2nd May 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,491

MONDAY, 2 MAY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

52 robbers, kidnappers working for me —NURTW boss

•Says he received 4,256 —P8 stolen phones

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How my group of activists were beaten up by police, army —Osinbajo —P29

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IGP deploys helicopters in search of Senator Anisulowo —P36

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$60bn deal: China's interest is to develop Nigeria —P16 —Chinese Ambassador

•Money Market —Pg 17 •Leadership & Management —Pg19 •Entrepreneurship —Pg23 •Capital Market —Pg22 •Brands & Marketing —Pg26

May Day: Edo increases minimum wage to N25,000 •We will address issue of salary adjustment —Enugu gov •Fayose wants review of revenue allocation formula —P2,37 •Buhari playing politics with workers —NLC

How thugs attacked my convoy —Edo deputy gov •His assassination theory false —Govt Banji Aluko-Benin City EDO State deputy governor, Pius Odubu, has narrated how he escaped attack on his campaign team in Auchi, Etsako Central Local Government Area of Edo State on Saturday night. continues pg5

Osun State governor, Rauf Aregbesola, watching the workers during the march past to commemorate 2016 May Day, at Osogbo City Stadium, on Sunday.

Kogi has received N20bn bailout fund —Bello —P34

PDP zoning formula: Babatope raises the alarm •Says Sheriff, others plotting to destabilise party

—P5

2 news

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Buhari playing politics with workers —NLC Ignores N56,000 minimum wage demand Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

IGERIAN workers were shocked and expressed serious disappointment and dissatisfaction as President Muhammadu Buhari absent self from the May Day celebration at the Eagles Square, Abuja, on Sunday; being the first to be so celebrated since he became the president of the country. Those who spoke to the Nigerian Tribune and expressed anger at the absence of President Buhari were quick to remind Nigerians that when the president was not needed, but needed their votes, he was the first to attend the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) national delegates’ conference lecture, even when the sitting president, who later sent a representative, was still being expected. Majority of the workers and Labour leaders said they expected the president to, at least attend this year’s May Day, to thank the workers, assure them of a better tomorrow and comment on the N56,000 new national minimum wage demand already presented to the government, last week. Chairman of the 2016 May Day Committee and Deputy President NLC, Comrade Peters Adeyemi, said he was very disappointed, adding that it was worrisome that the first workers’ day after his election into office, he didn’t have time to be physically present. He regretted that now that Buhari had become the president, he had no time for the workers, declaring that he played politics with Nigerian workers. Also, the president, Nigerian Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, said the president disappointed the entirety of workers, who believed in his ideology and who trusted in him, to the extent of voting massively for him during the 2015 presidential election. The Deputy SecretaryGeneral, Medical and Health Workers Union (MHWU), Comrade Baba Ayebola, said the action of President Buhari was a reflection of the behaviour of any section of the ruling class. President of Judiciary Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Comrade Marwan Mustapha, said: “For now, I am not trying to judge somebody without giving him fair hearing. The background I came from, which

is judiciary, we believe in fair hearing. If there is any reason, good and fine, but if there is no reason, we will make our position known. However, we want to know why he was not here.” However, in his speech to the occasion, President Buhari acknowledged the fact the May Day was his first. He said: “As you know, this is my first outing in this fo-

rum, which has a long and historical tradition that are noble and progressive.” Though, the president refused to make reference to the N56,000 minimum wage demand by Labour, he, however, promised that his administration “shall effect positive change in the lives of average Nigerians, to ensure that the downtrodden are elevated and most im-

portantly, to fight the intense pain of corruption which has enriched the very few to the detriment of the majority of Nigerians, who groan under the overwhelming weight of poverty.” The NLC president, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, in his speech, commended the present administration for its efforts in tackling the issues of corruption, insur-

gency, inadequate power, shortage of petroleum products and the dwindling fortunes of the nation’s education sector. Conrade Wabba said: “The ruling APC government, in its manifestos, promised to create three million jobs annually. We have waited one year for the government to bring out its blueprints on how it intends to go about

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State (right) joins the National Union of Textile Garments and Tailoring Workers in the march pass at the 2016 May Day rally, held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City. With him is chairman of the union, Comrade Isaiah Okungbowa (middle) and the secretary, Comrade Bayo Oladipupo.

Oshiomhole announces N25,000 minimum wage Banji Aluko - Benin City GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, on Sunday, announced the increment of the National Minimum Wage from N18,000 to N25,000 for employees in the state public service. The governor, who promised that the increment would be immediate, however, brushed aside calls by organised labour regarding the depletion of public servant population in the state raised by the state chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Emmanuel Ademokun and his Trade union counterpart, Comrade Marshall Ohue. The increment was the highpoint of the May Day celebration in Edo State, held at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin. The governor, who did not reveal the details of the new pay package for all categories of workers, however, stated that every worker in the state civil service, including directors, would benefit from the salary increment. The governor, in his address, took time to speak on the salary arrears owed local

government workers, saying he had mandated heads of local governments administration to use every money available to offset the arrears. He said workers of Egor Local Government Area, who were being owed 14

months salaries, would receive their money in the next two weeks as the state government had virtually completed the bailout processes for the council. Edo State chairman of the NLC, Comrade, Ademokun,

earlier in his remark, appealed to the state government to commence employment into the public sector, arising from the death of workers across ministries and parastatals in the state public sector.

achieving this. Congress will seek audience with Mr President to get more information on this important matter. On our part as workers, we will be prepared and willing to contribute to any effort to create a ‘Job Creation Fund’ nationally to tackle this problem.” After submitting a N56,000 proposal as new minimum wage to the federal government, the NLC president stated that the congress was eagerly waiting for government to kickstart the negotiation process. According to him, the proposal was in line with the National Minimum Wage Act, which stipulated a fiveyear re-opener clause for a new negotiation. In his own address, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria President, Comrade Kaigama, lamented the long years of pillage of the nation’s resources by a greedy few. While commenting on the theme of this year’s May Day celebration, “The working class and the quest for socio-economic revival,” Kaigama called on the Nigerian workers to use the avenue of the day to reflect on how to bring the ailing nation to life. In his own address delivered by a director in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Mrs Chinedu Dike, the Minister of Labour, Senator Ngige stressed the importance of the working class to the development of the nation, adding that they should shun protests as means expressing grievances to the policies of government.

Fayose wants review of revenue allocation formula Says govt will not downsize or cut pay Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti EKITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has called for an upward review of the revenue allocation formula in favour of state governments and said the option had the capacity to strengthen the fiscal capacities and responsibilities of state governments. Speaking at the 2016 May Day celebration, held at the Oluyemi Kayode Stadium in Ado Ekiti, the governor stated that the a financial situation, whereby state governments would “have to perpetually look up to the Federal Government for intervention to pay their workers’ salaries” would compromise the nation’s federalism. Fayose, who was represented by the Head of Ser-

vice, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, at the low key event devoid of its usual fanfare as a result of the death of some medical personnel last week, added that “an upward review of the revenue formula in favour of states would stabilise federalism and empower Nigerians equitably.” According to him, the bailout package handed out to states might not be “the desired longterm solution to the challenges in the finances of state governments.” Fayose stated that the Federal Government had not obliged Ekiti State the balance of the N21 billion it requested as bail out package, saying that while some states got N34 billion, Ekiti got N9.6 billion from the N21billion earlier requested.

The governor assured workers in the state that his government would not downsize its workforce or embark on a paycut, regardless of the magnitude of economic challenges confronting it. In his remarks, Dr Faseluka, whose speech was read by the Permanent Secretary in the Office of Establishments and Training, Mr Banji Ojo, commended Governor Fayose for rejecting the resolution of other governors to either downsize its workforce or tinker with their salaries. Faseluka charged the workers to be more diligent in their assignments and refrain from activities that could stain the integrity of the public service; adding that they must shun corrup-

tion and fraud. He charged the Labour unions in the state to contribute to the diversification of the state’s economy, in order to reduce government’s overdependence on federal allocation. The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress asked Governor Fayose to review the state workers’ wage bill, which currently stood at N2.6billion, saying the measure became imperative because the same figure was proclaimed by ex-governor Kayode Fayemi-led administration. The speech, presented by NLC chairman, Ade Adesanmi, urged Governor Fayose to pay the workers their gross salaries rather than net.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

news

Monday, 2 May, 2016

How thugs attacked my convoy —Edo dep gov continued from frontpage

Odubu, who said his security detail prevented him from receiving gunshots, noted that the attack was a high point of a series of events targeted at his person and his governorship ambition, describing it as an act of cowardice perpetrated by people who feared a free, fair and credible democratic contest. The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant, who was on his way to Etsako Central, East and West councils to meet with party delegates, said an unmarked vehicle had earlier broken into his con-

voy on his way to the local governments, causing his convoy to halt the journey for a while. The deputy governor, who had declared his interest to contest the September 10, 2016, Edo State governorship election on Wednesday, stated this in an address by his campaign organisation, at the headquarters of the organisation in Benin, on Sunday morning. He described the attack as an assassination attempt on his life, calling on the national chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC to pay more at-

tention to the happenings in the Edo State chapter of the party so that it would not lose the only state it controlled in the South-South geopolitical zone. He said six out of the people, who were injured during the incident were receiving treatment at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, while two were still convalescing at a hospital in Auchi. The APC chairman in Etsako West Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Abubakar Akokhia, however, denied that the deputy governor was targeted in the shootout.

Akokhia, who spoke at the Edo State Government House in Benin, said he was with the deputy governor inside the venue of the meeting when they started hearing gunshots outside, adding that the shooting was carried out by Odubu supporters. However, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Chris Ezike, has told journalists that some names have been mentioned over the attack and that he has given a marching order to his men to go after them and arrest them. He insisted that the perpetrators of the attack

Ohanaeze Ndigbo meets, sets up committee on Enugu community invasion •PDP S/East govs meet, set to visit community Jude Ossai-Enugu

THE Ohanaeze Ndigbo has said it will set up a committee of inquiry into the Fulani herdsmen invasion of the Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. Rising from its emergency meeting in Enugu, on Sunday, the apex umbrella of Igbo socio-cultural association said the attack on the Enugu community was barbaric and condemnable in all its ramifications. Some of the speakers at the meeting wondered why the South-East governors had not responded to the statement credited to 19 Northern governors on the attack, adding that Ndigbo were not comfortable with their continued silence on the security challenge in the zone. “What are the governors doing with their security votes? Let the governor set vigilante group in form of task force in each community, with a view to protecting our lives and property,” one of the speakers stated. The leader of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Uchenna Madu, in his speech, appealed to the Igbo elders to back the youth in repelling the Fulani herdsmen in Igboland, warning that Ndigbo would not remain refugees in their land because of the activities of invaders. “We are ready to fight force with force. Just give us the backing. We will resist any attempt by any group or persons to make Ndigbo perpetual slaves in our country,” he added. Meanwhile, the SouthEast leaders of the Peoples

Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday, met in a close door meeting at the Government House, Enugu. Inside source said the meeting might not be unconnected with the party’s congress, as well as security challenges in the zone. The PDP governors, including Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia, Dave Umahi of Ebonyi and Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia states, the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, were in attendance. Also, the caucus of the PDP in the South-East

zone, on Sunday, rose from their closed door meeting with a strong condemnation of the Fulani herdsmen attack on Ukpabi-Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. They have resolved to visit the troubled Ukpabi Nimbo community where scores of persons were gruesomely murdered last Monday. Briefing newsmen at the end of their meeting, Ekweremadu said the governors would get their colleague governors from Anambra, Chief Willy Obi-

ano and Rochas Okorocha of Imo State to join them in the proposed visit to the community within the week. He said the visit was aimed at taking stock of the carnage in the area, with a view to taking a definite position as leaders of the South-East zone. He explained that all the five governors would have been part of the meeting, noting that the impromptu nature of the gathering made it impossible for them to reach out to the governors of Anambra and Imo states.

New PDP zoning formula: Babatope raises the alarm •Accuses Sheriff, others of plotting to destabilise party Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

aS controversy rages over the new Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) zoning arrangements for the sharing of its national offices at its national convention slated for this month, a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, Chief Ebenezer Babatope, at the weekend, raised the alarm over the formula, saying it was designed to destroy the party finally. Speaking during an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, the onetime Minister of Transport and Aviation, accused the incumbent national chairman, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and others behind the new arrangement, which zoned the chairmanship of the party to the North-East, to have made up their minds to destroy the PDP at all cost. Chief Babatope, however, vowed that the genuine members of the party would not quit for whatever reason, rather they would stay back and fight the impunity and the reck-

lessness of Senator Sheriff and his supporters with the relevant provisions of the constitution of the party, as well as the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. According to him, “It is a pity that Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his supporters have made up their minds to destroy the PDP with their new arrangement but God forbid, we will not allow it to happen. When I say we, I mean, we the genuine members of the party, who are also the elders and the leaders of the party across the six geopolitical zones of the country.” “The zoning of the national chairmanship of our great party to the NorthEast under the manipulated new arrangement is against the collective decision of the party that the zone should produce a candidate to complete the tenure of the former national chairman of the party, Alhaji Adamu Mua’zu, from the zone who left office after last year’s general election, which was done,that was how Sheriff

came into the office and we expected him to leave as soon as he completes that tenure,” he stated. “But contrarily, what they have now done is to upset that decision of the party to replace Mua’zu from that zone, their new arrangement to me is clearly designed by Sheriff and his supporters to destroy the party, but we will not allow it to happen.They don’t have the power and the capacity to do that,” he declared. Chief Babatope pointed out that the national convention of the party slated for Port-Harcourt had already been sabotaged by the same group, all to just destroy the party. On whether those who opposed the new arrangement, especially from the SouthWest, would be heading for court over the matter, Chief Babatope said, “No!,No!! No!!!, this is an internal party affair, we are not going to any court,our party’s constitution is there, we will use it to fight our course, this is not a court matter.”

would be brought to book and advised all governorship aspirants to go about their campaigns peacefully, even as he added that Edo 2016 governorship election would be very peaceful. Reacting, Edo State government has described as false the story of assassination attempt on the deputy governor, and gubernatorial aspirant of the APC, Dr Pius Odubu. The state government, in a statement, stated that “while we condemn in very strong terms the ugly incident in Auchi, we note, however, that the conclusion of the Odubu Campaign Organisation on alleged assassination attempt appears hasty, as preliminary reports suggest that the fracas in Auchi was caused by thugs loyal to the Odubu campaign imported in two truck-loads to Auchi who attacked other party loyalists not sold to the deputy governor’s aspiration. “It is instructive to note that the deputy governor was inside the secretariat building of the APC in

company with the party chairman in the local government, Alhaji Umoru Akokhia, addressing the delegates, while thugs loyal to him, who had become unruly, fired gunshots at other APC loyalists who were outside protesting against his visit.” “We gathered authoritatively that the first shots were, in fact, fired by Odubu’s security details in an attempt to scare away the party faithful who were against the hoodlums imported to their domain by the Odubu Campaign Organisation, before thugs loyal to him fired at the party’s loyalists. It should be noted that among those who sustained injuries are APC loyalists who are presently receiving medical attention in the hospital. It is laughable that the Odubu Campaign Organisation will allege that the deputy governor, with full complement of security details, was shot at, yet no casualty was recorded on the other side and nobody apprehended.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

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ABDUL-RAHEEM, HAFIZ O. ABDULRAHMAN, AHMED ABEGUNDE AYODELE OLUGBENGA ABIMIFOLUWA A. SOKUNBI ABIOLA, REUBEN O. ABRAHAM,C. MARTINS ABUBAKAR, SANI ACHIFE ANTHONY ADAH, A. EJEH ADEBAYO-ALABI, 'MUBO T. ADEBO,OLUWOLE,ADEMOLA. PR ADEBOLA FAGBOHUNGBE ADEDEJI (MR.) WALE ADELEK ADEDEJI CLINTON ADEDAMOLA ADEDEJI IFEOLUWA ADEYINKA ADEDEJI OLADAPO ADEKOLA ADEGUNLE ADESHOLA ADELEKE ADEOYE ADEMOLA ADELOWO, KAYODE ADEKUNLE ADENEKAN, SAMUEL BANKOLE ADENIJI ADESOLA FITIN ADENUGA, OLATUNDE ADEREMI {REV.}, FAVOUR TAIWO ADERIBIGBE, SEUN TOSIN (M ADETOLA O. J ADEUSI, GBENGA AMOS ADEWUMI, R. ADEREMI Adeyanju Olufemi ADEYEMI BIMPE ADIGUN M.S ADOGAH, JACOB O. AFOLAHAN, JOSEPH KAYODE AGABU, C. GRACE AGABU, C. SAMSON AGABU, C.REBECCA AGABU.C.DANIEL AGBU, BENJAMIN MATAKHITSWE AGWUIKE EDWIN AKANDE, SUNDAY E AKINBOLA RAFEEQ OLUWASEYI AKINGBADE OLUFEMI ADEGBOYE AKINHANMI, OLUGBENGA M. AKINSEHINDE, MUYIWA F. AKINTAYO,ADEYINKA.O AKPAN, SUNDAY A. AKPOBOME, OMUDHOWAFE F. ALAKWE FAUSTINUS IZUCHUKWU ALAO{DR.}, JOHN FUNSHO ALEGU JOSEPH ODEY ALLI, ADENIRAN TAOFEEK ALLI, MICHAEL OBAITUA ALUKO, MICHAEL A. AMOO, MOSES SEYI ANICHEBE, OKECHUKWU M. ANULIGO, EMEKA C. ANYAJI, IRENE A. ANYANWU CALEB CHUKWUDI ANYANWU CLINTON N. CHRIST ARABI, MAHMOUD A. ARAMOLU JONATHAN S AREGBESOLA, RAUF A. ARINZE AGATHA OKWUCHUKWU ARINZE, NZUBECHUKWU C. ASOGWA,OGUGU ASUGHA, CHINOMSO C. ASUQUO{MISS}, ENO NDARAKE ATIE STEPHEN BISOLA AWAKESSIEN, ERNEST DAVIS BABALOLA ADENIKE TOMILOLA BABALOLA, OLUSOLA M BAMAI, MERCY D. BAMAI, SHAMANG D. BAYO ADISA BELLO, SAMAD OPEYEMI BILLIYA, D. AHMED BOWYER DAVID JOHN

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EZECHUKWU, CHUKWU VENATUS EZECHUKWU, IFEANYICHUKWU Z. FADAIRO OLAOLUWA FAGBAMILA, ANITA O. O. FAGBAMILA, JEFFERY O. O. FAGBAMILA, MICHAEL B. O. FAGBOHUNGBE,ADEBOLA ABUBA FAJENYO, JOHN A. GADA, ADAMU T. GADA, ELISHA D. GANI,SULEJOSEPH GAYA CECELIA,PHILIP (MR&MRS) GBANTI, DANJUMA GIDADO, SEGUN ABRAHAM GOFAMINT PRESS BOOKSHOPS LTD HARUNA J.M.ORIRE HYUWA{DR.}, BABA AUSTIN. H. IAML - A/C ADEJIMI ADEYEMI ASA IDENYI{DR.}, MUHAMMED- BELLO IDIAGBONYA DEBORAH IDUMWONYI, PETER OKUNDAYO IFEKA, EDDY N. C. IFEKA, ELIZABETH S. IFON, ELIZABETH OLUKEMI IGE, MARION OLABANKE MRS. IGNATUS IJALANA, OLALEKAN AKINYEM IKE, EPHRAHIM NDUBISI JOB INTERNATIONAL INVESTOR'S NOMINEE ACCT 21 IYAMU.K. OMOGATE IYI-ELIEKA{MRS}, MABEL OGHOLER JAKAWA, GODWIN AKAMBA JAMODU, B. GODWIN JIBRO, DANIEL L. JOHNSON, EMMANUEL ABAYOMI Kaigama John Papka KANU, MARIA IUUAKU KAYODE-POPOOLA AYODOLA KAYODE-POPOOLA AYOKUNLE KAYODE-POPOOLA AYOMIPO KAYODE-POPOOLA AYO-OLUWA KESANDU-UCHENYI, ONYENWE KOFOWOROLA KOLA OYETUNDE KOLADE, MOSES K. KOLAWALE OMOLADE KOLAWOLE PAUL ADEBOWALE KURE, ADAMS SMITHS KWAGHFAN{MISS}, HELEN MWUESE KWANASHIE{MRS}, CLARA NNA LADY OKOLIE, HELEN MADUEKE, GODWIN MADUKWEM MAIKANO GORI, ADAMU I. Makinde, Adesoji Adetunji MBA SALIYUK ANTHONY MBONU, CHIZOBA CHRISTIAN MENEGBO, POBARI SOTER MISS GADA, ADAMU R. MISS IZEGAEGBE, ANGELA I MISS SALUBI, AKPOVETA R. MISS YUSUF, RAMATU MKPEE, RICHARD MOHAMMED{SQN LEADER}, UMARU MORAKINYO, OMOBOLADALE AINA MORDI JOSEPH CHUKWUMAH MR & MRS N.C & T.A GEORGE MR. IBE, I. CHUKWUEMEKA MR. UNACHUKWU, MATHEW E MRS ADOGAH, ELIZABETH E. MRS BANJIRAM, ESTHER S. MRS EKPO TOPE MONISOLA MRS ESSIEN, JULIANA U. MRS JIMADA, ADUKE J. MRS KOLADE, MARY O. MRS NWAIWU N. A MRS OBI, JOSEPHINE RUTH. MRS OHUIMUMWEN, JANET

