DTN-2-10-18

Forex, T.bills, others record N115.7trn turnover in 8 months Account for 76. 99% of total market proceeds Investors trade $1.25bn FX in 5 days

Motolani Oseni, Lagos

The total transactions turnover for the January to August 2018 period amounted to N115.68 trillion, as trading activities in Treasury bills https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

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Ambode vs Sanwo-Olu

(T.bills) and Foreign exchange contributed the largest to overall turnover, accounting for 76.99 per cent of the market, latest FMDQ OTC market turnover report has shown.

Other products traded on the Continued on page 3

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

VOL. 3

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Lagos in make or mar gov primary today I’m yet to get my party membership card, says Ambode Banire Group: Sanwo-Olu is the man to beat in Lagos

L-R: Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Walter Onnoghen; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President Muhammadu Buhari; former Heads of State: Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd); Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and others during the 58th Independence Day Celebration at the Eagles Square in Abuja...on Monday.

Photo: State House.

God didn’t make mistake in creating Nigeria g 6 –Buhari

Saraki, Dogara absent as Nigeria marks 58th independence g 3

PDP first term governors win second term tickets g 5

Missing Army General: Fears grip community over possible military g7 action

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Daily Times Nigeria

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Forex, T.bills, others record N115.7trn...

Continued from page 1 FMDQ secondary market include Bonds (FGN Bonds, other Bonds (Agency, Sub-national, Corporate & Supranational) & Eurobonds)) Commercial Papers and Money Market (Repurchase Agreements (Repos)/Buy-Backs and Unsecured Placements/ Takings).

These figures exclude primary market auctions in T. bills and Bonds.

FX market transactions, including (Spot FX and FX Derivatives) accounted for 37.51 per cent, Treasury bills posted the highest with 39.48 per cent, whilst Repos/BuyBacks product categories accounted for 15.39 per cent of overall market turnover.

Others are Bonds and Unsecured Placements & Takings, which contributed the least to overall market turnover, accounted for 7.08 per cent and 0.54 per cent respectively.

The key breakdown of the figure, however, showed that N28.278 trillion Forex was traded on the FMDQ OTC market turnover during the period under review, which was higher than N23.77 trillion between January and July, while N15.104 trillion was traded on the foreign exchange derivatives market, better than N13.04 trillion sold in the first seven months of 2018.

On Treasury Bills, a total of N45.668 was traded between January and August, an improved figure compared to N40.19 trillion declared between January and July 2018.

The report by FMDQ OTC stated: “Trading activities in Treasury bills contributed the largest to overall turnover, accounting for 40.40per cent of the market. FX market transactions (Spot FX and FX Derivatives) accounted for 37.00per cent while the Repos/Buy-Backs product

category accounted for 15.39per cent of overall market turnover. Bonds and Unsecured Placements & Takings, which contributed the least to overall market turnover, accounted for 6.65per cent and 0.54 per cent respectively”.

The report stated that FMDQ has accomplished a full and clear revival of the Commercial Paper (CP) market with registered CP Programmes on the FMDQ Platform now well above N1.00 trillion.

The month of August saw key activities in the CP quotations space on the OTC Exchange, wherein the N100.00 billion CP Programmes of Union Bank of Nigeria P;c and Flour Mills of Nigeria of Plç respectively, were registered on the OTC Exchange’s platform.

As these institutions and a host of others continue to effectively and sustainably meet their funding needs, as well as contribute to the development of the nation’s debt markets, FMDQ continues to take crucial steps, in collaboration with market stakeholders, towards promoting transparency, governance, integrity, and efficiency in the Nigerian CP market.

The Investors and Exporters forex segment of the Foreign Exchange market, recorded a market turnover of $1.25billion FX in just 5 days, with Friday figure of $289.73 million, claiming the highest figure traded for the week, compared to $255.04 million sold on Thursday, $264.06 million sold on Wednesday, the same amount traded on Tuesday and $176.49 million on Monday, which was the lowest during the week.

Meanwhile, the Naira, at the end of trading activities for the week on Friday depreciated marginally against the US dollar at the Investors and Exporters

(I&E) FX window, trading at N363.92, weaker than N363.74 posted on Thursday, as well as N363.78 recorded on Wednesday, N363.72 Tuesday, however, better than N364.28 sold last Monday.

The local currency at the official CBN window, stood at N306.35 to the dollar, the same rate it traded throughout the week.

At the parallel market, the Naira closed at N359.5 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N482 and N421.

Trading at the Bureau De Change (BDC) window saw the Naira close at N360 to the dollar, while the Pound Sterling and the Euro closed at N482 and N421.

The Nigerian currency remained stable at the market mainly due to the series of interventions by the CBN. The Monetary Policy Committee of the CBN had said the outlook for the year remains positive as the economy is projected to grow by 1.75 per cent in 2018, anchored on continued stability in the foreign exchange market, sustained high price and production of oil and improved electricity supply.

They expressed that the gains so far achieved appear to be under threat of reversal, following new data which provides evidence of weakening fundamentals.

The CBN Governor, Mr. Godwin Emefiele said: “The committee identified rising inflation and pressure on external reserves created by capital flow reversal as the current challenges to growth.

“It noted that inflationary pressures have started rebuilding and capital flow reversals have intensified as shown by the bearish trend in the equities market even though the exchange rate remains very stable.”

Saraki, Dogara, absent as Nigeria marks 58th Independence Mathew Dadiya, Abuja Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Yakubu Dogara, on Monday, were conspicuously absent at the Independence Day parade organised to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th anniversary.

But the absence of Saraki and Dogara might not be unconnected with their recent defection from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The strictly military event held at the Eagles Square, Abuja, was attended by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi

Osinbajo and other very important personalities Also in attendance at the parade were the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen; two former Heads of State: Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd) and Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) and members of diplomatic communities.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo and immediate past President Goodluck Jonathan were also absent at the auspicious event.

On arrival at the venue, Buhari first took the national salute before moving to inspect the parade in a motorcade.

He later returned to the VIP stand to join Osinbajo, Onnoghen, Gowon,

Abdulsalami and other dignitaries.

Key activities at the parade include: Inspection of Guards by the Special Guest of Honour, Buhari; march past in slow and quick time; march past by para-military organizations; agencies and Nigeria Police Force Mounted Troops; military equipment march past on low loaders; police dogs and outriders display and Nigeria Air Force Air Show; firing of volleys and 21 gun salute; review order and three hearty cheers.

But President Buhari did not make any speech at the parade aside the Independence Day broadcast which he addressed the nation at about 7am on Monday, October 1, 2018.

3 News

PHOTO TIMES

L-R: Senator Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi); Senate President and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Chairman, Kogi State Chapter of the PDP, Engr. Sam Uhuotu during his meeting with the Kogi State PDP delegates in Lokoja...on Monday.

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike (middle) and others during the 58th Independence Day Anniversary at the Sharks Stadium in Port Harcourt...on Monday.

R-L: Enugu State Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; his wife, Monica; the Deputy Governor, Mrs. Cecilia Ezeilo; Chairman, Enugu State Council of Traditional Rulers, HRH, Igwe Amb. Lawrence Agubuzu; State’s Chief Judge, Hon. Justice Priscilla Emehelu and the State Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Augustine Nnamani, during a mass at the Government House Chapel to commemorate Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary...on Monday.

Ogun State Governor Ibikunke Amosun (middle), inspecting the Guard of Honour during the 2018 Independence Day celebration parade, at the MKO Abiola International Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta Ogun State... on Monday

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

5 News

Ambode vs Sanwo-Olu: Lagos in make or mar APC governorship primary today Patrick Okohue, Lagos

As Lagosians and other Nigerians continue to await the All Progressives Congress (APC) to declare the fate of the incumbent Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode as far as the 2019 governorship election in the state is concerned, tension has continued to rise among key players in the polity on the next line of action.

The state APC governorship primary has become a two-way horse race between incumbent Governor Ambode and the candidate anointed by the key party leaders in the state, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the party has continued to shift the date of the primary which was earlier scheduled to hold on Saturday, September 29, but later shifted to Sunday, September 30 and again shifted to Monday, October 1, and yet again to today, Tuesday, October 2.

While many political watchers are wondering the reason behind the continuous shift in the day of the primary, some close watchers reasoned that it is a fallout of the confrontation between the governor and those desirous to see his back, as they continued to mount pressure on him to drop his plan to contest in the primary, while he is insisting that it is his right to seek second term and he wants to exercise it.

Though it is not clear why the governor is insistent on contesting the primary of the party, which the leadership said will be by direct primary despite the overwhelming gang up against his candidature, many are of the belief that the party leaders are also confused about what gives the governor so much confidence and fear that he may swing a surprise at the primary, a development which could spell doom for the political future of the leaders.

As a result of that fear, many believe that the leaders will rather continue to prevail on the national leadership of the party to continue to shift the primary date until such a time they are either confident that they will get victory for Sanwo-Olu or at such a time they can prevail on the governor to drop his ambition, a plot that may not be easy to achieve, as the governor seem determined to go into the battle without looking back.

However, the confidence of the governor to want to continue to fight on has remained a mystery to those eager to see his back, even as he has complained about a process skewed to favour another aspirant, wondering how party members were going to

vote when they are yet unable to access their membership cards, even as he as a sitting governor is yet to access his.

Though the primary is strictly an APC affair, but the tension transcend the party, as other parties are also watching the development and using that to determine their own next line of action.

Though the main opposition party in the state, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) will never admit its interest in the APC affair, it is however believed that the reason the PDP has continued to shift the date of its primary, just like the APC is to ensure that it does not hold its primary before the ruling party, just in case Ambode lose out in the primary, it will then be ready to woo the governor into its fold believing that with him in their camp, victory will be easier.

This is despite the fact that Ambode on Sunday declared that he will remain in the APC and will not allow anyone to push him out.

This is even as the governor has expressed confidence that he will come out victorious in the primary, if the process is free, fair and transparent, noting that if he could come out victorious in 2014 against 12 other aspirants, that there was nothing to worry about contesting the primary against other aspirants.

The governor spoke in his office when he received members of the panel appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to conduct the Governorship Primaries in the state, led by its Chairman, Mr. Clement Ebri.

Ambode added that it was important that the election when conducted is seen to be free, fair and credible to all aspirants concerned, saying that it is only in such situation that democracy, which the party upholds is entrenched.

Members of the panel include Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud Gumel as Secretary; Mr. Nze Chidi Duru; Chief Clever Egbeji; Senator Clever Ikisikpo and Ambassador Jerry Ugokwe.

Tasking the panel to do all within its powers to ensure a level playing field for all aspirants in the contest, Ambode expressed confidence in the selection of members of the panel, saying that he had no doubt that the panel would live up to expectations and deliver a credible process, which according to him, will go a long way to determine the future of Nigeria and the greatness of Lagos in particular.

Ambode said, “This is a very star studded election team, they are distinguished Nigerians in their

individual and collective rights. There can’t be any better collection of a team to any state election monitoring in this country than the distinguished personalities brought to Lagos and it only shows us the importance that the National chairman of our great party attaches to what is happening in Lagos.

“I must tell you that what you have taken up, may look like a political assignment, but history is on your side that at this very moment in the annals of the history of this country, today marking our 58th Independence anniversary celebration, you are being called upon to discharge a selfless service that would determine the future of this country and the greatness of this particular state.

“I receive this election team as being acceptable and credible to me enough to discharge their civic responsibility to the best of their abilities and to also say that whatever it is that is the outcome of the primaries, your presence has also shown that this will be credible and this will be acceptable by me.”

Expressing confidence on the outcome of the primary, Ambode recalled that he had gone through the same process with 12 other aspirants to emerge as governorship candidate of the APC in 2014, saying that it was not out of place to have other aspirants contest for the same ticket this time, however, the eventual process of choosing who flies the party’s flag must be seen to be fair to all concerned.

He said, “So it’s very clear to me, all I seek is credible primaries, transparent primaries and level playing ground that we will all be proud of at the end of the day for the outcome.

“There were issues that we have raised that we are also trying to correct.

The bottom line is this, we are family, we must not go into the elections divided because this is the very first time that our party is controlling the centre and also the state, which is what I want us to continue.

“The issues that I raised have been put in form of a letter which I would pass to the chairman and I believe the committee will look into it judiciously and also I welcome the stakeholders meeting which will allow you feel the pulse of what is going on in the state.”

Meanwhile, the Mushin Empowerment Foundation (MEF) has thrown its weight behind Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu prior to the APC gubernatorial primaries in Lagos State, citing Governor Ambode’s poor attitude to governance which reverts Lagos back to a filthy state.

PDP first term governors win second term tickets Tunde Opalana, Abuja

Majority of the sitting governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have won the party’s governorship primaries conducted across the country on Sunday.

Among them are Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); David Umahi

(Ebonyi); Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Nyesom Wike, (Rivers); Ben Ayade (Cross River); Darius Ishaku (Taraba) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).

New candidates that emerged from their respective states primaries include Hon. Ladi Adebutu, Ogun; Senator Bala Muhammed, Bauchi; Senator Jeremiah Useni, Plateau; Engr. Seyi Makinde, Oyo; Umaru Nadko, Niger; Davematic

Ombugadu, Nasarawa; Hon. Issa Hashiru Kudan, Kaduna and Rt. Hon Matawali, Zamfara.

But the Lagos State PDP has postponed its primary indefinitely, ostensibly to cash in on the fallout from the APC primary shifted to today between Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and his main challenger, Babajide Sanwo-Olu while there was a parallel primary in Borno State.

Ambode

Sanwo-Olu

Speaking at the APC party Secretariat in Mushin, during its general meeting, the former party chairman, Aremo Ikufisile Michael, who addressed the mammoth crowd of party faithful, said that Sanwo-Olu has been endorsed by the leaders and stakeholders in the party as their gubernatorial candidate and they cannot but replicate it in MEF given the fact that Dr. Muiz Banire, who initiated the foundation, had endorsed him, likewise Baba Hamzat.

“MEF in APC is headed by Muiz Banire, we are all children of Baba Hamzat. Lagos has fared badly under Ambode’s watch, see all the streets of Lagos now littered with waste indiscriminately disposed, all because he stopped PSP’s operation and replaced it with an incompetent handler, Visionscape.

“All the job opportunities that normally come to us at the party was stopped, we endorse Sanwo-Olu today and will work assiduously to ensure his victory at the primary.”

Another stakeholder in Mushin polity, Alhaja Olushola Oyelede, alias (Iya Luku), also corroborated Ikufisile, stating in clear terms that the former Commissioner for Works, Mr. Kunle Hamzat, is penciled down for the deputy governor being their son, citing the development as a welcome idea for Mushin people.

The Daily Times recalls that Hamzat stepped down for Sanwo-Olu earlier on Friday, citing Sanwo-Olu’s competence for the task at stake, being part of the Lagos project.

Factional chairman Oki warns Lagos APC against Osun experience Also on Monday, the factional chairman of the APC in Lagos State, Mr. Fouad Oki, condemned the alleged manipulation of the primaries by a section of the party, calling on its National Executive Committee to intervene in the matter before it is too late.

Briefing the media in Lagos, Oki, who faulted the membership cards and register that would be used for the primaries in the state, alleged that some members of the party would be disenfranchised if the primary was to go on the way things are.

He also faulted the purported presidential primaries that took place

in the state on Friday, wondering where the party got a figure of 1.9 million members that they said voted for the President in the election.

He said: “There was no way such a number of people would have voted in that primary election as they were busy with other levels of primaries.

“Majority of our members were disenfranchised in the election. Even when our party leaders postponed the governorship election in the state, there were elections in isolated places.

“We will like to know those who conducted the presidential primaries in the state and the register they used for that purpose.

“The membership card of the party was only distributed on Saturday and Sunday to select members of the party.

I cannot keep quiet because I was part of those who stayed back in Nigeria to fight the military tyranny then when some other people ran abroad for their dear lives.

“I demand to know those who conducted the presidential primaries.

The membership cards were given to local government chairmen to distribute instead of party chairmen in the council areas.

“The question now is: was Lagos State given membership cards by the national of the party since no state had been given cards in the last one month?”

Oki, who was the head of the Lagos State Safety Commission, added that his group was challenging the National Secretariat of the party to speak out if they had printed membership cards for Lagos State and if they ordered selective distribution of the cards.

He alleged that some set of people were planning to truncate the nation’s democracy, adding that if there was going to be party primaries, all members must participate.

The politician emphasised that it was important for the generality of Nigerians to know that the process of the primaries of the party was skewed against members contrary to all known ethics of democracy.

“If the National Chairman of the party and its National Working Committee refuse to carry us along in the primaries what happened in Osun

Continued on page 6

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Buhari raises the alarm over God didn’t make mistake in creating Nigeria –Buhari ‘misuse’ of Social Media Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has alerted Nigerians on the challenges and danger associated with the misuse of what he described as “today’s world of social media.’’

The president, who raised the alarm in his national broadcast to mark Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary in Abuja on Monday, frowned at the way and manner the social media was being misused to provoke passions and stir tensions.

He said it was an abuse of the new technologies.

According to President Buhari, all well-meaning citizens must learn how to use modern technologies for the general good of the nation.

“Now we have in our hands technology that is a powerful tool that we can and should use for knowledge and understanding.

“As with other countries, we must also learn how to manage those tendencies that, instead, look to abuse new technologies to provoke passions and stir tensions.

“Never before have we faced such a challenge.

We must all rise to the responsibility of shutting out those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today’s world of social media.

