC Nigerians would have been bombarded with flattering headlines such as "Osinbajo: The Rise and Rise of a Yoruba Leader'' or "How Osinbajo Stopped Money Politics in Nigeria''. It is however comforting that right thinking and forward looking Nigerians know that a new Nigeria has begun. In football, there is a concept called "return match". In due season all those who believe in a new Nigeria will celebrate victory during the impending "return match". Professor Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbajo (GCON) is still coming.

▪︎Dr. Adeduro is a Productivity Consultant.

Babachir Lawal: the anger of a disgraced government officia

By Peter Ogbeide

I have just read a long, badly-written essay cobbled together by Babachir Lawal, the disgraced former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF). His point is that by running for President, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has betrayed Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It is the same old, hackneyed argument pushed by the Tinubu camp, only that this time, his article drips with malice, anger and grudges. It is also replete with grammatical blunders. What type of SGF was Babachir if he is so poor in written English?

The fact is that Babachir was sacked by President Buhari in October 2017 because he awarded a humungous contract for grass-cutting to his company, Rolavision. Before his sack, the government has suspended him from office to allow for a fair investigation into his offences. The government, after due investigations, determined that Babachir’s act was a clear act of corruption and in one of those rare moments of swiftness, the President fired him. We should recall that his termination was widely received by Nigerians across the country and they called for his prosecution. EFCC has since filed charges against him. He should be grateful that he’s not in jail today.

But Babachir believes that it was the VP that recommended his sack, and so he’s carried a long memory of anger and malice against Prof Osinbajo. In his article currently going around the social media, Babachir Lawal is taking his pound of flesh by insulting Osinbajo and calling him names. What a shame! In other countries, Babachir Lawal should have committed suicide for embarrassing the country and bringing shame to his family. But in Nigeria, he is going about campaigning for Tinubu.

But no amount of name-calling would erase the story of Babachir’s corruption scandal and unethical conduct from our collective memory. Till today, Nigerians still refer to the ‘’grass-cutting’’ disgrace as a symbol of corruption under the Buhari administration. The opposition employs this phrase whenever they want to taunt the Buhari administration. Indeed, Babachir is the first SGF in the history of this country to be sacked, indicted, charged and detained by the government (this time EFCC) for corruption. It is an eternal shame and a badge of dishonor he will wear till the end of his life. His children will forever be ashamed of carrying his name.

I will not say much on the issue of alleged betrayal of Tinubu because so many Nigerians have written about it and the general consensus is that the VP, and indeed, any other Nigerian has the right to contest the Presidency because Nigeria is not Tinubu’s personal property. The fact that he’s captured Lagos in the past 23 years and turned it into his personal asset does not debar the VP from running. Tinubu has been deified for so long, especially by those who have benefitted from his corrupt empire that he now assumes that he’s a god or king. Corrupt people like Babachir can adore and worship Tinubu all they can, but it would however be a dangerous precedent to support a presidential aspirant with a god complex.

Yemi Osinbajo has the right, like every Nigerian, to aspire to any office he wishes to occupy. The VP does not owe Tinubu any apology or permission to pursue his dreams. I urge the EFCC to prosecute Babachir diligently. He has to pay the price for his action.

Whatever the outcome of the Presidential Primary, I'm very pleased that the VP is acknowledged as a very decent, honest and capable leader. Prof Osinbajo has never been associated with any act of corruption, unethical conduct and misdemeanor.

COMMENT ON THE STATEMENT MADE BY A LEADING APC FLAGBEARER CANDIDATE

It is perhaps not surprising that on the eve of the All Progressives Congress (APC) flagbearer primary there are those running as candidates who wish to associate themselves with the President’s rise to elected office seven years ago.

There are many people who played parts large and small in his historic election in 2015, making history as the first opposition candidate to defeat a sitting president with power changing hands peacefully at the ballot box.

There are those who advised the President to run again; those who decided to build a political party – the APC – that could finally be the political vehicle capable of delivering victory where all other opposition parties and alliances before it had failed.

Those decisions may have been agreed upon by a few. But they were delivered by thousands and voted for by tens of millions. No one can or should claim to have made the possible.

Yet as important as that moment was, it is not what should decide the next general election.

What matters is the future: the policy platforms, the ideas, the drive, and the determination to take over the President’s stewardship of our country and build upon his legacy to make our country better than it has ever been.

The person most demonstrable in those qualities is the one to lead our party and our country forward.

Garba Shehu
Senior Special Assistant to the President
(Media & Publicity)
June 06, 2022

On his way to the airport this morning, VP Osinbajo came across a road traffic accident, stopped to lend assistance and ensured victim was taken to the hospital with VP's convoy ambulance. He then proceeded on his trip and is now in Ondo State heading to site of yesterday's attack in Owo.

My Channels TV Interview Taken Out of Context

1. When I appeared on Channels TV last Thursday amidst the tension rippling through our political arena, it was to underline the promise Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s presidential bid held for those yet to establish the certainty of the hurdle ahead of the APC. I never set out to denigrate the personality of any aspirant, and definitely not that of my dear friends and allies. None of them is an opponent, so their aspiration isn’t a threat to us. They appear so in the sprint to become the party’s presidential flag-bearer in the 2023 elections, but they are our allies in the marathon.

2. My assessments of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, and the President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, were well-intentioned. I never set out to subject them to ridicule but, rather, to stir up interest in the contrasting virtues of the cast of aspirants putting up a fight against my preferred aspirant, one most favoured and advantaged to guarantee APC’s victory in the forthcoming presidential election.

3. The interpretations of my remarks on Professor Osinbajo and Senator Lawan are, thus, being done literally and overblown. My words weren’t woven to portray them as unworthy aspirants, but merely to qualify them as non-threatening contenders. I, however, take full responsibility for my utterances and wish to appeal to our teeming supporters to neither take my words out of their metaphoric contexts nor interpret them as a measure and declaration of hostility towards my dear friends and allies.

