Dtn 6 5 16

N165bn monthly salaries of federal civil servants not sustainable - Adeosun ÎÎÎMinister of Finance, Kemi Adeo-

sun said on Thursday in Lagos that the N165 billion monthly salaries to federal civil servants was over-bloated and could no longer be sustained by govern-

ment.

The minister spoke at a meeting with Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) hosted by her counterpart in the Ministry of Information and

Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

Adeosun who was speaking on the economy reform agenda of the government, said that the N165 billion being paid to federal civil servants monthly

represented 40 per cent of the total spending of government.

She said the figure was too high and government was pursuing aggressive Continued on page 6

dailytimesng

https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts

www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016 VOL. 2. NO. 103

GAINERS

N150

LOSERS

NSE GAINERS AND LOSERS AS AT 5th May, 2016.

FIDELITYBK

1.12

0.07

6.67%

FO

199.48

9.48

4.99%

TRANSEXPR

1.03

-0.10

-8.85%

NB

115.32

-6.68

-5.48%

MAYBAKER

0.84

0.04

5.00%

CONOIL

17.27

0.82

4.98%

CCNN

6.99

-0.46

-6.17%

PORTPAINT

2.28

-0.12

-5.00%

EFCC releases Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo g12

Boko Haram: Buhari g8 saved Borno people from extinction – Shettima

Army Court Martials 2 Generals g7 for indiscipline

Homto Dokpesi Lady of many parts

gL1

After Forcados, group blows up oil platform

Opeoluwani Akintayo Ï 9 ƏƆ Ƒ Əƈô Ɛ ƏƆ Ɛ Ɛ ƐƏƆ Ɛ ƒ Ɨ Ƌ ƋƈƊƆ Ɗ 6 Ə ƌ ƈ ƑƏ Ɔ Ɛ Ï j Ɔ ƌƈƋƈƐ Əƕ ƅ ôƐ ƍƏ ƐƆƅƐ ƕ ƑƏ Ƈ ƅƈƋƈƐƈƆ è Ə Ƒƍ ƐƆƋƋ ƈ ƐƆƏ Ɛƈ Ƌ ƈƋ ƇƈƏƌ ÎÎÎA Chevron-operated facility located the high sea near Escravos in Warri Ï ój ƋƊ Ɛ 01 Ɛ ƌƆƆƐ ƑƏ ƗƆƌ Ɨ ƆƋ Ɔ ƌ ƏƆ ƌƈ ƍ ƓƈƋƋ ƄƆƇ ƋƋ ƕ ƑƏ ƈ Ɛ ƋƋ Ɛƈ ô on South-West council area of Delta state Ï &ƇƇ ƏƐ ƄƆƈ ƈ ƐƆ ƈƇƈƆƗ Ɛ ƐƏ ƅƊ Ɛ Ɔ ƍƆƏƍƆƐƏ Ɛ Ə è ƕ M ƒƕô ƍ ƊƆ ƌ Continued on page 6

L-R: Executive Director, Shared Services & Products, Chijioke Ugochukwu; Ag. Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Alhaji Mohammed Balarabe; Chairman, Board of Directors, Chief (Dr.) Christopher Ezeh and Company Secretary, Ezinwa Unuigboje at the 28th Annual General Meeting of Fidelity Bank Plc in Lagos … on Thursday.

Alleged $40m scam: Jonathan’s cousin petitions Reps against EFCC g12

2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Page Three Æ s

3

Editorial The price of darkness (5)

N

igeria is a country of paradoxes- a rich country but with citizens among the poorest in the world. Blessed with enormous human and natural resources that would be the envy of many less endowed countries, yet, Nigeria is known more for official sleaze, corruption, fraud and monumental governmental incompetence. Nowhere is the Nigerian striving for poor performance more glaring than the lack of critical infrastructure in the towns, cities and rural communities across the country. While the population is growing at geometrical rate, the provision of critical infrastructure continues to move at arithmetical pace.

Result is that majority of our urban centres look more like unplanned massive ghettoes where rising crimes and other social vices have become part of everyday life.

Such increase in anti-social behaviours is the fallout from a frustrating lack of employment opportunities among residents brought about by the shortage or absence of power to keep the engine of economic activities humming. A walk on the streets of major cities as Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and Enugu would reveal the stark dangers posed to the society from millions of frustrated unemployed Nigerians milling aimlessly in search of limited or non-existing economic opportunities.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of these people are young and educated who after years in institutions of higher learning are left to the vagaries and uncertainties of the Nigerian society to fend for themselves.

Even when most of them are willing, entrepreneurial and enterprising to become self-employed, they face the reality of lack of power to put their creative abilities to positive use. Invariably, they are held hostage by inability of the authorities to provide enough electricity for the generation

of employment and national development. Unfortunately, many now see their future as not only bleak, their faith in the country’s ability to rise up to the challenges of development continues to diminish with every passing day.

Is it any wonder that most have taken to armed robbery, cultism, kidnapping, advanced fee fraud, insurgency, human ritual, human trafficking and prostitution as ways of making a living? Today, the society is paying a high price for shutting out a very large and virile segment of its population from contributing to national development by failing to provide power to keep them busy and productive.

According to the Nigerian Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the official overall unemployment rate of the country has increased to 10 percent. However, the unofficial figure puts youth unemployment as high as 70 percent.

Definitely, no one needs to be told that these Nigerians are willing to work if the enabling environment is provided for them. Increasingly, it looks like the hope of getting this productive labour back to work is fast receding, especially in the light of official nonchalance to their plight, which has to do with refusal to provide power for job creation. Even night life in our cities and towns are not only slowly grinding to a halt, the mere approach of darkness brings fears and trepidation among residents.

At night, muggers and robbers take over the highways and streets, as majority of the people retire indoors for fear of attacks and other harms. As a result, commercial and social activities are negatively affected. It bears repeating that unless concerted efforts are made by the authorities to give power generation and supply of power a pride of place in national development, the economy and people’s welfare will remain perpetually in the doldrums.

Daily/ Online Editor Biodun Durojaiye

Group News Editor Segun Adio

Group Managing Director Noel Anosike

Deputy Editor/Southern Bureau Chief Sam Nzeh

Politics Editor Akintola Akinjide

Commercial and Business Development Manager David Morisade Adeagbo 09086207410

Asst. Business Dev. Manager Yetunde Oyelude 08033600907 Group Head Commercial & Marketing Konnie Agu 09033765031

Dep. Commercial and Business Dev. Manager Ifeanyi Emefu 08086296714

Group Head Business & Special Project Christelle Mande 08088144613

Dep. Business Dev. Manager Bello Ganiyu 08037272933

Adverts/Partnerships/ Corporate Subscription 09033765031

Head, Graphics/Design King Ododoru Technical Adviser To Publisher Innocent Nwankwo

Laureta Airamoehi 08028554956

More info: www.dailytimes.ng https://plus.google.com/+DailytimesNgr/posts https://twitter.com/DailyTimesNGR

L-R: Minister of Environment, Hajia Aminat Muhammed; Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed; President, Newspapers Proprietors Association of Nigeria [NPAN] Nduka Obaigbena and Minister of Agriculture, Prince Audu Ogbe, at the meeting of NPAN with the Ministers on the state of the nation and the way forward, in Lagos... on Thursday.

Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, President of African Development Bank (right) and Olusegun Awolowo, Executive Director/CEO of NEPC during a strategic meeting and presentation of Zero Oil Plan Initiative at Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire

Words On Marble :

Publisher/Editor in Chief – Fidelis Anosike

Ag Deputy Editor/ Northern Bureau Chief Lateef Ibrahim

L-R: Minister of Agriculture, Prince Audu Ogbe; Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun; Publisher of Daily Times, Mr. Fidelis Anosike; Minister of Information & Culture, Alhaji Lai Muhammed and Minister of Environment, Hajia Aminat Muhammed at the meeting of NPAN with the Ministers on the state of the nation and the way forward, in Lagos... on Thursday.

dailytimesng www.facebook.com/dailytimesngr

STATEMENTS BY THOSE WHO MATTER

Nnamdi Azikiwe

Obafemi Awolowo

Aminu Kano

“No matter how old an individual may be, no matter if he is young or old, if he thinks in accordance with the times he is immortal.”

“Violence never settles anything right: apart from injuring your own soul, it injures the best cause.”

“The road to freedom is full of thorns and fire, yet happy is he who follows it!

4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

5

News 6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

After Forcados, N’Delta group blows up Escravos Continued from page 1 was late Wednesday blown up.

A new militant group known as Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) has claimed responsibility for the attack.

The group had also claimed responsibility for an attack on Shell under-water pipeline at Forcados in February, leading to the oil company declaring a force majeure and shutting the 250,000 barrel-a-day export terminal for weeks.

In claiming responsibility for the Forcados terminal attack in February, the group had stated that: “We take no pleasure in claiming innocent lives hence our struggle is geared toward attacking the oil installation in our region and not the people. And we shall stop at nothing until our goal is achieved.”

The late Wednesday attack came after the Forcados attack and less than three weeks after President Muhammadu Buhari threatened to treat pipeline

vandals like Boko Haram militants.

“The government is still being dared, but those who are sensible should have learnt a lesson. Those who are mad, let them continue in their madness,” Buhari had told some Nigerians resident in China.

Continuing, the President had said; “I am aware that in the last two weeks, the national grid collapsed a number of times. I hope this message will reach the vandals and saboteurs who are

blowing up pipelines and installations. We will deal with them the way we dealt with Boko Haram.”

The Okan gas/condensate platform facility attacked by NDA late Wednesday night is a joint venture between Chevron and Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

“The facility is currently shut-in and we are assessing the situation, and have deployed resources to respond to a resulting spill,” Chevron said. Okan is a component of

the company’s Escravos gas operations.

An oil expert described the attack as a major setback to the country’s oil production, saying the facility is among the company’s most significant platforms.

Claiming responsibility for the latest attack on Thursday, the group in a statement posted on its website signed by one Col. Madoch Agninibo, threatened to carry out other attacks on oil installations outside the Niger Delta in Abuja and Lagos.

They threatened the multinational oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to prevail on the Federal Government to meet their demands. The demand were stated in a statement released on their website.

“At about 10:40pm on Wednesday the Niger Delta Avengers blew up the Chevron valve platform. This platform is the most significant platform for chevron

because it’s the main connecting point where all other platforms link up and it’s a fulcrum to chevron BOP and the Chevron Tank farm.

With the valve platform blown all chevron activities are now halted.

“This is what we promised the Nigeria Government that since they refuse to listen to us we are going to zero the economy of the country.

“As for zeroing the Nigeria economy we the Niger delta avengers are done with delta state major oil installations.

Now we are taking the fight out of the creeks of the Niger Delta. We are taking it to Abuja and Lagos now.

“We want to pass this message to the all international oil companies operating in the Niger Delta that the Nigeria Military can’t protect your facilities. They should talk to the federal government to meet our demands else more mishaps will befall Continued on page 12

EFCC releases Fidelity Bank MD, Nnamdi Okonkwo Motolani Oseni Traffic gridlock at Ozumba Mbadiwe Road, Victoria Island, Lagos… on Thursday.

Photo: BOLAJI OLASUNKANMI

N165bn monthly salaries of federal civil servants not sustainable - Adeosun Continued from page 1 measures to detect and prosecute ghost workers and other saboteurs in the system. ``We spend 165 billion every month on salaries and when I came in there was no checking. ``Now, we have created a unit assigned with the sole responsibility of checking the salaries and catching those behind the over bloated salaries,’’ she said.

Adeosun said that the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS) introduced by the previous administration were faulty and sabotaged by the element benefitting from the salary fraud.

She said that many Federal Government establishments including the Police were yet to be captured in the system.

According to her, it is shocking that the Nigerian Railway

Corporation which was not fully functioning still had 10,000 workers in its payroll serviced by government.

The minister assured that government would correct the anomalies in the payroll system and weed out all ghost workers in the service.

Adeosun said that the fiscal focus of the administration was to ensure an economic growth that would be measured on job creation and productive sectors. ``The economy is not measured by how many private jet we have but how many jobs we create ``People must be productive for the economy to grow. ``We have been a consumer economy, but we want to be productive and stop buying everything from abroad. ``We have been borrowing to pay salaries for years and that has to stop because it is not sustainable.

``Last year, we spent N64 billion on travelling and only N90 billion on roads. Travelling does not grow the economy and this must also stop,’’ she said.

The minister said that the compound GDP of the country had been growing negatively in the last 10 years and the administration was working to correct the trend.

She assured that the administration would be the most discipline government the country has ever had in terms of fiscal accountability and responsibility.

Also speaking at the meeting, the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh said government would reposition the agricultural sector to become the mainstay of the economy. ``The ministry will give policy direction and coordination to make farming attractive and for people to practice it as business.

``Government will put policy in place to recover the 22 billion dollars which is floating out of the country’s resources to sustain farms in other countries back to our villages. ``Government will also ensure that bank review the two digits interest rate on loan to farmers and other productive sector. ``The change promised may appear to be slow, but it is actually taking place. In this year, we have harvested million tons of rice,’’ he said.

The Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed said government would complete the clean-up of the Ogoni land in the next one year and ensure the degraded land was revived for productive purposes.

She said the Great Green Wall project of planting trees to control desert encroachment would also be given priority by the administration.

Continued on page 12

ÎÎÎFollowing over a week

of detention, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Thursday evening released the Managing Director of Fidelity Bank Plc, Mr. Nnamdi Okonkwo.

Okonkwo was alleged to have received $115 million in deposits to the bank from former Petroleum Resources Minister, Diezani Allison-Madueke and allegedly helped to disburse money from this to electoral officials.

Okonkwo was picked up for failing to report the matter to the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit, NFIU, as required by the law. However, the management of the bank last week said the transactions were duly reported as required by the regulators.

A very reliable source close to the bank confirmed Okonkwo’s release on Thursday evening to Daily Times. It was however not certain as at Thursday night whether Okonkwo will return to his position as Managing Director.

The bank had on Tuesday named Alhaji Mohammed Lawal Balarabe as acting Managing Director subject to regulatory approval. Balarabe was until his appointment the Executive Director, North, Fidelity Bank.

Recall that in a statement on Okonkwo’s arrest last week, the management of Fidelity Bank said its “attention has been drawn to reports in the media on investigations into transactions undertaken by the Bank in the normal course of business in 2015.”

“The transactions are now the subject matter of investigations by the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

“We can confirm that the transactions were duly reported as required by the regulators and the Bank is cooperating fully with the authorities on the investigation.

“We assure our numerous stakeholders, including our customers that we are working assiduously towards a quick resolution of the issues, the bank added.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

EFCC witness denies giving ex-Gov Suswam $15.8m Andrew orolua Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

trial of former Benue State governor, Chief Gabriel Suswan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on an alleged N3.1 billion fraud, ran into a hitch on Thursday due to emanating contradicting evidence from the prosecution witness.

The trial, holding at the Federal High Court in Abuja, had to be cut short by the prosecution counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), in order to save the trial from derailing completely.

At the resumed hearing, a prosecution witness, Mallam Abubakar Umar had told the court how he allegedly received phone calls from Suswam in August 2014 for a business deal at his Maitama residence in Abuja.

Led in evidence by Ja-

cobs, the witness, a Bureau De Change operator, trading under the name Fanfash Resources Ltd. Abuja, told Justice Ahmed Mohammed how N3.1bn was paid into his company’s account in tranches by an unnamed aide of the former governor.

The witness further testified that he was mandated by the unnamed aide to convert the said N3.1b into US Dollars at the then exchange rate of 197 to a dollar.

The Bureau de Change operator told the court that in the end, the sum of 15.8m dollars was realised at the end of the exchange.

Trouble, however, started for the prosecution when the witness who had earlier in his statement to EFCC admitted that the $15.8m dollars was taken to the residence of the former governor in Maitama, Abuja, made a dramatic U-turn by informing the court that the

Gabriel Suswam said sum was taking to Government House, in Makurdi, Benue State.

Efforts by Jacobs to rationalise the evidence of the witness were unsuccessful as Umar insisted that the money was delivered to Government House in Benue State, and not the Abuja residence of the former governor.

The witness also refused to yield to the claim of the prosecution that the $15.8m dollars cash was delivered to the person of Suswan.

At this stage, Jacobs, the EFCC lead Counsel became

uncomfortable with contradictions in the evidence of the witness, who stood his ground, that he did not deliver the huge sum either to Suswan as a person or to his house in Maitama, Abuja.

In the bid to save the trial from being collapsed by the witness due to the contradictions, Jacobs applied to Justice Mohammed to cut the trial short for him and grant him adjournment to enable him put his house in order.

“I want to seek adjournment of this trial, this witness is being interfered with by the opposing party. I want to put my house in order so I need an adjournment.

“I have the option of charging this witness to court for criminal offence along with other accused persons but I did not do so.

But if he thinks he can do what he is doing now, I too know what to do” he said.

7 News

Traffic gridlock: Lagos demolishes 84 gated streets ÎÎÎNot less than 84 gated

streets have been demolished by the Lagos State government to further ease traffic gridlocks in the metropolis by allowing access to inner routes.

According to the state government, the demolished 84 street gates were pulled down because the gates were shut against motorists before 12 midnight deadline it stipulated.

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Musliu Folami disclosed this at a news conference on Thursday, in Ikeja, Lagos.

He said out of the 148 street gates earmarked for

demolition across the state, 84 of them had been pulled down for failing to abide by government’s instruction to leave them open till 12 midnight.

The commissioner warned landlords and others who normally lock their street gates before 12 midnight to prevent motorists from plying them to desist from such immediately as government would demolish such gates forcefully for refusal to comply.

He said because of the dispute arising from land, the state government had begun to erect signposts to mark out its land from that of Ogun State to avoid encroachment.

A’ Court reserves judgment on Metuh, Kalu’s appeals Andrew Orolua Abuja

ÎÎÎThe Court of Appeal, on

Thursday, reserved its judgment on the appeals filed by Olisa Metuh and Destra Investment Ltd challenging the decision of the Federal High Court to try them on charges of money laundering and fraud over N400m paid into their bank account by the Office of National Security Adviser.

Olisa Metuh, the spokesman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and his company Destra Investment Ltd, had filed separate appeals at the Abuja Division of the Court of Appeal, after Justice Okon Abang of

the Federal High Court had dismissed their no case submission over the alleged offences.

Justice Abdul Aboki whose three man panel of justices of Court of Appeal heard the appeals on Thursday, said that a date for the judgment will be communicated to the parties through their counsel.

Metuh, through his counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN), has prayed the court of appeal to set aside the ruling of the Federal High Court, Abuja, dated March 9th. 2016 that Metuh has a case to answer in the N400 million charge brought against him by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Assembly crisis: Reps knock Minister, to legislate for Kogi Henry Omunu Abuja

A lone accident along Kubwa Expressway in Abuja… on Thursday.

Army Court Martials 2 Generals ÎÎÎThe Nigerian Army, on

Thursday, inaugurated a Special Court Martial to try two of its officers for undisclosed offences.

The Judge advocate, Col. Ibrahim Musa, administered the oath on the President of the Special Court Martial, Air Vice-Marshal James Gbum and three others.

Musa said that the purpose of the special court was to try two of army officers,

Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Sanni and Maj.-Gen. Patrick Falola.

Reading the conveying order for the court from the Chief of Army Staff, Musa said ``by the power conferred on me by Lt.-Gen. Tukur Buratai, I hereby conveyed this speech to every one of you in this Special Court. ``This court is saddled with the responsibility of trying the two officers’’.

On behalf of the spe-

cial court members, Gum promised that they would discharge their duties in accordance with the 1999 Constitution as amended.

He said that the court would also take the Armed Forces Act, Service Evidence Act, Military Law and Rule of Procedure for trials into cognisance.

The president assured of speedy dispensation of justice, acknowledging that

``justice delayed is justice denied’’.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the officers’ offences were however, not stated but lead counsel to the Nigerian Army, Col. Ukpe Ukpe, said that the trial would commence on Monday.

Ukpe appeared with five other counsels for the army, while two accused officers were represented by two counsels.

ÎÎÎThe

House of Representatives, on Thursday, formally took over the legislative functions of the Kogi State House of Assembly following the leadership crisis rocking the state legislature.

Adopting the report of the ad hoc committee set up to mediate the crisis that engulfed the Kogi House of Assembly, the House directed the state governor, Yahaya Bello to forward the budget of the state and other executive bills to the National Assembly for consideration as stipulated in Section 11 of the 1999 Constitution as

amended.

Also, the House declared as null and void all the resolutions, laws and actions taken by the state assembly from the date of the National Assembly’s resolution, ordering the nation’s police boss to seal the assembly complex.

The House further reprimanded the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami for undermining the authority of the National Assembly following his advice to the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase, to disregard and reverse the directive of the National Assembly to seal the state assembly complex.

8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Politics

Æs

Yar’Adua’s 6th Anniversary: Jonathan elugises late boss, says he lost a partner in democracy

Jonathan

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has paid glowing tributes to his late boss, ex-President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, who passed on exactly six years ago, May 5, 2010.

Jonathan on Thursday took to his Facebook page and eulogised Yar’adua, whom he described him as a servant leader and a stickler for the rule of law.

According to him, he had lost a

dear friend and partner in democracy, peace and progress, six years ago.

His words: “Six years ago, I lost a dear friend and partner in democracy, peace and progress. President Umaru Musa Yar’adua was a servant leader and a stickler for the rule of law. He may be gone but he is never to be forgotten. I pray for his soul and for him to rest in al

Jannah firdaus.”

The late president who took over from former President Olusegun Obasanjo on May 29, 2007 was born August 16, 1951.

He was the 13th President of Nigeria. He had served as Governor of Katsina State from May 29, 1999 to May 28, 2007. He was declared winner of the presidential election held on April 21, 2007, after beating then General

Muhammadu Buhari and was sworn in on May 29, 2007. He was a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). In 2009, Yar’Adua was flown to Saudi Arabia to receive treatment for his ailment which had defied local healthcare. He was returned to Nigeria on May 2, 2010, and died on the May 5, 2010, which paved the way for the emergence of former President Jonathan.

Boko Haram: Buhari saved Borno people from extinction - Shettima Borno State Governor, Kashim Shettima, said the people of the state were saved from extinction by the victory of President Muhammadu Buhari at last year’s general election.

According to him, by the victory, President Buhari, in less than a year, was able to contain the murderous Boko Haram insurgents which former President Goodluck Jonathan and his predecessor was incapable of tackling over the years.

This is just as the federal government announced that all the goods seized by the Nigerian Customs would be distributed to Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), mostly to those returning to the liberated towns in parts of the North-east.

According to Shettima, had the result gone otherwise, with Jonathan victorious, the people would have fled from the state by now and this would have left the state deserted, and called on the people to show their dissatisfaction towards those politicians

Sheriff

who abandoned them at the peak of the crisis.

Speaking in Hausa at the commencement of distribution of relief materials in Maiduguri by the National Logistics Committee on Distribution of Relief Materials, Shettima said: “The politicians who left us to our troubles in the last five years only to come back when peace has returned to the state to tell us that Jonathan’s administration was better than the present should be stoned just like the Satan is stoned at the Kaaba.”

Earlier, the Presidential Committee on the Distribution of Relief Materials to the IDPs, said that the goods seized by the Nigerian Customs would be distributed to mostly the persons returning to the liberated towns in parts of the North-east.

The Chairman of the Committee, ACG Sanusi Usman, announced this when he led other members to visit the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt-Gen. Tukur Buratai, at the Military Command and Control Centre (MCC), Maiduguri, Borno State.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 10

Crisis looms in PDP over zoning of PDP chairmanship to North-East

Buhari

Crisis is brewing in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over the recent zoning of the National Chairmanship of the party by the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party.

This is coming as a group of concerned leaders in the north within the party has criticised the zoning arrangement warn-

ing that it portends danger for the planned resuscitation of the party and signals a return to the dark days.

The group, Peoples Democratic Party Concerned Leaders observed that zoning of the party’s national chairmanship position to the North-East was inconsistent with the original principles

of the party.

According to a statement in Abuja by Chairman of the group and former governor of Niger State, Dr Babangida Aliyu, the leaders, made the observation after its meeting held to examine the current developments in the party.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 9

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

9 Politics

PDP’s temporary setback will soon be history - Party Chieftain Mr. Anele Wachukwu, a chieftain of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers State has expressed optimism that the party’s present travails were temporary and would soon be history. Besides, he said the party has no opposition in the state as it is a household party in all the nooks and crannies of the state.

Wachukwu who stated this in Port Harcourt in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), while speaking on the ongoing congress of the party described PDP as the biggest political party in Africa, saying that its set back was a temporary one that would soon be history.

“PDP is on ground in not only Rivers but most of South-South and South-East states, with over 80 per cent membership strength.

“We are very rooted in Rivers

‘‘Described PDP as the biggest political party in Africa, saying that its set back was a temporary one that would soon be history.’’ that is why the party will always win in any kind of elections at any time in the state”, he said.

The party chieftain, who expressed optimism in the ability of the party to transform the state for the better, said that Gov. Nyesom Wike had delivered in less than one year in office.

Wachukwu called on Rivers people to continue to support the party, adding that only a col-

lective effort of all stakeholders would bring about the desired development.

He explained that democratisation process was a people-oriented process, which required the collaboration of everyone for progress irrespective of party affiliations.