We need critical minds and independent thinking, to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts.

“Otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake.’’

On the forthcoming general election, President Buhari reiterated the determination of his administration to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2019.

According to him, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) will be `exactly independent’ and properly staffed and resourced.

“I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly INDEPENDENT and properly staffed and resourced.

“The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name,’’ he said.

On Nigerian youths, the president noted that they had been at the vanguard of the struggle for independence, saying that they fought in the war to keep the country united.

He added that the youths were the ones that kept alive the struggle for democracy

and human rights in the country at times when these were at risk, especially following the June 12 1993 election and the historic 2015 election process.

“Even today, our youths play a central role in Nigeria’s continuing progress and developments in all fields of our national endeavour –technology, agriculture, mining, engineering and especially the creative arts.

“Together we are building a more diverse, inclusive and self-reliant economy,’’ he further maintained.

The president revealed that in the past three years, his administration had introduced many policies and programmes targeted at youth development and youth empowerment.

“We support the ‘not too young to run’ legislation aimed at giving the youths greater say in our national politics and governance.

“The school feeding program in primary schools is aimed at encouraging enrolment and attendance.

“We are building on what we have already introduced to support schools and universities to which funds have recently been released for upgrade of facilities, training programs for our entrepreneurs, and rehabilitation schemes for victims of terrorism and human trafficking.’’

Mathew Dadiya, Abuja

President Muhammadu Buhari has said that God did not make a mistake when he created over 250 different ethnic groups, and decided to put them in a place called Nigeria.

Buhari said this on Monday when he received the General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The President said Nigerians must appreciate God for bringing everyone together.

He said, “We must appreciate God for bringing us together. He knows what he was doing. He didn’t make a mistake.’’

He described Nigeria as

“a great country’’ endowed with human and natural resources, noting that “We have challenges in trying to get people to understand us.”

The President further said, “With my experience as a governor, Minister of Petroleum, Head of State, Chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund, I thought I had seen it all, but Nigeria has a way of going at its own speed. My morale is raised by your visit. I very much appreciate it.”

The President recalled what he described as Pastor Kumuyi’s “intellectual achievements’’ as a scholar and university lecturer before going into full time ministry, adding that he was “excited a great deal’’ for the General Superintendent’s acceptance of government’s invitation to preach the sermon at the country’s 58th independence

anniversary.

In his remarks, Pastor Kumuyi, who leads one of the country’s largest Pentecostal churches, said it was an honour to be received by the President on a busy day as October 1.

He told the President that he appreciates the government.

Kumuyi said, “Please remain focused and courageous and do what is right. Not everyone will support you publicly, but we are praying for you so that your tenure will be one of progress and prosperity for the country.’’

The General Superintendent was accompanied by his wife, Esther, Pastor Samuel Afuwape, Pastor Chike Onwuasoanya and Pastor Seyin Malomo, the Chaplain of Aso Villa Chapel.

...Lagos in make or mar APC governorship primary Continued from page 5

State would be a child’s play.”

He warned that the leaders of the party in the state should not undermine the majority members of the party or circumvent the system, adding that the people of the state were watching and that they would make decisions during the general elections.

Oki further warned leaders of the party not to allow a few people determine and control the capacity of many

members, while stressing that such a situation caused the party to win the just concluded governorship election in Osun State by a stroke of luck.

The factional chairman opined that the members of the state House of Assembly who endorsed the candidature of Sanwo-Olu were coerced to do so by the state executive of the party, who he said has lost the moral right to conduct the primaries of the party.

“The National Chairman

of the party should send a neutral set of people to conduct the primaries from ward to local government to state. Up till this moment, we don’t know the centres of the primaries and these ought to be published by the party for everybody to see.

“We say no to having collation centres of the party at the local governments secretariats. Whoever should conduct the primaries of the party should be known ahead to the aspirants,” he said.

To end poverty in Nigeria, I will empower women, youths, says Atiku Tunde Opalana, Abuja Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said his administration if elected as president next year will attempt reviving the nation’s economy by empowering women and the youths which are the most vulnerable groups in the country.

The Adamawa born politician, who expressed concern on over 12 million Nigerians currently unemployed, said the best way to move a family out of poverty is to empower women while provision of functional education for the youths only can make them self- employed and depend less on government for means of livelihood.

Atiku while unveiling his economic agenda on Sunday night in Abuja during the PDP Presidential Aspirants Media Chat organised by the United Nigeria Group, said that at 12 million, Nigeria has the highest unemployment rate and lowest growth rate, making joblessness the greatest problem stunting the growth of the nation and that it requires a visionary government to surmount the challenge and

bring the economy back on the path of growth.

He said when the Buhari administration took over the economy was growing at GDP of 6% to 7% but it crashed and dragged the nation into recession, though it is coming out at about 1.6 % growth.

“So any country that its economic growth is below its population growth is in a danger that is the danger that is facing our country today. So anybody who can come and lift up our economy to a level where our GDP growth will surpass our population growth, I think is the leader we should at this point in time support and give the opportunity to take our country out of this crisis. And that is what I stand for”, he said.

To absorb about 12 million unemployed in the economy, he said there is need to bring investors into the country but added that there is the need to train them on how to be self- employ.

“What I have for the youths is job and education. Our education has witnessed serious set back, in the sense that we are producing graduates that are not employable in the labour market.

We should have entrepreneurship

as a fundamental issue in our syllabus. I have seen it work, in my university whatever course you are studying, you must also do entrepreneurship course. That is why graduates from my university are the biggest job creator, as soon as they come out they create jobs.

“Today, I see the government giving some people N10,000, how can someone set up a business with that? I have owned one of the most successful Microfinance banks in this country, am working with people from Bangaladash because they are the best when it comes to Microfinance system. We have moved about 45, 000 families out of poverty.

“And what is the best way to move a family out of poverty?

This is to empower the woman.

Because of this, I directed the bank to give 80% of their loan to women.

They have been implementing that policy and today we are one of the most successful microfinance banks in Nigeria, because women repay, take more, and look after their family. I am a product of a woman, because I lost my father at a very tender age and my mother was doing all kinds of business to look after me and I became what I am today. So honesty, the

best policy to move family out of poverty is to empower women.

If you do that you will see how fast you will get out of poverty, particularly now that Nigeria has been decimated as the capital of poverty in the world, we need to engage our women to turn it round for good”.

On why he wants to become President, he said the nation needs a leadership that has the experience, that has the capacity and that has the know-how.

“And our most challenging issue in the country today is the issue of unemployment and creation of jobs, unity in the country and states. I believe I am more suitable to handle all these. Because look at it, as a civil servant, I have worked 20 years in the federal bureaucracy. As a politician, I served successfully for 8 years as the Vice President and in that position, I chaired the economic team of that administration and I brought so many innovations to our administration that led to the creation of jobs worth of thousands, creation of wealth and prosperity and relative peace and stability.

“Again if you go back to my private sector experience, I have

been a farmer, I’m still a farmer and I’m still an investor. If you put all these experiences together, that gives me the advantage over some of my contemporaries. Not that they don’t have something to put on the table, each and every one of them have something to put on the table, but some can put more on the table than the others,”the former vice president added.

Atiku Abubakar

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

7 News

Missing Army General: Fear grips community Short News 8 Kwara PDP governorship aspirants over possible military action withdrawal from primary

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos The discovery of the car allegedly belonging to Major General Idris Alkali (rtd), who was declared missing since early September in a pond in Du, Jos South Local Government Area of Plateau State has sent shivers down the spines of residents.

According to a source, most residents were mulling mass relocation for fear of possible military action against them. It is said that the residents’ fear was hinged on past antecedents of the army when it invaded Odi

in Bayelsa State and Zaki-Biam in Benue State respectively over alleged attacks on soldiers.

Alkali’s car was found without his body, a development that has further thrown the Nigerian Army into confusion. The Black Toyota Corolla car driven by Alkali on the day he was declared missing was found in a pond in Du with shoes and clothes possibly belonging to him inside.

There are feelings in some quarters that Alkali may have been killed or taken into captivity by his assailants who later drove his car into a pond where it was recovered.

The search team had assured that the pond where the car was recovered would be completely drained since his body was not found in the car.

As residents continue to express fear over possible attack by the military, Special Task Force Commander in the State, Major General Augustine Agundu, has however assured residents of safety, saying they have nothing to fear.

General Alkali retired from service on August 7, 2018 and disappeared while on transit from Abuja to Bauchi through Jos, two weeks after retirement.

Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin No fewer than eight Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) aspirants have withdrawn from the gubernatorial primary of the party in Kwara state.

Those that have withdrawn from the race are Dr Ali Ahmad, Alh Saka Isau,SAN, Alh Ladi Hassan, Ibrahim Ajia, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, Hon. Zakari Mohammed and Hon. Ahman Pategi.

The contest is now a straight fight between a member of the House of Representatives, Hon Razak Atunwa from Kwara Central and Senator Sha’aba Lafiagi from Kwara north.

The aspirants announced their withdrawals from the race at the ongoing primary election holding at Banquet hall, Ilorin.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed who explained that the eight aspirants withdrew from the race because of the party’s interest thanked them for their act of magnanimity.

The governor also thanked the state’s political leader, Dr Bukola Saraki for his wise counseling and purposeful leadership which have kept members of the PDP united in the state.

The voting has commenced and delegates are conducting themselves in an orderly manner.

Emenike, Buhari emerge winners of Abia APC presidential, guber primaries Sunday Nwakanma, Umuahia The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia led by Emmanuel Ndukwe, on Monday announced the results of its Presidential and governorship primaries in the state.

Announcing the results, Chief Returning Officers, Chris Okpechi for the presidential and Prof. Engr Okezie Abarikwu for the presidential and governorship primaries respectively said the President Muhammadu Buhari swept the polls with 272, 259 as a sole candidate, while Chief Ikechi Emenike polled 274,133 votes to defeat six others.

The others were Chris Akomas, Friday Nwosu, Martins Azubuike, Uche Oga, Okey Emuche and Paul Ikonne.

Speaking after the voting, the returning officers disclosed that the primaries were through direct delegate voting, pointing out that the elections were free, fair and credible.

Earlier Sunday after monitoring the governorship election across the 174 wards in the state, Chief Ikechi Emenike assured that the Ndukweled APC in Abia is the authentic party in the state, stating that any other faction was operating illegally.

He assured that the court had stopped the Nwankpa-led faction form operating, noting that as at date, the faction was yet to vacate the court order on them, assuring that the Ndukwe-led had actually conducted the presidential and guber primaries in the 174 wards in the state.

Representative of the Wife of the Edo State Governor and Special Adviser to the Governor on Gender Issues, Ms. Efosa Uyigue (3rd from left); Edo State Focal Person, National Social Investment Programme, Miss Osayuwamen Aladeselu (3rd from right); with secondary school students, during a sensitisation programme on the negative effects of drug abuse, tagged #No.to.Codeine, in Benin City, Edo State capital.

Sokoto Dep Gov emerges APC governorship flag bearer The Deputy Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Ahmad Aliyu, has emerged flag-bearer of All Progressives Congress (APC) for the 2019 governorship election.

Announcing the results on Monday in Sokoto, the Chairman, APC Gubernatorial Primary Election in the state, Alhaji Sulaiman Abubakar, said the election was contested by four aspirants.

Abubakar said that a total of 3,606 votes were cast out of the 4,600 votes during the primary election.

He said that Aliyu scored 2,282 votes to beat his closest rival,

Alhaji Faruk Yabo, who scored 837 votes during the election.

Abubakar said that Alhaji Abubakar Gumbi, got 70 votes, while Sen. Abubakar Gada, had 20 votes.

The Chairman added that 397 votes were invalid.

In his acceptance speech, Aliyu thanked the delegates for electing him as the candidate for 2019 election.

He assured delegates that he would work to ensure unity among party members for the progress of APC. Aliyu also urged those who lost in the contest to support his candidacy in order to ensure

APC victory in the 2019 general elections.

Earlier, the state APC Chairman, Alhaji Isa Achida, called on all party members to always protect party interest above any candidate’s to ensure victory for the party.

“Our commitment today is to ensure a free, fair and credible primary election and such will remain because a as progressive party we always do for others to follow.

“As such we will continue to sustain such effort toward ensuring the success of APC and electoral process in the country,” Achida said.

Obaseki assures of sound environmental governance in Edo The Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has assured that the state’s new environmental policy will engender a regime of sound environmental governance that will deploy best practice in waste and water management.

Obaseki, who gave the assurance on the occasion of the celebration of World Habitat Day, observed on October 1, each year, said efforts at repositioning the state’s environment to better serve Edo people and residents have begun yielding positive results.

“The Edo State Ministry of Environment and Sustainability recently reviewed the activities of burrow pit and abattoir operators as well as those of sand miners across the state.

“We have undertaken an aerial survey of the state’s land assets and were shocked at the degree of abuse and exploitation of our forests and natural resources,” he said.

APC National Secretary now Yobe governorship candidate The National Secretary, All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Maimala Buni, has emerged the party’s governorship candidate in Yobe after defeating three others in the party’s primary in Damaturu.

Alhaji Umar Kareto, the Returning Officer of the election, announced the results on Monday.

Kareto said Buni polled 2,797 votes to defeat Rep. Sidi Karasuwa who scored 23 votes, Alhaji Umar Ali eight votes and Aji Kolo who netted four votes.

The election, which lasted for about 13 hours, was conducted peacefully with delegates from the 17 local government areas of the state.

The returning officer commended the governorship aspirants and their supporters for their cooperation during the primary and acceptance of the result.

Karasuwa, a serving member of the House of Representatives, conceded defeat and pledged to work for the success of the candidate and party in the 2019 general elections.

Similarly, Alhaji Umar Ali said the primary was a family affair and pledged to commit his political structure to ensure the victory of the party in the 2019 polls.

Opinion 8

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Nigeria@58: Nigeria’s survival tied to justice, righteousness

Samson Supo Ayokunle

To God be the glory, great things he has done, I congratulate all Nigerians on this occasion of our Independence Anniversary. I pray that things will go better as we move into another year in the mighty name of Jesus.

It is great to address the nation on the topic Nigeria survival is tied to Justice, Fairplay and Righteousness, and I take my text from Acts: 6 1-7 NIV (In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. 2So the Twelve gathered all the disciples together and said, “It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”

5This proposal pleased the whole group.

They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. 6They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them.

7So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.)

Nigerians have been facing hardships that we would never imagine a couple of decades ago that it could happen in Nigeria. Today in the whole of Africa, it appears there is no other country where the shedding of blood of innocent citizens is occurring almost daily than in our country.

The captives should not be in captivity, it is the responsibility of the government to rescue them either through proven intelligence gathering or other diplomatic measure to set the captive free. I am pleading on behalf of Nigerians in captivities of Boko Haram, that the Federal Government will rescue them. We cannot afford to waste the lives of others and end their dreams as it is currently happening in the country. The government holds the citizens more responsibility and ensure Nigerians are freed from those who have held them captive overtime.

We cannot say that we are celebrating Independence as a nation when that innocent schoolgirl, Leah Sharibu and over 100 Chibok schoolgirls are still in captivity because of their faith in Christ until the Federal Government has done everything to get them released from Islamic

fanatics who are holding them captives. We therefore urge the Federal Government to work harder and get them released before it will be too late.

We don’t only have the daily shedding of blood in our country, we also have kidnappers who take people into captivity and would only release them after payment of ransom. Some were not even lucky as they were killed despite the payment of ransoms! Some of our roads have become very dangerous to pass through as a result of the rampaging kidnappers on our highways.

Also, on the highways, we have the armed robbers terrorising commuters from time to time.

We thank the Police and other law enforcement agents for the little they are able to do. However, we are also challenging the Inspector General of Police to do more, especially to fish out the bad eggs among them )who are conniving with the armed groups to perpetuate their mayhem because they share from the ransom.

Beloved, the recent Offa robbery is another act of violence which the robbers are unleashing on innocent citizens in our country. Apart from lack of security in our Land, we also have economic challenges, many of our graduates from different tertiary institutions have no jobs to do, workers are not being paid salaries as and when due while many are not even paid salaries for months. We travel through roads that can be described today as death traps, un-motorable, we pass through because we do not have alternatives.

Electricity supply is erratic, undependable, up till now, despite the fact that we hear billions of Naira are being spent to bring about regular supply of electricity. Many adults like us who lived in this country in the better days of Nigeria continue to ask what really happened to bring us where we are today. Why are we in this embarrassing and unpleasant situation, the answer might be lack of justice, Lack of fair play and lack of righteousness in our land.

Therefore, I am employing the passage Act 6 to drive home this point and draw our attention to some of the things lacking in our nation. We must make a change in other to experience better days and Nigeria not be an abandoned project.

What is justice? The Webster dictionary describe justice as the maintenance of administration of what is just, especially by the partial adjustment of the conflicting claims or the assignment of merited rewards or punishment. Furthermore, we can define Justice as the quality of being just, the degree of been fair to all. In the story of murmuring about the early church in Act chapter 6 which almost scattered the young church, one of

the predisposing factors was injustice.

Injustice is the opposite of just, injustice is partiality, it is lack of fairness to all. In the problem of the early church which almost broke the church, those that were employed to distribute the welfare materials were not just in doing so, they paid attention to ethnicity than the needs of human being.