4. I hereby tender my unreserved apologies to the Vice President and the President of the Senate for the unintended pains my jibes might have caused them and their families and supporters.

5. As we approach the finishing line of this tense political race, I’m not unaware of who the actual opponents are. A divided house, even if in the assumptions and imaginations of supporters with a distant grasp of our relationships with other aspirants, is the last impression we wish to create among Nigerians.

6. I want this to be taken as an appeal to our supporters across all political camps to build bridges and mend fences as the actual journey is just about to begin. Victory, for the discerning, has always been the first lap of the race. Thank you for your understanding.

Kashim Shettima

EXCLUSIVE: Osinbajo Tops Screening List As Only Tinubu Rejects APC Consensus Option

By Remi Adebayo

Facts have emerged from the report of the screening committee that examined the presidential aspirants of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.

The report was submitted to the Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu at its national headquarters at Wuse 2 in Abuja on Friday, by its Chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun.

AbujaCityJournal reliably gathered that Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo scored 98 per cent points to come top on the list.

Insider source confided in this newspaper that the aspirants were grilled on competence, knowledge about the nation, and skills to manage the nation, as well as the ability to defend the legacies of the President Muhammadu Buhari, and willingness to accept party supremacy, among other things.

A member of the panel who does not want to be named, said the Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo exhibited statesmanship, deepest knowledge and skills about governance, and was the only one who put up fierce defence for President Muhammadu Buhari's administration and his legacy, even when many are dodgy and avoiding to be identified, especially with some policies of the current administration.

"Prof truly understood the policies of the Buhari's Government and interestingly, he didn't shy away from them. He explained and educated us on these programmes.

"The Vice President didn't appear like a desperate aspirant; he put up such defence that you wonder, that if the target was to prune down the list because of this administration, he was ready to sacrifice the seat.

"We sincerely would have scored him more, but I have not seen where a student scored more than the available points."

On his part, the source said the panel found one of the aspirants, and a former governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu deficient in many areas.

"Like the Chairman of the Committee said while submitting the report today; although he didn't mention the name, it was only Asiwaju Tinubu who objected to the party supremacy on the consensus arrangement for the APC to choose its candidate.

"As a matter of fact, the only condition he accepted was if he would be the only beneficiary. We considered that strange and selfish. Even the Vice President agreed to that provision, all in the interest of our party," our source said.

He noted that the screening committee was fair enough, but had to guide the party considering its mandate and the best interest of the country.

"We cannot just impose someone whose antecedents will be a burden to the APC. A top chieftain of the party who stood before the committee was incoherent and very disorganized to be trusted with running the country," the source told AbujaCityJournal.

While presenting the report to the National Chairman of the APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu on Friday, Oyegun had hinted that about 98-99 percent of the 23 aspirants that presented themselves for screening offered to back down if the party could convince them on the consensus arrangement.

"Against every aspirants, the issue of consensus and it is pleasant surprise that 98 to 99% agreed that the party is supreme. And that whatever the party finally decides with proper consultation, they will likely to accept. We had only one exception who said yes, he will accept consensus so long as it is build on him," Oyegun noted.

The source hinted, that that aspirant in question was Tinubu.

Although the official details of the report is still being awaited, our Correspondent was unable to confirm the names of the 10 aspirants said to have been disqualified by the screening committee on Friday.

"I'm sorry, that will be going too far. Please, wait for the party to make the report public then, your question can be further answered."

Babachir Lawan tackles Tinubu over comment on Buhari

Disclosing this in a statement made known to Vanguard, Lawan said: “Sometimes it is very difficult to support a Yoruba person in national politics if you are not one.

They have a way of making you regret your support because they eventually make you seem like a traitor to your own people. Now all these comments about Bola’s Yoruba presidency and his support of Buhari without which Buhari would not have been president is bulshit.
“He wasn’t the only one whose support made a difference. There were many others from all around the country and they are not bragging about it.
“You may wish to know that all of us Buhari supporters are shocked and pissed off by Bola’s speech on this occasion. It is unlike him.
“And this speech is massively trending in the North and being given a negative connotation as you can well imagine. I first read it this morning on an Adamawa group platform and the anger is palpable and all round.

ACN was a local regional/tribal party based in Lagos.

Buhari's CPC was a stronger northern tribal party based up north.

Even when Buhari lost the presidential election, his total votes was several multiples of what APC garnered in the West.

Tinubu backed Ribadu and failed.

Tinubu backed Adeola, but failed.

Tinubu backed Atiku, and also failed.

Buhari's emergence as APC's presidential candidate, gave the party a wider acceptability and stronger platform nationwide.

Buhari's acceptance brought in the 12m votes. Tinubu could not get a reasonable percentage of votes from his stronghold as Contribution to the overall winning votes.

Even in Lagos the stronghold of APC, the party defeated PDP by less than 100,000 votes!!!

Buhari is the person that should be boastful, not Tinubu...

FACT CHECK

Did Tinubu actually win 2015 Election For Buhari, or is it just a Propaganda?

_by HardMirror_

Tinubu supporters have always acclaimed the political genius Tinubu is. How without Tinubu, Buhari can never become president, How tinubu ensured Buhari won.

How True is this?
To get the truth, we have to look at the facts, to get the facts we have to look at the records.

2007
In 2007 Tinubu and Atiku aligned against Obasanjo and Yaradua. They spent money, played all their cards but still lost to Yaradua. Not only did they lose, Atiku came a distant 3rd.
Yaradua had 24.6 Million votes
BUHARI HAD 6 million votes
ATIKU WITH TINUBUS HELP ONLY HAD 2.6 million votes.
Buhari had 4million votes more than tinubu and atiku could get without spending the money tinubu and atiku spent
So tinubu proved to be a light weight in national politics in 2007.

