African Statesman Olusegun Obasanjo To Chair Energy Growth and Just Transition Presidential Roundtable at African Energy Week (AEW) 2023

 

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African Statesman Olusegun Obasanjo To Chair Energy Growth and Just Transition Presidential Roundtable at African Energy Week (AEW) 2023 

Olusegun Obasanjo is the former President of Nigeria and an international statesman with a dedication to Africa’s development

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, September 26, 2023/ -- African statesman and former President of the Republic of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo represents one of the continent’s most influential and impactful leaders who has demonstrated a commitment to facilitating inclusive growth in Africa. His work and success in the political, economic and energy sectors have not only consolidated Nigeria’s position as a major economic hub but Africa’s position as both a competitive and highly attractive investment destination. From policy to finance to cooperation and inclusion, Obasanjo has played an instrumental part in shaping Africa’s economy and will continue to represent a strong advocate and facilitator of Africa’s growth.

Under efforts to advance dialogue surrounding the continent’s energy future, Obasanjo will host the Energy Growth and Just Transition Presidential Roundtable at the 2023 edition of the African Energy Week (AEW) conference and exhibition – taking place from October 16-20. Obasanjo’s expertise regarding African economics and energy will be critical for strengthening discussions on Africa’s approach to the energy transition and his insights will help support deals and decision-making during the event. Obasanjo will also award the AEW 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award to Namibian President Hage Geingob and Senegalese President Macky Sall, while engaging with a strong slate of African and international stakeholders on the future of the continent’s energy sector.

Faced with a number of development challenges, Africa’s progress to date has largely been driven by individuals such as Obasanjo, who has spearheaded a wave of cooperation and dialogue among African countries and between the continent and global players. With a focus on a just and inclusive energy transition, Obasanjo has strongly advocated for a collaborative approach to investment, policy and growth, and continues to put Africa first. Obasanjo’s expertise lies in his experience as Head of State of Nigeria and his work as Chairperson of the African Union (AU) from 2004 to 2006. Obasanjo served as Military Ruler from 1976 to 1979 and President of the Republic of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007, where he was instrumental in bringing democracy to the country. Following this position, Obasanjo took on several impactful roles centered around pan-continental collaboration and peace. In addition to his role at the AU, he served as Special Envoy for Africa for the United Nations. Now, Obasanjo coordinates cross-border cooperation and facilitates Africa-global dialogue towards a goal of advancing Africa’s economic prosperity.

Collaboration and cross-border partnership success in Africa is largely attributed to Obasanjo’s ongoing efforts. In Nigeria, he made great strides towards strengthening the energy market. The country now represents one of the biggest oil and gas producers on the continent and boasts a promising renewable energy industry that is poised to lead West Africa’s energy transition. Obasanjo spearheaded sustainable development on the back of democracy, transparency and investor clarity. Under his leadership, exploration and production took off, with up to 37 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and 200 trillion cubic feet of gas identified from his Presidential tenure to date. His administration established the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation in 1977. Many projects also took off from across the entire energy value chain. Under efforts to privatize downstream assets and relieve state burden, Obasanjo facilitated the sale of the Port Harcourt and Kaduna refineries – now under the NNPC’s control. In the power industry, Obasanjo put in place ambitious targets of achieving 10 GW of electricity by 2007. As President, Obasanjo had a central objective to alleviate poverty and establish a democratic system, and his efforts in this regard have proven critical for Nigeria.

Now, Obasanjo works towards driving pan-African growth and development. On the cooperation side, Obasanjo has contributed to much of Africa’s progress. He established the African Leadership Forum in 1988, uniting leaders from across the continent and global community to discuss issues and foster solutions to development. Obasanjo also co-established the New Partnership for Africa’s Development in 2001 and the African Peer Review Mechanism, initiatives which have helped spearhead good governance in Africa. These efforts have been nothing short of crucial for Africa’s economic and multi-sector growth and will remain of central importance as Africa’s energy sector grows.

