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Tag: Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

  • COVID-19: Obasanjo shuts out associates at mother-in-law’s funeral

    COVID-19: Obasanjo shuts out associates at mother-in-law’s funeral

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo on Friday shut out his associates and aides during the funeral of his mother-in-law, Florence Adenekan.

    Adenekan, mother of one of his wives, Bola Obasanjo, died on April 17, 2020.

    The former president is believed to have taken the action to ensure compliance with COVID-19 protocols on public gatherings.

    Adenekan, who died two days before her 90th birthday, was buried at Isara in Remo North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

    In a statement by his spokesman, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said he stood in for his wife who could not attend the ceremony as she is out of the country.

    The statement said the service took place at St Peter’s Anglican Church, Diocese of Remo, Isara-Remo, Ogun State, adding that Obasanjo personally shut the doors as the service began at about 10am.

    He said the service was presided over by the Archbishop of Lagos Ecclesiastical Province of Lagos/Bishop of Remo Diocese, Rev Dr Adesina Fape.

    “Shortly after the funeral, the interment took place at the church cemetery, with Obasanjo leading family members to carry out the dust-to-dust rites,” the statement added.

    “The former president later paid homage to the four traditional rulers at Ode and Isara areas of the local government. The monarchs include Onisara of Isara, Oba Mukaila Olabinjo; the Iraye Remo, Oba Samuel Kalejaiye; the Eleposo Eposo Ode Remo, Oba Albert Mayungbe; and the Alaye Ode, Oba Adetunji Osho.

    The Alaye Ode stated that Obasanjo showed he is a “true and respected Yoruba son” by visiting their domains despite being in the area for a personal engagement.

    “We shall continue to learn from your wisdom; the people of Ode are proud and appreciate this visit,” the statement quoted him as saying.

  • Governor Makinde to AGF Malami: You have no powers to declare Amotekun illegal

    Governor Makinde to AGF Malami: You have no powers to declare Amotekun illegal

    Barely 24 hours after the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami’s (SAN) described the declaration of Amotekun, a Southwest security outfit as illegal, the Executive Governor of Oyo state, Engr. Seyi Makinde has reacted.

    The Oyo State Governor disclosed that the AGF does not have powers to label the regional security outifts illegal.

    This disclosure was made by the Governor during his visit to former president Olusegun Obasanjo in Ogun state on Wednesday, January 14.

    While reacting on the issue, the Governor further stressed that the stance of the Federal Government on Amotekun has not been officially communicated by the attorney-general of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.

    He said; “My personal position is that you actually don’t run government on the social media. If I see a letter or if I get a call from the Attorney-General of the Federation telling me what you just said, then it would be a different fact of reaction.

    “So, I’ve been reading just like you read on the social media; I haven’t seen anything official to that effect. And besides, I don’t think for a country like Nigeria, the Attorney-General will just wake up and make his own laws.

    “He may interpret and advise the President if there are legal issues, but I haven’t seen anything that gave that power to the Attorney General to make such declaration.”

    Governor Makinde further revealed that the security outfit will bridge the existing gaps in security in the six South-West states.

    He added that it will complement the police and other security agencies.

    Makinde said;

    “I did say that this outfit is complementary to the Nigerian police and other security agencies. In Oyo State, the government is being placed on four major pillars: education, health, security and expansion of our economy through agri-business.

    “So, security is a major pillar for us and we believe you cannot have any development in an atmosphere that is not secure. If you look at investments, money coming into an economy, such money is a coward. If such money sees anywhere that is not secured, they would fly and run away. So, security is key.

    “The security agencies are doing their best, but there are still gaps. Just like in most sectors of our body polity, we do have gaps in education, in healthcare delivery. So, in security also, there are gaps and we believe that playing complementary roles will also help to narrow those gaps.”

  • I’m not afraid of death at my age – Olusegun Obasanjo

    I’m not afraid of death at my age – Olusegun Obasanjo

    Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has declared that he would continue to raise alarm when things are not properly done in the country.

    This declaration was made by the former head of state and President at a two-day interactive session of the Presidential Youth Mentorship Retreat held at the Youth Development Centre in Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.

    Obasanjo disclosed that the fear of death won’t deter him from speaking up against anomalies witnessed across the country.

    Obasanjo averred that he shouldn’t be afraid of death at his age as he urged the visiting youths to sacrifice themselves individually and collectively to make Nigeria a great nation.

    “I’m not afraid of death at my age, God has favoured me and I appreciate God’s blessings on me over these years.

    ”My concern over the years is to build leaders of Africa. My greatest concern is tomorrow and that tomorrow begins today.

    “The world today is in crisis; I believed that youths need interaction from leaders and learning from them. I want to be inspired at the end of this programme.

    “I want you to identify yourself and use your identity to achieve service to God and humanity,” he said.

  • Obasanjo embarked on more foreign trips than Buhari – Oshiomhole

    Obasanjo embarked on more foreign trips than Buhari – Oshiomhole

    Following criticisms that surround the frequent abroad trips of President Muhammadu Buhari, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has slammed critics, saying no President has travelled out of Nigeria as much as former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    According to the former Governor of Edo state, “ Mr President is involved in frequent trips is not correct. I remember very well, there is no president in recent Nigeria’s history, since 1999 till now, that travelled out of Nigeria as much as former President Olusegun Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo did.

    “If you check through your newspapers and playback some of your electronic coverages, you will find where Gani Fawehinmi (of blessed memory) took time to calculate the number of days President Obasanjo was out of Nigeria, visiting foreign countries.

    “He even tried to calculate the number of hours he was spending on air comparing it to the number of hours he was spending on Nigerian soil. So, how can you, that was already an adult when Obasanjo was president suggest that Buhari travel more often than other persons? That is not correct,” Mr Oshiomole told newsmen.

    While reacting to statements credited to Chairman of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption (PACAC) about him being the cause of Edo APC crisis, Adams Oshiomole said that he would rather take up the matter in private.

    “All I can tell you is that I have a lot of respect for Prof. Itse Sagay. I do remember very well that he was one of those who said I should contest for President. I respect him, he is a very consistent fellow. He believes in what he believed in and he pays the price for it.

    “If he has said those things, I am not going to reply to him through the newspapers. I will find out what he said and I will find out, call him and know what the issues are that he is not comfortable with. He is my brother and my elder statesman,” Mr Oshiomhole said.

  • Soyinka: There Are Names In This Country I’ll Never Mention Again

    Soyinka: There Are Names In This Country I’ll Never Mention Again

    To the dismay of many, Professor Wole Soyinka; Literature guru and Nobel Laureate declared that there are some names of prominent citizens in Nigeria that he will never mention again.

    The literature guru made this disclosure while speaking at the Freedom Park in Lagos during a pre-launch event of his latest book titled, ‘Beyond Aesthetics’ and the launch of ‘Beautiful: The Exposition’, an art of collection.

    It is never an understatement to describe the rights activist, playwright and literature guru as nemesis of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. By the virtue of the past, both men had engaged in scathing references to each other in their books.

    While reacting to names he mentioned in the yet-to-be released book, he said “So, So, please don’t come at me and say why don’t you leave this man alone? It’s nothing to do with me.

    “It’s just a reality and this is also an opportunity to explain to people that there is nothing really personal about some of these heavy-duty antagonists you see or read about.

    “No, no, it is not.  It’s taking power on and power turns ugly which is 99 percent of the time.

    “There are names in this country I have promised myself I will never mention again. So, I will not mention any names. But if you find any such name here, please have patience.

    “Don’t just say what on earth is he giving them? Believe me, it’s unrelated. Aesthetics, allusion for beauty…”