The politician urged Nigerians to exercise patience with the present APC-led Federal Government.

Oladipo

Buhari’s China visit will yield fruits soon –Oyegun Tom Okpe, Abuja

National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has described China as a very serious country that makes commitment and fulfills it adding that he was sure that as soon as the National Budget was passed, the result of President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit would manifest especially in the area of infrastructure and Agriculture.

Chief John Odigie-Oyegun spoke when the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiajie, visited the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja on Thursday.

His words: “I must say that the result of the visit of our president was something that has given us a lot of joy because substantial agreements were recorded which in the next few months, knowing China as a very serious country, they make commitment and fulfill them, as soon as our budget comes on stream, we’ll be able to see the practical results on ground particularly in the area of infrastructure and Agriculture.

“On party-to-party basis, we have listened to you and accept your offer, even if it is only to come and learn how you have managed the menace of corrup-

tion which you are dealing with strictly, he added.

He praised the Ambassador saying: “What is important is that, you have managed successfully to lay a firm foundation.

It was in your time that the relationship between Nigeria and China become meaningfully solidified. It is in your time that the president of the federal republic of Nigeria visited China and came back with very significant agreements that will affect every facet of the Nigeria’s Economy”.

On his part, the Ambassador said after celebrating 10th anniversary of strategic partnership between China and Nigeria last

year, President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to Republic of China was the most significant event where both leaders talked about what is happening in the two countries.

The Ambassador said: “The Chinese leaders appreciate the policy initiatives of Nigeria’s government on anti-corruption, economic development and also peace and stability. The Chinese government and the people are ready to work very closely with Nigeria in implementing policy initiatives that exist between the two countries and others we may identify like exchange of views on governance and party

Crisis looms in PDP over zoning CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

It stated that the group reviewed developments in PDP with special reference to ongoing congresses, which would culminate in the forthcoming national convention of the party.

“We observed that the procedure and conduct of the congresses nationwide were flawed with resultant disaffection and disagreements.

“We also observed that the current zoning formula for the position of National Chairman

as adopted by only one-third of National Executive Committee (NEC) is inconsistent with the original PDP principles,” the statement said.

The group, therefore, called on the party national leadership to postpone the convention and address the issues it had raised.

“In consonance therefore, the group unanimously resolved and call for the postponement of the national convention.

“We also appeal to the leadership of the party to revisit these fundamental issues to en-

able the party to organize and conduct a more cohesive and acceptable national convention”, it stressed.

It stated that the call was necessary to avert the situation whereby aggrieved members may be compelled to organize parallel congresses and convention. Members of the group, the statement said, were Dr Bala Mohammed, Mrs Zainab Maina, John Odey, Sulaiman Abubakar, Capt. Hassan Mohammed (rtd), Saidu Idris, Dr Bolere Ketebu and Mr Kaulaha Aliyu.

Aliyu

to party relations between APC and the Communist Party of China.

“These are areas the Chinese government and the Chinese business community will be working on here in Nigeria. I’m very impressed in the achievements we’ve recorded in the last two years. I’ll like to take this opportunity to appreciate the assistance given by the government of Nigeria to do my duties here. “Ever since APC won the election last year, Chinese Communist party has expressed its readiness to work with APC in areas like experience sharing and capacity building.

Politics 10

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

How Buhari bared Borno people from extinction — Shettima ‘‘The purpose is to ensure that this platform created by the President is well distributed to the affected areas and not only to the IDPs but mostly to the villages so that the people can go back to their villages.’’

Shettima

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 8

Usman said that the committee was constituted to ensure that the materials were well distributed to the where they are needed, especially to those villages where people are returning.

According to him, the aim was to encourage people to return to the liberated towns and ensure that those who have returned are not in lack of the basic necessities of life.

He said: “It was proposed that all the seized goods should be distributed to the IDPs. The purpose is to ensure that this platform created by the President is well distributed to the affected areas and not only to the IDPs but mostly to the villages so that the people can go back to their villages.

“We have found out from our experience from the visit to Yobe State that there is no need to concentrate on the IDPs but mostly to the villages as most of them are increasingly returning to their communities. Its in this state that many saw the devastation of Boko Haram and were moved.

“We assure that these products ceased will be distributed accordingly as we have done in Adamawa and some to Edo State.

In Yobe State, we went to Buni Yadi where live is returning to

normal. Borno State is very significant because we have about 10 border posts,” he added.

Responding, Buratai commended the federal government for what he described as the “laudable initiative to make this available for the affected people.”

According to him, those that are in need and deprived by Boko Haram of their livelihood would be catered for through the Committee’s efforts.

He noted that the work of the committee will also be complementary to the operations of the military to bring life back to the liberated areas.

“These are people that have been displaced by Boko Haram for a long time and this approach will help them settle back to their villages. This will also assist the military in our operations as when people settle down it will help us to quickly move to the other areas of operation.

“So far, the distribution has been going on smoothly and it will encourage people to go back to their hamlets and villages.

Also, the issues of medical supply will be useful to them as well as building materials that will make them to settle down quickly. I commend President Muhammadu Buhari for all he is doing to ensure that Boko Haram menace is brought to an end,” he said.

Lagos popular politician, Ademola Adeniji-Adele dies in India Ï ƎƆƈƏè Ǝ Ƅƍ Ɗ Əƍ Popular politician and former Lagos Island Local Government Chairman and Commissioner of Sports, in Lagos State, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele has died in India following a protracted illness. He was aged 60.

Adeniji-Adele, a flamboyant politician during his days, according to his son, Hon, Sultan Adeniji Adele, who confirmed the death, disclosed that his father passed on at about 6:00am Nigerian time in an Indian hospital on Thursday.

According to Sultan AdenijiAdele’s message: “Good morning every one, My dad, Prince Ademola Adeniji-Adele this morning passed on in India, may almighty Allah grant him Aljanah fidau.

Hon. Sultan Adeniji-Adele.”

Adele, a Prince of Lagos ruling house, was a very prominent figure in the politics and sports administration in the state and Nigeria. He had played prominent roles in the defunct United Nigeria Congress Party (UNCP) during the Abacha days and also served as a deputy gubernatorial candidate under the Peoples

Democratic Party, (PDP) before joining the All Progressives Congress, (APC).

Family sources said his remains would soon be flown home for a befitting burial in accordance with Islamic rites. Prince Adeniji-Adele, is survived by wife, Tawakalitu and many children.

Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar described the death as a loss not only to Lagos State and his family, but also the prodemocracy community in the country.

In a tribute issued by his media office in Abuja the former Vice President noted that the late Adeniji-Adele would be remembered for his gallant role to free Nigeria from repressive military rule during the era of General Sani Abacha.

Atiku recalled that opposing military rule was the greatest risk anyone could take, but said he was impressed, Adeniji-Adele was not deterred by those risks.

“It is on record that he did not criticise military rule from a safe distance, but joined the determined and like-minded group of Nigerians who stood in the firing line to extricate democracy from

“Good morning every one, My dad, Prince Ademola AdenijiAdele this morning passed on in India, may almighty Allah grant him Aljanah fidau. Hon. Sultan Adeniji-Adele.” the shackles of military dictatorship.”

According to Atiku, “Nigerians are today enjoying the fruits of the sacrifices made by pro-democracy activists like the late Adeniji-Adele who stood up to military despotism at a time one’s life would be snuffed out with impunity.

Adeniji-Adele

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Buhari’s four-point mandate from God — Rev Akinadewo

Akinadewo

Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr A young Nigerian prophet and head of a white garment Spiritual Movement Motailatu Church of Christ Worldwide in Okeira, Ogba area of Lagos has unveiled that President Muhammadu Buhari has a four-point divine mandate from God to salvage, recover, restructure and save Nigeria.

The pastor evangelist, Reverend James Akinadewo who spoke with The Daily Times at his Lagos District Headquarters therefore called on Buhari to brace up to take Nigeria to the Promised Land.

“Buhari must be ready to tackle corruption and other vices because this is a divine mandate from God and he must be ready to do it because Nigeria, under his administration MUST WORK. “Tell Buhari that this is a chance given him by God; therefore, this country must be better under his leadership this time around. God knows his ability, so he must decide that

“Buhari must be ready to tackle corruption and other vices because this is a divine mandate from God and he must be ready to do it because Nigeria, under his administration MUST WORK.’’ things must change under his command because the groaning, frustration and despair of Nigerians have hit their peak in the land.

“Buhari should remember certain orders he established when he was military head of state in the 80s and Nigerians keyed into it and they were good; that only happened because he was determined.

“He needs that rugged deter-

mination now than at that time.

He must be firm, uncompromising and must not be afraid to do anything to correct the rot in the system. Leaders must show that they have liver so he must not be afraid to step on toes.

This is a life time opportunity for him to salvage and transform Nigeria.

“God said: ‘if My people will acknowledge their sins and repent, if they call upon Me and

11 Politics

do My will, I will save them and heal their land.’ So, if Buhari will decide to seek God and do His will now, others under him will follow and this country will be transformed before our eyes”, he added.

Reflecting on how Nigeria glided so fast into mindboggling corruption and sudden upsurge of insurgency and massive destruction of lives and properties that have characterised our daily life, Akinadewo said: “we are the product of our society.

“The problems with Nigeria are Nigerians themselves because we are not sincere. We have problem of bad leadership, wastefulness and impunity. Nigerians know the truth but we are not doing it because we are far from a sincere people.

“We are a people of bad leaders and bad followers and until we change this orientation and do things the right way, there will be no change. So if Nigerians desire the change God has appointed Buhari to give us, we all as a people must act right and do things right: it is then we can get the blessing and the rightful results from God.” Inspite of massive bloodsheds by insurgents in the Northeast and lately the Fulani herdsmen now in the Southeast and Southwest, Akinadewo said he believes God still rules in the affairs of men, begging the question as to whether God do visit evil upon a people.

“It is the evil that people do that they will get the result. Like we see our leaders celebrating corruption and Godlessness in high places, you can’t continue to do evil and expect God to give you good results.

“When God puts leaders in a position, they are expected to perform and do the will of God; but once they deviate from God’s purpose, the people will face problems like we are experiencing in our generation.

“Now, God put President Muhammadu Buhari there this time around and the same God expects him to do the right thing. We don’t expect God to come down and do what we can do ourselves. See for example, God has provided security for the nation, but people in charge diverted the money, and when trouble started, they could not sustain the security.

“The change we want must start with the leaders; they should turn a new leaf and do things right. President Muhammadu Buhari must decide that this country must work because God sent him at this time to salvage Nigeria”, he stressed.

Unemployment a time bomb Addressing the worrisome

state of unemployment in the country, the Reverend observed that there are millions of employable but unemployed youths all over the country.

“That is a time bomb. Once the leaders and the led, young and old take a decision that this country must work, the collective will and determination will make it work and it will begin with you and me”, he said.

Akinadewo revealed that the Motailatu Church has rescued about 10,000 youths from the streets.

“This ministry has taken over 10,000 youths mostly drug addicts and the delinquents off the streets in Ogba, other parts of Lagos, and outside the state when we go for evangelism. We have empowered over 5,000 youths apart from others God has used us to bless. Drug addicts are delivered, those oppressed by the devil are saved and they are spiritually empowered and shown the light.

“Therefore religious bodies must not be left out of it; every denomination must be involved.

The people in government, corporate organisations, NGOs and all individuals must come to an agreement that this country must change, encourage and empower poor and depopulate the army of idle able bodied youths in the country”, he stressed.

Threatened co-existence On the amalgamation of the country by the British and the onslaught of the Fulani herdsmen, Akinadewo encouraged Nigerians to brace up and rescue our threatened coexistence.

“We must decide to chart the way forward. Pent up anger is everywhere. Buhari must give an order that the killings must stop. He is the Commander-inChief and as a military man, he knows what to do about the killings of innocent citizens in their own home ground whether by Fulani herdsmen or insurgents, those killings must end fast.

“Buhari should call all parties together and discuss with them so that Nigeria can continue as one indivisible nation”, he added.

Buhari’s remaining days in office “We cannot talk about second term now. It is God that owns 2019. Of his tenure, I believe things will work; Nigeria will be better in his tenure: that is the mandate of God. “Since it became possible to have a New York, New Delhi, New Mexico and so on, there shall be a New Nigeria. God will give us a New Nigeria if we all join hands together and are determined,” Akinadewo prophesied.

News 12

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Alleged $40m scam: Jonathan’s cousin petitions Reps against EFCC Henry Omunu Abuja

ÎÎÎEmbattled

cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan detained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr. Azibaola Robert on Thursday, petitioned the House of Representatives, alleging the abuse and violation of his fundamental human rights by the anti-graft agency.

In the petition signed by one Faith Robert and presented to the House by Rep. Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), the aggrieved petition-

er urged the leadership of the House to intervene in his ordeal with a view to restoring his rights.

The petitioner, a businessman was picked up by operatives of the EFCC and taken into custody on March 23, 2016, has spent over a month in EFCC detention, without any formal charge being brought against him.

The petition reads in part: “Recently, operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested the said Mr. Azibaola Robert over allegations of a $40 million contract which the Office

of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) awarded to ‘One Plus Holdings Limited’ for the surveillance and security of oil pipelines across the Niger Delta.

“The ONSA is at present indebted to the company (One Plus Holdings Limited) to the tune of about $4 million, being final payment for the said surveillance/oil pipeline security contract.

“Mr. Azibaola Robert was arrested and taken into EFCC custody on 23rd March, 2016 and has since spent over a month in EFCC detention, without any formal charge brought against

him. Preceding his arrest, however was a raid on his house by scores of heavily armed mobile Policemen who in the process subjected his wife and young Children to the most dehumanizing and traumatic ordeal.

“In EFCC custody, Mr. Azibaola Robert has been denied access to his family, lawyers and medicare and repeatedly bullied, harassed, threatened and psychologically traumatised by EFCC operatives, and no formal charge brought against him.

“Curiously, his interrogators have told him in very clear terms to say something

to finger and/or implicate former President Goodluck Jonathan, his cousin, as a front or beneficiary of the surveillance/security contract; else he would face the Dasuki treatment and rot away in EFCC custody.

“We note the clear provisions of Chapter IV of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, dealing with Fundamental Rights, particularly the right to dignity of the human person (S.34); right to personal liberty (S.35); and the right to fair hearing (S. 36)”.

While informing the House that the detainee had been granted bail by an Abuja High Court on April 7, the petitioner added that the EFCC has refused to obey the court order to release Azibaola on bail or charge him to court, but

continues to treat the order of a court of competent jurisdiction with contempt.

“We cannot therefore, comprehend why the EFCC would deliberately violate the above constitutional provisions and order of court. The arrest and detention of Mr. Robert is part of a larger plot by the antigraft body to get the former President by all means necessary.

“Also, and seemingly to underscore the get Jonathan at all cost or languish in detention theory is the fact that whilst some other persons who were arrested and detained with Mr. Azibaola have been released, Mr. Azibaola has been refused his freedom only because of his close blood ties with Dr. Jonathan”, the petitioner added.

After Forcados, N’Delta group blows up Escravos Continued from page 6

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (5th right); Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji (6th right) and others during a courtesy visit of the Olubadan to Obasanjo at his Hilltop residence in Abeokuta, Ogun State… on Thursday.

Photo: DAVID IDOWU

Expedite repatriation of our stolen funds, Buhari tells international community

ÎÎÎPresident

Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday urged the United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime (UNODC) to facilitate the faster recovery of Nigeria’s stolen wealth stashed abroad.

A statement issued by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, said the president made the call when he received the Executive Secretary of UNODC, Mr Yury Fedotov, in the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

President Buhari said that the process of recovering the stolen assets had “become te-

dious’’ to the consternation of many Nigerians. ``We are looking for more cooperation from the EU, United States, other countries and international institutions to recover the nation’s stolen assets, particularly proceeds from the stolen crude oil. ``It is taking very long and Nigerians are becoming impatient,’’ he said.

According to president Buhari, his government has worked very hard in the past 11 months to reverse the very negative global perception of Nigeria on corruption. ``Our genuine efforts to

deal with corruption and drugs have earned us international respect and this has encouraged us to do more. ``We know that by fighting the scourge of drugs and corruption and rebuilding trustworthiness, integrity, good business practices, and imposing discipline on youths to avoid drugs, we are not doing a favour to the international community, we are doing a favour to ourselves,’’ he added.

The president also promised that his administration would work with the UN agency to rehabilitate young Nigerians who had been misled into consumption of illicit

drugs and drug trafficking.

In his remarks, Fedotov said that UNODC had chosen Nigerian as a pilot country for support and strategic cooperation in the fight against drugs and corruption.

Buhari

their installations.

“And to the Military we are the masters of the creek and it’s time for you to admit you don’t understand the terrain, making it impossible for the Nigeria military to stop the activities of the Niger Delta avengers.

“Not until our demands are met no repair works should be done at the blast site. Whoever that is going there for any repair work will be doing that at their detriment.

“The high command of the Niger Delta Avengers wants to use this medium to thank strike team 6 for successfully blowing up the chevron valve platform.

And we are ready to protect the Niger Delta people,” the statement read.

Meanwhile, Spokesman of the Navy, Commodore Chris Ezekobe, has confirmed the attack, saying “Actually, it is true. It is unfortunate that this type of thing happened.

It happened far into the high sea so efforts are being intensified to track the perpetrators.”

However, the Navy Spokesman, Ezekobe, explained that the attack took place some four miles off the Escravos River.

According to him, the platform that was partially damaged was a collection point for crude oil and gas to the main Chevron facility in the area.

Ezekobe said that the Forward Operation Base of the Navy had already dispatched vessels to protect oil platforms in the area and the facility of the Shell Petroleum Development Company that was earlier blown up the new militant group in the Forcados area of Delta State.

He said, “Well, it is true, the incident happened four nautical miles off the Escravos Bar. The platform was partly damaged, it is a collection point for crude oil and gas to the main facility in the area, so it has affected production.

“Our Forward Operation Base in the area has sent vessels to protect the oil facilities in the area and the one that was attacked at the Forcados.”

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

13

News 14

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Obasanjo condemns supremacy tussle among Yoruba monarchs ÏÏÏ Former

president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Thursday charged traditional rulers in Yoruba land to work towards promoting mutual respect rather than engaging in unnecessary royal rivalry.

The former president gave the charge while speaking during when the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, paid him a courtesy visit at his Hilltop mansion in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Obasanjo, who condemned the royal supremacy battle often witnessed among the Yoruba traditional rulers, also charged that monarchs in the Yoruba land ought to jealously guard the honour accorded their offices rather than glorifying the “I-amgreater-than-you-inthrone”

syndrome among some royal fathers, which, he said, had been responsible for the setback of the race over the years.

He, however, tasked Yoruba royal fathers to always prioritise good governance and welfare of their subjects rather than the engaging in unnecessary rivalry among themselves.

“I think that what is more important is to give good governance to the citizens and also have mutual respect for ourselves. When I was President and even now, I usually accord respect to all Presidents, particularly to the ones with small populations.

“I do this because I realised that no matter how denselypopulated a country might be, it has the same one-vote at the

United Nations just as a country with smaller population.

“For instance, Nigeria with a population of about 180 million has the same one-vote with a country such as Sao Tome with a population of 150, 000”.

Commenting on the choice and final enthronement of Oba Adetunji as the next Olubadan, the former president commended the Oyo State governor, Hon. Abiola Ajimobi, for “taking the right step”.

The elder stateman, who noted that it was God that enthrones and crowns a monarch, also tasked Oba Adetunji to continually ask God for wisdom to govern the people, stressing that the people of Ibadan, like the Egba people of Ogun State, were not easy to lead.

He, however, urged the

monarch to be trustworthy and always dispense justice without favouritism.

“Though it is all mankind that are difficult to govern, but I also know from experience that the peoples of Egba and Ibadan particularly, are not easy to govern. I pray that God who puts you there will help you to succeed.

“What is most important to any leader, be it traditional, political, educational or religious is for him to be trustworthy. Nobody is perfect, but once you are queried over some issues and you are able to defend yourself well, you can then leave the rest to God Oba Adetunji commended Obasanjo for his role in his emergence as the 41st Olubadan of Ibadanland.

Herdsmen: Group calls on Buahri, IGP to retire, investigate ex-CP

By Idu Jude, Abuja

ÏÏÏA

socio-cultural organisation, the Nsukka Zonal Citizens, Abuja (NZOCA), has called on President Muhammadu Buhari and the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Solomon Arase, to sack the former Commissioner of Police in Enugu State, Mr. Nwodibo Ekechukwu, and fully investigate him, saying his unprofessional conduct aided the massacre of over 400 people in Nimbo community in the state by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

President of NZOCA, Chief Akogwu Ugo, told newsmen in Abuja of the ineptitude and dereliction of duty during the incident, adding that it was unbecoming of even the lowest ranking police officer in the Nigerian police, let alone a State Commissioner of Police.

The gruop, noted that the recent transferring of the Commissioner from the state was not enough, the body also believed that the subsequent attack that followed an hour later after the withdrawal of all security personnel, as ordered by the Commissioner, left much to be desired and called for a critical investigation of his involvement in the killings.

The group, which also called for sacking of the Area Commander of Nsukka, Mr. Monday Kuryas and all defaulters “for the unprofessional conduct, sabotage and unguarded statements in reaction to the barbaric and gruesome murder of innocent, peace loving, law abiding and armless good people of Nimbo in Uzo Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by herdsmen.”

L-R: Executive Director, Corporate and Transactional Banking, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Ms. Yewande Sadiku; Vice Chairman, African Steel Mills, Mr. Raj Gupta; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; Managing Director, WEMPCO Group, Mr. Robert Tung; and Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Bank, Yinka Sanni at the 2016 Stanbic IBTC Bank Iron and Steel Business Session in Lagos… on Thursday.

Aregbesola, Ooni, others discuss future of Osun youths

Sodiq Adekunle, Osogbo

ÏÏÏThe Governor of Osun state,

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has said the only option open to states to stem the rising tide of criminality is to intensify efforts on adequate engagements of youths through various empowerment strategies.

Aregbesola also disclosed that his administration would continue to prioritise the welfare of youths, which he described as foundation of governance.

He made the pledge while addressing people at a symposium organised by the Adulawo Nigeria Network Limited, at Conference Centre, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. Aregbesola, who was

represented by the Coordinating Director, Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Youth Engagement, Dr. Isaac Aluko, described youths as central to the administration and said the current government had successfully harnessed the youth potentials in all its programmes.

Aregbesola said all his policies and programmes had been youth-oriented, saying the swift intervention of his government on agriculture, education, security, among others, over the years had yielded positive impacts in the lives of the citizenry.

Reminding all that the current administration had so far engaged over 40, 000 youths on different engagements through an empowerment programme

known as Osun Youths Employment Scheme (O’YES), he said the scheme had recorded tremendous achievements.

He said the motive behind the engagement of youths to government’s ministries, departments and agencies was to banish unemployment, as well as create an enabling environment for the younger generation to make positive impact in the society.

He said that efforts had been made by the government to facilitate all round transformation and positive change through the engagement of youths in agriculture with the hope of turning the state to food basket of the nation and commercial hub of the region.

Gov. Ambode

LFTZ: Lagos releases N1.6b, woos investors

ÏÏÏThe

Lagos State Government has released the sum of N1.6billion as part of its equity contribution in the Lekki Free Zone Development Company (LFDC) to boost the on-going infrastructural development, as well as encourage investors’ participation in the project.

The Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Prince Rotimi Ogunleye, who disclosed this, on Thursday, at the 2016 ministerial press briefing of the State Government in commemoration of the first year in office of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa said he was engaging the host communities to ensure a sustainable cordial relationship with investors in the zone.

According to him, “I want to assure all prospective investors in the zone that the government has overhauled the security network in the area in order to guarantee a safe haven for investment.”

He hinted that the World Bank report listed the Lekki Free Zone as the fastest growing FZ, adding that the products from the zone were compliant with international standards as they go through the standardisation laboratories.

Bida Poly suspends lecturer for raping student Pita Chikwem, Minna

ÏÏÏThe

Federal Polytechnic, Bida, has suspended a lecturer in the Department of Public Administration for raping a student in the department.

Daily Times investigation revealed that sources in the polytechnic refused to give the full details of the incident but only admitted that the lecturer was caught in the act of raping the student.

The Police Public Relations Officer of the state, Bala Elkana, confirmed the incident, adding that the culprit would remain in police detention until the investigation is concluded.

Elkana said the victim was receiving treatment at the school medical centre.

Also the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Alhaji Hussaini Enagi, said that the staff involved was a senior staff of the institution.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

15 Opinion

Ekiti seven and state of Nigerian roads

I Fred Doc Nwaozor

t was a very sad moment indeed for the entire people of Ekiti State and Nigerians in general on Sunday 24th of April 2016, the day that dastardly ended the precious lives of seven ablebodied gentlemen from the state via a ghastly motor accident.

The last time I checked, among the deceased persons were six medical doctors and the driver of the affected vehicle. They were actually travelling toward attending the annual general meeting of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) scheduled to hold in Sokoto.

We reportedly learnt that the incident happened along Abuja-Kaduna Expressway. It was gathered that the vehicle, precisely a bus, abruptly ran into a deep pothole in the middle of the road; thereby somersaulting.

The men of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) had allegedly attributed the incident to over-speeding.

