Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo, said it is not going to be business as usual in running the affairs of the country. He stated that anyone caught creating loopholes in order to siphon public funds would face the consequences.

Osinbajo who made this known while speaking at the 3rd Annual Christopher Kolade’s lecture on business integrity in Lagos, pointed out that weak public and private institutions, corrupt practices coupled with ineffective public policies had remained the bane of economic stability in the country.

The Vice President whose address dwelt on “Beyond Compliance: Imbibing a Culture of Business Integrity,” said integrity should be an acceptable standard and aspiration of every business leader.

Osinbajo said, “The most important thing is to do things right. It is important that we comply with the rule of law. There is need to ensure that people’s rights are not trampled on. And there is need to ensure that people face the consequences for wrongful actions. That balance is necessary.

“The administration will ensure that loopholes compliance are plugged and those responsible for creating loopholes will face the consequence.”

“The greater good of the company also means the greater good of many people, their lives and families. The question is, how do we respond to the ethical dynamics of poverty and corruption when it concerns our friends, ethnic or religious groups?”

Painting a gloomy picture on the poser raised by the vice president, the Former Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr. Christopher Kolade, lamented that many Nigerians no longer stand on the side of what is right.

Kolade averred that the country was a difficult place to practise integrity because corruption was perceived as the right way of life.

“We use corruption in our conversations than we talk about integrity. Integrity should feature more in our conversations. Integrity is meant to be natural to human beings,” Kolade said.

Dollyak:
The GDP of the entire nation of Nigeria, the largest economy by far in Africa, currently is about N130 trillion naira(about $594 billion US dollars)(Wikipedia, list of African countries by GDP(nominal)). The Southwest, one of the six geopolitical regions of Nigeria, has an estimated GDP of about N67 trillion naira( about $305 billion US dollars), more than half of the GDP of the nation.

By my estimates, the Southwest region was the third largest economy in the continent of Africa n 2014! This must be a shock or a pleasant surprise to many people!

But the governors in the region have not adopted a robust revenue generating strategy to tap into the resource base of the region. Taxation of the poor and lower middle-class people is a bad strategy which does not reflect a global best practice. The poor have a greater propensity to spend than the rich, so a taxation of the poor is counter-productive as it eliminates the boost to the economy that their spending provides.

Taxation of the rich, middle-class, and upper middle-class, but not the poor, is a global best strategy to raise revenues for the operation of government, the provisioning of infrastructures, robust security apparatus, and social security services that benefit everyone: the rich, the poor, and the disadvantaged in society. Fortunately, there are millions of rich people living in the Southwest: naira millionaires, multi-millionaires, billionaires, and trillionaires available to be taxed.

If the governors of the Southwest had adopted a comprehensive income taxation for revenue as their strategy in 2014, they could have raised N13 trillion naira from a progressive income tax range of 0% for the poor, to up to 30% for the rich: ten times more than the N1.3 trillion naira raised last year!

The combined budget-to-GDP ratio of the states in the Southwest in 2014 was abysmally low, about 2% compared to about 40% in many advanced nations of the world. For the sake of argument, a budget that is 40% of the GDP of the Southwest is approximately N25 trillion naira. This is about twice the budget realizable from using a progressive tax bracket of 0% to 30%.

If the enhanced income-tax-based revenues are spent appropriately, the Southwest will become a prosperous region with robust infrastructures, full employment, improved security, and a world-class social security service.

It is widely accepted (on nairaland) that many governors of the Southwest have reasonably performed well. If they had tapped the hidden resources of the region, their performance would have been elevated to outstanding and transformational! We wonder why policies that would have made a difference in the lives of the majority of the people, such as progressive income taxation, had not been vigorously pursued and implemented. Income taxation will also diminish godfatherism and empower the people while swelling the coffers of governments in the region.

With abundant revenues through income taxation, the Southwest will be in a position to stop accepting monthly oil revenue distributions from the center, but be able to partner with Abuja and other state governors in joint projects of mutual benefit that will drive the economic growth of the nation.

The question that must be asked of the governors of the Southwest is this, are they aware that the great book says, for whom much is given much is required?

