Wednesday, 16 December 2015

5 Nigerian Leaders Who Got Married In 2015

Getting married in later years is now seemingly acceptable and Nigerian leaders are no exception
1. Governor Adams Oshiomhole
This coming five years after the death of his first wife, Clara, after a long battle with cancer.
Oshiomhole and Fortes tied the knot in Etsako West local government council marriage registry in the Auchi area of Edo state, while the reception was staged at the governor’s country home in Iyamho.
The wedding which witnessed the presence of the dignitaries in Nigeria (President Muhammadu Buhari inclusive), was however not graced by the children of the‘comrade-governor’, as Oshiomole is fondly called, which sparked rumours of the governor’s children were not in support of their father’s decision.
Governor Adams Oshiomhole Weds Iara Fortes, Cape Verdian damsel
The rumour was however dismissed as one of the governor’s children, 
Iara Forte, a Cape Verde national and a former air hostess at Emirate Airlines, is in her early thirties, aides of the governor say, while Oshiomhole is a 63-year-old.
2. The Emir of Kano Muhammadu Sanusi II
The wedding held inside the Lamido’s Yola palace minutes after Jumma’at prayer.
Sanusi already has three wives, Sadiya, the daughter of Ado Bayero who is the late emir of Kano, Maryam and Rakiya.
The 18-year-old Sa’adatu has recently graduated from a secondary school and has enrolled for advanced level studies.
, with many Nigerians saying that Sa’adatu Barkindo-Musdafa, the daughter of the Lamido of Adamawa, is way too young for the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) governor.
Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II, and his family
3. Senator Hope Uzodinma
A distinguished senator in the 8th National Assembly, 
Senator Hope Uzodinma who is  representing Imo West constituency (Orlu) in the Senate fell in love mid last year 2014 with his Aba-born new bride and they secretly dated until they could both not hid the love again.
Senator Hope Uzodinma and his young wife
Hope Uzodinma and his damsel, strike a pose with family members
Reports also made it known that the bride’s name is Chioma Ikeaka and she studied Law at Imo state university. She moved to Abuja for law school and her paths crossed with the NASS member.
4. Honourable Moji Lawal
The last single honourable in the Lagos state House of Assembly, 
Moji was the first ever female aspirant in Apapa constituency, and emerged their first female representative on May 29, 2015.
Moji Lawal weds her husband John Paul
There were over 100 delegates in the primaries before she emerged her party, the All Progressive Congress (APC)’s candidate. Her husband, John Paul, is a businessman.
5. The Emir Of Daura
The Emir of Daura Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk, who is over 80 years of age, reportedly got married to a beautiful lady as his youngest wife in May this year.
Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar Faruk marries a young lady
Daura is the birth place of President Buhari in Katsina state.
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Guardiola Set To Dump Bayern For Man City

Bayern Munich coach Pep Guardiola is set to announce his departure from the German club, as Manchester City prepare to swoop on the former Barcelona coach.
With Guardiola’s contract ending at Bayern at the end of the current season, the management of Manchester City are lurking around to bring the coach to the Etihad, as Manuel Pellegrini’s tactics have been questioned by the club fans.
Spanish newspaper Marca reported Wednesday December 16, that the 44-year-old has already notified the Bundesliga giants he is willing to move ahead with his career just after his contract expires.
The newspaper also claimed that Guardiola may likely reject the €20million-per-season offer to continue at the Allianz Arena.
The tactician has helped Bayern to win the German title twice but yet to land the Champions League trophy at the for the German club where Real Madrid and then Barcelona eliminating his team in 2014 and 2015 respectively.
Although, Pellegrini remains in charge of City, but with doubts still surrounding his tactical expertise. 
However, Manchester United and Chelsea have also shown interest in the former Spanish international.
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Mikel Set For N1.7b Move Outside Chelsea