The report was emphatically refuted by the survivors of the accident who claimed that the deceased driver was a professional. They further stated that the corps was indirectly informing the public that the 12 doctors in the bus couldn’t ask the driver to refrain from over-speeding if truly he was in any way involved in such act.

It would be recalled that it was that same Abuja-Kaduna expressway that truncated the life of Nigeria’s Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Mr James Ocholi (SAN) including that of his wife and son, few months ago. This very incident was equally allegedly attributed to over speeding by the FRSC. As much as I sincerely sympathiSe with the families of the Ekiti seven alongside the victims who are still lying critically in the hospital. We need to understand one fact: our roads are not in good condition, and such anomaly is seriously telling on the society. We are not unaware that a road accident could be caused by several factors to include, but not limited to, driver’s recklessness, indolence on the part of passengers, as well as the not unusual nonchalant behaviours of officials of the FRSC. It is imperative to acknowledge that the greater percentage of road accidents on our major roads was as a result of the pathetic physiognomy of the said roads.

To this end, the governments at all levels should act fast toward reawakening the pitiable state of the various roads. These roads are seriously yearning for rehabilitation. I am aware all the federal roads that are currently dilapidated were captured

in the 2016 budget, hence soonest we ought to start witnessing a different era as regards the fate of the roads.

The intending contracts should not be awarded to ‘ghost’ contractors; such practice has been the major plight faced by this country in the area of road construction. In view of this, the President Buhari led administration that has the fight against corruption as one of its priorities ought to do something differently towards ensuring that the Egyptians we saw yesterday wouldn’t retrace their footsteps back to this dispensation that’s anchored in change.

Furthermore, the FRSC ought to stop issuance of driver’s licence to the prospective owners/bearers by proxy. It is not anymore news that some personnel of the enforcement agency invariably connive with unscrupulous elements towards issuing driver’s licence, number plate, et al, to them without passing through due process. They should also abstain from condoning the use of scraps in the name of ‘car/vehicles’ or ‘motor spare parts’ on our roads.

Similarly, recklessness of several drivers including adherence to ‘one-way’ syndrome, over speeding, non application of seatbelt, making call or texting/chatting while on the steering, drinking/smoking – driv-

ing, and what have you, should be properly checkmated by the corps.

Mobile courts ought to be set up at strategic locations to, try anyone caught in the act or accused of any of suchlike lackadaisical attitudes and other related ones.

However, in most occasions, you would observe that the passengers, or car owners, as the case may be, often instigate their drivers to move on a high speed, stating that they are already late to their destinations.

Even when the commercial/private driver over-speeds out of pleasure, the said set of people won’t bother to throw a caution at him.

The citizenry need to be thoroughly oriented on the fact that, he who drives safely definitely arrives safely. Such campaign requires to be carried out, from time to time, by the FRSC in collaboration with various corporate bodies such as the churches, mosques, civil society groups, the media, and the National Orientation Agency (NOA). The time to act is now, before this untold and unspeakable scenario gets out of hand. Think about it!

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor is Chief Executive Director, Centre for Counselling, Research & Career Development - Owerri

Bringing back “Made in Nigeria”

T Olu W. Onemola

here has been a lot of talk in recent times about promoting ‘Made in Nigeria.’ From the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki’s recent visit to the ‘Made in Aba’ trade fair, to the hashtag to #BuyNaijaToGrowTheNaira, it is clear that Nigerians are beginning to understand that it is only our concerted and collective internal efforts as a nation that can solve our economic worries.

In the early 2000s, walking around the street rocking ‘Made in Aba’ goods was synonymous with saying that you shopped at ‘bend-downselect’ markets and roadside stations.

Wearing leather sandals produced from the eastern part of Nigeria in those early years of the new millennium, was seen as an unfavourable status symbol for many – despite the hard work and expertise that had been put in to produce those goods from our local manufacturers.

Retrospectively, quality-wise, the shoes, clothing, bags and other ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods back then, were nearly on par with their imported counterparts. However, the marker of acceptability in social circles in those days came from the fact that your ‘Nike’ products were truly made by ‘Nike, Inc.’, and your ‘Adidas’ was not labelled ‘Adadis.’

Somewhere along the line, things changed, and Nigerians began to look inwards. We began to understand that our extreme foreign consumption capacity would not fuel the domestic growth of our economy. We began to realise that Timi, Deji and Haruna, could design and produce goods that were just as good as Thomas, Dickens, and Harrisons’. We began to see that indigenous goods and home-grown services could be on par, or even better than those from abroad. Consequently, new small and medium scale enterprises sprung up allover the country to cater for our increased demand.

From fashion to finance, from entertainment to edibles, ‘Made in Nigeria’ experienced a positive boom somewhere in the mid to late 2000s.

However, with this positive upsurge in our collective social mindsets towards our local products, halfway into the second decade of this millennium, effective policy thrusts to encourage the local manufacturing sector have not been formulated and/ or implemented. Even Nigeria’s Public Procurement Act of 2007, which is aimed at advising and assisting “procurement staff to help them carry out their procurement responsibilities,” fails in some critical aspects to address pushing ‘Made in Nigeria’ products.

Queue in Dr. Bukola Saraki,

and the 8th Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Over the past few weeks, against the backdrop of the President Buhari-led administration’s efforts to boost internally generated revenue (IGR), Dr. Saraki, and his colleagues have embarked on a systematic social and legislative charge to encourage local producers and manufacturers. While speaking at the ‘Made in Aba’ Trade Fair, Saraki mentioned that the Senate would be working on the review and amendment of the procurement act that would ensure that Made in Nigeria goods are patronized by the government. Some parameters of this amendment, Saraki explained, would include provisions that would ensure that government agencies would only resort to imported goods when there are no domestic alternatives.

Since the last quarter of 2015, the Nigerian Naira has fallen by nearly 20 per cent against the US Dollar. Additionally, global oil prices have fallen by over 70%. What this means is that Nigeria, an oil-rich nation that is “dependent on oil and gas for 95 per cent of its export earnings, 35 per cent of its GDP and three-quarters of government revenue,” must see this ‘Made in Nigeria’ drive being championed

by Saraki and a few of his colleagues like senators Abaribe and MurrayBruce at the National Assembly as one of its options to wiggle out from

the impending economic downturn caused by the decline in oil prices.

To make these policies sustainable, a combined effort of both legislative and executive policies must work to ensure that domestic goods should be promoted through a flexible system of discounts, sales and other government-backed incentives.

Furthermore, the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) must push for quality control of Nigerian-made goods to increase customer satisfaction. As the economic history of developing nations has taught us that exports-driven economies are not fiscally sustainable, on the technical side, the federal government through collaborative efforts spearheaded by the Ministry of Transport must intensify its efforts to create transport networks that connect consumers all across the country to locally manufactured products.

The Nigerian Bureau of Statistics also has a role a major role to play in this campaign. Development cannot be imported. Neither can financial stability for Nigeria’s economy. Accordingly, as we tighten our collective pursestrings to achieve fiscal responsibility in these times, we must also alter our social perspectives and implement the government policies that will not only protect, but also amplify the calls for bringing back ‘Made in Nigeria’ goods and services.

16

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Believe in the Naira We dream of a Nigeria where the Naira will be a popular international currency of transaction, but it will continue to remain a dream when YOU choose to rely on foreign over Nigerian. Demand for foreign exchange weakens the Naira and weakens the economy.

That is why when you fly Arik Air to London Heathrow, New York JFK or Johannesburg, you demonstrate your belief and confidence in the Naira and in Nigerian. You are contributing to stimulating domestic growth and building a country we can all be proud of. #ArikAdvantage • 10 years of Safe and Reliable flying.

• 28 new, state-of-the-art aircraft.

• Fleet maintenance by world renowned Lufthansa Technik, Iberia & SAMCO. • Only West and Central African airline with a triple IOSA certification.

• Employ over 3,000 Nigerians.

• Unbeatable value to a network of 19 domestic destinations, 10 West and Central Africa destinations and 3 international destinations.

Fly Arik Air. Demonstrate your faith in the Naira.

a r i k a i r. c o m West and Central Africa’s Leading Airline

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

SUITES

HOTEL

17

GARDENS

Plot 1415 Adetokunbo Ademola Street, PMB 12724 Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria, Tel: +23412772700-5 (ext,6124) +23414606100 -29 Fax +234 1 2704071 sales@ekohotels.com, reservation@ekohotels.com banquet@ekohotels, www.ekohotels.com

18

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Features Æ s

WORKERS DAY CELEBRATION:

Arise, be fruitful and multiply

Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins DD, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos

Ï Ǝ ƉƆƃ ƍƃ ƂƆ Ƌ ƅ G ƃ ƍ Ƅ Ə ƍƆ ƎƆ z ƍƈƄƍ Ɔ ƾƠ ƃ Ə ƎƍƆƄ Gbubemi God’s Covenant Snr The Young Christian Workers (YCW) Movement Nigeria Region on Monday trooped out in a peace march to join their colleagues worldwide in commemoration of the 2016 Workers Day celebration.

The event with the theme, ‘Arise O Youths for the Change – Say NO to corruption, cultism, political thuggery, kidnapping and societal ills, started with Adoration and Holy Mass at St. Joseph ‘De Guardian of the Redeemer Parish’, Agodo-Egbe in Lagos Mainland and rounded up with a peace march from Egbe and climaxed with a grand finale at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Ire-Akari Estate, Isolo.

In the Homily titled Be fruitful and multiply...!! delivered by His Grace, Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins DD, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos through the YCW to all Christian workers in its 53 member countries worldwide, the Archbishop said with this statement, God inaugurated a

working time table for man, whom He created in His own image and likeness now sharing (and continuing in) the creative power of this same God. Represented by the YCW Isolo Deanery Chaplain, Rev Fr. Mathew Ogunyase, His Grace charged the Workers: “This invitation and injunction is a call to enhance the work of creation and not to destroy or watch them being destroyed. Our theme this year 2016 puts succinctly ‘Arise O Youth for the Change!’’

Here, Archbishop Martins took the enthusiastic youths into a bit of history: ‘On May 1st 1955 during a public audience granted to the Catholic Association of Italian Workers (CAI), whose members gathered that day in St. Peter’s square to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their society and to pledge anew their loyalty to the Social Programme of the Church, Pope Pius XII instituted the liturgical feast of St. Joseph the Worker and assigned this feast-day to the 1st day of May. “The Pope assured his audience and the working people of the entire world that ‘you have at your side a Shepherd, a defender and a Father’. St. Joseph belonged to the working class and he bore the burdens of poverty patiently for himself and the Holy Family in a life of faithful performance of everyday duties’ (cf. p.144, Saint Companions for Each Day).’

“St. Joseph left an example for all those who must gain bread by

YWC members on the five-mile march on Monday

Monica Wanjiru

All smiles, Faustina receiving her award

The Nigerian worker is plagued by many challenges today. These challenges have in turn defined the life, attitude and even his/her relationship to God and things that pertain to God. It is very unfortunate that we invest so much in work/business at the detriment of our health, family life and the salvation of our soul – Archbishop Martins DD the toil of their hands,” Archbishop Martins told the youths.

“Joseph taught us the dignity of labour and became a model for every Christian worker to attend to their work not out of gain or what it offers in monetary terms but out of a sense of contentment,

satisfaction and an invitation to enhance creation.

“Athanasius whom we remember today on the other hand was the great Archbishop of Alexandria in Egypt for 46 years. He was an epitome of resilience and determination to stand for what is true

in the teachings of Christ rather than compromise in the face of persecution and therefore became a chief defender of the integrity of the Catholic Faith.

“What about us? Are we guilty at doing the work of God or serving the God of work? Our 1st reading provides us with an example of a worker, Lydia a trader and a businesswoman. She is described as a seller of purple goods and a worshipper of God. “This is providential; therefore she represents the attitude and disposition that should accompany work that may be considered as successful - not in terms of multiplication of branches or money.

Her business or trade did not becloud people’s judgment of her as a worshipper of God. CONTINUED ON PAGE 19

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

19 Features

Enhance the work of creation and not destroy it — Archbishop Martins CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

“Can the same be said of us?

Lydia’s attitude invites us to be open and to open our hearts to the Will of God, that God will befriend us so we would be able to bring our household, customers and indeed our family to Him at all times.”

Of the Nigerian worker “The Nigerian worker is plagued by many challenges today. These challenges have in turn defined the life, attitude and even his/her relationship to God and things that pertain to God. It is very unfortunate that we invest so much in work/business at the detriment of our health, family life and the salvation of our soul.

The popular slogan is that man must survive or man must wack!

The desire to survive and make the difference among his/her peers is the readiness to do anything and everything to be relevant.

“Lydia, Athanasius and Joseph are our examples in today’s celebration who all stood for dignity and integrity of labour in their own way. What do you stand for?

Even when you go marching out there, remember that it goes beyond the march, it is your individual action at witnessing to the work of God and not the God of work.

“As we celebrate and commemorate worker’s day, each catholic worker here present must resolve to learn something from the heroes of our faith, that work and business are important but family and salvation are a necessity that we cannot short-change for our work or business. May St. Joseph intercede for us, as well as St. Athanasius so that we may stand for our faith and not compromise because of gain. God be with you!!!”

In her goodwill message from Rome to Christian Workers under the YWC umbrella, General Secretary of the ICYCW, Ms Monica Wanjiru congratulated her colleagues and announced that “Major strides have been achieved through the efforts of our predecessors and the world is looking at us as a source of responsible leadership, a beacon of hope and a promise for the future.

“As a call to take our responsibil-

ity in the changing society, Pope Francis reminds us that we should not sit on the balcony and watch things happen in the streets. Rather, we should go into the streets and make things happen.

“On this day, let us walk together in the step of faith, hope and love and renew our commitment towards our mission as Young Christian Workers worldwide.

“The world needs us. You and I are the difference the world needs.

Change starts with You and Me. Together, let us continue making and being the difference,” Wanjiru concluded.

The body’s outgoing Regional President (Lagos Region), Mr. Andrew Esan in his address particularly drew attention of the boisterous and exited YCW members and guests to the eight-hour-movement viz, the eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation and eight hours for rest, underlining the dignity in the labour of man all over the world.

“Though International Worker’s Day means so many things to so many people, but as a religious movement, it should be a time to take stock of all we have laboured for in a year in order to vet our how, why, when and what we achieved.

“Today, we must realise that doing same things repeatedly while expecting different results is termed capital insanity of the highest order.

“Irrespective of the down trending economy, we should face it head long by the power of God and our burning desire to succeed.

In times like these when youths flee from our country to do drugs, robbery and kidnapping etc, and when asked why, their reply are always ‘our country and leaders have failed, so we are avenging with guns and violence’.

“But our own reply in the face of anarchy, doom and economic comatose should be ‘SUCCESS’ because ‘SUCCESS (in individual capacity) IS THE BEST REVENGE’, and the two surest places to expect success are the WOMB and the ALTAR; even when the womb fails, the altar will never fail, for if there is a man to pray, then there is a God to answer. Let us on this

Msgr. Ukah receiving his award from Rev Fr Ogunyase

Labour Day carry out an operation PUSH – Pray Until Something Happens in Nigeria.

The outgoing President recognised fathers and brethren in the faith who have been of immeasurable assistance to the course.

Under the Legacy May Day 2016 Presidential Awards, Excellent Leadership award went to the Very Rev. Livinus Ukah (YCW) Regional Chaplain; Most Leadership award went to Chukwudi Ezeh CYC (Head Regional Training Committee Administration); Pauline Ebonugwo Gaadi (Regional Vice President) received Excellent Support award while the youngest star of the day, 7-year-old Michelle Olagoke (alias Mimi International) bagged YCW Young Ambassador Award.

Also, Enterprise award went to super secretary, Robert O. Obinna (Regional General Secretary); Outstanding Executive awards to Elias Ifara and Faustina Onumah (Assistant Regional Gen Secretary) respectively.

36-years-old Faustina Chizoba Onumah from Ezinite Local Government Area of Mbaise in Imo State, works as PA to CEO of a private firm of tax consultants and auditors.

Looking optimistic at the onerous task before Christian Workers in the transformation of leadership in the future, Faustina admitted that governance is not a tea party as many may want to believe.

“I believe we really can make the difference if we can remove selfishness. Some people go into governance for selfish reasons, but if my generation can have that sense of oneness and remove selfish interests, then I believe we can make that change and restore sanity, sanctity and the fear of God in governance if we are given the chance.”

What does YCW mean to the youths?

“Personally, YCW has made me become bold; not to speak anyhow.

Today I can, without fear say NO to

As we celebrate and commemorate worker’s day, each catholic worker here present must resolve to learn something from the heroes of our faith, that work and business are important but family and salvation are a necessity that we cannot short-change for our work or business – Archbishop of Lagos

Seven-year-old ‘Mimi’ receiving Young Ambassador award

corruption, cultism, political thuggery, kidnapping and societal ills as our theme has spelt out.

Money carries an overwhelming spirit with it. Does Faustina think her generation will see liquid cash in the magnitude of what our leaders could not resist and stand their ground?

“Well, everybody is different.

I am not saying if a member of YCW becomes the President of any nation tomorrow things will change automatically because money has that kind of influence.

But I think credibility, discipline, love for fellow human being and above all, the fear of God are personal qualities, some inherent and some cultivated over time. While I am not holding brief for everyone, I believe we will make an impact.

With our training and grooming in the Christian faith, I am confident we won’t make the blunder of this breed of leaders we have in the world today.”

The YCW Nigerian Region is an affiliate of the International Coordination of Young Christian Workers (ICYCW), Rome and is registered with the Pontifical and Archdiocesan Laity Council.

Founded in 1925 and canonically recognised by the Holy Pope Pius XI same year, it was introduced in Nigeria in 1957 and brought to the Archdiocese of Lagos in 1966, YCW has been raising young adults who, by reflection and action, attempt to change and improve their lives and society.

It is a movement which values the dignity and worth of each young person, enables them to challenge social exclusion and take action to bring about positive change in their homes, workplaces and social lives.

Its 53 international member countries include 23 countries in Africa, five in Asia, nine in Europe, 10 in Latin America and six in the Middle East.

Features 20

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

IN THE NURSING PROFESSION…

Service to humanity is our responsibility – Abosede Oluwabuyide

Mrs Oluwabuyide (Right) with husband and snior colleagues at the sendforth.

Edokpolor Osayande It was fun and pomp at the Lagos State General Hospital, Gbagada recently as management, staff and friends of the Heath institution held a sendforth party for one of their own, the former Head of Nursing département, Mrs. Abosede Oluwatoyin Oluwabuyide who retired after three decades and half of unbroken meritorious service to the health world.

Describing Oluwabuyide as an intelligent woman whose tenure had witnessed seminars, innovations and transformation for excellence, medical director of the hospital, Dr. Tayo Lawal said, “I cannot think of any other hospital in Lagos State that can compete with what she has planted in Gbagada.”

Addressing staff of the institution at the occasion, Dr. Lawal stressed the need for continuous service improvement and management of space to accommodate emergency cases at all times. The drive, he said is aimed towards achieving functional transformation and ultimately, patient satisfaction.

Lawal also touched on the need for proper integration of patients between one caregiver and another so there would be no need for the transfer of patients to other hospitals which

gives the impression that they cannot be managed here.

Information management The director pointed out that information management is critical to healthcare delivery today.

“Information management is critical in whatever we do to manage patients for the transformation of the hospital irrespective of the challenges we face.

“Moreso, we can have transformation if we obey the golden rule that says, do unto others as you want them to do to you.

These words demand reciprocration because those who have not been in pain do not know what it takes to be a patient.”

Rebranding the profession Urging the staff and managment to build their services toward managing patients which forms the principle of rebranding, Lawal stressed further that “Nursing as a profession is a brand; when you visit a hospital, you need nobody to tell you who a nurse is as her uniform shows she is a caregiver. Therefore you must be compassionate, an etipom of empathy and someone that can help a patient with whatever is needed in the hospital environment and desist from whatever may negate this profession as such would destroy the brand and the centre

Nursing is a unique and noble profession that requires your time and intelligence; it is not a profession for drop outs. Although some persons joined this profession for some other reasons, I would have you know that service to humanity is our responsibility and if you want to be a transformational leader, it will take something out of you as it did take something out of me — Oluwabuyide of excellence you claim to represent.”

Promotion “We must remember also that as a member of a profession, you must go through series of competitive exams before you are selected for promotion on the basis of merit, so the profession should not be taken for granted because the best is expected from nurses and other staff,” he said.

Dr. Lawal disclosed that a total of 1,000 cases, including surgeries, anaesthestics and baby deliveries are received on daily basis which measures how efficient the Hospital has become.

“I am aware of the complaints of staff who say they are being

overworked, but considering that the hospital as a business entity is still incapable of generating its own salaries that run up to N1.2b excluding cost of utilities; that means the salaries of workers per month will cost about N100 million and the hospital does not generate one quater of that. So if we are to adopt the typical business plan, staff will have to be reduced.”

While assessing the nurses on punctuality, self organisation, how much adequate knowledge of information each possess as the head of a shift, how quick they make things ready and how familar they are with their names, phone numbers in case

you need your colleague urgently, Dr. Lawal appealed to nurses and general staff to put attitude in check as they should administer care to patient in pains and not give the hospital a bad reputation before the public.

Finally Lawal urged those staff clamouring for change to cultivate attitude to impart positive values to their environment and be patient and ready for the change.”

Mrs Oluwabuyide in her response, praised Dr. Lawal and other staff for their support during her tenure as the head of nursing department.

“As a visionary nurse, not everybody reasoned along with what I was doing, but I stood for innovation and transformation and they had no choice but to give room for those changes.

“Nursing is a unique and noble profession that requires your time and intelligence; it is not a profession for drop outs,” she said, noting that though some persons had joined the profession for some other reasons, “I would have you know that service to humanity is our responsibility. If you want to be a transformational leader, it will take something out of you as it did take something out of me.”

She encouraged her successor and other nurses to build on the quality foundation that has been laid and not to give up when faced with obstacles.

A colleague and chairman of the organising committee of the event, Mrs Rashidat Omobitan described retirement as the beginning of a new phase of life and the best part where long vacations are taken with a goal to enjoy a well deserved rest but not so much that you run out of money.

“Retired officers can have awesome times even after retirement. If the right approach to wealth creation to increase additional savings is taken, this will make the future pleasant and help to increase the chance of longevity, removing the psychological effect of the fear of uncertainty,” she encouraged her colleagues.

Dignitaries present at the event included the Deputy Managing Director, Dr. A. O. Kenshero, Director of Clinical Service, Dr. J.O. Babafemi,Assistant Director Hospital Administration Mrs. B. M Bazauaye, Mr. J. P Osemudiamen and Mr. A Shola, among others.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

THE LEGACY CLUB ABUJA

THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. CHIEF SIR OKEY OCHIAGHA 2. CHIEF BARNABAS CHIMAEZE NJOKU 3. SIR DONATUS EGWIM CHUKWUEZI 4. MR. SYLVESTER NWACHUKWU 5. ENGR. GODWIN ANUSIE

CHILDREN OF GOD HEALING, DELIVERANCE AND ADORATION MINISTRY (IT NO 47115) THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR CHANGE OF TRUSTEES AND AMENDMENT OF THEIR ENTIRE CONSTITUTION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 OLD TRUSTEES: 1. BRO. MALACHY UDORJI -RETAINED 2. BRO ANDREW EFE EMAJERE -REMOVED 3. BRO. EBUKA OKPALAKE -REMOVED 4. SIS IJEOMA IGWEGBE ANASTECIA -REMOVED 5. SIS NKECHI MADUAFOR -REMOVED

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE TO ASSIST, PROMOTE AND PROTECT THE WELFARE AND INTEREST OF MEMBERS

NEW TRUSTEES ALL APPOINTED: 1. UDORJI UZOMA MALACHY 3. MACHUKWU CHIBUEZE HYGIMU 5. OMENOGOR BESTMAN ANDY

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

AMENDMENT OF THEIR ENTIRE CONSTITUTION

SIGNED: SECRETARY

SIGNED: SECRETARY

THE GREENER FUTURE EMPOWERMENT INITIATIVE This is to inform the general public that the above named initiative has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees 1. ADEDIRAN ADEBISI SIMEON PETER 2. AJOKO FIDELIS 3. OLOKO MUTIU TAIWO Aim and objective 1. To aim towards eradication of poverty in Nigeria and Africa in general.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed. BASIL AGUNWA. 07038780894

AKOKA CONTACT AND WELFARE SPPORT INITIATIVE This is to inform the general public that the above named initiative has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees 1. Dr OLUFUNLAYO BAMMEKE. - (PRESIDENT) 2. Prof. FELICIA OYEKANMI 3. Prof. LAI OLURODE 4. Prof ADEBAYO NINALOWO 5. Dr ADEBOWALE AYOBADE. - SeCRETARY 6. SOYOMBO OMOLOLU

21 Public Notice

2.

4.

6.

ELOJI NDUBUISI ANDREW DILIORA CHIGOZIE HENRY UDORJI CHINENYE ANABEL

ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE OF TRUSTEES AND AMENDMENT OF THEIR ENTIRE CONSTITUTION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION

GRACE FOUNDATION FOR EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation is seeking for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Part C., 2004.