*2011*
Tinubu regroup again in 2011 with his ACN party and presented Nuhu Ribadu. How well did they do?
Jagaban was only able to get 2million votes where Buhari without the money and Media strategies of Mr. Tinubu got a whopping 12 million votes. JONATHAN WON WITH 22MILLION VOTES!

Again Tinubu failed woefully in 2011, he even got lesser votes than in 2007. But Buhari got double the votes he had in 2007. Showing that Buhari was getting more popular and stronger.

*2015*
2015 was finally the year that projected tinubu to the status he hold till date. It is believed that tinubu helped Buhari win. BUT DID HE? Let us look at the results again.
LAGOS AND OSUN STATE ARE THE 2 STATES COMPLETELY UNDER TINUBU YET BUHARI ONLY WON NARROWLY BY ABOUT 100,000 VOTES IN BOTH STATES. TINUBU could not deliver massive votes for Buhari in the Entire SW. It was embarrassing.
Buhari only managed to win GEJ thanks to KANO, KATSINA and KADUNA. Where he massively floored GEJ. If not for Buhari's popularity in the North, he would have lost as he only narrowly won GEJ. This is also thanks to Kwankwaso as you can see how mu h kwankwaso helped Atiku in 2019 again. Proving kwankwaso is a bigger fish than tinubu in national politics always giving his candidates massive results.
Please note that TINUBU had zero influence in the states that gave Buhari massive votes in 2015.
GEJ HAD PDP CRISIS AT THAT TIME HEADED BY OBASANJO WHO LEFT PDP. not tinubu.
North felt Yaradua did not finish his tenure and a northerner must continue not GEJ.
CHIBOK GIRLS kidnap also was a big factor that tarnished Gej as incompetent.
In all this Tinubu had almost no positive contribution that helped Buhari win.
He paid media and people to go online and start spreading the news that he was the master mind behind Buhari winning. Buhari had always been bigger than tinubu in national politics and the results are there for all to see. Tinubu could not even deliver for Buhari in 2015

In his characteristic manner, Tinubu made two statements that were pure lies at the screening of APC presidential aspirants yesterday, the first lie was that he brought Enron to Nigeria while the second lie is that he brought Econet to Nigeria.

While I won't accuse the geriatric of deliberately telling lies because of the obvious dementia symptoms that he has been exhibiting over the years, I will set the records straight.

Concerning Enron, after the company went bankrupt in 2001 some of their disused equipment were put of for sale. Lagos state government under the leadership of Tinubu without doing due diligence bought one of their old power plants.

This power plant was diesel powered, obsolete and very expensive to run and as a result of this they couldn't reach an agreement to integrate it into the national grid and it ended up being a wasted investment. It is dubious to claim that you brought a company that was already bankrupt to Nigeria just because you bought obsolete and disused equipment from them.

On the issue of Econet, Tinubu never played any role in bringing the company to Nigeria, the credit belongs to Bolaji Balogun and Strive Masyiwa who worked together to bring the company to Nigeria.

Lagos state government only invested in Econet after they got their operating license and needed funds to rollout. Delta state and a good number of other institutional investors also joined in investing in the company so it's very fraudulent for Tinubu to claim that he brought Econet to Nigeria just because Lagos state government joined others in investing in the company.

Even though I didn't expect any better given his questionable character, one would have expected that a man of his age and experience would not resort to obvious lies that can be easily exposed in his desperation to achieve his lifetime ambition.

If indeed he had any real achievements after his 23 years hegemony in Lagos state, he won't have had to resort to lies to market his presidential hallucinations. Let's all remain vigilant.
- *Kunle Oshobi*.

APC 2023 PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY:
VP OSINBAJO CONCLUDES INTERACTIVE SESSIONS WITH APC DELEGATES, STAKEHOLDERS IN 36 STATES, FCT

With his visits to Benue and Lagos States yesterday, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has now concluded his engaging interactive sessions with stakeholders and delegates of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC in all the 36 States and the FCT, Abuja.

The Vice President had declared his intention to contest the 2023 presidential election under the platform of the APC on Monday, April 11, in a televised and online broadcast which went viral on traditional, digital and social media platforms, with scores of millions at home and abroad welcoming the VP’s presidential declaration.

“I believe that the very reason why the Almighty God gave me these experiences, these insights, and these opportunities, is that they must be put to the use of our country and its great people,” the VP had stated in his declaration speech.

The Vice President then began the interactive sessions with the delegates in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Friday, April 22.

At every of those interactions with stakeholders and delegates from the 36 States and the FCT, Prof. Osinbajo had robust question-and-answer sessions while also discussing and exchanging ideas.

During the interactive sessions, Prof. Osinbajo fielded questions on various national issues, including security, economy, technology, education, health, youth, women empowerment, social investments; and exchanged ideas on issues of national development, governance and politics.

At the end of each interactive session, the VP took time to personally share moments with all the delegates and stakeholders while taking photographs with every one of them individually.

During the visits across the country, he also paid courtesy calls at the palaces of traditional rulers, meeting with many of the Traditional Council in the respective States.

The APC Special Convention for the presidential primaries comes up on Sunday May 29, 2022.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
26th May 2022

IGNORE OUTLANDISH REPORT THAT OSINBAJO CAMPAIGN WILL PROVIDE HOTEL ACCOMMODATION FOR OVER 7000 APC DELEGATES

We have seen an outlandish news report that a so-called "Osinbajo Campaign Organisation has said that it would provide hotel accommodation for more than 7,000 All Progressives Congress delegates across the country during the party’s presidential primary election."

