Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is obviously angry with Vanguard newspaper over an alleged libellous story in its edition of September 23, 2019, and has demanded a retraction of the story as well as apology or face him in court.
In a letter dated September 24, 2019 and addressed to the newspaper’s editor, Mr. Eze Anaba, Professor Osinbajo, through his lawyer, Femi Falana, insisted on “immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication coupled with apology prominently published in your newspaper.”
Falana began in the letter by saying: “We are solicitors to Professor Yemi Osinbanjo SAN, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (hereinafter referred to as “our client”) on whose behalf and instructions we write this letter.
“Our client’s attention has been drawn to your highly libelous story entitled “N90 bn FIRS election fund, Osinbanjo’s problem, not 2023 politics-Frank” recklessly published in the Vanguard newspaper edition of September 23, 2019.
“In the story credited to one Comrade Timi Frank, your newspaper informed your large readership that our client’s travail “has nothing to do with 2023 but alleged mismanagement of about N90 Billion Naira (sic) released by the Federal Inland Revenue Inland Service (FIRS) to prosecute the last general elections in favour of the APC”.
“The false contextual background and specific untrue and defamatory statement include the following:
“The presidency discovered how Osinbajo allegedly mismanaged N90billion from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
“When confronted by the presidency, he confirmed to General Buhari that he indeed allegedly took N90billion from FIRS but it was used for the 2019 presidential election campaign in strategic states of the South-west.
“Gen Buhari asked for a breakdown of how the money was spent and he said he gave N11 billion to Lagos state APC leader but when the said national leader and one former APC chairman were invited for an explanation, it was confirmed that Osinbajo gave only N5billion and not N11billion to Lagos state.
“The cabal is asking to know how come they beat PDP in the South-west with less than 60,000 votes if the money was actually spent in the strategic states of the South-west as allegedly claimed.’
“The activist insisted that if the information is true, Osinbajo must resign his position as Vice President, adding that such is akin to the characteristics of ‘yahoo boys.”
“It is clear that the entire publication was a vicious, wicked and reckless ploy to impugn the reputation of our client and lower him in the estimation of right thinking members of the public. Without any scintilla of evidence you deliberately gave the dubious impression that our client colluded with the Federal Inland Revenue Service to divert public funds to the tune of N90 billion to prosecute the 2019 general elections in the South west region.
“In view of the foregoing we have our client’s firm instructions to request for the immediate retraction of the offensive and derogatory publication coupled with apology prominently published in your newspaper.
“Take notice that if we do not receive your formal retraction and apology within 24 hours of the receipt of this letter, we shall proceed with our client’s instructions to seek legal remedies including aggravated damages in the appropriate High Court.
Security Agencies in Ghana were said to have foiled an attempted Coup Plot against the Ghanaian President, Nana Afuko-Addo who was elected in 2016, and will be seeking a second term next year
In a statement posted on Twitter, Ghana’s government said that the plot that was targeting the presidency had “the ultimate aim of destabilizing the country.”
The government statement said that it had arrested the group’s leaders, identified as Frederick Yao Mac-Palm, Ezor Kafui and Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu.
The government claimed that the group was plotting with serving military officials procure weapons, take over key installations and secure funding, with an aim of taking over the government.
During the seizure, government said that it was able to recover a stash of weapons, including six pistols, three smoke grenades, 22 IEDs, two AK47 magazines computer equipment and one long knife.
The statement added that the government had monitored activities of the plotters for 15 months, culminating in the arrest of three plotters and seizure of weapons last week Friday.
According to the Ghanaian government, a group known as Take Action Ghana (TAG), was working to recruit and radicalize a base of young people against the political authorities, under the guise of “nation-building.”
Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari thronged the Nigerian Consulate in New York, the United States today, September 24 to praise his government over the handling of the affairs of Nigeria.
This was even as the wife of detained Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore led a few people to protest the detention of the journalist turned politician.
Buhari’s supporters, led by Jide Okuneye, called on Nigerians to join hands in taking his government to the next level.
The supporters wearing “Buhari trusted and tested” T-Shirts, were full of praises for his administration.
Jide Okuneye said: “we want to show the president that we care,” saying that Buhari is fully in charge and in control of his administration.
He that Nigeria is not isolated from problems happening across the globe but that the President has shown leadership and capacity to tackle them.
