Saturday, February 7, 2015

Osinbajo laments loss of 400,000bpd

The Vice-Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, has lamented the daily loss of 400,000 barrels of crude oil in the face of the high rate of unemployment and poverty in the country.
Osinbajo, who is a senior pastor in the Redeemed Christian Church of God, said Christians as the salt of the earth, should be agents of positive change.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria said this at the first Annual Lecture Series in commemoration of the 73rd birthday of the General Overseer of the RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, in Lagos on Wednesday.
In attendance were Adeboye and several senior pastors of the church.
While delivering a lecture titled, ‘Harmonising virtues to gain heaven and earthly prosperity’, Osinbajo said, “112 million people in Nigeria are extremely poor. Despite being the largest economy in Africa, we are among the 33 poorest countries in the world.
“In the area of infant mortality, 3.9 million children have died between 2009 and 2014. For maternal mortality – 55,000 women die every year while 110,000 die of diarrhoea disease yearly. There are 10.4 million children out of school while 80 per cent of graduates are jobless.
“Corruption here as described by Hilary Clinton is unbelievable. There are missing funds. The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation subsidy scam amounts to N2.6 trillion. Kerosene subsidy scam amounts to $7bn. Missing excess crude amounts to $1bn as 400,000 barrels of oil are stolen every day.”
The APC candidate said if these problems were not addressed, Nigerians would never be able to enjoy the best things in life.
He said, “Who does God hold responsible for creating prosperity and happiness? You are the salt of the earth…you are the light of the world.”
Also speaking at the event, Adeboye thanked the organisers for honouring him. Adeboye prayed for the prosperity of all and stressed the need for Nigerians to be closer to God.
Meanwhile, Osinbajo has said the presidential candidate of the APC, Maj.Gen Muhmmadu Buhari (retd.) cannot turn Nigeria into a Muslim nation.
Osinbajo, who disclosed this at an interactive session with professionals in Warri, Delta State, said those accusing Buhari of being a Muslim fundamentalist are distorting history.
Osinbajo said, “Throughout his period as military head of state, Gen. Buhari was under intense pressure to drag Nigeria into the OIC, but he never yielded because he respects Nigeria as a secular state in line with the constitution. Besides, his cook and driver are Christians.
“When Gen. Babangida eventually dragged Nigeria into the OIC, none of the successors ever attended any of its meeting because they know to Islamise Nigeria is very difficult as you need to first get the constitution amended. That process, you know, is almost impossible”.
“But it is on record that in 2013, President Jonathan, undermining the constitutional limitation, ensured that Nigeria attended an OIC meeting.”
Also speaking, a Warri leader, Chief Tuesday Onoge, told Osinbajo that the Urhobo people would support the APC in the coming election.
 
SOURCE: by Eniola Akinkuotu in the punch

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