TRUSTEES: 1. DR. JOAN OSARIEMEN OVIAWE 2. MRS. BARBARA OGHAFUOMWANDE EMODE 3. LADY MARCELLA AIZEYOSABO COLE 4. MRS. FRANCISCA OROBOSA ADEYERI 5. MRS. MARYAM OSAMUDIAMEN OMOREGIE 6. MR. PETER OSAGIE OBARAYE 7. DR. ABIEYUWA CELNA COLE 8. MISS CHELSEA OMOAREBU EMODE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: To engage in activities to alleviate poverty, empowering women, youth empowerment and rendering health services to the less privileged in the society.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General.

Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed: SECRETARY

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association is seeking for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Part C., 2004.

Trustees : 1.TIMOTHY ADEBAYO 2. ABRAHAM OLAWALE 3. OMOLAOLE OLALEKAN 4. DAVID ADEBAYO 5. SOLA OMOLADE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To protect the interest of members Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar-General. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed :Secretary

JOYWAY WIDOWS FOUNDATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation is seeking for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Part C., 2004.

Trustees : 1. MRS. HAASTRUP JANE ADESOLA -CHAIRMAN 2. PST KOLAJO ADESANYA AFOLABI -SECRETARY 3. HAASTRUP TOLULOPE ADEDAPO 4. MRS. ONANUGA OLUBUKUNMI ATINUKE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To empower the rural widows and orphans economically so as to enable them to become independent.

2. To reach out to the needy in our society more especially to rural widows and orphans and destitute.

Any objection to this Registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral. Corporate Affairs Commission, 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, P.M.B. 198, Maitama, Abuja within 28th days from the date of publication.

Signed :Secretary

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF NIGERIAN FOUNDATION FOR MINISTERS’ WIVES,WIDOWS AND ORPHANS. This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees 1. REV. ENOBONG BOLAJI ANANI 3. ELDER MRS AKPABIO NKPANG 5. CHIEF MRS UGO NNACHI

PROGRESSIVE BUILDERS ASSOCIATION OF OSUN

2. ELDER MRS EZINNE ASUOHA 4. ELDER OFFIONG BROWN UDOFE 6. ELDER. MRS OBIDIYA UMA ONUOHA

THE PECULIAR GOD’S GLORY INTERNATIONAL MINISTRY This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees 1. PROPHET JAMES KUNLE HEPHZIBAH. - CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR. AYO OJO 3. MRS SARAH AJAKAIYE. 4. MRS. JOKE ODELEYE - SECRETARY 5 MRS PASTOR SEGUN OLOMOKUN 6. MRS ABIODUN AJIYAN 7. THANKGOD MADUABUCHI 8. MERCY AJIYAN

Aim and objective 1. To promote the educational development of AKOKITES

Aim and objectives 1. To empower ministers’ Wives, for self-reliance through training and skill acquisition 2. To positively impact youths and orphans etc. Through scholarships award from primary to university level.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed. LEX HABITAE LPS

Signed AKPAMA EKWE

Signed. MERCY OJENE. 08030812263

KEN SARO WIWA FOUNDATION

GRACE INIOVO FOUNDATION

This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied for Appointed, Removed and Retained the of Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named Foundation has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

OLD TRUSTESS 1. ALFRED ILENRE. - Removed 2. SIMEON IDEMYOR. - Removed 3. LETAM WUGATE WIWA. - Retained NEW TRUSTEE 1. KENULE SARO-WIWA (JNR). -Appointed 2. OWENS WIWA. -Appointed 3. SINGTO SARO-WIWA. - Appointed

Trustees: 1. Rita Eghujovbo.

- ( Chairman) 2. Simeon EGHUJOVBO. - Vice chairman 3. Omolola Oladimeji. - General secretary 4. Eriga Fortune Obarakpor. -( Member) 5. Rueben Efeta ( Member)

Aim and Objective 1. To develop capacities of Nigerian youth through skill acquisition.

Any objection to the Appointed, Removed and Retained of this Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed. Secretary

EJIOFOR IGWEONU LEGACY FOUNDATION. THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORM THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, DEGREE NO.1 OF 1990.

Trustees 1. Nneka Helen Ejiofor-Igweonu - Chairman: 2. Mrs Regina Igbonaka Ejiofor. -Secretary 3 Chukwuemeka Nnamdi Igweonu Aims. To promote render humanitarian services to the society.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CAC, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. BARR SULEIMAN MOHAMMED JAJI.

Aims: 1. To pursue the general well being of the girl child & women generally.

Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Barr. Oyewole

Aim and objective 1. To preach the gospel in Nigeria and World wide.

THE LIFE OF JESUS MEDICAL OUTREACH This is to inform the general public that the above named church has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

Trustees 1. ALILONU AUGUSTINE CHIBUZO 2. ALILONU - MADU EDNA CHINUA Aim and objectives 1. To provide free medical services 2. To help the needy within society Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed: Barr EKWUNIFE BLESSING

KAISER FOUNDATION FOR SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

BENUE ENTREPRENEURS FORUM

THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY INFORM THAT THE ABOVE NAMED FOUNDATION HAS APPLIED TO CAC FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT, DEGREE NO.1 OF 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named body has applied for Registration to the Corporate Affairs Commission under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. ENGR. IGBUAN E. OKAISABOR 2.MR. JOHN EBEIREME ADDEH 3.DR. JOYCE SHYNGLE - WIGWE

Trustees 1. CHIEF CHRISTIAN IORCHER 3. ARCH.( DR). PHILIP IYORTYER 5. BARR. BEN PEVER 7. NICODEMUS AWENKE 9. EPHRAIM SONSHA IORGYER

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE : 1. TO SUPPORT AND DEVELOP ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS FOR YOUTH DEVELOPMENT IN NIGERIA. 2.TO PROVIDE APPRENTICESHIPS, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND SKILLS ACQUISITION PROGRAMMES WITH CERTIFICATION THAT THE DEMANDS OF EMPLOYERS. 3.TO NURTURE YOUTH INNOVATIVE IDEAS THAT CAN BE DEVELOPED INTO BUSINESS ENTERPRISE, JOB AND WEALTH CRAETION. ANY OBJECTION TO THE REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL, CAC, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED : SECRETARY

2. BARR. THADDEUS MBALIAN 4. DR. TERNA IGNITIUS NOMHWANGE 6. ORKUMA HEMBE 8. NGUHEMEN TITI ATIME 10. JUSTINE ANARGBA

Aim and objectives 1. To promote cooperation among professionals within the Benue Valley 2. To harness resources for the well bei ng of members and the progress of the society Any objection to the Registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Signed. BARR. THADDEUS MBALIAN

Public Notice 22 GREENVILLE ABORIGINAL LANDLORDS ASSOCIATION OF RUMUJI CLAN

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

MOTHER’S 1ST PRIDE FOUNDATION:

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

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. STEPHENSON IGWEH .Esq 2. MR. CHRISTIAN AWUTE 3. MR. OVODO ALIKOR 4. ENGR. CHIKAODI ONU 5. MR. PRINCE O. OMENI 6. MR. KEMJIKA NYECHE

THE TRUSTEES ARE. 1. MS. AUDREY OGBEIDE 2. MRS. ANNA OGBEIDE 3. MR. JOHN IKERODAH

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE: 1. TO PROMOTE PEACE, UNITY AND DEVELOPMENT OF OURSELVES, IMPACTED FAMILIES AND ALL INDIVIDUAL LANDLORDS

The Aim And Objective 1. To cater for the less privileged in the society

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

Any Objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: SECRETARY

Signed ; Secretary

URBAN DRIVERS WELFARE ASSOCIATION ANAMBRA STATE. RC NO: CAC/IT/NO 20446 This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for Removal of Trustee and Amendment of its entire Constitution under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

THE AMENDMENT IS AS THUS: 1. ARTICLE 1 - 20. OF THE ENTIRE CONSTITUTION THE TRUSTEES ARE : 1. MR. EJIOFOR PAUL CHUKWUBUNNA. - RETAINED. 2. MR. OGNONNA IFEANYI ALPHONSUS - RETAINED 3. DEACON. OGNONNA JOHN. - RETAINED 4. BRO. NNAMDI OKAFOR- RETAINED. 5. MR. OBILOM CHARLES. - RETAINED. 6. MR. OKOLO EMEKA. -. REMOVED. 7. MR. SUNDAY ODEZULIGBO. - RETAINED. 8. MR. ENE IKECHUKWU - RETAINED. 9. MR. UZOMA EZENWUZIE - RETAINED. 10.. CHEIF ALFRED NNAMDI OZUGHA . - RETAINED. THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES REMAIN THE SAME Any Objection(s) to this Application should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED : SECRETARY

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE. 1. EDEVOR MICHAEL AWOTORUVWE 2. OLUROTIMI PAUL IDOWU 3. GIDEON OLAOLU ABIODUN OLUGBILE 4. PATRICIA TAIWO AJIBADE 5. BENJAMIN CHINEDU ALOZIE 6. DEBORAH ADEDOYIN OLUKOYA 7. RASAK BAMIDELE ABDULLAH 8. ADEDEJI AYOOLA EGBERONGBE 9. KARIM OMOLABAKE SHAQEERAT. The Aim And Objective 1. To protect the interest of members Any Objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed ; Secretary

COVENANT CHURCH OF THE HOLYCITY INTERNATIONAL This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE. 1. PASTOR AUSTIN AHUSIMERE - CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR (MRS) SUSAN AHUSIMERE - SECRETARY. 3. PASTOR GODSWILL ESEMA .

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVES : 1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST. 2. TO PREACH AND TEACH THE WORD OF GOD OF GOD ALL OVER THE WORLD Any Objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: ONYEKA OBIAJULU. 07035608667

AKINTAN GRAMMAR SCHOOL OLD STUDENTS ASSOCIATION, 1988 SET.

STANLEY & MONICA LP.

GRACELIFE TABERNACLE GOSPEL CENTRE. This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE. 1. PASTOR EMMANUEL ONOJA - CHAIRMAN. 2. PASTOR (PHARM) JUDITH ENYO ONOJA - SECRETARY. 3. PASTOR FRIDAY AGBO - MEMBER. PASTOR AMOS ABEL MAGAJI. - MEMBER 5. MR. JUDE EZE - MEMBER.

4.

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE : 1 TO PREACH AND PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF JESUS ALL OVER THE WORLD. Any Objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

SIGNED: BARR RALPH OGUMKA

CHINELO EGWUONWU FOUNDATION

DIVINE PRAISE FOOTBALL CLUB

The general public is hereby notified that the above named Foundation has applied to the Corporate affairs commission Abuja for registration under the part C of the companies and allied matters act 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Club has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

Trustees (1) Ekene Humphery Agu .chairman (2) Bridget Onyisi Agu (3) Victor Onyeka Nwenwe (4) Ethelbert Chimaije Agu (5) Olatunde Gustave Lawson

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Apostle Amos Nwambi Eborka - CHAIRMAN 2. Evangelist Cletus Aziegbe Ehiane- Vice Chairman 3. Brother Fola Daniel - Secretary 4. Apostle Mrs. Charity Gift Eborka -Member

The Trustees Are : 1. Egwuonwu Mary Chinelo.

2. Egwuonwu Stanley Chibuike Aims And Objectives 1. Women empowerment, girl child education, sexual abuse and all other issues concerning or that affects women.

Any objections to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar general corporate Affairs commission plot 420 tigris crescent off aguiyi ironsi street maitama Abuja within 28days from the date of this publication.

Signed: trustee

KAM-CARITAS FOUNDATION. The General Public is hereby informed that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act Part C 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. ZEH ZEH PATRICE (Chairman) 2. INIMGBA-JACK AMENAGHAWON (Secretary) 3. ODIAZEH EFE 4. MOJO- EYES IFEYINWA 5. MOJO-EYES KAMSIYONNA ALEXANDER. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To empower, integrate and emancipate the socially handicapped children.

2. To give the child a sense of belonging and of usefulness to the larger society.

3.To set them free from personal limittation, as well as social limitations .

4. To develop those faculties to the level of performance that enables them to earn a living.

Any objection to the Approval of the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General,Corporate Affairs Commission,Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198 Maitama,Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED: Secretary.

CATHOLICAGORA SOCIAL MEDIA INITIATIVE The General Public is hereby notified that the above named organisation has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins - CHAIRMAN 2. Msgr. Gabriel Sunday Osu - Vice Chairman 3. Msgr. Francis Ishola Ogunmodede 4. Prof. Patrick Okedinachi Utomi 5. Mr. Olusoji Robert Olagunju 6. Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe 7. Prof. Celestine Theophilus John 8. Mr. Tony kelechi Agbugba 9. Mr. Stanley Ikechukwu Agwuh 10. Mr Mfon Chioma Edem AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. As a tool for online evangelism.

2. As a platform that promotes the culture of encounter among catholic faithful 3. As a platform that promotes the teachings and doctrines of the Catholic Church.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication Signed secretary.

CITIES OF CALVARY PRAYER MINISTRY

AIMS: TO ENCOURAGE YUOTHS ON IMPORTANT OF FOOTBALL IN THE WORLD. TO BUILD A RELIABLE FOOTBALL CLUB AMONG THE YOUTH IN NIGERIA.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: 1. To share the love of God in practical action through outreach, Reformation, rehabilitation, empowerment and mission.

2. To preach the gospel through the use of the media.

3. To offer spiritual counselling to churches organizations and government s where possible.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, 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, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

SIGNED BY:- CHAIRMAN

Signed: Secretary

NEW HEAVEN HOME FOR DISABLES AND CHILDREN INITIATIVE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED HAS APPLIED FOR REGISTRATION TO CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION UNDER PART C OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990 TRUSTEES: 1. BENJY MBEGBU 3. PETER OKAH 5. GIFT ONYINYECHI OKPARA

2.

4.

KENEL ERNEST ANTHONY UGOCHUKWU MADUKA

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO EMPOWER YOUTHS TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS. 2. TO UPLIFT ORPHANS AND ABANDONED CHILDREN BY PROVIDING CARE FACILITIES. 3. TO ESTABLISH SKILLS ACQUISITION CENTRES AND DEMONSTRATION FARMS FOR YOUTHS AND THE NEEDY. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR-GENERAL. CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT, OFF AGUIYI IRONSI STREET. PMB 198, MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28TH DAYS FROM THE DATE OF PUBLICATION Signed:BARR AMINATU IBE ABUJA FCT…08033137990

POWER IN THE BLOOD OF JESUS HEALING MINISTRY

LOSS OF DOCUMENT THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ORIGINAL ALLOCATION LETTER OF 4 BED ROOM TERRACE DUPLEX, FLAT 1 BLOCK A 20, 2ND STREET ZONE 2, GAMES VILLAGE ABUJA BELONGING TO CREATIVE FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS LTD OF 19, AJASA STREET, ONIKAN LAGOS GOT LOST AND WAS DULLY REPORTED TO POLICE STATION . ALL EFFORT TO GET IT BACK HAS PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND, PLEASE RETURN TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATION, FEDERAL MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE.

YOUTH -FOCUS PILOT ORGANISATION

The General Public is hereby informed that the above named MINISTRY has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act Part C 1990.

This is to inform the General Public that the above named ORGANISATION has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part C of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. PROPHETESS BLESSING RHODA JACOB 2. PROPHET EMMANUEL JACOB 3. PASTOR LUKE CHUKWUDEBERE NKEM 4. SISTER CONFIDENCE JOHN

THE TRUSTEES ARE:1. OGUNMUYIWA KEHINDE SAMSON 2. FANIYI JAMES OLULEYE 3. OGUNLEYE DARE USMAN 4. QUADRI MUKAILA ABIMBOLA 5. AJAO LUKMAN RUFAI 6. IHIDERO OLUSEGUN FREDERICK 7. OLATOYOSI DAMILOLA DOLAPO

THE AIM AND OBJECTIVE IS:TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

THE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES ARE:1. To teach the youths leadership skills through outreach sessions 2. To organize youth empowerment programmers, health empowerment programmes

Any objection to the Approval of the registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General,Corporate Affairs Commission,Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, PMB 198 Maitama,Abuja within 28 days of this publication SIGNED BY BARRISTER OGE ENYINDAH

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to Registrar-General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420, Tigris Crescent, Off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication SIGNED BY:- SECRETARY

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

23 News

Fani-Kayode denies hiding from EFCC Lateef Ibrahim,

Director of Publicity of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Presidential Campaign Committee in 2015 and former Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, on Thursday dismissed media report that he had gone underground,

in order to evade arrest by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Media reports quoting an unnamed EFCC official had claimed that Fani-Kayode had was evading arrest by the agency.

But Fani-Kayode said that he was yet to receive any invitation of any sort from the

ADENIYI OLUOMO MATHEW

ONYEKACHI FRANCIS MARK

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

CONFIMATION OF NAME

OBIDAH ELAM

I, formerly known as TIMOTHY MATHEW ADENIYI, now wish to be known as ADENIYI OLUOMO MATHEW. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

I, formerly known as FRANCIS OBIORA MARK, now wish to be known as ONYEKACHI FRANCIS MARK. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

THAT I AM THE SAME PERSON BEARING AGBEBAKU FRIDAY OVIOSUN OAMEN AND AGBEBAKU FRIDAY EGUAOJE MY CONFIRM NAME IS AGBEBAKU FRIDAY OVIOSUN OAMEN EGUAOJE ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

MY NAME WAS WRONGLY WRITTEN AS MR ABRAHAM ONYEJESE INSTEAD OF MY MR ABRAHAM CHUKWUMA GEORGE MY CORRECT NAME IS MR ABRAHAM CHUKWUMA GEORGE ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

THAT I AM THE SAME PERSON BEARING OZOUGWU NBINITE PAUL AND OZOUGWU PAUL ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

I FORMERLY NKNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS OBIDAH HAMI NOW WISH TO BE ADDRESSED AS OBIDAH ELAM ALL FORME DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

SULAIMO FATAI ADEBAYO

NANNIM DANLADI

MRS UGWUOKE JULIANA

MRS UKPAH PHILOMINA

ASIKO JONAHMARY ASUENIMEH

FIJABI DANIEL AYO

I, formerly known as SULAIMON FATAI AKAMO, now wish to be known as SULAIMO FATAI ADEBAYO .

All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

I, formerly known as THOMAS SOLOMON DANLADI, now wish to be known as NANNIM DANLADI. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

I, formerly known as MRS UGWUOKE VICTORIA, now wish to be known as MRS UGWUOKE JULIANA. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

I, formerly known as MISS BEKEH PHILOMINA, now wish to be known as MRS UKPAH PHILOMINA. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

I, formerly known as ASIKO JOMARIO, now wish to be known as ASIKO JONAHMARY ASUENIMEH. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

I, formerly known as FIJABI SEMIU MICHAEL, now wish to be known as FIJABI DANIEL AYO. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

OLUWASEGUN OYEYEMI AREMU

EKEMINI EMMANUEL

AKINFE BUKOLA ABIODUN

I, formerly known as ATIM EKWERE USEN, now wish to be known as EKEMINI EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

I Formally Known And Addressed As MRS FAITH EKAETTE JOSEPHNow Wish To Be Known And Addressed As AKINFE BUKOLA ABIODUN . All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

MRS FAITH EKAETTE OTOBO

NKEM JIKA CHRISTIANA EGOYIBO

I formally known and addressed as MISS EMIOLA ALIMOT OMOWUNMI now wishes to be known and addressed as MRS FAITH EKAETTE OTOBO. All former documents remains valid. The general public should please take note.

I Formally Known And Addressed As NKEMJIKA MARIA Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As NKEM JIKA CHRISTIANA EGOYIBO . All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

SIMEON MBEISU

OMOJARO OLADAYO ADEYEYE

MRS. ADEYI OLUWATOYIN TOPE

I Formally Known And Addressed As OMOJARO OLADAYO MOSES Now Wish To Be Known And Addressed As OMOJARO OLADAYO ADEYEYE. All Former Documents Remain Valid. General Public Take Note.

I was formally Miss Muritala Oluwatoyin Tope, now wish to be known as address as Mrs. Adeyi Oluwatoyin Tope. All formal documeny remain valid, general public take note.

Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

I Formely known, called and addressed as OYEYEMI SEGUN JAMIU. Now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLUWASEGUN OYEYEMI AREMU . All documents bearing my former name remain valid, General public should please take note.

OLADIPUPO ADEBANKE IYABODE I Formely known, called and addressed as MISS ADEBANKE IYABODE SHOROYE. Now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLADIPUPO ADEBANKE IYABODE. All documents bearing my former name remain valid, General public should please take note.

I, formerly known as SOLOMON OKOH, now wish to be known as SIMEON MBEISU. All former documents remain valid , and the general public please take note.

EFCC. The former Minister was alleged to have received the sum of about N840 million for the campaign project.

In a statement on Thursday, Fani-Kayode said that he had no reason to go into hiding, stressing that he was yet to receive any invitation of any sort from the EFCC.

According to him, “I have not been invited by the EFCC by letter and neither have they phoned me or attempted to reach me in any other way.

“I have been in my Abuja home for the last few weeks and I am not hiding from anyone,” he declared.

He described the said media report as an attempt to further

demonise and humiliate him by the EFCC. He, thus, challenged the anti-graft agency to either write or call him if it has any questions for him to answer.

His words, “I have made my position clear on the issue of the Presidential Campaign Funds; I have written an essay about it in my various columns

about two weeks ago and I have been waiting for the EFCC to reach me ever since then.

“They have invited others but they have not invited me. I do not believe that I have done anything wrong and this latest attempt to criminalise me and make me look like a fugitive from justice will fail,” FaniKayode added.

PUBLIC NOTICE

THE DIVINE THRONE OF MERCY EVANGELICAL MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL

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

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. Okunola Dolapo Emmanuel 2. Okunola Mary Aanu 3. Ajeigba Patrick Makanjuola 4. Adenugba Samson 5. Alex Kayode Elijah Aims: 1.To raise individuals who will worship God in spirit and in truth.

2. To help the needy through prayers, care and counselling. 3. To help motivate children and young adults morally, emotionally and aid dream realisation.

ALOME JULIET OKPENGE

Signed: Trustees

LOSS OF DOCUMENT

I, formerly known and addressed as JULIET OKPENGE OMARI, now wish to be known and addressed as ALOME JULIET OKPENGE. All former documents remain valid.

The general public should take note.

This is to notify the general public of loss of building C of O belonging to Mr. Chukwura Obiajulu .O. of Plot 6 Independence Avenue Layout Enugu, Reg. as 74/74/1598 in respect of land situated at Plot D/6 Independence Layout Enugu got lost. All efforts to trace it proved abortive. If found contact Ministry of Lands Enugu.

MRS OKPALA CHIKAODI FAVOUR

OLUWAFIFUNWA OMOLAYOSI IKOBAYO

I, formerly known as MISS IGBOJIONU CHIKAODI FAVOUR. wish to be known and addressed as MRS OKPALA CHIKAODI FAVOUR. All former document remain valid, general public please take note

I formerly known, called and addressed as OLUWAFIFUNWA OMOLAYOSI JIMOH. Now wish to be known, called and addressed as OLUWAFIFUNWA OMOLAYOSI IKOBAYO. All documents bearing my former name remain valid, general public should please take note.

MARYANN NGOZI UKAEGBU

MRS ANIERO JACINTA CHIDINMA

I FORMALLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MARYANN NGOZI ALAEMEKA OGBA NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MARYANN NGOZI UKAEGBU .

ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID GENERAL PUBLIC TAKE NOTE

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

EKEMINI EMMANUEL I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS ATIM EKWERE USEN NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS EKEMINI EMMANUEL. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. THE GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE

I, formerly known as Miss Nwoye Jacintha Chidinma wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Aniero Jacinta Chidinma. All former document remain valid, general public please take note.

LIGHT COVENANT RUACH MINISTRY

Sunshine Liquor And Beverages Distributors Association

This is to inform the general public that the above named ministry has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

CHRIST PENTECOSTAL CHURCH ITURA EVANGELICAL MINISTRY

The General Public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act of 1990.

This is to inform the general public that the above named has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission Abuja for registration under Part “C” of the Companies and Allied Matters Act 1 of 1990.

The Trustees Are 1. Olojuola Ayodeji 2. Adejuyigbe Monisola 3. Akerele Vincent 4. Chief Festus Ejike Njoku 5. Adegoke Florence Adesola

THE TRUSTEES ARE. 1. REV. JULIUS AYO PASEDA 2. EVANGELIST (MRS) PASEDA RACHAEL OLASUNBO 3. PASTOR MOJUGBE ERHAVARI 4. EVANGELIST OWOLO JAMES

THE TRUSTEES ARE. 1. Emmanuel Owoicho Adoko - Chairman 2. Emmanuel Ojobi Uka. - Vice Chairman 3. Ode James Ikpeme 4. Deborah Awa Ode 5. Ada Catherine Acha 6. David OKlobia Ogbu - Secretary 7. Danjuma Zaphaniah Obadiah 8. James Onoja Okibe 9. Anthony Okwa 10. Garba Ikwulono Oigoga.

Aims And Objective 1. Preaching the Gospel. Or good news of Lord Jesus Christ to the whole world Any Objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Secretary

Aims And Objectives: 1. ASSIST THE LESS PREVILEDGDE IN THE SOCIETY 2. To Foster Unity Among Members

AIMS: 1. To propagate the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

2. To heal the sick, set the captive free and deliver the oppressed.

Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, Plot 420 Tigris Crescent, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.