Turkish club, Galatasaray are likely to sign Super Eagles and Chelsea mid-fielder, John Obi Mikel during the January transfer window.
The Turkish club are reported to have tabled $8.5m (about N1.7b) for Mikel who has featured in only nine games for his club this season.
The arrival of Nemanja Matic cost the Nigerian international his midfield position and was not really in Jose Mourinho’s plans last season where he managed just six starts in a League Chelsea won.
Vanguard reports that according to Turkish outlet Takvim, Galatasaray are trying to seal the deal with the 28-year-old player in the coming days.
Also, fellow Turkish side Besiktas have also shown interest in the Nigerian player; as club president, Fikret Oman, admitting it is still possible for them to get him.
“We were ready to sign Mikel last summer. And we could enter the race again over the winter break,” Oman said. 
However, Mikel’s current deal with the London club will expire in 2017 but there are chances Chelsea may not renew his contract which Galatasaray wants to take advantage of.
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Anti-Corruption War: China Supports Nigeria

Lin Songtian, the director-general of African Department of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has applauded President Muhammadu Buhari for his ongoing anti-corruption campaign in Nigeria.
President Muhammadu Buhari and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping.
He also stressed that the Chinese government was committed to supporting Nigeria’s fight against terrorism in the Northeastern part of the country.
Leadership reports that Lin stated this while briefing a joint delegation of journalists from six African countries in Beijing on Wednesday, December 16.
“Let me say here that the Chinese government highly appreciates President Buhari’s present anti-corruption fight.
“The Chinese government strongly believes in our cooperation with Nigeria and also believe want to commend the president’s effort at making Nigeria free of corruption.
“I will like to also say that our government is worried over terrorism and insecurity in the North-East part of that country and is ready to support Nigeria in fighting terrorism,’’ he said.
Lin stressed in his speech that it was imperative for China to support Nigeria’s growth. However, he also noted that with growth and development “terrorism will continue to grow in Nigeria’’.
Speaking about the recent summit on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, the director-general said that this political event was meant to chart a new course of cooperation for China and African countries, as well as inject “strong impetus” to their already existing cooperation.
The Chinese official noted that his government was currently working hard to make Nigeria and other African countries achieve self-dependent development that would reduce poverty and provide jobs for youth. He added that the Chinese government was ready to support Nigeria and other countries in boosting their food production, as well as disease prevention in their communities.
During China-Africa Cooperation summit,  and upgrading the two countries’ strategic partnership.
“Of particular interest is the coastal railway project stretching for 1,402 kilometers linking Lagos in the west with Calabar in the east; a project that is expected to be financed with a $12 billion Chinese loan and which will create 200,000 jobs,” the president’s media aide revealed.
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President Buhari Clocks 73 In Few Hours!

What came to your mind when you saw the headline?… That something really might happen to the Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari in few hours?

Yes, something sweet is happening to the president of Nigeria tomorrow, December 17, 2015. But before you get into the know, let’s go on a short history ride.
The people’s president was born December 17, 1942 in Daura! Yes, he will be 73 tomorrow! The politician who has endeared himself to Nigerians, will be adding to his years in a few hours and Naij.com has compiled a list of how the president has fared since 2014.
1. He survived Boko Haram attack in Kaduna. Buhari was the target of one of the A source close to Buhari at that time disclosed that a second bomb explosion that rocked the Kawo bus station in Kaduna appeared to have targeted the then presidential aspirant’s convoy.

It was gathered that . The source said that the bombers had trailed the former head of state’s convoy and detonated the bomb as the convoy neared a bridge in Kawo.
2. President Muhammadu Buhari, to show commitment in eradicating the deadly virus in Nigeria.
According to Femi Adesina, the presidential special adviser on media and publicity, the action demonstrated safety and efficiency of the vaccine as well.