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EBELEDIKE AMAKA PRECIOUS EBHOTE PEPPER BROWN EBOIGBE, M.EBOIGBE EBOIGBE{MRS}, AUGUSTINA EGBOH{MRS}, NGOZI JOSEPHINE EGWUDO, PETER N. EJEAGBA, AKPALA SUNDAY EKUNOLA BANKOLE OLADOKUN EREKOSIMA DI, DA-ONIMIM ERINJOGUNOLA, BABATUNDE ESARA, JAMES M. ESSIEN, UDEME E. EVWARAYE, FIDELIS ONOKUAKPOFIA

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OBI, UCHENNA G. OBIEKWE CHUKWUKADIBIA CHARLES OBIEKWE OLISAELOKA OBIERE, N CHINEME ODE-OWEGIE OSAMUDIAMEN ODIASE, JAMES O. ODILI STEPHEN OBIORA ODOGU, MARTHA O. ODUNSI, AARE (DR) ADETUTU ODUSANWO, MOSES A. OFFIA MATTHEW OGBONNAYA OFFIONG, EKPO E. OGA STEPHEN O

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OGBOGU, CHUKWUDI E. OGBONNAYA, UCHE OGI, UGWO JEMIMAH OGOLO, WILLIAMS C. OGU FRANKLIN NNAEMEKA OGU, CHARLES U. OGULEDO{MRS}, NONYELUM JULIANA OGUNSEYE YETUNDE OLUTOYIN OGUNSEYE, TOLUWALOPE OGUNTOMI, OLUWAFEMI I. OHANELE ONONIWU, OKECHUKWU.D OJIAKO, SIMON OGBONNIA OJO KAYODE TOLULOPE OJO, OLUYEMI S. OKECHUKWU,EMEKA. FRANKLIN OKOCHA, NDUDI OKOH, ONYEKA LAWRENCE OKOI KOTUN EWA OKOLI, FRANCIS O. OKONKWO JULIET OBY OKOYE KINGSLEY NWABUEZE OKOYE, CHUKWUDI HUMPHREY OKPALAOKA UZOAMAKA CHINEL OKPECHUKWU, IYINAGORO P. OKPOGIE, JOHN O. OLA, ALADE T. OLABANJI, BOLANLE A. OLABIYI JULIUS OYEKOLA OLADOSUN,JULIET OLARINMOYE OLADAPO & ABAY OLOWU C. TEMITAYO OLOWU CHRISTIANA TIWA OLUSOLA, OLUMAYOWA O. OLUTIMEHIN ADETOKUNBO OMENKA, OKWO ELIJAH OMILE, VIRGINIA ETUODI { ONAIVI UMOZAYI TEMITOPE ONAWI FREDRICK OMOKODION ONELI CYPRIAN IKECHUKWU ONI ADUNOLUWA OYINDAMOLA ONI AYODEJI OLUFUNMILADE ONI OLUWATAMILORE (MISS) ONI SAMUEL OLUWABUSAYO ONU, LIVINUS C. ONUORA, KENECHUKWU ONWUATUELO, FIDELIS O. ONYIA, RUFUS ONUIGBO ONYIAH, THERESA CHIKAODINAKA ORJI, ANTHONY I. OSASONA DR{MRS}, MARGARET.O. OSAZUWA, JOHN E. OTENAIKE, DEBORAH OLAMIDE OTENAIKE, ESTHER OTENAIKE, SAM ABAYOMI OTENAIKE, VICTOR AYOMIDE.G. OVIA JONATHAN JITUBO OYAWOYE, SALAWU O. OYEBADE, ADEBAYO OYENUGA, ADEWALE ADESIMBO OYEWOLE, AINA YETUNDE OYIDIH CYNTHIA I PEQUISITE INVESTMENT NIG. PRINCEWILL JOSEPH PROF AKODORA MALACHY O PROF. ADEDEJI, ADEBAYO PROF.SAPORU, WESTNAND F RENG, MUSA GWOM REV NSHEM SUNDAY MOVEN REVD. ABAH, BABA JONAH ROJUGBOKAN A. O SALAWU, ADISA O. SAYAYA MAMUDA HAMISU Sir Nwokolo OFR SIR OKOLIE, GILBERT TAHVEN JOY LOHYA TXZY CAPITAL LIMITED UBA NONINEE/FIRST TRUSTEE/STANBIC BOND FUND UBAKAEZE, VICTOR CHIAGOZIE UCHECHI INEMESIT EMUCHAY UCHENYI, KESANDU ONYIMGBA UDEAGHA, CHRISTY NNENNA UDECHUKWU, EBENEZER CHUKWUDINK UDO, AKPAN ANYAN UDOH{ESQ}, BASSEY GEORGE UDOM UBON ANDERSON UDOSEN NAMSE PETER UGEH LAWRENCE NNAMAKA UGWUJA, CLEMENT U. UKONNA, NNAOMA

UMEADI, PETER N. C (HON. UNIVERSITY OF P/HARCOURT VICMEM FUND INVESTMENT LTD WILSON{DR}, DESMOND WOJI, ANNE Y. YAKUBU, IBRAHIM JOHN YAKUBU, MAKASUWA YEMITAN A. OLUGBENGA YINUSA, ABDULRAHMAN YOMI JOHNSON KEHINDE YOMI JOHNSON TAIWO YUSUF, ABDULMUMEEN

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Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Lagosmetro

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

52 robbers, kidnappers working for me —NURTW boss

Says, ‘I’ve received 4,256 stolen phones’

He revealed that “I buy Infinix Hot 2 at N10,000 and sell N12,000; Blackberry Z30 at N20,000 and sell at N22,000; buy Infinix Hot Note at N15,000 and sell at N17,000 and Samsung Galaxy X3 at N11,000 and sell at N14,000. I don’t buy iPhone because of its locking system.” Lagos Metro gathered that as of the time of his arrest, five stolen mobile

Olalekan Olabulo

man arrested by the operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of the Lagos State Police Command for being a major buyer of stolen mobile phones in Lagos, has confessed to have bought over 4,256 mobile phones from robbers, pickpockets and one – chance gangs operating in the state . The suspect, Kazeem Bamidele, 42, who is the Second Vice Chairman of the National Union of Road and Transport Workers’ (NURTW), Ajegunle Unit, equally confessed to the RRS Intelligence Team that he has over 52 boys in Lagos State, who steal and sell “clean phones” to him constantly. Kazeem, popularly known as Elewure in the social circle, was arrested when the RRS Intelligence Team quizzed two stolen phones users in Kogi State in connection with abduction and robbery cases in Lagos State. The operatives had upon returning from a week-long investigation to Port Harcourt, Enugu and Kogi State, swung into actions by arresting Elewure from his shop in Boundary Market, Ajegunle, after he was fingered to have been the seller of two Blackberry Z10 phones and a CAT phone collected from victims of robbery and abduction incidences in the metropolis. Kazeem said, “I have over 52 boys who sell clean stolen mobile phones to me. On the average, I receive 38 ‘clean’ phones in a week. I have been in the business for more than two years. Boundary Market in Ajegunle, where I have office and shop, is where they sell the phones. I know they are stolen phones. Nearly every guy in Ajegunle is involved in this

Elewure

Soldier murders Islamic scholar over girlfriend Olalekan Olabulo

kind of runs. It is what they do to survive. “I was pushed into the business by family pressure. I have so many dependants, including two wives and seven children. My mother gave birth to 13 children for my father. Though both of them are no more, only three of us are left and I am the breadwinner of the family. “I started out in life as ‘elubo’, pepper and maize grinder. I know that most of these phones were gotten from pick pocketing, one chance and robbery. My second wife has mounted so much pressure on me to quit the business long ago but the financial pressure was much.”

Students shun Union’s rally, 19,373 sign undertaking ACADEMIC activities are expected to resume today at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), after a threeweek break occasioned by a students’ protest that crippled activities on the campus for more than 48 hours. The management of the institution at the weekend said nearly 20, 000 students had already downloaded their letters of undertaking and indemnity form, ahead of resumption today. A statement signed by the Deputy Registrar (Information) of the

celebrities,” a police source said. The image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos confirmed the arrest of the suspect and added that he had been transferred to the Federal Special Anti Robbery Squad, Ikeja for further investigations. The suspect has been transferred to SARS for further.

Why we are yet to arrest the killer —Police

UNILAG reopens weeks after violent protest Naza Okoli

phones were found on him. He is presently helping the police to pick up his boys from their hideouts, bus stops and routes of operations. Two commercial buses “danfo” used for robbery and one chance operations are presently at RRS Headquarters in Alausa. “Some of the phones traced to Elewure were that of high profile members of the society as well as

University, Mr T. O. Adebule, said the management was impressed by the high turn out of students. “Contrary to the resistance put up by the proscribed Student Union leaders in the social and print media, the students have been trooping into the various faculties to sign the necessary forms in readiness for resumption next week. 19, 373 students have already downloaded the indemnity forms as at 12:30 p.m. today, Friday, April 29, 2016,” the statement said. Meanwhile, a protest by students and officials of Education Rights Campaign tagged ‘Save UNILAG Solidarity Rally,’ initially scheduled to take place at Onikan Stadium on Sunday morning, could not hold, as no student turned up for the event.

AN Islamic scholar, Muhammed Ambali Obadina, has allegedly been killed by a soldier, who accused him of snatching his wife in Iberekodo area of Badagry, Lagos State. The cleric before his murder was said to be in charge of the mosque in Iberekodo where he mainly taught Quran. An elder brother to the cleric, Taiwo Obadina, told Lagos Metro: “On the day of the incident, my brother had just left the mosque, when he went to Iya Biliki’s shop that the two of them could go home together. Iya Biliki was preparing to go home, when the soldier came and asked about the guys who snatched his girlfriend but the woman quickly responded that nobody was in her shop, apart from Alfa. “The soldier was said to have enquired about Alfa and asked to see the Islamic scholar, who by then was not in front of the shop, where they were standing. Alfa came out of the shop only for the soldier to start slapping, kicking and punching him. “Iya Biliki ran to the neighbourhood to call residents to come and rescue Alfa but the soldier had taken him away, before they arrived. Not even the vigilante members on the area could rescue Alfa from the soldier.” Adewale Akinsanya, a cousin to the deceased also explained that “it was already late in the night and people could not go to the

barracks that night so they concluded that they would go and bail him the following day. When they got to the barracks, the army officials told them that there was nobody with such names in their custody and they even said that nobody was brought in there the previous night. It was later in the afternoon of the following day that they saw his body by the road side, not too far from the barracks.” Lagos Metro gathered that the army officials brought out some of their officers and Iya Biliki was able to identify the soldier, who perpetrated the act. The matter was reported at Badagry police station and subsequently taken to the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department (SCID). The remains of the Islamic scholar was last week buried, after almost a month of trying to conduct an autopsy to ascertain the cause of his death. Attempts to get Iya Biliki, the eyewitness by Lagos Metro

Relative of the deceased Alfa

were unsuccessful as she was said to have fled the neighbourhood, following persistent harassment by the alleged killer soldier’s colleagues, for identifying the culprit. Meanwhile, police at the SCID of the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the death of the deceased and added that investigations were on going. A senior police officer from the SCID, who spoke with Lagos Metro under the condition of anonymity, said that the police were making “the necessary documentation to arrest the suspect.” “You know he is a soldier and we cannot just arrest him at the barracks like that. We want to write to the Army authority for them to hand over the suspect to us for prosecution,” the policeman said. Meanwhile the image maker in charge of the state police command, Dolapo Badmos could not be reached as her mobile phone line was switched off as at the time of filing this report.

Deceased Alfa

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune Monday, 2 May, 2016 12 businessnews FAAN/Arik Air face off over N12.5bn debt gets messier Banks

•As Bi-Courtney lays claim to it Shola adekola - Lagos

new twist has crept into the ongoing tussle between the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and Arik Air over an alleged N12.5 billion debt the duo are arguing for and against as BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL), operator of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Two (MMA2) yesterday declared that the money in question actually belonged to it and not FAAN. According to Bi-Courtney’s Chief Operating Officer, Ms. Adebisi Awoniyi yesterday, the money which FAAN claimed was owed it by Arik Airline actually belongs to it. In a detailed statement issued and signed by Awoniyi, the private firm declared: “Bi-Courtney operator of Murtala Muhammed Airport Two has come out categorically to affirm that Arik Air’s alleged N12.5 billion indebtedness, which led to the disruption of its operations in Lagos and Abuja by aviation workers last week was part of Bi-Courtney’s legitimate revenue that the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) continues to appropriate despite several legal pronouncements.” The National Union of Air Transport Employees (NAUTE), FAAN branch, had prevented Arik from carrying out its domestic operations at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT), Lagos and the Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport, Abuja, during the impasse. Still speaking for BICourtney, Awoniyi insisted; “We want the public, particularly relevant stakeholders, to note that the country’s law recognises Bi-Courtney as the genuine owner of GAT, thus, making FAAN’s continuous operation of the terminal illegal and a clear violation of the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. FAAN however, continues to defy the laws of the land. It has openly and recklessly denied our company 60 per cent of its revenue by its continuous illegal operation of the GAT as a competing terminal to MMA2 even after an Arbitration Panel, a Court of Law and an Appeal Court had ruled in our favour. “Consequently, all revenues, such as Passenger Processing Charge, space rental, fuel surcharge and others, which FAAN had been collecting and continues to collect from its unlawful operation of the GAT, including the N12.5 billion in contention between FAAN and Arik Air, belong to Bi-Courtney. “The implication of this is that both FAAN and Arik Air are indeed fighting over

•Says money belongs to it and not FAAN

monies that lawfully belong to Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited. We also wish to categorically confirm that all the airlines operating at the GAT are actively involved in FAAN’s act of illegality, because they are all aware of the position of the law in respect of the ownership of the terminal. It was, therefore, shocking to hear the Managing Director of Arik Air, Mr. Chris Ndulue, in an interview, accusing FAAN of disregarding specific orders of the court and

perpetrating acts of illegality against his company.” Whike describing the blame game between FAAN and Arik Air now, Bi-Courtney took a swipe at the airline for supporting FAAN to perpetrate injustice towards BiCourtney and outright disobedience to court orders. “We also find interesting the claim by Ndulue in the same interview that “Arik Air continues to have confidence in the court even if FAAN does not have confidence in the court. Arik

Air remains committed to adhering to principles of the rule of law”. If Ndulue’s claim was true, Arik Air would have conformed to the court judgment that affirmed Bi-Courtney’s ownership of the GAT, especially after the appeal filed on its behalf by Ojemaie Holdings against the judgment failed. Rather, it continued to support and encourage FAAN’s acts of illegality. It can only mean Arik Air is very selective in its understanding of the principles of the rule of

law and court orders. What Ndulue said in his interview can be classified only as mere rhetoric.” BI-Courtney is citing various court judgments on the issue, including the arbitration panel, which it said first adjudicated the dispute between Bi-Courtney and FAAN, on the terms of the concession agreement for the reconstruction and operation of MMA2, and “unambiguously affirmed Bi-Courtney’s ownership of the GAT.

From left: Consultant to Bank of Industry, Mr Adolphus Ojobo; Area Manager, Skye Bank Plc, Benin Area, Mrs Chinyere Imeribe; Managing Director, Omega Foods and Hospitality, Mr. Alex Otuya; and Head, Small Business Group, Skye Bank Plc, Mrs Ayo Olojede, at an SME seminar organised by Skye Bank in Benin recently.

NPA keys into FG’s drive to diversify economy By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

THE Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Habib Abdullahi, says the agency has keyed into the Federal Government’s agenda to diversify the economy and see less dependence on oil, adding that the agency is now more than ever before focused on ways to encourage the export potentials of agricultural products and solid minerals. The MD, who spoke to select editors in Lagos, said the ports are littered with empty containers which is indicative of the nation’s monoeconomic model which had been largely import-driven in the past “and with majority of those ships coming here going out empty, we can encourage people to export their agricultural produce and solid minerals as a way of helping to diversify the economy. The diversification will help to shift the focus from import to export, so we can take advantage of the containers lying idle. This is one of the areas we think we can diversify and increase revenue thereby compensating for the losses from the oil sector,” he said. Abdullahi revealed that the NPA had already written a letter to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigerian Export Promotion

Council, to this effect. According to him the agency is re-orienting the terminal operators to support this trend, while at the same time also strategising with the customs to see possible areas of engagement and collaboration to ensure some terminals can be solely dedicated to export. In his words “we are trying to see how we can make Ikorodu an export port. We also have some interested parties coming in to help our dedicated cause, for example, we have received proposals for Ilaje port in Ondo; they want to make the port ded-

icated to solid minerals.” Talking of exploring new trade routes, like directing business to other ports in the country in order to reduce the pressure at the Lagos terminal, the NPA boss said though it is not a direct function of the authority to tell people to use any particular port as this is dependent on the exporter or importer, the agency is working at improving infrastructure across all the ports, hoping that government and the terminal operators will promote and encourage businesses to come and use them.

While also debunking claims that importers tend to see the Cotonou ports as cheaper and better alternative to the Nigerian Ports to import cars and other goods because of high charges, Abdullahi said, “people don’t import their cars through Cotonou, they smuggle them in through Cotonou and we know this is ridiculous. People complain about port congestion and what that means is there is a lot of business. People say the port is expensive, if you compare it with others in the world, you will see that ours is one of the cheapest.

Transcorp Plc shareholders approve bonus shares •Transcorp ready to review moribund gas fields SHAREHOLDERS of Transcorp Plc, on Friday April 29, 2016 lauded the conglomerate for its financial performance in 2015 despite the difficult operating environment globally and domestically. During the AGM which took place at the Pearl Ball Room, Transcorp Hotels, Calabar, the shareholders approved the board’s proposed bonus issue of one ordinary share for 20 ordinary shares held by every shareholder, and also the Group’s annual report for 2015.

The Group recorded N40.75billion in gross earnings for the FY 2015. Profit Before Tax (PBT) for the year ended 2015 was N3.32billion. The Group total asset was N202.9billion, showing an increase of 19 per cent compared to N171billion in 2014. The Chairman of Transcorp Plc, Tony Elumelu, was pleased with the results despite the very challenging operating environment in 2015. Transcorp said the company is ready to take over

and revive some moribund gas fields in the Niger Delta region. He made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sideline of Transcorp’s 10th Annual General Meeting in Calabar. He said that the company had commenced discussion with NNPC in this regard. According to him, the project aims to realise the company’s objective of improving the country’s economy while also making profit.

contribute to Nigeria’s economic insecurities —Experts

By Ruth Olurounbi

UNETHICAL practices and lack of professionalism in the banking and financial industry have been identified as major reason the industry has not made significant contribution to Nigeria’s economic development. Saying that the industry has contributed significantly to economic instability in the country, experts submitted that the banks have deliberately starved the productive sectors funds to develop the economy. The experts spoke respectively at the second National Conference of Educators in Banking & Finance in Nigeria coordinated by the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and supported by The National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education held in Ibadan, on Thursday. Dr Isaiak Okunade, Dean, Faculty of Financial Studies and Chairman, Committe of Deans, speaking on the topic “The Future of Banking: Drivers, Prospects and Challenges” who submitted that bank activities in Nigeria have not contributed to economic development since the colonial era, said the industry has not adapted to the country’s needs. According to him, this development posed a significant challenge to Nigeria’s current and future economic development. To play an active role in Nigeria’s economic development, therefore, the banking and financial industry must be restructured and professionalised, he said. Also speaking on the issue of lack of professionalism in the industry, Professor of Finance at the Department of Professor Steve Ibenta, Banking and Finance, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, said the banking industry is the oil that greases the wheel of the economy. According to him, banks provide the financial resources needed for production of goods and services, which the economy is all about and if the finances are not there, everything will grind to a halt. “Now for this important function to be executed efficiently, you must make sure that core professionals are in the banking industry and other financial institutions.

editorial

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The plight of workers

ONTRARY to popular expectations, the Labour Day, which incidentally fell on a Sunday in this part of the world this year, was not a day of rest for the typical Nigerian worker. The workers crouch under a heavy yoke. From unemployment and a backlog of unpaid salaries to spiralling food prices, the burden on Nigerian workers is almost beyond the relief which the unions, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), expect to obtain from a minimum wage of N56,000, which they have reportedly demanded from the Federal Government. The unions have demanded that the minimum wage be upped in the light of the gross inadequacy of the N18,000 minimum wage and the precarious economic situation in the country. But the states and the Federal Government are still struggling to pay the subsisting 18,000 minimum wage, with many months in arrears. If the government is fiscally challenged to the point of defaulting in its statutory duties to workers, the situation in the unorganised private sector can only be better imagined. For less than peanuts, Nigerians slave away in different private firms under horrific conditions that are bound to embarrass and confound even the International Labour Organisation (ILO). Not only are the salaries precipitously meagre, safety regulations are literally suspended, as these workers are only too happy to be ‘employed’ to grumble. Many of these firms employ tens of thousands of workers on a casual basis so that they will not have the numerical strength to form unions through which they can press for their rights. Sadly, the various agencies of government mandated to ensure compliance have obviously been compromised. The actual tragedy is the pretended ignorance of the authorities about these workers’ experiences. This is, to say the least, a betrayal and denouncement of the social contract. Elsewhere, labour is rightly considered as the most important source of value in the production chain and the issue of minimum wage, once legislated, is complied with across the board, since any infraction will be treated as a criminal offence. In any case, it seems clear enough that the government must get the economy back on track first before it can take care of workers. If workers deserve consideration, it will

not come from an economy in dire straits. The welfare of workers will only ensue from an active production base.True as this is, it still boggles the mind that many Nigerian Chief Executives in public offices betray a callous disposition in their consumption pattern. Pray, how does a governor expect to be believed when he claims that his state is in dire straits but maintains a long convoy of vehicles, aside from a lavish domestic budget? It would seem that the workers’ woes are far from the minds of those who dictate the tunes. Many governors accuse civil servants of various infractions ranging from malingering to incompetence and sloth. There are fifteen hands, they insist, on a job that could be easily done by one good hand. The truth however is that the politicians in public offices are hardly any better than those they consider as pests, and that is why service delivery is at its ebb in the country. It would seem therefore that both the Nigerian workers and employers are locked in a relationship of mutually assured destruction from which the society can only count its losses. The organised labour has hardly justified its regular annual participation in the Labour Day celebrations. It is difficult to feel the supposed added value usually credited to it and the government, too, has defaulted in stimulating the productive sector of the economy. To be fair, the positive contributions of the unorganised private sector of the economy cannot be ignored. Without this sector, and possibly the factor of the extended family, perhaps the destructive dimensions of unemployment would have brought the country to its knees. We think there is still ample opportunities to make certain corrections and, as usual, the government must take the lead. The government has to stimulate the economy to be more productive because the Nigerian population can be leveraged on as potential sources of active demand for the produced goods and services. Government should enforce compliance with worker-friendly policies deriving from the enforcement of fundamental human rights. The organised labour, too, should justify its demands by ensuring that value is added to both the production chain and service delivery. Then, perhaps it will be time to enthusiastically shout: ‘Solidarity forever!’