Attributing such a claim to Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Special Adviser to the President, in the Office of the Vice-President, the report falsely claimed that "Ojudu announced this to delegates in Minna, while wooing them to vote for Osinbajo during the party’s primaries."

For the records, Senator Ojudu at no time made such a claim and the Osinbajo Campaign team has no such plans. Such reported offers of free accommodation and free food should be ignored.

The Vice President continues to spend time interacting directly with the APC delegates and stakeholders across the States answering their questions on issues of politics and governance. It is the plan and intention of the Osinbajo Campaign Team to keep engaging the APC delegates on the major issues of the day, exchanging ideas on how to move the country forward and forging a partnership of stakeholders whose collaboration would go beyond the 2023 elections.

Signed: Osinbajo Campaign Media Team
May 19, 2022

It's so glaring Professor Yemi Osinbajo is the right candidate APC can put forward and the best man indeed for the job. It take a man of sincerity, discipline and committed to lead this country.

APC Convention: How the delegates may vote

By Yinusa Duba

It is exactly two weeks to the Special National Convention of APC, and there are clear indications that bookmakers may be in for a shocker as Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is increasingly facing strong headwinds in his bid to clinch the Party’s presidential ticket. A zone-by-zone analysis of delegates’ preferences, realignments of APC governors, President Buhari’s behind-the-scene moves and emerging voting patterns indicate that Vice President Yemi Osinbajo will likely emerge winner at the Convention on June 1. Of the 22 or aspirants, only three – Osinbajo, Tinubu and Amaechi – are the serious contenders. The rest came into the race for many reasons, and so I won’t waste time profiling their chances. In fact, I am sure that these unserious ones will step down before the Convention begins.

South West

In the South West region, Tinubu will take Lagos, his home base, and take a slight lead in Osun. The VP will win Ondo, Oyo, Ekiti and Ogun. The governors of these three states are solidly with the Osinbajo. But Osun is in strong contention by Tinubu and the VP, and so the votes would be almost evenly split between the two.

South South

While Chibuike Amaechi will take his home state of Rivers, Osinbajo will sweep Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Delta and Bayelsa. In Bayelsa, Timipreh Sylva’s firm grip on the delegates is the VP’s advantage. Sylva will easily align with President Buhari and vote Osinbajo. In Akwa Ibom, the VP is banking on the supports of bigwigs like former Deputy Governor Nsima Ekere, Senator Udoma Udo Udoma and Senator Ita Enang, among others; while in neighbouring Cross River State, Gov. Ben Ayade is leading the battalion of supporters rooting for the VP. In Delta, Senator Omo Ovie-Agege and Minister of State for Labour, Mr. Festus Keyamo are the driving forces behind the VP. There would be serious contention for Edo State by both the VP and Tinubu. Although former APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole may be rooting for Tinubu in Edo, but the statutory delegates are solidly behind the VP.





South East

The South East delegates are going to the Convention with a sense of grievance. They would have loved to vote for an aspirant from their zone. But in the absence of that, the voting pattern would be disparate. Those from Imo and Ebonyi would be influenced by their governors, while the rest would mostly make their independent decisions. David Umahi and Hope Uzodinma would listen to Buhari’s persuasions and support Osinbajo with their delegates. Delegates from Enugu, Abia and Anambra will support the VP overwhelmingly, but a few would however line up behind Tinubu and Amaechi.

Northern States

I can confirm that the delegates from the three Zones in the North (NE, NC and NW) will vote in the same pattern because most of the 19 Northern States are APC states whose governors will go along with the President; and we all know that President Buhari is not willing to support Tinubu. Buhari is bent on having his VP succeed him. This is an established fact which has rankled the Tinubu team to no end. But it is what it is. No APC governor from the North will antagonize the President. They respect, adore and revere the old man. Northern governors will support whosoever the President anoint. Although Tinubu will make some good showings in Kano, Zamfara and a few other places, his overall performance in the North will fall behind the VP’s. Amaechi, on the other hand, will give a smattering performance in some places like Katsina.

Overall, the VP will score between 70% and 75% of the total delegate votes at the Convention.

Duba is an Abuja- based political pollster and analyst

KANO STATE POLICE COMMAND DIARY
17TH MAY, 2022

FOUR PEOPLE CONFIRMED DEAD IN A SUSPECTED GAS CYLINDER EXPLOSION IN SABON GARI QUARTERS KANO

Building Collapse and rescue mission in progress

Today, 17/05/2022 by 1000hrs, a report was received that, there was a sound of suspected explosion at Aba by Court Road, Sabon Gari Quarters Kano.

2. On receipt of the report, the Commissioner of Police, Kano State Command, CP Sama'ila Shu'aibu Dikko, fsi immediately led the command's combined teams of Explosive Ordnance Disposal Chemical Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear Defence (EOD-CBRN) and Operation Puff Adder to the scene at a building located at No. 01, Aba/Court Road, Sabongari Quarters Kano opposite Winners Kids Academy.

3. Scene of the suspected explosion that led to a building collapse was cordoned up and four victims (3 Males and 1 Female) including a Wielder, named Mr. Ejike Vincent were removed and rushed to Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital Kano, where a Medical Doctor certified them dead.

4. Preliminary Forensic Analysis revealed a suspected Gas Cylinder Explosion with the recovery of Chemicals. Rescue Mission in Progress.

SP ABDULLAHI HARUNA KIYAWA, ANIPR,
POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER,
FOR:
COMMISSIONER OF POLICE, KANO STATE COMMAND.

HUGE EXCITEMENT IN ILORIN AS OSINBAJO INTERACTS WITH KWARA APC DELEGATES

**Nigeria needs a President with experience in 2023 - VP

**You're a visionary leader, Kwara Governor to Vice President


In a display of their admiration and support of his aspiration, the people and residents of Kwara State on Monday lined up the streets, all the way from Ilorin airport to welcome Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN to the State.