3. During the pre-election periods, he survived numerous hate ‘attacks’ thrown at him. From the to former first lady, Patience Jonathan, tagging him ‘brain dead’, his certificate saga and more, it was obvious that the birthday ‘boy’ has a strong personality. He rose above those hate speeches among several others before emerging as the president.
4. Some weeks ago, President Muhammadu Buhari was in Malta to take part in the 2015 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting which commenced on Friday, November 27. The Head of the Commonwealth, Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, and other participating Heads of State and Government.

5. And one of the biggest things that happened to him between 2014 and now, is the fact that he emerged the Nigerian president! According to , the celebrant, who contested on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), won 15,424,921 votes or 53.95 percent of the 28,587,564 total valid votes cast.
His nearest rival, President Goodluck Jonathan, 58, of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), won 12,853,162 (44.96 percent) at the election.
Hearty cheers to the president!
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I Only Got SUVs From Dasuki, Not $300k - President Buhari

In a swift response to reports that he collected $300, 000 from the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Sambo Dasuki, President Muhammadu Buhari has made fresh clarifications.
According to Eagleonline, the Nigerian president denied ever receiving cash from the embattled former NSA, who is presently embroiled in a multi-billion dollar arms deal scandal.
Dasuki appears in court.
Femi Adesina, the special adviser on media and publicity to the president informed instead, that the president received only two Jeeps from the presidency before his inauguration on May 29, 2015.
According the presidential spokesperson, the Jeep, one armoured and the other, ordinary, were sent to Buhari shortly after the attack on his vehicles in Kaduna state by members of the Boko Haram sect.
In a text message to further emphasise that Dasuki never gave a dime to the president, Mr Adesina wrote: “After the attack, he (Buhari) got two Land Cruiser SUVs, one armoured, the other not. No cash.”
In a rather stunning revelation today,
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Top 10 Most Memorable Political Events

