Osinbajo Support Movement

It was really great to spend time with my brother and friend, His Excellency President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana. On the menu? Not Jollof wars (sorry, everyone). Instead, we served up the proposed Agritech Hub in Ghana, part of the Timbuktoo Africa Innovation Fund—the world’s largest initiative to support the African innovation ecosystem.

President Akufo-Addo has been a committed champion of the fund since its inauguration, which he attended in Davos this year, and he reiterated his firm commitment and support for the fund’s work. The Agritech Hub, designed as a Pan-African center of excellence for tech-enabled agriculture, will benefit from Ghana’s Planting for Food and Jobs and E-Agric programs, while also leveraging the country’s status as the headquarters of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCFTA).

– H.E. Professor Yemi Osinbajo

The Afreximbank AGM was a great opportunity for catching up and bonding with friends and leaders from the Caribbean and Africa. In Frames

Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados 🇧🇧
President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana 🇬🇭 and Former President Macky Sall of Senegal 🇸🇳
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria 🇳🇬
Philip J Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia 🇱🇨
Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of Guyana 🇬🇾
Philip Davis, Prime Minister of The Bahamas 🇧🇸
Hailemariam Desalegn, Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia 🇪🇹
Dr. Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Deputy Chairperson of the African Union

Osinbajo’s Remark At Femi Adesina Book Launch, Titled ‘Working With Buhari’

REMARKS BY HIS EXCELLENCY, PROF. YEMI OSINBAJO, SAN, GCON, IMMEDIATE PAST VICE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AT THE LAUNCH OF BOOKS ON BUHARI TITLED: 'WORKING WITH BUHARI: REFLECTIONS OF A SPECIAL ADVISER, MEDIA AND PUBLICITY (2015-2023),' AND 'MUHAMMADU BUHARI: THE NIGERIAN LEGACY (2015 - 2023)' AT TRANSCORP HOTEL, ABUJA ON THE 16TH OF JANUARY, 2024


PROTOCOLS

Let me begin by congratulating my dear brother, Femi Adesina, for writing this book, “Working with Buhari, Reflections of a Special Advisor, Media and Publicity.”

There have been quite a few books already written about President Buhari and they cover a lot of detail, a lot of it historical and of course, several about his numerous achievements since he first came into office in 1983.

But the reason why this personal account will be interesting for those who read it and I have had the particular good fortune of having read it before today, the reason why this is particularly interesting is that even after eight years of being President, President Buhari and so many books written after, still remains an enigma to many Nigerians who want to understand, who really is President Buhari. Not the public persona, but who is he as a person.

I think Femi Adesina has done a great job, especially in covering an aspect of the former president that is not well known, which is his sense of humor, his ability to tell a good joke and to take a good joke. His ability to laugh at himself.

I have a long repertoire of Buhari jokes and Femi has helped me to add a few more, and one day soon, we will launch a book this time, not “Working with Buhari”, but
“Laughing with Buhari.”

But permit me to share a few anecdotes. Femi Adesina writes that on the day that the then President, President Buhari, on his first day in office at the Villa, requested him to meet with journalists accredited to the Villa at the State House Press Gallery.

The President came in, he shook hands with all the journalists, and as they introduced themselves, he had something to say to each of them. Then when Juliana Taiwo Obaloye introduced herself as representing Daily Sun newspapers, the President said, “warn your cartoonist, warn your cartoonist, my chin is not as long as he usually makes it!”

Sometime in 2019, I complained to him very bitterly about a libellous comment that was made against me and that I wanted to give him notice that I would be suing those who had libelled me.

He said to me in his usual style, “Professor, Professor, don't let these people bother you. Do you know what they did to me recently? They actually printed an invitation card that I was going to get married on a Friday at the National Mosque.” He said, “You won't believe Nigerians, there were thousands of them waiting for me at the National Mosque, waiting for me to come and get married.”

And to tell you that President Buhari was always ready to laugh at himself, and of course, we've heard already from General IBM Haruna, Rtd, of how you know when he was being criticized about his journeys and all that. But the second part of that story is that Femi Adesina tells a story of how following his overseas trips which were criticized you know by the press in an opinion piece in the newspaper criticizing his travels abroad, the headline was, “When will President Buhari visit Nigeria?” And the president laughed and laughed.