Prof. Osinbajo was in Ilorin yesterday in continuation of his consultations and interactions with delegates and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the party Presidential primaries on May 30.

The boisterous crowds were at the airport, on the streets, at the Emir's palace and at the venue of the Vice President's meeting with the delegates, singing, dancing and many bursting out in delighted surprise on citing the VP inside the Coaster bus that conveyed him and the State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.

At several points, the Vice President’s convoy stopped briefly as the VP acknowledged cheers from the excited residents and groups displaying banners, showing support for the VP, much like in a festive mood.

On his arrival at the State capital, the VP's first port of call was to pay courtesy to the palace of the Emir of Ilorin, Dr. Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, to get the royal blessings and to also formally inform him (the Emir) personally of his aspiration to run for President in the 2023 elections.

Prof. Osinbajo noted that he is running for President because he believes the country needs a leader who has the experience and would be able to get the job done right from day one when sworn in on May 29, 2023 by God’s grace.

“Everything that has been given to me by way of knowledge and experience has been given to me by the grace of God and by the benevolence of this same country that we owe so much. So, this is why I am running for the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I am mindful of the challenges that we have…, but I believe that the time comes for steadiness in resolving these issues. This is not the time for experimenting,” the VP stated.

He also thanked the Emir for his warm hospitality, his counsel and great affection over the years, even as he prayed for the Emir’s long life, peace and prosperity of his kingdom.

While receiving the VP, the Emir lauded his credentials saying Prof. Osinbajo's track record is something to be proud of.

According to the Emir "your track record is something to be proud of, your track record is enough to give you success," adding that the VP has what it takes to do the job. The Emir then prayed for his success, while noting that the VP has a lot ahead of him.

"May God guide you and protect you,” the Emir prayed as he encouraged the VP saying, "we know you can do it."

The VP was accompanied to the Emir’s Palace by the Kwara State Governor Abdulrazaq, who had earlier received him, alongside other state government officials, at the Ilorin airport.

In the same vein, Governor Abdulrazaq praised the VP for his leadership qualities and for championing the welfare of ordinary Nigerians, including his role in supervising the Social Investment Programmes of the Buhari administration.

Noting that the SIPs have positively impacted the lives of many Nigerians across the country, the Governor said the Vice President is a man with great vision.

During his interaction with the APC delegates and stakeholders later on, the Vice President restated that, "today our country requires some experience (to run), it is not just enough to have capacity. You must also be able to hit the ground running from day one because we don’t have time. Our country now needs everything it can get to make sure that we are able to make progress quickly.”

Prof. Osinbajo further stated that "the only reason I am running is to serve this country. And I will be completely transparent and honest. And I will do the work, God helping me, every single day without any other desire but to make sure that our country succeeds.”

The Vice President urged delegates to make their choices with utmost consideration about "the destiny of our children. "This is (about) our future," he added.

His interaction with the delegates and stakeholders featured mainly a question and answer session where the Vice President responded to the many questions and comments of the stakeholders. He also took time to snap one-on-one photos with all the stakeholders present as has been the case in every one of his meetings in all the States.

Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
17th May, 2022

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN receives the Leadership Man of the Year Award at the 2022 Leadership Newspaper Conference and Awards at the ICC, Abuja. 17 May 2022. Photos by Tolani Alli

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN paid a courtesy visit to the palace of Emir of Ilorin and also engages with stakeholders of the APC Kwara State Chapter in Ilorin, Kwara State. 16th May, 2022.

.......Photos; Tolani Alli

OSINBAJO ENGAGES APC DELEGATES IN JIGAWA, SAYS NIGERIA DESERVES THE BEST

*Stakeholders optimistic

Stakeholders and delegates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Jigawa State interacted with the Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, yesterday in Dutse, the State capital, in what the VP described as very fruitful conversations.

Prof. Osinbajo’s Saturday visit to Jigawa is in continuation of his nationwide consultations with APC stakeholders and delegates, and his main message was that for the 2023 elections, decisions should be based on what is in Nigeria’s best interest.

On arrival in the State capital, Dutse, the Vice President was received by a crowd of supporters, at the airport and on the streets, APC Chieftains and senior state government officials led by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abdulkadir Fanini Adamu, who represented Governor Muhammad Badaru Abubakar, who was out of town at the time of the visit.

At the townhall style interaction with the delegates, which also featured a Questions and Answers session, the Vice President restated his view that decisions about the 2023 elections be based on what is best for the country, its destiny and future as a nation.

According to him, " we should make a decision based on the future of our children… We can make progress; we can move on. All I ask you to do is what is in the best interest of Nigeria; vote in the interest of our children.”

He also restated how his training and experience in governance serving as VP under President Muhammadu Buhari, would help him to lead the country effectively as president in 2023, if given the ticket and elected under the APC platform.

“As Vice President, the President has given me an opportunity that I do not think any other vice president has been given.”

Later while speaking during a brief chat with the media after the meeting, Prof. Osinbajo noted that that he was happy with the interactions with the Jigawa delegates.

“Obviously, all the issues that we discussed are issues that concern the country very significantly. We talked about agriculture, we talked about youth empowerment, education, technology and a wide variety of issues.

“I think it was extremely fruitful, and at least we all understand where we are coming from and where we ought to be in the few years ahead. All of us are very happy that we were able to have this engagement.”

Delegates who spoke during the interactive session, included members of the State House of Assembly, Local Government officials, grassroot leaders and women leaders.

Many of the delegates spoke about the successes of the Social Investment Programmes (SIP), especially the National Homegrown School Feeding programme, which the delegates recalled offered first time jobs for several women. They also commended the contributions of the VP in that respect, while praising other achievements of the Buhari administration, including the efforts to make fertilizer available and affordable, a benefit much enjoyed in Jigawa State.

