Osinbajo Berates PDP Government Over Lack Of “Focused Approach” On Eradication Of Poverty In Nigeria

Osinbajo Speaks On How To Eradicate Poverty in Nigeria

Nigeria’s vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, has once again cried outover the level of poverty ravaging the country.

Osinbajo while decried the increasing poverty rate at an event to mark the 70th birthday of a former governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi, said Nigeria is yet to make any reasonable progress in stomping poverty out.

Naija News learnt that the vice president said Nigeria’s major challenge in eradicating poverty remains the lack of a systematic or focused approach adopted by past administrations.

Osinbajo also said  that Nigeria despite being referred to as the giant of Africa is far behind other countries in the eradication of poverty.

Osinbajo said: “It’s very obvious that we are behind the race in eradicating poverty. The reason being that before now, there were no systematic and focused approach to eradicating poverty in our country.”“This is why from 2014-2015, the APC decided to write social investment into our manifestos. So, the social investment we are talking about is not by accident. It’s a comprehensive programme to tackle poverty,” the vice president said.

He stated that the All Progressives Congress, APC’s Social Investment Programmes was the first phase of the federal government’s effort to tackle poverty.

The Vice President, therefore, noted that systematic approach must be undertaken to get rid of poverty in the nation, stressing that though, it may take a while with determination poverty would soon be a thing of the past in Nigeria.

According to him, “India dropped its absolute number of the extremely poor by the same programmatic approach; but the programmes took two decades. The second point is on encouraging entrepreneurship, infrastructure development, lower taxes and enabling environment”.

Extolling the virtue of the celebrant, he said, “To my dear, Egbon, I must say that your sense of humour, youthfulness, and sheer energy, make it difficult to believe that you are actually 70. We thank God for the unique and indelible landmarks He has enabled you to achieve especially in politics and governance in the past eight years in Oyo State. Importantly also, your exemplary fidelity to the party, its success, its leadership and to your associates and colleagues at all times has set a standard for us all. I am especially deeply grateful to you for giving me the benefit of your wisdom, counsel, and deep experience at various times. We pray that God satisfies you with a very long, healthy, prosperous and joyful life”.

Those at the event included wife of the Vice President, Mrs Dolapo Osinbajo, Mrs Florence Ajimobi,
Governors of Lagos, Babatunde Sanwolu, Ekiti Governor Kayode Fayemi, Ogun, Prince Dapo Abiodun, deputy governor of Oyo, Egnr Rauf Olaniyan, and Governor of Kano State,  Alhaji Umar Ghanduje. Chief Bisi Akande, former acting national chairman of APC, Chief Bode Amao, Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes,

Former governors of Oyo, Ogun States, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala and Akinrogun Olusegun Osoba, Minister of State, Ministry of Health, Senator Olorunnibe Mamora, Chief Kola Daisi, an industrialist and many others.

Traditional rulers there were the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Ooni of Ife, Oba Eniitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji represented by Prof Taoheed Adedoja, Emir of Lafia, Justice Sidi Bage(rtd), Olugbon of Ilegbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, wife of former Ekiti State governor, Mrs Feyisetan Fayose and several others.