So much has been given to the region by the grace of God. So much then is required of the Southwest governments. The governors in the Southwest have an obligation not only to take care of the welfare of their residents but to also drive the socio-economic growth of the nation.

In conclusion, to the people of the Southwest, the third largest economy in Africa, ask not what Abuja can do for you, but ask your governors to:

1. Tax the peoples' incomes, a global best practice, using a progressive tax rate from 0% to 30%.

2. Use the revenues from the income tax to fund government operations, build, monitor, and maintain physical, security, health, education, and research infrastructures, and to provide services and social security to the people. As he who pays the piper dictates the tune, politicians will be compelled by the income tax payers to shift their allegiance from godfathers to the people. This will end godfatherism as the dominant factor in politics in the Southwest.

3. Promote exports and the tourism industry.
4. Work cooperatively with the private industry, research and development centers, and the tertiary institutions in the region.

5. Promote regional integration through intra-regional partnerships and engage in mutually beneficial ventures with Abuja and other governors in other regions.

6. Stop accepting the monthly oil distributions from Abuja from 2016, as this is the root of corruption in Nigeria. To curb corruption in the Southwest and elsewhere in Nigeria requires pulling up the root of corruption in Nigeria by ending the shameful exploitation of the minorities in the oil producing states.

http://m.thenigerianvoice.com/news/172621/1/to-the-people-of-the-southwest-the-third-largest-e.html

One of the most annoying things that has happened to me since my boss left office as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is the habit of some people to either egg me on or bait me to criticize the new administration of the President, Muhammadu Buhari.

I have said it before and I will say it again, whether in public or in private, I will always be for President Goodluck Jonathan. It remains a fact that no other administration has achieved so much for Nigeria within so short a time as the Jonathan administration.

With the fever pitch anti Jonathan sentiment now gripping the nation as a result of unbalanced one sided reports that Nigerians are being daily fed with, Jonathan’s legacy may not be so clear, but I am confident that just as the truth always overtakes falsehood, praise for Jonathan would have a renaissance in the not too distant future.

That being said, to those asking me why I am not joining the band wagon to criticize Buhari’s administration, I have got news for you-I HAVE MOVED ON. I will never hate on Buhari or criticize his government simply because my boss was not re-elected. I get better, I Never get bitter!

One major problem that has consistently retarded Nigeria’s political and economic growth in the democratic dispensation of the last sixteen years is the fact that we are always in campaign mode.

chukwudi44:
Very soon he will understand who is the national leader of the APC The gambaris led by Atiku have relegated the local champion

This emanated from the stable of Charles Oputa, aka, CharlyBoy.

N.B: Pls read and dissect carefully and you’ll discover where our problems had always been…,,,,,!!



My People, read this properly and give me your take!!

WILL IT SHOCK YOU TO HEAR THAT NNPC HAD NO REFINING OR PRODUCTION PROBLEM?

….DEZIANI Alison-Madueke ACTUALLY INSTRUCTED THE TOP DIRECTORS AND ENGINEERS IN NNPC TO HALT THEIR ACTIVITIES COVERTLY TO PAVE WAY FOR SIPHONING OF SUBSIDY MONEY AND PRETENDED THAT THE REFINERIES WERE UNSERVICEABLE EVEN WITH ALL THE MONIES SUNK IN TURN AROUND MAINTENANCE (TAM)……

THIS FACT CAME OUT WHEN THE PRESIDENCY ANNOUNCED THE SACKING OF ALL DIRECTORS AND SENIOR ENGINEERS….

THERE WAS A PLEA BARGAIN BY THE AFFECTED PERSONNEL WHO PROMISED TO MAKE THE REFINERY WORKING AT 5T LITRES PER DAY AS FROM JULY….

THAT IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN EVEN WITHOUT ANY RECENT TAM…!!!

SAME THING GOES TO NEPA…..WE WERE ACTUALLY BEEN DECEIVED BY THE CABALS WHO HAVE BEEN USING THESE PUBLIC COYS AS A CONDUIT PIPE TO OBTAIN FUNDS TO FINANCE POLITICAL PARTY (PDP)…

LIYEL IMOKE AND HIS COHORTS WERE DEEPLY INVOLVED IN PHCN SAGA….