The year 2015 has been a memorable one for all Nigerians especially in the political scene. This year, the political tension was so high especially during the campaign and the period leading the general elections.
There was a lot of hate speech and speculations that the election would be a violent one. Many Nigerians even fled the country before the elections. There were predictions all over and a lot of people were truly scared for the unity of Nigeria.
But, things worked out well and not the way people expected it.
There were a lot of political activities during the course of the year that rocked the country.
Below are 10 memorable 2015 political events.
1. The campaigns:
PDP presidential campaign in Edo state.
There was a lot of hate electioneering campaign flying around in the build up to the election. It was like a battle between the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who were so bent on destroying each other’s image.
Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti state and the former First Lady, Patience Jonathan were leaders of hate campaign and their attacks were mostly directed at President Muhammadu Buhari and his party. The most memorable was the which was eventually resolved.
Both parties tried to dig up dirt against each other, throwing accusations in other win the hearts of Nigerians.
2. Postponement of the Election:
The by the Independent National Electoral Commission came as a surprise to many. The election had been scheduled for February 14 and 28. But, week to the scheduled election, it was postponed. The postponement was however greeted with protest from the APC.
3. The presidential election:
The 2015 presidential election was the most keenly contested since 1999 when Nigeria returned to democratic rule. Though there other parties contesting in the election, the battle was between Muhammadu Buhari of the APC and Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP. The election held on March 28 and Nigerians came out in their numbers to vote. For the first time, INEC introduced the use of card readers which malfunctioned in some areas. The card reader machines failed to recognize the biometrics of the then president, Jonathan and his wife when they went for accreditation in his ward in Otuoke, Bayelsa state.
Jonathan called Buhari to congratulate him before INEC announced winner of the election.
The most significant thing that got a lot of people talking and changed the history of Nigeria was . Before the results were announced by INEC, Jonathan called Buhari to congratulate him on his victory, thereby averting whatever tragedy would have been.
4. The governorship election:
The governorship election held two weeks later on April 15. It was peaceful in some areas while some states like Rivers state experienced some measure of violence. Lagos governorship election was peculiar as the Oba of Lagos, that they will be thrown into the lagoon if they do not support his preferred candidate Akinwunmi Ambode of the APC.
5. Inauguration:
Muhammadu Buhari during his inauguration and swearing in ceremony on May 29, 2015
On May 29, at the Eagle Square, Abuja, marking the beginning of the promised “change” era.
One of the most memorable thing about the event was Buhari’ s speech that he “belongs to everybody and belongs to nobody.”
6. National Assembly elections:
After the swearing in of Buhari, came the National Assembly election which did not go the way the ruling party envisioned. In a dramatic turn of event, against the wish of his party while Ike Ekweremadu was elected as his deputy. All this happened while members of the APC went for a purported meeting with President Buhari earlier in the day only to return to assembly complex to discover what had happened.
Saraki during his swearing-in as Nigeria’s senate president yesterday
Hon Yakubu Dogara got elected as the speaker of the House of Representatives, which also was against the wish of APC leadership to install Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from the Southwest as speaker.
7. Unveiling Buhari’s ministers:
Nigerians had to wait for over four months after Buhari took over power to know those that would serve in the president’s cabinet. After much wait, the president finally sent part of the list on September 30 to the Senate president after the upper chamber had closed for the day. The following week, . The list had names Buhari’s long-time associates, politicians as well as technocrats with no known political affiliations. It quickly sparked reactions as many wondered why the president took so long in appointing ministers if he already knew those he would pick.
8. Screening of ministers:
Next came the screening of the ministers which according to the Senate, will not be business as usual. After much drama, it appeared to be business as usual. The nomination of former governor, Rotimi Amaechi sparked controversy and was strongly opposed by Senators from Rivers state. On the day, Amaechi was to be confirmed, members of the to show they were not in support of his confirmation. Some other nominations were also rejected but at the end, they all scaled through after all the setting up of panel and investigations.
9. Ministers’ inauguration and portfolios:
Ministers
On Wednesday, November 11, and announced their portfolios. He slashed the federal ministries from 29 to 25 and announced himself as the substantive minister of petroleum resources.
10. Inconclusive elections:
The kogi state governorship election held on November 21 but was declared inconclusive by INEC. Then tragedy struck as the governorship candidate of the APC, Abubakar Audu died the next day and the party had to pick someone else, in a supplementary poll scheduled for December 5. Bello won the supplementary election, making him the Governor-elect.
On that same December 5, the Bayelsa gubernatorial polls held and it ended in a stalemate as as it was marred by violence and ballot box snatching
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Buhari Opens ECOWAS Summit

