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Obasanjo world’s most documented president —Foundation

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The founder and president of Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation (BLERF), Mr Nyaknno Osso, on Wednesday said that former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo is the world’s most documented president of his era.

He stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) during a visit by the leadership of the Association of Nigeria Authors (ANA), FCT chapter on his 70th Birthday at BLERF Centre in Abuja.

According to Osso, who served as the Special Assistant on Library, Research and Documentation to Obasanjo from 1999 to 2007, the former president is globally documented because of his leadership role in Africa.

He said the octogenarian, who served as Nigeria’s head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as president from 1999 to 2007, has hundreds of publications, including books and journals about him.

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“In the course of working with Obasanjo, at a certain time I counted over 320 books, and journals on him.

“No American president had that kind of record, no British Prime Minister or any other nation had that kind of documentation.

“I have visited about 550 libraries both in Nigeria, Africa, the UK, and in the U.S because I have passion for books, records and history.

“Every country we travelled to, the President would say go to major libraries or the documentation centres , ask for things on Nkrumah, Mandela, and myself and I would always get materials on him.

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“I believe Obasanjo is the most informed African alive, apart from being documented, he is versed and dynamic and once he sets his mind to do something, he will do it.

“He is a thinker who tries to find new ways of doing things and I think every president should be humble enough to consult with him because he has contacts all over the world,” he said.

Osso, who also served as the pioneer Executive Secretary/Project Coordinator of the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library Foundation (OOPLF), said BLERF was conceived to be a historical and biographical repository for Nigerians.

He said as he clocks 70 years, plans were underway to open the centre as a one-stop research point for scholars, historians, journalists, and researchers who wanted comprehensive and accurate information about Nigeria.

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“Before now, we have only been giving our information online but henceforth, we are going to open it up for people to come and do research.

“Researchers, historians, diplomats, whatever information they want we have it here and that is why we need support from the government, corporate bodies and individuals.

“I have collected information for the past 52 years from all over the world, and they are here in books and written forms and that is why we want to digitise them.

“I am now 70 years old and have put my energy into doing things to develop Nigeria, and I think it is time for my country to support me, “ he said.

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Earlier, Chukwudi Eze, Chairman of ANA, Abuja, who led the delegation on the visit, lauded Osso for his passionate commitment to nation building.

“I have known the president of BLERF as a friend and have seen him engage the challenges of his life, and I have seen him overcome them.

“You cannot work for Obasanjo if you are not good, you cannot last eight years with him if you are not good ,and this man has been part of his team now for 25 years,” he said.

NAN reports that BLERF is acclaimed as the first-in-Nigeria biographical information database built to showcase the nation’s history, achievers and heroes dating from 1861.

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Its founder and president is acknowledged as the pioneer of mass media research and documentation in Nigeria following his groundbreaking publication in 1990; “Newswatch Who’s Who in Nigeria”.

The publication was the first-ever authoritative, comprehensive Biographical Encyclopedia in the country.

(NAN)

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Rupture In PDP Governors’ Forum deepens

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By Ojomah Austin.

 

The evolving fall-out, which comes barely days to the contentious National Executive Committee (NEC) of PDP, followed a back and forth between the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Nyesom Wike and the Governors forum, who declared support for Rivers State governor, Siminalayi Fubara to be made leader of the party in the state.

After a meeting with some members of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) in Bauchi on Wednesday, Governor Mohammed, said “According to our party’s constitution, any leadership vacancy should be filled by someone from the region where it originated,” stressing that Damagum would be replaced soon considering that he hails from North East and not the North Central.

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Same day, Makinde, during the groundbreaking of the upgrading of Ladoke Akintola Airport, Ibadan, to an international airport, which was attended by another set of NWC members, led by Damagum, said he would support whatever decision the Damagum-led NWC would take to reposition the party.

Damagum, who is considered a close ally of Nyesom Wike, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, was appointed acting national chairman after the removal of Iyorchia Ayu in June 2023.

Meanwhile, the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP led by Senator Adolph Wabara, met with members of the National Assembly caucus in Abuja.

The close door meeting comes barely hours after the BoT met with Wike in Abuja.

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While Wabara refused to comment on the essence of the meeting with the lawmakers, it was noticed that most of the lawmakers didn’t honour the invitation.

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Tears As Man Takes Own Life Over Tinubu’s Govt Hardship

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By Mario Deepromoter

Sad development in Marika village, Kiyawa Local Government, Jigawa, where a 40-year-old man, Jibrin Adamu, committed suicide by hanging himself.

According to eyewitnesses, Adamu’s lifeless body was discovered in a classroom at Miftahul Khairat Islamiyya and Primary School Gurdiba on Thursday.

Police spokesperson DSP Lawan Shiisu Adam confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations revealed Adamu had struggled with mental health issues.

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“Police received a report on Thursday that at about 1830hrs, a tragic incident was reported at the Command headquarters that one Jibrin Adamu ‘m’ age 40yrs of Jigawar Maroka village, Kiyawa LGA has committed suicide by hanging himself over the ceiling at Islamiyya school,” the Police spokesperson told Daily Post.

The Jigawa State Commissioner of Police, CP AT Abdullahi, has instructed officers to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident.

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Just in: Dangote Petrol Now Available at N765.99 Per Litre

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By Mario Deepromoter

11plc, Total Energies, AA Rano, and other marketers have begun lifting Dangote Petrol through Nigerian National Company (NNPC) Trading Limited for N765.99 to retail outlets nationwide.

Findings showed some petroleum marketers who were able to complete their payment process on the NNPC trading payment portal commenced the lifting of petrol earlier this week under the existing agreement between marketers and the refinery.

Tunji Oyebanji, managing director, 11Plc confirmed to BusinessDay on Thursday evening that some marketers have started lifting the products at N765.99 from Dangote Refinery through NNPC who remain the sole off-taker of product.

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“We were among the first marketers to complete the payment on the NNPC portal. We have no direct arrangement with the refinery,” Oyebanji said.

It was gathered that NNPC Retail, 11plc, Total Energies, A.A Rano are among the marketers that have picked up products from the refinery.

He added, “We don’t know the contractual financial arrangement between NNPC and the refinery but what I can confirm is we are buying at N765.99 from NNPC to lift Dangote petrol”.

Efforts to get the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) to confirm if its members have picked up products at the Dangote Refinery proved abortive at the time of writing this report.

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See also Nigeria’s Petrol Landing Cost Revealed
Adedapo Segun, executive vice-president, downstream at NNPC said marketers cannot purchase petrol directly from the refinery because the product is still sold at a subsidised rate.

“That is the same thing happening with Dangote. I said earlier that Dangote is a company and it is going to sell at market price,” he told Journalists.

According to Segun, “The market value of PMS is still higher than what N766 or N765 or N799 that NNPC is selling.

“The situation has not changed there. So, NNPC’s off-taking is only because the others would not buy at the price Dangote will be willing to sell, which is reasonable.

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“As soon as the price allows for it, you will see the marketers go to Dangote and buy.”

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