NIGERIANS HAVE BEEN UNDER PUNISHMENTS FOR NO JUST CAUSE !!!

WHAT IS OUR OFFENSE?

CR77:
Welcome home my presido

omenka:
Good morning.

These are indeed very interesting times.

For those of us that might have spent some time on the internet and Nairaland, surfing to keep abreast with the latest developments, especially as they relate to politics, the news portal "thebreakingtimes.com" only barged its way into our consciousness just a couple of weeks ago with her libellous story about the "President's N2Billion Asokoro Mansion" (www.thebreakingtimes.com/exposed-president-buharis-n2-1-billion-asokoro-mansion/) , a story that has since been proven to be anything but true (newsdiaryonline.com/gen_ejected.htm).

Now, we all agree propaganda plays a critical role in every government the world over. The government uses it, ditto the opposition, to advance their agenda. Quite frankly, a government or opposition can hardly survive without it. Not all propaganda are destructive as most people tend to think, some are actually genuinely for the public good. To buttress this point, I had to look to wiki:


There is no gainsaying PDP as a party nurses an ambition to retake Aso Rock from APC, but in so doing, it is important that they demonstrated a bit of decorum and grace.

Thebreakingtimes, from my checks, was founded in september 2014 and had their first publication in october of the same year. First, the timing of its birth is suspect, and even more so, its distinctively destructive publications.

Some folks might want to shut readers critical of their publications up, pointing to Sahara Reporters and, perhaps, Premium Times. They argue both newspapers are operated under the thumb of APC.

Saharareporters.com has over 5,000 publications since it was founded (2006), has been supported by donors such as Ford Foundation and Omidyar Foundation to stay afloat. It's been referred to as the "Nigerian wikileaks" by the reputable tabloid, Daily Beast, and her publications have received reviews and criticism from notable Nigerians such as Soyinka and VIPs like Chris Olukolade, Obanikoro, a Zimbabwean Minister. Hell, even the spokesman of PDP, Olisa Metuh, once called them taking a swipe at former President Jonathan!!

They've published countless number of articles highly critical of government and the opposition. On this forum, we've had numerous pro PDP posters post anti-APC articles published by them, but they still hypocritically insist the media is being bankrolled by the opposition. Funny huh?

Like Sahara Reporters, like Premium Times. They have editors with names and contacts, but when you visit the "about" page of thebreakingtimes, you find absolutely nothing as regards the owners, editors, or publishers, just some pedestrian balderdash about their mission statement and all that.

Some people have said it is run by some aide to Obanikoro with the twitter handle "xyz", but we have NO NAMES on them. If one were to file a case of libel against them, who does one sue??

What these guys are doing is simply not propaganda, it is sheer blackmail and slander. After seeing their latest story brought to the forum by some PDP supporter regarding the VP being shut out of a security meeting second time in a row, I decided to take a stroll to the site and what I saw made my guts twist in disgust. What man with a soul and conscience does things like this?? I understand we live in a democracy and should uphold its principles which includes the freedom of expression, but come on... This is an outrage!

I read somewhere the immediate past Deputy Speaker of the House, Ihedioha, admonished that PDP used everything in its power to bring APC and the government to her knees, including using tools such as "propaganda and blackmail". Is this PDP doing so via thebreakingtimes

As time goes by, and as events unfold, I'm hopeful some of us would see this government for what it truly stands for- our collective good- and join hands with our fellow compatriots to give her the support she needs in succeeding. Seun, Lalasticlala and other stakeholders have a role to play in this regard especially as regards the coverage given to news coming from this source (thebreakingtimes). We must understand that we would be the ones holding the hot end of the rod in an event the government fails- God forbid.

God help us all.

Long live Nigeria.




Cc: Seun, Ishilove, Lalasticlala, OAM4J, Maclatunji.