President Muhammadu Buhari has opened the 48th ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government ordinary summit in Abuja on December 16, Wednesday.
Earlier today, President Buhari , Michel Kafando in Statehouse.
in restoring democracy in the country after the extraordinary session of ECOWAS’ heads of state and governments in Abuja headed by Buhari.
Established on May 28 1975 via the treaty of Lagos, the group, which is consisted of 15 members, has a mandate of promoting economic integration in all fields of activity of the constituting countries.
While addressing the members of the group Buhari said that security challenges persist in the region as it continues to be confronted with the daunting scourge of transnational organized crime including arms trafficking, drug trafficking, as well as piracy and criminality at sea.
Read below the welcome address of the leader of the Nigerian nation:
I am pleased to welcome you all to Abuja for the 48th Ordinary Session of the Summit of the Economic Community of West African States. Allow me, your Excellencies, to pay tribute to President Kafando and the entire members of his Transitional Government for the laudable efforts they deployed in the implementation of the Transitional Charter and the conduct of successful elections in Burkina Faso.
This is yet another demonstration of the Community’s commitment to the principle of democracy and good governance. While we wish President Kafando every success in his future endeavours, we congratulate, once again, President-elect Roch Marc Christian Kabore and wish him well in the governance of his country.
Let me recall that the election in Burkina Faso completed the cycle of 2015 presidential elections in the region, successfully conducted in my country-Nigeria, Togo, Guinea, and Cote d’Ivoire.
This remarkable achievement reflects our collective resolve to entrench democracy and good governance in the region. As we prepare for more general elections in the coming year, I assure Your Excellencies that Nigeria will remain steadfast in its commitment and support to democracy and good governance. We believe that a politically stable West Africa can only be strong and prosperous.
The convening of this Summit in Abuja is a great honour and privilege for the Government and people of Nigeria. I sincerely thank my brothers, Heads of State and Government for accepting Nigeria to host this unique Summit, which is taking place as we celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the founding of our Organization.
I would like to express my warm appreciation to my brother, H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal and Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority for his statesmanship and able leadership since he took over 7 months ago. Let me also thank the President of the ECOWAS Commission, the Commissioners and staff members for efforts deployed in the preparation of this Summit.
Your Excellencies, over the years, our Organization has recorded concrete achievements which loudly speak for themselves. ECOWAS has indeed been universally acclaimed as a model regional economic community.
In spite of the significant achievements, our Community still faces numerous challenges. While some militate against the integration drive, others continue to pose risks to peace and security, as well as political stability in the region. There are also structural and administrative challenges in running the Commission that equally require serious attention.
Security challenges persist in our region as we continue to be confronted with the daunting scourge of transnational organized crime including arms trafficking, drug trafficking, as well as piracy and criminality at sea. Equally worrying is the rising scourge of violent extremism and terrorism. All this constitute serious threats to peace and security in the region, and therefore require our urgent and concerted actions.
Regional and indeed global solidarity is vital in our efforts to counter these threats. To this end, we must continue to enhance our system of governance and, working with our partners, accelerate the implementation of our joint initiatives and mechanisms created to address these daunting but not insurmountable risks. As we do so, we should not relent in our effort to engage with member states coming out of crises, in order to help them to consolidate on the achievements made.
The catastrophic consequences of climate change are manifest in our region. A number of fragilities, conflicts and environmental degradation that affect our countries today with serious negative impact on peace, security, economy and livelihoods are either directly or indirectly triggered by climate change. Alone, we will not be able to reverse or stop some of these consequences, as it requires huge investment of resources far beyond our capabilities.
We should therefore continue to press for international assistance and to work with the rest of the world to protect the environment. We should do so without loosing focus on our industrial development objectives. Our efforts to fast track regional integration should also be informed by the requirement for clean source of energy.
In this regard, I welcome the agreed outcome of the just concluded COP21 in Paris, which aims at reducing global warming and providing for financial support to developing nations.
We must also continue to cooperate with our development partners, and take advantage of their willingness to support our initiatives to address all these challenges in the most appropriate and beneficial ways to our region and to global peace and security.
Nigeria would like to see that on-going reforms in ECOWAS institutions are concluded and firmly entrenched to ensure greater effectiveness in leading the integration process. We would like to see that the resources of the Community are devoted to the implementation of economic programs that would enable us build a prosperous region.
Let me conclude by expressing my strong belief in the vast potentialities of our region. I remain confident that under the leadership of the Chairman of the Authority of Heads of State and Government, H.E. Macky Sall, President of the Republic of Senegal, our Community will continue to make steady progress towards achieving the goals for which it was founded; a community that gives hope to the present and future generations.
I also express deep gratitude to our bilateral and multi lateral partners for their continued support and cooperation. I wish us all fruitful deliberations. And please accept my best wishes for a happy festive season.
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Pharaohs Plot Eagles' Downfall

