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​The Loquacious Reno Omokri And His Putrid Yark On Vice President Osinbajo

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By Bernard Okri
Reno Omokri one time aide of former President Goodluck Jonathan on social media is a glib talker. He is ever voluble in denigrating the

government of President Muhammadu Buhari at the slightest 

and baseless issues. 
He often times reacts on impulse, hastily brandishing phoney data to

impugn on the image of the government. He has ever been petulant and perpetually riled that his former boss fell by the way side during the 2015 general election after rejection by millions of Nigerians at the poll and hence, must fight back by making President Buhari a target of spurious attacks.
Omokri lays claim to being a pastor. But a genuinely called pastor is

Godly at heart. His tongue does not spill gibberish. However, this

Pastor has been dragging the pulpit to the gutters, plunging himself

deeply into the murky waters of politics and acting more partisan each time in his self imposed task of defending a former President who the world agreed presided over the most corrupt, inept, ineffectual and focus-less government, ever. No Nigerian needs a talebearer to affirm this, anyway. The truth is that there have always been litanies of woes heaped on the shoulders of former President Jonathan since his days in office and which a million Omokri can never successfully unbundle. Fact.
Still unrelenting like a loafer, Omokri just recently launched a

tirade against Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbjo for further

exposing the debauchery of corruption traced to the Jonathan years in government, averring that by re-telling the truth which Nigerians

already knew, the Vice President had submitted his “Lips to Satan”
The truth is that by going this far in maligning the person of

Professor Osinbajo, noted for altruism in service to the nation under

the present government, Omokri has exposed himself as a hypocrite, a groveler and a lost soul for electing to eternally bear the burden of

a former President who dragged Nigeria to the edge of a cliffhanger,

perhaps for a pittance!
Omokri defends Jonathan as if doing that will offer a reward of fresh

chance for the former President to return to power. He unabashedly

defends the buffoonery of the past government too, ending up as a

loner in the self imposed job. Perhaps, he should be reminded that

most ardent supporters and defenders of former President Jonathan have ended up in the camp of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and are now actively engaged in delivering the dividends of democracy where they are currently serving. Why wont they defect when they realized the fakery and mendacity of the past government and the ill it portended for Nigeria.
Vice president Osinbajo was, indeed modest to have only revealed that the Jonathan government stole and shared a total sum of N150 billion two weeks to the 2015 elections, while it spent only N153 billion on capital projects. It was worst when same government spent less than N15 billion on agriculture and even transportation a year preceding his exit from government. Available facts have always exposed the cesspool of corruption under Jonathan, which was quite sickening and capable of precipitating doom for Nigeria, but for divine intervention. Till date, no official under Jonathan has been able to account for the huge sums of monies; local and foreign currencies seized by this government in an Ikoyi apartment, Lagos.
The Vice President did not tell a lie, when indeed, many can still

recollect that two weeks to election, President Jonathan took plane

loads of hard earned Nigerian money to Lagos to share among PDP

stakeholders in the south-west for the sake of winning his reelection

bid. The estimated amount Jonathan wasted on that re-election bid ran to over N2 trillion, according to record! Yet, the humongous amount of money could not buy the conscience of the south-west, so Jonathan lost and woefully too in 2015.
Omokri may never want to remember a character like Diezani Allison

Maduekwe, former Petroleum Minister who laterally opened the vaults of NNPC for political marauders to pilfer from. Till today, Nigeria has not been able to quantify the amount of it’s money Diezani allegedly mismanaged, using mere cronies, sodomites and master heists. If a Jonathan protégée, Diezani was innocent; she would never have fled Nigeria for any reason. Nigeria had to depend on Britain to hold the former Minister accountable for the sins she committed against the country, all under Jonathan’s watchful eyes.
The case of Col Sambo Dasuki and the manner he allegedly shared the sum of $2.1 billion to big wigs of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is still pending in court. That amount as analysed is sufficient to construct state of the art airports in each of the six geo-political

zones of the federation.
Omokri does not believe the wife of former President Jonathan also