Others at the interaction highlighted the reputation of the VP as "a man of proven integrity and fear of God," and his "excellent track record, loyalty and support of Mr. President."

Generally, several delegates expressed the wish that if and when the VP becomes elected as President he should expand the SIP, ensure youth and women engagements in government, while providing Federal support to Jigawa State agrarian economy.



Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
15th May, 2022

2023: The intrigues and plans to stop Osinbajo

By Isa Adamu

With a little more than two weeks to the Special Convention of APC which holds on May 30th, it is becoming clearer and clearer that some of the presidential aspirants in the party only got into the race, not to win the nomination, but to stop Yemi Osinbajo by all means and make a way for Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The mastermind of this scheme is Bola Ahmed Tinubu himself. Asiwaju is so desperate to clinch the party’s ticket that he is doing everything under the sun to stop the VP’s soaring acceptability across the nation. He believes that Prof Osinbajo is the only one standing between him and the nomination.

First, Tinubu and his supporters spent weeks spreading malicious and false stories about the Vice President soon after his declaration on Monday, April 11. When that didn’t deter the VP or erode his brand as the man to beat, the former Lagos governor devised a new scheme in which he sponsored 10 people, including two ministers, to jump into the presidential race on condition that they would step down for him a day or two before the Convention. The idea is that when the 10 ‘aspirants’ announce that they’re stepping down for Tinubu, the announcement may create a momentum for him and that could motivate delegates to support him.

The 10 sponsored aspirants are:

1. Senator Godswill Akpabio

2. Senator Rochas Okorocha

3. Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

4. Prof. Ben Ayade

5. Prof Emeka Nwajiuba

6. Senator Ken Nnamani

7. Ahmed Sani Yerima

8. Mrs. Uju Ohneye

9. Ajayi Borifice

10. Dimeji Bankole

You may have noticed that these 10 ‘shadow’ aspirants have not even gone around the country to meet and consult the delegates as the serious aspirants do. Osinbajo himself has visited over 20 states in the last four weeks, meeting with governors, traditional rules, party members and, of course, the delegates. Where has Oshiomhole or Ahmed Yerima been to? Have you seen Okorocha or Ken Nnamani consult anybody?

Nigerians, be wise!

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN declares open on behalf of President Buhari conference of Speakers and heads of parliaments at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja. 9th May,2022. Photos; Tolani Alli

Photos; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN has dinner with Speakers, Deputy Speakers of State Houses of Assembly at the Aguda House in Abuja. 8th May, 2022. Photos; Tolani Alli

Breaking: Osinbajo Will Take Over From Buhari ~ Nasarawa State House of Assembly Speaker, Ibrahim Abdullahi.


He said;

“We appreciate your capacity and intelligence. And we are thankful that we have somebody like Mr. Vice President in this country. We don’t need to be reminded that even Mr. President trusts you so much, and trusts your capacity. You love this country, and we are sure by the time Mr. Vice President takes over from President Muhammadu Buhari, you will start where he ends.

By the special grace of God, the Vice President will take over the ticket of the APC. We are going to line up behind you. If truly, we want this country to prosper, this is the time to rally round Mr. Vice President. It is not about religion; it is about capacity. We are sure of your capacity and we are sure you are going to take us to the next level.”

South West APC Elders meeting with Osinbajo, Tinubu, others affirm rights of all aspirants to contest

A South West APC Elders meeting with presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly aspirants from the zone ended tonight on a convivial note, as sources confirm that the leaders resolved that every aspirants has a right to contest.

Besides, the meeting, though behind closed doors also resolved that name callings and other personal attacks should no longer be encouraged by aspirants and their supporters.

According to an inside source, "the issue of betrayal was put to rest as the elders affirmed that everyone who desires to run for any political office whatsoever is not encumbered in any way at all." The leaders and the aspirants all agreed to conduct a rancour free campaign.

The meeting had been convened by the first Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande and a former Governor of Ogun state, Chief Segun Osoba, both of whom served as Co-Conveners.

Present at the meeting were the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.
Also at the meeting, apart from the aspirants were the former Governor of Lagos State and Works and Housing Minister Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state and Governor Oyetola of Osun state. Others included former Osun State Governor and Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola and the APC National Secretary Otunba Iyiola Omisore.


While commending the Vice President, being the highest ranking public officer from South West extraction for a job well done, inside sources disclosed that the APC elders stated categorically that all the aspirants had the right to aspire to be President. But, they enjoined all aspirants to exhibit the ‘Omoluabi’ ethos in their politicking by shunning divisive rhetorics.

While stating that consultations with them would be a continuous exercise, the meeting admonished the aspirants to queue behind whoever amongst them that eventually emerges as the party’s candidate, stating that the cohesion of the South West must be sancrosanct.

Osinbajo in meeting with APC Elders in effort to ensure 2023 electioneering campaigns are devoid of hostility.

The meeting had been convened by the first Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bisi Akande and a former Governor of Ogun state, Chief Segun Osoba, both of whom served as Co-Conveners.

Present at the meeting were the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, former Lagos State Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi.

Also at the meeting, apart from the aspirants were the former Governor of Lagos State and Works and Housing Minister Mr. Babatunde Fashola, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Femi Gbajabiamila, Chief Niyi Adebayo, Governors Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo state, Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun state and Governor Oyetola of Osun state.

Others included former Osun State Governor and Interior Minister Rauf Aregbesola and the APC National Secretary Otunba Iyiola Omisore.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo SAN meets with Governor of Anambra State Charles Soludo and meets with the stakeholders of the Anambra State APC Chapter. 6th May, 2022.

You don't have to take it personal, it's a regional meeting, but it concerns every Nigerians. You can politely make your point without attacking.

shigishege:
you can die on Yoruba matters while your useless region is being destroyed every day by your own people. Mind you, Yoruba are not foolish and despirate like your people cos Yoruba will sort thier differences without much nags. It's only you people that are cursed to hate on others and that's why your region will continue to be religated in the affairs of this country.