I remember sometime in 2016, just before he went on his medical vacation, I told him I wanted to visit the oil-producing communities in the Niger Delta, and that I thought a dialogue with the militants in the wake of the destruction of pipelines and other assets was a good idea. And he told me the experiences of the then Minister of Youth and Sports, Solomon Dalong, who had visited the Niger Delta some time back.

But while agreeing with me that it was a good idea, and just as I was getting up to leave, he said with that mischievous glint in his eyes, “Don't be the first Vice President to be kidnapped!”

There's a story that the President likes to tell and it is about the German Sentry and Femi Adesina recounts that story in the book and President Buhari told that story again when the Peace Committee headed by General Abdulsalami Abubakar visited him. Also on that team were the Sultan of Sokoto, Sultan Sa'ad Abubakar and Bishop Hassan Kukah.

They had come to appeal to him that the anti-corruption war should be waged within the ambit of the rule of law. The President listened patiently and then responded, “In the military, there used to be a joke about the German sentry” he then explained that when an ordinary sentry on duty at night hears any movement in the dark, he would bark out, “Who goes there?!”, advance to be recognized with his gun ready. He will then interrogate the person and if he tells an acceptable story, he waves the person off.

But the German sentry is different, when he hears a movement in the dark, he immediately lets out a volley of shocks and then he shouts, “Who went there?” Of course, there will be absolute silence because he's already killed the person.

The President then explained to his audience that when he came as a military ruler, he was like the German sentry. “I packed all the people who were suspected of corruption and kept them in protective custody. And I told them that they were corrupt until they could prove themselves innocent. But now, under a democratic setting, I see corrupt people going around in Rolls Royce cars, but they remain innocent until I can prove them guilty.”

Femi Adesina writes that on one occasion, President Buhari sent him to represent him at a book launch. And when he asked him, “So how much should I donate on your behalf? President Buhari said, “Give them a big smile and tell them that that is what I sent.”

I hope on behalf of the authors today that those of you here will come with more than a big smile!

Congratulations again, my brother, Femi Adesina, and congratulations to President Buhari for yet another literary celebration of your intriguing and significant life and times.

Thank you all very much.

https://supportosinbajo.ng/osinbajos-remark-at-femi-adesina-book-launch-titled-working-with-buhari/16/

WORKING WITH BUHARI: FORMER VP OSINBAJO’S TESTIMONY

Former Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, has described the book by Femi Adesina, former Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to former President Muhammadu Buhari, as “very wise and proactive”, as it gives the “the most reliable account’ of his experiences at the A*o Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Professor Osinbajo made the comment in Lagos over the weekend when Adesina formally presented a copy of the book, entitled: Working With Buhari; Reflections of a Special Adviser, Media and Publicity (2015-2023), to the former Vice President.

The book will be launched on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja from 10a.m. prompt.

Receiving the work, published by Safari Books Ltd, Osinbajo commended its quality and the speed at which Adesina churned it out, coming just seven months after they left office.

On the idea of the author coming up with the publication at this point in time, Osinbajo said:

“I think it is a very wise and proactive approach. I think it is wise to do so especially because he was an insider. He has all the information about the personal issues, personal details that are covered in the book. It is the right thing to do, so that he defines the narrative ahead, and anyone else who wants to write would have to use this as their soft material. Obviously, this is the most reliable account of his experiences in there.”

Lauding the quality of the book, and the richness of information in it, Osinbajo posited that it is “in many ways a personal discussion or conversation with Nigerians about who President Buhari was.” And Adesina is “possibly the person who would best represent who the (former) President was.”

According to Osinbajo, this is more so as Adesina has all the “the kind of care and attention that would be required to do a proper and in-depth analysis” of the era.

The former Vice President added everything up and described the book “an honest account”.

Expected at the launch on January 16, are President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who is the Special Guest of Honour; the subject of the book, former President Muhammadu Buhari, as Special Guest; while former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and General I.B.M. Haruna are Chairman and Co-Chairman, respectively.

A royal delegation from the Saudi Arabia Royal Family, led by HRH Prince Abdulaziz Bin Faisal Al Saud, will grace the occasion that will have Alhaji Mohammed Indimi, billionaire businessman and founder/chairman of Oriental Energy Resources Limited, as Chief Launcher.

Dolly and I express our sincere condolence to Her Excellency Betty Akeredolu, children, family, friends, associates of HE Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu and the government and people of Ondo State on his passing.

I have lost a brother and friend of over 40 years.