Any Objection(s) to this registration should be forwarded to the Registrar General, Corporate Affairs Commission, plot 420, Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, PMB 198, Garki, Abuja within 28 days from the date of this publication.

Signed: Trustees.

Signed: Trustees

News 24

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

NANS warns herdsmen against further attacks Gbenga Sodeinde Ado-Ekiti

ÎÎÎThe

National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), Ekiti axis, has accused the federal government of not doing enough to ensure the security of life and property of Nigerians,”which has warranted the level of insecurity caused by Fulani herdsmen presently terrorising the innocent Nigerians citizen”.

A statement by its Chairman, Cosmas Awopeju, in Ado-Ekiti on Thursday, warned the marauding herdsmen to steer clear of Ekiti, threatening that stu-

dents and “the youth would resist attempt to extend the criminal and senseless killings to the state.”

The statement said it had directed all the student union governments in all the tertiary institutions based in Ekiti State to nominate cadets and men for Students Joint Militia Front , which would be trained to ward off any attack from

the herdsmen .

“While we express our condolences to the families of those killed in Benue, Enugu, Delta, Anambra and other states, we are baffled by the failure of the federal government to stop the destruction of farmlands, rape , armed robbery, kidnapping and, most painfully, the massacre of innocent Nigerians by Fulani herds-

men.

“Most disturbing was the fact that students form very large percentage of the victims. If the federal government fails to secure our lives, we call on Oodua People’s Congress, all youth groups in the south-west and the Agbekoya Revolutionary Movement to be ready to defend the people from the aggressors.

“The appointment of the head of the militia front will be announced soon and all appropriate quarters will be communicated. If we must defend ourselves, we must start it now. We will continue to support the change agenda of the federal government, but the FG must first protect our lives and property to, enjoy our support”, he said.

Court slams UTC for delaying justice Titilope Joseph

ÎÎÎThe National Industrial

Court of Nigeria, on Thursday, berated one of Nigeria’s foremost confectionaries company, UTC Nigeria Plc over its failure to file its defence in a case filed against it before the court.

A retiree of the company, Mrs. Abolade Ajala, had dragged the company to court over its alleged failure to pay her retirement benefits up to the tune of N26, 558,012.76, having served the company for 29 years before her retirement in 2011.

The court had fixed Thursday for report of the filing of the defendant’s response to the claimant’s claim.

Jos Igbo deny reprisal attack on herdsmen Chijioke Kingsley Jos

ÎÎÎThe

President General of Anambra Welfare Association in Plateau State, Mr. Achike Onochie has said that the Igbo nation did not carry a reprisal attack on the herdsmen invasion of southeast because Igbo is mindful of the unity of this country.

Onochie stated this in Jos, the Plateau State capital, while responding to our correspondent on the attack by herdsmen in Ukpabi, Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State recently.

He also said that the bitter experiences of the Civil War puts an average Igbo man in a position to trade with caution, adding that Igbo is no longer easily given to annoyance that will bring it to collide with someone from another race.

His words: “Igbos are peaceful in nature, the bitter experience of the civil war also informed our decision to always trade the part of caution. We are also commercial in nature with investment all over Nigeria and therefore cannot be easily cajoled in taking some certain decisions and most importantly, we are Christians predominantly.

Mohammed

L - R: Czech Republic Embassy staff, Marie Novotna, Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, Czech Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Pavel Mikes, Chief of Staff to the Senate President, Sen. Isa Galaudu and Gabriela Idehen and other staff of the Embassy when the Ambassador visited the Senate President in Abuja… on Thursday.

Amaechi explains role in Sanusi’s letter to Jonathan Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÎÎÎMinister

of Transport, Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, on Thursday, threw light on his role in the letter written to former President Goodluck Jonathan by Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was then governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Sanusi, who is now Emir of Kano, had written to the former president sometime in 2013 concerning the alleged non-remittance of $49.8 billion from oil sale to the federation account.

Amaechi was alleged to have “surreptitiously and clandestinely leaked” the content of the letter to Jonathan.

However, Amaechi, in a statement personally signed

by him, said the letter was given to him by un-named “concerned and patriotic person” in his capacity as the then Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

According to the statement, “When Amaechi got the letter, he spoke with Sanusi who was still the CBN governor to confirm the authenticity of the letter. Sanusi confirmed to Amaechi that he wrote the letter.

“During their conversation, Amaechi made it abundantly clear to the then CBN governor that the bleeding of the nation had to be stopped, all non-remitted funds remitted and that he (Amaechi) was going to use the letter to do whatever is in the best interest of the nation and Nigerians, which was the stoppage of

the non-remittance and the recovery of all the non-remitted funds from oil sale.

“The CBN Governor didn’t agree with Amaechi on the way forward,” the statement added.

The former Rivers State governor explained further that he shared the letter with his colleagues in the NGF, and later with the current President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki, who was around that period, doing some investigations around the oil sector in the Senate.

Amaechi stressed that he later received a delegation from the United States of America’s offices of the secretaries of State and Defence in Port Harcourt to discuss the issue of oil theft in Nigeria.

According to the state-

ment, “From their records, they gave Amaechi figures of billions of dollars (about $7 billion, annually) that was being lost to oil theft in Nigeria.

“They were discussing the issue and figures of oil theft, and that was how the CBN governor’s letter to President Jonathan came up.

“In the presence of journalists covering the visit, Amaechi brought out the Sanusi letter to the visiting American delegation to buttress the point that Nigeria was losing far more money to non-remittance of proceeds from oil sale into the federation account, which everyone seemed to concur, was in itself, another form and another dimension to the issue of oil theft,” the statement stressed.

PDP Northern Elders seek shift of national convention Lateef Ibrahim Abuja

ÎÎÎThe

Northern Elders Forum of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) has joined in the call for the postponement of the May 21 national convention of the Party. The Forum, under the leadership of former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, which met in Abuja late Wednesday night, said the postponement was to give room for reconciliation by aggrieved members.

The Concerned PDP Leaders, led by former Niger State governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, had earlier pushed for the postponement of the convention due to observed flaws in the ongoing congresses across the states.

The Prof Gana-led Forum declared that the present members of the National Working Committee (NWC) should vacate their offices on May 21.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

25 Opinion

Calling a thorn by any other name

ÏÏÏ

It is perhaps not surprising that we have withdrawn into the shell of silence, embraced the silent depth by exploring its circumference to grasp the illogic which makes our silence deafening, the universe a welcoming place.

Silence is the defensive weapon we deploy against hardship, against hunger, against the real and the imagined threatening our collective existence.

It doesn’t matter that it relegates us to a place of weakness, nor does the powerlessness of overcoming hardship or suffering matter to us, the silent.

Silence helps us find our place among dogs sleeping in the manger of silence.

Unlike the dog in Aesop’s Fables, we neither bark nor bite. We keep watch, looking fixedly at our miseries with fear while we hope that the ravening clouds won’t possess our skies forever.

This too shall pass, we say.

It helps us- we, who, too frightened to fight, lacking the courage to speak to our conditions, assert the foolishness of cowardice, who look to others for guidance, search for someone to look up to and speak for us.

Fanon said: “Nobody, neither leader nor rank-andfiler, can hold back the truth.

The search for truth in local

attitudes is a collective affair...

The collective struggle presupposes collective responsibility at the base and collegiate responsibility at the top.

Yes, everybody will have to be compromised in the fight for the common good.

No one has clean hands; there are no innocents and no onlookers. We all have dirty hands; we are all soiling them in the swamps of our country and in the terrifying emptiness of our brains. Every onlooker is either a coward or a traitor”.

Yet, we mutter why silence is the voice of the present to ourselves.

We can’t voice this in the public. Never.

Nothing abandons us to a life of fragments (of fear and despair) than our inability to act when the condition we are in demands action, willingness, demands a sense of rejection, and the ability to speak truth to power. To speak and to act are the imperatives of progressive citizenship- the active and progressive kind that allows those who are oppressed to confront their oppressors, the wounded to apply iodine to their wounds just as they hurl the scabs in the faces of those who inflict injuries on them, who never tire of speaking out, who walk it like they talk it. They never forget that freedom emerges from the crucible of pain- the abiding articles

of faith, commitments to the fulfillment of what is hoped for, what is dreamt, fidelity to the truest ideals of citizenship, and not what philistines and political shibboleths demand of us.

Yet, again, silence becomes our philosophy of retreat we hide behind our palms, we hibernate somewhere far from reason, hoping that our conditions would on their own peter out and life would become normal again.

Life can only become normal again when we think of it as spoken words, as a verb of the things we do, the lines we act, as the action of living, as belonging to creativity.

Life is shaped by our actions, not by our possessions, our names.

This too shall pass, we say.

How can time pass when heartless folks have seized the soul of our country?

No time in our history have we experienced the senseless slaughter of fellow citizens, violent sacking of communities, and the madness of murderers who cling to a way of life time long condemned to the past and who are too blind to be saved from delusion, from their own death, than now.

In the face of madness we convince ourselves that withdrawing into the shell of silence “where we dry up the vital springs of action, producing listlessness and despair”, to borrow from Bertrand Russel, is the only way.

This explains why the silences of machines that have ceased to turn in our factories, workers forced home, children who stay at home because their unemployed parents can’t pay their school fees, crush against the silence of the streets like continental plates. It also explains

W E A T H E R ABUJA

ASABA

LAgOS

Low 26°C High 41°C

Low 26°C High 36°C

Low 26°C High 36°C

KADUNA

IBADAN

ILORIN

Low 26°C High 39°C

Low 24°C High 36°C

Low 25°C High 39°C

why silence appears as a chimera, an illusion of the peace of the present.

Don’t be mistaken: the silence of the street does not mean that there is a total resignation to fate, acceptance of conditions doing bodies and souls in.

To surrender to silence is to lose our power to speak and to act, to lose our humanity.

Not all citizens have chosen silence or have withdrawn into the shell of silence.

There are those occupying the space between speech and silence, noun and verb, who look at the butchery of the moment and draw attention to unreason.

Those truculent warriors of words have the power of speech, yet they destroy words by attaching new meanings to them. Yet, too, they misname things and events to suit certain ethnic agenda. They have the power to act, to call attention to reason, to those values that make our age superior to the barbarian age, but they fail.

To misname things and events, to misname the thorn is a risky business; a business that exposes those who obfuscate truth, imposes a riskier narrative, fantasy, a chimera, who seek to turn illusion into reality, CHUKUCHUKUthe thorn- into an object of love. CHUKUCHUKU NA CHUKUCHUKU. What is the purpose of calling the thorn by any other name?

What do they intend to achieve when they call the butterfly a bird because it has wings and can fly?

Calling the thorn by any other name doesn’t make the pain of being pierced less painful. To name those armed Fulani herdsmen by any other name doesn’t

make them lose their murderous instincts, doesn’t make them disappear from our earth.

In fact, it will only spawn a counter narrative, new strategies in resisting them.

Northern governors are unhelpful when they deny the ethnic identities of armed Fulani herdsmen. My view here is this: the governors’ identity construction is not grounded in fact and reality, nor is it evidenced by tradition, by nomads themselves who graze only where the fields are always green.

Here too is another view: the northern governors invent a meta-narrative that distorts truth, masks the culpability of armed Fulani herdsmen.

While the governors bury their heads in the sand, exposing their stinking parts to the Sahelian sun, armed Fulani herdsmen are destroying farming communities.

This week, the traditional ruler of Fadan Karshi, Kaduna state, and his nephew, were murdered by suspected Fulani herdsmen.

In Loko, Nasarawa state, twenty people and eighty three cows were killed by gunmen.

Clearly, inhabitants of farming communities are seeking revenge, exacting vengeance for their departed folks.

The geography of blood and vengeance is widening out, possessing the Sahel, beings and shadows walking the high sun, blurring the aesthetics of places we used to know.

This widening out has tragic consequences for our country, for inter-ethnic and communal relations.

Our nation-state, neck deep in the vortex of

bloodshed, is helpless. The cauldron that will consume us is already boiling over, yet the rulers of our nationstate do nothing, or pretend to act, depending on how we view it.

Our nation-state has failed to protect defenseless citizens. Agatu, Nimbo, Loko and Fadan Karshi illustrate this failure.

The narrative that the people of Agatu are responsible for the attacks on the Fulani community of Loko is already gaining currency. This narrative, like many narratives before it, further illustrates the irresponsibility of rulers of our nation-state who sit on their palms while marauders roam free with cudgels, machetes and dangerous weapons and kill at will.

When the nation-state cannot protect citizens, attacks and counter attacks, vengeance and revenge killings become the order of things. We might have just begun our short walk to hell- a walk, easy as the death that claims lives on the way.

The walk to hell is easy but it isn’t hard either to heed the wise words of that great Chilean poet, Nicanor Parra: “Too much blood has run under the bridge to go on believing that only one road is right”.

The road to hell is paved with blood, tears and grief.

We must cut short this walk down the road to our collective hell.

President Buhari has directed security agencies to deal ruthlessly with the armed Fulani herdsmen.

Good news. We can no longer remain silent before one of greatest communal conflicts in our history.

Please, speak truth to power.

R E P O R T KANO Low 27 °C High 44°C

BENIN CITY Low 18°C High 30 °C

P/HARCOURT Low 23°C High 30 °C

CALABAR Low 25°C High 31°C

ENUgU Low 25°C High 36°C

WARRI Low 25°C High 33°C

26

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Art Review Sixty-five balls for Nike Okundaye

…as friends, collectors gather to celebrate her

Agozino Agozino

Nike

Group plans music festival Agozino Agozino Worried by the growing influence of Western and non-African culture on the Nigerian music industry, a Canadabased arts and culture promoting body, Afrikadey, plans to turn the trend. Beginning in Badagry, Lagos, the body led by Tunde Dawodu, aims to hosts its first music market festival where music lovers in Nigeria will soon get to know more about Africa’s rich music heritage and its potential for economic diversification.

The advocate of the new direction which has hosted many music festivals in Canada said the outing tagged Pan Afican Music Market is designed as forum where sellers and buyers of music could converge, interact

and initiate transactions that would be mutually beneficial to all involved. The project will bring together wide range of music creators and entrepreneurs who have interest in production and marketing of original African music.

Slated for the historic city of badagry, the event is planned to occur yearly during the last week October .To be featured in the four days panoramic cultural music package are concerts, artist showcases, music tradeshow, stands and pavilions, special guest presentation, visual arts, industry presentations, special awards and closing concert.

Explaining the mission of the project during a press conference in Lekki Lagos penultimate Friday, Mr. Tunde Dawodu, Execu-

Renowned textile artist and culture promoter, Chief (Mrs.) Nike Okundaye, will on Saturday, May 21 clock 65 years of age.

Ahead of the celebrations, her gallery and mentees have concluded plans to celebrate Mama Adire, as she’s fondly called.

Programme of the event from her gallery hints that the event will be a mini-festival to be hosted in her Lekki-based gallery.

Kick-starting the event, the gallery will on Sunday, May 15 host some group of art writers in a one day art talk. This will be followed by a one week art exhibition and a get-together for traditional rulers and members of the diplomatic corps, among other activities slated to take place.

The event promises to be an avenue whereby art collectors, captains of industry and friends of Nike, will mingle to discuss how to take arts to a higher level.

Reminiscing on her contribution in the field of art, she said: “I thank God for my life.

Though, the challenge is there, which we face every day, but, an opportunity like this affords one to look back and thank God for what He has done for me.

“That is why this kind of event is dear to my heart. Apart from that, I am using it to appreciate my Maker for His mercies and kindness. I also want to use it to host my colleagues in the arts.’’

The Ogidi Ijumu, Kogi State born artist, is also seizing the opportunity to thank everyone, especially, the artists, who have contributed immensingly in making her life a success. ‘‘I am an ardent believer that the height that we reach in this world is not as a result of our making alone, but, God, who helps us to achieve such things in life.

“Now, at 65, I will tell you that God has been good to me.

Whatever one finds in life is for a moment, no condition is permanent. Therefore, it is always good to cherish those who have been with you. We know that our destiny is not in our hands.

“This gives me a lot of strength to go on everyday, despite challenges. I want to use this event to thank God and celebrate with the art community.

What I have achieved is also because I stayed focused to this goal and my love for the arts.

“I also want to advise our younger artists that things may not look good today, but, they should continue. Challenges drive us to our ultimate destiny.

“ As a matter of fact, I started my sojourn into the arts when I was just six. Having lost my mother early in life, that challenge did not stop me and that is why I will always celebrate what God has done for me”.

Born on May 23, 1951, Nike is the chief executive of Nike Centre for Art and Culture, Osogbo, where she offers training, free of charge, on various forms of arts to interested people. She is also the founder of the Nike Art Galleries in Lagos and Abuja.

In 1996, as a way of empowering the womenfolk, she established a textile (Aso Oke) weaving centre in her home town.

More than 200 women have, so far, benefitted from that initiative. Every year, she invites foreign dignitaries to her hometown in Ogidi to savour the beauty of the town.

She holds the traditional titles of Yeye Oba of Ogidi, YeyeTayese of Osogbo and Yeye Gbasaga of Ijumu. She is a member of the Society of Nigerian Artists, (SNA) Society of Nigerian Women Artists, Osun Support Grove and had won one of the highest Italian national awards, which she was given in appreciation of her efforts in using arts to address and solve the problems of Nigerian commercial sex workers in Italy.

tive Director of the not for profit organisation narrated what to be expected when the music festival project begins. He said that the objective is to tap the potential of music, in quest for economic diversification. While Nigeria And Some Other African Coun-

tries totally depend on crude oil income for social and infrastructural development, creative arts and in particular music, is sustainable method of long term employment.

Dawodu further disclosed the intent of Pan African Music Mar-

ket project is to increase opportunities available for African and in particular Nigerian music artists and entrepreneurs to make significant contribution to the continent cultural expression.

“Pan African Music Market project desires to ensure that African music artists have the necessary skills, know-how and tools to succeed in a global and digital environment. The PAMM project will be a place that nurtures creativity, fosters technical innovation and provides enabling avenue for international acceptance of music created by African artists. Nigeria is fast becoming a global destination for business investors. The production of unique events like Pan African Music Market project could become the imperative in sustaining long-term interest in Africa continental development process.,’’ Dawodu reasoned.

Sato dancers of Badagry at an event

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

27

Art Review

Rare book about Forgiveness I have read Miakpo Emiaso’s books in the past. But reading Forgiveness – A Sure Path to Peace and Joy is a different ball game altogether. This is because no one reads this book without feeling affected somehow. You are certain to find yourself somewhere somehow in this book.

Forgiveness – A Sure Path to Peace and Joy is an eight chapter book in 221 pages published in September 2015 with well laid out chapters as follows: Meaning and Nature of forgiveness, conditions for forgiveness, not all Sins are forgivable, repentance and confession, is it Possible to forgive and forget?, forgiveness and ‘Holy Ghost Fire’, prayers, and the need for forgiveness.

Chapter eight is an epilogue and contains interesting quotes and insights on the subject matter of forgiveness. The first chapter discusses generally the meaning and nature forgiveness where the author espouses on the fundamental and universal character of the concept of forgiveness.

In this chapter, the author talks about secular and divine forgiveness and examines the concept of forgiveness from the perspective of major world religions as Budhism, Sikhism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam as well as the Grail perception and Rosicrucian views of forgiveness.

Miakpo Emiaso in this first chapter of the book, calls into play definitions of the concept

arts heritage series Victor Hugo (1802-1885) Novelist, poet, and dramatist Hugo is one of the most important of French Romantic writers. Among his best-known works are The Hunchback of Notre Dame(1831) and Les Misérables(1862).

Hugo was born in Besançon as the son of an army general, who taught young Victor to admire Napoleon as a hero. After the separation of his parents, he was raised and educated in Paris by his mother, where the family settled when Hugo was two. From 1815 to 1818 Hugo attended the Lycée Louis-le Grand in Paris. He began in early adolescence to write verse tragedies and poetry, and translated Virgil.

Hugo’s first collection of poems, Odes Et Poesies Diverses gained him a royal pension from Louis XVIII.

A new book by Miakpo Emiaso transport its reader to mysteries of forgivenness Nicholas Okeugo offers a review

of forgiveness from various authors, groups, institutions and religions. For instance, he finds that the Grail Message appears to teach that there is no such thing as forgiveness in the way it is popularly understood that sins can be forgiven simply by confessing them and repentance – a teaching which he says he enjoys even though he still struggles to understand aspects of the teaching.

Quoting profusely from the Grail teaching on forgiveness, the author tells his readers that the Grail Movement believes that one can only be forgiven of sins after one has suffered the consequences of such sins for they say

that “Forgiveness occurs when a man has duly reaped the consequences of his wrong actions”.

Emiaso however goes on to state in page 46 of the book that when he reads the account of the Last Supper where Jesus Christ told his disciples to drink His blood which is shed for the forgiveness of sins, he confesses that he gets a little confused by the Grail teaching notwithstanding his admiration for the logic of the teaching.

Chapter two of Forgiveness – A Sure Path to Peace and Joy is emphatic that there are conditions for forgiveness. According to the author, forgiveness is neither automatic nor free. In this

Emiaso

chapter, Emiaso points out that although God’s mercies are infinite and that He is always willing and happy to forgive, unless one repents, forgiveness can never benefit one for, according to the author at page 68, Jesus Christ made this point clear when the

Ehikhamenor in South Africa residency

Ehikhamenor

Multidiscilpinary artist Victor Ehikhamenor is currently on a residency program in Johannesburg, South Africa. As a part of his residency activity line up, he recently presented a live performance and installation show at one of South Africa’s renowned art space, Gallery Momo in Johannesburg. The one day event is titled Mapping The Landscape Within was held

Thursday April 14.

The context of the presentation as stated by the curator, Beathur Mgoza Baker arises from various experiences of violation and discrimination of Africans by Africans. According to her, “Mapping the Landscape Within critically examines the confusion of displacement, inequity of discrimination, and the effect of alienation on the self as ‘other’.”

Lord said that ‘... except ye repent, ye shall ... likewise perish’.

The book examines in details the two conditions of repentance and confession at chapter four the author wonders whether it is possible for human beings to forgive and forget.

In chapter three, the author makes the point that blasphemy is an unforgivable sin and that speaking in tongues not as the Holy Spirit gives utterance amounts to blasphemy and cautions against such practice while at chapter five.

In Chapter six, the author discusses what he describes as Holy Ghost Fire Prayers which he describes as an unforgiving practice based on wickedness and ignorance. And in chapter seven, the book examines the beauty and advantages of forgiveness.

Emiaso in his writings shows that he is an effective and a thorough communicator and teacher.

These qualities are amply demonstrated in the book where he combines a bit of humour in discussing the serious issues of man’s natural unwillingness to repent saying that if Adam had repented when God came calling, the world of mankind would be different today. See at page 66 where the author invites mankind in a rather comical poetry in pidgin English to appeal to the devil to repent and apologise to God so that he can be forgiven and let the world know peace as it was in the Garden of Eden. Hear Emiaso as he says that ‘suppose we all go to Lucifer and say to him: ‘Bros, which one you dey? Why you go dey hold ground with God? You no know say God na Ose? Oya come. Come lie down make you butu. Tell Ose say you sorry. Say you no go do so again’.

Chimamanda adds another feather

Chimamanda

Popular Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is set

to be honoured by leading American higher institution, Johns Hopkins University, Maryland, United States.

The Half of a Yellow Sun writer, who has a creative writing master’s degree from the university, would join seven other distinguished personalities to be conferred with honorary degrees.

The conferment ceremony will be held on May 18 at Royal Farms Arena.

Islam 28 Islamic

Point of View

BEST OF SPEECHES

Subair Mohammed

Qur’an and the Sunnah are sufficient enough for us to be successful both in conveying the message of Islam and also in our inter-personal relations.

Today, many Muslims (both preachers and singers) seem to have patterned their lifestyles, not in line with the Quran, but with whatever that is trendy forgetting that the best of speakers before Allah is he who is guided by the Quran and sunnah of Prophet Muhammed in his or her speech.

To many of them, the easiest path to prominence is the adoption of vulgar words and slangs in their expressions of Islamic views to the delight of their ardent fans.

In this, they are known to distort the teachings of the Quran, blend Allah’s words with the Western civilization and thought pattern accompanied with vulgar words which they used as words of expression, an act which to according to them determines their popularity among their teeming fans.

In Quran 22:30, Allah says, ‘’…So avoid the uncleanliness of idols and avoid false statement.’’ Therefore, it is incumbent on every Muslim to shun falsehood because it is the bane on our holiness and closeness to Allah as practitioners of the religion of peace.

Instead of winning souls through the propagation of the messages of peace and the tradition of the prophet, they concentrate more on the number of fans and followers they generate at every public lecture.

Little wonder, there is even an unhealthy rivalry among them, reason they deviate from their call to redeem souls to the path of Allah and to feed the Ummah with spiritual diets and make better every situation.

Maybe there is need to remind our dear preachers and singers what the Prophet said on uttering falsehood and jokes?

The messenger of Allah (SAW), as narrated by Mu’awiyah Ibn Jaydah al-Qushayri, said , “Woe to him who tells things, speaking falsely, to make people laugh thereby. Woe to him! Woe to him!”.

The entire Muslim community is not healthy, but in spite of its sickness, it is willing to hear and abide by the teachings of the Quran and the Prophet, but the true Ulamahs are nowhere to be found.