Coach Sunday Oliseh’s Super Eagles may have landed in serious trouble ahead of their World Cup Qualifier against the Pharaohs of Egypt.
This is following reports that the Egyptian Football Association has lined-up three friendly matches for the Pharaohs of Egypt.
The Egyptian national team.
Nigeria and Egypt will clash back-to-back in March 2016 Nigeria as the qualification for the tournament to be hosted in Russia gets to the crucial stage.
It has been disclosed that in preparation for the massive encounter, the Pharaohs of Egypt will play two friendly games against Afcon 2013 finalist Burkina Faso on January 24 and 28, 2016.
Romania or Uzbekistan are the likely third opponents for the North Africans.
Nigeria who are placed 66th on the FIFA ranking table are second on the log in Group G of the qualifiers, two points behind 57th Egypt.
Tanzania and Chad Republic are other teams in the group with both teams also playing a double header.
In the same vein, the Nigeria Football Federation is also making frantic efforts for the Super Eagles in England early next year. African champions Ivory Coast have been penned down to face Sunday Oliseh’s men in a friendly.
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Fraud: British Judge Links Jonathan To $1.1Bn Malabu Deal

The former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan was linked to $1.1 million Malabu deal. The evidence presented to Southwark Crown Court, UK, indicates that he was code-named “Fortunato” by Italian accomplices in the controversial deal.
Justice Edis of Southwark Crown Court examined the evidence provided by Italian authorities where “Fortunato”, meaning “the lucky one” in Italian, was implicated in the deal. Edis said, based on the evidence presented before it, that no one but Jonathan was referred to by this code-name.
“The suggestion from the wiretaps is that “Fortunato” was implicated and I am told that this was a reference in code (not subtle) to the former President of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan,” the judge said.
By this revelation, “Fortunato”, is added to the long list of names Nigerians call the former president.
Yesterday, December 14, Justice Edis refused to release $85 million (N17 billion) to Malabu, a fraudulent company controlled by Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Dan Etete.
According to the British judge, the Southwark Crown Court had failed to follow proper procedures in securing the freezing. Justice Edis said he was not sure the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan acted in Nigeria’s interest when it approved the transfer of the money to Malabu.
“That investigation is not complete (and appears to be still at quite an early stage). Precisely because I cannot reach firm factual conclusions, I cannot simply assume that the FGN which was in power in 2011 and subsequently until 2015 rigorously defended the public interest of the people of Nigeria in all respects,” the judge said.
Earlier, the Jonathan administration controversially approved the transfer of $1.092 billion from Nigeria’s JP Morgan account in London to Nigerian accounts controlled by Malabu.
The former attorney general of the federation, Mohammed Adoke, and the former minister of state for finance, Yerima Ngama, signed the documents approving the transfer to Malabu.
The money was paid by global oil giants, Shell and ENi, for Africa’s richest oil bloc, OPL 245.
Antonio Tricarico of Re:Common said: “$85 million paid by Eni and Shell for the benefit of Dan Etete’s company Malabu remains frozen in London. The time has come that Eni and Shell come clean about what they knew about this deal and who else this money was intended for.”
The fraudulent deal, shaded in various layers of corruption, has been condemned by Nigerians and international transparency advocates and is being investigated by authorities in four different countries. 
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Fraud: British Judge Links Jonathan To $1.1Bn Malabu Deal