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 2 May, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Of Nollywood and moral corruption

have stopped my children from watching Nollywood movies, and this has to do with how our movie industry is corrupting their moral. One day, my eight-yearold son asked why I don’t smoke. He and his siblings watched a lot of Nollywood movies, and in most cases, when the producers want to portray a morally-corrupt individual, they make the actor/actress smoke, while also taking alcohol. Before you castigate me for not following the censor’s board’s warnings on the age grade of those who can watch such movies, I bet you when you pick movies that are for general viewing, you still find the same things there. Apart from smoking, how do you explain the sex-scenes in a movie that is rated general? The truth of the fact is that those who watch these movies are mostly young people who are still learning from what goes on in their environment. They believe what they see on screen is normal and should be emulated. I don’t really know what the Nigeria Videos Censors Board

is doing by not cutting-off such immoral scenes when the producers bring the movies for rating. After I discovered what my kids were watching, I decided to stop them from watching television altogether because it would have a negative influence on them. The only time that they watch television now is when I am with them. However, I can’t deny them the ‘enjoyment’ of watching television without providing an alternative, so I got an idea from an American child developmental coach, who said whatever you want your children to do well, attach a gratification to it. So I went to a bookshop and bought them storybooks, while telling them if anyone could finish his in two weeks, I would take him to the beach, as well as to a popular shopping mall in Ikeja. I was shocked that in one week, they had finished reading the books. They even narrated the stories to me, and in order to encourage them, I fulfilled my promise. Today, I can say that it

Attention, President Buhari I am not happy with the way President Muhammadu Buhari is managing the Fulani herdsmen/farmers’ clashes in the country. It was not until after the killings in Enugu State that he instructed the military to do everything to curb the clashes. However, I want President Buhari to record a message calling on herdsmen not to take their cattle to people’s farms. He should also warn them to hand over their weapons to the police in their various localities. This message should be recorded in the Fulani language, and it should be circulated among all the radio stations in Nigeria, while it should be played frequently in the course of the day. We all know that Fulani people love radio, and after their cattle, their most important valuable is the radio. So there is no way

such message will not get to them. If President Buhari is really concerned about the continued killings, then he will do this, and one good thing about it is that it will not take more than five minutes. I believe President Buhari is very popular among his people, and when they listen to his message, they will allow reason to prevail. However, this is not the final solution to the killings; it is just to curb it before the final solution is found. However, for the final solution, cattle owners have no choice than to rear their livestock in enclosed spaces as it is done abroad. The owners of these cattle are rich people in the society, and they should just acquire land and grow fodder to feed their animals. •Udor Uzor Amadi, Enugu.

is about three months that we last subscribed to our digital television; nobody even cares any longer since my children are all occupied

with the books I buy for them almost on a monthly basis. I decided to share this with Nigerians because children are fast learners, and what

they are gaining from the screens these days should be a cause for concern to all parents. If my son had not asked me why I was not

More filling stations, no fuel EVERYWHERE one turns to in this country, one is bound to see new filling stations under construction; it is so bad that there are now filling stations located in neighbourhood streets, and this makes me wonder that if fuel business is no longer profitable, then why are we having more people investing in it? The truth is just that Nigerians are the most exploited people on earth, and we don’t speak out. Filling station owners now operate as stock traders who rely on economic and financial news to make trade movements. The fact that all oil marketers suddenly shut their filling stations when the

Minister of State, Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, said he was not a magician and did not have a magic wand to solve the fuel scarcity gives credence to this. Why are oil marketers holding us to ransom in this country? It is just so hard to quantify the economic loss we have incurred as a result of the time spent on queues at filling stations, looking for fuel. What is funny, however, is that it is only in Nigeria that we are suffering this scarcity in the whole of Africa; even Libya that is not stable politically is not experiencing this pain. The conclusion I have come to, therefore, is that

the average Nigerian wants to make excess money at the expense of others. If this is not so, how do we explain those who are diverting fuel to neighbouring countries when they know that we are having a terrible scarcity here in Nigeria. Changing our mindset may be a hard task, but our laws should be strengthened to deter criminallyminded Nigerians from exploiting the people for excess monetary gains. I will suggest that the National Assembly allows President Muhammadu Buhari to float special courts where justice can be meted to offenders fast. •Simon Peter, Jos, Plateau State.

smoking, I wouldn’t have woken to my senses. Parents suffer a lot to train their children, but it becomes a pain in our latter years when we discover that our children are not the individuals we want them to be. Part of the problem lies with what they see on television. I could remember the son of a family friend who got admitted to a state university, and was the one who was looking for cult groups to join. He later confessed that he loved the ‘power’ cult gangs displayed whenever he saw them in movies. He almost lost his life during the initiation. Therefore, I hope Nigerian parents will gain something from my message, thereby making them to be more responsive to their children. •Folasayo Abe, Lagos.

opinion

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Lasisi Olagunju

Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

VERY creature thinks of itself as the best of all creations. Man, especially, has a very arrogant sense of right over everything else, and he claims it. That is the reason why the history of the world is that of eternal contest for space. A man’s God-given space is never enough for him. He must, forever, conquer new grounds. It is the reason a man believes no man has the right to storm his homestead, but he sees nothing wrong in his invading the territory of another. The whole of last week was expended on wailing over the murder of Igbos in Enugu State by Fulani herdsmen. The wailers have not stopped, and this piece is supposed to be an addition to the lengthening lines of the wailers’ dirge. Chinua Achebe’s Okonkwo warns of fatal consequences should an outsider defeacated on his floor. “If a man comes into my hut and defeacates on the floor, what do I do? Do I shut my eyes? No! I take a stick and break his head. That is what a man does.” He could not exactly imagine that a day would come when an outsider would trek miles into the heart of his Umuofia, not to defeacate, but to crudely break heads, neatly cut necks and leave unhurt. It happened in Enugu, and Okonkwo should be mad wherever he is now. For every culture, there is a counter- culture. The Igbo man loves his land and the yam he plants in it. The Fulani man loves his cow and believes he can graze anywhere, drawing from the history of his existence. And, so, whatever warning Okonkwo has for the intruder, there is the riposte from those with a better understanding of power and power relations and of what is right in today’s Nigeria. Alhaji Muhammad Hussaini, the chairman of the Nasarawa State Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association, has been widely quoted warning against standing between the Fulani and his nomadic foray into any territory that catches his pastoral fancy: “If you force a Fulani man not to move with his cattle, you are inviting trouble.” Another Fulani leader was also quoted dismissing the suggestion that the Fulani be persuaded to stay in ranches away from other people’s land: “It will not work out because we always relocate to where pasture can be found.” The Fulani has been very tenacious in pursuing “pasture” (including political pasture) wherever it can be found. Described as “a people of obscure origins, (who) expanded eastward from Futa Toro in Lower Senegal in the 14th century” to present-day Northern Nigeria through sheer tenacity of purpose, the Fulani does not believe any “pasture” is too impregnable to assail and conquer. It may take decades, even

A dirge for the herdsman’s prey

But when sleep became too proud, Doondari created worry, and worry defeated sleep; But when worry became too proud, Doondari created death, and death defeated worry. But when death became too proud, Doondari descended for the third time, And he came as Gueno, the eternal one And Gueno ( eternity) defeated death.

centuries but he will go for it; it is a prize. And, when you have a Fulani as a foe, you need more than impotent wailing to survive the onslaught. Ask the autochthonous Hausa and Kanuri of Northern Nigeria. Ask the Yoruba of Ilorin. Ask all the tribes along the Fulani’s grazing routes from Sokoto down south. These are victims who fell while believing the Fulani truly follows his pulaaku - a code of behaviour “which consists of the qualities of patience, self-control, discipline, prudence, modesty, respect for others (including foes), wisdom, forethought, personal responsibility, hospitality, courage, and hard work.” That code is for the Fulani’s Gaa only. If you do not know this you will soon be sorry. The Fulani has a Creation Story, providing an interesting window into the life of the herdsman: At the beginning there was a huge drop of milk Then Doondari ( God ) came and he created the stone. Then the stone created iron; And iron created fire; And fire created water; And water created air. Then Doondari descended a second time. And he took the five elements And he shaped them into man. But man was proud. Then Doondari created blindness and blindness defeated man. But when blindness became too proud, Doondari created sleep, and sleep defeated blindness;

From the very first “ huge drop of milk”, through the first creation, to death, the Fulani holds that nothing that is haughty and proud can stand. Even death was defeated by eternity because it was proud. Does that tell the wailers anything about the Fulani’s unassuming quietness even when he is going for the kill? Whatever the Igbo experience today was experienced by the Yoruba in the 19th century. There were wars and battles which were fought more with guile and strategy than with guns and swords. It was subterfuge for subterfuge, guile for guile, sword for sword. The engagement of that period is behind the mutual respect you see today between the Hausa- Fulani and the Yoruba. Both sides have learnt through history not to take each other for granted. So, let anyone who suffers crude death today sit down and rethink his politics. If you are not going to allow a footpath through your farm, you stop it not by shedding gubernatorial and plebeian tears but by being decisive in words and action. Fortunately, history is always around to guide the wise. Those whose eyes have always been on the Atlantic Ocean have resumed the journey. The British stopped the move the last time. I do not see anything stopping them now. They are the modern day British, with all the power and the glory. And, whenever they choose to move, their grazing route will be guided by the geography of their history - or vice versa. They are not likely to beat their path through the farm of a worthy adversary. They will choose the clan of the ‘woman’. Only then will the people of today’s Umuofia remember Achebe’s words: “And at last the locusts did descend. They settled on every tree and on every blade of grass; they settled on the roofs and covered the bare ground. Mighty tree branches broke away under them, and the whole country became the brown-earth colour of the vast, hungry swarm.” That is the prophecy. Brown is the colour of the future unless you and I stop playing politics (and ludo) with everything.

Celebrating an amazing woman at 50 By Idowu Sowunmi

HER will power and focus to bring out the best in any context she finds herself has tenaciously distinguished her from the rest. She pays attention to details with aprimal vision of setting new standards and raising the bar in her humanitarian quests to uplift mankind. She devotes a considerable part of her time, energy and resources on regular basis to advance the cause of the lessprivileged and champion initiatives that support the needy in our society. Her dream is aimed at empowering and uplifting the disadvantaged people regardless of their age, educational status, religious and political affiliations. Welcome to the world of Mrs. Olufunso Amosun, the wife of the Ogun State governor. Born some 50 years ago on May 2, Mrs. Amosun is today joining the elegant circle of Golden Jubilee club. No doubt, 50 is a milestone and clocking the golden age calls for a celebration of some sort. To celebrate this remarkable woman of virtues, I have decided to put this piece together to hitherto showcase the natural values many don’t really know about her. Working with Mrs. Amosun since January 2012 as one of her close aides has given me the vista of opportunities to know her better and appreciate her genuine passion to assist, support and empower the less-privileged and the needy in our society. Beyond her care for the good people of Ogun State, Mrs. Amosun has become a mother figure to many in government circle in the state, touching their lives with so much compassion outside their official duties. Personally, I was somehow agitated and disturbed over a domestic matter and I couldn’t sleep sometime in February 2013. In my state of restlessness, I picked up my Blackberry phone around 2am and began to fiddle with it: played music, changed my BB display picture, among others. Suddenly

Mrs. Amosun sent me a message to my phone, asking me why I was not sleeping at this time of the day? I was shocked to my bone marrow. I responded by saying I was trying to get some things sorted out. Dissatisfied, she probed me further: are you sure? And I said yes. I didn’t really want to bother her about my personal challenge. Another touchy encounter I had with Mrs. Amosun was on the 30th of May, 2013. I got a call from Lagos that my wife was in labour and had just been rushed to the hospital. I asked the caller about the condition of my wife, but he was not audible enough. I called my wife severally, no response. I called my mother-in-law, no answer. I became worried. I was glued to my phone, moving from one section to another, checking who else I could call. I stumbled on the number of our family doctor; called him but he didn’t pick up too. My worries increased. So I resigned to fate, hoping for the best. I went to my DP and I wrote: “It’s Well - I Believe, It Will End in Praise.”Immediately, the governor’s wife asked me: “What’s the problem?” Of course, I had no option than

to open up that my wife was in labour. She offered some prayers and encouraged me to be calm. About one hour after, I received a call that my wife had just delivered a bouncing baby girl and that my wife and the baby were in good condition. With so much elation, I sent message to the governor’s wife that my family had just been populated with a baby girl. She congratulated me and sent message to my wife. My takeaway: as a caring mother, Mrs. Amosun often feels strongly concerned about the welfare of people around her and she has successfully extended the same kind gesture to the good people of Ogun State. Mrs. Amosun’s dexterity and compassion to help others is second to none. I was at lost momentarily the very first day the governor’s wife said she would be climbing the Mountain Kilimanjaro in Tanzania for the sole aim of raising funds for the victims of the insurgencyin the North-East who are scattered across various Internally Displaced Person(IDP) camps in Nigeria. While I was still struggling to come to terms over her decisions, it dawned on me that, indeed, Mrs. Amosun has a strong-willed empathy spirit to always support the less-privileged. No wonder Mrs. Amosun has been using every single opportunity to call on individuals, corporate bodies and other interested parties to join her in lending a helping hand to the less-privileged. This, she often expresses with a Yoruba song: Eni k’eni ti iwo ba ni ipa, l’ati se iranlowo fun ooo, Oun na l’eni keji re, Toju re. This can be literarily translated thus: Endeavour to help the needy you can afford to assist, for such person is your brother or your sister. The reality today is that Mrs. Amosun is 50 and to this, I say: Congratulations and happy birthday. Happy 50th birthday to a mother, a mentor and a confidant. •Sowunmi, media aide to the wife of the Ogun State governor, can be reached via: idowusowunmi@gmail.com

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju | 08055001708 | lanresulaimon@yahoo.com | @lanresulaimon

analysis

entrepreneuership

markets

leadership & management

$60bn deal:

China’s interest is to develop Nigeria

One thing you should never forget is that we, the Chinese people, actually broke some people’s monopolised market.

—Chinese ambassador The first in a series of China-Africa relations conferences put together by Yale University through its Macmillan Center for International and Area studies took place at the Lagos Business School recently. It was themed “Africa-China Relations: Balance, Growth and a Sustainable Future.” During the conference, Ambassador Zhong Jianhua, China’s Special Representative on African Affairs, spoke to CHIMA NWOKOJI on a number of issues bothering on economic cooperation between China and Nigeria, as well as Africa in general.

ANY people want to know why China is so interested in such massive aid programmes in Africa. China’s interest is economic cooperation. By this cooperation, if the people improve their living standard on the African continent, their demand will increase. This demand will provide opportunity not only for China but also for the world. We did this to the world before. We provided a huge opportunity. We provided the world with the huge Chinese market. This is what we want to replicate in this continent. So, with this economic cooperation between China and Africa, we see the future demand of this continent increasing tremendously. We engage in this process by helping Africa to develop even faster and become greater. When this is achieved, they also reward us with greater opportunity and provide demand for our own products. That is what we call win-win.

Looking at this $60 billion, what are the biggest challenges Chinese government is having in achieving its set targets in Nigeria? I think the cooperation and bilateral relation is a good one. On the political front it is good. On the economic front, in terms of trade, the cooperation we get from Nigeria is also good. But the challenge is obvious. We set a pretty high target. For example, the Chinese government sets aside $60 billion to

be invested in Africa either through loans or investments into projects in three years time. At the official level it is a huge challenge. Everyone is talking about win-win cooperation. But what about the lose-win, win-lose or lose-lose? No one can guarantee results. That’s where the challenge lies. You can have a target, a purpose, but how to fulfill it is the task. It involves wisdom, determination and the spirit of courage from every one of us. A Chinese philosophy says, “If you think you can win and let the other party lose, you will lose eventually.” Of course if you lose and let the opponent win, that is also not the solution. If you run to win, you must let your partner also win. This is the only way you can help maintain longterm friendship and long-term relationship. We believe in long-term cooperation. This is Chinese philosophy. How do you respond to the allegation that China’s interest in Africa will lead to re-colonisation of Africans? First, we know that the history of human beings have been characterised by development and progress. Our ancestors may be stupid; I mean ancestors to all of us as human beings not only China. We did have colonial period in history. It was ugly, bloody and notorious. I think every human being should learn from that history. Colonialism will never lead us to the bright future that we desire. It may have benefited other continents but it caused a lot

of damage to this continent. It caused huge sacrifice on the other side too. The Chinese are not stupid. The best benefit for China, certainly, is not to colonize Africa. And after its hundreds of years of bloody history, this continent will never allow anybody to colonize it again. On both sides, we do not have that kind of opportunity to do that, even if both are stupid. Now, where is the best result for China? I still return to the earlier topic. The best result for China is let the African continent become truly developed. And this development will actually bring the whole world biggest opportunity, just like China offered to the world. We do not believe that the reforms that took place in China was as a result of colonialism. We offered to the world, the best opportunity. Most developed countries benefited hugely from Chinese investment. We want to have the story repeated in the African continent. Let people enjoy from the development. This has already been proved a success story. We have no reason to go back to the old history of colonisation and colonialism. That was stupid. One thing you should never forget is that we, the Chinese people, actually broke some people’s monopolised market. You do remember when those who bought oil monopolised the market and decided what the price of oil would be. They paid six pence per barrel. But when the Chinese came into this market, we certainly broke up this monopo-

lized system. We made the producing countries enjoy one hundred US dollar per barrel. The difference is that those who enjoyed six pence in history became angry. They were angry because the Chinese have put a stop to what they enjoyed before. Look at it on the other side. When you sold the oil for six pence per barrel, how much did you pay for imported suit? You pay five hundred dollars because the only supply is from Europe. How many barrels of oil did you have to export before you bought a suit in the past? Today, when you buy a Chinese-made suit, how much do you pay? Less than three dollars, the cheapest. Why do you complain about colonisation from China? It is because some people have been made very angry in the market place. I think we are doing something good for the people who sell oil. The plunging oil price is affecting many economies, but China seems to be managing the situation well. What lesson can Nigeria learn from China in overcoming the challenges of inflation, fallen revenue, insecurity and more? We have suffered the same problems Nigeria is suffering today. So we approach the problems based on our experience. When I was still a junior staff in the foreign ministry, inflation in China rose to about 80 per cent. You know what that means. People worked harder. Workers were organised to work for 24 hours a day. When you have the crisis, it also means you have opportunities there in. It is a time you are pushed to make positive changes. More so, when you have challenges and there are friends willing to help, you just know that such challenges can be overcome. Continues on pg18

Monday, 2 May, 2016 CBN Bills as at 29/4/2016

Inflation Rates (Per cent) 2016 Month

January

February

March

All Items (Year on Change)

9.62

11.38

12.77

All Items (12 Months Avg. Change) Food (Year on Change)/1 Food (12 Months Avg. Change)/1

9.13 10.64 10.02

9.39 11.35 10.18

9.75 12.74 10.47

8.84

11.04

12.17

All Items Less Farm Produce (12 Months Avg. Change)/2

8.39

8.73

9.13

All Items Less Farm Produce and Energy (Year on Change)/3

8.53

9.48

10.31

All Items Less Farm Produce and Energy (12 Months Avg. Change)/3

8.28

(12 Months Avg. Change)/3

7.40

All Items Less Farm Produce (Year on Change)/2

8.48 7.30

8.72 7.20

Date of Auction Security Type Tenor Maturing On 11/13/2003 2/20/2003 11/21/2002 9/19/2002 Amount Offered (N mn) Subscriptions (N mn) Tot. Successful (N mn) Net Sales (N mn) Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate True Yield