Therefore, of urgent importance is the need for many scholars of Islam and Islamic singers to seek purity of their tongues and intentions from Allah before going public as there is no in-built wisdom in every tongue, but it is possible to sharpen and acquire this by frequent recitation of the Quran, as the heart and tongue that reads the Quran cannot but be cleansed of humanly errors.

And Allah knows best!

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Zakat foundation gets new Director Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation, (ZSF) a non-discriminatory religious and humanitarian foundation has appointed a new Executive Director, Engr. Sulayman Olagunju to replace Imam Abdulahi Shuaib who had since resumed as Head, Jaiz Bank Zakat and Sadaqah Foundation.

Until his appointment, the new Director was the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the foundation.

While speaking on the challenges before him as the new ZSF helmsman, he said, “the challenges before the foundation are so enormous and as such it requires greater commitment and drive on the part of the zakat team to continually serve the needs of beneficiaries and ensure equal redistribution of wealth among vulnerable Nigerians”.

He stated further, “Part of our many challenges has been sourcing for fund. Having said that, I

want to appreciate the zeal of our donors over the years but I want to appeal for more cooperation and understanding as we solicit for more Muslims who are zakatable to see the payment of their zakat as a religious obligation which only Allah can reward. However, in order to bridge the gap between potential zakat payers and the foundation, we are compiling the lists of potential zakat payers in the country with the intention to getting them to pay their zakat and contribute towards alleviating the hardship of indigent Nigerians”.

As part of efforts by the foundation to carter for the needs of fasting Muslims in the month of Ramadhan, Engr, Sulayman disclosed that preparations are in top gear as the foundation is working towards feeding over 100,000 fasting Muslims during this coming Ramadhan with a minimum amount of N2500 per person.

SAYINGS OF THE PROPHET Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him speak goodness or remain silent. Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his neighbor.

Whoever believes in Allah and the Last Day, let him honor his guest.

Source: Sahih Muslim

Kazaure emirate disburses zakat to less privileged The Kazaure Emirate Council in Jigawa has distributed Zakat (alms) worth over N21.7 million to 11, 525 less privileged people in the area.

The Emirate’s spokesman, Malam Gambo Garba, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse on Monday.

Garba said that the Zakat consisted of over N4.13 million cash and N17.6 million worth of grains.

He said that the Emir, Alhaj Najib Hussaini, made the figure known at the closing ceremony of the 2016 Zakkat distribution exer-

cise in Diwidi village.

The spokesperson explained that the food items were distributed to deserving families in nine district councils under the emirate.

Garba said that the emir reaffirmed the commitment of the emirate council toward the propagation of Islam through wealth redistribution to reduce poverty in the emirate.

He quoted the monarch as urging wealthy persons to always support the vulnerable and less privileged in the society to reduce poverty in the area. (NAN)

Hijab ban: Judge refers MSSN to Appeal Court president Stories by Subair Mohammed The Court of Appeal sitting in Lagos has affirmed that granting of right to Muslim students to wear Hijab in Lagos State schools needed constitutional interpretation.

Justice Amina Augie said this while granting the right to hear a case on Hijab matter on Tuesday (May 3rd).

Other justices on the bench were Justice Tijani Abubakr and Justice Tukur.

The case was between Asiyat Kareem (Minor) suing through Mr. AbdulKareem Raji; Mariam Oyeniyi through Mr. Sulaimon Oyeniyi; and Muslim students through Amir (President) Muslim Students’ Society of Nigeria, Lagos State Area Unit, Saheed Ashafa versus Lagos State Government (LASG) and others, who were the respondent.

The appellants were represented by a team of lawyers led by by Alhaji Gani Adetola-Kassim (SAN).

After hearing the brief of the case from both the appellants and respondent, Justice Augie stalled the hearing.

According to her, the case on Hijab needed constitutional interpretation and only a full court could preferably give verdict on it.

She also explained that it was not preferable that the case be heard by a panel dominated by only Muslim Judges.

This, she said, was as a result of

Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbajo exchanging pleasantries with the former Executive Director, Zakat and Sadaqat Foundation (ZSF) Imam Abdullahi Shuaib during a visit by The Muslim Congress (TMC) to the VP at Aso Villa, Abuja. With them are former Deputy Presidents of TMC cum University of Lagos (UNILAG) senior lecturers Dr Tajudeen Yusuf (right) and Dr Ismail Ibrahim... recently.

the sensitivity of the (Hijab) matter.

She subsequently asked the appellants to write the President of Appeal Court, Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, to set up a full court (of five justices) to hear the case.

Reacting to the position of the appeal court, MSSN Lagos Amir, Saheed Ashafa, expressed confidence that the position of the constitution was clear on freedom of religion.

He explained that the Court of Appeal has further vindicated the position of MSSN Lagos by admitting that wearing of Hijab was a constitutional right.

He said, “By the grace of God, we will emerge victorious. Our legal team is working on the decision of the Court of Appeal already and we trust that proper interpretation would be done.

“We have always believed that banning of Hijab from the inception is against the spirit of the constitution. It was indeed shocking that despite harassing and flogging of students publicly the Lagos State Government under Babatunde Fashola proceeded to ban Hijab for a reason best known to them.

“We will not stop being law abiding, but urge the LASG to respect individual differences and grant

Muslims our right to practise Islam just as our counterparts in other religions, especially Christians. We pray that in the end, the favourable wish of Allah shall prevail.”

On her part, Amirah of MSSN Lagos, Hajia Hafsah Badru, complained that it was taking too long for the rights of Muslims to be granted.

She reiterated that “the present dress codes in schools is a specification for the Christians. Allowing Muslims to also wear Hijab will only show impartiality and equality on the part of government and make Muslims fulfil their obligation to their creator - Allah.

a

Obi trains with Torino for Napoli clash

I

njury-prone Joel Obi is in line to feature for Torino this weekend when they battle Napoli after he trained with the rest of the squad Thursday morning.

Obi, who returned to training in a group with his teammates after a muscle strain forced him to stay out for the game against

Udinese, was fully involved in the training with his teammates.

He trained separately on Wednesday.

The 24-year-old midfielder won Italia Cup in 2010/2011, Italia Super Cup in 2010 and FIFA Club World Cup in 2010, all with Inter Milan.

Fatai’s Sparta Prague crash out of Czech Cup

T Obi

he hope of former Nigeria youth international Kehinde Fatai to end the season with a piece of silverware has been dashed after his club Sparta Prague were sent packing from the Czech Cup. Sparta Prague lost in the semi-final to Jablonec, who won 2-1 in Prague on Wednesday in the second leg to reach the final 4-1 on aggregate.

Fatai’s Sparta Prague have already lost the battle to win the league championship as they trail leaders Viktoria Plzen by 13 points with just three games to end the season.

Page 29

Friday, May 6, 2016

N Oduamadi

Oduamadi

igeria forward Nnamdi Oduamadi has dedicated his first goal for Finnish team, HJK Helsinki to his late father.

The AC Milan loanee scored in the 63rd minute to give his side a 3-0 lead in HJK Helsinki 5-1 win over Ilves to remain top of the Finnish top flight league with 14 points in seven games.

“Dad I know you are up there watching, my goal today was dedicated to you. I love you forever,” Oduamadi wrote on his Facebook page.

His compatriot Taye Taiwo also featured in the game for HJK Helsinki.

FC dedicates first Giwa goalie goal in Finland dies G to late dad

Roma’s Abdullahi stages comeback

next season A

Abdullahi

S Roma young Nigerian defender Nura Abdullahi has revealed that he hopes to establish himself in the top flight in Italy next season after an outgoing campaign during which he was sidelined by injury for several months.

Right fullback Abdullahi is on a season-long loan at Roma from Serie B side Spezia, but he has yet to make his debut for the capital city club with two rounds of matches to the end of

the season.

“It has been a very difficult season for me. First, I had a surgery and was out for three months and then I returned and suffered an ankle injury in training with the youth team and I was out for five weeks,” he said.

“But I have been back now training again for the past two weeks.

“My target therefore is next season and hopefully God will make it possible for me to have a great

campaign then.”

Like his better known compatriot and teammate Sadiq Umar, 18-yearold Nura is expected to bag a fouryear contract with Roma in July.

Roma are currently third on the Serie A table, which already earns them a place in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.

But they will automatically qualify for the Champions League should they topple Napoli from second place on the table.

iwa FC of Jos have lost one of their goalkeepers, Timothy Chichi Okere reportedly died on Wednesday after a prolonged spinal cord-related ailment according to reports. The goalkeeper died in Jos – the home base of the club.

Okere was in goal throughout Giwa’ s campaign in the Nigeria National League and played a leading role towards helping the team to gain promotion to the Nigeria Professional Football League three years ago but later lost his first team shirt to Flying Eagles goalkeeper Ojo Olorunleke at the commencement of the team’ s campaign in the NPFL. He was reported to have sustained a back injury in training two years ago and was hospitalized at Bima hospital in Jos was later discharged but readmitted following a relapse.

The Media Officer of the team, David King, was said to have confirmed the unfortunate incident to reporters, but said the club was awaiting communication from the player’s family on the burial arrangements.

Okere had played for Mighty Jets before crossing over to Giwa FC.

Friday, May 6, 2016

30

EXTRATIME

Fellaini,

Huth handed three-match

bans

Fellaini

M

anchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini and Leicester City defender Robert Huth will each serve three-match bans following their clash in last Sunday’s Premier League match at Old Trafford.

The incident occurred during the 21st minute of the 1-1 draw and was not seen by the match officials.

Television replays showed Huth appearing

to pull Fellaini’s hair before the Belgium international struck him with an elbow.

Both players accepted the charge of violent conduct, although Huth claimed the standard punishment of three matches was “clearly excessive” in his case.

That was rejected at an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Thursday and the German centre-back will miss the final two matches of Leicester’s

triumphant Premier League campaign against Everton and Chelsea, along with the first game of their title defence in August.

Fellaini is ruled out of encounters with Norwich City, West Ham and AFC Bournemouth as United chase a top-four finish, although he will be available for selection when Louis van Gaal’s men meet Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final.

Man Utd lack

character, says Keane F Keane

ormer Manchester United captain Roy Keane has given his vote of confidence to manager Louis van Gaal, saying he hopes the board allows him to see out the third and final year of his contract at Old Trafford, though there is a distinct lack of character within the team.

Keane said United are still in transition following the departure of their most successful manager Alex

Ferguson in 2013, with Van Gaal struggling to restore the club’s status as the Premier League’s dominant force amid reports link Jose Mourinho with a move to Manchester.

Ferguson oversaw United’s most successful period - in which Keane proved a vital player - and the former Republic of Ireland international said winning the FA Cup ahead of Crystal Palace would represent a successful season for Van Gaal and Co.

“It was always going to be difficult, even for David Moyes, after Alex Ferguson,” said Keane.

“But I think if United can win the cup — it might be difficult to finish fourth — I don’t see why United won’t let him finish out the last year of his contract.

“I think Van Gaal has made it clear he’d like to do that. And I hope he does.

Leicester

track Pescara

striker P

escara president Daniele Sebastiani has claimed to have spoken to Leicester City manager Claudio Ranieri about the availability of striker Gianluca Lapadula.

The new Premier League champions have already made a move to strenghten their squad ahead of their first Champions League campaign next season and Raneiri is particularly keen to add another striker.

They look set to continue with their method of unearthing unknown talents by contacting second-tier Italian club Pescara about Lapadula.

The Peruvian forward, who has also been reportedly linked with Tottenham, has made a big impression in Serie B this season, scoring over 20 goals.

And that has done enough to persuade Ranieri to go for him this

Pescara striker , Gianluca Lapadula.

summer and Sebastiani has confirmed Leicester’s interest.

“Indeed, I received a phone call from Claudio Ranieri some time ago, before Leicester were crowned Premier League champions.

“It was a courtesy call where we talked about football and he confided to me that he is following our striker with interest.

BRIEFS

Origi hopes to return before season ends L

iverpool striker Divock Origi insists he has not given up hope of recovering from an ankle injury in time for a potential Europa League final. It was initially feared Origi had sustained a broken ankle after being subjected to an overzealous challenge from Everton’s Ramiro Funes Mori during Liverpool’s 4-0 derby win last month. However, while scans cleared the Belgium international of a fracture, the 21-year-old sustained ligament damage keeping him out for several weeks.

Man City

await

Kompany

scan Kompany

M

anchester City face an anxious wait, with Vincent Kompany set for a scan on his injured groin.

The City captain, blighted by a series of muscle injuries this season, pulled up holding his right leg after less than 10 minutes of Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat by Real Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final.

He was replaced by Eliaquim Mangala and City boss Manuel Pellegrini said Kompany had suffered a groin injury - and not a new problem with his troublesome calf.

The skipper should be considered a doubt for the final two games of the Premier League season as City fight to hold on to a top-four place and Champions League qualification for next season.

City host Arsenal on Sunday, and end their season with a trip to Swansea on May 15.

And a serious injury would threaten his participation with Belgium in this summer’s European Championships.

Kompany recently spent a month on the sidelines after picking up a knee problem last month which was his 32nd separate injury since joining City from Hamburg in 2008.

Friday, May 6, 2016

EXTRATIME

BRIEFS

Marotta:

It’s not time to sell J

uventus director Giuseppe Marotta said the Italian champions have already had to knock back an approach from Manchester City to sign Paul Pogba. He revealed the EPL outfit made an effort to lure former Manchester United midfielder Pogba back to England, having arrived at Juventus on a free transfer from Old Trafford in 2011. Pogba’s former club have been linked with the France international, but Marotta said it was City who had made the most serious play for the dynamic midfielder and admitted that Juve will have to sell the 23-year-old, but does not expect that to come this off-season.

Kroos

Kroos tips Real for Champions League glory

T

o n i Kroos has stoked the fire ahead of the Champions League final, claiming Real Madrid have “more quality” than rivals Atletico.

The two Spanish

Bale hits back at Pellegrini’s

capital clubs will contest the competition decider at San Siro on May 28 in a rematch of the 2014 final after Madrid accounted for Manchester City 1-0 in the semi-finals on Wednesday.

Madrid - winners of ‘La Decima’ at the expense of their city rivals two years ago - are without a win

against Atletico this season, and they trail Diego Simeone’s men and Barcelona by a point in La Liga.

But while acknowledging Atletico’s route to the final via victories over domestic champions Barca and Bayern Munich, Madrid midfielder Kroos insisted his team-mates are the superior outfit heading into the showpiece in Milan.

Ibrahimovic ‘lucky’ may return to claim

Milan P

Bale

G

areth Bale has hit back at suggestions from Manchester City manager Manuel Pellegrini that Real Madrid were “lucky” to reach the Champions League final.

Zinedine Zidane’s side triumphed 1-0 in the semi-final second leg on Wednesday thanks to a Bale effort which deflected off Fernando and past Joe Hart.

Pellegrini suggested that fortune had been on Madrid’s side across two tense encounters, while Hart was left frustrated at the manner in which he conceded the only goal of the tie.

But Bale insists Madrid fully deserved to progress after controlling the majority of the two games, saying afterwards: “I don’t think we were lucky.

31

aris Saint-Germain forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic could return to AC Milan this summer, according to the Sweden international’s agent.

Ibrahimovic, 34, is set to leave the Ligue 1 champions when his contract at the Parc des Princes runs out at the end of June.

Ibrahimovic has previously

“We know that the final against Atletico will be tough,” the Germany midfielder said after Gareth Bale’s deflected cross off Fernando sent 10-time champions Madrid into a 14th European Cup final.

“They performed well against Barcelona and Bayern, but we’ve got more quality and we’ve got to go out and show that we’re the better side.

Ibrahimovic

indicated a willingness to join Manchester United, according to reports, although only if manager Louis van Gaal leaves Old Trafford at the end of the campaign.

However, Ibrahimovic’s agent has claimed his client may return to Serie A, where he also played for Juventus and Inter Milan.

“Ibra could return to Italy, to

Milan,” Mino Raiola told reporters.

Raiola also represents NiguJuventus ez midfielder Paul Pogba and Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli, who is currently on a season-long loan at Milan.

Raiola, though, has ruled out Pogba leaving the newly crowned Serie A champions for Chelsea this summer.

Title in sight for Guardiola’s men

B Guardiola

ayern Munich can temper the disappointment of their Champions League exit by winning a record fourth consecutive Bundesliga title against Ingolstadt on Saturday.

Pep Guardiola’s final attempt to make Bayern European champions before leaving for Manchester City at the end of the season ended in failure on Tuesday, Atletico Madrid progressing on away goals despite Bayern winning the second leg of their semi-final 2-1.

League success has been more forthcoming for the departing Spaniard, Guardiola on the verge of his third title in a row with two games remaining of the 2015-16 campaign.

Having dropped points in just six games – and conceded only 15 goals – Bayern sit five clear of Borussia Dortmund ahead of their first trip to Ingolstadt.

“We tried everything against Atletico, unfortunately it wasn’t enough,” said captain Philipp Lahm.

“It’s a bitter disappointment to be

knocked out. But we can still finish the season celebrating.

“We can still finish with the double.”

Victory is far from guaranteed for Bayern, though, given Ingolstadt’s impressive home form in the second half of the season.

Saturday’s visit of Bayern – who continue to be without Holger Badstuber and Arjen Robben - provides the perfect chance to celebrate their success, however the visitors have a stunning record against newly promoted sides, so three points for the hosts may be unlikely.

Published by FOLIO COMMUNICATIONS LTD, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, Ikeja. website: www.dailytimes.ng; email: info@dailytimes.ng. Tel: 018447948. GROUP EDITOR: BIODUN DUROJAIYE News Hotlines: 08138773277, 08173901838. Advert Hotlines: 08086296714

FRIDAY, MAY 6, 2016

VOL. 2. NO.103

Price: N150

Pillar of Sports,

Ejidike

makes case Federation Pinnick

for sports

development Ejidike

ANDREW EKEJIUBA

J

ust as the National Executive Council of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), under the leadership of its National President, Alhaji Seidu Abubakar, in their full council meeting in Ilorin officially unveiled Chief Donatus Agu-Ejidike as the Nigeria Pillar of Sports; the sports philanthropist has reiterated his commitment to sports

promotion and development in Nigeria.

Chairman, Office of the Nigeria Pillar of Sports, Prince Olayioye Ajide, told Extra Time, that the well-attended investiture program demonstrated validity of the honour and appointment of Chief Ejidike as Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports.

Ejidike who applauded SWAN for considering him for the exalted position charged the body to take the lead in the formulation, implementation and appraisal of sports policies in the nation.

He noted in his speech that, “Nigerians are sports-loving people with very high appetite for winning. The introduction of the National Sports Festival in 1973 as a means of fostering unity and cultural integration was a fantastic decision.

Sports, therefore has contributed to the oneness of the geographical entity called Nigeria. In sports, Nigerians are detribalized.”

The Pillar of Sports, however, added with a tinge of regret how the decay of infrastructure, administrative overkill and lack of sponsorship of sports has affected results and performance

of Nigeria athletes in international competitions.

“I promise to closely work with SWAN to champion the course of sports development in Nigeria. You have appointed me; so, note that you don’t burn the tree which bears the fruit.

Together, we shall reposition sports in Nigeria,” he stated.

Ejidike who signed insurance MOU to insure all sports writers in Nigeria equally donated 18-seater bus to SWAN to enhance their activities.

Earlier SWAN president, Seidu Abubakar disclosed that Chief Ejidike was appointed based on his contribution and consistency in sports philanthropic gestures.

Abubakar charged him to do more and justify his appointment as Nigeria Pillar of Sports.

Former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the federation, Chief Bayo Ojo (SAN) and Chief Executive Officer, E. Ekeson Motors Limited, Chief Eugene Ojukwu in their goodwill messages praised SWAN for appointing Ejidike as Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports.

The occasion was attended by all the national officers of SWAN and states’ chairmen and secretaries.

Cup Round of

64 matches hots up T

he Round of 64 matches of the 2016 men’s Federation Cup competitions were unveiled on Thursday at the draw ceremony conducted by the Nigeria Football Federation at the FIFA Technical Centre, Abuja.

Among the matches to look forward to are NPFL teams Sunshine Stars FC against Giwa FC, Kano Pillars against Gateway FC and Imo State champions Papilo FC against high –flying Rivers United.

The matches will be played on May 25th and 26th across the federation.

In the women’s draw, Rivers Angels will confront FC Robo Queens in the first round, while Abia Angels will trade tackles with Rising Queens, among other fixtures. Cup holders Sunshine Queens were drawn bye alongside Nasarawa Amazons, Capital City Doves, Confluence Queens, Moscow Queens, Delta Queens Katsina Queens, COD United Ladies, Pelican Stars and Bayelsa Queens.

NFF’s 1st Vice President and Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi represented the NFF President at the event. The General Secretary, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi, was also there alongside NFF Executive Committee member, Alhaji Yusuf Ahmed Fresh, Acting Director of Competitions, Mr. Bola Oyeyode and Chairman of the Ondo State Football Agency, Hon. John Ola Mafo.

Business Times Daily Times Nigeria

Under pressure: Shareholders tell Shell to cut 2016 spending by another 10% Page B2

Inflation may rise further by 0.4% in April

Page B3

Acquired oil licences: How NPDC owes NNPC $3.3b

Opeoluwani Akintayo

A revised report by the Natural Resource Governance Institute, NRGI, has revealed how the upstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, NPDC, is yet to pay $3.3 billion (about N650.1 billion), as balance for eight oil licenses it acquired between 2010 and 2012.

In the space of two years, NNPC transferred ownership of 55 per cent of its equity stake holding in eight oil blocks to NPDC, which had signed a number of strategic

alliance agreements with some indigenous oil firms.

The oil blocks which were formerly owned by Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, include oil mining leases, OMLs 4, 38 and 41 allocated to Atlantic Energy and Septa Energy; OML 42 to Neconde and Kulcyzk Oil; OML 40 to Elcrest and Band Oil and Gas; OML 34 to ND Western and Petrolin; OML 30 to Shoreline and Heritage Oil, and OML 26 to First Hydrocarbon Nigeria and Afren.

According to the report, total valuation for the eight licenses was estimated at about $3.4 billion.

However, an extract from the Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI audit report, indicated that NNPC had charged NPDC only $1.85 billion.

But, the NRGI said NNPC officials recently disclosed that only $100 million of the amount was paid for the oil blocks.

According to NRGI, the officials had confirmed the corporation was involved in an ongoing process led by the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, to get the NPDC pay the full value (about $3.3 billion) for the assets transferred to it.

Tony Nwakaegho Alhaji Lai Mohammed, minister of Information and Culture, has said that the on-going digitisation in the television industry will come with software that enables film producers to sell directly to consumers without the Internet.

Mohammed who said this while inaugurating a new television channel, Wazobia Max, in Abuja also disclosed that Abuja would be next city to go digital in the digitisation programme after Jos, Plateau State.

The minister disclosed that the set-up-boxes being introduced in Nigeria to enable television sets to receive digital signals will harbour the revolutionary software.

He said, “I am very proud to announce that the middleware in the set-top-boxes will allow film producers to sell their Nollywood movies directly to customers, who can then access them without internet connection.

“We are expecting that this will then truly move the industry into CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

L-R: Executive Director, Wema Bank Plc, Mrs. Folake Sanu; Company Seretary, Mr. Wole Ajimisinmi; Chairman, Mr. Adeyinka Asekun; Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Segun Oloketun, during the 2015 Annual General Meeting of Wema Bank Plc at Civic Center, Ozumba Mbadiwe, Victoria Island Lagos… Thursday.

Joy Ekeke The Federal Government has said that there is no law or aspect of the Nigerian Constitution mandating it to review national minimum wage every five years.

The Executive Chairman, National Salaries Income and Wages Commission, Dr. Richard Egbule, said the issue of the fiveyear period for the review of the national minimum wage was part of recommendations made by a committee which were not included in the commission’s Act. Egbule made this disclosure

Nigeria Equities falls

by N52.2 billion on Profit Taking Page B6

The NRGI’s report entitled “NNPC Still Holds Blank Check” showed that NNPC, in the last half of 2015, continued to retain and spend a huge portion of revenues from its crude oil sales.

Although NNPC had argued some of the findings in the report, the NRGI said in the revised report that it stood by its analysis and conclusions.

However, it pointed out that additional information from NNPC during a reconciliation meeting over the report had warranted the revision of the value of oil lifted by the NPDC during the period as written in the original report.

FG assures on new digitisation software to link film producers with customers

Friday, May 6, 2016

African airlines, others witness drop in demand Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released demand growth data for global air freight markets for March 2016 showing a 2.0 percent drop in volumes measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTKs) compared to the same period last year.

In contrast, freight capacity (measured in available freight tonne kilometres or AFTKs) rose by 6.9 per cent, putting increased pressure on already struggling yields.

The weak results reflect subdued growth in world trade, exaggerated by the comparison to a particularly strong start to 2015 when air freight volumes were boosted by the effects of the US West Coast seaports strike.

The most significant fall in demand was reported by carriers in Asia-Pacific and North America.

Combined they account for around 60 per cent of global freight traffic and reported declines of 5.2 per cent, and 1.8 per cent, respectively.

Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of IATA, Tony Tyler it is shaping up to be another tough year for air cargo, adding that February 2016 world trade volumes were only 0.4 per cent higher than at the end of 2014.