played a frontline role in depleting the national treasury with a mega

instinct of corruption, in which case the sum of USD 31.4 million she

claimed to be her own is frozen in a bank account linked to her by the EFCC. What about the sum of USD 15 million allegedly kept for the medical treatment of her mother, as well as the sum of USD 5.9 million she forfeited.
Now, Omokri’s Jonathan failed to do what Vice President Osinbajo has been doing, recording successes from special tasks. First, the Vice President on errand by Nigeria, had, through dialogue, helped to broker peace in Niger Delta where Omokri comes from. He spoke the subtle language, which calmed the anger of the militants to down arms. He is not relenting in bringing the zeal of the Buhari’s government for Ogoni clean up to come into reality.
As the head of the Economic Team for the Buhari’s government, the Vice President has helped to attain a good balance sheet of progress. The Economic Team has attained some measure of Ease Of Doing Business in Nigeria, which has attracted the commendation of the international community. Bringing stability to the FOREX, the  National Economy is now stable, while people like Reno are not under pressure to flee the country for any reason.
What is more, the unflagging loyalty by the Vice President to his boss on governance has been infectious, stabilizing the polity for more progress to take place in Nigeria. With committed synergy, both the President and his Deputy had seen Nigeria out of a biting recession, into which the government of former President Jonathan plunged it.
The Buhari’s government is opening up Nigeria with infrastructural

development, constructing rail lines and roads to link up all parts of

the federation, including the Omokri’s south-south zone. Former

President Jonathan did little in that regard.
The Buhari’s administration in less than one year brought Agriculture

into the driver’s seat to drive the economy. The sector is, at the

moment locating Nigeria in the league of rice exporters on the

international arena, creating employment opportunities for younger

Nigerians who are emerging millionaires by the day. The agricultural

policy under Jonathan was all noise with insignificant visible result.
Most importantly, the Present government is fighting to roll back the

advances of Boko Haram, which its predecessor by negligence and

regrettable compromises encouraged. Unlike under Jonathan, Boko Haram is fast fading into the oblivion, limiting its actions to momentary attacks on soft targets. We still recall how the government of Jonathan encouraged the sharing of monies earmarked for purchase of arms among master heists who littered the cabinet.
From indications, Omokri, Jonathan’s life media spin-doctors may have been a major beneficiary in the reckless pillaging of national

patrimony, hence his eagerness to always launder the hugely dented

image of his hero and mentor. However, the scale of infamy by Omokri and his ilks in the days of Jonathan may appear concealed, for now. Nonetheless, when the wind finally blows the record book open, what Nigeria may see is an Omokri with a Janus face, a man no one dares call a saint!
*Bernard Okri, Public Affairs Analysts sent this piece from Asaba, Delta State

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LAGOS DESERVES ITS 37 NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: JUSTICE DELAYED, JUSTICE DENIED

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By Prince Adeyemi Aseperi-Shonibare

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — Martin Luther King Jr.

For over two decades, Lagos State has been unjustly denied the recognition of 37 additional local governments, which were legally created under the Nigerian Constitution. This is not a political maneuver—it is a legitimate demand for fairness, equity, and justice. The continuous refusal of the Federal Government and the National Assembly to rectify this anomaly is a clear case of injustice, and as the saying goes, justice delayed is justice denied.

THE CREATION OF 37 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT DENIED

In 2003, then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in strict adherence to constitutional provisions, initiated the process of creating new local governments in Lagos. A referendum was conducted, all necessary legal procedures were followed, and the Lagos State House of Assembly passed the law establishing these local governments in accordance with the 1999 Constitution.

This legal process was supervised by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, the then-Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, who later became Nigeria’s Vice President. These local governments were not created arbitrarily; they were established to bring governance closer to the people, ensure equitable development, and address administrative and infrastructural challenges in a state with an exploding population of over 20 million people.

However, despite Lagos following due process, the National Assembly failed to complete its constitutional duty of amending the Constitution to formally recognize these local governments. Instead of supporting Lagos in this democratic exercise, the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo unlawfully withheld federal allocations meant for the existing local governments, crippling development efforts and punishing millions of Lagosians.