Cc: Mynd44, Egift, Passingshot, Obiagelli, Demdem, Gbawe, Beremx, NgeneUkwenu, Donphilopus, Jarlons, et al.

Queensss:
Hello Everybody, Still got an audience here?

Bloc votes
plan collapses

Ex-Kwara governor shuns Ndume, Goje, others

Plans to get Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators-elect and members of the House of Representatives-elect to vote en bloc for principal officers during today’s inauguration of the Eighth National Assembly collapsed yesterday.

There was also a split among the PDP governors on who to support between Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator Bukola Saraki for Senate president.

But The Nation learnt this morning that at a meeting of PDP Senators-elect in Abuja, 28 agreed to back Saraki/Ike Ekweremadu ticket; 17 agreed to back Lawan/Akume ticket. That was after Saraki decided to work with PDP in a desperate move to win the race.

Some senators and members-elect rejected the suggestion by Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose that PDP senators should vote Saraki.

Lawan at the weekend emerged the choice candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) after a mock election by the party’s senators-elect. But the Saraki camp rejected the straw poll and vowed to contest for the position on the floor today.

The APC is the majority party in the Senate, with 59 senators-elect. The PDP has 49 senators.

It was learnt that at a meeting held by the PDP caucus on Sunday night in former Senate President David Mark’s residence in Apo, Abuja, the divided PDP senators-elect and their governors were said to have threatened to draft one of them into the race if the APC failed to agree on a consensus candidate.

Some of the PDP senators said to be rooting for Saraki allegedly suggested that they should forge a vibrant opposition on Tuesday by voting against the APC consensus choice as a signal of what form of opposition to expect in the Senate in the new dispensation.

The PDP senators were said to have contended that voting against APC’s preferred candidate would signpost a resolute stand to keep the PDP alive.

A source at the meeting said a former principal officer in the Seventh Senate was the brain behind the proposal.

The source said most of the senators disagreed vehemently with the suggestion.

Those opposed to the suggestion, it was learnt, averred that toeing the line of action would only serve the interest of a few, particularly the governors, rather than that of the PDP as a party.

The source noted that most of the senators agreed that “we should wait and see what the APC senators will come up with”.

He said: “The surprise of the night was that some of the governors who former President Goodluck Jonathan laboured to install were those at the vanguard of the Saraki project, a man who practically destroyed PDP.

“Most senators at the meeting viewed supporting Saraki as robbing Peter to pay Paul.

“They contended that it will be bad politics to reward a man who took up arms against his party, destroyed it and moved to build another one.”

The meeting was said to have ended without the Senators taking a final decision on who to back for Senate president.

LAST Wednesday’s release of a damning report by Amnesty International alleging “horrific war crimes” by the Nigerian armed forces has sent shock waves within the military hierarchy.

This is because any of the military officials indicted may end up at the International Criminal Court at The Hague, The Netherlands.

The military was getting used to the periodic allegations of human rights abuses by Amnesty International, but to now face allegations of war crimes, including murder of 8,000 people, starving, suffocating and torturing others to death set off alarm bells .

There has been anxiety in many quarters as to how the report would be handled by the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Amnesty International’s report
Indeed, the accusations are grievous.

Amnesty said in its 133-page report titled: Stars on their shoulders. Blood on their hands- War crimes committed by the Nigerian military – that since March 2011, more than 7,000 young men and boys died in military detention and more than 1,200 people were unlawfully killed since February 2012.

It said it can vouch for the authenticity of the report based on years of research and analyses of evidence including leaked military reports and correspondence, interviews with more than 400 victims, eyewitnesses and senior members of the Nigerian security forces.


Amnesty International’s Secretary General, Mr. Salil Shetty, in the report outlined the roles and possible criminal responsibilities of those along the chain of command – up to the Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff, submitting that “this sickening evidence exposes how thousands of young men and boys have been arbitrarily arrested and deliberately killed or left to die in detention in the most horrific conditions.

It is also about the responsibility of Nigeria’s leadership to act decisively to end the pervasive culture of impunity within the armed forces.”