The Greek Christians in the church were neglected because they were considered inferior to the Jews. Most of the welfare material were administered to Jewish widows only than the other ethnic groups in the church. They failed to realise that the church is a multi ethnic church through the preaching of Peter. The nepotism that was apparent led to murmurings and the church was not at peace again because of this.

With this, God’s name was not glorified because God is a God of all nations and God of all tribes.

So for the people to distribute the materials, political appointments, ought not to be based on where you come from, your religion or political party you belong to. In a Multi-ethnic nation like Nigeria, there must not be favouritism, party affiliation, religious sentiment, or whatever. We must elicit the interest of Nigerians in promoting the growth of the country by participating in order to move forward.

The Constitution of Nigeria gives no room to one particular ethnic or religious group to dominate. The Constitution states that all appointments must be balanced, that is, all the divides that form the nation Nigeria must be taken into consideration so that all might have sense of belonging. Anything short of this might lead to agitation, discontentment, murmuring or oppression by a few which will not be good at all for the country.

However, this justice is not limited to government alone but equally in religious setting and private business establishment especially when facilities are jointly owned. Justice equally means bringing to book those who have flouted the law of the land by the government through the relevant security agencies that are employed and empowered to enforce the law. In situations where the herdsmen are killing innocent people with impunity without any arrest or any of them being prosecuted, it is totally unacceptable and will only heat up the polity and encourage the criminals to continue their act. Justice should be the bed rock of our society in the scheme of thing if we want the nation to survive, to stay together, and to grow in the right direction.

Secondly, Fair play has to do with recognition that the benefit I have, I should allow others to

have it. I should not deprive other of that same benefit. For example, in politics, politics and business life should not be about the winner takes it all but it should be live and let’s live. How can someone be a senator for eight years and after leaving, brings his son to join the parliament also?

Why will someone be a governor and leave the position to contest for senate while others are not allowed to contribute to the development of the nation in that direction? Others are oppressed because of the disadvantage that they have and we oppress them so that they cannot realise their God-given mandate. That is not Fairplay.

Recycling of all politicians who are showing sign of tiredness because of age is not fair to the nation and the youths who may be robbed of their opportunity to showcase their talents and contribute to the development of the Nation. Lack of fair play is greed and injustice and it will tear the nation apart if care is not taken. Religious and ethnic balancing should equally be considered for fair play and fairness to prevail.

Thirdly, Righteousness is important to move forward in this nation. The Bible says “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people (proverbs 14:34)”. One great cancer killing our nation Nigeria is lack of righteousness, which manifests in embezzlement and corruptions of all forms.

There is hardly any day on the pages of Newspapers without the issue of corruption. It’s either political class, public service, the Police, the military or the private sectors. It is difficult in Nigeria today for anyone to establish a business and make gain or profit on it because of the unfaithfulness of the employees who may run down the establishment if care is not taken.

We thank God that this government has identify unrighteousness or corruption as a major impediment to growth in Nigeria. It is as well making little headway in tackling it. However it must be a wholesome tackling, which must never have political undertone. There is no party or sector where there are no corrupt people but they must be brought to justice without fear or favour.

The early church quickly attended to the problem of injustice, lack of fairplay and unrighteousness which is corruption by choosing impeccable leader that brought peace in the church.

Nonetheless, I employ Nigerians, if we want to move forward, we need to know how to choose right. In the forthcoming election, Nigerians must be sensitive. 2019 election should not be about the party loyalty, but the integrity of the contestant.

Nigerians should restrain from vote buying.

At 58, our democracy must be sustained

Raymond Oise-Oghaede

As we celebrate our 58th independent anniversary this year, I am of the opinion that, it will be very crucial for us as citizens to look at where we are coming from; where we are; where we ought to be; and, where we are heading. As a matter of frankness, we will only be deceiving ourselves to say that things are moving on smoothly in the country today because we are still very far from where we ought to be.

Though they say `Rome was not built in a day`; the underlying fact remains that the Romans successfully built their city to be a positive reference point because of their resoluteness, patriotism, commitment and consistency. We cannot continue the way we are going and expect to build any meaningful legacies for the coming generations. Consequently, this review will delve briefly on the past to understanding the present and, making recommendations for the future. At this point, it is very important to mention that the pivotal factor to the development of any society is `good governance`. It is the all essential hinge upon which other factors revolve. Thus, we cannot talk of good governance without having to put a responsive and people oriented system in place. Though, it is not limited to a particular style of government; democracy has been generally accepted to be the most populous and people`s friendly form of government that encourages good governance. Little wonder why Nigerians fought tooth and nail since independence (1960) towards sustaining it despite intermittent military interventions. We will identify some factors bedeviling democracy in our country and the need to do away with them as antidotes to achieving good governance.

After the attainment of this Fourth Republic in 1999, one would have expected that our leaders and the citizenry will guide it jealously considering the huge problems that were encountered in the process; unfortunately, that is not the case. It is very disheartening that the country is still finding it difficult to stabilize talk-less of making any concrete efforts to building `its own Rome`; because the people have turned the democratic process to a game of sport without standardized ethical rules and

values. As a result, the expected good governance has eluded the people. Consequently, one of the cardinal objectives of democracy (which is the security of lives and properties of the citizenry) has become an illusion in some parts of the country. Just few days ago some lives and properties were wasted `as usual` in Rukubar area of Jos, Plateau State. It is incomprehensible that, in this 21st century where other countries are competing to undo one another in every area of robust achievements and advancements; ours is still at the level of fighting insecurity. It is either we are busy negotiating or even begging boko haram fighters to release our abducted school girls; or, debating on the true identities of the so called `herdsmen` that are maiming, killing and destroying lives and properties with impunity despite the relentless efforts of our gallant security personnel. Presently, the lives of the citizenry are not as secured as those of birds in a poultry farm. Unfortunately, instead coming together to join forces against these ills in our country; our leaders and members of the opposition are always trading blames and they are preoccupied with how they must win all elections in the country without minding the welfare and safety of the masses. This is a far cry from what is attainable in better organized systems where members of the ruling party and the opposition parties always rise above narrow partisan considerations for the national interests. Thus, the moment a government is formed; the legislatures (from different parties) always jettison parochial partisan considerations for the overall interests and good governance of the country and the citizenry in accordance to the laid down principles of the Rule of Law. In our own situation, we are still at the level of threatening to committing suicide instead of having members of a minority party heading the National Assembly.

Consequently, rather than ensuring the protection and sustenance of democracy (the surest avenue to achieving good governance); our politicians and the people are still finding it difficult to getting things right. In the immediate past, it was militarization of elections; and

today, electoral malpractices have taken more scaring dimensions. It is worrisome that after over 25 years, our leaders have not been able to organized an election that could be compared to the record breaking legacy of the Babangida`s administration. I know that a lot of people will raise eyebrows because of its eventual annulment; that cannot still take away its shine as the freest, fairest and most peaceful election that was conducted in this country. The issue of annulment was a product of an administration that ruled by decree and, there was little or nothing that could have been done constitutionally to overturn the decision.

This was due to the fact that the country`s constitution was suspended as at the time and as was the tradition under military rule. The recent declaration of `June 12` as `Democracy Day` is an attestation of a legacy that cannot be denied the IBB`s administration. The best thing for us to do is to be guided by the positives and the shortcomings. Be that as it may, it should be a thing of concern to all well meaning Nigerians that we have not been able to replicate this achievement for over 25 years and still counting. Therefore, it is not surprising that the recently concluded elections in Ekiti and Osun states have generated reservations from different quarters because they are alleged to be enmeshed in malpractices. In as much as I still consider those allegations as hearsays; my advice to the aggrieved political parties and candidates is to remain calm and law abiding.

Where there are strong and compelling evidence of wrong doings, go to the Electoral Tribunals/ Courts for redress; and, you should be rest assured that our judiciary remains the citadel of dispensing justice as appropriate. Therefore, I wish to say congratulations to those who abided by the rules in the conduct of the exercises; you have done very well and posterity will surely be fair to you. For those that did not play by the rules; be rest assured that the judgment day is near. Always remember that aside from the legal justice; there is also a retributive justice that will surely catch up with all your actions in due course. If you continue to say `It must be this`

or `it must be that`; it will surely get to a point where the `Giver of life` will say `this is how I want it to be` So, you should always be very careful and mindful of your words and actions.

Also of great concern and immense threat to democracy and good governance are such incidence as invasion of the hallowed chamber by `yet to be identified, prosecuted and convicted persons` to disrupt plenary session and remove the mace; the laying of sieges on the homes of principal officers of NASS as well as blockage of the entrance of NASS by security operatives; the pull-down syndrome and antics of the opposition and enemies of the government; the promotion of tribal and religious bigotry on all available platforms on social media; alleged bias and selected fight against corruption; and alleged intimidation of members of the opposition to mention but a few. These actions are anti progressive in all ramifications and they should never be condoned in our country.

Interestingly, a good number of our so called educated elites have remained mum without coming out to condemn all these acts which are capable of undermining our democratic process.

They are always shying away from saying it as it is. This fact was recently confirmed by Mr. President when he condemned such people for not saying anything when the previous administrations were mismanaging the affairs of the country. My advice is for them to always be bold enough to say something when they see something for the overall benefit of our country.

From the above, you will agree with me that this is the time for all of us to join hands together as committed, selfless and patriotic citizens regardless of political affiliations and standings towards ensuring that our democracy is guided jealously and sustained. This will surely guarantee an all inclusive and indivisible country that is devoid of mutual suspicions and other societal vices. As I have always stated, my writes up are informed by burning patriotic tendencies and hunger to contributing my quota to the development of our country. I always try earnestly to say it as it is; and, as it ought to be for the betterment of all.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

9

Editorial Commentary Economic situation of African Women and true picture

Times Guest Columnist Dr. Jumai Ahmadu

For too long, women and girls in Africa generally, have grappled with discriminations and inequality in the workplace which have not only negatively impacted them, their families and communities, but the larger society.

One thing is clear, in many communities and states, we have failed at all levels to enhance the economic wellbeing of women and girls, despite the fact that Nigeria, and indeed, Africa have come to recognize that achieving gender equality and enhancing the economic status of women is the surest strategy to the reduction of poverty and crime in any given society.

While most governments in Africa agree that the empowerment of women and girls is key to unlocking economic development, the fertility transition in Africa - an important factor in sustained economic growth, is much slower than in other regions of the world. This has not really served the purpose of enhancement of the economic growth of women.

Mostly, African leaders only pay lip service to this fight, while others have taken it higher than merely electioneering tools, but all the way to the introduction of programs, and to institutionalize empowerment of women. Access to family planning and maternal health services, as well as education for girls, typically results in improvements in economic opportunities for women, and lower infertility rates.

No doubt, some governments in Africa are seeking innovative ways to improve and accelerate the demographic transition. In Nigeria for example, the fertility rate is 5.5 percent, which translates to an average of six births per woman, and ranks the highest in the world. School for husband, an educational program delivered by trusted traditional community leaders, is flourishing across the country and highlights the benefits of family planning and reproductive health.

It is worthy to note that healthy, educated girls with equal access to opportunities can grow into strong, smart women who can take on leadership roles in their countries. Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf who leads the fight against Ebola in Liberia is an example. In the economic sense, there is a huge discrepancy in who controls the resources, has access to the economy, individual autonomy and the central voice in governments between the women and men. It is an established fact that African men greatly outnumber the women per involvement in the economic and political activities of their countries.

It has been painfully observed that when issues of national concerns are to be discussed, even issues that relate to the economic rights and enhancement of women at the highest echelon of governments, it is always defeated in the minds of everyone. This is basically due to the numerical advantages of men at that sphere of government. Women are then forced to accept results of men’s actions and usually, the interests of women are never protected.

Data available indicate that women make up more than half of our continent’s population, yet they have been marginalized frontally and this has greatly affected their economic wellbeing and stability, due to exclusions. Because women are continually marginalized and overlooked, it is therefore not shocking that they remain the poorest group. As mothers and caregivers, exclusion of women not only impact them and their families negatively, the economies of the excluding nations suffer greatly.

The womenfolk in Africa are the poorest in the world, if recent data and results of researches carried out by reputable global organizations are relied upon.

In Nigeria particularly, the male gender continually subjugates the female gender to the point of abuse and manipulation of the economic and political space.

Although we have some countries in Africa like Rwanda and Namibia making deliberate policies to give women equal opportunity in government positions, a lot still has to be done for countries like Nigeria and other African countries to attain the 30%

affirmative action, much less “equal representation.”

This ugly trend is detrimental to the growth and development of women, making it near impossible for the womenfolk to actualize their dream. Women, particularly those in rural areas, have no access to capital to invest in small scale business activities. To state the obvious, those in rural areas are peasant farmers whose cultural norms and traditional beliefs deliberately forbid them from being financially independent.

To address this issue which is Germaine to the economic development of women in sub Saharan Africa, gender equality is a fundamental development objective. It is essential to enable women to participate equally in the society and in the economy. The World Bank African region is dedicated to improving the lives of women and men, by supporting and partnering with governments towards this objective. Significant progress has been made in closing the gaps in Africa as at 2017. There were 91 girls to every 100 boys in primary schools, which is a huge improvement to what obtained in the past.

Women in sub Saharan Africa have one of the highest labor force participation rates in the world.

Despite this gains, African women continue to face some grim realities. Girls are still much less likely than boys to gain from secondary education. 1 in 31 African woman still face the chance of dying from complications of pregnancy or child birth, compared to 1 in 4,300 chance in the developed world.

Women and girls often have little influence over resources and norms; restricting what jobs and crops are considered appropriate for women and thus, limiting their earning potentials in Agriculture, enterprise or, the labor markets. Women’s voices and agency remain limited with gender-based violence reaching alarming rates. Poor access to legal rights, sexual and reproductive health services, freedom of movements, and political voice, pose additional constraints for women. Attitudes and customs as stated earlier perpetuate many of these inequalities across generations.

The World Bank 2018 development report on gender equality and development laid out most of the current information about effective and scalable solutions to these challenges. To address this, it is my candid opinion, based on informed research, that governments of African states should be committed to incorporating gender into its operational and analytical work, through a variety of approaches which I recommends below: • Sitting squarely at the intersection of policy and operations is the Gender Innovation Operational Lab (GIL), in close collaboration with project teams.

The GIL should design and rigorously evaluate new interventions to generate knowledge on which policies work or not, to close the gaps in earnings, productivity and agency. This will enable project team policy makers to advocate for better gender integration from position of evidence. The GIL should work in all the states and local councils of African states.

• Secondly, the Engender Impact Data Base should compile all gender base, and related impact evaluation issues, supported by their governments. The governments should, as a matter of priority, fund Gender Informed Projects; monitoring their results more closely, and making sure that their findings are taken into account and advice implemented. This will finally help in, 1.

Reducing excess female fertility. 2. Closing gaps in productivity and earnings. 3. Shrinking differences in voices in household and society. 4. Investing in women to break intergenerational gender inequality.

5. Create gender information as a one stop shop for this information to be acted upon by governments.

If this strategies are applied, the economic status of women in Africa could potentially, be enhanced.

Our POSITION

Democracy, 2019 polls and court orders

T

he warning by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Adamu Abdul-Kafarati, to judges, asking them to refrain from granting interim ex-parte orders on political matters, appears to be the crucial directive that will shape political events in due course as we approach the 2019 polls.

The CJ had recently disclosed at the commencement of 2018/2019 legal year that he had issued a directive to judges of the Federal High Court to stop granting interim ex-parte order in all political cases brought before their courts.

According to the CJ, the directive is part of efforts to ensure that the court is not used by politicians to scuttle the political process and disrupt the peace of the country.

He said: “In an attempt to forestall any hiccups and the blame on the court by the political gladiators, I have during this vacation issued a circular that interim orders ex-parte shall not be granted in political cases brought before the court. I believe that controversies especially in political cases can be reduced when the court takes a decision after hearing all the parties in the case.

“It is also extremely important that all political cases that may affect any of the parties which are still pending in any of our courts be concluded without further waste of time to afford all candidates the opportunity to pursue their political ambitions.”

Kafarati had also on Tuesday, September 18, 2018 reiterated the directive with a modification, saying that interim ex-parte order can only be granted on “very exceptional cases.”

The reasons adduced is that it is better to hear all sides of the matter before a decision is taken and to minimise controversy in the adjudication process that have potentials to scuttle the political process and disrupt the peace of the country.

We entirely agree with the numerous efforts being made by the judiciary to ensure sanity in the granting of interim ex-parte orders by trial Courts, essentially as the nomination by the political parties through primary election begin this month.

But we wish to advise that the judiciary must exercise caution to avoid promoting impunity and dictatorship among the political party leaders who in recent past have demonstrated unlawful tendencies by holding their primaries in violation of their own party guidelines just to ensure that only their anointed candidates get party nominations.

We recall that in 2014, the Federal High Court adopted similar measures following a circular issued by the then Chief Judge, Justice Ibrahim Auta, which scuttled the hearing of more than

12 suits filed against President Muhammadu Buhari over his WAEC certificate and all other suits filed that challenged the defections of five governors of the Peoples Political Party (PDP) and the then Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, to All Progressives Congress (APC).

Similar scenario is piling up before the Federal High Court with more than eight cases already pending on the defection of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, while several other suits have also been filed challenging the defections of three governors.

We are of the opinion that timely conclusion of political cases remain the panacea for stability and enthronement of elusive rule of law in our society.

A situation where 2015 pre election cases are still pending in our courts five months before the expiration of the tenure in contestation is to say the least repulsive to the noble idea of justice.