My guess is as much as yours. Osinbajo will come Lagos after primary.

Truthisunique2:
Tinubu dey forbid consesus for Abuja

But he wants to be consesus from the south west

Anyway his desperation is dead on arrival, osinbajo is in south east, he is the last person that would enter Lagos till next month

Fayemi and Amosun are not going, bakare have already seen the handwriting on the wall

We are waiting and we shall see the outcome

IN WHOSE INTEREST?

COMPELLING QUESTIONS ON TODAY'S MEETING OF APC PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANTS FROM SOUTHWEST

By Tobi Aradeyo

There has been some buzz about a meeting called recently by leaders of the APC in the Southwest for all presidential aspirants in the zone. The names of Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba have been mentioned as behind it, in an attempt to forge some unanimity of purpose on the 2023 Presidential bid.

But while this may be seen as a well-intentioned effort, there are some compelling issues.

From the look of things, it appears that very little objectivity can be expected at this meeting.

First of all, several of the participants are beholden to Asiwaju and will never tell him the truth. Check this out: Baba Akande is clearly not going to confront Tinubu on any point. He has benefited extensively from Tinubu’s largesse over the years.

Baba came up in his recent book with the controverted narrative that Asiwaju nominated Osinbajo when in fact Tinubu opposed his nomination when it mattered most, wanting the VP post desperately for himself.

Another prominent attendee expexted is Femi Gbajabiamila, who has expended every resource and energy in propagating Tinubu’s candidacy. In any event as a Lagos politician his political future depends on Tinubu’s pleasure.

There will also be Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the meeting. In fact he would be the host. But what will poor Sanwo-Olu be doing at the meeting? His political future and second term hang in the balance. He will be prepared to physically slap Osinbajo if he is ordered to do so by Tinubu!

Same as Tinubu’s cousin and protege Gboyega Oyetola, the Governor of Osun State. Can he dare speak truth to the Jagaban? Of course not.

For some of the elders who may also be at the meeting, the well known fact is that many of them are either current beneficiaries of the former Lagos State Governor or are certainly sympathetic to him already regarding this 2023 matter. Who doesn’t know that many of them owe their political ascendency to the Jagaban?

Even Pastor Tunde Bakare, did he not recently preach a sermon pontificating on why Tinubu should get the support of everyone to be President? Even there are claims that his entering the Presidential race now is only to secure a platform to force down the hands of the VP somehow down the road.

So what kind of meeting is this going to be? How objective can the deliberations go? Who and who ought to be attending? In whose interest is this meeting called? These are the pointers for people to follow as this drama unfolds soon at the Flag House of the Lagos Government at the Marina.

TOIL, ZEAL OF NIGERIAN WORKERS LAID FOUNDATIONS OF OUR SOVEREIGNTY, FREEDOM, SAYS OSINBAJO AT MAY DAY RALLY


“...The Nigerian worker in every real sense laid the foundations of our sovereignty and freedom with their blood and tears, and nurture it till this day with their sweat and zeal.”

VP also highlights several of Buhari administration’s efforts:

*Biggest Social Investment Programmes in Sub-Saharan Africa

*ESP's Survival Fund, payroll support scheme for over 1 million workers, MSMEs

*Support for 4 million new farmers, Social Housing scheme, Solar Power Naija for 5 million homes, etc

* Expanding health insurance coverage, aim for universal healthcare

*Raise in minimum wage, increased retirement age of teachers

* Upward review of pensions & liquidation of inherited liabilities through PTAD

*Creation of Persons with Disabilities Commission, & National Centre for Senior Citizens

*Increase of salaries for Nigerian Police

*Review of Hazard Allowance for doctors & health workers after 15 years of stagnation

*Expansion of Employee Compensation Act to include injured workers

Adds: What we must do to end ASUU strike

Nations are built by people and Nigeria is being built through the daily honest toil of hardworking Nigerian workers, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN,

Prof. Osinbajo stated this on Sunday afternoon in his remarks to commemorate the Workers’ Day celebration which held at Eagle Square, Abuja, themed “Labour, Politics and the quest for Good Governance and Development in Nigeria.”

“You keep the engines of our country running despite the challenges we face. You are the strength and the hope of our nation. Whatever heights of greatness we achieve as a people will be because of your contributions to our national enterprise,” he said.

“In every real sense, the Nigerian worker laid the foundations of our sovereignty and freedom with their blood and tears and nurture it till this day with their sweat and zeal,” the VP added.

Praising workers for their sacrifices and dignity of labour, the Vice President said: “it is impossible to tell the story of our nation's liberation from colonial rule without dwelling at length on the heroic contributions of the labour movement to that struggle.

“The labour movement is a foundational movement in the making of our nation. You are heirs of a movement that was involved in literally building modern Nigeria.”

While he noted the important role of workers, the Vice President pointed out that nation-building is the responsibility of every Nigerian.

He further stated that “The progressive vision of inclusive growth and shared prosperity requires a revolution in our national productivity and our work ethic.

“On the part of the government, this means ensuring that every citizen has the opportunity to work, achieve productive personhood and participate in the development of their communities.”

“As a people, we must commit to an ethos of high productivity and innovation, and of using technology to transform the way we work and do business,” the VP stated, adding that “we cannot achieve this without a workforce that is attuned to optimizing our possibilities.”

Prof. Osinbajo observed that “the labour movement belongs firmly to the progressive political persuasion, noting that “labour has always made common cause with the progressives.”

He further stated that the ruling All Progressives Congress was “an alliance of progressives” that in 2015 “became the first opposition party to defeat a ruling party against all odds and secure a national victory at the polls.”