The former Nigerian president Goodluck Jonathan was linked to $1.1 million Malabu deal. The evidence presented to Southwark Crown Court, UK, indicates that he was code-named “Fortunato” by Italian accomplices in the controversial deal.
Justice Edis of Southwark Crown Court examined the evidence provided by Italian authorities where “Fortunato”, meaning “the lucky one” in Italian, was implicated in the deal. Edis said, based on the evidence presented before it, that no one but Jonathan was referred to by this code-name.
“The suggestion from the wiretaps is that “Fortunato” was implicated and I am told that this was a reference in code (not subtle) to the former President of Nigeria, President Goodluck Jonathan,” the judge said.
By this revelation, “Fortunato”, is added to the long list of names Nigerians call the former president.
Yesterday, December 14, Justice Edis refused to release $85 million (N17 billion) to Malabu, a fraudulent company controlled by Nigeria’s former petroleum minister, Dan Etete.
According to the British judge, the Southwark Crown Court had failed to follow proper procedures in securing the freezing. Justice Edis said he was not sure the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan acted in Nigeria’s interest when it approved the transfer of the money to Malabu.
“That investigation is not complete (and appears to be still at quite an early stage). Precisely because I cannot reach firm factual conclusions, I cannot simply assume that the FGN which was in power in 2011 and subsequently until 2015 rigorously defended the public interest of the people of Nigeria in all respects,” the judge said.
Earlier, the Jonathan administration controversially approved the transfer of $1.092 billion from Nigeria’s JP Morgan account in London to Nigerian accounts controlled by Malabu.
The former attorney general of the federation, Mohammed Adoke, and the former minister of state for finance, Yerima Ngama, signed the documents approving the transfer to Malabu.
The money was paid by global oil giants, Shell and ENi, for Africa’s richest oil bloc, OPL 245.
Antonio Tricarico of Re:Common said: “$85 million paid by Eni and Shell for the benefit of Dan Etete’s company Malabu remains frozen in London. The time has come that Eni and Shell come clean about what they knew about this deal and who else this money was intended for.”
The fraudulent deal, shaded in various layers of corruption, has been condemned by Nigerians and international transparency advocates and is being investigated by authorities in four different countries.
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When I Became Impartial Nigerian ─ Obasanjo

Olusegun Obasanjo, a two-time democratic president of Nigeria, has disclosed that he became an impartial Nigerian when he withdrew from all partisan politics shortly after his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) membership card was torn.
Olusegun Obasanjo
The erstwhile president who made this statement on the night of Tuesday, December 15, at a dinner organized in his honour by Governor Samuel Ortom during his private visit in Makurdi, Benue state capital, said on that on that note, he owed nobody any apology for his commitment to the Nigerian project, The Guardian reports.
Further in his statement, the former president said that the recent dislosure that the governor made regarding the fact that he was once a motor park tout at his youthful age, was similar to his humble beginnings.
Ex-president Obasanjo also said that because of such history, he was in 2014 called a tout at his old age.
Obasanjo said: “There is no age, poverty, status, gender, position barrier in acquiring education and the day one stops learning is the day you also start dying.”
The former PDP stalwart said maintained that acquisition of knowledge should be from birth to death.
On the plans of the Benue governor which he termed ‘Ortom blueprint’, Obasanjo gave a eulogy to it, describing it as an embodiment of good governance.
He further added that he must take note of all his promises, urging the people to help the state governor succeed.
Expressing his sympathy to the governor and the entire Tiv people over the death of their paramount ruler, His Royal Highness Alfred Akawe Torkula who recently passed on, Obasanjo used the opportunity to urge the farmers in the country to join hands together to provide food security, create employment and create wealth for the Nigerian citizens.
In his remarks, Governor Ortom commended the former president for his contributions to the political development of Nigeria.
The governor said the people of the state including him admired Obasanjo’s courage and zeal in his pursuit for knowledge even after acquiring so much in life.
Governor Ortom stressed that his administration was committed to good governance and the necessary core values which he said are currently absent in the polity.
The former president
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Presidency Refuses To Pay Golden Eaglets N750,000 Bonus

The presidency has rejected a proposal by the sports ministry to give each member of the 2015 U-17 World Cup winning team 750,000 Naira. 
Golden Eaglets won the 2015 FIFA U-17 world cup
 The sport ministry has however drafted a proposal of 150,000 Naira per player, africanfootball.com reports.
President Muhammadu Buhari has already warned that the country would find it tough financially in 2016 because of the poor economy and his need to cut back on spending.
This week the government of President Muhammadu Buhari has warned that next year will be rough for the country because of the poor economy and has moved to cut back drastically on government spendings.
A source said: “The proposal has been reviewed after the first rejection. We wait for the green light from the presidency on the date for the reception and the reward.”
The Golden Eaglets won the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup staged in Chile after defeating Mali 2 – 1 in a tense final.
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