We wish to submit that cases arising from election disputes must not only be concluded at trial Court before the end of October as directed by CJ Kafarati, we strongly believe that it is possible to conclude all election cases even at the appellate courts timeously before those who win election take oath of office. We believe that this laudable development will restore public confidence in the judiciary.

S i g n at u r e Publisher

Folio Communications Plc

The opinions expressed in the articles published in this newspaper are solely those of the authors. Articles may be reproduced, provided that the original source is indicated.

News 10

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Killings: Military taskforce patrols Short News troubled zones in Plateau

Ayorinde SAN emerges as Oyo SDP governorship candidate Peter Fowoyo

Kingsley Chukwuka, Jos Officers of the Special Task Force (STF) are now patrolling troubled zones on Plateau State, following the attack of gunmen who ambushed and killed 15 persons within the State capital in Jos North Local Government Area.

The incident however led to a reprisal attack by the locals leading to counter attack and spreading through the city center all through till Sunday afternoon.

Reacting to the unfortunate mayhem, the STF Commander, Major General Augustine Chris Agundu, moved swiftly and mobilised more personnel to the affected troubled zones.

Agundu who was on ground at the various flash point troubled zones, warned that those perpetrating the ungodly act must be fished out and made to face the full wrath of the law.

Earlier on Sunday evening, Gen. Agundu went live on a local radio station, warning citizens who resides in the troubled area to stay in doors to

avoid falling victim of the assailants, assuring residents that the task-force is mobilising to quell the unrest.

Our correspondent reports that most flash points on Monday were dominated by troops of the task-force, also known as Operation Safe Haven (OPSH) while normalcy has been restored as at the time of filing this report.

Although the State government has imposed a dusk to dawn curfew in the affected communities, the decision according to government was to avert further breakdown of law and order.

Renowned legal practitioner, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN, has emerged as the Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate in Oyo State at the primaries held on Monday.

Ayorinde emerged by affirmation and a “YES” vote after he remained the sole aspirant as other likely aspirants had withdrawn to support his candidature .

After the event, the Chairman of SDP in Oyo State, Alhaji Kola Balogun, described Ayorinde’s emergence as a positive development for the party in Oyo State and for the emergence of Good Governance and Responsible Government in Oyo State.

He noted that it is very clear that the standard that the SDP flag bearer will be bringing to the Governance cannot be matched by any other candidate from any other party.

He said further that Ayorinde will be coming with not only professional excellence but also integrity of purpose and unblemished records in public service .

Aisha Buhari seeks sustainable peace, unity for a Nigeria Wife of the President, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has prayed for sustainable peace and unity of Nigeria, as Nigerians celebrate 58 years of independence.

Mrs Buhari offered the prayer on her tweeter handle on Monday in Abuja.

The president’s wife also called on Nigerians to remain steadfast in an effort to achieve the dreams of Nigeria’s founding fathers.

She also prayed that the successes achieved by the founding fathers of Nigeria would be sustained.

“As we celebrate 58 years of nationhood, I pray that the successes we have achieved will be sustained.

“I also pray that the dreams of our founding fathers in terms of unity, peace and development will come true, ” Mrs Buhari tweeted.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that Nigeria attained political Independence from British Colonial Masters on Oct. 1, 1960.

NAN also recalled that since then, Oct. 1 had been set aside to celebrate Nigeria’s Independence.

Ex- FCT Minister Bala Mohammed emerges Bauchi PDP governorship candidate

Samuel Luka, Bauchi

Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike casting his vote at the just concluded PDP governorship primaries in Port Harcourt ... on Sunday

Ribadu now to participate in rescheduled Adamawa APC governorship primaries Former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam nuhu Ribadu has indicated interest to participate in the rescheduled Adamawa APC governorship primaries election, hours after he withdrew from the race.

Alhaji Salihu Bawuro, the Director-General, Ribadu campaign organisation, made the announcement at a news conference in Yola on Monday.

The state APC governorship primary is rescheduled for Thursday.

Rinadu withdrew from the primary election on Sunday evening as the exercise was about to start but the exercise was cancelled and rescheduled.

Bawuro said the Ribadu campaign organisation was satisfied with the decision taken by the party’s national headquarters on the cancelation and rescheduling of the governorship primaries in the state.

“Now that the national headquarters had intervened to correct the abnormalities surrounding the Sunday’s unsuccessful primaries, Malam Nuhu Ribadu will be in full contest now that it is the direct primaries,’’ Bawuro said.

He said that the organisation was well prepared to participate in the election, adding that it would do everything possible to ensure free and fair primaries.

Former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) , Senator Bala Mohammed, has emerged as the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the 2019 general election.

Our Correspondent reports that the election was contested by two other aspirants that included Senators Abdul Ningi and Adamu Ibrahim Gumba The Chairman , PDP Electoral Panel of the primaries in Bauchi, Chief Dan Orbih, said that Mohammed scored 1,335 votes to emerge winner, Ningi got 802 votes, while Gumba had 15 votes.

Orbih who noted that only 32 invalid votes was recorded during the election, added that the election was free, fair, peaceful and conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution.

Orbih while urging PDP members to remain loyal to the party and also work hard to reclaim Bauchi State , commended the delegates for their resilience and the maturity displayed before, during after the exercise.

Sule clinches Nasarawa APC governorship ticket Augustine Kuza, Lafia Engr Abdulahi Sule has emerged victorious at the Nasarawa State APC governorship primary election as he scored 926 votes out of 2341 delegates in the state.

Sule’s emergence came after polling 926 votes ahead of 10 other rivals who contested with him at the exercise held at Lafia Square.

The returning officer, Arch Ismaila Mohammed, while declaring the results, said out of the 2,341 total delegates, 2,337 persons were accredited and voted respectively.

He said, “Having scored the highest number of votes cast, I Hon. Abdulahi Adamu on behalf of Arch Ismaila Mohammed, who is the returning officer of the governorship primary held in Nasarawa, declare Engr.

Abdulahi Audu Sule as winner in the contest”.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Guber primaries: Nsima Ekere emerges APC flagbearer in A’Ibom Isaac Job, Uyo The managing Director of Niger Delta Development Commission Obong Nsima Ekere has emerged the standard bearer of the All Progreesive Congress party in Akwa Ibom following yesterday conduct of gubernatorial primary in preparation for 2019 general election.

Ekere poll a total of 160,468 votes to defeat three opponents including the former minister of Federa l capital territory John James Akpanudoedehe who scored 2015 votes.

The Chairman of APC Gubernatorial Election Committee Mr Yaman Mommoh who announced

the result in Uyo yesterday disclosed that results of Uyo local government was cancelled due reported cases of snatching of election materials by thugs and other forms electoral malpractices.

Mommoh further said ‘’we received two petitions from different persons who reported that there was no election in uyo council area because materials were snatched and police vehicle damaged’’ He said the petition was immediately forwarded to Nomination Appeal Panel of the party and result of the area was cancelled.

Mommoh also told correspondents in Uyo that another petition was received from one Okokon okon who complained that result declared

in wards were not the same with number of materials sent to the area He said any result not in conformity with the party guidelines is declared null and void therefore all the votes from Uyo council area were cancelled.

He therefore announced authentic result of all the candidates in the presence of thr Akwa Ibom state resident electoral commissioner Mr.Mike Igini.

Reacting to the result Obong Nsima Ekere said the victory was not strange but a product of hard work as his campaign team criss-cross all the nooks and crannies of Akwa Ibom to mobilized voters He dedicated the victory to 329 wards in the state in preparation for 2019 general election.

11 News

Short News Independence: Gov Ahmed preaches unity among Nigerians

By Kehinde Akinpelu, Ilorin Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed has called on Nigerians to continue to promote bidding factors that would sincerely sustain the hard fought and won freedom by the foremost nationalists whose labour must never be in vain.

Governor Ahmed, in a statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba on the occasion of 58th independence anniversary celebration, congratulated all patriotic citizens of Nigeria for the journey into nationhood.

According to the governor, “it is therefore incumbent on us all to jealously guard our freedom and do nothing that could truncate the hard earned democracy”.

Governor Ahmed reassured all patriotic citizens of the country that the administration would remain focused in the pursuit of its programme to bring back the lost glory of this great nation in the shortest possible time.

Governor Ahmed promised all Nigerians that the Government would leave no stone unturned to bring smiles to the faces of the entire citizenry, saying that the government would explore those factors that bind the country together as an indivisible entity.

The governor urged Nigerians to cultivate a sustainable habit of brotherhood, eschew ethnic chauvinism, religious bigotry, political discordancy and sectional interest that has the tendency not only to tear the country apart but impede the pace of growth, development and progress.

“We shall continually engage with vigour and dogged commitment, programmes of economic diversification through accelerated development of critical infrastructures, qualitative education, indigenous industrial development and agriculture”, Dr Ahmed said.

Gov. Ahmed pleaded for continued support, understanding and above all, prayers for the leadership and Government of this great nation for enablement to bring to fruition the vision for a better and prosperous Nigeria.

NANS threatens mass action over minimum wage

By Titus Akhigbe, Benin

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode (4th left); Chairman, APC National Working Committee (NWC) Panel for the Primary Election in Lagos, Mr. Clement Ebri (3rd left); members, Amb. Jerry Ugokwe (2nd left); Senator Clever Ikisikpo (left); Secretary of the Panel, Alhaji Ahmed Mahmud Gumel (4th right); APC Lagos Chairman, Alhaji Tunde Balogun (3rd right), other members, Mr. Nze Chidi Duru (2nd right) and Chief Clever Egbeji (right) during a visit to the Ambose by the NWC Panel ahead of the party’s primary election, at Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja... on Monday.

Obetta emerges as Reps consensus candidate

By Moses Oyediran, Enugu

A House of Representative aspirant for Nsukka /Igboeze-South Federal constituency, Mr. Chidi Obetta, has emerged as the consensus candidate from among five aspirants contesting the position from Nsukka Local Government Area.

The arrangement which was brokered by Nsukka Traditional Ruler’s Council according to a document seen by our correspondent was a directive from Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state to ensure that the monarchs oversee to the emergence of an aspirant from the area.

The consensus deal which was struck under the banner of “Undertaking and Consent for a Consensus Candidate for House of Representatives for Nsukka and Igboeze South Constituency saw Obetta towering above Mr. Peter Odo, Mr. Charles Ugwu, Mr. Emeka Asogwa and Mr. Chinedu Asogwa.

The chairman Nsukka Local Government Traditional Rulers Council Igwe Aloy Ezeugwu, Secretary Igwe Cletus Okwor and Igwe Spencer Ugwuoke patron of Nsukka Traditional Rulers Council in a statement

issued which they all signed said Obetta was selected after considering the zoning system in Nsukka LGA, acceptability, provision of employment for Nsukka people and people oriented aspirant.

“Sequel to the mandate/Power of attorney executed by the aspirants in favour of the traditional ruler’s council, we in nominating a candidate considered the following: “Zoning system: Late Hon. Alex Ike Eze from Nsukka West Constituency represented the federal constituency from 1999-2003(4years), Hon. Charles Ugwu from Nsukka East State Constituency represented the federal constituency from 2003-2007 (4 years).

“From the above it is clear that Nsukka West state constituency should produce the next House of Representative member in 2019.

Therefore, the zoning has to start afresh from Nsukka West state constituency.

“We considered popularity and acceptability by the constituent.

“Provision of development/employment for Nsukka youths.

“A candidate that is people oriented.

“The traditional ruler’s council in considering the aforementioned criteria hereby nominates Chief Mark Chidi Obetta

as our candidate amongst the aspirants,“the statement read.

Earlier in an interview with newsmen the chairman, Igwe Ezeugwu said they nominated a consensus candidate after the aspirants couldn’t agree from amongst themselves.

“When they could not choose within themselves, we asked the aspirants to give us a mandate/ power of attorney to nominate a consensus candidate.

“The aspirants gave us the power and pledged to support whoever we selected as contained in the agreement they wrote and signed,” he said.

Ezeugwu said part of the decision of traditional rulers was that the person that emerged as consensus aspirant should carry others along if elected in 2018 “The Nsukka traditional ruler council has forwarded Obetta’s name to the governor who gave us the assignment to help produce a consensus candidate from Nsukka LGA. “It’s our hope that aspirants will see our decision as one that will help move the area forward as well as enable Nsukka LGA speak with one voice during the party primary for Nsukka /Igboeze-South Federal constituency,” he said.

The National Association of Nigerian students (NANS) has threatened mass action in solidarity with organized labour if the federal government fails to approve a new minimum wage for Nigerian workers.

Director of crises, peace and conflict resolution, NANS, Comrade Igbehi Joachim Efe said this in a statement to mark 54th Independence anniversary of Nigeria.

Igbehi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Benin City, tasked the federal government to increase budgetary allocation to the education sector, adding that the development of any nation is tied to the quality of education.

According to him, “we commend the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for suspending their one week strike for the interest of the people and call on the federal government to resolve promptly with the leadership of NLC as Nigerian students will not hesitate to mobilize for a serious demonstration in solidarity with the NLC should government treat their agitation with laxity”.

He called on the federal government to take the funding of Maritime University, Okerenkoko, College of of Construction Technology, Uromi in Edo State and other specialized tertiary institutions seriously.

The statement tasked authorities concern to address extra judicial killings in some parts of the Country and advised Nigerian students to shun electoral violence ahead of the general elections in 2019.

Igbehi, commended the organized labour for suspending it’s warning strike with a charge on the federal government not to treat the ongoing negotiation for a new minimum wage with laxity.

Guber primaries: Jones Erue led Delta APC declares Great Ogboru winner Nosa Akenzua, Asaba Great Ovedje Ogboru on Monday in Asaba emerged winner of the Governorship primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) conducted at the premises of the federal College of Education.

In the results announced by the returning Officer, Lawrence Onoja, Great Ogboru scored 3,292 to emerged the Governorship Candidate of the party.

Though the faction of the party led Cyril Ogodo on Sunday announced Prof Pat Utomi as winner of the Delta APC Governorship primaries, but Lawrence Onoja said the election conducted by the faction was entirely a ruse as Ogodo and His group were expelled from the party, and a result cannot conduct any election.

Jubilations however greeted the winning and victory of Great Ogboru as his supporters rolled out drums for celebration amidst protest by some group of people believed to be supporters of Victor Ochei and Cairo Ojuogbo.

The results as announced by Lawrence Onoja are as follows: Victor Ochei 160, Cairo Ojuogbo 12, and Great Ogboru 3,292 votes.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Police disrupt Kwankwasiya, PDP Short News Ex-CBN Dep Gov Adelabu picks Oyo primary election in Kano Yakubu Salisu, Kano Police in Kano, on Monday, prevented Kwankwasiyya-led faction of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding a parallel primary election.

The Kwankwasiyya supporters converged at Lugard House, secretariat of the movement, for election but were denied access into the building by armed men of the Nigeria Police Force.

Police barricaded the two entries into the Lugard residence with Hilux vans while seven other police vans were stationed around Marhaba centre, a venue the group intended to use as an alternative.

The State Chairman, Senator Mas’ud El-Jibril Doguwa, said unless the party’s national headquarters gives new directives, there would be no primary election in Kano State.

According to him, those trying to hold the primary, are violating laid down rules and procedures of the party for conducting legal primary.

He said that before a primary election is conducted in a state, a committee must be set up and the committee must meet with all aspirants and inform them the modalities it adopts.

He, however, lamented that such committee was never formed and there was no meeting between those vying for political offices and members of the committee.

He also noted that the committee when constituted, is saddled with the responsibility of informing the DSS, Police, INEC and the state party chairman about arrangements made so far for the primary election, but no such move has been made.

Reacting to the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Magaji Musa Majia, said the police were only complying with a court order that stopped the PDP from conducting primaries and any other political activities in the state.

He warned those trying to cause political disturbances in the state through such move to refrain from doing so as the police are ready and would exercise its judicial powers in ensuring law and order in the state.

APC guber ticket

Mr Adebayo Adelabu, a former CBN deputy governor and governorship aspirant has emerged the gubernatorial candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.

Mr Demola Seriki, the Chairman of the Congress Committee, declared Adelabu as the party’s flag bearer after a primary election on Monday morning at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex in Ibadan.

Adelabu was announced the winner having polled 4,889 votes to defeat Alao-Akala and Adeduntan, who polled 65 and seven votes, respectively.

Seriki said that 205 void votes were recorded out of the 5,203 accredited delegates for the exercise which ended lasted till the early hours of Monday.

He commended the aspirants and delegates for their orderliness, saying the process is transparent, free and fair.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the national secretariat of the party had earlier cleared seven aspirants from the state to participate in the governorship primaries.

The seven aspirants were Adelabu, Alao-Akala, Adeduntan, Dr Olusola Ayandele, Mr Joseph Tegbe, Dr Owolabi Babalola and Chief Niyi Akintola.

But four of the aspirants, namely Ayandele, Tegbe, Babalola and Akintola announced their withdrawal from the race at the venue of the primaries.

The duo of Alao-Akala and Adeduntan were absent at the primaries and had on Saturday through different statements announced their decision to stay away from the primaries.

In his acceptance speech, Adelabu thanked Gov. Abiola Ajimobi and party members for their support, pledging not to disappoint them.

He stated that the governor has raised the bar of governance in the state with several legacies, promising to continue with the template.

The governorship candidate said that there was no winner and loser in the contest, saying they will all work together to make the state greater.