5/15/2003 CBN Certificate 204.7868 91 180 180 180 26.7127 82227 37767 17019

2/25/2002 CBN Certificate 205.4112 170.7672 1.4001 0.3028 240.1376 26.7946 15000 4161 4161

20.5

FGN Bonds

11/26/2001 CBN Certificate 206.0355 171.2862 1.4044 0.3128 240.8675 26.8765 5000 2740

9/24/2001 CBN Certificate

1155 1155

Government Securities

Date of Auction

4/13/2016

3/16/2016

Security Type

FGN Bonds

Tenor

5 Year

10 Year

20 Year

5 Year

Maturing On

2/13/2020

1/22/2026

3/18/2036

2/13/2020

1/22/2026

3/18/2036 2/13/2020

Amount Offered (N mn)

Subscriptions (N mn)

58.53

78.59

69.61

72.56

Tot. Successful (N mn)

20.00

40.00

20.00

Net Sales (N mn)

2740

20.5

Nigerian Tribune

19.5

Auction Date

4/29/2016

Security Type

OMO

Tenor

237

Auction No

29-04-2016 - 237 Day

Auction

OMO

Maturity Date

12/22/2016

Total Subscription

57358.64

Total Successful

46512.4

Range Bid

9.5000 - 10.5000

Successful Bid Rates

9.5000 - 9.5000

Description

Issue

Rate

9.5

True Yield

10.1245

Range of Bid Rates

10.0000 - 18.0000

11.0000 - 18.0000 8.0000 - 15.5400

Amount Offered (mn)

40000

Successful Bid Rates

10.0000 - 12.0000

10.0000 - 12.6000

11.0000 - 13.0800 8.0000 - 11.3340

Auction Date

9/3/2014

Marginal Rate

12.6

13.08

Security Type

NTB

Tenor

11.334

with Chima Nwokoji m:08032637535 e:chimatitus@yahoo.com

CBN’s total assets hit N15.463trn

HE total assets of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as at December 31, 2015 stood at N15.463 trillion, representing a 12.5 per cent increase from N13.741 trillion which it had as at December 2014, while total liabilities also rose by 12.9 per cent to N14.897 trillion as against N13.192 trillion. This was contained in the bank’s just released financials for the year ended December 31, 2015. The full year result of the apex bank posted on its website showed that net income grew from N33.6 billion in 2014 to N123.07 billion in

2015. CBN said its interest income had risen by 30.4 per cent in 2015 to N567.16 billion from N434.77 billion. Interest expense, however, grew slower, rising by 9.7 per cent to N434.96 billion, as operating expenses rose by 42.8 per cent from N433.14 billion in 2014 to N618.85 billion in 2015. According to the report,

gains on foreign exchange revaluation which represent foreign exchange differences arising on the translation of debt instruments denominated in foreign currencies that are included in external reserves rose by 116.6 per cent to N565.88 billion. It’s loans and receivables which includes Asset Man-

Mixed expectations as N150.6bn T-bills issuance knock-off maturity THERE are mixed expectations on the trend of money market rates this week, as the impact of a N150.6billion net Treasury-bills maturity on liquidity levels is expected to be off-set by a rollover of the same net amount. While most dealers expect money market rates to trend go up on expectation that the CBN will carry out more Open Market Operation (OMO) mop-ups, others expect rates to remain flat on net maturities. Nigeria plans to raise N150.60 billion ($760.61 million) from sales of Treasury bills with maturities ranging from three months to a year on May 5, the central bank said last week. The bank said it will raise N45.17 billion in 3-month bills, N23.43 billion in the 6-month paper and N82 billion in one-year debt. Dealers said yields rose significantly across the board at the April 20 auction, reflecting rising inflation, which rose to 12.8 per cent in March, from 11.4 per cent the previous month.

agement Company of Nigeria (AMCON) notes, Bank of Industry debentures, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk-Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) debenture as well as loans to banks on the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme (CACS) rose to N6.4 trillion at the end of 2015 from N5 trillion in 2014.

From left: Chef Raphael Duntoye; Chef Tiyan Alile and Mr Bolaji Lawal, Divisional Head e-Business, GTBank during the GTBank Food & Drink Fair press briefing held in Lagos.

Why most businesses default in loan obligations — GTBank MD THE Managing Director of Guaranty Trust Bank plc, Segun Agbaje, has said that most Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) do not pay back their loans because their businesses are not strong enough to carry the principal and interest rate. “We are committed to building the SMEs and this is the starting point. Most people tend to believe that the problem with SMEs is lack of financing but that is only one of the problems. There is something that starts before financing. The reason you cannot pay back your loan is because

your business is not strong enough,” he said. To this end, the bank is sponsoring the first GTBank Food & Drink Weekend fair scheduled for the 1st and 2nd of May, 2016. The 2-day event is designed to showcase Nigeria’s emerging food industry as well as offer a wide variety of cuisines, such that attendees will be able to taste their way around the world. “The way to make the businesses strong enough is to give them platforms to showcase themselves, to give them opportunities on how to grow there businesses. When they grow

their businesses they can then increase their revenues and pay back their loans,” the banks boss stated. He said the exhibitors are great entrepreneurs who qualify as small businesses, adding that they are people who are building businesses and creating wealth. “Without the SME sector, no economy develops,” he submitted at the pre-exhibition conference in Lagos. Agbaje said GTBank is incredibly excited to showcase the diverse culinary mosaic that Nigeria uniquely offers to the world as a prime destination for food enthusiasts from around the world.

Money Market Review Money market rates started last week lower than previous Friday’s closing rates, amid expectations of inflows mearnt to hit the system. Open Buy Back and Over Night rates dropped 1.0per cent and 0.9 per cent to settle at 3.5 per cent and 4.1 per cent at the end of last Monday’s trading session. OBB and O/N rates dropped further to 3.0 per cent and 3.3 per cent on Tuesday on the back of the inflow from refunds of unfulfilled bids of Deposit Money Banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). Investment Banking and Security Company, Afrinvest West Africa Limited observed that OBB and O/N rates however trended upwards to 3.3 per cent and 3.8 per cent respectively on Wednesday as a result of the CBN’s mopping up of N56.0billion from the financial system via an Open Market Operation (OMO) auction. On Thursday, as expected, there was an OMO maturity of N96.4 billion, OBB and O/N remained at Wednesday’s rates notwithstanding as the CBN also mopped up N49.2 billion in OMO auction. OBB and ON settled at 3.1 per cent and 3.7 per cent on Friday, down 1.4 per cent and 1.3 per cent respectively Week on Week (W-o-W). In the Treasury bills (T-bills) market, average rates trended similar to OBB and O/N rates. Average T-bills rate opened the week at 7.9 per cent (from 8.6 per cent of previous Friday), dropping to 7.8 per cent on Tuesday on the back of increased buying interest. By the end of Wednesday’s trading session, average T-bills rate rose 0.1per cent to 7.9 per cent on the back of the OMO auction floated by the CBN. Average rate rose even further to 8.0 per cent by Thursday as the CBN mopped up another N49.2 billion from the system. Average T-bills rate eventually closed the week at 8.2 per cent down 0.4 per cent W-o-W. Foreign Exchange Market The foreign exchange market was relatively stable at all segments throughout April. The CBN’s official exchange rate remained at N197.00/$1.00 whilst Naira traded between N320.00-N323.00/$1.00 at the Bureau-DeChange and N321.00-N324.00/$1.00 at the parallel market during the month. Similar to March, the Central Bank remained unable to adequately meet dollar demands in April. Current Gross foreign reserves level is at $27.14billion from $27.85billion at the start of the month. Last week, naira traded at the CBN and Interbank at N197.00/$1.00 and N199.10/$1.00 respectively. At the Bureau-De-change segment of the market, naira traded at N320.00/$1.00 all week whilst naira traded at N322.00/$1.00 all week at the parallel market save for Wednesday and Thursday when it firmed up to N321.00/$1.00. Amidst devaluation uncertainties and shortages of foreign exchange (FX), most foreign investors remain cautious about entering the Nigerian market whilst currency and reinvestment risks linger. The figures on the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE’s) Domestic & Foreign Portfolio report released in March showed that Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPI) outflows reached N58.2 billion in January and February surpassed inflows (N27.95 billion) by 108.2 per cent. The reservations foreign investors hold at the moment is likely to persist until there is a clear market friendly shift in FX policy direction by the monetary regulatory authority.

moneymarket

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Diamond Bank posts N7bn profit in Q1 Stories By Chima Nwokoji - Lagos

ESPITE difficult operating business environment that slowed industry average performance, Diamond Bank has sustained growth in the top lines in its first quarter unaudited financial statement for business activities ended Thursday, March 31, 2016. The result of the bank’s three months business operations presented to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and released to media executives in Lagos, show that Diamond Bank posted Profit Before Tax (PBT) of N6.7 billion, averaging monthly PBT of N2.3 billion. By this, the bank has scaled industry expectations and meeting the minimum target for its shareholders for the period under review. The bank displayed strong will to continue to reduce operating costs and interest expense, which shrunk by 2.8 per cent and 10.3 per cent respectively compared to Q1 2015. Speaking from the bank’s Corporate Head Office in Lagos, the Chief Executive Officer, Uzoma Dozie, stated that the bank’s continued success in spite of regulatory headwinds, is hinged on implementing strategies that promote sustainable growth and profitability in the long term. “Although the economic challenges witnessed in 2015 did not abate in the first quarter of 2016, our streams of income remained resilient and considerable growth was recorded in

non-interest revenue, which provides comfort about the sustainability of planned growth from this stream”. According to him, the Q1 of 2016 was marked by persisting difficulties in the wider economy that continue to

have an impact on the banking sector, pointing that Diamond Bank has continued a diligent implementation of its focus on curtailing cost, resulting in a 2.8per cent reduction of operating costs when compared to the same

period last year. “Our projections of the macro conditions and other external factors for the rest of the year is that these will remain challenging, and it has led to higher impairment charges than for the

same period in 2015. This very conservative approach to managing our loan book assures of its quality in the long run and in general should deliver the numbers that are consistent with our long term plans.”

From left: Adewale Akinrinde, Group Head, Propositions and Products, Sterling Bank Plc; Stella Daminabo, Managing Director Perfume World Limited; Emmanuel Emefienim, Business Executive, South South and South East, Sterling Bank Plc and Olugbolahan Mark George, Lead Consultant, Mark George Consultant at the MSME Academy organised in Port Harcourt.

Fidelity Bank empowers 300 Nigerian youths with entrepreneurial skills DETERMINED to eradicate the scourge of unemployment currently ravaging the country, Fidelity Bank Plc, one of the nation’s highly diversified lender, in strategic partnership with Gazelle Academy and the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), has empowered 300 Nigerian youths with top-of-the-line entrepreneurial skills. The programme, which is

part of the Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, is targeted at creating a new breed of entrepreneurs amongst Nigeria’s boisterous youth population. Speaking at the launch of the 5-day youth empowerment programme held at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nnamdi Okonkwo, the Bank’s Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer,

said the programme seeks to empower the university community by creating thriving business owners amongst students. Reiterating the lender’s commitment to continually equip Nigerian youths with requisite skills needed to make them self-reliant, Okonkwo declared that Nigerian youths have been denied opportunities to develop in diverse realms of

human endeavours. “In a national survey jointly sponsored by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Education Trust Fund (ETF), about 61 percent of 20 organisations rated graduates poor in skills needed in the work environment such as literacy, entrepreneurship, analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills”, he explained.

Nigerian Tribune

Skye Bank tasks SMEs on strong control, financial discipline SKYE Bank Plc has advised small and medium enterprise operators in the country to put in place effective and strong internal contrlol measures as a critical success factor. Head, Small Business Group of the Bank, Mrs. Ayodele Olojede, gave the advice in Benin City at the weekend during the Bank’s on-going Pan-Nigeria SME seminar organised to help small business owners overcome the usual problems confronting them. According to Olojede, through effective controls and financial discipline, SMEs have a good chance of growing and become major employers of labour and the engine of growth and developoment. She said Skye Bank took the intiative to educate and empower SME operators with knowledge and skills to ensure they run their businesses efficiently and effectively to guarantee business survival and continuity. The special guest at the seminar who is also the Managing Director of Omega Foods and Restaurant, Benin, Mr. Alex Otuya, stressed the importance of training, innovation, good record keeping as critical success factors for business. Otuya said SME owners should personally supervise their businesses to promote a culture of excellence as well as pay emphasis on quality of their products and services.

Africa shouldn’t import cement —Chinese Ambassador Continued from pg16

Our Gross Domestic Product growth reduced from 12 per cent to 10, 8 and then 7 per cent. Cost of labour increased. This is a challenge. This also is the time for leaders to come together and prioritize which sector to be addressed first: energy, agriculture, industrialization or even trade. How can we facilitate people to people exchange? It is good that Nigeria is adopting visa-free policy for the Chinese. Then, the pressure is on our side to reciprocate. We are working out modalities on how to make Nigerians come to China easily. All these are quite important. There is a growing need for capital in Africa. Where is the capital? It is in the hands of Chinese business men. But are they willing to come to Africa? No. Most of them see Africa as a huge kind of mysterious, sometimes terrible place. Other foreign and even Chinese press always tells negative stories about Africa. They always want to have sensational angles. My job is to change that impression in China. But we need both sides to work together. Have your efforts yielded desired results? You know it takes a long time to change people’s impression about things. I can change the people I talk to in the schools, but it will take years to change 1.3 billion people. If I use all my life for that, it is not enough. Of course, I give lectures to professors, to other scholars and even our media but that is not enough. I want them to come down to Africa and see things for themselves. I used to tell Nigerians who do business in China that if you can take one of your friends in China to Nigeria, it is a huge contribution because most of the Chinese business men do not see Nige-

ria as a friendly place. They can treat their friends from Nigeria very well in Beijing, and other big cities in China. But if you can bring him here, make him change his impression about Nigeria, then this is a huge contribution. The Central Bank of Nigeria stopped importers of certain items from accessing foreign exchange from the official window. Some of the affected items are made in China. Is there any plan by some Chinese industrialists to come to Nigeria and build factories that will produce such items? The most ridiculous thing is that they even ship cement from China to Africa. By doing so, they waste 40 per cent of the product on the sea because the wet atmosphere make the cement unusable. But they still make huge profit shipping it to Africa. The price of cement there is so low that even when 40 per cent is wasted in transit, the exporters still make profit selling them in Africa. So I ask them, why didn’t you set up a factory in Africa? They said the demand is too low, such that when we start to produce the huge quantity that we produce in China, the supply will be bigger than the market. But I can tell you today that in Africa, there are so many projects going on that have made it profitable to set up cement factories in Africa. The cement price is already there. The market is unstoppable. It is better to set up a factory where the market is, because you can change and meet the demand from time to time and also, you save the cost of transportation. That was what happened in China several years ago. That is going to happen in Nigeria, in Africa, in the nearest future.

What advice do you have for a country like Nigeria on how to make optimum use of her youth population? When I was younger, I was sent to work in a village in China from 1968 to 1973. At that time, that place was over-populated because of improved healthcare system. We cut the infant mortality rate to low levels. Children stopped dying. Suddenly, we started facing challenges of over-population because the land did not increase. Village by village, all the lands were used up without any vacancy for decades. That was a huge crisis that we had, just like you are having now. You have people sitting idle because there is no job opportunity for them to take. We then started reforms that increased demand and opportunities. We opened the door for capital to come in because we were poor at that time. We allowed all the foreign capitals come and this caused huge debate in China. Even the Japanese who had engaged China in war in the 1940s started coming in. When the Japanese investments started coming into China we were happy but the debate raged on until the leaders intervened and said, “let us give them a chance”. If we see that it is not good for us, we will stop them, but if it is good for us, we will allow them. So, you know the result of all these today in China. When you want to change from your old style of life, it is always controversial. People will always try to resist this kind of change. They feel unsecured and a little bit disturbed. But when the change brings a better life, it is irresistible. Reform and development is never easy. Sometimes, it is pretty hard. But the result is better life for people.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

MANAGEMENT

GROUPBUSINESSEDITORSULAIMONOLANREWAJU|08055001708|LANRESULAIMON@YAHOO.COM|@LANRESULAIMON

The leader and his strategy E

VERY great company runs on a vision. This is the compass that guides the organization into its desired destination. The vision encapsulates the aspiration of the organization; where it wants to be and what it wants to become. Without a compelling vision, a company cannot record sustained success. However, while visions create the future of an organization in the imaginations of PAGE 20 all concerned, it is strategy that actually

drives the organization to the envisioned future. Strategy is the bridge between a company’s present and its future. Without an appropriate strategy, a company’s envisioned future will remain a mirage. It is for this reason that Gerry Johnson and Kevan Scholes, in their book, Exploring Corporate Strategy, submit that it is strategy which determines the direction and scope of an organization over the long term. Continues on pg20

INSIDE

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

Phillips Oduoza, UBA MD

PAGE 20

Leaders’

forum PAGE 21

The 60-second

business coach PAGE 20

Monday, 2 May, 2016

MANAGEMENT Between offensive and defensive strategies Continues from pg19

Strategy is vital to the actualization of corporate objectives because it bridges the gap between means and end. Strategy involves the deployment of resources at the disposal of an organization for the actualization of corporate goals. According to Michael Porter, a Harvard Business School professor, strategy should determine how organizational resources, skills and competencies are combined to create competitive advantage. That is why many have argued that any corporate failure is traceable to failure of strategy. Those of this school of thought insist that when a company goes down it is because it has employed the wrong strategy; if the strategy is inappropriate, the result will be unsatisfying. Strategy types

In broad terms, strategy can be categorized into two; defensive and offensive. Offensive Strategy Some companies are driven by the urge to take hold of the whole of their space. They are always looking for new grounds to cover, new products to launch and new territory to extend to. Their hunger for conquest is insatiable. They grow from town to town, region to region, country to country and continent to continent in their bid to increase their market share. Some companies that deploy this strategy also introduce new products always to meet the realities of the times and take care of emerging markets. Apart from constant market expansion, an organization on the of-

fensive never sits calmly and allows another company to take any slice of its market share without fighting back. Usually, they pre-empt competition or move against competition to enhance their market position. The Coca-Cola Strategy Coca-Cola has various products that cater for different segments of the market. Apart from its flagship, Coke, it produces Fanta, Sprite, Bitter Lemon and other carbonated drinks. What this has done is that it has positioned the company as a preference of the market because there is something for every consumer from its range and this increases its profitability. For instance, according to Euromonitor International, Coca-Cola Company has 52.5 per cent share of China’s

TOPE POPOOLA is a Human Capital developement Consultant and Pastor. Please feel free to send questions, feedback comments on this column to

topheritage@yahoo.com or visit http//turbochargedforsuccess.blogspot.com

Innovate or... (III)

THE recent murderous rampage of Fulani herdsmen in various parts of the nation is getting worrisome. Ravaging people’s farms because you want to feed your cows is bad enough. But going ahead to kill and devastate their communities because they dare to protest is the height of impunity. We must begin to rethink and innovate in every area of our collective experience. The nomadic culture of rearing cattle is anachronistic and should be done away with. Those who want to rear cattle should be willing to acquire land from their host community and restrict themselves to that territory without visiting pain on others in such an unfeeling way as we have seen in our recent history. Yours truly recently lost TWO hectares of farmland to the activities of these guys. A huge investment gone down the drain. Until the government does something concrete about this, all the appeal and hype about people embracing agriculture would simply be what Weird MC calls “lyrics l’ori gangan” or expression without substance! This is aside of the genocidal potentials in the situation if left unchecked quickly! Instead of joining the song of lamentations in the air about power, can our scientists begin to think about how to make cheaper solar panels and batteries? I am not particularly excited about the President’s recent visit to China. Wonder why? We only temporarily bought ourselves some time. We have just shifted dependency and

diverted our addiction to quick fixes towards another direction. It is akin to the strategy of modern medicine in getting people off hard drugs. The approach begins with taking the patient off addiction to one substance and simply transferring him to another level of dependence by giving him a drug called Methadone, which in itself can in time become addictive. You do not cure dependency on one thing by simply transferring it to another thing without dealing with the mindset that produced the dysfunctionality in the first place. It is a quick-fix solution that has no capacity for sustainability. In a short while after exiting the rehabilitation program of modern hospitals, in about 90 per cent of cases, the patients go back to drugs, usually worse than they were before entering a rehabilitation program. It has been established empirically that the best rehabilitation program is that which allows the patient to go “cold turkey”. What that entails is that the patient is first detoxified by making the effect of the drugs exit his body through deprivation and plenty of fluids to flush it out of his system. That period for the patient can involve excruciating pain and several nightmarish experiences involving what is called the withdrawal syndrome. Unless the agreements signed in China help us to develop local enterprise like the Chinese did at a point in their history, we just shifted colonial allegiance to feed our monstrous dysfunctionalities.