The IATA chief added that the CONTINUED ON PAGE B2

Review of minimum wage every 5 years unconstitutional, FG tells Labour while speaking on Channels Television programme, Sunrise Daily, Thursday.

According to him, the last review of the minimum wage was an amendment of the Act and changing of figures.

The unions had insisted, while making a proposal of N56, 000 Minimum Wage to the Federal Government, that the Act provided for a review every five years.

He added that there was even

no law in the country which stipulates the review of the minimum wage every 10 years.

Egbule added, “The first time it (review of minimum wage) was done was in 1980. It was again done in 1990. It was again done in 2000 and lastly 2011. Of course, it was ready by 2010. So in between, there has been a period of 10 years for the review of the past ones although recently, in the last one, there were quite a number

of recommendations.

“One of them was the issue that instead of a 10-year arrangement, it should be every five years, but that recommendation was not taken up and enacted into law.

“The only thing that was done was the issue of picking the figures and changing them. There are quite a number of very important recommendations in that report that were not taken.

Business News B2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Moody’s reaffirms Sterling Bank ratings Azubike Nnadozie

L-R): Deputy Director, Spectrum Administration, Nigerian Communications Commission, NCC, Engr. O.Y. Asaju; Commission Secretary, Mr. Felix Adeoye; Director, Special Duties, Mrs. Iyabo Sholanke; Director, Public Affairs, Mr. Tony Ojobo representing the Executive Vice Chairman; Director, Licensing & Authorization, Ms. Funlola Akiode; Director, Projects, Ms. Ayodeji Shofolahan; Director, Technical Standards, Engr. Fidelis Onah at Stakeholders’ Consultative Forum on Licensing of 38GHz & 42 GHz Spectrum Bands and Re-Planning of the 23GHz Band held in Lagos

African airlines, others witness drop in demand CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

expectations of purchasing managers gives little optimism for an early uptick, stressing that the combination of fierce competition, capacity increases and stagnant demand makes this a very difficult environment in which to generate profits.

On region to region analysis, African airlines witnessed a 3.1 percent drop in demand in March 2016 compared to the same period last year. A more modest decline of 1.6 percent was seen in year-onyear Q1 performance.

Notably, on the back of longhaul expansion, the AFTKs for African airlines surged by 22.6 per cent year-on-year over the first quarter of 2016. This is more than double the pace of any other region in recent months.

European airlines saw demand for air cargo grow by a modest 1.3 per cent in March 2016, compared to the same period in 2015, while capacity increased by 7.9 per cent . Weak cargo demand is a continuing story for European carriers for whom cargo volumes stand at just 1 per cent above early 2008 levels.

Under pressure: Shareholders tell Shell to cut 2016 spending by another 10% Opeoluwani Akintayo Following fall in global oil prices, Dutch Shell has said it will cut its spending by another 10% this year.

According to the oil firm’s Chief Executive, Ben van Beurden, it would cut investment to $30bn from a planned $33bn, after coming under pressure from shareholders to cut costs.

Shell also said profits in the three months to March had fallen to $800m from $4.8bn a year earlier. Oil prices have fallen sharply over the past 18 months.

On average, in the first three months of 2016, oil prices stood at about $35 a barrel, down from a peak of $115 a barrel in June 2014.

Excluding one-off items, Shell’s preferred measure of profit, earnings fell to $1.6bn from $3.8bn in the quarter.

The company also warned that low oil and gas prices, significant maintenance at production sites and “substantial redundancy and restructuring charges”, would hit

second-quarter earnings. Profits from Shell’s downstream business – which includes refining – fell to $2bn from $2.6bn a year earlier.

Meanwhile, losses at the upstream business, which includes exploration and production, widened to $1.4bn compared with $195m a year ago.

Beurden said: “Downstream and integrated gas businesses are delivering strong results and underpinning our financial performance despite continued low oil and gas prices.

“We continue to reduce our spending levels, to capture cost opportunities and manage the financial framework in today’s lower oil price environment.

Earlier this year Shell completed its $54bn takeover of BG Group. Mr van Beurden said: “The combination with BG is off to a strong start, as a result of detailed forward planning before the completion of the transaction.

This will likely result in accelerated delivery of the synergies from the acquisition, and at a lower cost than we originally set out.”

Moody’s Investors Service, a leading global rating agency, has re-affirmed the resilience of the Sterling Bank franchise by maintaining the bank’s standalone Baseline Credit Assessment (BCA) ratings of B3.

BCAs are inputs to Moody’s joint-default analysis for ratings on issuers subject to extraordinary government support. It measures the financial strength of issuers subject to extraordinary government support, which can include banks, sub-sovereigns and government-related corporate issuers (GRIs). It explicitly excludes the likelihood of extraordinary government support in the event that a bailout is required, but does incorporate support as may be necessary for ordinary operations.

The Rating Agency in a statement made available to newsmen in Lagos, expressed confidence that with its current profile, Sterling Bank will remain resilient

in the face of more challenging operating conditions given its adequate capital and liquidity buffers.

The Agency in the statement explained further that “Sterling Bank’s B2 deposit ratings continue to incorporate one notch of rating uplift on account of government support as the Bank’s ratings remain lower than the sovereign rating and it’s foreign currency deposit rating is now in line with the lowered foreign currency deposit ceiling of B2”.

Specifically, Moody’s rated Sterling Bank B3 in Adjusted Baseline Credit Assessment; B1 (cr) in Long-Term Counterparty Risk Assessment; B2 in Long-Term Issuer Rating (Local and Foreign Currency); B2 in Long-Term Deposit Rating (Local and Foreign Currency), while the outlook changed to stable.

It would be recalled that the Agency in a statement in March this year noted that the ratings of the bank reflects its “solid asset quality metrics and provision coverage, improvements to its Information Technology (IT) infrastructure and risk management processes as well as its high liquidity buffers and a solid deposit funding base”.

Auto makers angry with Senate over N3.9b Toyota SUVs

Ekweremadu

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo

For shunning locally made vehicles to buy imported Toyota Land Cruiser V8, allegedly at a cost far above the showroom price tag, the Senate has come under the heavy criticism of auto makers in Nigeria, who have called on the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to restrain the upper legislative chamber from wandering out of

control.”

The auto makers who spoke at a press conference under their umbrella body, the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), decried the procurement of wholly imported SUVs as “despicable and catastrophic to about 4000 jobs and roughly 50 ancillary industries currently engaged by the home-grown original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)” Speaking at the press conference, NAMA members, through the Chairman, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, argued that the unpatriotic act of the Senate impedes the growth of the local automotive industry which is currently implementing the much applauded auto policy (or the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP) designed to encourage local production of vehicles. .

FG assures on new digitisation software to link film producers with customers CONTINUED FROM PAGE B1

the digital era. An industry that started with video tapes, moved into compact discs (and DVD’s) will now move to set-top-boxes that will give access to thousands of movies.

“While the general gist is to switch from analogue to digital,

we have decided to make it much more than that. We are recreating the experience and turning it into an empowerment and employment tool for our increasingly bubbly creative industry.”

He added, “Unlike the analogue broadcasting, the digital broadcasting technology is not limited to the delivery of television pro-

grammes only. Value added and interactive services such as Electronic Programme Guide, television shopping, weather forecasts, electronic newspapers etc can also be accessed on the television set by the viewer, ushering in a new television viewing experience.

“The capacity generated by

the digital broadcasting technology allows for more players to be licensed for the provision of many more television services, compared to the analogue broadcasting technology. This means more choice for the viewers, with the possibility of services being licensed by genre, for example, musical, news, gospel, movie and

so on. In fact, the benefits outlined earlier on will be there for members of the public to experience and to enjoy.”

With the switch over, the minister said, the Federal Government would be introducing 30 free-to-air local and international channels with emphasis on the local ones.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

B3 Money Market

Inflation may rise further by 0.4% in April Ï^ƍ ƇƄƃƎƄƕ Ǝ ƟƠêƼü Stories by Motolani Oseni A Lagos-based financial and Economic advisory outfit, Financial Derivatives Company Limited (FDC) has projected a steep rise in Year-onYear (YoY) inflation to 13.2 percent, an increase of 0.4 percent from the 12.8 percent declared in March by Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS).

However, if the forecasted increase in the inflation figures is accurate,, it would make it the fourth consecutive monthly increase in 2016.

FDC disclosed this in its latest economic bulletin obtained by our correspondent, added that if the projected figure is correct it will be head-turning for the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), which have barely recovered from the spike in March.

According to the firm, the lingering fuel scarcity was debilitating to economic activity and pressurised consumer prices in April. Additionally, rising transport costs and seasonality are also driving increase in costs of food staples and perishables.

“A disequilibrated exchange rate and its distortionary impact on monetary stability is

beginning to feed through the system for a prolonged period”, it stated.

It would recall that the inflation rate rose marginally from 11.4 percent in February 2016 to 12.8 percent in March 2016, roughly 1.4 percent points higher from rates recorded in the previous month reflecting an increase in the prices of goods and services across the nation to a year-on-year high last recorded in July of 2012.

According to the data obtained from NBS’s official website, CPI report which was released on Tuesday 12th, March, the higher price level was reflected in faster increases across all divisions which contribute to the index with the exception of the Restaurants and Hotels division which increased, albeit at a slower pace for the second consecutive month.

In February, the change in levels recorded by Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation held at a constant pace relative to February, increasing by 12.8 percent.

Meanwhile, the report showed that the inflationary trend across Sub-Saharan Africa continues to be a mixed bag, stating

L-R; Mrs Toyin Adeseun-Nwosu, Public Relation Executive; Oladapo Soneye, Assistant General Secretary NIPR; Thelma Okoh,General Secretary; Olusegun Mcmedal, Chairman NIPR Lagos State Chapter; Mrs Comfort Nwankwo, Vice Chairman and Kalu Olekauwa, Treasurer. During Inaugural Press Briefing of NIPR Lagos State Chapter new exco in Lagos.

that countries that witnessed higher price levels were Ghana and Angola.

Consequently, the underlying reason for the increase in inflation those countries were weakened currency. Ghana’s inflation rate accelerated to 19.2 percent

in March from 18.5 per cent in February due to sharp rises in transportation costs, clothing and footwear. Angola’s inflation rate was higher at 23.6 percent from 20.6 per cent in February due to increasing healthcare, food and drink prices.

But FDC estimated a slight slowdown in inflation in May towards 12.5 percent due to consumer resistance following the sustained rise in consumer prices. As the production possibility frontier increases, prices of goods are expected to decline.

Energy companies’ debt in DMBs hit N3.93tr in 2015-CBN Oil, gas and power firms owe banks in the country about N3.931 trillion as at the end of December 2015, according to latest data released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The CBN, in its Quarterly Statistical Bulletin for the Fourth Quarter, 2015, released recently, said the indebtedness represented a decline of 1.36 percent or N54 billion against N3.985 trillion recorded at the end of November 2015.

A breakdown of the commercial banks’ sectoral credit allocation showed that the downstream, natural gas and crude oil refining segments owed banks up to N2.273 trillion as at year end.

This was slightly higher than

DTN Exchange Rate Monitor Currency

Official Rate

Parallel Market

USD

197

321

EUR

224

361

GBP

282

468

the N2.264 trillion recorded in November, while the upstream and oil and gas services sector owed N1.156 trillion against N1.192 trillion month on month.

In the power sector, the banks are owed N340.31 billion by Independent Power Plants (IPPs), and power generation companies, while power transmission and distribution companies owed N162.44 billion against N168.1 billion in the corresponding period.

As a result, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that exposure of the banking sector to energy firms as at year end, increased by 10.02 per cent or N358 billion in comparison to end-November’s N3.573 trillion.

The report stated that total loans and advances to the domestic economy during the period stood at N12.263 trillion, down by N15.7 billion or 0.1 per cent below the level recorded in the preceding month, but an increase of N86.8 billion or 0.7 per cent above year end 2014.

In addition, the report said: “Sectoral analysis of credit to private sector revealed that the service sector gulped 44.6 per cent, the industry sector had 33.3 per cent and other sectors secured the remaining fraction of the credit to private sector with agricultural sector obtaining the least, 3.4 per cent.

“Further analysis of the credit to industry sector showed that oil and gas; manufacturing; power and energy; and mining and quarrying sub-sectors received 52.1, 39.8, 7.8 and 0.3 per cent, respectively.

“Furthermore, a breakdown of total credit to service sector revealed that other sub-sectors; oil & gas; finance; insurance and capital market; real estate; power & energy and education had 50.7, 19.8, 13.6, 11.9, 2.8 and 1.3 per cent, respectively.”

Despite the huge credit allocation to the energy sector, the CBN report highlighted that at N811.82 billion, gross oil revenue fell by N118.65 billion or

12.75 per cent and N635.42 billion or 43.91 per cent respectively, in comparison to Q3 2015 and fourth quarter 2014 respectively.

Specifically, oil accounted for 57.56 per cent of the gross

revenue during the quarter under review, while of 42.44 per cent was attributed to non-oil source. The report added that gross oil revenue was 59.79 per cent of the budgetary target of N1.358 trillion.

CBN Exchange Rates Date

Currency

Buying(NGN)

Central(NGN)

Selling(NGN)

5/4/16

US DOLLAR

196

196.5

197

POUNDS STERLING

10/10/00

285

286

EURO

22557.64%

226

227

205.0424

205.5654

206.0885

1/1/00

2

2

32.66%

0

0

WAUA

278.986

279.6977

280.4094

YUAN/ RENMINBI

1/30/00

30

30

RIYAL

5225.83%

52

53

DANISH KRONA

30.3124

30.3897

30.4671

SDR

10/4/00

279

280

SWISS FRANC YEN CFA

Real sector digest B4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Nigerian beer consumers opt for cheaper beer brands Stories by Siaka Momoh Nigerian consumers, as a result of declining disposable income, are buying more of the cheaper beer brands, Bismarck Rewane’s Financial Derivatives Company Limited’s(FDC) Monthly Economic News and Views for May presented at the Lagos Business School has disclosed.

The report, presented by Rewane, the company’s CEO says the malt market has declined even faster than the beer market by 10.5 percent in volume. “And this is the case at supermarket and bars,” the FDC report says.

According to Rewane, “The beer market growth slowed down to slightly above one per cent. The lower price and value segment is now growing faster than the mainstream market. Nigerian consumers, as a result of declining disposable income, are buying more of the cheaper beer brands.

This FDC disclosure is in tune with the drive to introduce cheap beer into Nigeria and the rest of Africa by SABMiller, world’s second largest beer brewer and Africa’s beer leader.

Few years back, SABMiller moved into Nigeria to rattle the beer market hitherto controlled

by Nigerian duopolies Nigerian Breweries Plc and Guinness Nigeria Plc. SAB Miller bought Pabod Breweries, Port Harcourt and Standard Breweries in Ibadan, using them for soft landing into Nigeria. SABMiller’s has an African strategy that may see these two companies brewing well improved Burukutu and Pito and perhaps other local brands. This

looks very feasible, with Nigeria being the largest producer of cassava in the world with about 48 million metric tonnes per annum.

“It is an entirely logical move, given that a large segment of the population in Africa may not be able to afford commercially brewed beers as often as they’d like,” said Kim Slater, director of consulting at beverage market research firm Canadian in Basingstoke, Britain.

SABMiller estimates that the home brew market is worth more than $3 billion in the African countries where it currently operates, amounting to a volume potentially four times greater than the beer maker’s current sales there. “There is an enormous informal alcohol market in Africa ,” said van den Houten. “We hope to access much of that market by producing a commercially brewed beer at 50 per cent to 60 per cent of the cost of standard lager by using locally sourced ingredients.”

SABMiller has achieved this with cassava which Nigeria has in abundance.

Cassava beer is part of the UKlisted brewer’s efforts to localise sourcing, which gives greater security of supply and control over pricing, while at the same time developing a more affordable beer for the local market.

In short, SABMiller has been pursuing a regional strategy in Nigeria rather than taking on its more nationally established competitors head on. The company also sells low-cost products; for instance, its beers are about 40 percent cheaper than its rivals.

Like it is doing in other African countries, SABMiller is targeting

the informal beer market, which is dominated by home brewers and bootleggers. These cheap, and mostly unhygienic, local brewers supply more than two-thirds of all beer consumed in Africa.

But when the issue was raised in the past with Michiel Herkemij, the boss of Nigeria’s leading brewer, NB, then, he did not think cheap beer would make it in Nigeria. Said he: “I don’t know many Nigerians who like cheap things. I think what they are trying to do is to copy their strategy for Eastern Africa which is clearly a strategy that works for that part of the world. This home brew beer is a huge business. They tried it there

with a locally produced sorghum.

The sorghum they have in East Africa is different from the one we have here. So if they are planning to produce cheap beer with that I do not see Nigerians going for cheap beer. The sorghum we have here is totally different from the one we have in East Africa.

“It doesn’t allow itself to be brought down, to be stepped down to the level you are talking about.

And if you are talking about indigenous beer, all our brands here are indigenous beer. We produce locally, we use local ingredients.

What we do is to produce high quality beer with local ingredients against affordable prices.

I won’t go into the market and make promises about cheap beer because at the end of the day I know Nigerians want something that is good.”

For him, SABMiller is welcome.

“The more the competition, the better, let us be very clear about this. I think Nigerian Breweries is very well placed to withstand any shock. Nigerian Breweries is a market leader that has been on ground for more than 63 years. It is a company that has been improving itself in all the brands, in all the segments. I am not saying that we are perfect. We have to wake up and make sure we remain the best in the market.”

Fact File Ò Prices of domestic commodities are sticky downwards. Ò Fuel scarcity coupled with foreign exchange restrictions are the major drivers of price increase. Ò Nigeria, the second largest importer of rice, to reduce rice imports due to higher costs. Ò Traders have attributed the hike in the price of rice to a shortfall in supply. Ò A 50kg bag of rice is now within the range of N13,000N15,000 from N8,000 - N10,500 depending on the brand. Ò Prices of tomatoes have increased due to seasonality. Tomatoes are usually costly during the rainy season because the wind interferes with the yields. Ò Price of tomatoes increased by 133% to N14, 000 for a basket of tomatoes. Ò Attaché and chilli pepper now costs N7,000 and N5,000 respectively as against N4,500 and N5,000 in March. Ò Average power output from the grid increased to 3,144MW from 2,030MW in March.

Ò The power downtime in the Lagos metropolis fell to 40%. Ò Average temperatures in Lagos was 34.5ºC and 78% humidity compared to Hong Kong with temperature of 26.1ºC and humidity of 87%. Ò FBN PMI declined sharply in April from 54.4 to 46.5. Ò Three sub-indices were in negative territory -Output, employment, new orders. Ò Inventory buildup slowed and shortages pushed prices higher.. Ò Layoffs, cost cutting and higher inventory prices. Ò CBN data further corroborates the declining PMI trend, dropping to 43.7 from 45.9 . Ò Any further fall in PMI could be pointing towards a recession. Ò Unemployment and underemployment are expected to increase again to 30%.

Ò Schlumberger shed about 20,000 jobs globally in 2015. Ò FBN to shed1000 jobs in Nigeria as a result of major restructuring and cost efficiencies. Ò Other layoffs include FCMB, Guinness, Ecobank, NBC. Ò The naira traded flat at N321/$ at the parallel market in April. Ò The official/parallel corridor remained at 62%.

Sharply lower than the February figure of 101%. Ò Total forex sold by CBN in April was $699m. Ò Major allocations to raw materials, invisible items and machinery. Ò International airlines blocked funds now in excess of $700m. Ò Airlines have restricted sales of cheap ticket classes in naira effectively forcing travel agents to buy dollars at the BDCs for passengers.

Siaka Momoh, a media consultant, is publisher of The Real Sector monthly digital magazine and Realsectornow.com. Contact:siakamomoh@yahoo.com; 08061396410

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

B5 Industry

R-L: Managing Director/ CEO, AIICO Insurance Plc, Mr. Edwin Igbiti; Chairman, AIICO Insurance Plc, Chief (Dr.) Oladele Fajemirokun; Company Secretary/ Legal Adviser, Mr. Doland Kanu; Director of the company, Mr. Babatunde Fajemirokun, and another Director, Mr. Samaila Zubairu, during the 46th Annual General Meeting of the company in Lagos.

Chemstar expresses concern on healthy workforce, safe environment Charles Okonji The manufacturer of Finecoat and Shield Paints, Chemstar Paints Industry Nigeria Limited has expressed its concern for a healthy workforce and quality environment for enhanced productivity.

As the leading paints industry in the country, it expressed deep concern for the health and safety of the workers, as well as the protection of the environment, which aimed at keeping the workers fit.

Mr. Adedayo Paseda, Deputy Managing Director (DMD), who disclosed this at this year’s edition of the annual week-long Health and Safety Week, organized by the company, noted that any industry that wants to meet the challenges of the moment, should address the welfare of its workers in terms of their health and safety.

With the theme: “Healthy Lifestyle: Key to Personal Productivity,” he said the four-day programme was being organised yearly to equip the over 1,000 workers with health talks on how to live a healthy living and protect their environment at work and at home.

Activities for four-day programme were sensitisation rally, health talks and free medical checks, health/environmental sensitization, fire preventive lec-

ture and drilling, in which medical experts and professionals as well as officials of the Lagos State Fire Service were on hand to give talks, conduct medical checks on the workers and drilled them on practical demonstration to use fire- fighting equipment to put out fire.

Paseda said; “The need for the programme could not be overemphasised since the awareness about health and safety issues around us has been on the increase due to rapid industrialization and the challenges posed in the lives of the workers and the operations of the company.

“For us to do anything well, the is the need for adequate health and safety information, and this is what the week is doing to bring together medical experts and fire service professionals to provide us the right information about our safety and health.”

Medical checks were conducted on the workers on blood level, sugar level, diabetes, hypertension, blood group and genotype, among others to ascertain their health condition and to prevent any form of health hazard.

Speaking at the occasion, Mrs. Toyin Robert, Head of Administration and Human Resources, noted that the essence of the programme was to slow down health-related hazard and for the workers to cultivate the spirit of safety and health.

NAMA condemns Senate over official vehicles purchase Stories by Charles Okonji The National Automotive Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (NAMA), has bemoaned the decision of the upper legislative chamber, the Senate, to acquire imported, fully-built official cars for its members, incurring over 40 percent extra cost for the country.

Chairman of NAMA, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran, who made the statement at a press conference in Lagos, however praised the House of Representatives for making the more patriotic and economically viable choice of acquiring their official vehicles from the Peugeot Automobile of Nigeria (PAN), a local manufacturer.

Aromolaran said believing in the patriotic spirit of the elected senators, NAMA members submitted tenders to provide the Senate as well as the House of Representatives, with vehicles assembled in Nigeria by Nigerians, which are of globally accepted standards, but was shockde to learn of the decision of the Senate to procure imported fully built SUVs when much more affordable locally assembled alternatives were on offer.

“We listened to the pathetic explanation of the Senate House Services Committee chair, and were filled with nothing but pity for this country. The insensitivity of an elected body could not have been so clearly displayed when you consider the Senate could have saved suffering 40 per cent

Saraki

of the eventual outlay by being patriotic and promoting vehicles assembled by extremely talented and diligent Nigerian workforce.

He noted that the Senate would have secured the continuous employment of about 4000 Nigerians for a whole year by supporting the local industry, maintaining that the patronage alone could be enough to ensure its successful take-off.

According to him, the Senate would have supported about 50 component manufacturers that supply the auto industry and help create a value chain that typically impacts no less than four other sectors of the Nigerian economy.

“Had the Senate not decided to starve the local industry of patronage, it would have helped grow and sustain at least 50 medium scale enterprises whose future revenue streams would

flow into our corporate and personal taxation system, helping to sustain the government revenue base. The Senate by this selfcentred decision held down the automotive industry for at least four years. A pity indeed,” he stressed.

He noted that to attain the current state of the auto manufacturing industry, investors who believe in the future of the country and its people have put at risk resources that could have been deployed elsewhere in a globally competitive market, warning that the future of this entity as a viable economic unit is threatened when state resources that could be deployed to create jobs for the nation’s teeming population, add value to its naturally occurring material base are frittered away by a few individuals.

“It is for reasons like this that Nigerian businessmen have enormous difficulty in convincing global Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to see Nigeria as an investment destination. Nigerians that undertake to fund these investments are being stabbed in the back daily by unscrupulous non-value adding importers and compromised government functionaries.

He said, “The Senate may not be aware of an official circular from the office of the secretary to the Government mandating all government agencies to procure locally made vehicles and to procure imported vehicles only if locally assembled equivalents are not available.

Capital Market B6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Summary of trading activities on NSE ASI

25,563.78

DEALS

3,786.00

VOLUME

178,866,978.00

VALUE

1,480,514,964.23

CAP

8,793,467,152,330.55

Equities trading at the Nigerian Stock Exchange continued from Wednesdays relapse as the benchmark index the All Share Index (ASI) dropped 0.59 percent to close at 25,563.78 points.

Aggregate market capitalization of all quoted equities also fell from N8.846 trillion, to close at N8.79 trillion indicating a loss of N52.2 billion, following the exchange of 178.9 million shares worth N1.5 billion in 3,786 deals The day’s trading recorded 25 gainers to 24 losers, with the major price losers as Nigerian Breweries which dropped by N6.68 to close at N115.32 per share; WAPCO which dropped

by N1.5 to close at N71.5 per share; Dangote Cement, which lost one naira; Cadbury 82 kobo to close at N15.68 per share while Union Dicon Plc declined by 59 kobo to close at N11.21 per share.