Even when the Supreme Court ruled in Lagos’ favor, declaring the withholding of funds unconstitutional, the Obasanjo administration blatantly ignored the ruling, further deepening the injustice against Lagos.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF FEDERAL INJUSTICE AGAINST LAGOS

1 WITHHOLDING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIONS
In 2004, President Obasanjo unilaterally withheld local government allocations to Lagos State, citing the state’s creation of new local councils as unconstitutional. This action deprived Lagos of crucial funds needed for development.

2.FRUSTRATION OF DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS
The Obasanjo administration was notorious for obstructing Lagos’ initiatives aimed at urban development, transportation, and infrastructure.

3.BLOCKING THE RIGHT OF WAY FOR LAGOS’ BRT PROJECT
The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project, designed to ease transportation congestion, was actively obstructed by the Federal Government under Obasanjo. Despite the state government’s efforts to develop an efficient mass transit system, the administration refused to grant Lagos State the right of way on federal roads within Lagos.

4.THE LAGOS INDEPENDENT POWER PROJECT AND ENRON SABOTAGE
Lagos, being Nigeria’s economic hub, sought energy independence to ensure stable electricity for its industries and residents. However, the Federal Government, through the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), blocked Lagos from operating its own power grid, frustrating industrial growth and economic development.

LAGOS: THE ECONOMIC POWERHOUSE OF NIGERIA

Lagos is not just a Nigerian state—it is a global city with unique economic, commercial, and strategic significance. It is Nigeria’s primary gateway to the international market, yet it is treated unfairly in federal allocations.

DISPARITY IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIONS: THE LAGOS-KANO-JIGAWA PARADOX

Kano State, with a lower population, has 44 local governments.

Jigawa, which was created out of Kano, has 27 local governments.

Katsina has 34 local governments, even though its population is far lower than Lagos.

This imbalance is an insult to the principle of fairness. Local governments should not be created based on landmass but on population and administrative responsibilities.

LANDMARK SUPREME COURT CASES WON BY LAGOS AGAINST THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

1.CONTROL OVER PHYSICAL PLANNING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT
Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2003)

Lagos State won its right to control urban planning without federal interference.

2.ALLOCATION OF REVENUE FROM NATURAL RESOURCES
Attorney-General of the Federation v. Attorney-General of Abia State & 35 Ors (2002)

Supreme Court ruled in favor of Lagos and other littoral states for revenue allocation.

3.WITHHOLDING OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT ALLOCATIONS
Attorney-General of Lagos State v. Attorney-General of the Federation (2004)

The Supreme Court ruled that the Federal Government had no right to withhold Lagos’ funds.

10 BENEFITS OF THE NEW LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

1 Closer governance to the grassroots

2.More efficient delivery of public services

3.Increased job creation and economic opportunities

4. Improved security and law enforcement

5.Better infrastructural development

6.Enhanced healthcare and primary education services

7.More equitable allocation of resources

8.Strengthened political representation for residents

9 Increased internally generated revenue (IGR) for Lagos

10 A model for other Nigerian states to emulate for balanced governance

CURRENT RESPONSIBILITIES OF LAGOS STATE

SECURITY: Lagos State has its own security network, including the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps and partnerships with federal agencies.

INFRASTRUCTURE: It has the largest number of roads, bridges, and transportation systems in Nigeria.

EDUCATION: Lagos has the highest number of primary schools and primary health centers in the country.

EMPLOYMENT: The state is the largest employer of labor in Nigeria.

TRANSPORTATION: Lagos has the largest car ownership and human population in West Africa to cater to.

A CALL FOR JUSTICE: THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MUST RECOGNIZE LAGOS’ 37 LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Lagos has been treated unfairly for too long. The refusal to recognize its additional local governments is an injustice that must be corrected immediately.

The National Assembly must amend the Constitution to recognize Lagos’ 57 local governments.

The Federal Government must release allocations meant for Lagos’ local governments.

Lagosians must unite to demand their rightful share of governance, resources, and representation.

Lagos is the heartbeat of Nigeria’s economy and the face of Africa’s global competitiveness.

THE TIME FOR JUSTICE IS NOW.