Now, I am afraid we will see a rise in counterfeit products and none of our regulatory agencies as presently constituted will be able to have control over the deluge. Every economy that ever developed passed through a time of pressure that forced it to look inwards. We need fuel and we need power. But can we look inwards and have a homegrown fix? Ten years ago, America bought our oil as if its very breath depended on it. The price went up because it was a sellers’ market. Then they started thinking of how to cut away from our umbilical cord. They began to think alternative energy. Then they decided to explore further into their own soil. They discovered shale oil and for a long time, made it the world’s best kept secret. Until now. Now they have showed that they do not need us. Their economy no longer needs our oil. So we go around looking for new buyers who still tell us how much they are willing to pay. In our desperation, we cannot say ‘No’ to whatever they offer! Status quo thinks from the known to the unknown. Innovative thinking begins from the unknown to the known. Only those with an innate visionary capacity to see the invisible and touch the intangible can attempt and do the impossible. Status quo thinkers always desire a perpetuation of rote. They get agitated when anything rocks their comfort zone. Innovative thinkers on the other hand constantly see comfort as the cemetery of potential.

carbonated drinks market. But the flagship, Coke, is only responsible for 22.2 per cent while Sprite gives the company 23.4 per cent. It is instructive to note that Pepsi beats Coke in that market. Pepsi’s market share is 23 per cent, while Coke’s is 22.2 per cent. But consequent upon its strategy of widening the options it offers the market, Coca-Cola is still able to have an edge. For over 13 years, Coca-Cola was not just the best carbonated drink in the world, controlling over 50 per cent share of the global market, it was also the best brand globally. It was able to achieve this feat because of its offensive strategy. Coca-Cola operates in over 200 coun- Femi Otedola, tries, spending millions of dollars commu- Chairman, nicating its values to the markets. With its Forte Oil constant investments in these countries, the American company has been able to beat local companies even in their own strongholds. T h i s turned out to be helpful when s a l e s slowed d o w n in the United States of America and Europe as Kamar Abass, sales from Chief Executive Peter Amangbo, o t h e r Officer, Ntel Zenith Bank MD parts of the world shored up the fortunes of the company. Peak Milk’s answer to competition For decades, West Africa Milk Company Nig. Plc, makers of Peak Milk, restricted itself to rolling out its tinned product and was still able to retain its leadership of the market. This was when competition was limited. However, when very cheap products started flooding the market, the company did not opt for lowering the quality of its product but decided to introduce a lowend brand into the market. That was how Three Crowns came up. This product was able to cater for the need of the middle and lower strata of the market. With that strategy, the company did not

vading all segments of the market, not willing to cede any part of its share to competition. Multichoice Vs StarTimes

Multichoice’s success as a pay television service provider in Nigeria must have served as an impetus to Star Times, which introduced a cheaper variant of the service. However, knowing that the new company would take some of its customers Dr Oba Otudeko, Chairman, Honeywell Group and in order not to allow the company full control of that segment of the market, Multichoice came up with GoTv, which is just like StarTimes. So, while Multichoice is in absolute control of the high end of the market, GoTv struggles with StarTimes for the low end subscribers.

fold its arms and allowed cheaper products from outside the shores of the country to erode its market share. It reacted creatively and was able to take the battle to the gates of competition. Similarly, following the introduction of powdered milk in sachets, the company upped its game by introducing evaporated milk in sachet. This product is as affordable as the powdered milk sachet. With that WAMCO did not just try to copy competition, it beat competition at its game. With all of these, rather than being on the defensive, WAMCO has been on the offensive, in-

NB Plc Vs Guinness Guinness Nig Plc’s flagship is the Guinness Stout. For many years, the product was the only one in that category, having absolute control of the market. To have a share of the market, Nigerian Breweries introduced Legend Stout. Although Legend has not been able to shove Guinness Stout to the back, it has keenly contested the space with the brand. This has ignited a serious rivalry between the two companies as Guinness retaliated by also coming up with Satzenbrau Lager Beer as an alternative to NB’s Gulder Lager Beer. The competition between the two has been serious with neither ready to yield its ground. The two companies are on the offensive, neither is ready to sit back and watch its market share sliced off by competition. Defensive Strategy

A company that deploys defensive strategy does all within its power to discourage encroachment into its market or territory. This strategy is concerned more about holding on to its share of the market than increasing same. A company with this strategy is not driven by any empire-building desire. The best it wants is to hold firmly to its share of the market. Nigerian textile industry deployed defensive strategy and ended up buckled to its knees. Between the 1960s and 1980s, the textile industry contributed greatly to the nation’s economy and was a major employer of labour. However, as a consequence of the recession of the 1980s, the Nigerian market was flooded with cheap imported ma-

terials. The response of the industry to this invasion was to throw up its arms in lamentation, calling on the government to come to its rescue. The industry never changed its strategy as it kept doing the same thing and continued to get the same result. Instead of deploying strategies that would increase its market share, it kept retreating until there was no more space for further retreat. It got more enfeebled as the imported clothing materials continued to have better foothold in the country until the local industry began to grasp for breath. Twenty years after, the industry has yet to get over the effect of the wrong strategy deployed. Between offensive and defensive strategies

It has been established that defensive strategy is a defective one because it leaves a company that deploys it with limited options and choices as it calmly waits for invasion. Every war general that is worth the title knows that it is not in his interest or the state he represents to allow war in his territory. Deploying defensive strategy is akin to waiting for the enemy to attack before thinking of what to do. The incontestable fact is that new entrants are always attracted to any thriving industry. The onus is on the players in that industry to continually look for new grounds to retain their market shares. To deploy a defensive strategy is to play not to lose while deploying offensive strategy is playing to win.

Leadership is not about you!

A leader’s responsibility is to help their organization and the people they serve to grow and prosper – this is how a leader earns serendipity. Successful leadership is the ability to create and sustain enough momentum to assure that the marketplace and competitors do not pass you by. This requires leaders to prepare for the future, while equally staying on point with the present. The constant distraction in our daily work lives makes it difficult for leaders to do both; yet with solid preparation what seems impossible becomes highly probable. Preparation is the key to evolution and the enabler to avoid substitution in its stead. When leaders fail, it is highly attributable to their lack of preparation. When an opportunity is missed, it is often because leaders did not prepare themselves or their employees well enough to see and seize it. Preparation demands accountability and is an individual responsibility with so many interdependent factors. Every leader sees through a different lens – therefore they should know what the short and long term preparation demands are for their employees and the business to be successful. But if a leader falls short in their ability to prepare rightly – with proper timing and depth – the negative implications on the business will become quickly apparent.

According to Webster’s dictionary, preparation is defined as “the activity or process of making something ready or of becoming ready for something.” Simply put, preparation is about being proactive to deliver on a responsibility you are accountable for. As a leader, you can never stop being accountable to others and yourself. In other words, when you miss a deadline, lose attention to detail, fail to ask the right questions, etc. – these are moments when you stop being accountable and inefficiencies begin to rise to the surface. Leadership is not about you – it is about others. Being prepared for the unexpected is what you are ultimately being held accountable for as a leader. Do not let the unexpected stop you, but continually think and move forward. Leaders must move and think quickly, but they must also take time to pause and pay closer attention to their employees. As a leader, you cannot prepare yourself to lead more effectively if you do not know what is really happening with your employees, their state of mind, their required resources and the support they need to experience success and fulfillment in their work. As a leader, you must broaden your observation of the things that are happening around you. You cannot keep moving forward if the things you are

leaving behind are dysfunctional and broken. Many times employees will not tell you if they need additional support, more tools, better resources and/or assistance with an internal employee or external client relationship. Do not wait, activate yourself by rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty to see what is really going on – so you can help others better prepare before circumstances force their hand. Instead of putting a Band-Aid on the matter at hand, or enforcing your authority to demand a quick-fix, be a better leader that is more aware of your employees’ needs and prepares for them more effectively. The demands of the marketplace require that you evolve as a leader. Evolution is impossible without better preparation. As a leader, you must constantly invest in your own skillsets and capabilities so that you can improve your approach to problemsolving and avoid the unnecessary ones all together. Leaders need to be better decisionmakers, instead of using their authority to organize exhausting, long drawn-out and meaningless meetings with their teams to do the job for them. Great leaders learn how to use their strengths to better prepare themselves for how to solve problems proactively and most efficiently.

Use your brain Machines and technology can be more efficient than people at some tasks, but their ability to internalize information and use it productively is extremely limited. Consider your education and training as capital— and never stop learning. Stay up to date in your field, and make sure your employees always have opportunities for further training—incentivize it, if pos-

sible.

Provide feedback When people go to the hospital for transplants, the hospital hooks them up to machines that monitor vital functions throughout the process and after. Without feedback, doctors might not know if something was going wrong. Feedback is necessary to maintain health throughout any major transition, including the digital transformation of business.

THE 60-SECOND business coach

Leadership traits for digital transformation By Daniel Newman Every successful business in today’s market is undergoing some degree of digital transformation. With the advancing pace of technology, no business will remain unchanged. Mobile platforms and increased connectivity are quickly altering long-standing business structures and changing roles and responsibilities.

Begging the question, are you transforming along with your industry? If not, you risk being left behind.

Think mindset, not skill set The new business mantra is “hire people, not skills.” Smart, flexible people can always learn new skills, but people with a narrow skill set may not be able to adapt to new circumstances. As the wave of digital trans-

formation washes over your industry, the skill-sets of the past will quickly be carried away. The most important thing in a business environment where new technological developments are the norm is having the adaptability and willingness to learn new tasks and take on new roles. Those who have built their careers on skill sets will be crushed by the waves.

Ignore your job title In the age of digital transformation, “That’s not my job” may be the worst possible response, assuring your place as a market casualty. With new technologies, roles and responsibilities will continue to change. A title may nail your position, but excluding other responsibilities because of it will also be a nail in your career’s coffin.

Take initiative As your organization changes, the people who show initiative will rise to the top. The people who wait for the organization to tell them what to do will fall to the bottom and eventually be left behind. This is a classic example of proactive vs. reactive thinking.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

African exchanges collaborate on raising liquidity THE decline in commodity prices, geopolitical tensions, lower Chinese growth and the relative weakening of local currencies in Africa resulted in slower growth across a number of economies in 2015. This was mirrored by the performance of benchmark indices of many African exchanges, with all almost closing the year on a negative note. Despite the challenging

operating environment in 2015, many countries in sub -Saharan Africa are expected to see a gradual pickup in growth in 2016. These were the words of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange and the President of African Securities Exchanges Association, Oscar Onyema, while declaring open the fifth Building African Financial Markets (BAFM) seminar

held for the first time outside South Africa at the Nigerian Stock Exchange. As the capital market has been a viable means of economic growth via funding, the BAFM seminar was designed to promote growth in African financial markets with the theme ‘Addressing Liquidity Concerns in African Capital Markets’. According to Onyeama, liquidity is the key success

factor to positioning African capital markets for economy liberation. He noted that with Sub-regional integration efforts such as WACMI in West Africa, CoSSE in Southern Africa, and EAC in East Africa are important initiatives that have the potential to unlock demand among issuers and boost liquidity. The African Exchanges Linkage Project (AELP) which is a jointly

owned mandate between ASEA and the Africa Development Bank (AfDB) is also aimed at addressing the lack of liquidity in African capital markets. Despite the fact that African capital markets are instrumental in financing the continent’s infrastructure and capital requirements, but many African stock markets as you know are characterised by a lack of liquidity.

From left: Non-Executive Director, Ladi Balogun; Chairman, Mr Jonathan Long; Company Secretary, Mrs Olufunmilayo Adedibu; Founder, Otunba Subomi BaloWgun and Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Director, Mr Peter Obaseki, during the third FCMB Group Plc’s Annual General Meeting, held in Lagos on Friday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Stanbic IBTC Stockbrokers launch e-trading platform

FCMB approves N1.98bn dividend •Assures enhanced performance Stories by Kehinde AkinseindeJayeoba - Lagos

CMB Group Plc, the holding company of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) Limited, FCMB Capital Markets Limited, CSL Stockbrokers Limited and CSL Trustees Limited, has said it is on a stronger pedestal and committed to the provision of superior performance that would add significant value to stakeholders in a sustainable manner in spite of the challenging macroeconomic and regulatory environments. The assurance was given at the third Annual General Meeting (AGM) of FCMB Group Plc in

Lagos where, shareholders unanimously approved the payment of a cash dividend of N1.98billion, translating to 10 kobo per ordinary share, for the year ended 31 December, 2015. Speaking at the AGM, the Chairman of FCMB Group, Dr Jonathan Long, said “although 2015 posed many challenges for the Group, it was again possible for us to continue the development of our core banking franchise and to do so profitably. “With the depth and range of professional excellence among our staff, and benefitting from our strong Board and Committee structure, the Group will deal

Nigerian Tribune

successfully with the challenges of 2016 and continue to lay a path for future growth and prosperity in a sustainable manner.” The Managing Director of FCMB Group Plc, Mr Peter Obaseki, noted that the Group is focused on sustaining the momentum of its leading retail presence He added that, “the outlook for 2016 in terms of portfolio strategy is positive’’. As we seek to build more businesses in the retail space, we hope to fully launch a micro-finance business as a full subsidiary of the Group and seek opportunities to improve controlling participation in the pension fund industry; we expect our non-pension asset management and private trust-

eeship business to grow more steadily. A combination of these initiatives will reduce the pressure on the bank’s balance sheet and steer activities to less capital intensive businesses.” Also speaking, the Group Managing Director/Chief Executive of First City Monument Bank Limited, the flagship firm of the Group establishment, Mr Ladi Balogun, pointed out that the Bank has moved swiftly and decisively to address the challenges that affected its financial results last year. “In the fourth quarter of 2015, we began to see early promising signs from the actions we have taken so far to reset the business and restore our growth,” he said.

STANBIC IBTC Stockbrokers Limited, has launched an online stockbroking service on The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) with real-time processing capacity. The Stanbic IBTC E-Trade provides investors with real-time market information as well as enabling them give real-time mandates to buy or sell shares on the Exchange. Among its uptakes, the platform is expected to help the market regain the confidence of investors by availing them of insight required to act prudently on new investment opportunities in the marketplace via a secure and robust technologically-driven platform. Chief Executive, Stanbic IBTC Holdings PLC, Sola David-Borha, said the Group is committed to helping deepen the Nigerian capital market by making available to the investing public information, initiatives and strategies that could help them have superior information about developments in both the local and global markets. She stated, “In introducing the new platform, the overarching goal is to identify both opportunities and threats in the global marketplace, which is made available to investors in real-time to enable them respond as quickly as possible.”

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 2 May, 2016

WITHRUTHOLUROUNBIM:08116954637E:RUTH.OLUROUNBI@TRIBUNEONLINENG.COMT:@OLUROUNBI

NYPF unveils Tuface, Linus as entrepreneur ambassadors By Victor Ogunyinka

NTERNATIONAL music sensation, Tuface Idibia, and popular movie actress and producer, Stephanie Okereke- Linus, have been unveiled as ambassadors of Nigerian Young Professionals Forum (NYPF) in their fight to grow more indigenous entrepreneurs and encourage the culture of self-reliance among young Nigerians. As part of their commitment to the NYPF, the newly signed brand ambassadors will participate in NYPF events that connect entrepreneurs at home and abroad, lend their voices to projects that stimulate a start-up culture in Nigeria and also harness their own ideas and experiences to NYPF goal, which is to develop the next generation of entrepreneurs through easy access to capital for innovative ideas and education. Speaking during the signing ceremony in Lagos, Nigeria, Chairman NYPF, Moses Siasia said the multiple award winning stars were selected by NYPF to champion its cause because they possess unique idea on how to develop entrepreneurs in the country. “As you know Tuface is one of Africa’s finest artists while Stephanie has featured and produced movies that have been shown all over the world and her passion for the girl child. These two young individuals have created jobs for Nigerians and we believe that as ambassadors, they can use their experience to inspire other bright Nigerians to achieve their educational goals or become self-employed on a sustainable basis.” NYPF had in March 2016, launched the first of its kind N500 million seed funds for members in partnership with Heritage Bank. The fund, which is called the Young Entrepreneurs and Students Grants (YESGrant), is provided by successful members of NYPF with development partners and disbursed by Heritage Bank Limited is available through the grants online application system www. yesgrant.com. The grant is available to both men and women with innovative ideas under the ages of 40, even though preference will be given to women as a means to challenge the inequalities that still exist for girls and women worldwide. According to Siasia, “when we empower our women, everyone benefits because women use their success for social good and causes and tend to invest more in their communities.”

Stephanie Okereke- Linus

What business owners need to attract funds

— Ajayi, ALF Director

Otali on how indigenous app Heritage Bank will revolutionise provides cost-saving Nigerians’ social product for SMEs experience PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

What business owners need to attract funds — Ajayi, ALF Director

Dr Olubunmi Ajayi is the Executive Director of African Leadership Forum (ALF). He spoke to PAUL OMOROGBE on how ALF is leading the charge in a silent economic revolution sweeping through the South-West via the Central Bank of Nigeria Entrepreneurship Development Centre (CBN-EDC), Ibadan that has through free trainings and support, created hundreds of entrepreneurs in a short space of time.

HAT is the African Leadership Forum’s involvement with the EDC and what are the goals of its involvement? The African Leadership Forum (ALF) was created about 28 years ago, by General OlusegunObasanjo after he left office in 1978. He discovered that African Leaders had very weak capacity to lead; there were development challenges they were facing; so he decided to create a forum where leaders’ capacities can be built at all levels, both in the private and public sector, for young and old, and in business and academic circles. It is a capacity development and leadership development organizationthat deals with advocacy and training and research all put together.And this we have done successfully for 28 years. When it comes to entrepreneurship, the ALF was the first organisation in the 1990s that started what is known as Junior Business Seminar where we went to universities to train final year students to show them that blue collar jobs can be an alternative to white collar jobs, so that after training they too could set up businesses. So we have behind us very many years of involvement in private sector development and small enterprises, dealing with young people over these years. In 2007, the CBN foresaw what could happen ahead, looking at the example of the Asian Tigers and decided to focus on small, medium enterprises development by creating this entrepreneurship development centre to begin to train people and build up their capacity. Why didn’t they run it by themselves? This project is constructed within the PPP- public-private partnership- framework. For us to drive development, government and private sector need to come together to do this. This is being done in the area of infrastructure development now. It is the same template CBN has used to do this programme. ‘We don’t have expertise to build people’s capacity in the area of enterprise development. There are organizations all over the country that can do this,’ they said. And so ALF bided for that project and became the implementation agency for the South-West. They provided the resources, we provide the expertise and manpower to be able to drive this and we

have been able to achieve great results as a result of this approach. Can you tell us some of those results that you have been able to achieve? The first phase of this project took place between 2008 and 2013. During that period we trained 18,000 people across the six states of the South-West. We were able to counsel over 19,000 people on business development. We trained more women: this has some historical background because of our involvement with the Lagos State Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Ministry. About 715 of our trainees were able to access loans of about N200million from various financial institutions, individuals and organisations. We created about 2,723 jobs, 817 existing enterprises were expanded because of their involvement with EDC, while 222 new businesses sprung up during this time. We also provided business development advisory services to people and monitored them,and we were able to produce close to 5,500 business plans. So through our involvement, a national platform for job creation has been developed by the ALF. Under the current dispensation which is the second phase of this project, a new template is being used. In the previous template, it

About 715 of our trainees were able to access loans of about N200million from various financial institutions, individuals and organisations.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

...Pioneer,entrepreneuriship,SMEsreportinginNigerianmedia was a bipartite relationship between the ALF and the CBN. But after the evaluation of the first phase, the CBN thought there was a need to bring the state governments to be involved with the EDC in each of the geopolitical zones. So, states were asked to bid for hosting rights so that it could be a tripartite arrangement between the CBN, the host state and the implementation agency, which is the ALF (for the South-West). That is why we are here in Ibadan – Oyo State won the hosting rights and they have been very good hosts. We started March last year, and as at February this year, we have been able to train more that 1,436 people. Some of them graduated in February. About 200 new jobs have been created and new enterprises are springing up. There is a new development that we did not enjoy in the first phase: the reason we could not create a lot of jobs and enterprises was because there was no intervention fund. Now, we have the CBN-MSME Intervention Fund which allows each of the states of the federation to plug into N2 billion for the small businesses in their states. Oyo State has done that, and in the magnanimity of the state Governor AbiolaAjimobi, he allocated N120 million for the state indigenes who have been trained here. So those ones are now accessing these funds and they are now creating new jobs. Ogun State has also approached us, because we have a zonal technical committee that has representatives of the state governors in it, such that anyone we have trained in this centre who are indigenes of Ogun State or who has business in Ogun State will be funded from the fund they created with BOI. Osun, Ekiti and Lagos States are coming on board to find a way to facilitate access to the funds. So this is one unique thing we are doing now that is different from what we did before. On the issue of business capital Funding is not actually the issue. It is about ideas, creativity and innovation. One of the things we teach in this centre is to be innovative and creative. When you are creative you will be able to get funds. The first thing is about ideas; when you come in here, we not only change the mindsets of people, we also take them through idea-generation classes where they think and generate ideas that are relevant and germane to the economy. Then we teach you how to convert your idea to a business. Furthermore, integrated into our programme is what we call ICT Incubation Initiative. We have people who have ideas that they want to use ICT to drive, so we have an incubation scheme here which we call ALF Techno-Hub where we bring young people who have ICT-related ideas to develop them. We also help them organise themselves into companies that they begin to run from this centre; because they don’t have money to rent offices so we have provide space for them. So anyone who has ICT-related business can come to us, we will give them space to set up, so they can be running it from this place, because we believe that when you give young people space they will do wonders. The reason we are where we are today is because our educational system teaches us to use our heads and not our hands. Here, we teach people not only to use their heads but their hands also, because that is the only way our economy can develop. Entrepreneurship and Nigeria’s economy Entrepreneurship is what can take Nigeria out of its economic quagmire. I believe that when we invest in the youth by teaching them entrepreneurship, a lot of problems about job creation will be solved; poverty will disappear. Here we teach people how to create wealth. One of the philosophies of the ALF is that we believe giving people money will not solve their poverty problem. We believe poverty can be solved through effective creation of wealth, because you can only drive away darkness using light. What we do here at the centre is to give people skills to create wealth and solve their poverty problem. And we believe that when other stakeholders join us in this venture of teaching people how to create wealth, we will do better than we are doing now.