Shetty then listed the war crimes to include alleged mass deaths in custody, starvation, dehydration and disease, overcrowding and suffocation, fumigation, torture, and extrajudicial executions. Amnesty also claimed that high level military commanders knew of the crimes.

The body then charged: “Despite being informed of the death rates and conditions of detention, Nigerian military officials consistently failed to take meaningful action.

Those in charge of detention facilities, as well as their commanders at Army and Defence headquarters, must be investigated.

For years the Nigerian authorities have downplayed accusations of human rights abuses by the military. But they cannot dismiss their own internal military documents.

They cannot ignore testimonies from witnesses and high-ranking military whistle blowers. And they cannot deny the existence of emaciated and mutilated bodies piled on mortuary slabs and dumped in mass graves.

“We call on newly-elected President Buhari to end the culture of impunity that has blighted Nigeria and for the African Union and international community to encourage and support these efforts. As a matter of urgency, the President must launch an immediate and impartial investigation into the crimes detailed in Amnesty International’s report and hold all those responsible to account, no matter their rank or position. Only then can there be justice for the dead and their relatives.”

In September last year, Amnesty released similar report, indicting the military and police for brutal torture and extra judicial killing of Nigerians including children held in their custody. It also said between 5,000 and 10,000 Nigerians have been detained since 2009.

To add to the Amnesty pressure, the United States accused Nigeria of extensive human rights abuses in its fight against Boko Haram and says its laws forbid arms transaction with any country so accused.

Amnesty International’s report is certain to complicate efforts at resolving the issues to allow Nigeria obtain military support and equipment. The 62-page report, presented by Nicola Duckworth last September was titled: “Welcome to Hell Fire’ Torture and Other Ill-Treatment in Nigeria.”

There were vehement denials by the military and Police who were joined by some Nigerians and groups in accusing Amnesty of seeing only the alleged atrocities of the Nigerian military and other security agencies.

Amnesty then released another report in February 2015 stating that it has evidence and reasonable belief that Islamist militant group Boko Haram and the Nigerian military have committed crimes under international law in the context of the conflict in North-East Nigeria.

Amnesty in a written statement to the 28th Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council said the Nigerian security forces in its response to Boko Haram had committed serious human right violations, claiming it had evidence to suggest Nigeria’s military had also committed war crimes.

It then added its concern on the “deaths of more than one thousand suspects in military detention facilities as a result of extrajudicial executions, torture, starvation, disease, suffocation or other reasons associated with extremely poor conditions.”

Cashing in on the latest report by Amnesty, Joel Gillin, writing in the U.S. liberal magazine, The New Republic, stated that with the new war crimes allegations, the United States should think twice about deeper military ties with Nigeria.

Gillin slammed his country for planning to send a team to Nigeria to work more closely and coordinate in the Nigeria’s battle against Boko Haram, which is a sign of good faith in warming relationship with Nigeria’s new President.

According to him: “The timing is unfortunate. Although it’s wrong-headed, perhaps the deeper co-mingling of the U.S. and Nigeria makes a certain morbid sense. In the name of fighting terrorism, both countries severely overreacted, committing serious war crimes that are likely to go unpunished. While some of us may hope to see Nigerian officials tried in the International Criminal Court, as Amnesty International has called for, we have also grown used to impunity in the War on Terror excesses, as even U.S. officials who admit to their crimes remain free.”

But generally, Amnesty’s latest assessment of the military did not go down well with Nigerians.

Shortyy:
so?

Dollyak:
This is probably the hardest and most vulnerable job now in the NE, due to increasing IEDs and suicide bombers, so I am happy Nigeria is employing bomb diffusing robot.
To quote a movie 'There is a fundamental principle in the bomb disposal game: never send a person to do a robot's job.'

Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, on Thursday bade farewell to the outgoing members of the House of Assembly, insisting that he had forgiven them for attempting to remove him from office.

Fayose said this in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Idowu Adelusi, even as the Assembly’s tenure will expire on Friday.

Ekiti State had been under siege for the past three days as thugs said to be loyal to Fayose blocked all roads leading to the Assembly complex to prevent the 19 All Progressives Congress lawmakers from sitting with the aim of impeaching him.