#giveusour37lgs

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Obijackson Foundation drives sustainable waste management, donates waste evacuation tools to Okija community

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The Obijackson Foundation, in partnership with the Okija Bu Enyi Brothers Assembly, has donated 140 pieces of waste bins, 2 compactor disposable trucks, 2 operational Hilux, 1 staff bus, bundles of brooms, and other waste evacuating tools to Okija community in Ihiala Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The donation took place at the St. Mary’s School Field Okija, on Saturday, during the official launching of “Keep Okija Clean” Initiative to drive environmental and sustainable waste management for Okija community and environs.

The “Keep Okija Clean” initiative aims to address waste management challenges while creating economic opportunities for residents of Okija.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Ernest Azudialu-Obiejesi, Founder of the Obijackson Foundation, emphasized the importance of collective action in driving meaningful change. “I am honoured to stand before you as we reintroduce, in collaboration with the Okija Bu Enyi Brothers Assembly, the ‘Keep Okija Clean’ initiative—a project that embodies our commitment to environmental sustainability and community development.

He said over 100 people have been employed for the project, adding that the gesture is another way to create jobs for the teaming unemployed in the area.

According to Azudialu-Obiejesi, ‘’This effort is a testament to the power of collaboration, as the initiative includes cleaning streets, roads, and public spaces while introducing a sustainable waste management system.

“The highlight of this programme is the future development of a properly engineered landfill for Okija and its environs, which will provide a long-term solution to waste disposal challenges. This project is expected to create employment opportunities for local youths while fostering a healthier environment when completed.

He stated that over the years, the Foundation has spearheaded several transformative projects in Okija, including: Education: establishing Gonzaga Jesuit College and Gonzaga Jesuit Academy with 100% scholarship programs for Okija children.

Others are Healthcare: Improving access to medical services through the Obijackson Women and Children’s Hospital (OWCH); and Tourism Development: Developing Acropolis Gardens and Residence—a world-class resort with a 10,000 seater international convention center designed to position Okija as a hub for business and leisure.

Azudialu-Obiejesi encouraged community members to take ownership of the waste bins provided by the Foundation: “These bins are vital resources for keeping our environment clean. By safeguarding them, we are ensuring a healthier future for ourselves and generations to come.”

“The Foundation remains committed to creating lasting changes through innovative initiatives that empower communities while preserving their environment.

Sharing his vision for a cleaner and more sustainable community,, Obiejesi said, as we continue our environmental initiative, we are not just cleaning our streets; we are building a legacy for generations to come. This initiative demonstrates that collective action can lead to meaningful change.”

“The “Keep Okija Clean” initiative reflects the Obijackson Foundation’s unwavering dedication to improving lives while preserving natural resources for future generations.

The philanthropist urged the community members to take collective ownership of the waste bins provided by the Foundation to keep Okija clean and green.

In his remark on behalf of the Anambra Government, the State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Felix Odimegwu, said the donation of the waste tools was timely as it will help with the ongoing policy of sorting waste in the state.

The event also witnessed the presence of the Managing Director of Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Mr. Mike Ozoemena, the Traditional ruler of the town, HRH Igwe Emeka Okezie among other top dignitaries within the state.

It was gathered that the Foundation was established in 2010 to tackle the challenges of poor literacy, empowerement, nutrition and healthcare in Eastern Nigeria, particularly in the rural areas of Anambra state

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Makinde Congratulates Chief Bisi Akande

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Makinde Congratulates Chief Bisi Akande

Makinde Congratulates Chief Bisi Akande

 

 

Hon. Abiola Makinde, representing the Ondo East/Ondo West federal constituency in the National Assembly, has congratulated Chief Bisi Akande, the former Interim National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress (APC), on the Lifetime Achievement Award conferred on him by the prestigious Independent Newspaper. In a release personally signed by him, he described Chief Akande as a leader of leaders who has not only moved forward the progressive family in the southwest but in the entire country, Nigeria. He described the award as well deserved because of his uncommon display of integrity, dedication, and forthrightness.

 

Makinde Congratulates Chief Bisi Akande

 

Hon. Makinde who was the Director General of the Campaign for the successful election of Governor Lucky Ayedatiwa of Ondo State, asked Chief Bisi Akande, not to relent on his efforts to continue to elevate the progressive family and to make Nigeria better.

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