75- year-old Useni emerges Plateau PDP governorship candidate Senator Jeremiah Useni, 75 years old, has emerged the governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Plateau in the 2019 general elections.

Useni polled 1018 votes to defeat 12 other candidates at the party’s primaries. His closest rival Johnbull Shekarau got 340 votes.

In all, 2,097 delegates from the seventeen local government areas voted at the primaries.

Useni a serving senator representing Plateau south senatorial zone in the Senate was once the minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and a former minister of transport. He was also between 1984 and 1985, the military governor of the old Bendel state , now made up of Edo and Delta state.

He was also a very close ally of former military head of state, General Sani Abacha.

He was born 16 February 1943 in Langtang and joined the army after his early education. He rose to the post of Lt. General before retiring in 1999.

Prior to the commencement of voting, Senator Victor Lar, on behalf of the aspirants promised promised to support whoever emerges as the winner in Plateau state.

Senator Useni will face incumbent governor Simon Lalong of the All Progressives Congress,APC, who also bagged the second term ticket of his party, unopposed on Sunday..

Other parties will also sooner announce their candidates.

L-R: Leader of the Interfaith Dialogue Forum for Peace (IDFP) advocacy team to Plateau state, Amir Mohammed Jameel Mohammed, President of the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Dr. Mabel Sowoolu, and Chairman, North-Central of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev Israel Akanji, during a town hall meeting organised by the IDFP in Jos... on Monday.

Buhari condemns Plateau violence, calls for peace Mathew Dadiya, Abuja President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest violence in Jos, Plateau state which led to the imposition of a curfew in the state capital.

In his reaction to the flare up, Buhari said, “I am deeply worried about the seeming indifference to the sanctity of life by criminals whose hearts are hardened by evil.”

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Garba Shehu. on Monday, stated, Buhari recalled that through the last three and a half years of the present

administration in the state, the government had worked very hard with various communities and clearly demonstrated that a lasting peace can be achieved.

“I know it is not an easy thing. It is a very difficult thing.

But the resultant peace achieved by the people of Plateau state should not be squandered.

Every citizen deserves stability and development. Peace has no alternative. It is my appeal to all the communities in the state capital, and the entire state as a whole to embrace peace.

Where there are differences, dialogue should be used to bring about understanding. There is also the due process of the law.

Differences cannot be resolved by abuses or by bullets.”

The President once again lamented that some politicians are promoting ethnic and religious prejudices for cheap popularity, despite the knowledge that such incitement could play into the hands of hate mongers.

He said his administration would continue to engage with stakeholders to address the root causes of this repeated violence in Plateau State and other parts of the country.

He however warned that no responsible government would allow anarchy to replace law and order.

Sen. Lado emerges PDP guber flag bearer in Katsina Senator Lado Danmarke has won the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gubernatorial primary election in Katsina State.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election was contested by five other aspirants that included Alhaji Ahmad Yar’adua and former state deputy governor, Alhaji Abdullahi Faskari.

Others were the former PDP gubernatorial candidate in 2015, Alhaji Musa Nashuni, Alhaji Umar Tata and Alhaji Sada Ilu. The chairman, PDP gubernatorial primary election, Sen. Bala Adamu, said that one of the aspirants, Alhaji Kabir Kofa withdrew from the race.

He said that Danmarke scored 3,385 votes to emerge winner, Yar’adua got 243 votes, while Faskari and Nashuni had only one vote each.

The chairman noted that Ilu and Tata had no vote, while there are 28 invalid votes during the election.

He said that the election was free, fair, peaceful and conducted in accordance with the party’s guidelines

NAF destroys Boko Haram meeting venue in Borno The Nigerian Air Force has disclosed that its Air Task Force (ATF) of Operation Lafiya Dole has destroyed a Boko Haram Terrorist (BHT) meeting venue at Jabullam in Northern Borno.

Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF Director of Public Relations and Information, disclosed this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.

He explained that the attack was carried out following credible human intelligence reports indicating that some buildings within the settlement were being used for meetings attended by BHT leaders. ” Accordingly, following confirmatory Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions which identified the target building and surrounding structures, ” The ATF detailed a Nigerian Air Force (NAF) Alpha Jet aircraft, which attacked the location and recorded direct hits on the target leading to the obliteration of the building and neutralization of the BHT occupants,” he said.

The Law Times

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

The task before judiciary In this write up, Andrew Orolua examines the task before the judiciary as the third arm of government begins 2018/2019 New Legal Year.

The Judiciary is the third arm of the government. The Executive and Legislature are the other arms of government.

The primary function of the Judiciary is to interpret laws made by the legislature and to adjudicate on all matters, cases brought before the courts by litigants, including the actions of the Executive arising from the implementation of the laws.

Yearly, the Courts hold special session and ceremony tagged New Legal Year that offered the heads of courts, the Attorney Generals, head of inner bar and Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) and indeed court users a unique opportunity to reflect and examine the activities of the Court, its judges, lawyers as well as to appraise its performance of the previous legal year. Most importantly, to reflect on the public perception of the entire judiciary.

Last Monday, the Supreme Court held an elaborate ceremony to mark the opening of its 2018/2019 New Legal Year, thus it provided a forum for the appraiser of activities of the third arm of government.

So, it was not strange that the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Walter Onnoghen let the cat out of the bag when spoke about some dubious characters in the legal profession. Thirty new Senior Advocates of Nigeria were inaugurated at the occasion instead of 31 awardees that were successful at the screening exercise. One of the nominees who scaled the rigorous nomination processes was dropped by virtue of Section 5(1) of the Legal Practitioners Act, CAP L11,Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 as amended, having been found to have violated the rule. The Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee at an emergency reversed its decision to honour him along with others . The committee also barred the Legal Practitioner from applying for the rank of SAN for the next five (5) years or five applications beginning from 2019.

Some desperate lawyers also

Onnoghen

met their waterloo and were handed over to the police for investigation and prosecution for forging Court judgments.

“I have to point out the fact that in the just concluded exercise, some applicants were found to have engaged in dishonourable conduct such as forgery of judgment, resulting in their being reported to the police for investigation and possible prosecution,” the CJN said.

“We have to know that if one is not for any reason qualified to wear silk as a judicial officer, he cannot wear it as a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, he added.

He commended the thorough job done by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee which discovered the dishonourable conduct during the exercise.

The judiciary must as a matter of necessity reinforce its disciplinary committees. It

is not enough to commend the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, it should be clothed with additional powers to fetch out several others whose activities continues to rubbish the legal profession .

A major reason why the disciplinary committees must be up and doing and go the extra miles is that some desperate legal practitioners had long resorted to forging sensitive documents including Court judgments. If these illegal activities are not curb and perpetrators brought to book, soon, the little public confidence in the system would be completely lost.

Closely, related to the issue of public confidence on judiciary is the slow speedy with which cases before our courts are resolved. Dispute that last ten years before is finally resolved and in instances when litigants went on appeal up to Supreme

Court it drags for additional years is not healthy to say the least for commerce.

The judiciary must seek a faster approach to dispensation of justice because case delay in itself is an injustice. How would one rationalize the fact that some 2015 pre- election cases are still pending in our trial courts when the subject matter -tenure in contention would run out in May next year.

We entirely agreed with the CJN when he stated “that much work still needs to be done in order to improve our administration of justice, particularly as regards stricter timelines, records management, enhancing I.T presence,the independence of the judiciary and strengthening judicial standards and ethics.”

Equally, requiring an immediate attention are the

high profiled corruption cases.

A good number of these set of cases are bugged down at trial courts, particularly at the Federal High Courts and they have refused to progress as far as the public would preferred.

Justice Suleiman Galadima JSC, (rtd), led anti- corruption cases monitoring committee at the end of the last legal year identified a total of 1,499 corruption cases that required speedy trials.

Out of this number, a total of 345 judgments were delivered, 14 cases reserved for judgment and 12 cases struck out during the year. Thus, leaving 1,139 of such cases pending in various courts. The public would like to see majority of these corruption cases concluded. Though, the decision of High Court of the Federal Capital Territory which sentenced former Governors of Taraba State Jolly Nyame and his Plateau State counterparts, Senator Joshua Dariye to 14 years imprisonments on corruption charges have been appealed against, such judgments passes real messages of the commitment of our judges that they could take the bull by the horn in the ongoing fight against corruption.

Even as these issues beg for attention, the 2019 general elections is bound to present it own unique problems judging from high scheming and jostling for elective positions among the political class.

Already, about 20 cases have been lodged at the Federal High Court Abuja challenging the decamping of Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki from the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Thousands of cases are also likely to flood the courts this month from contentious political parties primaries.

What is required to surmount the challenges is for judicial officers to demonstrate more commitment and hard work in the course of this New Legal Year so that we can have an improved justice delivery system.

BUSINESS TIMESg Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

14

Aviation sector records zero accidents, 16,880 delayed domestic flights in 6 months -Report Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

L-R: Founder/President of Guardian of The Nation International (GOTNI), Linus Okorie; Executive Chairman/Founder, Phillips Consulting Limited, Folusho O, Philliphs and Managing Director/CEO, Heritage Bank Plc, Ifie Sekibo, at the Heritage Bank Premiere of The Next Titan Nigeria, Season 5 held at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos.

NNPC’s trade surplus hits N18.12bn in May Idu Jude, Abuja The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has declared trade surplus of N18.12 billion in May, higher than N17.16 billion in April 2018.

The Corporation disclosed in a statement signed by its Spokesman, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu on Monday.

The Corporation stated that a detail of the transactions was published in the NNPC’s May 2018 edition of the Monthly Financial and Operations Reports.

He noted that the report indicated that the additional monthly trade surplus of N0.96bn was mainly due to the increased performance of some of the corporation’s subsidiaries.

He named the subsidiaries to include the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company

(NPDC), Petroleum Products Marketing Company (PPMC), Nigerian Pipelines and Storage Company (NPSC) and Marine Logistics.

“Within the period, the NNPC Group performance was mainly impacted by NPDC’s performance which recorded a favorable variance of N18 billion due to an increase in revenue with a parallel decrease in expenses.

“This resulted in an N20.93billion net increase in the upstream gas and power surplus,’’ he said He added that the report indicated that the increase in performance was bolstered by relatively high production volumes of 1.97 million barrels per day in April, which was sold in May, thereby reducing cost per unit.

Under the national crude oil and natural gas production, lifting and utilisation segment, Ughamdu said the report noted that 58.96 million barrels of crude oil and condensate were produced in April.

This, he said, represented an average daily production of 1.97 million barrels.

A breakdown of the production figure indicated that Joint Ventures (JV) and Production Sharing Contracts (PSC) contributed about 32.82 per cent and 41.77 per cent, while Alternative Financing (AF), NPDC and Independent producers accounted for 14.68 per cent, 7.65 per cent and 3.08 per cent.

Ughamdu noted that the report also indicated that the NPDC cumulative production from all fields within the period amounted to 47,759,229 barrels of

crude oil which translated to an average daily production of 120, 909 barrels per day.

On national gas production, the report stated highlighted that 231.59 Billion Cubic feet (BCF) of natural gas was produced in May, translating to an average daily production of 7,785.01 Million Standard Cubic Feet per day (MMSCF/D).

“In the downstream sub-sector, NNPC continued to ensure increased petrol supply and effective distribution across the country.

“In May, 1.19 billion liters of petrol was supplied by NNPC, translating to 40.59mn Liters/day to sustain seamless distribution of petroleum products which resulted to zero fuel queue across the nation”, he said.

CBN predicts increase in credit to corporate sector in Q4 Motolani Oseni Following an increase in credit to the corporate sector in the third quarter of 2018, a survey by Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has predicted further increase in the fourth quarter of this year.

The Credit Conditions Survey Report by the apex regulating body for the third quarter of 2018 attributed that increase to by changing sector-specific risks, favourable economic conditions, improved liquidity conditions, market share objectives and changing appetite for risk.

According to the CBN report that was released during the weekend, lenders reported that the prevailing commercial property prices negatively influenced

credit availability of the commercial real estate sector in the current quarter.

The report stated that lenders expect the prevailing commercial property prices to positively influence secured lending to Public Non-Financial Corporations (PNFCs) in the current quarter.

The report stated that the availability of credit increased for all business sizes in third quarter of 2018, stressing that lenders are expecting the same trend in the last quarter of 2018.

According to the report, spreads between bank rates and Monetary Policy Rate (MPR) on approved new loan applications for all business sizes narrowed in third quarter 2018, but were expected to widen for all business sizes in fourth quarter 2018.

The survey by CBN added: “The

availability of unsecured credit provided to households fell in the current quarter but was expected to rise in the next quarter.

Lenders reported market share objectives and improved economic outlook as the major factors that contributed to the increase in third quarter 2018.

“Despite lenders’ resolve to tighten the credit scoring criteria for total unsecured loan applications in the review quarter, the proportion of approved total loan applications for households increased.

“Lenders expect to leave unchanged the credit scoring criteria in the next quarter but anticipate that the total loans applications to be approved in fourth 2018 will increase.

“The proportion of approved credit card loans increased in third quarter 2018 due to lenders’ stance on the credit scoring

criteria for granting credit card loans.

Similarly, the proportion of approved overdraft/personal loans applications increased.

“Lenders reported that spreads on credit card lending remained unchanged in Q3 2018 and were expected to remain unchanged in the next quarter. Spreads on unsecured approved overdrafts/personal loans applications remained unchanged in the current quarter but were expected to widen in the next quarter.

“Overall spreads on unsecured lending narrowed in the current quarter but was expected to remain unchanged in the next quarter. The limit on unsecured credit cards on approved new loan applications remained unchanged in the third quarter 2018 and was expected to be the same in the next quarter.

A report by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) has revealed that Nigerian Aviation sector recorded zero accidents and a total number of 16,880 delayed domestic flights in six months of 2018.

This was disclosed in Lagos at the second NCAA Interactive Forum with Aviation Agencies’ and Airlines’ Public Relations/ Information Managers themed “Interlining Information for the development of Aviation Industry.”

According to the data released by NCAA, the domestic airlines posted 16,880 delays while their foreign counterparts accounted for 2,443 issues between January 2018 and June 2018.

NCCA’s Director-General, Captain Muktar Usman admitted that though the figures were alarming, he noted that “no delay or outright cancellation is too much when it concerns the safety of lives.”

A further breakdown shows that an average of three out of four flights were delayed in 2017, indicating that of the 48,319 tallies by eight airlines, 30,214 were late with 872 canceled.

The factsheet revealed that Aero Contractors had 66.5 per cent delay rate, Arik Air (61.8 per cent), Azman Air (66.4 per cent), Dana Air (64.2 per cent) and Med-View Airlines Plc. (71 per cent).

Also, the sector also revealed that a total number of delayed and missing baggage amount to 17, 893 in first six months of the year.

Investors sell-off: Insurance Index down by 9.77% in September Investors sell-off in Universal Insurance Plc, Standard Alliance Insurance Plc, among others Insurance companies down the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) Insurance index by 9.77 per cent in September this year.

The sell-off also leads to 16.73 per cent and 10.12 per cent Quarter-on Quarter and Year-till-date performance of the NSE Insurance Index respectively.

Their reactions followed the new policy introduced by the apex Insurance regulating body, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) recapitalization of the sector.

NAICOM had given the insurance companies January 1, 2019 deadline for insurance firms to recapitalize but the deadline was later reduced to October 1, 2018.

However, The Daily Times checks revealed that listed Insurance companies on The Exchange top losers chart in September as uncertainty continued to trail outcome of the October 1 deadline of NAICOM. Nearly all the listed Insurance companies recorded profit-taking expect for Continental Reinsurance Plc, Prestige Assurance Plc, Wapic Insurance Plc, and Regency Assurance Plc that recorded price appreciation in September.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

15 Business Times

Oil & Gas Sector: How 6 banks increase exposure to N2.19trn in 6 months Risk to oil & gas upstream sector appears to be reducing - CSL Stockbrokers Motolani Oseni No fewer than six commercial banks operating in Nigeria have increased their exposure in the Oil & gas sector to N2.19 trillion in first six months of 2018.

The six lenders include; Zenith Bank Plc, Stanbic IBTC Holdings Plc; Fidelity Bank; Guaranty Trust Bank Plc; United Bank Africa Plc and United Bank Africa Plc The six banks exposure in the Oil & gas sector, stronghold of the nation’s economy in full year of 2017 was at N2.27 trillion as banks despite cautious investing in the sector.

The Organization for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) daily basket price closed last week at $80.88 a barrel as against $49.06 a barrel it was in September of 2017.

The current global oil price is above federal government 2018 budget benchmark price of $51.00 per barrel.

Nigeria’s production increasing to 2.3 million barrels per day this year as

federal government Analysts said the decline in fixed income securities and high cost of funding forced hike in banks investment in the oil & gas amid stability in the Niger Delta region of the country.

The breakdown by The Daily Times revealed that Zenith bank exposure in the Oil & Gas rose by N631.97 billion in six months of this year from N613.48 billion.

Fidelity Bank exposure in the Oil 7 gas rose by 11.8 per cent to N198.29 billion from N177.25 billion reported in 2017 full year as Guaranty Trust Bank Plc exposure in the Oil & gas sector dropped by 14.9 per cent to N440.5 billion in six months of 2018 from N517.29 billion reported in 12 months of 2017.

United Bank Africa Plc‘s loans in the Oil & gas sector was at N321.89 in six months of 2018 as against N360.98 billion in 12 months of 2017.