Fayose lamented how things ended between him and the lawmakers but promised that they would not be victimised after leaving office.

He said, “The last few months have been traumatic, especially this week. I was not given room for concentration, but I had left the battle for God to fight. I told those planning to impeach me that they will succeed‎ if they can impeach God.

“I did not bring myself back to power; my coming back after eight years was divine. I defeated the APC totally in all the elections, still they did not want to concede victory easily until when the Ekiti people rose to defend that June 21 mandate.

“I will now squarely face the business of governance.”

He explained that he would not waste time on revenge, noting that he was not ready to muscle anyone since God had given him victory in all of the battles that confronted him.

The governor, who praised the people of the state for preventing the lawmakers from gaining access to the complex, urged them to meet him at Ijigbo junction on Friday for a ‘victory walk’ to the complex where he will inaugurate the next Assembly which will comprise 26 members of the Peoples Democratic Party.

“The governor called on the people to gather at Ijigbo junction tomorrow ( Friday) from where he would lead them on victory walk to the state House of Assembly for the inauguration of the new House of Assembly members,” the statement added.

THE newly elected President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, yesterday spoke of President Muhammadu Buhari’s role in his election.

Adesina said Buhari made vital phone calls to global leaders in respect of the position that resulted in his emergence as the AfDB President, noting that the outcome of the race would have been different were it not for him.

The ex-minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under former President Goodluck Jonathan administration spoke at the Oke-Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he visited Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

He added that other notable Nigerians, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Jonathan, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and others stood behind him.

Adesina noted that the dream and vision of African countries are one and pledged to use his office as president of the continental bank “to develop Africa, fight poverty, develop infrastructure and revive rural economies”.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate President Buhari on his election and his inauguration. I want to thank him tremendously for the support that he gave me on the run for the presidency of the African Development Bank.

“Without that support and without him personally engaged in making calls to critical global leaders in the last days of the election, I don’t think we might have seen the result we saw today.

“I want to really thank the President tremendously for his support and for his commitment and to helping make sure we got that victory.

“Obviously, I couldn’t have also been here, except the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, nominated me. I feel tremendously humbled with that nomination and supported me tremendously by putting a lot of weight behind me.

“I want to thank particularly, former Vice President Namadi Sambo who also went with me to different parts of Africa in mobilising support. Also former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who also was in the frontline of actually pushing and helping us.

“So tremendous amount of goodwill that we had. The National Assembly was great, the press was generous, and all Nigerians, it is not about me, it is about our country and we are a great country.

He added: “I want to assure you that I as the president of the bank, by the grace of God, poverty would not be the comparative advantage of Africa and we would work very hard to develop programmes that would end poverty on this continent, that would lead people out of it and create opportunities for shared prosperity all across our continent.

“Obviously, I think critical issues of infrastructure would be important, energy for all would be important, electricity would be important, very critical to build private sector and to create wealth all across our continent.

“We want to ensure that we are able to create jobs for hundreds of millions of our people, instead of people going across this Sahara Desert or Mediterranean to go to Europe, we want to create job on this continent of Africa and we can do that.

“Also, I believe we must revive our rural economies and lift hundreds of our rural people that depend on agriculture out of poverty. So, getting agriculture to work as a business is going to be a big one that we are going to do for inclusive growth and also into regional integration.”

Dr. Adesina said his dream and vision for Africa is one, adding: “An Africa that is growing well, has a lot of shared prosperity and Africa where you have a lot of peace, stability and security, and one which is regionally integrated within ourselves, but also globally competitive in what we do.”

THE newly elected President of the Africa Development Bank (AfDB), Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, yesterday spoke of President Muhammadu Buhari’s role in his election.

Adesina said Buhari made vital phone calls to global leaders in respect of the position that resulted in his emergence as the AfDB President, noting that the outcome of the race would have been different were it not for him.

The ex-minister of Agriculture and Rural Development under former President Goodluck Jonathan administration spoke at the Oke-Mosan Governor’s Office, Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, when he visited Governor Ibikunle Amosun.