According to him, Nigeria closure of the border with Benin more than 30 days ago, followed by partial closures of its northern border to Niger has contrary to expectations yielded positive results.
He said that before now, the effect of the closure of border would have been felt but for Buhari’s policy of operation grow what you eat.
“Buhari knows what he is doing, is the best man for the job. Nigerians should be more patient because the problems of Nigeria cannot be solved in a twinkle of an eye, we must follow due process in tackling them. Before now, we cannot boost of feeding ourselves but the borders in Nigeria have been closed for more than a month and we have not heard that the nation has collapsed.
“This is the real operation feed the nation, this is the real man feeding the nation. There are no two ways about it; he is the best thing that has happened to Nigeria.”
But, supporters of Sowore described Buhari’s administration as intolerant and incapable of tackling the numerous problems facing the nation.
The group who were joined by the wife of Sowore, detained presidential candidate of AAC, Opeyemi, demanded that he should be set free.
The group chanted different slogans which include: Free Sowore now; We are tired of killings; stop the kidnapping; we in America want to go home but no place to call home, we tired of medical tourism, freedom of speech is guaranteed under the constitution among others.
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the February 23 Presidential election, Atiku Abubakar has filed a 66 grounds of appeal against the judgment of the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal which dismissed the petition he filed to challenge the election of President Muhammadu Buhari.
Atiku insisted that the five man panel led by Justice Mohammed Lawal Garba erred in law in holding that President Buhari did not need to attach his academic qualification to the form CF 001 submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission to secure clearance to participate in the election.
Atiku and his party had after the election approached the tribunal to challenge it on grounds of irregularity and non qualification of Buhari to contest the election among other reasons.
The tribunal had however on September 11 in a unanimous judgment dismissed the petition on grounds that the petitioners could not prove their case beyond reasonable doubt.
The tribunal went ahead to hold that Atiku has no case in his petition.
The Tribunal further held that Buhari is not only qualified, but eminently qualified to contest the said election based on his academic qualification.
It consequently threw out the petition in its entirety.
In ground one of the appeal, the appellant argued that the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they relied on “overall interest of justice” to hold that the 2nd Respondent’s Exhibits R1 to R26, P85 and P86 were properly admitted in evidence.
In the particulars of error, the appellant submitted that Exhibits R1 to R26, P85 and P86 were not pleaded by Buhari who is the second Respondent in the petition.
He added that Exhibits R1 to R26, P85 and P86 were not frontloaded and that no leave of court was sought pursuant to paragraph 41 (8) of the 1st Schedule to the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) to receive Exhibits R1 to R26, P85 and P86 in evidence.
In ground two, the appellant submitted that the Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held thus:
“My firm view is that Section 76 of the Electoral Act is clearly inapplicable to the issues under consideration. The form referred to are the form to be used in the conduct of the election as FORM CF001 had been taken care of in Section 31 of the Electoral Act and the said FORM CF001 is tied to the steps laid down in the said Section 31 of the Electoral Act.
“More importantly the law is firmly settled that a candidate is not required by the Constitution or the Electoral Act to attach his certificates to FORM CF001 before the candidate can be considered or adjudged to have the requisite educational qualifications to contest election.”
In the particulars of error, the appellant submitted that the Court below gave restrictive interpretation to Section 76 of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) in order to exclude Form CF001 from its provisions.
“The conduct of election by INEC which is 1st Respondent starts with the screening of candidates.
“No candidate can be screened unless he completes Form CF001 (Exhibit P1).
“In Form CF001, under the column for “Schools Attended/Educational Qualification with dates”, there is the clear provision: “ATTACH EVIDENCE OF ALL EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS”.
“Certificates are evidence of educational qualifications”.
In his ground three, Atiku claims that the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held as follows:
“The reasonable inference or plausible meaning attachable to the above provision of Electoral Act 2010 as amended is that a Candidate can list information concerning evidence of his qualifications or other relevant information(s) about himself. The demand or information required in FORM CF001 cannot be more or higher than the statutory requirements.”
In the particular of error, the appellant submitted that, “Form CF001 is designed to take care of the provision in section 31(2) of the Electoral Act (as amended) regarding the “list or information” a candidate is expected to submit and verify by an Affidavit.
“The prescription in Form CF001 for a candidate to attach evidence of all educational qualifications is part of statutory requirements.