“President Obasanjo has shown, time and time again, a dedication to inclusive, sustainable and widespread development in Africa. His efforts to alleviate energy poverty and drive long-term growth have translated into a series of impactful developments across the continent. As an African statesman, a distinguished leader and an advocate for Africa’s prosperity, Obasanjo will continue to play a central role in facilitating growth and development in Africa,” states NJ Ayuk, Executive Chairman of the AEC.

This experience makes him the host of choice for AEW 2023’s Energy Growth and Just Transition Presidential Roundtable. Dubbed the largest gathering of energy stakeholders on the continent, AEW 2023 takes place under the theme, The African Renaissance: Prioritizing Energy Poverty, People, the Planet, Industrialization and Free Markets, and proudly hosts a strong slate of African governments.

During the AEW 2023 conference, Obasanjo will engage with a suite of governments, ministers and international authorities under a common goal of making energy poverty history in Africa by 2030. His passion for the continent and his commitment to fostering democratic growth will prove valuable at the event, and delegates can look forward to hearing his insights. There is still time to secure you place at the biggest energy event in Africa. Join AEW 2023 and network with the movers and shakers from Africa’s energy market.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of African Energy Chamber.

About African Energy Week:

AEW is the AEC’s annual conference, exhibition and networking event. AEW 2023 will unite African energy policymakers and stakeholders with global investors to discuss and maximize opportunities within the continent’s entire energy industry. For more information about AEW 2023, visit https://AECWeek.com.

SOURCE

African Energy Chamber

H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo to Chair Africa Oil Week 2022

 

PRESS RELEASE

H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo to Chair Africa Oil Week 2022

Strongest presence of Ministers and Government officials – only at Africa Oil Week

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CAPE TOWN, South Africa, August 25, 2022/ -- Africa Oil Week (https://Africa-OilWeek.com) is proud to announce H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo is set to continue his tenure as Chairman of Africa Oil Week for the foreseeable future. The former president of the Republic of Nigeria is continuing as chairman of the leading Oil and Gas event - held in heart of Cape Town to ensure he continues to support regionally. Organised by Hyve Group Plc., Africa Oil Week is the Home of the African Upstream, and this unmissable event will bring leading energy stakeholders together on the 3-7 October in Cape Town under the theme: Sustainable Growth in a Low Carbon World. Having overseen Nigeria’s transition to a representative democracy, Obasanjo is widely considered as one of the continents major statesmen and leaders over the last 50 years. Obasanjo played a leading role in shaping the modern oil industry in Nigeria, introducing policy reforms which have seen the country become an energy superpower. “We’re honoured to have H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo as Chairman of Africa Oil Week. He brings incredible gravitas as returning chairman of our event,” said Paul Sinclair, VP of Energy and Director of Government Relations for Africa Oil Week.  His Excellency is a unique person bringing regional understanding and unapparelled experience in developing marketing conditions to support private sector participation in the natural resources sector, it is this experience that helps Africa Oil Week drive success for regional governments and their partners alike. Obasanjo recently shared his views on Africa’s call for energy security, saying that Africa should be able to take charge of its own energy destiny for the benefit of its people and that it shouldn’t be beholden to the unrealistic ideals of the Global North. It’s for this reason, Africa must follow energy policies that promote socio-economic development, sustainable hydrocarbon use, and, ultimately, take charge of its own energy destiny for the benefit of its people, says Obasanjo. Echoing Obasanjo’s remarks, Sinclair said, “The energy debate doesn’t have to be polarised. As the world grapples with climate change and the broader transition, oil and gas will be needed and we believe Africa and our continent should be allowed to grow. We advocate the development of our resources and we believe technology and carbon management strategies can do this in respect of the environment – we are not ignoring those who are concerned about the environment, indeed we understand the value of renewable energy. It’s a transition, one that is part of the larger goal and continuous journey to decarbonizing infrastructure and reaching net zero. However, for the foreseeable future, oil and gas are definitely needed as the 151 countries in Glasgow COP work towards their revised NDCs. We echo H.E. Olusegun Obasanjo’s candid support for Africa to take control of its energy future and continue to drive strong global partnerships that will benefit both the continent and its partners via responsible development of natural resources,” Sinclair said. Register your interest now to play your role in sustainably developing our industry and Africa via the African upstream. Attend the conference alongside senior delegates and 50+ Ministers and leaders of government: Africa Oil Week 2022 (https://Africa-OilWeek.com) Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Africa Oil Week. Media contact: Amie Sparrow PR Manager amie.sparrow@hyve.group About Africa Oil Week: Africa Oil Week (https://Africa-OilWeek.com) is the meeting place of choice for the continent’s upstream oil and gas sector. Now entering its 28th year, the event brings together governments, national and international oil companies, independents, investors, the G&G community and service providers. Africa Oil Week takes place in heart of Cape Town at the Cape Town International Convention Centre 2 (CTICC2) from the 3-7 October 2022. SOURCE Africa Oil Week