Stanbic IBTC and Access bank loans 7 advances to customers in the Oil 7 gas sector was N69 billion and

N525.6 billion in six months of 2018 respectively.

Analysts at S&P Global Market Intelligence last week said Nigerian banks are nursing losses linked to a recent oil industry slump, and are looking to alternative sectors to boost lackluster loan growth and broaden their risk exposure.

“About 30 per cent of the value of banks’ lending is to the oil and gas sector, which accounts for about 10per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), and a sustained oil price slump from mid2014 triggered extensive defaults among energy firms.

“But lenders are now prioritizing recovering loans to oil and gas companies, rather than expanding lending to them. Banks are also now focusing a lot more on infrastructure, manufacturing and trade, which they believe will thrive in the latter part of 2018.”

“Banks are Investing in the Oil & Gas sector because the price is lucrative but the risk involved is

that when the price slumps, which might not be this year”, the Chief Executive Officer, Enterprises Stockbroker Limited, Mr. Rotimi Fakayejo said.

Meanwhile, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) members of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) at the last meeting were concerned with the rising level of non-performing loans in the banking system, traced mainly to the oil sector and urged the Bank to closely monitor and address the situation.

A report by CSL Stockbrokers Limited had disclosed that despite the sustained increase in crude oil price seen this year, the banking sector remains heavily exposed to the oil and gas sector The Lagos-based, research and financial advisory company, in its noted that the risk to the oil and gas upstream sector appears to be reducing, it pointed out that Nigeria’s power sector was still boded with high risk due to myriad of problems confronting the sector.

Aviation fuel: NAMA tasks energy sector on local production of Jet A1 Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo As aviation fuel continues to gulps over 30 per cent of operational cost of airlines in the country, Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) Capt.

Fola Akinkuotu, has charged the oil and gas sector in Nigeria to consider critically the production of aviation fuel in line with the Nigerian Content Development initiative of the Buhari administration.

Akinkuotu who was a guest speaker at the annual Health, Safety,

Security and Environment (HSSE) forum organized by PSRG-Richardson Oil and Gas which held at Eko Hotel and Suites, Lagos said, the call became imperative given the high cost of Jet A1 (aviation fuel) in Nigeria.

He said apart from cost, the supply of the product is sometimes epileptic, resulting in flight disruptions, stressing that the production of Jet A1 in Nigeria would regularize supply, bring about reduced cost which would also translate into lower air fares by airlines.

The NAMA boss who delivered a paper on the topic “Aviation Safety in Nigeria – Challenges, Issues and

Solutions” lamented the high cost of aircraft maintenance which he described as “atrocious, largely because these costs are domesticated in dollars.”

He revealed however that effort was being made by the federal government to set up an MRO (Maintenance, Repairs and Operations) facility “as part of strategic plans to reduce capital flight, lower the times aircraft leave the country for repairs and lower the cost of maintenance.”

On the state of air safety in Nigeria, Akinkuotu said “the recent

pronouncement by the U.S Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that Nigeria’s air carriers’ operations are in compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) standards is good news that rekindles hope in the sector,” adding that “the aviation sector in Nigeria today is all together safe as accidents have remained at zero level for six consecutive years with serious or reportable incidents at acceptable levels” This according to him does not presuppose there are no challenges and issues in the sector which deserve mention and require adequate attention.

Divergent views over proliferation of advertising agencies Godwin Anyebe The proliferation of advertising agencies in Nigeria has become a source for concern amongst practitioners in the Integrated Marketing Communications industry in the country.

While some of them argued that it was a welcome development provided that clients get the best services they desire, others objected that the proliferation was undermining creativity and hindering growth.

The Managing Director, X3M Ideas Group, Mr. Steve Babaeko, said that the proliferation of advertising agencies in the face of the dwindling economic realities in Nigeria was not the right way to go. He pointed out that it was ironic that while the number of advertising agencies are on the rise daily, the clients that they are jostling to work for are reducing by the day.

“I think that proliferation on its own is not necessarily a bad thing because it means that more people have the opportunity to come and show us what they can do. But when proliferation becomes proliferation for proliferation sake that is where we have a problem.

“And that is where we are now. It flies in the face of economic reality that we have more agencies opening shops everyday but even the clients that we are all jostling to work for; they are reducing. They are closing factories.

So if you are now opening your agency today, which client do you want to work for?” “lt makes sense in the face of economy realities for agencies to merge; come together and become a bigger platform with a bigger voice, with bigger muscle and bigger strength, so that is what I will recommend.”

Managing Director, TreeWater Retreats Limited, Mrs. Julia Oku Jacks, agreed with Babaeko. She stressed that it was paramount for advertising agencies to cooperate and rely on each other for strength. Jacks claimed that Nigerian advertising agencies have to become stronger agencies through effective collaboration to withstand competition globally.

According him, “I think measures are important but you have to look at everything on a case by case bases and you look at where, maybe you are lacking in some strength, where you can leverage on each other strength and then become a stronger agency.”

Former Marketing Services Director of Nestle Foods Nigeria, Mrs. Iquo Ukoh, said the crave for money and prestige as the Managing Director of an agency are some of the reasons why advertising agencies are opening shops every day. She stressed that such experience may not last long because big brands love to work with agencies with affiliations, depicting the need for collaboration amongst them.

Fight against pre-registered SIM scam yielding results – NCC Ladesope Ladelokun The Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), says its awareness campaigns against the menace of preregistered SIM cards, which has been a recurring trend in the country’s telecom sector is yielding results.

Mr Salisu Abdu, the Head, Enforcement Unit of the commission, made this known in a statement in Lagos during the holiday.

Abdu said that the commission had carried out a three-day comprehensive enforcement in some major markets in Lagos to fish out perpetrators of preregistered SIM card.

He said that the latest enforcement exercise was largely informed by a report from the office of the National Security Adviser about the prevalence of pre-registered SIM cards at some

locations in Lagos.

He said that the adviser however expressed some measure of satisfaction that the trend seemed to be on a downward trend when compared with what obtained few years ago.

“We visited computer village, some markets in Ikorodu and we also visited one in Bariga with the objective of identifying where the sale of preregistered SIM cards is ongoing.

“Fortunately enough, it was only in computer village we were able to buy only one Airtel SIM card from a mobile agent.

“We appreciate the level of compliance in Lagos; it apparently means that there is adequate awareness campaign that people are now aware that the sale and buying of pre-registered SIM card is criminal,” he said.

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria LNG Limited, Tony Attah; CEO & MD, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya and Chief Executive Officer, Richardson Oil & Gas Limited, Akin Osuntoki, during the presentation of Special Achievement Award in recognition of his support to Health, Safety, Security & Environment (HSSE) Management and Local Content Development in Nigeria in Lagos.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

POLITICS TIMES g Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

17

ADC Chairman faults Buhari’s govt Stories by Patrick Okohue The national chairman of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Chief Ralph Nwosu, has described the President Muhammadu Buhari led All Progressives Congress (APC) government as the worst in recent history of the country.

Nwosu who was speaking at the party’s Lagos State Secretariat, during celebration of the nation’s 58th Independence anniversary, with a programme the party called a handshake across the Nigeria, lamented that the country had witnessed a monumental rot in all sectors of the economy since 2015.

Chiding the Buhari administration for failing to tackle the killings across the country, he stressed that the administration does not deserve a second term in office, “The current administration has failed and should not be re-elected, and the President does not deserve a second term in office. Right from his days as a military ruler, the president has always been a disruptional leader.

“The country is more divided now than when he came to office, look at the killings, who has been reprimanded?

There is sadness in the land as we mark this independence day,” he said.

Speaking earlier, the State chairman of the party, Chief Tunde Daramola, said that the party was ready to absorb the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as its governorship aspirants if he was denied the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial ticket.

Daramola commended the governor over the press conference he had on Sunday over the crisis in the party, saying that Lagos is being ruled by a cabal anmd that it was time someone stood up to them.

According to him, “We thank Governor Akinwunmi Ambode for what is happening in Lagos State APC. Revolution normally starts from within.

We have a cabal that is ruling Lagos State in the APC. This cabal consists of just five people, but I will not mention names. It is good that Governor Ambode is fighting them.

“The cabal has stifled Ambode to the throat. Residents of Lagos State should support him. We will welcome Ambode to our party if he decides to cross over, but we will not give him an automatic ticket, he will have to compete with other aspirants for the governorship ticket.”

On the 58th Independence of Nigeria, Daramola said that it was shameful that the country has not moved forward over the years, adding that though the country has enough resources, it has problem of leadership.

The chairman stated that Nigerians have been taken for a ride for too long, and that the people have failed to claim their rights.

He stressed that what the nation needed was restructuring, saying that Nigeria’s structure was defective and that the people must claim their rights now.

“People thought former President Goodluck Jonathan was a fool for introducing the card reader into our electoral system. This is what has helped in our previous elections and it is helping till today.

“However, we need restructuring and we should use our resources for development purposes.

“We are celebrating 58 years of Independence with nothing to show for it, whereas countries such as Singapore and Indonesia that got independence at the same time with us are no longer regarded as developing, they are now called developed countries.

“I was in Vietnam five years ago and I felt like crying for Nigeria with the level

Ikale Liberation Movement demands equity ahead 2019 elections in Ondo A two time Commissioner in the Governor Adams Oshiomhole administration in Edo State, Hon. Chris Ebare, has promised to deal with the challenge of unemployment among youths in Esan land that is presently plaguing them.

Ebare made the declaration recently when he addressed the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, Ward Executives and Unit Chairmen of Ward Six and Seven of Esan South East LGA in Ubiaja.

Bemoaning the parlous state of infrastructure in the LGA, he took a swipe at past elected leaders of both Esan North East and Esan South East whom he blamed for the situation, stressing that they either lacked the wherewithal to canvass and attract government attention or they are just lackadaisical.

Ebare who had previously taken three shots at the slot for the House of Representative without success, alleged that he was denied by the powers that be then when the

acclaimed godfathers’ trade in stock was imposition of candidates.

He is however optimistic that with the advent of Adams Oshiomhole as the national chairman of the APC and the fact that imposition of candidates has been consigned to the dustbin of history, he is sure of coming tops in the forth-coming primaries and the subsequent election as long as the electorate gives him the mandate.

He claimed he is head and shoulder above his co-contestant for the slot because of his intimidating profile and exposure that speaks volume for him.

“We should be tired of empty promises that are never fulfilled by our political brothers and sisters. It is high time that the socio-economical situation of our various communities is improved upon,” he said.

He appealed to the party faithful to shun those whose gospel is stomach infrastructure and desist from mortgaging their future and that of generations not yet born.

of development there. There is nothing to write home about in Nigeria.

Agriculture and petroleum industries are zero. We now buy fuel at N145 per litre.

Speaking further, Daramola stressed that the country had stagnated since Independence because of bad leadership, adding that present leaders were not different from the colonial masters.

He said: “policemen guard our politicians and leaders just as constables were guarding colonial masters in those days. Women and youths should wake up and fight for their rights.

“We are not calling for violent revolution. With civil revolution they can be part of the decision making in the country. People cannot have three square meals in Nigeria now because of poverty,” he said.

Nwosu

Ambode supporters storm APC secretariat, protest non-accessibility of membership card Alade Tasma Supporters of embattled governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode on Monday stormed the All Progressives Congress (APC) Secretariat on Acme Road, Ikeja, over the inability of supporters of the governor to access their membership cards in their various wards, accusing the state executive council of bias and partial in the electoral process of the party’s governorship primaries slated for today, Tuesday, October 2nd.

The protesters led by the Deputy Chairman APC Somolu Local Government, Alhaji Ola Sheu, were seen chanting solidarity songs with leaves in their hands chorusing they would not tolerate any injustice by the state party leadership in the conduct of the governorship primaries.

Speaking with journalists, Ola

Ambode

Sheu, said “We are here in support of Governor Ambode’s second term bid. Second, we are here because we have no trust in the electoral body that will conduct the governorship primaries in APC, Lagos State. All our leaders in the party are partial and bias by endorsing an aspirant before the governorship primaries.

The endorsement is unacceptable to us.”

Ola Sheu accused the party of denying them their membership cards because they were supporters of Governor Ambode, he therefore, urged the National Working Committee of the party to come to their rescue.

“We are crying aloud to the National Working Committee of our dear party to intervene and rescue us from this situation. We have membership slips. Some weeks ago, our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu told us at a stakeholders

meeting here in Acme that new members should go and register but now all those who registered newly are about to be denied their voting right,” Sheu stated.

He disclosed that the percentage of cards distributed was less than 10percent of the registered members of the party, adding that they do not have trust in the leadership of the party from ward and local government that was set up by the state executive of the party.

“If they want to conduct a free, fair and credible primaries election tomorrow, all those initially appointed as the electoral body from ward to local government should be stopped and the National Working Committee should take over the conduct of the primaries,” he said The governor’s supporters in their hundreds were armed with Ambode’s campaign posters trooping into the party secretariat.

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Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

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ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420 TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, P.M.B 198, GARKI ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

SIGNED: TRUSTEES

SIGNED: SECRETARY

CHITEC MOTORS NIGERIA LIMITED

OGOCHUKS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED

ZONE 3 N0.19 NWAGBALA ESTATE, NKWO NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE RC N0. 225536

N0.65, EME COURT ROAD, NNEWI, ANAMBRA STATE

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION PURSUANT SECTION 457(B) AND 464(1) OF CAMA OF CHITEC MOTORS NIGERIA LIMITED AT THEEXTRA ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF THE ABOVE COMPANY HELD ON THE 27THDAY OF SEPTEMBER,2018 AT ITS REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS, THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED TO WIT: 1. THATTHE COMPANY BE AND IS HEREBY WOUND UP VOLUNTARILY. 2. THAT MR. PATRICK OJIUBA BE AND IS HEREBY APPOINTED AS THE LIQUIDATOR. 3. THAT THE RESOLUTION FOR THE VOLUNTARY WINDING OF THE COMPANY BE FILED AT CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA. DATED THIS 27THDAY OFSEPTEMBER, 2018

THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, 1990 COMPANY LIMITED BY SHARES SPECIAL RESOLUTION PURSUANT SECTION 457(B) AND 464(1) OF CAMA OF OGOCHUKS INTERNATIONAL COMPANY NIGERIA LIMITED AT THEEXTRA ORDINARY GENERAL MEETING OF THE ABOVE COMPANY HELD ON THE 29THDAY OF SEPTEMBER,2018 AT ITS REGISTERED OFFICE ADDRESS, THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS WERE PROPOSED AND UNANIMOUSLY PASSED TO WIT: 1. THATTHE COMPANY BE AND IS HEREBY WOUND UP VOLUNTARILY. 2. THAT MR. PATRICK OJIUBA BE AND IS HEREBY APPOINTED AS THE LIQUIDATOR. 3. THAT THE RESOLUTION FOR THE VOLUNTARY WINDING OF THE COMPANY BE FILED AT CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION ABUJA. DATED THIS 29THDAY OFSEPTEMBER, 2018

SIGNED SIGNED ………………………………

.......………………………………

DIRECTOR DIRECTOR EMENIKE CHIKA OGOCHUKWUEMENIKE

SIGNED SIGNED ………………………………

……………………………………….

DIRECTOR DIRECTOR EMENIKE CHIKA OGOCHUKWU EMENIKE

MERWIN OLD PEOPLE’S HOME INITIATIVE.

RC N0. 363330

RESCUE OF SOULS PRAYER MINISTRY

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND APPLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND APPLIED MATTERS ACT OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.REV GODWIN OKIEMUTE ONOFOMI PRESIDENT 2.REV DR RICHARD OLAJIDE OLOIDI 3.OLUSEYE ADEWUNMI AWOPETU SECRETARY 4. REV DR OLADIRAN OLUSEGUN AJAYI MEMBER 5. VICTOR ONAJITE ONOFOMI 6. DR OLUSEGUN ABIODUN SAMI

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. BABATUNDE AKINOLA OLUWAKAYODE 2, OLADIPUPO ABOSEDE OPEYEMI 3. BABATUNDE YEMI OLATUBOSUN 4. OGIDI CHRISTIANA EKOMENA 5. AKAPO TITILAYO FLORENCE 6. ALE BUNMI SAMUEL

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1 : TO CREATE A HOME WHERE THE SPIRITUAL, EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL NEEDS OF OLD PEOPLE CAN MET .

AIM AND OBJECTIVE: TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAIMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED SECRETARY

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAIMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED SECRETARY

19

For the Record

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

58th Anniversary: I’ll promote, protect united Nigeria – Buhari Today is a day of celebration and solemn reflection. It is the anniversary of the day Nigerians realised one of the most cherished of human desires – the desire for freedom.

We, therefore, give thanks to and remember our founding fathers who laboured so hard and sacrificed so much to build and bequeath to us this wonderful nation. It is our duty to consolidate this great legacy.

2. On this first October date and on the eve of the start of the general election cycle, we should do well to reflect on what binds us together and the great strength our diversity bestows on us. Ours is an ambitious nation, and, as citizens we have every right to look forward to the future with confidence and optimism which are well founded, considering where we find ourselves today.

3. There has been a steady improvement in the security situation in the North East. We remain committed to ending the crisis and make the North East safe for all.

4. Our thoughts and prayers are always with the victims of the Boko Haram’s atrocities and their families. Beyond that, we know that the goals of the Boko Haram terrorists include capturing territories, destroying our democracy and denying our children the right to education. We will not allow them to succeed.