“Form CF001 is made pursuant to statutory provisions”.
In ground four, Atiku equally submitted that the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held that,
“There was/is no pleadings in the Petition to the effect that 2nd Respondents failure to attach his certificates to Form CF001 amounts to lack of educational qualification to contest the election.
“In other words the issue of failure to attach certificates which has been flogged throughout the length and breadth of the Petitioners Address in Reply to 1st, 2nd and 3rd Respondents final written address is not the case of the Petitioner in the pleadings. No issue was joined on non production of certificates or failure to attach them as an infraction of section 131, 137 and 138 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended.
“All submission about failure to produce certificates or attach same to CF001 is hereby discountenanced. Even if it can be said that the submissions made are in tandem with the Petitioners Pleadings on issues 1 and 2 the fact remains that none of the facts pleaded were proved or established as required by law.”
In the particulars of error, he submitted that, “Clearly, the Appellants pleaded and proved the allegation that the 2nd Respondent gave false information of a fundamental nature to the 1st Respondent in aid of his qualification.
“The issue raised above was done suo motu by the court below without affording the Appellants a hearing on it.
“The Court below set out in full, the pleadings in the Petition under the heading: Grounds 4 and 5: “Non-Qualification and giving of false Information”, which paragraphs 388 – 405 of the Petition cover.
“Paragraph 396 thereof is predicated on the 2nd Respondent’s claim that all documents relating to his academic qualification “are currently” with the Secretary to the Military Board.
“The Appellants also pleaded thereof that the Nigerian Military denied that it held or was in possession of the 2nd Respondent’s certificates.
“Paragraph 399 thereof pleads that the Appellants will contend that the 2nd Respondent was not qualified to contest the said election.
“The failure of the 2nd Respondent to produce his Certificates or attach same to Form CF001 in the face of unequivocal denial by the Army that his Certificates were not with them went to the root of the allegation against the 2nd Respondent that he gave false information of a fundamental nature to the 1st Respondent in aid of his qualification.
“The Appellants pleaded and proved the allegation that the 2nd Respondent gave false information of a fundamental nature to the 1st Respondent in aid of his qualification.
“The finding above is perverse”.
In-ground five, the appellant argues that the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they failed to consider and apply the recent case of A.A MODIBBO v MUSTAPHA USMAN AND ORS, an unreported decision of the Supreme Court in Appeal No SC/790/2019 delivered on 30th day of July, 2019, cited and relied upon by the Appellants wherein the principles enunciated therein have direct bearing on the Petition.
In the particulars of error, the appellant submitted that, “In the above judgment, the Apex Court in clear and unequivocal terms stated the meaning and standard of proof of “false information”.
“By the above decision, the Petitioners were only required to prove that any of the information in Exhibit P1 was contrary to truth or fact that is to say untrue simpliciter.
“In reviewing the Appellants’ case, the court below referred to the said judgment of the Supreme Court five times but failed to consider and apply same.
“The judgment considered “false information” in relation to the contents of Form CF001 verified on Oath and the definition of “false”.
“By the principle of stare decisis, the court below was under an obligation to consider and follow the principle of law enunciated therein relevant to the issue of the non-qualification of the 2nd Respondent canvassed by the Appellants.
“The lower Court failed to do so and no reason was given”.
The appellant further submitted that the
The Learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held as follows:
“There is no evidence before the Court to disclaim or prove that the 2nd Respondent lied that he went to Primary School, Secondary School and that he joined the Army in 1962 with RW1 and many other persons in the 2nd Respondent’s C.V. attached to Exhibit P1 tendered by the Petitioners. Page 1 thereof shows conclusively that he attended Primary School and that he attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School (no Government College) Katsina in 1956 – 1961 and went to Nigerian Military Training from 1961 – 1963.
“The evidence of RW1 and RW2 bear testimony to the aforesaid facts. The said RW1 and RW2 establish beyond doubt that 2nd Respondent had educational qualifications he filled in FORM CF001 on 8/10/2018.”
In the particulars of error, the appellant submits that, “the educational qualifications the 2nd Respondent claimed in Exhibit P1 are “Primary School Certificate”, “WASC” and “Officer Cadet”.
“The 2nd Respondent did not predicate his educational qualifications on any other certificate or ground.
“The 2nd Respondent appreciated that he was under an obligation to attach evidence of the certificates/qualifications he claimed in Form CF001.