Who is Qualified To Be the Next President of NIgeria?

Who is Qualified To Be the Next President of NIgeria?

I have more than 30 years experience in working for the presidential campaigns of top presidential aspirants in the political ruling class of NIgeria.
I was a special aide in the Publicity Department of the Presidential Campaign of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, CON for the National Republican Convention (NRC) in 1990-1992. He later became the President of the Africa Business Roundtable in 2012 and was National Chairman of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) from March 2012 to January 2014.
I was one of the brains behind the social media campaign of the Transform NIgeria Network for former President Goodluck Jonathan, GCFR in 2014.

I have done a comprehensive political evaluation of all the potential presidential aspirants for the 2023 presidential election, and the only presidential aspirant who can tackle the widespread insecurity in NIgeria is former Vice President Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON.

Only a fearless strong Commander-in- Chief can command the Nigerian Armed Forces to guarantee the national security of NIgerians.
Boko Haram and ISWAP are on rampage in the country, because President Muhammadu Buhari has failed to be a competent Commander-in-Chief and he is overwhelmed by the failures of the NIgerian military to defeat the bandits and terrorists who have killed over 300, 000 people with over 2, 000, 000 people left homeless and abandoned in the IDPs' camps in the worst humanitarian crisis since the first NIgerian civil war of 1967-1970.

The other presidential aspirants don't have the political pragmatism of visionary leadership and competence of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who was the Vice President of former President Olusegun Obasanjo for eight years and they subdued every threat of terrorism and secured the lives and properties of NIgerians in every state of the federation.

I don't have to mention the shortcomings of the other presidential aspirants, because they are not capable of the political leadership of NIgeria in such a critical period of political crisis and national insecurity. They are too weak to be a powerful Commander-in-Chief.

Rigging gubernatorial elections to become state governors and turning the Treasury of the State to your ATM machine does not make you a competent presidential candidate when you should actually be in jail for corruption without any plea bargain.
What we need is a powerful Commander-in-Chief and not a wonderful thief of public funds from the revenues of your state.

President Buhari is Not As Competent and Efficient As Former President Obasanjo

Chief Olúṣẹ́gun Ọbásanjọ́ , GCFR remains the best and greatest Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces of all the Heads of State in the history of Nigeria. Nigerians were safer under his military administration from 1976-1979 and under his civilian administration from 1999-2007. The failures of his successors in national security have been caused by administrative incompetence and political corruption since 2007 to date.

As the former Presidents Umaru Yar'Adua and Goodluck Jonathan failed in the national security of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has also failed woefully in national security.