5.

I want at this point to pay tribute to the men and women of our armed forces, the Police and other security and law enforcement agencies, who have been working under the most difficult conditions to keep the country safe.

In the process, many have made the supreme sacrifice.

6. As their Commander -In- Chief, I assure these our gallant men and women that I will continue to empower them by deepening their professionalism and providing all the necessary force multipliers and enablers required for them to prevail on the field. I am looking into all reported cases of inadequacies in relation to their entitlements, their welfare and those of their families.

7.

We are diversifying away from reliance on oil to increased manufacturing capacity, solid minerals development, and agriculture.

8.

Efforts are on course in the Niger Delta to clean up polluted lands, restore hopes of the youths in the region and re-establish livelihoods, and strengthen their capacity to guarantee for themselves and for our country a brighter future.

9. The age-long conflict between herders and farmers that was being exploited by those seeking to plant the seeds of discord and disunity amongst our people, is being addressed decisively. We will sustain and continue to support the commendable efforts by all including civil society organisations, local and states governments and our traditional and religious leaders in finding durable solution to this problem.

10. This being a transhumance issue, we are working with countries in our region that are also facing similar difficulties to complement our common efforts. In this context I must warn that the perpetrators of murder and general mayhem in the name of defending or protecting herders or farmers will face the full wrath of the law.

Meanwhile, we urge all peace loving Nigerians to reject any simplistic portrayal, at home or abroad, of this conflict as either religious or ethnic based.

11. We are one of the countries in the world most affected by environmental degradation, as a consequence of climate change. We are signatories to almost all conventions and agreements aimed at slowing down the effect of climate change and mitigating its now evident consequences.

12.

The consequences on lives and livelihoods of the shrinking of the Lake Chad and the pollution caused by oil exploitation activities alone make it mandatory on us to be at the forefront of the struggle for a safer and more sustainable environment. We will continue to mobilise international support for our efforts in this regard.

Buhari

13.

We are making progress in the fight against corruption and recovery of stolen public funds and assets despite vicious and stiff resistance. The shameful past practice, of the brazen theft of billions of Naira is no more. Shady oil deals and public contracts that were never delivered have become things of the past.

14. Consequently, and this is very evident across the country, we have done more with less in infrastructural developments. Roads, railways, major bridges, schools, energy and power, air and sea ports, welfare of serving and retired personnel both civilian and military including payment of legacy debt such as pension arrears, have been attended to.

15. There is now an enabling environment for local and foreign investment in Nigeria. We are building a rulesbased system – a level playing field that is free from fixers and intermediaries. This is the cornerstone to help genuine investors and honest consumers, and the platform that will allow for the real reforms that we intend to deliver over the coming years.

16. We are gradually strengthening the economy with a stable Naira and falling inflation rate. We are building an economy that is moving away from over reliance on oil.

Consequently we have witnessed massive return to farms and seen bumper harvest, despite recurrent floods across the country.

17.

These positive developments are the result of our collective pursuit of a common vision through hard work and dedication, after the missed opportunities and disappointments that followed the return to democracy in 1999.

18. At the forefront, have always been our youths. They have been at the vanguard of the struggle for independence.

They fought in the war to keep the country united. And it was they who kept alive the struggle for democracy and human rights in our country at times when these were at risk, especially following the June 12th 1993 election and the historic 2015 election process.

19.

Even today, our youths play a central role in Nigeria’s continuing progress and developments in all fields of our national endeavour –technology, agriculture, mining, engineering and especially the creative arts.

Together we are building a more diverse, inclusive and self-reliant economy.

20. In the past three years we have introduced many policies and programmes targeted at youth development and youth empowerment. We support the ‘not too young to run’ legislation aimed at giving the youths greater say in our national politics and governance.

21. The school feeding program in primary schools is aimed at encouraging enrolment and attendance. We are building on what we have already introduced to support schools and universities to which funds have recently been released for upgrade of facilities, training programs for our entrepreneurs, and rehabilitation schemes for victims of terrorism and human trafficking.

Fellow Nigerians, 22.

Now we have in our hands technology that is a powerful tool that we can and should use for knowledge and understanding. As with other countries, we must also learn how to manage those tendencies that, instead, look to abuse new technologies to provoke passions and stir tensions.

23. Never before have we faced such a challenge. We must all rise to the responsibility of shutting out those disruptive and corrosive forces that hide in today’s world of social media. We need critical minds and independent thinking, to question and question until we are satisfied we have the facts. Otherwise, all the progress we have made as a democracy since 1999 is at stake.

24. I have committed myself many times to ensure that elections are fully participatory, free and fair and that the Independent National Electoral Commission will be exactly INDEPENDENT and properly staffed and resourced. The ballot box is how we make our choice for the governments that rule in our name.

Fellow Nigerians, 25.

Developing a thriving democracy is not an easy task. There can be no quick fixes or short cuts. These are the most important lessons that we have learnt in our 58 years as an independent nation.

26. At the international level, we remain a responsible and respected member of the international community, playing active positive roles within ECOWAS, the African Union and the United Nations as well as all other regional and international organisations and institutions of which we are members.

27.

We will continue to support initiatives aimed at addressing the challenges of our times: global and regional crises and conflicts, terrorism, trans-border crime, climate change, human rights, gender equality, development, poverty and inequality within and between nations, etc.

In this context, we are working hard to achieve both the AU 2063 Agenda for socio-economic transformation of our continent; and the UN 2030 Agenda for sustainable development, which together aim at addressing these challenges Fellow Nigerians, 28.

As we celebrate the 58th Anniversary of our independence, we know we are on the right path. Although we have our differences, they count for far less than the values, virtues and common aspirations that unite us as a nation. We have so much for which we should be grateful, and in which we should rightly take pride. Our journey is not finished but we have come a long way.

29. I want to assure you that as President, I will continue to work tirelessly to promote, protect and preserve what really matters: a united, peaceful, prosperous and secure Nigeria, where all, irrespective of background, can aspire to succeed.

Thank you. I wish you a memorable independence celebration.

Being the October 1, 2018 broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari to mark Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary in Abuja... on Monday.

FOREIGN TIMES

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

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Indonesia quake and tsunami: Bodies buried in mass grave

Uganda: Court adjourns treason case against Bobi Wine

Bobi Wine’s arrest led to street clashes between his supporters and security agencies in Kampala A court in Uganda has adjourned the treason casebrought against music star and opposition politician Robert Kyagulanyi, local media reports.

Kyagulanyi, widely known by his stage name Bobi Wine, is being accused of involvement in an incident in August during which President Yoweri Museveni’s convoy was pelted with stones.

The case against Kyagulanyi

and more than 30 others accused of treason has been postponed to December.

The magistrate court in the northern Gulu district adjourned the case to December 3 following a request by state prosecutors for more time for investigations.

Kyagulanyi was granted bail by the court in August after his arrest and detention following violence during a local election rally.

The court has not approved the bail application of several other suspects charged alongside the MP. The popular musician has emerged as an influential critic of Museveni after winning a seat in parliament last year.

The 36-year-old opposition MP has used his music to address the country’s political and social issues.

Finance minister: Zimbabwe economy to grow by 6 percent Zimbabwe’s economy is expected to grow by more than six percent this year driven mainly by agriculture and mining, as the government seeks to boost growth after the fall of Robert Mugabe, the finance minister said.

“Indications are that the economy will grow by 6.3 percent against the original budget projection of 4.5 percent,” Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said at a news conference on Monday in Harare.

“However the quality of the growth, which is primarily being driven by two sectors of agriculture and mining is obviously not inclusive,” he added.

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Ncube said Zimbabwe faced foreign currency and cash shortages, unsustainable budget deficit and difficulties re-engaging with international lenders and investors after the Mugabe era.

“These challenges call for urgent reforms,” he said when the central bank presented a monetary policy statement.

“Bold decisions need to be taken on the reforms front in order to stimulate growth and sustainable development.”

The finance minister said the country was saddled with $16.9bn debt and was working to clear a $2.5bn debt with the African Development Bank and to ask key Paris Club members to restructure

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a $2.8bn debt.

“Debt resolution will help restore the international credit standing of Zimbabwe, resulting in improved access to new external credit lines and investment flows,” Ncube said.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who was elected in a disputed election in July, has vowed to revive the moribund economy since he took power last year after Mugabe was removed by a military intervention.

Under Mugabe, the economy was shattered by corruption, botched land reforms and government policies that saw investors flee, mass unemployment and the near-collapse of public services.

Rescuers on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia, are racing against the clock to save those still trapped in the rubble, as volunteers buried bodies in a mass grave following an earthquake and tsunami disaster.

Authorities struggling to deal with the sheer scale of the disaster have appealed for international help.

Four days on, some remote areas have yet to be contacted, medicines are running out and rescuers are struggling with a shortage of heavy equipment to reach desperate victims they can hear calling out from the ruins of collapsed buildings.

Authorities are bracing for much worse as reports filter in from outlying areas, in particular, Donggala, a region of 300,000 people north of Palu and closer to the epicentre of the quake.

President Joko Widodo opened the door to the dozens of international aid agencies and NGOs lined up to provide life-saving assistance.

“Last night, President @jokowi authorized us to accept international help for urgent disaster-response & relief,” senior government official Tom Lembong wrote on Twitter, asking rescuers to contact him directly via his account and email.

Officials fear the toll will rise steeply in the coming days and are preparing for the worst.

At Poboya - in the hills above the devastated seaside city of Palu volunteers dug a 100 metre-long grave to bury the dead, with instructions to prepare for 1,300 victims to be laid to rest.

Authorities are desperate to stave off any outbreaks of disease caused by decomposing bodies and have announced a 14-day state of emergency.

In Balaroa, a Palu suburb once home to a housing complex, the scale of the damage was apparent. A wasteland of flattened trees, shards of concrete, twisted metal roofing, doorframes and mangled furniture stretched into the distance.

Groups of dazed people stumbled over the wreckage, unclear where or how to start digging. Among them were three men looking for their younger brother.

Up to 60 people are feared to be underneath the wreckage of one Palu hotel alone.

Two survivors have been plucked from the 80-room Hotel Roa-Roa, Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said, and there could still be more alive.

Desperate survivors turned to looting shops for basics like food, water and fuel as police looked on, unwilling or unable to intervene.

“There has been no aid, we need to eat.

We don’t have any other choice, we must get food,” one man in Palu told AFP as he filled a basket with goods from a nearby store.

Government officials said some 1,200 inmates fled from at least three prisons in the region.

Many have spent the last days desperately searching for loved ones while dealing with the trauma of the disaster.

One survivor, Adi, was hugging his wife by the beach when the tsunami struck on Friday. He has no idea where she is now, or whether she is alive.

“When the wave came, I lost her,” he said. “I was carried about 50 metres. I couldn’t hold anything,” he said.

Others have centred their search for loved ones around open-air morgues where the dead lay in the baking sun - waiting to be claimed, waiting to be named.

As dire as the situation in Palu is, it was at least clear. In outlying areas, the fate of thousands is still unknown.

Yenni Suryani of Catholic Relief Services said devastated infrastructure was hampering rescue efforts.

“With the airport damaged, getting access to Palu and Donggala is a huge problem... That means a bottleneck for relief supplies in coming days,” she said.

The main airport at Palu was damaged, landslides had cut off key roads while “power is out almost everywhere,” she added.

The state energy company said it was airlifting in 4,000 litres of fuel to help with the rescue effort, while the state logistics agency said it was preparing to send hundreds of tonnes of rice.

Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said the government had allocated 560bn rupiah ($37.58m) for disaster recovery, media reported.

Questions are sure to be asked why warning systems appear to have failed on Friday, and why more people in coastal areas had not moved to higher ground after a big earthquake, even in the absence of an official warning.

Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman for the National Disaster Mitigation Agency, told reporters on Sunday none of Indonesia’s tsunami buoys, one type of instrument used to detect the waves, had been operating since 2012. He blamed a decrease in funding.

“Our funding has been going down every year,” Nugroho said.

The meteorological and geophysics agency BMKG had issued a tsunami warning after the quake but lifted it 34 minutes later, drawing criticism it had been too hasty.

However, officials estimated the waves hit while the warning was in force.

The head of Indonesia’s investment board said on Twitter that Widodo had agreed to accept international help and he would coordinate private sector help from around the world.

Neighbours including Australia, Thailand and China have offered help, while the European Union announced 1.5 million euros ($1.74 million) in immediate aid.

Indonesia, home to 260 million people, is one of the world’s most disaster-prone nations.

It lies on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, where tectonic plates collide and many of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.

A massive 2004 quake triggered a tsunami that killed 220,000 throughout the region, including 168,000 in Indonesia.

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Indonesian President Joko Widodo visits people injured by the earthquake and tsunami in Palu, Sulawesi, Indonesia

21 Photo Times Scenes from Nigeria’s 58th Independence Anniversary in Abuja...on Monday Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

SPORTS TIMES Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Re-energised Novak Djokovic targets number one spot

Novak Djokovic is back home in Belgrade preparing for an offensive to regain the world number one spot after roaring back into top form by winning the US Open.

“I planned to be here with my family … and everything is set so that I’m again in the race for number one,” Djokovic told reporters in a tennis centre owned by his family in the Serbian capital.

“I hope that Belgrade will bring me luck.”

Djokovic has been using the modern facilities to gather his strength for a rousing finale to a season in which he has risen from the ashes after a difficult 2017.

His next stop is the Shanghai Masters from next Monday.

“I decided with my team to stay a bit

longer in Belgrade to recover and make a solid base for Shanghai,” the 31-year-old Serb added.

Since Wimbledon, Djokovic, who was absent for six months from competition in 2017 and underwent elbow surgery in February, has lost just one match, a surprise defeat in Toronto by Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Before winning his 14th Grand Slam in New York, equalling Pete Sampras’s mark, Djokovic also won in Cincinnati.

He took part at Laver Cup where he was defeated twice — in doubles with Roger Federer and in singles by Kevin Anderson.

With no need to defend points until the end of the year and Rafael Nadal out with injury, Djokovic could indeed finish

g22

the year at the summit for the fifth time after 2011, 2012, 2014 and 2015.

But although not hiding his ambitions to be on the throne again, “Nole” appears patient.

First he wants to play the best in Shanghai and then, maybe, pick up other points at tournaments where he has played either rarely, or never, like in Basel or Vienna.

“We are leaving this possibility open,” he said. “But first and foremost I have to play well in Shanghai.”

In the ATP rankings Djokovic is currently third, behind Nadal and Federer.

But in the ATP Race to London, the Serb is second with 1,000 points behind his Spanish rival.

AFCON: Gernot Rohr names 24-man squad for Libya qualifying game Isaac Success is among 24 players invited for the Super Eagles’ double-take 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying fixture against Libya.

The Watford striker last played for Nigeria in 2017.

Super Eagles’ technical adviser Gernot Rohr also called up Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon for the clash against the Mediterranean Knights.

Goalkeeper Ikechukwu Ezenwa is the only home-based Eagle invited.

The team will go into the game seeking six maximum points against the Group E leaders.

Nigeria will host the first leg at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in

Uyo on October 13 while the return is scheduled for October 16 at Stade Taïeb Mhiri, Tunisia.

The invited Eagles Goalkeepers: Francis Uzoho (Elche FC, Spain); Ikechukwu Ezenwa (Enyimba FC); Daniel Akpeyi (Chippa United, South Africa) Defenders: Olaoluwa Aina (Torino FC, Italy); Abdullahi Shehu (Bursaspor FC, Turkey); Semi Ajayi (Rotherham United, England); Bryan Idowu (Lokomotiv Moscow, Russia); Chidozie Awaziem (FC Porto, Portugal); William Ekong (Udinese FC, Italy); Leon Balogun (Brighton & Hove Albion, England); Kenneth

Omeruo (CD Leganes, Spain); Jamilu Collins (SC Padeborn 07, Germany) Midfielders: Ogenyi Onazi (Trabzonspor FC, Turkey); Wilfred Ndidi (Leicester City, England); Oghenekaro Etebo (Stoke City FC, England); John Ogu (Hapoel Be’er Sheva, Israel) Forwards: Ahmed Musa (Al Nasr FC, Saudi Arabia); Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City, England); Moses Simon (Levante FC, Italy); Henry Onyekuru (Galatasaray SK, Turkey); Odion Ighalo (Changchun Yatai, China); Alex Iwobi (Arsenal FC, England); Samuel Kalu (Bordeaux FC, France); Isaac Success (Watford FC, England).

Rasheed Suleiman: Nigerian coaches not inferior to foreign counterparts The Secretary, Lagos State Football Coaches Association, Rasheed Suleiman, says indigenous coaches are not inferior and can compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.

Suleiman made the assertion in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday against the backdrop of a Coaching Clinic being organised by Yagazie Foundation, an NGO from Oct. 13 to Oct. 13 in Lagos with five coaches from Europe and the U.S. as instructors.

According to him, the only difference between indigenous coaches and their foreign counterparts has to do with facilities in the respective countries.

“At the Nigerian Institute of Sports, we have top class lecturers in coaching that can rank among the best in the world,’’ he said.

Suleiman added that many indigenous coaches like Fanny Amun, late Stephen Keshi and Late Yemi Tella had done well by winning World Cup at the age grade level and the Nations Cup. Contributing, Nathaniel Olagunju, Sports Director, FC Bethel International, told NAN that Nigerian coaches only needed to brace up in terms of knowledge.