“The 2nd Respondent did not attach any of them and claimed that they “are currently” with the Secretary to the Military Board in an affidavit he deposed to on 24th November, 2014.
“The Appellants led evidence that the military denied being in possession of the certificates.
In addition, the appellant submitted that the learned Justices of the Court of Appeal erred in law when they held, as follows:
“The Petitioners Learned Counsel had argued that the evidence led to prove that 2nd Respondent attended secondary school or a primary school or that he attended some courses, is irrelevant because he did not rely on any of those qualification in Exhibit P1.
“With profound respect to the Learned Senior Counsel his position is faulty because the said FORM CF001 specifically asked 2nd Respondent the schools he attended with qualifications attained or obtained in order to determine whether the 2nd Respondent has been educated up to at least the School Certificate level or its equivalent which is part of the qualifications stipulated in Section 131 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended.”
In the particulars of error, the appellant submits that, “the 2nd Respondent, from the contents of Exhibit P1, did not rely on the alternative qualifications canvassed by the Respondents in the lower Courts.
“Form CF001 not only asked the 2nd Respondent to state the schools he attended, but also mandatorily required him to attach the certificates obtained by him from the said schools.
“The qualification relied upon by the 2nd Respondent under Section 131(d) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) is that he obtained a First School Leaving Certificate, WASC and Officer Cadet”.
Barrister Festus Keyamo, who was moved from the ministry of Niger Delta as Minister of State to the ministry of Labour and Productivity, has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the move.
Reacting to his new posting, which was carried out today, September 24 in a minor cabinet reshuffle as contained in a letter by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha, Keyamo said: “Thank you, Mr. President, for finding me versatile enough to move around. Always ready to serve in any capacity.”
In a Twitter, the lawyer and activist wrote: “ON THE MOVE AGAIN: TWO PORTFOLIOS IN TWO MONTHS! Just been redeployed to the Ministry of Labour and Employment to work with my long-time big brother, H.E, Chris Ngige.”
President Buhari delivers Address at the General Debate of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on 24th Sep 2019
President Muhammadu Buhari has blamed social media over the escalation of all types of crimes, including terrorism across the world.
He therefore, called on major tech companies to be alive to their responsibilities, adding: “they cannot be allowed to continue to facilitate the spread of religious, racist, xenophobic and false messages capable of inciting whole communities against each other, leading to loss of many lives. This could tear some countries apart.”
President Buhari, who delivered Nigeria’s Statement today, October 24, as the fifth speaker on the first day of the General Debate during the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA74), said that poverty is a potent threat to security.
According to him, poverty is a foul source from which common criminality, insurgency, cross-border crimes, human trafficking and its terrible consequences draw inspiration.
Describing poverty as one of the greatest challenges facing the world, President Buhari said that its eradication is an indispensable requirement for achieving sustainable development.
On corruption, Buhari said that his government is facing the challenges of corruption head-on, even as he said: “we are giving notice to international criminal groups by the vigorous prosecution of the P&ID scam attempting to cheat Nigeria of billions of dollars.”
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan Bin Mahmoud Bostaji, last night, September 23, hosted notable Nigerian leaders; governors, ministers, heads of parastatals and Heads of other foreign Missions to Nigeria to a dinner in celebration of 89th Saudi Arabian National Day in Abuja. Above, the Ambassador is welcoming the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar while the Editor-In-Chief/Chief Executive Officer of Greenbarge Media and Communications Limited, publisher of Greenbarge Reporters online and DIGNITY magazine, Yusuf Ozi-Usman waits for his turn to be welcomed.
Ambassador Adnan Bostaji (in the middle) surrounded by governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, minister of State for Federal Capital Territory, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjani (third from left) and other dignitaries cutting the anniversary cake at the occasion
Editor-In-Chief/CEO of GMCL, publisher of Greenbarge Reporters online and DIGNITY magazine, Yusuf Ozi-Usman, in a tete-a-tete with Ambassador Adnan Bostaji at the occasion.
President Muhammadu Buhari recently set up an Economic Advisory Council, to replace the country’s Economic Management Team. He also moved some departments and agencies of government to the new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. I don’t see why this should become a source of agitation and frustration for some Nigerians.