Aketi was bold, courageous, forthright, fair minded, kind and God fearing.
He firmly believed in our democracy, in Justice and the rule of law. He loved the people of Ondo State and was passionate about their security and economic advancement. We pray that the Almighty God will comfort the family and people of Ondo State on this great loss. Amen.

Sun re o Aketi Baba!!

– Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, CON

“History is a kinder and gentler teacher than experience.

“At the Witness to History Meeting at the Bellagio Centre (Rockefeller Foundation), Bellagio, Italy.”

~ Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, former Vice President of Nigeria

Photos & Video: Happy 34th year marriage anniversary to our own Star Boy and favourite family, Professor Yemi Osinbajo and Oludolapo Osinbajo

“This morning I delivered a keynote address at the UNDP Regional Bureau of Africa Cluster Meeting in Namibia on ‘Leadership in Turbulent Times: Just Energy Transitions a Viable Pathway’ and had a most engaging and robust Q&A session with the Regional Representatives and Deputy Regional Representatives across UNDP Africa.

“The variety of contributions and questions on how best to support Africa on its journey from, to quote Ms Ahunna Eziakonwa , “dependency to agency” from UNDP Africa leadership signal the UNDP Africa’s strong commitment to remain a tremendous force for good in Africa in the coming years.

“Special thanks to Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Africa, Ms. Ahunna Eziakonwa, Deputy Assistant Administrator and Deputy Regional Director, Regional Bureau for Africa, Ms Noura Hamladji, UNDP Resident Representative for Namibia, Alka Bhatia, Deputy Minister, Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, Hon Jenelly Matundu, Resident Representatives and Deputy Resident Representatives across UNDP Africa, Senior Leadership of UNDP Africa and the UN Country Team Namibia for such an engaging session.”

~ His Excellency Professor Yemi Osinbajo

.Yahya

Osinbajo Wears New Look ❣️

Abdul Samad Rabiu, the chairman of the major contributor to the nation’s economy, BUA Group, received former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday, 16th November, 2023.

“A Forthright, Honest, Kind, Generous, Just and Fair Minded Monarch at 80.

“Happy 80th Birthday to a forthright, honest, kind, generous, just and fair minded monarch.

“Through almost three decades I have learnt several unforgettable lessons from you, perhaps the most profound is your incredible ability to stay in touch with everyone high and low and devote quality time to all their concerns.

“On your 80th birthday I wish you God’s richest blessings of good health and peace, may your later years on the throne be much better than the past years.

“Happy 80th Birthday Kábíyèsí.

“Yemi and Dolly Osinbajo.”

– Professor Yemi Osinbajo

PRESS RELEASE

FOREMOST AFRICAN CLIMATE AGENCY NAMES OSINBAJO ITS NEW CHAIRMAN

Agency’s work is shifting narrative from Africa being victim to solution to climate change - Osinbajo

The Climate Action Platform for Africa (CAP-A), a public benefit organisation working to unlock Africa’s potential as a global hub for climate action, has announced the immediate past Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, as the new Chair of the Board of Directors.

The organisation made the announcement in a statement yesterday.

CAP-A’s work is informed by the realisation that Africa’s demographics, growth trajectory and natural resource endowments, coupled with its extremely low levels of current carbon emissions, enable the continent to aspire to not just net-zero but a substantial net-negative carbon footprint sooner than any other part of the world.

While accepting the appointment, Prof. Osinbajo said, “since the recent founding of CAP-A, I have witnessed their work in shifting the global and continental narrative from Africa being a victim of the climate crisis to holding the key to accelerating global climate action.

“I’m honored to join the Board of Directors as Chair in support of CAP-A’s teams and programs across the continent, and in realizing Africa’s economic development through Climate Positive Growth.”

In his own remarks, CAP-A’s founder, James Mwangi stated that they were “deeply honored to have Prof. Osinbajo join the CAP-A Board of Directors as Chair to assist with the next phase of our growth and our mission of unlocking Africa’s potential as a global hub for climate action.

“His vast experience and passion for transforming African countries’ economies in harmony with climatic needs, will be invaluable to CAP-A’s mission, especially coming out of the inaugural Africa Climate Summit that made a strong push for accelerated climate action.”

Mohammed Brimah
Media Office of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON
Vice President (2015-2023)
27th September 2023

https://supportosinbajo.ng/foremost-african-climate-agency-names-osinbajo-its-new-chairman/27/

“Thrilled to announce my acceptance of the offer to lead CAP-A as the new Chair of the Board of Directors! Excited to drive climate action across Africa alongside an incredible team.” 🌍🌱

~ Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN