Osinbajo practically out of Buhari’s govt TheNigerialawyer

Yoruba socio-cultural group, Afenifere, says the fact that the
President’s Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, now travels to faraway
London to present memos and bills to President Muhammadu Buhari
shows that Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo is practically out of
Buhari’s government.

The Spokesman for Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, told The PUNCH on
Tuesday that the seeming demotion of Osinbajo was part of the next
level strategy of Buhari.

The Afenifere spokesman was responding to questions on why the
President, who is on a “private visit” to London for 15 days
refused to transfer power to his deputy as he had done in 2016,
2017 and 2018.

Odumakin said, “This is evidence that Nigeria is now under one
man’s rule. You can see that the National Assembly is a rubber
stamp while the judiciary has been cowed. The Vice President is
practically out and that is all part of the next level.”

The Afenifere spokesman asked Osinbajo not to be deceived by the
words of the Emir of Daura, Alhaji Farouk Umar, who had last week
commended the loyalty of the Vice President to President Buhari and
described their relationship as unequalled in the history of the
country.

“Those who think that the Emir of Daura passed a vote of
confidence in Osinbajo should go find out the meaning of
‘Taqiya’”.

When asked if Afenifere was unpleased by the seeming relegation
of Osinbajo, who is from the South-West Odumakin said, “Yoruba
people say a hunchback says God is not smiling down on him but is
the part which he is using to face God a good part?”

Buhari has failed to transfer power to Osinbajo since winning
re-election in February despite travelling out of the country
sometimes for unofficial visits.

In 2016, 2017 and 2018, Osinbajo served as acting President in
Buhari’s absence, a move which was commended by many.

However, the President is believed to have clipped some of the
Vice President’s power in his second term, fuelling speculations
that all was not well within the Presidential Villa.

Invest in Solid Minerals Mining, FG urges Local
InvestorsRu
The Honourable Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Arc.
Olamilekan Adegbite, has called on local investors to invest in
mining of solid minerals that are abound in the country, saying
that such investment would encourage foreign investors to put their
money in the Minerals and Metals Sector of the economy
The Minister stated this during a press briefing at the Ministry’s
Headquarters in Abuja on Monday, November 4, 2019, to herald the
3rd edition of the National Council on Mining and Mineral Resources
Development (NCMMRD) tagged: ‘Nigeria Mineral and Investment
Sector, Spectrum for Investment Opportunities for Economic Growth
and Development,’ holding from Wednesday 6th – Friday 8th,
November, 2019, at Trade Fair Centre by Fountain Hotel, Archbishop
Adetiloye Hall, Iyin Road, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State.
He said the theme of the Council Meeting is to make the investing
public and other stakeholders, especially Nigerians to be aware of
the opportunities that are abound in the Minerals and Metals
Sector.
“Opportunities are available in the sector to stakeholders and
investors to invest their money. When an investor is coming from
outside, the first thing to look at is what are the local people
doing.”
“If the local people are not putting their money, then it can’t be
lucrative. Basically that is what foreign investors look out for,
that is why we are urging local investors, no matter how small, to
come into the sector,” noting that this will encourage foreign
investors to put their money into the mining business.
The Minister also called on the State Governors to form companies
that would go into mining, as the law allows it, instead of the
usual interference in mining activities in the states in the name
of revenue generation.
He stated that mining is in the exclusive legislative list, but
that in their eagerness to deliver the dividends of democracy, the
governors often ‘jump into mining.’
“We are saying that rather than doing the way as they have been
doing, the law has allowed them to form a company that can go into
partnership or if they can, do it alone.”
Speaking further, he said the National Council Meeting, which is an
advisory platform, comprised of state commissioners and permanent
secretaries in charge of mining and mineral resources from the 36
states and FCT, including participants from the academia, private
sector security, practitioners and leaders of mining unions, will
be brainstorming on issues affecting all the stakeholders in the
sector and initiate policies that will boost the industry.
According to him, the Council Meeting in Ado Ekiti is very
appropriate as present Governor of the State, Dr. Fayemi Kayode,
who was a former Minister of the Ministry, and also Chairman of
Governors’ Forum, with his wealth of experience in the sector, is
in the best position to help the ministry achieve most of the
policy thrust and also to convince his colleagues to abide by the
existing mining laws.
The Minister highlighted some of the milestones achieved through
past Council Meetings, including development and implementation of
the roadmap; improved transparency in mineral title administration;
improvement in the ease of doing business amongst others.
He stated that the focus of discussions in this 3rd edition of the
meeting would deepen the awareness of opportunities that would
attract more investors into the sector.
The Minister of State, Dr. Uchechukwu Sampson Ogah, in his welcome
address stated that the purpose of the briefing was to intimate the
public on the forth coming events and efforts being made to move
the sector to the next level.

Ekwugha S. Chinwe
ACIO
For: Director (Press)