The Economic Advisory Council is chaired by Professor Doyin Salami, a seasoned intellectual. The members are persons of great technocratic ability with a track record of achievement as economists and policy wonks.
The Council will meet every month and meet with the President every quarter. The Nigerian economy can certainly benefit
from new ideas and perspectives. It is also refreshing to see the President put together a team that is not made up of party members, dead woods, or sycophants. Each member of the Economic Advisory Council inspires confidence. There is a consensus that the President got it right with the list. What the Advisory Council needs is the President’s support and an enabling environment for it to be able to make a difference. How do we achieve double-digit economic growth? What are the fiscal and monetary policies that can position the Nigerian economy differently, for better performance? What do we need to do to reduce unemployment? What kind of injection does the real sector need? The Council can also help generate robust discussions within government on key issues that affect all of us. It is also a good development that the President is personally taking charge of the economy. The Council will report to him directly.
I don’t have a problem with that. I also like the idea of a new Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development. Such a sharply-focused Ministry should serve as a strategic hub for the management of the many disasters that keep occurring across the country. The missing link in existing efforts is the lack of co-ordination and synergy among various agencies and between the states and the Federal government.
This ministry could help send a signal that the Nigerian government now intends to place a higher premium on human lives.
It is about time the country took disaster management and humanitarian care more seriously.
I expected many Nigerians to focus on the value of these two initiatives. Instead, what I hear is a disturbing conversation about how both amount to an “enemy action” to whittle down the influence and authority of the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Previously, the Vice President was the chairman of the Economic Management Team and the National Economic Council. The first is an ad hoc administrative structure focusing on the economy; the latter is a statutory, constitutional body.
I do not share most of the views that have been expressed, or the obvious attempt to politicize what in reality is within the authority of the President.
Afenifere says for example, that the “office of the Vice President has been rendered useless, impotent and irrelevant.”
How? Just because the President sets up an Economic Advisory Council and created a new Ministry to ensure greater service delivery in a critical area of national concern? The Movement for the Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) says Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is being “maltreated” and “that the unconstitutional stripping of Prof. Yem Osinbajo’ official attributes amounts to…continuous humiliation of Christians in high positions of current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
”There you go. Nigerians are always quick to play the ethnic and religious card. Some other commentators claim that they see the hands of an anti-Osinbajo cabal in the matter. At least one Pastor has prophesied that the cabal will fail.
Others have argued that certain forces are determined to stop Vice President Osinbajo just in case he is nursing a 2023 Presidential ambition. Persons have been named who have been penciled down as the VP’s likely replacement.
The various conspiracy theories seem suspicious. Of course, I know that there is never a shortage of mischief-makers in the corridors of power. The relationship between Presidents and Vice Presidents and between Governors and their Deputies has also always been quite tricky in Nigeria n politics. Should the President become incapacitated or he is removed from office, the Vice President replaces him. He is thus just a step away from the office. Deputy Governors stand in the same regard to the Governors in the states.
With the kind of politics that we play, Governors and their supporters always keep an eye on the Deputy Governor. If he shows any sign of disloyalty or ambition, all the hawks within the system will go after him and ensure that he is removed, marginalised or humiliated. Presidential politics is worse.
The Presidency is clearly the highest office in the land, it is the home of even more vicious intrigues.
And indeed we have had cases in the past of conflicts within the Presidency, between the President and the Vice President. Many will recall how the relationship between President Olusegun Obasanjo and then Vice President Atiku Abubakar deteriorated rapidly after the 2003 Presidential election. The Presidential Villa practically became a war zone. All kinds of opportunists cashed in on this and there was never a shortage of salacious tales emanating from the Villa, from faceless persons casually referred to as “sources within the Presidency.”
Those “sources” are at work again. But we all need to learn from the past. A divided Presidency short-changes the people.
Many will also recall the travails of President Goodluck Jonathan as Vice President to President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. There was a deliberate attempt to frustrate him by those who did not want him as a successor to the late President whose tenure was defined majorly by the politics of illness and death.
When President Yar’Adu left the country for medical treatment, there were persons within and outside the Presidency who insisted that VP Jonathan would not be allowed to act as President. It took the intervention of men and women of reason and the National Assembly for the letter and spirit of the Constitution to take effect. When VP Jonathan became President, he chose Arc. Namad Sambo then Governor of Kaduna State, as his Vice President. Arc Sambo and President Jonathan had a good, rancor-free working relationship, but that does not rule out the fact that certain mischief-makers tried to come between them.