He added that other notable Nigerians, including former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Jonathan, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar and others stood behind him.

Adesina noted that the dream and vision of African countries are one and pledged to use his office as president of the continental bank “to develop Africa, fight poverty, develop infrastructure and revive rural economies”.

He said: “I want to use this opportunity to congratulate President Buhari on his election and his inauguration. I want to thank him tremendously for the support that he gave me on the run for the presidency of the African Development Bank.

“Without that support and without him personally engaged in making calls to critical global leaders in the last days of the election, I don’t think we might have seen the result we saw today.

“I want to really thank the President tremendously for his support and for his commitment and to helping make sure we got that victory.

“Obviously, I couldn’t have also been here, except the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, nominated me. I feel tremendously humbled with that nomination and supported me tremendously by putting a lot of weight behind me.

“I want to thank particularly, former Vice President Namadi Sambo who also went with me to different parts of Africa in mobilising support. Also former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who also was in the frontline of actually pushing and helping us.

“So tremendous amount of goodwill that we had. The National Assembly was great, the press was generous, and all Nigerians, it is not about me, it is about our country and we are a great country.

He added: “I want to assure you that I as the president of the bank, by the grace of God, poverty would not be the comparative advantage of Africa and we would work very hard to develop programmes that would end poverty on this continent, that would lead people out of it and create opportunities for shared prosperity all across our continent.

“Obviously, I think critical issues of infrastructure would be important, energy for all would be important, electricity would be important, very critical to build private sector and to create wealth all across our continent.

“We want to ensure that we are able to create jobs for hundreds of millions of our people, instead of people going across this Sahara Desert or Mediterranean to go to Europe, we want to create job on this continent of Africa and we can do that.

“Also, I believe we must revive our rural economies and lift hundreds of our rural people that depend on agriculture out of poverty. So, getting agriculture to work as a business is going to be a big one that we are going to do for inclusive growth and also into regional integration.”

Dr. Adesina said his dream and vision for Africa is one, adding: “An Africa that is growing well, has a lot of shared prosperity and Africa where you have a lot of peace, stability and security, and one which is regionally integrated within ourselves, but also globally competitive in what we do.”

As at press time on Thursday, about 2,047 persons had signed a petition asking Yale University to withdraw the honorary doctorate degree awarded to Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

Okonjo-Iweala had been awarded a Doctorate of Humane Letters on Monday, May 18, 2015 during Yale’s Commencement ceremony in New Haven, Connecticut, alongside eight others.

The petition, which is being hosted on change.org, the world’s largest petition platform, was started by a Nigerian resident in the United States, one Sunday Iwalaiye.

When THISDAY visited the web page, it was discovered that 453 more petitions were needed to reach 2,500, which will probably prompt the organisation to consider the petition worthy of consideration.

When the petitioner kicked off the movement, the signatures had trickled in by the seconds but they have since leaped to over 2,000, with more probably on the way.

Tagged “Yale University gave its prestigious honorary doctorate degree to an undeserving Nigerian,” the petition reads in part: “There is no tangible evidence of any economic development in Nigeria under the leadership of Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (sic) in all reality.

“Nigeria’s economy is still an oil-dependent economy that is debt and borrowing ridden as well as 100% consuming and importing in nature.”

Beremx:
Ever smiling Rochas Okorocha

eugyno:
I am offering free 5000 real human website visitors for the first five persons to post their website and email here.

No emails no traffic and you must come back here to testify to the number of website visitors you receive as I will also send the google analytics tracker to you.

This offer is a prelude to those who will oreder my mega advertising package at https://www.nairaland.com/2157021/guaranteed-trafficsign-ups-leads-downlines

JayTheWebExpert:
Hello!
i'm not much of the noise making type about what i have achieved in the online/blogging world, but i'm sure networking helps to build a strong relationship even with new-comers in the blogging, i have been blogging since 2009 and i must say it has been the best thing, i gave out some of my blogs and still do some other online jobs though, feel free to comment with your blog niche, when you started and url link plus more about yourself! i reside in Lagos by the way.....
I now own a virtual Telco firm.
#zingtelecoms