Heritage Bank provides cost-saving product for SMEs Chima Nwokoji - Lagos THE Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO) of Heritage Bank Limited, Ifie Sekibo, has restated the bank’s commitment to the development of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) and wealth creation through mentorship and cost savings. Sekibo, who spoke in respect of two customer reward programmes instituted by the bank for active customers Christened MyHeritageReward and HBConcourse recently, explained that Heritage Bank was poised to serve “as a catalyst to create wealth, preserve it and fashion out a succession plan for the next generation.” According to him, “SMEs have to survive if the economy must survive. It is not an option. It is the bedrock of our economy. The artisans, the fitters, the technicians… if they do not exist, our

maintenance culture will be very poor. Funding is the last thing on the menu for SMEs. Let us begin to inject methods and give guidance to these companies.” Apart from saving cost for the newcomer in business and SMEs, the HB Concourse also provides convenience for clients travelling out-of-State for business to

naturally conduct their meetings or appointments without worrying about office space among others. According to the bank, while MyHeritage Reward is a loyalty programme in which customers win prizes as they use the various electronic channels of the banks, the HB Concourse is a meeting room, fully furnished with relevant office equipment and designed to afford the small business owner or beginner, who are customers of the bank, space to hold brief business meetings, at no cost. The bank said this is in line with its commitment to deliver exceptional support to its customers. The two programmes are meant to encourage and at the same time show gratitude to its teeming clientele. “These programmes are some of the innovative ways through which we can show appreciation to our customers for being part of our success story,” Sekibo said.

Otali on how indigenous app will revolutionise Nigerians’ social experience Godspower Otali is the CEO of Wetin Dey Integrated Technology Limited, a startup that specialises in Web/Software Development solutions. The developer of Nigeria’s first cloud based social messaging and creative chat application, “Wetin Dey” speaks with HAKEEM GBADAMOSI on his newly designed application. WHAT inspired Wetin Dey App? From my school days, my dream and my vision were to be a producer and to promote Nigerian products, culture and ideas globally and make people see Nigeria differently that yes, we can do it. What’s the application about? Wetin Dey App is a social media application which is the first Nigeria’s chat application which operates just the way the WhatsApp runs. However, the Wetin Dey App can do more than what WhatsApp can offer. It has several features which give you an edge over other applications. It is becoming a trending application that can be downloaded for free from Google Play store, Amazon, 1mobile Market and several other social media platforms where android applications can be downloaded. The app has several features and some of the things that gives the application an edge over others is that it is indigenous and distinctively a Nigerian product. It is our Nigerian pidgin language “Wetin Dey”. It is a cloud based application that also has the following special features like: Cloud Based Storage, Secret Chat, username or nickname support and end to end encryption of your conversation, share unlimited number of photos, large videos, audio files and any type of documents (mp3, mp4, pdf, doc, xls, ppt, zip, exe, apk, mkv, flv etc.) up to 1.5GB with your friends. Wetin Dey App saves all your information in the cloud. For example, all information on social media platform like WhatsApp could be lost once the phone containing the information develops any faults, but Wetin Dey App stores all information in the cloud. As such, even if ones phone gets spoilt, once it is repaired and the customer

is able to login back on Wetin Dey through his/hermobile numbers, all the previous information would reappear exactly the way they were. It also has an in-app security; with this, you would not have to password your phone simply because you do not want people to read your chats on Wetin Dey because it has its own in-built security. So, anybody cannot just pick your phone and start reading your messages; it has a lock key. Anyone who picks your phone knows that the messages you have on Wetin Dey are private except if you open the application yourself. Apart from all that you have mentioned, why should Nigerians use your app? Well, for starters, the app is hosted in a world class cyber space that can never have any issue when it comes to hacking the application, sending adverts or anybody trying to illegally gain access to your information on the App. This is because it has been certified to be able to stand the test of time. Google itself has certified the application and given it a pass mark before we could release it to the public for downloads. There are step we have taken like copyrighting the app with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC). The application went through a lot of processes before its release on the 20th March, 2015. In March 2016, Wetin Dey App clocked a year that it was released. However, it officially became a phenomenon in August 2015. We only sent the Wetin Dey App to the public after we had been certified to do so. Wetin Dey App has been certified by the appropriate organizations empowered to certify applications like this such as

Google and Amazon. What is the motivation behind your desire to be an entrepreneur? I had always wanted to be an employer of labour. I never wanted to work for any government. I have always had this consciousness that the best thing to do in Nigeria is to be self-employed. Government cannot really pay an individual the real amount that he/she would live to earn for the rest of his/her life. The common question that gets asked in business is, ‘why?’ that’s a good question, but an equally valid question is, ‘why not?’ When you work for yourself, you derive a greater joy inside of you. You would not have to start rushing here and there say from eight in the morning till maybe four or five in the evening. The best thing is to create a job for yourself and be an employer of labour anywhere you get to. That has been my personal dream and ambition. I do not want to work for anybody.

Nigerian Tribune Monday, 2 May, 2016 26 150 marketing professionals converge for ADVAN marketers conference IN line with its tradition of keeping strategic marketing issues on the front burner, Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), the umbrella body of the nation’s advertisers, is set to bring together over 150 top professionals to discuss emerging issues facing the marketing industry in the country.

The event, which is the association’s first major programme this year, is billed to take place in May, this year in Lagos. The association’s President, Mr David Okeme, explained that the event will feature panel discussions on priority information, marketing insights and emerging consumer engagement trends.

Tagged Connecting Brand Builders, the marketing conference, he added, is specially structured for the purpose of collating, analysing and aggregating all shades of thoughts, ideas, knowledge and propositions that will place the relevance of marketing at the heart of strategic business discussions in Nigeria.

BRANDS &

He also disclosed that eminent speakers such as the Managing Director of The Nielsen Company, Mr Lampe Omoyele and Country Manager, Google Nigeria, Juliet Ehimuan Chiazor have been invited to present papers at the forum, designed to consolidate on the gains of activities of 2015.

with Akin Adewakun

MARK TING m:08054683584 e:akadewakun@yahoo.co.uk

The Yuan window, needed elixir for the nation’s IMC?

HE current decision of the Federal Government to look the China direction in its efforts at salvaging the nation’s currency, the naira and enhance the economy, has not been without its trickle-down effects, especially on the different sub-sectors of the economy. Interestingly, the nation’s Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) industry seems to be having its own fair share of the anxieties and enthusiasm that have continued to greet the Yuan Window, opened by the new business deal between Nigeria and China, since it was announced few weeks ago. The federal government had recently signed an economic pact with China, that will allow economic transactions to be conducted in the latter’s currency. For instance, while some practitioners in the IMC industry, have expressed cautious optimism about the new deal, insisting on the need to ‘look before we leap’ others are of the opinion that the decision, when fully implemented would turn out a win-win situation for the industry, whose records books in the first quarter of this year had not shown any significant growth in any of its sectors. In his reaction, the Vice President of the Outdoor Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (OAAN), Mr Emma Ajufo believes the deal gives more opportunities for practitioners in the industry to further explore the huge Chinese business potential. “Prior to the deal, we had been dealing with these people. This will put Nigeria in a better position to relate with them. The idea is for them to come and enhance internal businesses and I believe this will go a long way in achieving that,” he stated. Corroborating the above position, the President of the Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (ADVAN), Mr David Okeme believes the agreement with China will ease pressure on demand for foreign exchange, especially the dollars, which in turn, he argues, will lead to favourable exchange rate. “And there is no way we will have it without it trickling down positively on our industry. ‘The opportunity in that is it helps us also diversify the source of raw materials

David Okeme, ADVAN president especially, and as we are able to source raw materials from Asia, which in all cases, is cheaper. We are able to likely bring cost within control, and the beauty in that is that we are able to price appropriately and we have consumers get the right prices,” he stated.

Publisher of Marketing Edge, Mr John Ajayi would rather describe the deal as being of great advantage to the IMC industry; since it will be getting a fillip from a bigger market. The Marketing Edge publisher is predicting into a future that would witness an upsurge in technological investment. “I foresee a business environment whereby some of the products, hitherto manufactured in China will begin to be manufactured locally here. The ease on foreign exchange Yuan and the naira will make it possible for equipment to be brought into Nigeria,” he stated. Ajayi sees increased competition when factories become active once again. “When the market begins to boom, competition will be enhanced and with intense competition, brand owners will look at the direction of IMC to promote their products. “As long as you have more products and brands in the market, so also you have the need for promotion which will definitely bring in a turn-around in the economic fortune of the people in the creative world,” he argued. He however insist on the need for practitioners to position themselves for the emerging new market by honing their skills and making themselves globally competitive. Curiously, Wemimo Shode would however urge stakeholders in the industry to exercise caution. Shode believes positive as the Yuan window may be to the nation’s economy, it may also have its advantages. “If care is not taken, some unscrupulous elements might use it to their advantage, and this may defeat the purpose for which the deal was struck in the first place. “We have to watch out in the area of fake products. Our regulatory agencies need to be more alive to their responsibilities because we cannot rule that possibility of some of these unscrupulous businessmen travelling to China to bring in fake products,” he stated. Perhaps stakeholders will really need more time to be able to really ascertain whether the new Yuan deal is the much -needed elixir the nation’s IMC has been longing for.

Precinct Digital Agency to market Euro 2016 in Nigeria

ONE of the nation’s leading digital agencies, 70TH Precinct Limited, has secured the exclusive screening licence for Nigeria territory for UEFA Euro 2016 public screening. The licence gives the digital agency the rights to market and organise, in Nigeria, the Euro 2016 public screening. This, the agency hopes to achieve, through a massive fan park in the Lagos metropolis during the entire one month of the competition. The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Osamede Umweni, stated that the intention is to create a unique experience for the nation’s football fans, who are always passionate about the round leather game. “It would provide us the opportunity to create that unique experience for football fans, not only to watch the game but also have an atmosphere of conviviality and several engagement platforms we would put in place for the fans. “A huge number of Nigerians want to watch football games in a communal-like setting, we have that understanding and that is why we are putting together the Fan Park,” he stated. The Fan Park, he explained, would attract over 5,000 football fans daily, with all the matches shown on a 60sqm screen, which is the biggest in the country.

27 brands&marketing

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Chi unveils new offerings for health-conscious consumers

From left; Human Resources Director, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Victor Famuyibo; 2015 Maltina Teacher of the Year, Mrs. Rose Nkemdilim Obi; Corporate Affairs Adviser, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mr. Kufre Ekanem and Deputy General Secretary, Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Mr. Wole Oyeniyi at the flagging off the 2016 Maltina Teacher of the Year in Lagos, recently.

SON to enforce use of energy-saving appliances

HE Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) has announced plans to commence enforcement of the use of energy-saving appliances in Nigeria, as a way of conserving the country’s energy resources. The decision, the agency stated, is coming against the background of opinions that the country needed to use only energy-efficient equipment as a way of checkmating current wastage of scarce power resources. The agency’s Director-General, Dr Paul Angya, who stated this in Lagos at the technical committee meeting on standards and labels (MEPS), held under the auspices of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) for air conditioners in Nigeria, explained that the move had become imperative to enable the country be in sync with global energy-saving initiative. The DG, who was represented by the agency’s Head of Electrical, Mr Richard Adewunmi, stated that the technical meeting was designed to prepare mini-

mum energy consumption standards for electronic appliances, which would eventually form part of the agency’s SONCAP requirements when eventually approved. “The implication is that before any importer can bring in electronic appliances, he must conform to the minimum energy requirement standards,” he said. According to him, Nigeria is yet to generate up to 40 per cent of her energy needs, and for her to migrate to renewable energy, Nigerians must minimise the usage.

How NBC PR account moved to Integrated Indigo PR PERHAPS one of the latest news in the industry is the recent movement of the PR account of the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), from XLR8 to Integrated Indigo PR, a relatively new PR firm, set up by the Noah’s Ark Group over three years ago, to attend to the various reputation –management needs of brands. Investigations by Brands & Marketing revealed that the pitch which lasted

StarTimes emerges Best Pay TV operator at BoICT 2016 DIGITAL television platform, StarTimes has been named the Best Pay TV Operator in Nigeria at the coveted Beacon of Information and Communication Technology (BoICT) awards gala, held in Lagos recently. At the ceremony attended by the crème de la crème of technology policy makers, captains of industries, regulatory bodies and other key players, StarTimes was presented with the prestigious award and commended for its consumer friendly offerings, particularly its pocket-friendly Nova Pay TV bouquet. Giving reasons for the awards, the Chief Executive Officer of Communications Week Media Limited, the organiser of the award, Mr Ken Nwogbo, stated that the digital tv platform had revolutionalised the pay TV industry landscape in Nigeria with its consistently affordable and public friendly offerings. “Since StarTimes joined the industry, Pay

“Renewable energy as we all know is not cheap. If we want to migrate to renewable energy, we need to ensure that people maximise its usage. We identified several electrical appliances that are frequently used in the household and we decided to start with lamps. Previously, you need a 60 Watts lamp to lighten your house, but now what is needed is just 15 Watts “The initiative will help to conserve over 30 per cent of energy when fully implemented monthly,” he said.

CONSUMERS, who place a premium on health consciousness, can now easily satisfy their need for healthy drinks as Chi, recently unveiled Chivita Active Vegetable and Fruit Nectar into the nation’s juice market. The new offering adds to the impressive array of quality products from Chi Limited. Speaking on the new offering, the Managing Director of the company, Mr Roy Deepanjan, noted that the company was again pioneering a new segment of the juice market with the Chivita Active Vegetable and Fruit Nectar in line with its market penetration strategy. “As an innovative company, we are always looking for new ways to excite and invigorate the market which is why we will continue to develop the right products, that meets market expectation of consumers who are health conscious, in the years ahead,” he stated. He explained that the new product is designed for consumers who desire more from their drink; since its juice is almost like receiving an intravenous infusion of vitamins, nutrients, antioxidants and Stamina from vegetables because it is already in an easily digestible form and goes straight into the system without having to be broken down. He believed the gap created by the growing need for healthier drinks at home, offices and parties would, in no time, be filled in by Chivita Active Vegetable and Fruit Nectar going by the nutritional benefits of the drink. He explained that Chivita Active Vegetable and Fruit Nectar is produced with no artificial colours, flavours or preservatives and is available in three different exciting variants of Carrot, Orange, Beetroot Grape and Beetroot Apple.

TV has become more popular and accessible for many people,” he stated. Receiving the awards on behalf of the board, management and staff of the company, the Marketing Director, Oludare Kafar expressed appreciation to millions of StarTimes subscribers who made it possible with a promise of better subscribers experience. “As a business, we have embraced innovation and cutting edge global technology solutions to deliver compelling digital television experience to our millions of subscribers,” he stated. According to him, the company had invested heavily into sports content acquisitions and channels, and had expanded entertainment horizon for sports loving Nigerians. Kafar noted that the award would further motivate the company to continue to offer more robust experience for viewers.

for more than four weeks actually involved both the incumbent and some other notable names in the industry. It was further learnt that the decision to eventually give the account to Indigo was eventually taken after two stages of rigorous pitching that even saw some of the established names listed to participate beating a retreat, at the eleventh hour. While the decision to opt out did not take anything away from the pitch process, the source who was privy to the whole process, would rather see it as a ploy by the older agencies that opted out to avoid being ‘disgraced’ by a relatively younger agency, since it was becoming obvious the direction the pitching pendulum was going to swing. Interestingly, not a few, however expressed surprise at the development, especially going by the rising profile of the agency and that of its sister agency, the Noah’s Ark in the past few years. For instance, Noah’s Ark emerged tops on the medals table at the last edition of the Lagos Advertising and Ideas Festival (LAIF), organised by the Advertising Agencies Association of Nigeria (AAAN) to celebrate creative excellence in the industry. In a letter written by the Nigerian Bottling Company Ltd confirming the appointment of Integrated Indigo Limited, the company’s Legal, Public Affairs and Communication Director, Mrs Folasade Morgan, expressed delight at the appointment of Integrated Indigo Limited as its PR agency, noting that the agency had been able to distinguish itself in the var-

ious discussions held during the PR pitch process. The PR agency, the letter says, is expected to manage Nigerian Bottling Company Limited (NBC), as it relates to PR Advisory Services, Media Engagement, Media Coverage (Traditional and Online media), Advertising and Event Management, working closely with the Legal, Public Affairs and Communications department. Reacting to the result, the agency’s Managing Director/CEO, Mr Bolaji Abimbola, noted that the agency had finally realised that long-sought opportunity to partner with NBC an undisputable thought leaders in its category and add value to the business. “We are very proud to have emerged as the PR agency for NBC. NBC is a company that every agency would love to work with not only because of its thought leadership positioning in the sector where it operates, but also because of its rich heritage derived from its over six decades of operations,” he said. The contract, which took effect from April 1, on a retainership agreement, saddles the agency with the main responsibility of managing, sustaining and entrenching the positive image currently enjoyed by NBC among its stakeholders. It also provides the agency the opportunity to manage the NBC Corporate Image and its extensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) portfolio through which the company supports and enhances the lives of its employees, consumers, the communities where it operates.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

‘Ondo’ll soon make money from bitumen’ Prince Nekan Olateru-Olagbegi, a US-trained financial consultant and accountant, is the Coordinator of Public Private Partnership (PPP) in Ondo State. In this interview with ABIODUN AWOLAJA, he speaks on bitumen exploration in the state, among other issues.

ily, that was what we were able to get.

HAT has Ondo State been able to achieve through Public Private Partnership (PPP)? They are many. Look at the Akure mall. A lot of people are enjoying the facility today, and it is changing the landscape of the city. Now, we have landed a deep seaport which, once finalised through the Federal Government procedures, will be a hub for the entire West African coast, the Ilaje Deep Seaport. It is a solution port for the mining industry of Nigeria. We have so many ports in Nigeria but in Ondo State, we don’t want to develop just a seaport, we want to change the lives of our people. However, as you know, the roads that we have are not motorable. So, we are constructing a railroad from Ilaje all the way to the Northern fringes of Ondo State and to Kogi State. Also we are doing a dualised road from Ore to Ilaje, which definitely will open the entire southern Senatorial district of the state. We have been able to get a licence for a free trade zone. Other than Olokola free trade zone, we have our own exclusive Ondo State Free Trade Zone, which is in Ilaje. The port is well positioned for maritime activities. Today on my table, I have a good number of refinery proposals and by the time the free trade zone finally kicks off, it will be a very busy free trade zone. Another thing is the Ifon ceramic industry which has been moribund for over 24 years. We have brought in experts and we shall be coming out with tiles and other ceramic products with the PPP arrangements. Are there other arrangements? We have brokered a deal with an investor to do waste management, an integrated waste management system with very unique features. It has an electronic waste management system. You can imagine that West Africa is more or less like a dumping site for computers and electronics. We leave some of these things in the dump sites, for instance the mercury. If the chemical gets into the water level, it would cause a lot of damage. So, now, we are even thinking ahead, that we need to create a waste management for electronic waste. Neighbouring states which may want to bring their electronic waste to Ondo, will have to pay. We will do recycling of the electronic waste, contain and dispose it. We are working ahead of time

What was the reception like? I’m talking about during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan. We went to even the Chief of Staff then, Seinde Arogbofa. The Attorney General was also involved. Eventually, Mr Governor was able to get four licences. Now, we have them. Who owns those licences? Bacon is a company where Ondo State has about 90 per cent interest. So, with Bacon, we have gone ahead to partner with other companies that will come in and do the processing of bitumen. So, that is the real story of bitumen exploration in Ondo State. Bacon is the company that manages bitumen for the Ondo State government, just like the Federal Government has NNPC. It is the only company that we have on bitumen. The licence we have is an asset, with which we can negotiate with people that have the money to do the exploration. We signed an MOU and the deal has been finalised. We are ready to roll in and start the real exploration. How soon do you expect to make money? Very soon. What you need to know about the Ondo State bitumen is that over 60 per cent of it has crude oil. So, it is very rich. There are newer technologies now that can be used to separate these things. So, I’m confident that the money will come soon.

to make sure that we have a waste management system that will cater for it, so that the medical waste will not just be all over the dumping sites. In recent weeks, Nigerians have been hearing about bitumen exploration in Ondo State. How was the state government able to actualise this? Well, in fact, when I took my current position as the Coordinator of Public Private Partnership, in the process of combing the assets and seeing what we have in the state, which bitumen happens to be one of them—we have the second largest deposit in the

world – we were able to attract investors from California and Houston, Texas. By the time they got here and went further to find out what we have, some issues cropped up. I found out that we did not actually have the licences to partner with them. That was when I raised the dust and with that, quickly, Mr Governor took the challenge upon himself and we went to the Presidency. We went to the Ministry of Mines to see how we could get licences for Ondo State. We found that, actually, the licences were revoked during the time of (late) Chief Adebayo Adefarati. So, the best thing to do was to get to the basics and get those licences. And luck-

One of the things we must focus on massively is road infrastructure. When you have bitumen, granite and laterite, what else do you need to construct roads?