My view is that Professor Yemi Osinbajo would rank as one of the most influential and visible Vice Presidents that Nigeria has had since the return to civilian rule in 1999 With the possible exception of Atiku Abubakar between 1999 and 2003, he has been able to engage the public and connect with the people in a manner no other Vice President before him, did.
This probably explains why there has been so much concern about his place in the Presidency, and his relationship with his principal. It also explains why he may attract envy and criticism.
I like the fact that he has been very calm and dignified in the face of it all. He has refrained from making any statement that may convey the impression that he also believes the narrative that some persons, wielding long knives, are out for him. He has not shown any desperation in the face of speculations that he may be removed, nor has he responded to any suggestion that he is under pressure to resign. His media team has not over-reacted. I commend him for his tact, and for staying above the fray.
However, one person who is convinced that the Vice President’s office is truly under siege told me the other day that Professor Osinbajo should go to court. Why would he allow the President to take away his powers over the management of the economy, including bodies of which he is statutorily the Chairman? I laughed. I told the person that the Vice President will do no such thing. He has no special powers of his own except powers delegated to him by the President, and even that is entirely at the discretion of the President. It is not impossible that many of the persons who are protesting that the Vice President is being marginalized are also under the illusion that there is a power sharing arrangement between the President and the Vice President of Nigeria. No. There is no such thing. Even the VP’s Chairmanship of the National Economic Council, under Section 18 of the Third Schedule is at the pleasure of the President; in any case, the Economic Council, like the Economic Advisory Council, and many such bodies is merely an advisory body. There is only one President of the Federation.
He is granted so many powers under the 1999 Constitution, the Nigerian President is almost a constitutional monarch.
He is the country’s chief economic manager. He is the “head of State, the Chief Executive of the Federation and Commander-in-Chief of the Federation” (Section 130(2). Whereas in defining the powers of the Federal Government, the Constitution vests legislative (Section 4) and judicial powers (section 6) in institutions and not individuals, Executive Powers (section 5) are vested in the person of the President. It is as follows: “5(1): Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the executive powers of the Federation – shall be vested in the President and may, subject as aforesaid and to the provisions of any law made by the National Assembly, be exercised by him either directly or through the Vice-President and Ministers of the Government of the Federation or officers in the public service of the Federation.”
In other words, the Vice President exercises executive powers only as delegated by the President.
The manner and extent to which he does so is at the entire discretion of the President as provided in Section 148 (1):
“The President, may in his discretion, assign to the Vice President or any Minister of the Government of the Federation responsibility for any business of the Government of the Federation, including the administration of any department of government.
”The operative phrase here is “may in his discretion.”
And for the benefit of those wondering whether the President acted rightly by setting up an Economic Advisory Council, Section 151 of the Constitution refers – to wit: “The President may appoint any person as a Special Adviser to assist him in the performance of his functions.”
This, to the best of my knowledge, is the position of the Constitution on how the Vice President stands in relation to Presidential powers. In the eyes of the Constitution, the buck stops at the President’s desk. His government fails or succeeds strictly on the basis of the choices that he makes. He is not first among equals. He is the boss. The Vice President is at best his number one aide and adviser. The circumstances, however, under which the Vice President can replace him or act on his behalf are properly spelt out in the same Constitution.
It is not for nothing that the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal in a ruling on the 2019 Presidential election recently declared that the Vice President is an ‘appendage.”
When I canvass this view, I am told that I don’t understand the politics that is currently going on in the Villa.
My suspicion is that the people who are playing politics are the people latching on to the announcement of an Economic Advisory Council or the revelation that the Vice President must take directives from the President (which is not a problem by the way), to project their own fears on to the national screen- namely their ethnic interests, religious sentiments and personal interests.
They do so in rather hyperbolic terms. Just as there are persons threatening to march on the Villa “to defend our VP”, there are those who are seizing the moment to launch personal attacks on the Vice President.
Those who claim to be defending him may be expressing their admiration of him – it is clear he has a followership and a constituency behind him – but they should be careful not to damage his politics and his relationship with his principal. There is definitely also a lesson here for the President and the Presidency.