Do you know that hundreds of thousands of the millions of Hausa Fulani people in Nigeria are from Mali and the Republic of Niger and not bona fide citizens of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The most dangerous reality is, majority of them have access to arms that majority of Nigerians don't have. And President Buhari has failed to disarm them.
The military can disarm them within 100 days and end the widespread violent attacks by their  fellow Hausa Fulani bandits, terrorists and unknown gunmen. The so called gunmen killing people can be called "Unknown Soldiers" whose identities are well known by the Nigerian military and security intelligence agencies.

Former President Ọbásanjọ́ was not a saint, but he was a very competent and efficient President and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces .President Buhari has failed to prove that he is a competent and efficient Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces. And unfortunately, the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo does not have the calibre of a leader of political pragmatism for the fearless political leadership of Nigeria to secure the future of Nigerians in the most populous country in Africa.

- By EKENYERENGOZI Michael Chima, author of "The Victory of Muhammadu Buhari and the Nigerian Dream", "The Prophet Lied" and other books. The new book, "The Political Phenomenon of President Muhammadu Buhari" will be released on Amazon.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has built a mosque

Olusegun Obasanjo is an enigmatic politician


Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has built a mosque beside his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta. The former president has already built a 1000 seater church, Chapel of Christ the Glorious King within the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL).

According Afis Oladosu of the Friday Worship column on Islam in The Guardian of Nigeria, the news was broken by an elder in a mosque where he observed the Jumuat service last Friday in Lagos.
“Don’t ever say a man is a disbeliever in Allah. Obasanjo has built a mosque. I attended the opening ceremony together with some Moslem scholars from Ilorin!” The elder said.
Afis said the listeners were shocked and wondered why Obasanjo was doing so when he is not a Moslem.
“Since when did Obasanjo become a Christian philanthropist?”
“What is wrong in the donation of a mosque by Obasanjo to the Moslems? Is this mosque not a Greek’s gift? “
“Did Obasanjo say he has become a Moslem? “ Afis asked.
The man shook his head in the negative.
“Did the Moslems ask him to build a mosque for them?”
The man was not sure.

Afis concluded that the mosque built by Obasanjo is “reminiscent of Masjid Dirar, built by Abu ‘Amir - a political mosque, a mosque built to “settle” the Moslem segments of Ogun State, to solace them to forget the injustice being visited on them by Ogun politicians, who appear to have the notion that no Moslem is worthy of being a governor of the state as yet? Is this mosque not a metaphor for the money usually given to the electorates by politicians in order to corner their conscience, corrupt their vision and appropriate their votes?”

And as for those, who put up a mosque by way of harm and disbelief and to disunite the believers and as an outpost for those, who warred against Allah and His Messenger aforetime, they will indeed swear that their intention is nothing but good. Allâh bears witness that they are certainly liars. Never stand you therein... (Quran 9: 107).

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The Untold Truth About the Niger Delta Crisis

The Untold Truth About the Niger Delta Crisis

• MEND is not responsible for the Niger Delta Crisis
• The Nigerian Government and Multinational Oil Companies are responsible for the Niger Delta Crisis
• The Solution to the Niger Delta Crisis is the Administration of True Federal Democracy as Practiced by the United States of America.

In 2004 as I was aggrieved by the rampant cases of cultism and gangesterism in Rivers state and the destruction of innocent lives and properties, I felt the urgency to address the critical issues and meet with the leading principal actors I could reach and persuade them to end the violence. I informed the international headquarters of Shell of my pacific mission before I left Lagos for Port Harcourt on a night coach.