Conversely, Nestle Nigeria Plc led the days advancers,

adding N10 to close at N690 per share, Forte Oil Plc followed with an appreciation of N9.48 to close at N19.48 per share while Total Nigeria Plc advanced by 97 kobo to close at N157 per share.

Conoil and Guinness grew by 82 kobo and 54 kobo each to close at N17.27 and N94 per share respectively.

Banking stocks continued to dominate activities chart, as the three most active stocks were FBN Holdings, accounting for N27.8 million shares worth N98.74 million; United Bank for Africa, exchanged 26.5 million shares valued at N92.4 million and Zenith Bank, sold 15.96 million shares amounting to N207.6 million.

According to Analyst from Afrinvest Securities, the day’s performance was broadly driven by profit taking, with expectations of a positive close by the end of the week.

Speaking with newsmen at the event Wema Bank

L – R: Managing Director, ANAMMCO Limited, Mr. Maduabuchukwu Okeke; Chairman, Motor Vehicles & Miscellaneous Assembly Sectorial Group of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Dr. David V.C. Obi; NAMA Chairman, Mr. Tokunbo Aromolaran; Mr. Aderungboye Adewole of PAN Nigeria Limited; Plant Head, Stallion NMN, Prakash Karat; and Babatunde Kolade, a consultant to ANAMMCO Ltd, at the press conference organised by auto makers in Lagos to protest the purchase of imported SUVs by the Senate.

Nigeria Equities falls by N52.2 billion on Profit Taking Chief Finance Officer Tunde Mabawonku said “2015 was relatively a very challenging financial year despite that we increase in profitability and deposit. We have obtain a national license that enables us spread our franchise to other

Shareholders applaud Wema Bank’s improved performance Wema Bank Plc. Nigeria’s longest surviving indigenous bank held its yearly general meeting Plc at Civic Center, OZUMBA Mbadiwe, Victoria Island Lagos, with shareholders in attendance to applaud the improved performance of the bank whilst urging the banks management for the declaration of dividend.

Speaking on behalf of the shareholders was Sir Sola Abodurin, Chairman Ibadan Zone Shareholders Association who commended the bank on the profit after tax of N2.33 billion made in the 2015 financial year, and an appreciation of 4 percent of the banks Total Assets from N382 billion in 2014 to N397 billion in 2015.

“I want to thank the management of this bank for a job well done please continue to improve our earnings but no matter how small we are expecting dividends in the coming years he stated” Addressing the issue of dividend

payment the Bank’s Chief Finance Officer Tunde Mabawonku said “the process of payment is ongoing, we will call our shareholders to do some scheme of rearrangement to move some balance of negative retainers to share premium and until we do that the bank will not be in position to pay dividend” he said.

According to analyst at Capital Asset, the bank last paid a dividend of 10kobo on 30th September 2004.

The bank returned to a profitable position in 2014 after years of grappling with losses, however it’s retained earnings for the 2015 financial year stands at a negative N35.32 billion from N34.5 billion in 2014.

The Chief Executive Officer Segun Oloketuyi, while appreciating shareholders for their continued support and loyalty during the meeting noted that “the bank 2015 performance has demonstrated its resilience and commitment to continuously deliver value to the stakeholders even in the face of obvious

challenges” The bank was able to sustain its transformation drive with total deposits for the period growing by 10 percent over the prior year to N284.9 billion, gross earnings improved to N46.0 billion from N42.19 billion recorded in 2014 while profit before tax dropped slightly to N3.05 billion compared to N3.08 billion in 2014.

In 2015 Wema upgraded from its regional position as it received the national license by the central bank of Nigeria authorising physical presence across the country.

It will be recalled that the bank celebrated its 70th anniversary with a brand repositioning exercise which saw it changing some core brand elements. Giving way to a more vibrant and dynamic look with an increased focus in service excellence. The bank was also awarded critical certifications of ISO 20000 and ISO 27001 and launched the card control security features on its mobile app- a first in the industry.

locations. He also noted that the bank is working on improving the negative retained earnings of the bank, that will enable the payment of dividend, “We are going to seek shareholders consent during the year once we get clearance from

our regulators. We will call our shareholders to do some scheme of rearrangement to move some balance of negative retainers to share premium and until we do that the bank will not be in a position to pay dividend” Tunde said.

Goldlink Insurance to raise N8b for recapitalization The Board and management of Goldlink Insurance Plc has stated its plan to source and inject funds amounting to N8 billion for the recapitalization of the company through a restructuring process, overseen by the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

Stating this was the insurance company’s Acting. Managing Director/CEO) Olufunke Moore during her presentation at the Inaugural Facts Behind the Restructuring event held at the NSE yesterday May 5, 2016.

Moore explained that the company’s focus following the restructuring is to through right issues and/or offer to other interested investor(s) raise funds for recapitalization; Reinvigorate the marketing workforce to reclaim lost market share, especially the Oil and Gas sector; Continue to adhere to best standards of regulatory compliance and Corporate Governance; Improve on the Company’s expenditure profile, whilst Returning the company to

a solvent position for competitive businesses and Increase the use of Information Technology for efficient business process and service delivery.

In 2015, the company’s Net Premium stood at N1.8 billion from N3.3 billion in 2014 while it declared a loss of one billion naira increasing by 93 percent from N529 million in 2014.

According to the CEO of NSE, Oscar N. Onyema, the Facts Behind the Restructuring is a forum for companies undergoing restructuring to make information available to the investing public.

“The forum gives restructuring issuers the opportunity to lift the veil on their current financial and operational statuses, inform the investing public of the activities they have been engaging in in order to restructure, and speak about the processes of resuscitating their businesses to make them viable in order to come into full compliance with their post listing obligations.”

Onyema stated.

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

B7 Capital Market

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY ( EQUITIES) 05-05-2016

Entrepreneurship B8

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

“Nothing has killed creativity, innovation and drive like this practice, and if entrepreneurship must work in Nigeria, this dastardly act must be done away with. Otherwise how can you build and develop patents, trademarks, brands, or other intellectual properties that drive the world of modern day business in a place like this; how do one build franchise and franchise business in a place like Nigeria” Chukwuemeka

Fidelity in business, number one criteria for effective entrepreneurial practice (2) Sequel to our discussion last week, I believe the reason behind our inability to do this needful thing is that we lack the innovative ability (like I have mentioned earlier on), but the major reason is the faulty educational base we have got here, which only prepares and allow us to maintain the status quo and never dare to dream, try out our dreams and work to make a difference and realise our dreams and aspirations. And this is where entrepreneurship comes in, it is not about starting a business or even running one - those we have been doing forever (our performance level irrespective), Entrepreneurship is about the application of creativity, innovation, deep insight and ingenuity in the ordinary things we do or love or desire to do, in order to realise steady and upwards trend resources and income, while benefiting the community and the people in things like the provision of jobs, community development and services, and other empowerment forms like the demystification of wealth creation, work ethics and personal development.

But the government has huge role to play here, in that if the encouragement and benefits go to the performers alone, why would any youth go for production, manufacturing, agriculture, education, or engineering and technology? What other societies does is to tailor their education to the needs and aspirations of the society, while using inducements and motivations to draft people to the areas they are most needed.

Football and other sporting activities as well as all forms of entertainment are not for fun, infact football is not a game, it is purely business and so are all forms of sports and all aspects of entertainment. The earlier we begin to practice it as such the better for our society and the people especially with regards to wealth creation, employment generation and community development. A look at the game of football and

the various clubs in Europe will buttress this point. To these I will advocate intensive and incisive business and entrepreneurship training for the stakeholders and practitioners in these industries for a more robust, productive and result oriented operations.

But the impediments of realising all these lies in the infidelity, insincerity, deception and malicious treachery of our people in business practice and operations.

When you take your proposals, designs and demo compact discs to an impending partner or company, or even an already established partner or organisation that you are already doing things with, what happens is that you hardly can vouch to the safety of that document. Where many times the same people you have submitted your creative works to, will take it and cut you off and shamelessly begin to implement your ideas and creative work without taking you into considerations. This has been the daily occurrences and experiences of many entrepreneurs in Nigeria. Where daily

they are taken advantage of by the supposedly lucky and privileged ones that have paid employments. These “lucky” ones, most times first degree “hardout acquire graduates” who lack requisite knowledge and depth, would hoodwink these budding entrepreneurs into submitting their creative works, while they cut them off and go behind to use this resource as theirs in the organisations they work for, in order to gain official favour as a high productive and creative worker, while making some pecuniary gains also. At other times they hand it over to a close ally outside their firm who resubmit it for onward use, in such circumstance the two parties shares the booties.

Nothing has killed creativity, innovation and drive like this practice, and if entrepreneurship must work in Nigeria, this dastardly act must be done away with. Otherwise how can you build and develop patents, trademarks, brands, or other intellectual properties that drive the world of modern day business in

a place like this; how do one build franchise and franchise business in a place like Nigeria, with this shameless practice of copying, plagiarism and outright stealing of creative works that is going on all over the place, both within the ivory towers and in the industries, whether public or private.

The protection of intellectual property and creative works, and other decorum that go with business practice, like respect for terms of engagement and contracts, are the things we need for effective entrepreneurial practice in Nigeria,. It must come as a culture and not just a fiat, because most business people don’t want to spend all their time and resources going to court to recover what ordinarily shouldn’t even be an issue in the first place. Therefore authenticity, originality and individuality must come to the fore of our business culture as a people and not this jungle life style of carnivorous living, where we feed on another to live.

Job creation and well-rounded prosperity thrives in societ-

ies where entrepreneurship is imbibed into their culture and embraced for inclusive growth, sustainable living and cohesion.

In Nigeria for as long as we keep seeing paid employment as a way out or some kind of a big thing or the in thing, we will go nowhere, because entrepreneurship is a mindset, a culture that thrives where self-made is eulogised and not being in or occupying a high echelon of some big establishment, it thrives also where this is collaborated by the government through their appointments and assignments of responsibilities of high repute and importance to entrepreneurs and selfmade people rather than corporate executives. This is key for the promotion of inclusive prosperity, job creation and all other virtues of entrepreneurship and more so ttowards the achievement of a serene, peaceful and environment of tranquility, where the interest and welfare of all will be in consideration. For more enquiries and training opportunities send me an SMS or email.

Nwaodu Chukwuemeka, is a consultant with IDEAS Exchange Consulting, Lagos. He can be reached at nwaodu.lawrence@hotmail.co.uk (07066375847)

Life&

Times Friday, May 6, 2016

Homto

Dokepsi Lady of many parts

L2,3

P

Interview L2

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Life has taught me that happiness is not having everything

– Dokpesi’s daughter

Life&

T E A M

High Chief Raymond Dokpesi is well known in Nigeria, especially in media industry. His chains of businesses criss cross the federation and beyond. One of his daughters which many people do not know, no thanks to her shyness, but very industrious is Homto Dokpesi who can be described as a lady of many parts. The beautiful and sexy lady who is based in Abuja in this exclusive interview with AJIBADE ALABI spoke on many issues, even though she refused to discuss her love life, she was as interesting as she brought out her funny sides and serious entrepreneur goals. Excerpts:

Entertainment Correspondent Mutiat Alli

Let’s get to meet you?

I’m Homto Zaida Dokpesi, I like to describe myself as an adventurous thrill seeker who has a knack for turning dreams into reality. A fashion Entrepreneur, Business Economist, Motivational Speaker and classroom Accountant.

Educational background?

I attended Igbinedion Education Centre for my junior secondary, Vivian Fowler Memorial College for girls, Lagos for my senior secondary, Igbinedion University, Okada for my First degree in Accounting and University of Westminster, UK for my Masters Degree in International Business Economics.

Society Correspondent Abimbola Obatayo

Photography Quadri Olowolagba

H o w long have you been in the

analysis on my person, I knew I had strengths that would create a path for me that I would be proud of and be fulfilled.

business?

Four years and two months.

What position are you in your family?

In Africa I was taught you do not count kids or wives or family members.

What inspired you to this profession, baring in mind that your father has a chain of businesses?

Why not join one of his companies, especially the media?

I did work in one of my father’s companies right after I got done with my NYSC. I have done TV shows, I used to be on Ray power 100.5 fm Soul serenade, I used to be the Executive Assistant to the MD (DAARSAT Services), but I have always had an adventurous mind and the Entrepreneurial stint in me.

I am that girl next door that can be described as a lady that can sell a dead corpse to you and you would buy. After carrying out a thorough

Graphics Daniel Ekiye

Okay, are you still single and searching?

I would rather pass on that question.

I have an amazing kid that I love and adore. That would be my answer to that question.

You mean you have love kids?

What’s love kids? I don’t understand.

I mean kids you have without marriage?

I have an amazing son whom I love and adore.

Continued on L3

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

L3 Interview

‘My love life is no go area’ Continued from L2 How has your father’s personality and popularity influenced you?

My father, I like to describe as a rare gem, a man that was specially created.

His humility, doggedness, perseverance, determination has made me into the humble, ambitious, focused and determined woman that I am today.

What are the things you think you can bring into your profession?

I don’t understand that question. How do you mean?

I mean, what positive change do you think you can bring to your job?

I have brought in a lot of innovation.

Are you thinking of been a politician in future?

Are you asking if I plan to go into politics in future? Well you never can say. Like I always say, never say never.

So that means you have interest in politics?

Hehehe, there is a saying that a monkey cannot give birth to a dog.

Meaning?

Hahaha. A politician never answers

directly so you don’t get caught in the middle.

Tell us your sense of dressing?

Playful, colourful and classy.

What determines your dress code?

The weather, the event I am attending, and my mood.

If you are to change anything in your body, what would that be?

I love myself just the way I am.

What can’t you be caught with?

I truly don’t know.

Life has taught me that it’s an amazing journey that takes you up and then throws you down and no matter how low you go, remember nothing lasts forever.

Are you a socialite?

Depends on your definition of who a socialite is.

up. It has taught me: happiness is not having everything you want, but being thankful and grateful for everything you have, that’s a

I mean do you attend social events?

I do, but I choose events that I attend.

Was there any event you have attended and harassed because you are a celebrity, especially a daughter of Dopkesi?

Nothing of that sort as I said earlier I select events that I attend.

Looking back, was there anything you wished you would have done which you did not do?

Hmmm, nothing I can remember. I try to live in my moment so I have no regrets tomorrow.

secret that teaches u to live in the moment and create amazing memories.

Life has taught me that challenges are not meant to discourage you but to spur you on to greater heights; to mould you into the person experience and wisdom would thank you for.

Now on a serious note, are you in a serious relationship? If yes, will it lead to marriage? And if no, why?

I truly don’t want to talk about my relationship.

Ladies don’t like to disclose their age, but tell us, are you in your 30 s or 40s or in your late 20s?

I am in my very early 30’s.

Ok. Tell our readers one thing people don’t know about you?

I am an extremely shy lady.

At your age, what has life thought you?

Life has taught me that it’s an amazing journey that takes you up and then throws you down and no matter how low you go, remember nothing lasts forever. Dust yourself, be patient with time and get back

Last word to your admirers and our readers?

Be strong, focused, learn to be patient with time; persevere through the dark days no matter how long they last or how often they come, you would always come out shining brighter than a diamond.

L4

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, May 6, 2016

L5

Society Times L6

Daily Times Nigeria Friday, May 6, 2016

Abimbola Obatayo

Seyi Tinubu set to wed Seyi Tinubu, one of the sons of All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is set to wed his fiancée, Layal Holm.

Already, they have released their official prewedding photos.

The son of the former Lagos State governor got engaged to his 25-yr-old girlfriend of LebaneseNigerian parents over a private dinner in Ghana.

Holm is a consultant at Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC).

Seyi and Layal are said to be tying the knot later in the year and according to reports, the wedding will not hold in Nigeria.

Seyi Tinubu and Layal

Risikat

Hon. Risikat Adegeye ‘s love for Lanre Teriba ‘s tunes

Hon. Risikat Adegeye, one of the wives of juju legend, King Sunny Ade was recently spotted at Otunba Gani Adams 46th birthday bash at the Batten House, Alausa, Ikeja dancing melodiously to Lanre Teriba’s music.

Teriba, Atorise crooner was one of the musicians who performed at the event. No sooner than he started singing, Risikat came on stage flanked by friends and with the way she rocked the music, one would not doubt that she is indeed the wife of a good dancer.

She danced on stage and sang along with Teriba for about 25 minutes before leaving.

Despite her age, she still remains stunning.

World PR Media Luxury beauty brunch The 4th edition of the World PR Media Luxury Beauty Brunch was held recently at ORIKI Spa which had a lot of people in attendance.

Tope Omai, Founder of the Mystiquee Perfumery was the first speaker of the event and she educated the crowd on the specific “notes” and the variety of “essential oils” required to make perfumes, as well as her trips to places like France to source for some of those “raw essences”.

The Zaron experience added the much

needed “beauty tips/tricks” to the brunch, Brunching guests (who were catered for by the Hospitality Partner Casper and Gambinis Nigeria) were shown (with the help of a volunteer model) techniques how to improve their make-up application regime. Some products were used and also gifted to the Luxury Beauty Brunch guests.

Brief speeches were given by spokesperson for Mahnoush Beauty Place, Moriam Musa and the Founder of the Stephanie Nicholas Beauty & Wellness which focussed on the range of services provided by their various brands and Stephanie Kalu Uche emphasized on the reason for her decision to make her range of products “fragrance-free”.

Other Perfume Houses on ground like “Supreme Bouquet” bosses Mariam Afolabi and Helen Akinbamiyorin also ensured the guests sampled their perfumes whilst taking them through the journey of how they started their line of perfumes.

The “fabulously fun” aspect of the brunch had guests drawing a picture of their favourite perfume bottle in the “art meets beauty” competition. The organisers used the segment of the brunch to conduct a market research based on their theme.

Gani Adams and well-wishers

Dignitaries celebrate Gani Adams @ 46th

Lagos State and its environs stood still last Saturday April 30 as the Oodua People Congress (OPC) National Coordinator, Otunba Gani Adams celebrated his 46th birthday amidst pomp and happiness. It was indeed a happy time for the activist as friends, family, well-wishers and associates converged at Batten House event center around MKO Abiola Garden beside Adonai Court. Some of the dignitaries who graced the occasion included: top traditional leaders, business moguls and top politicians in the country.

Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola was represented by Semiu Okanlawon, while Commissioner for

Information, Dayo Adeneye also represented Governor of Ogun State, Ibikunle Amosun; Publicity Secretary of Afenifere, Yinka Odumakin, wife of Juju Kong, Sunny Ade, Risikat Adegeye and Lagos State House of Assembly member, Hon. Tunde Braimoh also attended.

The Oganla of Fuji music, Pasuma, Evangelist Lanre Teriba and Oodua band group were all on the band stand to thrill guests with their melodious music.

Speaking with journalists, Adams, while expressing gratitude to the Almighty for sparing his life, said he was surprised by the turnout of dignitaries who came to identify with him in his hours of joy.

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, May 6, 2016

L7 Society Times

Abimbola Obatayo

Okey Bakassi and Jennifer Eliogu picked as comperes for the maiden Popular entertainers, Okey Bakassi and Jennifer Eliogu have been announced as the hosts for the maiden edition of Daylight Annual Leadership Awards (DALA).

The awards ceremony holds on Sunday, May 22, 2016 at the prestigious Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The famous duo, who are equally first class actors in Nollywood, are expected to bring their combined wealth of experience to bear on the awards ceremony as they direct proceedings with panache and poise.

According to a statement by the Publisher/Editor-inChief of Daylight.ng, Azuh Amatus, who is also the Chairman and Founder of the awards scheme, Okey and Jennifer were painstakingly picked as hosts based on their pedigrees as accomplished comperes and entertainers.

Jennifer and Okey Bakassi ‘The duo has anchored several high profile events within and outside Nigeria. They are thorough professionals and we are

pleased and proud to work with them as DALA 2016 anchor persons,’ the statement said.

Betty Irabor, Eku Edewor, Lami Tumaka, others attend creative crew launch

Betty Irabor flanked with others at the launch Cointreau announced the launch of its new global philanthropic programme in Nigeria on Sunday 10th April 2016. The programme tagged; the Cointreau Creative Crew was launched last year in the UK and is curated by Laetitia Casta as the Creative Director.

The objective of the Cointreau Crew is to promote the development of women’s creative freedom and expression as well as encourage women to work towards taking their initial dream and extending it into a tangible creative reality. The programme will provide an entrepreneur with the opportunity to be awarded a grant of ¤20,000 to support their creative project and is also open to men.

Betty Irabor, Founder and Publisher of Genevieve Magazine is spearheading the programme as the Creative Curator of the Cointreau Crew, Nigeria, and enlisted a network of seasoned professionals, entrepreneurs and creatives including Lami Tumaka, Barbara Lawrence, Ituen Bassey, Denrele Sonariwo, Neku Atawodi, Afua Osei, Eku Edewor and Yagazie Emezi. These women form the jury and committee of the Cointreau Crew and were unveiled at the campaign launch.

The campaign is intended to shape the marketing strategy of the brand for the next decade.

Son of Nigeria’s ex-Vice President weds in Ghana Aminu, son of ex-Vice President Atiku Abubakar, got married to his Ghanaian bride over the weekend.

Abubakar happily announced via his Twitter page that he is now an in-law in Ghana after his son had completed the marriage rites of his bride.

The wedding ceremony was well attended by dignitaries from both Ghana and Nigeria including wife of the former VP, Titi Abubakar, Governor of Adamawa State, Bindo Umaru Jibrilla. Ghanaian monarch, Asantehene, HRM Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, also attended the ceremony.

The Asante monarch’s palace served as venue for the traditional wedding of the Abubakars.

In November 2015, it was a triple celebration in the house of the former VP as three of his pretty daughters got married the same day, barely a year after his son; Abba Abubakar tied the knot with his American wife, Mariana in Dubai and Adamawa respectively.

The new couple

Community agog as ruler celebrates one year coronation Sunday, April 24th will remain evergreen in the memories of residents of Warewa town, a community in Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State as the Baale, Chief Aina Ogundele marked one year on the throne of his forefathers.

It was more than just a celebration as the Baale reassured his subjects of his readiness to serve them and rebrand the community which he claimed is being neglected by the Ogun State government in every ramification.

The event which took place at Warewa Community primary school compound was well attended by other traditional rulers in the environs like Baale of Kilanso, Chief Morufu Ogunmuyiwa, Sarkin Hausawa of Aworiland, Alhaji Muhammadu Badamosi among others.

According to the Baale, there is a lot of economic benefits the Ogun State government can reap from the community which hosts over 200,000 residents adding that during the last general elections, the people were mobilised in mass to vote for all candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC). “I have earned a lot of respects from my people and that is why during the last election, I didn’t find it hard to convince them on the credibility of all the APC candidates but ever since APC came into power, we have not enjoyed any dividend of democracy from the party.

That is why I am using this occasion to call on Governor Amosun to extend his arm of support to Warewa community”, he said.

The traditional ruler also spoke about the new international market which he said is to be built on a 20-acre land donated by a family within the community located at kilometer 30 Lagos/ Ibadan expressway saying it will attract a lot of economic benefits due to its location.

Community leader and chiefs at the coronation

Daily Times Nigeria

Friday, May 6, 2016

L8 Event

Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi buries grandma in grand style The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi last Saturday buried his grandmother, Olori Marian Ogunwusi in style at St Paul’s Anglican Church, Ayegbaju Ile-Ife Osun State. The king, who was absent according to Yoruba tradition that a king must not see a dead body, was represented by his beautiful wife, Olori Sonia Itohan Ogunwusi.

- By Quadri Olowolagba

Ooni of Ife, His Imperial majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi with his lovely wife Olori Wuraola

Bisola Munis

Oloyere Of Oyere Ife; HRM Oba Adeoye Adefarakan & Olu Of Famila Ife; HRM Oba Abimbola Akinyele

Chief Adebisi Shittu

Odutoye Olawale, Mr Sunkanmi Oshungboye and Capt. Gbenga Ajagbe

Kenny Martins

Mrs Taiwo Agboola and Mrs Nike Amuwo

Kunle Rasheed, Akeem Adetoro, Kenny Duyile and Chief Charls Akuatu Egwu

Princess Adesola, Princess Folashade, Princess Adebimpe and Ooni Media Officer; Mr Moses

Ooni of Ife, His Imperial majesty Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Parents

Foluke Daramola

Olubunmi Ogunwusi, Oluwatoyin Ogunwusi and Adedoja Ogunwusi

Ooni Of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Siblings

Princess Folusho Ogunwusi, Mrs Ogunwusi and Princess Adebambe Ogunwusi

R-L: Osi Olubadan Of Ibadanland; Chief Rasidi Aderolu Ladoja and Ekarun Olubadan; High Chief Amidu Ajibada

Princess Toyin Kolade and hubby Prince Kayode Kolade

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi three lovely sister’s; Princess Adesola, Princess Folashade and Princess Adebimpe

Snr. Chief Ademola Odunade

Vice Counselor O.A.U. Prof. Bamifale Omole and Registrar O.A.U. Mr Dotun Awoyemi

Prince Tunji Ogunwusi with Friends

Queen Esther Adewusi and Titilayo Ariyo