Perception is everything. Given Nigeria’s politics of suspicion, even the most innocent of gestures could create wicked problems; hence, government must always think ahead and communicate with greater clarity. Flip side: it is definitely clear that Professor Yemi Osinbajo’s followers want him to be given more responsibilities, not a demotion. They don’t want him to be used and dumped, no matter what. Off the books, beyond legalese: address this perception problem.
Above all, something must be done about those so-called “reliable sources” in the Presidency. I never liked them. They only make things difficult for everyone.
Saudi Arabia Ambassaor to Nigeria, Bin Mahmoud Bostaji
Ambassador Adnan bin Mahmoud Bostaji celebrated the 89th Saudi Arabian Day with some Nigerian leaders today, September 23 in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Among those who celebrated the day with the Ambassador were Governor Abdullahi Umar Ganduje of Kano State, representative of Governor Nasir Ahmed el-Rufai of Kaduna State, Interior minister, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, minster of Science and Technology, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, minister of State for the FCT, Hajiya Ramatu Tijjanii and minister of State for Forieng Affairs, Ambassador Zubairu Dada. There were other notable Nigerians like former Lagos military administrator, Buba Marwa, chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria, Barr Abdullahi Mukhtar and Ambassadors of other countries and missions.
Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador Adnan Bostaji commended the founders of the modern Saudi Arabia and the leaders that had sustained it over the years.
He said that the day epitomized the struggle for the development of the Kingdom in all strata of human endeavours while keeping to the socio cultural values with which the country is defined.
Ambassador Adnan Bostaji savoured the cordial relationship that had been growing from strength to strength between his country and Nigeria, beginning from 1960.
He prayed to Nigeria to attain high development in all sectors in a secure and safe environment.
The Nigeria’s minister of State for foreign Affairs, Ambassador Dada, described Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner in the development of socio-economic and industrial sectors in Nigeria.
The minister expressed concern of the government of Nigeria over the recent drone attacks on Saudi’s crude oil facilities.
He assured the Ambassador that Nigeria is solidly behind the Saudi Arabian government in it’s hours of travail.
Pastor Tunde Bakare of Latter Rain Ministeries has made it clear that he will be the President of Nigeria from 2023 and that nothing will stop him.
In a recent Video, Bakare told his church members that after President Muhammadu Buhari, he is the next President of Nigeria.
“Take it to the Mountain top, if you have never heard it before, am saying it to you this morning; in the scheme of things as far as politics of Nigeria is concerned, President Muhammadu Buhari is Number 15 and yours Sincerely am Number 16.”
“I never said it to you before, I make it clear to you today, nothing can change it.
“To this aim was I born, for this purpose I came into the world; that is why if Buhari wanted to run in 2019, I did not oppose. He is still the number 15 when he steps out, I will step in.
“Its assignment; it’s that of Moses to take Nigeria to River Jordan but they can’t cross it. He will take Joshua to the other side and begin to distribute his resources to the people of this Nation.”
Bakare was the running mate to Buhari in the 2011 Nigerian Presidential election.
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Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is obviously angry with Vanguard newspaper over an alleged libellous story in its edition of September 23, 2019, and has demanded a retraction of the story as well as apology or face him in court.
Security Agencies in Ghana were said to have foiled an attempted Coup Plot against the Ghanaian President, Nana Afuko-Addo who was elected in 2016, and will be seeking a second term next year
Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari thronged the Nigerian Consulate in New York, the United States today, September 24 to praise his government over the handling of the affairs of Nigeria.
Barrister Festus Keyamo, who was moved from the ministry of Niger Delta as Minister of State to the ministry of Labour and Productivity, has thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the move.
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Nigeria, Adnan Bin Mahmoud Bostaji, last night, September 23, hosted notable Nigerian leaders; governors, ministers, heads of parastatals and Heads of other foreign Missions to Nigeria to a dinner in celebration of 89th Saudi Arabian National Day in Abuja. Above, the Ambassador is welcoming the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON), Barrister Abdullahi Mukhtar while the Editor-In-Chief/Chief Executive Officer of Greenbarge Media and Communications Limited, publisher of Greenbarge Reporters online and DIGNITY magazine, Yusuf Ozi-Usman waits for his turn to be welcomed.
Editor-In-Chief/CEO of GMCL, publisher of Greenbarge Reporters online and DIGNITY magazine, Yusuf Ozi-Usman, in a tete-a-tete with Ambassador Adnan Bostaji at the occasion.