The number one thing we considered was the environmental factor. We are using technology that is very friendly to the environment. And also, members of the host communities will benefit immensely from the extraction of bitumen in their localities. All that is in the agreement. How do you want to engage youths of the communities? One of the things we must focus on massively is road infrastructure. When you have bitumen, granite and laterite, what else do you need to construct roads? The next thing I would do is just to engage the youths through direct labour. I would get good engineers to train them. Outsiders would only be engaged in the construction of bridges. Ondo State is not isolated from the economic realities facing the nation as a whole. Do you think that anybody would be able to do much given the economic realities? I believe we can do a lot, given the resources that we have in Ondo State. I believe the two major assets that you can have to develop a nation or a state, we have in abundance; that is, both human and natural resources. In the area of human capital, in the sub-saharan Africa, I believe Ondo is one of the top states. If the human resource is harnessed well, we can do a lot. In the area of natural resources, we have the three major agricultural zones: the swamp forest, the rain forest and the savannah. That means if there is anything you can grow in sub-Saharan Africa, you can grow it in Ondo State. Apart from that, the soil we have here is one of the richest in the world. Look at our trees: the three major crops—cocoa, oil palm and rubber plantation grow very well in Ondo State. Crops like cassava and others can be easily grown in the state. So, what I am saying in effect is that if we have a focus, we can do mechanised farming very well, for example. If we go even further in the chain and make sure that we process some of these things and not only that, if we look for market for them—that is completing the entire chain. Once we do that, then we can just focus. If it’s going to be cocoa, let it be the best in the world. Apart from growing it, we must get the processing and marketing up to standard. We must make sure that we get the best for our money.

29 news

Monday, 2 May, 2016

How my group of activists were beaten up by police, army in Yaba —Osinbajo Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna

ICE-PRESIDENT Yemi Osinbajo, at the weekend, went down the

memory lane, detailing, for the first time since he took office, how, out of a sheer desire and belief in a better Nigeria, he joined the struggle against poor

governance in the country. He also narrated how providence brought him in an unexpected way to join the presidential ticket of then General Muhammadu

Buhari, whose resolve to fight corruption and indiscipline since 1984 had always impressed him, even as a young law teacher. The vice-president, who

From left, Governors Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu); Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu and Governor Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), when the South-East governors and some stakeholders met to take stock of the Enugu attack by suspected Fulani herdsmen, at Government House, Enugu, on Sunday.

FG condemns quit calls for herdsmen from South East THE Federal Government has condemned calls by some individuals and groups in the South-East geopolitical zone for herdsmen to leave the region. Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, Minister of Science and Technology, made the condemnation on Sunday, at Uburu, Ohao-

zara Local Government Area of Ebonyi State. He was addressing newsmen on the outcome of the All Progressives Congress (APC) South-East stakeholders’ meeting. According to him, the call was uncalled for, as President Muhammadu Buhari

had directed relevant agencies to take appropriate actions in halting the killings by suspected herdsmen. “This situation is not pleasing to anybody, but the Federal Government is desirous to achieve a peaceful, strong and united nation. “The government appeals

What state govts should do to tackle Fulani herdsmen —Kokori Ebenezer Adurokiya -Warri FORMER Secretary-General of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG), Chief Frank Ovie-Kokori, has admonished state governments to set up vigilance groups to tackle the menace of Fulani

Fulani leader in S/West calls for caution Bola Badmus -Lagos CHAIRMAN, Association of Fulani Chiefs of SouthWest of Nigeria, Alhaji Muhammed Bambado, in Lagos, at the weekend, called for caution in the way people jump into conclusion that any attack on any community should be traced to Fulani herdsmen. This was as he insisted that the Enugu attack “was not perpetrated by Fulani herdsmen, but criminals Continues pg30

herdsmen in their domains. Kokori, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and staunch supporter of President Muhammadu Buhari, gave the admonition in an interview in his country home of Ovu, in Ethiope East Local Government Area of Delta State. The former labour leader said instead of blaming President Buhari for the woes of the country, which he actually inherited from past administrations, state governments should organise vigilance groups to dialogue with leaders of the Fulani herdsmen on their inimical activities. “Fulani herdsmen have always been there, across Nigeria. We always talk about the president all the time. The governors are the chief executives of their states, what are they really doing? “If I’m a governor of a state, this sort of things can’t take place in my state. There are certain things you can do to protect your people. That is what we called the vigilante.

“In order words, you properly organise the vigilante and you now meet the leaders of the Fulani people. The debacle was due to the decay in governance,” he said. He described as unfortunate, the emergence of another deadly group of people just when the country was getting some respite from the onslaught of Boko Haram insurgents.

to south-easterners, especially youths, not to take laws into their hands as a result of the development. “The people should exercise patience, as the president has categorically condemned the herdsmen’s actions and directed that no effort should be spared in checking the situation. “The Ibos are known globally to be peace loving and abhorrers of violence, as I enjoin them to maintain such virtue,” he said. The minister said the meeting involved elected APC leaders, national leaders, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and other stakeholders from the zone. “We discussed ways of consolidating on the party’s achievements and making it stronger because we want to start winning elections in the zone,” he said.

assured Nigerians that the change promised by the Buhari presidency is irrevocable, spoke at The Platform event in Abuja. According to the vicepresident, “permit me to begin (the speech) with a story about myself. All my adult life, I have always believed that our country was performing far below its potentials, in practically every aspect of life. “In governance, corruption was always so outrageous that it made the majority poor and development almost impossible. Law and order was always a problem, usually no consequence for wrongdoing. Doing business and even our daily existence has always been difficult, no power, no fuel. Getting anything done in government establishments, a nightmare of delay and extortion.” Professor Osinbajo delving into the motivation for his involvement in the struggle and eventual participation in governance and politics disclosed that such conditions in the country made him to take a decision to act. “So as a conscious decision, I joined various pressure groups. From human rights groups to good governance advocacy groups. In 1995, I co- founded an organisation called Integrity, an anticorruption organisation. I joined various think tanks and professional groups including the Concerned Professionals,” he said. The vice-president then recalled a situation of harrassment and intimidation his group suffered under the Abacha regime. “Under the Abacha regime, we, Concerned Professionals, one day gathered at Yaba bus-stop and some were thoroughly beaten by police and the army. From that day on, people disappeared and did not show up again.” Later on, as he recalled, the same motivation to see good governance in the country led him to serve in Lagos State.

According to him, “ I served as a two- term Attorney- General in Lagos State and pushed reforms in governance and the justice sector. I believed and continued to believe that the Nigerian people deserve better lives. In December 2014, the unexpected happened – I was nominated as vice-presidential candidate to then General Muhammadu Buhari.” According to Osinbajo, President Buhari and himself knew and agreed on what had to happen to bring change to the nation. “We both believed that our country needed to change. We argued about how and what needed to be done. We reached consensus on many of the major issues. Certainly, our country need a different set of values; a new way of doing business; an economy that is able to give opportunity to young people to work in their chosen professions and to build strong and profitable businesses. We knew that we had to provide social protection for the poorest and the most vulnerable,” he said. “Nearly a year on- there are many problems and many have asked where is the change? Is this the change we voted for? Even some fifth columnists in our midst have suggested bring back corruption! “But let me just say here for the records that the government of Muhammadu Buhari is completely and irrevocably committed to change. “We believe that though it may not be easy, though the early signs may be confusing and sometimes discouraging, there has never been a better opportunity than now to turn the country in the direction of success,” he added. The vice-president said the country now had a leader that was prepared to challenge the rotten status quo, one who had said he was prepared to kill corruption rather than let it kill the people of the country.

Shiite youths hold peaceful protest in Kaduna Call for immediate release of El-Zakzaky Muhammad Sabiu -Kaduna HUNDREDS of youths of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) staged a peaceful protest in Kaduna, on Sunday, demanding for immediate and unconditional release of their leader, Sheikh Ibrahim EI-Zakzaky, who has been in detention since December 2015. Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, chairman of the

Kaduna Youth Forum of the Movement, Mika’il Yusuf, said “we are reiterating our call for the immediate and unconditional release of our leader from illegal and unjustifiable detention.” Carrying posters of the leader of the movement, with inscription “Free Zakzaky” and pictures of some missing persons, the youth marched from Kano Road to Tudun Wada area of

Kaduna metropolis, calling for the release of Sheikh Zakzaky. Yusuf further explained that there was the need for justice and fairness as the movement had declared 780 members missing, while the state government had confessed burying 347 victims of the Zaria killing in a mass grave. On the judicial commission of inquiry set up by the state

government over the Zaria pogrom, the youth leader said “if they seriously want the IMN to go before the commission, they should release the leader to lead it. “It is only logical that Malam, as the sole victim of the incident, be allowed to give his own side of the story before the commission, at least, he was attacked. If they are honest, they should release him,” he said.

30 news Another 9 killed in Rivers community Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt

O fewer than nine persons were, again, killed in two communities in Ahoada

East Local Government Area of Rivers State, on Saturday. The killings, which occurred at Ula-Upata and Edoha communities, claimed the lives of two

members of the same family, simply identified as Gospel and Rogers Nwoka. Apart from the two Nwokas, a group of unidentified gunmen were said to have stormed Ula-Upata at

about 1.30 p.m., opened fire around a building and left four persons dead, including a 62-year-old woman known as Monica Zion. It was gathered that another group of gunmen, in

Leader of the Initiative for Leadership and Economic Watch Nigeria, Ambassador Splendour Agbonkpolor (left), presenting an outstanding public service award to the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Mr John Kennedy Opara, during their visit to NCPC Corporate Headquarters, in Abuja, on Sunday.

Crisis looms in Kogi APC over LG caretaker committees Yinka Oladoyinbo -Lokoja AS the tenure of local government chairmen in Kogi State lapses this week, another round of crisis is brewing in the state chapter of All Progressives Congress (APC) as some local government chapters were already raising the alarm over attempt to impose unpopular members on them as chairmen of the soonto-be constituted caretaker committees. The local government chairmen were inaugurated on May 6, 2013 and their three-year tenure is expected to end on May 5. Members of the party in Omala Local Government Area of the state, on Sunday, warned against the use of unpopular and inexperienced people as heads and members of the proposed local government caretaker committee in the state. Speaking with newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital, the spokesman of the group, Stephen Salifu, noted that the move would further polarise members of the party, particularly those who helped built it. He said if such action was taken, the chances and popularity of the party in the local government would be reduced, disclosing that the said people being touted for positions were not true representatives of the council. The stakeholders advised

that the governor could choose from other candidates who had already indicated interest or shop for a fresh candidate by consult-

ing the party stakeholders from the local government. The Concerned APC members in the area, however, pledged their unalloyed

support to the government of Governor Yahaya Bello and urged him to take to their advice, in the interest of the party.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

a separate attack, killed five persons in Edoha, a village close to Ula-Upata community, with the victims said to have been beheaded by their assailants in an operation that occurred around 9.10 p.m. A former youth president was said to be among those killed during the attack on Ikala-Ochigbo Road in Edoha. “The gunmen were in Ahoada East again. We heard gunshots and at the end learnt that four persons were killed at Ula-Upata. There was also an attack in Edoha and five persons were killed. “We were told that the five persons were beheaded by the gunmen. We cannot say yet whether it was a cult clash or not. In Ula-Upata, some members of a family were killed,” an anonymous source said. The state Police Commissioner, Mr Musa Kimo, who confirmed the incident on Sunday, however, said only four persons were killed during the attack in Ahoada East Local Government Area. The state police boss said troops had been deployed in the area, with a view to halting the onslaught by hoodlums, adding that normalcy had returned to the area.

Troops clear Boko Haram bomb-making factory in Borno Foil planned attack on another community THE Nigerian Army said it burst and cleared a Boko Haram major bomb making factory in Ngala town of northern Borno. This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by army spokesman, Colonel Sani Usman. He said troops of the 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade of “Operation Lafiya Dole” cleared the factory on Friday, during a clearance patrol of the area. Usman said the insurgents had used explosives made from the secret device making factory to attack innocent citizens and even military units around the area. “Troops of 3 Battalion, 22 Brigade, have, again, succeeded in bursting a secret Boko Haram improvised explosive device factory in Ngala town, northern Borno. “It will be recalled that despite their defeat, the terrorists continued to attack innocent citizens, military and soft targets through vehicular and human borne improvised explosive devices (IEDs). “Despite ongoing clearance of the remnants of the Boko Haram terrorists, they persistently hid the IED manufac-

turing factories location,” the statement read in part. Usman said the successful clearance of the factory was partly based on credible and timely information volunteered by the public on the activities of the insurgents. He added that some insurgents were killed during the raid while several items, including 20 gas cylinders of various sizes prepared and ready for explosive insertion, were recovered. He listed other items recovered from the factory to include primers, gun powder, electric wires and tape recorders. The army, in another statement, said troops of 3 Battalion and 22 Brigade, on Sunday, foiled a planned attack on Wunbi, in Kala Balge Local Government Area of Borno. Usman said troops carried out a pre-emptive attack on the insurgents’ hideout to foil the planned attack. He said nine suspected insurgents were killed in the gunfire that followed the preemptive attack at Tatakura village, 20kilometre south-west of Wumbi. Usman said troops cap-

tured three AK-47 rifles, one Fabrique Nationale rifle, one General Purpose Machine Gun, a 60mm Mortar Tube, G3-Machine Gun seven Fabrique Nationale Magazines and one Rocket Propelled Grenade 7 (RPG 7) Tube. He listed other items recovered to include 108 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition, one Energa grenade, an RPG 7 Bomb as well as three 60 mm mortar bombs and two motorcycles. Meanwhile, the army, on Sunday, said it had commenced large scale operations to smoke out Boko Haram terrorists from the Sambisa forest hideout.

Major-General Lucky Irabor, the Theater Commander, Operation Lafiya Dole, said this while briefing newsmen in Maiduguri. “I want to inform you that troops of the Operation Lafiya Dole are conducting operations in the heart of Sambisa as we speak. The troops are deep into the forest to smoke out Boko Haram terrorists,” Irabor said. He said the troops were led by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 7 Division of the Nigerian Army Maiduguri Brigadier-General Victor Ezugwu.

Fulani leader in S/West calls for caution Continued from pg29

with bodies, souls and identities. “Here in Nigeria, the main suspect is usually a whole tribe and the first thing we do is to carry a very big ‘proverbial brush’ and paint, blame, demonise and criminalise a whole tribe and, to them, the usual suspects are the Fulani herdsmen.” Speaking further, Bambado expressed sadness that

months after the Agatu attacks in Makurdi, all that had been achieved was labelling the Fulani herdsmen as the attackers. “So, if you ask any policeman investigating the crimes of Agatu, he will also tell you ‘we are on top of the situation, we are on the trail of the Fulani herdsmen,’ making thousands and millions of Fulani herdsmen out there suspects,” he said.

Oba Erediauwa served his people creditably —Ooni THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has commiserated with the government and people of Edo State over the demise of the Oba of Benin, Omo n’Oba Erediauwa. A condolence message signed by the Ooni’s director of media and public affairs, Moses Olafare, said that Edo, Ile-Ife, Oduduwa race, Nigeria and the entire African continent would greatly miss the late monarch. Ogunwusi described the deceased as a respecter and manager of African culture, as well as an embodiment of values, respect, peace, discipline and honesty. He also said the highly respectable monarch was blessed with an uncommon and enviable character. The Ooni added that the late monarch utilised his 37 years on the throne creditably, remarkably and productively. The late monarch, he added, cherished and protected Benin’s traditional culture and traditions while alive.

...He was a cultural hero —Olugbo THE Olugbo of Ugbo kingdom, Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan, has described the passing on of Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa, as a great loss to the people of Benin and Nigerians in general. Oba Akinruntan, who described the late monarch as a traditional and cultural hero, said he was one of the monarchs that truly projected the tradition and culture of his people undiluted. Oba Erediauwa, he said, would be remembered as one of the finest and brilliant traditional rulers in the country whose opinions always carried weight. Oba Akinruntan, who is the chairman of Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee, said “Oba Erediauwa is not only brilliant and intelligent, I always admire him as a culture hero. He represented the essence of Bini tradition which has survived adulteration of modern day civilisation. “He was very courageous and spoke the truth no matter how daunting the environment is. His love for his people was unparalleled and always held his head high on issues that bordered on thetraditional institutions,” he said.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

PHOTOS: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

50TH ANNIVERSARY THANKSGIVING SERVICE OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, NIGERIA

Executive and members of the House of Lords, Nigeria, during the 50th anniversary thanksgiving service, House of Lords, held at All Saint Church, Jericho, Ibadan, on Sunday.

Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and her granddaughter, Moni Oyediran.

From right, leader, House of Lords, Professor A.B.O. Desalu, Professor A.B.O.O. Oyediran and Mr Olumide Oyediran. From left, Mr Kola Bamgbelu, Professor Olu Akinkugbe, Professor Ayo Bamgbose and Professor Ayo Banjo.

From left, Mr Muyiwa Ige, Dr Olufemi Ogunlusi and Dr Akintunde Akinkunmi. From right, Mr Kola Bamgbelu, Professor Fola Aboaba, Chief Akinwande Delano and others.

From left, Mofiyinfoluwa Oyediran, Mofopefoluwa Oyediran and Mr Olumide Oyediran.

From left, Mr Tunde Banjo, Mr Tunde Aiku and Mr Bode Oshunkoya.

Moni Oyediran (left) and Mrs Adaora Oyediran.

Cross section of the officiating ministers at the event.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

33 news

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Nigerians don’t hold their representatives accountable —Seadogs By Wale Akinselure

HE National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity, Oyo State chapter, has called on Nigerians to demand accountability from political office holders. The group, at a sensitisation programme themed: “Making our votes count beyond elections; Public accountability and citizens participation in governance,” was held at Bodija market, Ibadan, as part of an ongoing nationwide campaign of the national leadership of National Association of Seadogs to emphasize the need for Nigerians to hold their elected officials accountable to their campaign promises. Several speakers at the event noted that Nigerians were docile underutilised available legal channels to demand good governance of their representatives at all levels of government, such that political office holders toss them as they wish. Director, Centre for Human Resource Develop-

ment, Ibadan, Professor Ayo Hammed, who was guest speaker on the occasion, spoke on the need for increased citizen participation to guide decision making by public office holders. He also called for better organisation and coordination by people at the community level so as question their representatives and get responses. Advocating the need for townhall meetings and roundtable discussions, Hammed said such platforms afforded Nigerians the opportunity to regularly negotiate with their representatives and especially question their actions and decisions. He identified channels of communication which the people should explore to get to their representatives to include contacting public office holders in their constituency offices to writing letters to them, calling for townhall meetings and organising peaceful protests. Chairman, National Association of Seadogs, Oyo State chapter, Mr Segun Sanni, urged Nigerians to be relentless in their de-

mand for accountability from their representatives. Among other channels, Sanni identified the media and legal practitioners as veritable channels that the people could use to make their requests known. “Nigerians do not know that they have that leverage to get to their leaders. But we believe that with continuous sensitisation, Nigerians are beginning to see that they have leverage on several channels to get to their leaders. “For example, they can use the media to air their demands. They can also employ the services of legal practitioners to help them formally draft their requests and send it to the relevant quarters. They people must ensure that they hold their elected officials accountable at all levels. The citizenry must not go to sleep but keep them on their toes.” The event, which saw members of NAS distribute flyers and stickers to passersby and market people, had representatives of transport unions, youth associations, market associations, religious groups, in attendance.

Group wants Orosanye’s trial discontinued THE Federal Government has been advised to discontinue the ongoing trial of former Head of Service of the federation (HoS), Mr Steve Oronsaye. The advice was given at the weekend, by the Integrity Forum, a non-governmental organisation. A statement signed by the group’s national coordinator, James Alo and the secretary, Aliu Sanni, said the advice came as a result of its review of circumstances surrounding the entire case against Orosanye, which smacked of vendetta and a bid to punish Orosanye for no just cause. The group noted that rather than put Orosanye on trial, he should be commended for his service to the country, adding that all the key figures during the public hearing on corruption in the pension office exonerated him. “The Senate committee equally absolved him of any wrongdoing,” the group said. The Integrity Forum traced the genesis of Orosanye’s present travail

to his time as HoS, when he made effort to reform the pension scheme, which was then rife with high level corruption and in the process, stepped on powerful toes. The group recalled that on assumption of duty as HoS, Orosanye begun an exercise aimed at saving costs, eradicating and eliminating ghost pensioners. “To this end, he instituted an exercise to carry out physical verification and biometric capture of pensioners across the country,” it said. According to Integrity Forum, Orosanye’s aim was to also ensure that a seamless e-payment system was put in place, “to ensure that new pensioners, who had never received pension, were also captured electronically to ensure ease of payment.” According to the group, Orosanye’s effort deserved commendation, considering that during the exercise, mind-boggling frauds spanning several years were unearthed in the pension scheme.

“Many names and account numbers were duplicated, while many fake pensioners provided false documents in order to claim benefits. It was also in the course of this exercise that some officials were discovered to have cloned pensioners files while underage individuals were also collecting pension benefits in a scheme that had the collusion of a few staff of the pension office. “The culprits were handed over to law enforcement agencies. All these were uncovered by the exercise instituted by Oronsaye,” the group said. The decision of Oronsaye to put an end to the pension scam no doubt put him on collision course with some major members of the pension scam ring, the group said. “Since he was the one that brought in the EFCC to investigate the pension scam and also gave information that led to the arrest of most of the ring leaders, at what point did the narration change?” it asked.

news

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Resident doctors shift planned nationwide strike by two weeks

HE National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) has shifted its planned nationwide strike by two

weeks. The strike that was to commence on April 25 will now begin on May 9. The national president

of the association, Dr Muhammad Askira, made the disclosure while addressing a news conference in Kano, on Sunday.