I arrived Diobu at midnight and was told that the town was a danger zone after the mayhem caused by warring cultists. But I went on to the residence of my elder sister Mrs. P William-West on Nnewi Street in Rumumasi. I discussed my mission with her two sons and daughters and one of my nephews told me that he had to leave a cult when he saw one of his closest friends shot and killed in a violent clash with a rival cult in the oil city of Port Harcourt in 2003. I told him I was glad he had become born-again as he confessed. He gave me the details of the genesis of the cultism ravaging Rivers state since they were affected by the violence from their home town in Buguma to the state capital of Port Harcourt. I stayed for a couple of days and crossed over to Bonny Island to continue my investigation and pre-production of my documentary on the causes and consequences of the Niger Delta crisis aggravated by the recruitment of many members of the cults as political thugs of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

From my safe haven on Bonny Island, I contacted an insider named Felix and told him of my critical mission and we agreed to meet at a popular hotel off Olu Obasanjo Road in Port Harcourt. He told me that Shell and the other multinational oil companies operating in the littoral states of the Niger Delta were not interested in peace, but to fish in the troubled waters, because they had little or nothing to lose. They were breaching the contract of the MOU they signed with the Federal Republic of Nigeria and they did not care about the devastation of the eco-system or the deprivations of the host communities.
Their cosmetic social community welfare projects and scholarships were only meant to white-wash their horrible and terrible acts since they began oil exploration in the Niger Delta region. I found out that the hotel was owned by a retired Major in the Nigerian Army and he has been actively engaged in illegal oil bunkering with other retired and active senior military officers, especial those in the Nigerian Navy and their criminal activities were not secret. Those engaged in illegal oil bunkering and those who acquired oil blocks were partners in crime and were well known title-holders in their respective communities. In fact my in-law Asari Dokubo, the leader of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force (NDPVF) had a suite in the hotel.

I returned to Bonny Island and called Asari and we discussed on how to put an end to the violence and he told me that he was already now engaged in providing security service for the oil service companies in the region and was no longer engaged in any violent dispute with any rival cult or gang. I was glad to hear that and told Felix that Asari would fare better as a leader by contesting in a democratic election and could in fact be elected as the governor of Rivers state.
“He only needs to improve his manner of dressing and public relations,” I said.
I was glad that Asari would be willing to participate in my documentary film and commended the website Akumafiete of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force

I was meeting with a top official of the Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) in Lagos, because Shell wanted to sponsor my documentary film and in fact the top official asked me if the documentary could be produced in a week, which was not realistic, even though I was working with one of the best filmmakers in Nigeria who has won awards for his documentaries.

I was still making progress when the Nigerian government ordered for the arrest of Asari Dokubo and detained him for outrageous statements of treasonable felony. I warned the government to release him or the situation in the volatile Niger Delta region would become worse. But the government ignored my warning and the SPDC now felt that the government had succeeded in caging the lion of the Niger Delta militants and thought the unconstitutional detention of Asari Dokubo would tame the thousands of members of the Niger Delta People's Volunteer Force and allied groups. But I warned the government there was a greater militant group in the offing and they thought I was joking until the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta (MEND) shot up from the creeks!

The solution to the protracted Niger Delta crisis is the administration of true Federal Democracy as practiced by the United States of America and this is what both MEND and NDPVF have been demanding for and also the prosecution of all the retired and serving senior military officers found guilty of illegal oil bunkering.
The Nigerian Navy can actually stop illegal oil bunkering by asking for the assistance of the US Navy to patrol the territorial waters of Nigeria and to attack all tankers, boats and barges engaged in illegal oil bunkering since they can be easily identified from the authorized tankers and vessels on Nigerian waters.
Then the multinational oil companies must be prosecuted for the violations of the MOU they signed with the Federal Republic of Nigeria since 1956 to date.

The Joint Task Force of the Nigerian Armed Forces in the Niger Delta should be withdraw, because it an unconstitutional mission.
All licenses of illegal oil blocks must be withdrawn.
The local and foreign bank accounts of Nigerians suspected of ill-gotten wealth from misappropriations of revenue allocations for the oil producing states and over-invoicing of government contracts should investigated and those found guilty should be prosecuted in a public trial and not behind closed doors.

The former President, Olusegun Obasanjo, Mujahid Dokubo-Asari, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, the former governor of Bayelsa State and Obasanjo's successor, President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua have the full list of the criminals who are still engaged in illegal oil bunkering in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.