Olagunju noted that a Nigerian, Emmanuel Amunike, is the National Chief Coach of Tanzania, and there had other Nigerians who had coached

other African countries.

He expressed optimism that Nigerian coaches would benefit immensely from the Coaching Clinic to be organised in Lagos by Yagazie Foundation, an NGO, from Oct. 13 to Oct. 15, 2018.

Also, Chinedu Ezirim, the Chief Executive Officer of Yagazie Foundation, said that five foreign coaches had been invited from Denmark and the U.S. to help educate over 100 Nigerian coaches.

Emmanuel Udeogu, Chief Executive Officer, Dominion Hotspurs FC, urged the Federal Government to also give due recognition and assistance to club proprietors.

Udeogu lamented that club proprietors were not accorded due recognition by government.

“We are doing all we are doing because we have the passion. We are not forced to register clubs.

“If we are not there, the Football Associations, coaches and cannot organise football competitions at the grassroots.

“Nigerian coaches who are nurturing the boys and girls are winning trophies.

“At underage tournaments, we are number one in the world. Indigenous coaches made this happen.

“At the Super Eagles level, Nigeria fizzles out but performs well at the Golden Eaglets level.

World Cup: Special Eagles promises anniversary gift to Nigeria@58 The national team of Nigeria Amputee Football Federation (NAFF), Special Eagles, on Monday promised to deliver the 2018 Amputee World Cup as a special anniversary gift to Nigeria @58.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Special Eagles will represent the nation in the 2018 Amputee Football World Cup holding in Mexico from Oct. 24 to Nov. 5.

The team’s Captain, Emmanuel Ibeawuchi, made the promise while speaking with NAN during their awareness programme on Oct. 1 at the National Stadium, Lagos.

“We, the Special Eagles are preparing to represent Nigeria in Amputee World Cup and our

utmost goal is to deliver the trophy to Nigeria as a special anniversary gift.

“We will make up for the country’s loss at the FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia as special footballers and give Nigerians even in the Diaspora reason to celebrate a world football tournament trophy.

“So, we are doing this awareness programme today to celebrate Nigeria at 58, to sensitise the public of our mission and to assure them that we will deliver,” he said.

He called on football fans, ex international’s, corporate organisations and the public to identify with the NAFF Special Eagles as the team makes its first outing in the tournament.

“We feel honoured to have this

long awaited opportunity to fly our country’s flag in Mexico and we will need the support of all sectors and individuals to have a successful outing,” he added.

Meanwhile, Paul Maduakor, Chairman, Zenith Sports Ltd., and official kit sponsor of the Special Eagles team to the competition, told NAN that his involvement and interest was out of compassion.

Maduakor, Nigeria’s Brand Haggai partner to NAFF, said he observed the commitment and skills exhibited by the amputee footballers during training sessions and was motivated to identify with the team’s vision.

“The physically challenged athletes have always distinguished themselves in international competitions in spite of little or no attention and here we have a set of amputee footballers driving towards same feat.

“At this point, they need encouragement and that is why we are identifying with them and to ensure that they appeared unique and be the pride of Nigeria in Mexico,” Maduakor said.

He added that the Haggai jersey/ tracksuits for fans, children and adult would be available at Zenith Sports Ltd., National Stadium, Lagos.

NAN reports that Nigeria, Russia, Brazil and El Salvador are in Group E of the WAFF organised World Cup in which 24 countries will compete for the trophy won by Russia in 2014.

Daily Times Nigeria Tuesday, October 2, 2018

23 Sports Times

Rafael Nadal on course for Paris return – Coach Rafael Nadal’s coach Carlos Moya has indicated the world number one is targeting a return from injury next month at the Paris Masters.

Nadal has not played a match since retiring from the US Open semi-final against Juan Martin del Potro three weeks ago, due to a problem in his right knee.

After missing Spain’s Davis Cup semi-final defeat by France, Nadal then announced his withdrawal from tournaments in Beijing and Shanghai.

But Moya, who has coached Nadal since 2016, believes his player may be ready in time for the Paris Masters, which runs from October 29 to November 4. After that, the ATP Finals in London begins on November 11.

“We do not have deadlines, if everything goes well and everything is in order, we understand that he may be fine for Paris-Bercy,” Moya told Television Espanola on Friday.

“If it’s not Paris, it will be London and if not, then next year.”

Nadal’s absence leaves his position at the top of the world rankings vulnerable to a late push from Novak Djokovic.

Moya, however, insisted holding onto the top spot is not on Nadal´s mind.

“Right now, no,” Moya added.

“A month or month and a half ago,

probably yes, but when you have an injury the top priority is to recover from that injury.”

Nadal has enjoyed a strong year. The 32-year-old clinched his 17th Grand Slam title by winning an 11th French Open in June, after triumphs in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Rome earlier in the year.

Gianni Infantino has ‘support of Africa’ in FIFA re-election bid

Lewis Hamilton wins in Russia to extend lead in title race

A sheepish Lewis Hamilton increased his lead in this year’s drivers’ world championship to 50 points when he claimed an accomplished victory, aided by Mercedes team tactics, in Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix.

The defending four-time champion, who started second on the grid, was helped by Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who allowed him to overtake and then defended him from attack by title rival Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, who sat next to former F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone after a late arrival at the Sochi Autodrom, saw the Briton make the most of Mercedes’ strategy and a thrilling passing move on Vettel.

Bottas had started on pole and was unhappy at being asked to obey team orders that deprived him of a possible victory as he finished 2.545 seconds behind Hamilton, who looked uncomfortable at the situation after the race.

Vettel finished third and the German saw Hamilton extend his lead over him in the standings.

It was Hamilton’s third win in Russia, his fifth in six races and the 70th of his career, confirming he has the momentum to clinch a fifth title triumph with five races remaining.

“It’s actually quite a difficult day,” said Hamilton. “Valtteri did a fantastic job all weekend and was an absolute gentleman to let me by… I can understand how difficult it is for him.”

Bottas was understandably brief.

“Good result for us as a team, but as everyone saw it was a difficult race,” he said.

Kimi Raikkonen finished fourth for Ferrari ahead of Red Bull’s Max Verstappen who marked his 21st birthday with a rousing drive, including a spell as race leader, from 19th on the grid.

Renault-bound Red Bull driver Daniel Ricciardo and Ferrari-bound Charles Leclerc of Sauber filled the next places.

Kevin Magnussen finished eighth for Haas ahead of job-hunting Frenchman Esteban Ocon and his Force India teammate Sergio Perez.

Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff left the luckless Bottas with no choice, but he tried to comfort the Finn afterwards.

“Valtteri, this is Toto – a difficult day for you, difficult for us – let’s get together and discuss it later,” Wolff said.

Hamilton’s win lifted him to 306 points in the championship ahead of Vettel on 256, Bottas on 189 and Raikkonen on 186.

After light rain, it was overcast but warm and when the race started and Bottas made the most of his second pole of the year to pull clear while Vettel, in the Finn’s slipstream, challenged Hamilton for second.

The Briton resisted and, when Bottas pulled across to deprive Vettel, he took the slipstream to seize second again and draw close to his team-mate round Turn Two. Bottas held on to the lead ahead of

Hamilton and Vettel as the order settled.

The front-runners were soon joined by Verstappen who revelled in his Red Bull’s competitive pace before Bottas pitted for fresh tyres after lap 12, rejoining fifth behind Verstappen.

Hamilton took over as leader, but stayed out when Vettel pitted one lap later. He came in on lap 14 and, with his title rival enjoying a rapid lap, emerged to re-join the fray behind his Ferrari.

“How did that happen?” asked Hamilton on team radio.

Irked, the Briton chased Vettel down. He challenged to pass on the inside, but the German closed the door, forcing Hamilton to ease off and avoid hitting a wall.

Unperturbed, Hamilton attacked again. He gathered momentum through Turn Three and swooped to pass Vettel on the inside at the next turn.

This lifted him to fourth behind Raikkonen and Verstappen, who had not stopped, and Bottas.

When Raikkonen pitted, the Dutch birthday boy took over as leader.

Verstappen’s pace was insufficient to stretch the field and enabled Vettel to close in on the two Mercedes, forcing a tactical decision which saw Wolff authorise an order for Bottas to let Hamilton pass him for second on lap 26.

This relegated a grumpy Bottas to third to protect the Englishman from Vettel, but cost the Mercedes pair as Verstappen pulled clear by 2.8 seconds.

The Finn complained that he was set to pass the Red Bull on team radio, prompting Mercedes strategist James Vowles to respond.”I had to do this to make sure we secured this,” he said, having explained that Hamilton had a blistered tyre.

Hamilton then reported hesitations in his engine, and his blister — both ailments clearly hampered his raw pace and forced him to manage his car as he chased Verstappen.

But the Briton, biding his time, clocked a fastest lap to move within two seconds before a half-hearted attack was repelled and he held on for victory.

African nations would support Gianni Infantino for re-election as FIFA president, the head of the continental football federation Ahmad Ahmad said on Sunday.

“I feel it is my duty… to announce this support from Africa,” Ahmad said at a special meeting of the Confederation of African Football Executive Committee, which Infantino attended, in Sharm elSheikh, Egypt.

Infantino, a former deputy head of UEFA, was first elected in 2016 to succeed Sepp Blatter, when the scandal that engulfed the governing body of world football was at its height.

The next presidential election will be held in Paris in June 2019 and Infantino has said he will stand.

Infantino expressed his gratitude for the African backing.

“It means a lot to me,” said the Swiss.

“Since long before my election, I had said, and since I have done everything, to make sure that the future really is Africa.”

Infantino is believed to have supported Ahmad when he ousted the long-time CAF president Issa Hayatou

in March 2017.

Infantino described the election as a “vote of change”.

“It’s about taking football forward, it’s about making progress together,” Infantino told CAF delegates, calling for “a real impact.”

According to reports, Infantino was investigated by the FIFA ethics committee for interfering in the CAF election when he removed leading members of the committee. He later sacked the chairman and members of the ethics committee, effectively ending the probe.

Ahmad said that despite the failure of African nations during the World Cup in Russia, where none of the five African nations made it to the last 16, the continent needed “regular and increased” participation.

“Deep analysis” makes it possible to “see more clearly the various problems that undermine African football,” he said.

Ahmad said that participation (in the World Cup) “stabilises some of the national teams of our continent… and gives them experience.”

Cristiano Ronaldo denies rape allegation After a complaint was filed against Cristiano Ronaldo accusing him of rape, his legal team has responded and threatened action against the party in question.

Kathryn Mayorga spoke publicly for the first time about the alleged incident to Der Spiegel, with the report noting that she has accused the Portuguese international of rape and of paying her $375,000 as an out-of-court settlement.

She claims that the incident took place in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009 and that Cristiano Ronaldo at one point fell to his knees and said: “99 per cent a good guy” who was let down by the “one per cent”.

Unsurprisingly, it hasn’t taken long for Ronaldo’s legal team to issue a response, and as noted by The Telegraph, they have released a statement on the matter and dismissed the allegations as being completely false.

Further, they’ve described them as

‘blatantly illegal’ and have promised to take action themselves against the woman in question for “moral damages in an amount corresponding to the gravity of the infringement, which is probably one of the most serious violations of personal rights in recent years.”

It remains to be seen what the next step is in this situation, with legal proceedings from both sides seemingly not being ruled out now.

Jose Mourinho demands Paul Pogba exit in January Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho wants to see Paul Pogba sold in January.

The Mirror says the warring pair clashed again at training on Wednesday, this time in a running two-minute spat that was captured by TV cameras.

Pogba is desperate to join Barcelona, just two years after returning to United for a then world-record £89 million and Mourinho is as keen to get rid of a man

who was a key member of France’s World Cup-winning squad this summer as soon as possible.

United believe their best chance of receiving a new world-record £200m transfer fee is to wait until next summer, but their manager wants a deal done earlier.

Pogba began and finished the training session, and flicked a ‘V’ sign at photographers later as he drove away from the training ground.

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2018

VOL. 3

NO. 767

N100

What does it take to be a governor in Nigeria?

A governorship election just took place last week in Osun State in which candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) was declared winner by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) after a rerun.

About three months ago, a similar election took place in Ekiti State and the winner of that exercise will be sworn in on 16th October, less than two weeks from today.

There are 36 governors administering the 36 states that make up the Federal Republic of Nigeria in addition to a minister that oversees the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja.

Every year, the Federal Government of Nigeria disburses trillions of Naira to state governors and the FCT administration to take care of the needs of the citizens in those states, in addition to the revenue they generate internally as provided for the country’s constitution.

Yet, everywhere you go across all the states in Nigeria, poverty stares you in the face. Wherever you turn to, you hear and actually see Nigerians groaning because of abject poverty and its attendant suffering. It is the same story from Imo to Lagos, from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri and from Jigawa to Ogun states, there is almost nothing to show that governance is on-going. No value for money and no attempt to build a future for our children.

According to records from the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) in 2017 alone distributed about N5.64trillion to the three tiers of government which are federal, state and local governments.

While the Federal Government according to constitutional provisions took the largest share of the money which is 40.78 percent amounting to about N2.3 trillion, states and FCT received N1.52 trillion while the rest went to the local governments.

The above has been the tradition in Nigeria for many years as trillions of Naira is ‘shared’ annually by the people elected to govern states of Nigeria, yet, Nigeria is neck deep into economic misery while the people suffer all sorts of deprivations and die from preventable diseases because hospitals and other health institutions are not functional, the same with roads that are death traps. All over Nigeria, millions of young and able citizens roam the streets day in day out because they have no job to do which has been the major cause of many forms of delinquent acts as well as criminalities among them.

As I write this piece, many states

Executive Times with Dr. Fidelis Anosike

are owing workers their legitimate salaries with no hope of paying them before many of them will leave office on 29th May, 2019. While some states are owing workers four months, some others are owing up to 12 months while yet others owe nearly 24 months salaries. This is in spite of the fact that the Federal Government has at different times released billions of Naira to each of these states as Paris Club refund, in addition to their statutory allocations and Internally Generated Revenue.

Today in Nigeria, state governments cannot construct common drainages leading to the flooding of many communities this rainy season. Across Nigeria cholera is still killing people in hundreds while children still study under trees in some states because governors cannot provide decent classrooms for them to study. In some states where desertification has continued to expand, governors have failed to heed calls by national and international stakeholders to simply plant trees to mitigate the problem.

When you approach governors and ask why they are not achieving quality results in spite of the huge resources at

“

their disposal, the response they give is that their hands are tied because the law does not allow them exercise full authority within their states.

But according to Chapter 10, Section 13-18 of the 1999 constitution as amended, governors are Chief Executives of their states as well as Chief Security/Law Officers. Their roles as equally spelt out in the constitution include: A. Promotion of democracy and social justice in the State, repeat, social justice B. Promotion of security and welfare of citizens as the primary purpose of Government.

C. Promotion of the participation of the people in their governance, and in accordance with the Constitution D. Promotion of inclusive governance that embrace diverse sections of the citizens, and that respect their cultural diversity and belief systems.

E. Promotion of the integration of all peoples of the State, devoid of any form of discrimination F. Provision of adequate facilities, goods and services that improve the

To be a successful governor depends on the readiness of individual for governance by first acquiring the requisite academic and other trainings, garnering experiences from work and other social interactions as well as having the intellectual and mental health required to make plans, discern and predict their possible outcomes and therefore execute them without fear or favour; and most importantly, the consciousness to align themselves to why they are governors

”

well-being of all citizens G. Elimination of all forms of corrupt practices and abuse of power H. Promotion of State economy and efficiency in such a manner as to secure maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of all citizens I. Promotion of planned and balanced economy to ensure equity in the distribution of resources to all citizens, and the decentralization of the means of production and exchange in the control of many citizens.

J. Provision of adequate shelter, food, resources, wages, education and health facilities to all citizens, including those with special needs.

K. Provision of easily accessible, independent and impartial Court of Justice, etc But constitutional provision is one thing, having the capacity to be a governor in the true sense of the word is another. To be a successful governor depends on the readiness of individual for governance by first acquiring the requisite academic and other trainings, garnering experiences from work and other social interactions as well as having the intellectual and mental health required to make plans, discern and predict their possible outcomes and therefore execute them without fear or favour; and most importantly, the consciousness to align themselves to why they are governors.

Added to the above is the willingness of the governor to have the open mind that enables him look for and hire the best hands to form a cabinet that would become a performing team of men and women committed and dedicated to achieving goals.

It is the near lack of good governance at the state level and the many social challenges resulting from it that provokes the question- what does it take to be a governor in Nigeria? Is the aim of becoming a governor just to be the legitimate collector of a state’s portion of Nigeria’s oil rent from Abuja, go home and spend it, anyhow you like?

In the last few years, one would hardly point at a landmark project put in place by any governor in Nigeria that is attracting national and international applause. It has always been ‘patchpatch’ work here and there as little projects like drilling of boreholes, renovation of dilapidated schools and similar things are commissioned by these governors with fanfare. Where then is all the trillions of Naira shared annually spent? And what planet are we from?

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS Plc. Corporate Office: 9 Osun Crescent, Maitama, Abuja Email: info@dailytimes.ng; DTNcontent@gmail.com Managing Editor: BONAVENTURE MELAH, Tel: 08036062975, Editor: TONY AMOKEODO, Tel: 08111811228, Email: tonyamok@gmail.com