“It was a watershed moment for our nation because, until that momentous event, the progressive tendency had been the neglected cornerstone of our nation's history.

The VP also noted that “progressive politics” is how politics can deliver good governance and development.

He explained: “as a progressive, I believe that good governance and development means compulsory free education for the unlettered, universal healthcare coverage, inclusion for the alienated, social mobility for the poor, justice for the wronged and social security for the vulnerable.

“The progressive vision of Nigeria is of a nation in which the relations between the government and the governed are defined by a social covenant. It is of a society in which no Nigerian is left behind. It is of a canopy of inclusive and broad-based prosperity in which the security and the welfare of each citizen are guaranteed.”

Buttressing further on the impact of progressives’ politics on socio-economic development, the Vice President highlighted the Buhari administration’s Social Investment Programmes, which have impacted tens of millions of beneficiaries nationwide

He also noted the establishment of “the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities and the National Centre for Senior Citizens to cater for the needs of our compatriots that live with disabilities and our elders”, as well as the “the enactment of the Not too Young to Run Act which modifies the age restrictions for seeking public office."

He said this "opens doors of opportunity for more youth engagement in politics.”

According to the VP, these efforts by the government are further demonstrations of its commitment to inclusion in all its ramifications.

“We have pursued our progressive agenda for inclusion and social protection in a period of global turbulence,” Prof. Osinbajo added, assuring that “we are committed to doing much more.”

“We must continue to take care of our people, especially when they are no longer active. No society has achieved appreciable levels of development without looking out for the older demographic of its population, especially those who have faithfully served the country,” he emphasized.

Highlighting the importance the administration places on workers’ welfare, as well as the gains it has recorded despite global economic challenges - such as the fall in crude oil prices, COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Vice President emphasized that “regardless of all these challenges, this administration has been steadfast in tackling the issues facing Nigerian workers. This is why President Buhari implemented an increase in the national minimum wage in 2019.”

Speaking further on how the Federal Government tackled the global pandemic, the VP noted that proactive steps were taken quickly to cushion the socio-economic effects on Nigerian workers and Nigerians generally, through the implementation of the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP), whose development and implementation the VP led.

Prof. Osinbajo recalled that the Federal Government placed Micro, Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (MSME) employees on payroll support during the pandemic.

He further noted that as part of the ESP, “we introduced the Food for Jobs Agricultural Programme, providing support for over 4 million farmers. We started the most ambitious social housing programme in our nation’s history, and we started the Solar Naija Programme to connect 5 million homes with solar power.

“We set up the MSME Survival Fund which disbursed over N56.8 billion to over 800, 000 people. The Fund also provided grants, free business registration and payroll support to over 1 million artisans, micro and small business owners.

Aside from the ESP implementation, Prof. Osinbajo disclosed that the Buhari Administration “increased the retirement age of teachers so that they can spend more years in service educating our children.”

“Recently, we implemented an upward review of the salaries and wages of the men and women of the Nigeria Police Force as part of our broader commitment to improving the welfare and service conditions of those charged with safeguarding the rest of us,” he stated.

The Vice President also highlighted other aspects the Government is ramping up efforts to support and improve the welfare of Nigerian workers, including the provision of health insurance.

“No Nigerian, especially one who contributes to the development of the nation by way of labour, should be denied primary health care because of affordability.

“Currently, only workers in organized labour benefit from the current health insurance system. Our goal is universal health care, to fund it we must look beyond our meagre Federal and State budgets, the answer is compulsory insurance coverage for all Nigerians.”

He added that Government’s focus is not only on the health of those currently in the workforce but also for senior citizens who spent their prime in service.

“This is why the Federal Ministry of Health has established a Ministerial Committee whose mandate is to come up with a framework for the provision of Health Insurance coverage for our retired senior citizens. I must mention here that after 15 years of stagnation, we have now reviewed the hazard allowance for doctors and other health workers. The circular to that effect has now been released and it is with effect from December 2021.”

Prof. Osinbajo further said the Federal Government will “also expand and deepen implementation of the Employee Compensation Act so that workers all over the country receive compensation for injuries suffered in the line of duty and in the case of death, their dependents are adequately compensated.”

The Vice President also addressed the ongoing strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), as he appealed to the body and the broader labour community to embrace dialogue with Government.

“We are not unmindful of the anxieties of our children and their parents who are plagued by thoughts of an uncertain future as they stay home because their universities have been shut by an industrial action,” he observed.

Calling on the Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress to help facilitate a resolution, Prof. Osinbajo stated: “we both want the same thing – a country that works for all and offers each citizen a fair deal – even if occasionally we differ on how to achieve this goal. But at all times, we have through dialogue found a path forward… I believe that we can find a path forward in good faith. And this is what we must do”

He also noted Government’s efforts in addressing security challenges by “re-engineering our security architecture with a greater focus on technology and modern force multiplier platforms.”

Prof. Osinbajo also stated the administration’s determination to improve the education sector, ramp up its Social Investment Programmes, broadband connectivity for Nigerians by 2025, and “establish a technology economy that will leverage on our broadband connectivity for all.”

This, he noted, will “encourage tech companies to train more tech engineers and increase the quantum and quality of tech talent in Nigeria.”

“We have the talent, the resources, the resourcefulness, the resilience and the faith to do all these and more in a few short years. But we must decisively defeat the anarchists and terrorists, unite and heal our people and let a united and powerful country attain its manifest destiny,” he observed.

The Vice President also recalled iconic national figures such as Pa Michael Imoudu, Mallam Aminu Kano, Nduka Eze, F.O. Coker, E.E. Esua and M.A. Bankole, whom he noted: “played critical roles in our quest for liberation from colonial rule and were leading lights of the labour movement.”


Laolu Akande
Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity
Office of the Vice President
1st May, 2022