Askira said the decision to shift the date of the strike was taken, after the extraordinary meeting of the National Executive

Oyo State Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN ), Adesina Oludare Adigun, flanked by members of the state executive and officers, during an interactive session in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Saturday.

Ekpan tragedy: 4 dead, more sustain injuries Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

THE initial rumour that scores of persons sustained gunshot injuries after Mrs Alice Akparobi was felled by bullets fired by a soldier at Ekpan junction in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State, on Saturday morning, has been confirmed to be true by the Delta Police Command. Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Celestina Kalu, who confirmed the incident, told the Nigerian Tribune through a text message that Isaac Saduwa of number 34, behind Esedo Primary School, Effurun was one of the victims hit by a stray bullet from irate soldiers. Kalu said about 11:54a.m, father of the victim, Shedrack Saduwa had reported at the Ekpan Police Station, Effurun that his son was hit by a stray bullet and that he had been rushed to Bryant Hospital in Warri for treatment. She said after a medical form was obtained, the victim was admitted in the theater for surgical operation, but added that he’s responding to treatment. Meanwhile, the soldier suspect, one L/Cpl Mustapha Bello, attached to 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, is said to have made a statement to that effect. Kalu said the soldier, who is suspected to be the killer of Mrs Akparobi at Ekpan Junction, denied shooting the deceased. He is said to have argued in his statement that the deceased might have been stabbed to death by an un-

known tricycle rider even though the injuries found in her body revealed those similar to those of gunshots. The spokesperson, however, added that further investigations were ongoing, adding that “intelligence

report has it that more persons sustained gunshot injuries as soldiers attempted to disperse the mob.” The authorities of the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, had said the soldiers, who killed Mrs

Kogi has received N20bn bailout fund—Bello Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

THE Kogi State workers at the 2016 Workers’ Day celebration, on Sunday, went into jubilation as the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, said the bailout applied for by the state government was ready, adding that N20 billion first tranche has been released to pay part of the salaries arrears owed workers. The governor said the release of the fund was delayed because of the manner the last administration in the state handled the application and documentations for the fund. Addressing workers that gathered for the annual International Workers’ Day celebration at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja the state capital, the governor said the application was poorly handled that his administration had to start from the scratch. The immediate past administration of Captain Idris Wada, had applied for a bailout fund of N57 billion to pay the outstanding salaries of the state and local government workers. .”The reality we met on ground at the CBN was

that the previous application made on behalf of the state by the last administration was fraught with irregularities and shoddily done. In a word, it was so badly done it could never be approved. We had to start from scratch. “We are glad to announce that our efforts have paid off. This week we received approval to draw down on the first tranche of our bailout funds from the Federal Government. This will amount to about N20 billion. We will draw down on the balance of about N30 billion as we meet the milestones for implementation of the first tranche as set by the Central Bank of Nigeria. “I also announce a commitment to use that money for salaries and emoluments of our workers. I am certain that by the time we fully disburse the bailout funds, disputes over outstanding emoluments will be over,” the governor said. Governor Bello, however, announced that there would be no sacred cow in the ongoing screening exercise being carried out by the state government to ascertain the actual number of workers on its payroll.

Akparobi, who was on her way to her daughter’s wedding venue, and scores of persons with gun injuries, had just been recently deployed from other parts of the country to the barracks. A top officer, who spoke with the Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity, said the newly deployed soldiers had shown some naïveté of the area, through their dastardly act, adding that efforts were ongoing to reorientate them on the rules of engagement.

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Council of the association, held on April 26, in Sokoto. He said after deliberations on the progress made so far, the NEC decided to shift the strike by two weeks. According to him, the decision to shift the strike followed the prompt intervention of President Muhammadu Buhari, during a meeting with NMA national leadership as contained in a statement released by his SSA on media. Askira said the NEC decision followed the genuine efforts and commitment by the Minister of Health and his management team, as well as the intervention of the National Assembly to ensure amicable resolution of the dispute. “The NEC had also resolved to direct our branches in Osun, specifically LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Osogbo, to immediately suspend the seven-month- old strike. “This is to enable the implementation of the agreement reached with the Government of Osun on April 15 in Osogbo. The national president, however, urged the Federal Government to ensure that all their demands were met as agreed during the negotiation meeting on April 11 to avoid industrial action. “We hope the government will meet our demands before the expiration of the deadline so that the strike will be averted in the interest of the country,” he said.

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NPC bill 2015 recorded success —Adigun OYO State Commandant, Patriot Adesina Oludare Adigun, has disclosed that NPC bill 2015 recorded huge success during the public hearing at the Senate and House of Representatives. He made the disclosure while interacting with the officers and intending officers of the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN), Oyo State Command. Adigun remarked that if the bill was given a speedy passage, it would enhance youth empowerment and reduce crimes to the barest minimum, even as he maintained that it would ensure adequate security in schools, colleges and campuses where vices are prevalent. He added that there is no better time for NPC to be unveiled and given a legislative empowerment than now. He disclosed PCN was founded in July, 1998 by Ambassador Dickson A.O Akoh, and incorporated in Nigeria under the Company and Allied Matter Act of 1990, Part C.

Sale of forms into Oyo science schools commences THE Oyo State Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has commenced the sale of forms into the state schools of science. A statement signed by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Aderonke Makanjuola, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Ibadan, the state capital, urged parents to visit the principals of the science schools located at different areas of their choice across the state. The schools are Wesley College of Science, Elekuro, Oladipo Alayande School of Science, Oke-Bola; School of Science, Pade; School of Science, Oyo; School of Science, Ogbomosho; School of Science, Idere; School of Science, Okeho and Igbo -Elerin Grammar School Science Unit.

Ex-CMD Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, dies at 87 Bola Badmus- Lagos

FORMER Chief Medical Director of the National Orthopaedic Hospital, Igbobi, Dr Francis Adedoyin Oluwasijibomi Owosina is dead. He died at his Ilupeju residence in Lagos during a brief illness at age 87. Dr Owosina served as the chief medical director of the institution between 1978 and 1989. He was survived by five children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

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I, formerly Miss Babajide Itunu Ruth now MRS. ITUNU RUTH OGUNDOWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Jemima Oluwaseyi now MRS. JEGEDE OLUWASEYI JEMIMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Lamidi Aliu Ajani now LAMIDI ALIU ADEKUNLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Arisowo Tolulope Bukola now MRS ADEDAYO TOLULOPE BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE/CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, formerly Miss Adeniji Kehinde Aiwinnilomo am the same person bearing Kehinde Christianah Adeniji, Adeniji Kehinde Omowumi and Adeniji Ariyo Kehinde. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS EJIRANTI CHRISTIANAH KEHINDE ARIYO. All documents bearing these names remain valid. UBA Plc, First Bank Plc, Union Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Daranijo Olanike Titilayo Theresa now MRS ELIAS OLAMINIKE SULIYAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Dada Oluwasegun Ayomikun now AYODELE O L U W A S E G U N AYOMIKUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Olomosakin Adebukunmi Adefunke now MRS ADEGOKE ADEBUKUNMI ADEFUNKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ekeh Nkemjika Lilian now MRS NWOKORO NKEMJIKA LILIAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Odeyemi David now OTUN WASIU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mohammed Raji Issa Adewale Ayobami now MOHAMMED-RAJI ISSA ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, Miss Azeez Bilikis Folake am the same person bearing Azeez Bilikisu Folake. Now, I want to be known and addressed as MRS RAHEEM BILIKIS FOLAKE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajibode Gbeminiyi Lola now MRS AJIBODE-IKOTUN GBEMINIYI LOLA. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Alabede Oluwagbemiga now SIKIRU GBENGA KOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Afolabi Yusuf Opeyemi am the same person bearing OLAOGUN YUSUF. All documents bearing these names remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajayi Oluwatosin Comfort now MRS OGUNLOWO OLUWATOSIN COMFORT. All former documents remain valid. OAU, Ile-Ife, NYSC, Skye Bank Plc, Diamond Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Alli Muibat Abimbola now MRS. JUBRILA MUIBAT ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. I, formerly Miss Ademola Abosede Adedayo now MRS. MUSTAPHA ABOSEDE ADEDAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olorunduyilemi Foluke Ileola now MRS ADEGBENRO FOLUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ayodele Victoria Bola am the same person bearing OreOfe Ayodele. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AYODELE VICTORIA BOLA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. EcoBank Plc, SEAP and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odejobi Fowosekemi Ajoke now MRS AROWOLO FOWOSEKEMI AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Alimot Alafin now KAZEEM ALAFIN ALIMOT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adedokun Taiwo Oluwabunmi now MRS. OSINJOLU TAIWO OLUWABUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olabisi Abiola Ojo now MRS. OLABISI ABIOLA MWANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Kehinde Tosin now KEHINDE O. EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Aliu Modinat Ayoke now MRS OSENI MODINAT AYOBAMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Amusan Elizabeth Adenike now MRS KEHINDE ELIZABETH ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Tayewo Bosede Titilayo now ALABI BOSE. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank Plc., Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajayi Folayemi Fehintolu now MRS AKINPELU FOLAYEMI FEHINTOLU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Odukola Bukola Justinah now MRS BAMIGBADE BUKOLA JUSTINAH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Afolabi Oladele Bayo now MR AFOLABI JOHNSON BAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Ezekiel Bukola Atinuke now MRS WAHAB BUKOLA ATINUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adejumo Adepeju Bisola now MRS ABDULRAHEEM TAWAKKALT ADEPEJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Christopher Adeboye now MR CHRISTOPHER FEMI ADEBOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Oyeleke Oluwatoyin Omobolanle now ENIOLA OLUWATOYIN OMOBOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Muili Najeem Akanji now SANUSI NAJIMU AKANJI. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank Plc., UBA Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Orji Esther Ndidi now MRS. ESTHER NDIDI IYKE OGWURU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeniran Faisat Anike now MRS TIJANI FAISAT ADEKILEKUN. All former documents remain valid. University of Ilorin and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Awosanya Oluwakemi Asisat now MISS SALAMI ASISAT OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Defence and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Amoo Glory Titilolaoluwa now OLAWUYI OLARONKE GLORY. All former documents remain valid. Banks, Universities, NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Jimoh Samurat Iyabo now MRS ABDULRAHEEM SAMURAT IYABO. All former documents remain valid. NSCDC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayenuyo Gbemisola Felicia now MRS ENIOLA GBEMISOLA FELICIA. All former documents remain valid. Ministry of Defence and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Oladele Margaret Oluwatomilola now MRS. ONIPEDE MARGARET MODUPE OLUWATOMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. Ekiti State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Raji Balikisu Oluwakemi now MRS IGE BALIKISU OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. NSCDC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Amarachi Uwandu U. now MRS AMARACHI IHAZA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Ogbonna Richeal am the same person bearing Ojimba Richeal Chimankpan. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OGBONNA RICHEAL CHIMANKPAN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Folake Rachel Ijadunola now FOLAKE RACHEL AKINLEMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Arogun Iyabo Beatrice now MRS. ALABA-OGUNSUSI IYABO BEATRICE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ebosomi Anna Omosomhe now MRS ESOMIOR HANNAH OMOSOMHE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Raliatu Abiodun Awesu now MRS ABIODUN MOSUNMOLA ODUNTAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oluwabukunmi Mabel Kosoko Sunday now MRS. MIBIOLA OLUWABUKUNMI MABEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Hamzat Jelilat Mojisola now MRS YUSUF JELILAT MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Miss Yekeen Morufaht Bucky am the same person bearing Mrs Fadipe Morufaht Bucky. Now, I want to be known and addressed as MRS YEKEEN-SAHEED MORUFAHT BUCKY. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Oyo State Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeniran Motunrayo Mary now MRS AKINBOBOLA MOTUNRAYO MARY. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Zacheaus Ade Rabiu now ADE RABIU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

OMOWUMI: I, formerly Miss Adereti Omowumi Ayobami now MRS TAIWO OMOWUMI AYOBAMI. All former documents remain valid. National Youth Service Corps ( NYSC), authorities concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Hamzat Mutiyat now MRS. TIJANI MUTIYAT MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Iyabo Comfort Ariyo now MRS. JACOB MODUPE FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Badmus Richard Tunde now ILESANMI OLUFEMI ANDREW. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akande Yusuf Olatunji now AKANDE JOSEPH OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunmuditi Adeola Esther now MRS. ODUWAYE ADEOLA ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ashiru Kathirat Ayomide now MRS SHERIFDEEN KATHIRAT ASHIRU. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Hospital Management Board and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ganiyu Olaogun now OLAOGUN GANIYU OLANREWAJU JIMOH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Maruf Khadijah Omowumi now MARUF KHADIJAH OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Tayo Ayodele now OMIFOLAJIN BIBITAYO IKEADE. All former documents remain valid. EcoBank Plc, UBA Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ukoroije Glory Itong now MRS G A S K I N - AWO LU S I GLORY ITONG. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Asinta Imoh Conleth now ASINTA CONLETH CONLETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adeola Kaseem now ADEOLA KASIMU ADIO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE/CONFIRMATION OF NAME

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

south-westnews

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Abduction: IGP deploys helicopters in search of Anisulowo

Oba Olugbenle pleads with abductors Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

HE Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has deployed two police helicopters in search of the former Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, who was kidnapped last Wednesday. Nigerian Tribune recalled that Anisulowo, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), was

abducted by armed men, while she was returning from her farm in Sawonjo area, Yewa North Local Government Area of the state. The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, on Thursday, paid an on the spot assessment visit to the scene of the incident, in company with top security agents, which include the Assistant Inspector General of Police, in charge of

Lagos and Ogun, AIG Bala Hassan, and promised that the victim would be rescued safely. In a statement by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, said the helicopters had arrived the state, on Saturday, and had since been patrolling suspected kidnappers’ hideout in various areas within the state. The search parties, according to the statement,

include the AIG, the state Commissioner of Police Ogun State, CP Abdulmajid Ali, Commander 35 Artillery Brigade, Brigadier General S Danwalis, Director, Department of State Security, Ogun State, Mr Kabir Sanni, and search teams from Lagos, Ogun, Oyo and office of the Inspector General of Police, Force Headquarters, Abuja. Ali, who spoke on behalf of the teams, assured that

From left, Vice-President Yemi Osinbanjo; his wife, Dolapo and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, during the final burial ceremony of Alhaji Walijimot Olajere Fakorede, in Lagos, on Friday.

Education levy: Ekiti Catholic Diocese sues government Bishop decries sealing-off of schools by govt Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti THE Catholic Diocese of Ekiti has sued the state government over the imposition of levies on pupils and students of its primary and secondary schools. This is just as the Bishop of the Diocese, Most Reverend Felix Femi Ajakaye, has decried the closure of seven schools run by the church in the state, even as some of them are preparing for their National Examinations Council (NECO) examinations. In an originating summons in the suit filed at an Ekiti State high court by the Incorporated Trustees of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti as claimants, against the Attorney General of Ekiti State as well as the Commissioner for Education, Ekiti State as defendants, the church wants three questions determined. The Church wants the court to determine “whether every child of primary school and junior secondary school age in Ekiti State is not entitled to free and compulsory basic education under Section 2 of Compulsory Free Universal Education Act, 2004 and Section 19 of Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board Law.” It also wants the court to de-

termine if “the imposition of education development levy or any tax or levy on pupils and schools in Ekiti State, including the claimant’s schools, by the defendants, does not violate Section 2 of Compulsory Free Universal Basic Education Act 2004 and Section 19 of Ekiti State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) Law.” The Catholic Church also wants the court to determine

whether the defendants could impose education development levy or tax on pupils and schools “without a law validly passed by the Ekiti State House of Assembly” in view of some sections of the Nigerian constitution. Among others, it prayed the court to declare that the defendants could not impose education development levy or tax on pupils and schools and to also re-

strain the defendants from further demand of the levy. Also in a motion on notice to the same defendants in the suit with number HAD/38/2016, the Church sought an order of mandatory injunction directing the defendants to endorse and approve the applications of students of its schools for the 2016 NECO examination pending the determination of the substantive case.

Preparations in top gear as Soun clocks 90 By Shola Adekola THE ancient city of Ogbomoso is set to play host to prominent personalities from all walks of life as all is set for the grand 90th birthday and 42nd coronation anniversary celebrations of the Soun of Ogbomosoland, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Dr) Oladunni Oyewumi, CFR. The modest self-made revered monarch, who is also the Chancellor of Plateau State University, Bokkos, will become a nonagenarian on May 27, 2016. Nigerian Tribune gathered that a special committee, comprising the

monarch’s children and associates, has been meeting to ensure a flamboyant and historic event. The three-day fiesta will be rounded off with an elegant reception on Friday, May 27, at Ogbomoso palace ground, with King Sunny Ade (KSA), Abolore Akande popularly known as Nice (an indigene of Ogbomoso) alongside other Fuji and Juju musicians, on band stand. Speaking under condition of anonymity, a reliable source close to the palace said, “Alayeluwa rarely throws parties. For him to have decided to mark his 90th birthday and 42nd

coronation anniversary, you can imagine what the event would look like. “We thank God for Kabiyesi’s remarkable life; we appreciate his contributions to the society through his selfless roles as a statesman and an upscale philanthropist. “As a man of principle, he has carved a niche for himself in the traditional institution. He is a very rare monarch.” According to Mrs Aduke Alade, a businesswoman in Ogbomoso, Oba Oyewumi is the pride of Ogbomoso, noting that the monarch’s passion for his people is immeasurable.

the former lawmaker would be rescued unhurt and that the culprits would be apprehended. The commissioner appreciated the IG for his concern in ensuring that the victim comes out of the kidnappers’ den alive. Meanwhile, the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, has expressed concern over the continued abduction of Senator Iyabo Anisulowo by gunmen on Wednesday, April 27, 2016, and pleaded with the abductors to release her. This was contained in a release signed by the personal assistant to the Oba, Mr Bolaji Leigh. According to Oba Olugbenle, “The abductors are pleaded with to immediately release her unconditionally to avoid the wrath of the Almighty God on themselves and their family.”The monarch also commended the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, and security agencies for their efforts regarding the incident.

Gani Adams tasks Nigerian media on restructuring the country Bola Badmus and Seyi Sokoya NATIONAL Coordinator of Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Otunba Gani Adams, at the weekend, in Lagos, tasked the Nigerian media to champion the cause of restructuring the country now that the country is in state of insecurity, occasioned by incessant attacks by the Fulani herdsmen on people in the South, while the Boko Haram insurgency in the North appears to be subsiding. The OPC leader, while describing the recent attack by Fulani herdsmen in Enugu, in which over 120 lost their lives and millions of naira worth of properties destroyed, as ‘highly condemnable,’ noted that the Fulani herdsmen was a manifestation of another Boko Haram that could be deadlier if not quickly addressed by the government. Adams said this while responding to questions from journalists at the occasion where dignitaries, including representatives of governors of Ogun, Osun and Ondo states; traditional rulers, top media men, people from business and corporate world gathered to celebrate his 46th birthday.

Nigerian Tribune

‘Don’t play politics with death of Ekiti doctors’ THE Yoruba Youth Council (YYC) has advised that people should stop playing politics with the death of six medical doctors and a driver attached to the Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido Ekiti, Ekiti State, last week. In a statement issued by the National Officers’ Committee (NOC) after its meeting in Sokoto, the association lamented the cruel interpretation the tragedy is getting from some persons. Speaking through its president, Olarinde Thomas Lukmon Olawoyin, the group said: “While we received the news of their death, which occurred during the ill-fated journey to Sokoto on official assignment, we were amazed by the protest that followed and sadly the comments attributed to some persons, blaming their death on the Chief Medical Director of the FMC, Dr Lawrence Ayodele. “Worrisome is how these people could be inhuman to the extent of seeking political gain from the death of these great sons of our land, at a time that the FMC and the entire Ekiti State is mourning the death of these compatriots.”

Alepata joins ancestors A frontline traditional ruler, the Alepata of Igboholand, Oba (Dr) 0laide 0yeyiola Igbaroola 111, has joined his ancestors. (Dr) Igbaroola Oba passed on in his sleep today according to a palace source. The royal father, who was faced with a protracted legal battle to retain his stool, was also the chairman, Oorelope Local Government Traditional Council during his reign, which lasted for over a decade. Oba (Dr) Igbaroola, aged 69, reigned over his domain for 13 years. In his reaction, the chairman, Oke-Ogun Conference of Obas and Chiefs, the Aseyin of Iseyinland, Oba (Dr) Abdul-Ganeey Adekunle Salaudeen, said he received the news with a rude shock. He added that the deceased ruler was committed to the overall wellbeing of his people and the development of Oke-Ogun in general. He regretted that OkeOgun has lost a general and fighter, who remained committed to the growth and development of his motherland till he breathed his last.

news

Monday, 2 May, 2016

Ajimobi, Ambode, Amosun, Wike, others assure on workers' welfare From Dapo Falade, Bola Badmus, Yinka Olukoya, Tunde Ogunesan, Hakeem Gbadamosi, Wale Akinselure And Adamu Amodu With Agency Report

O sane govt will be happy seeing workers suffer Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has reprimanded notions that the government was unconcerned about the issue of irregular payment of salaries, saying that the situation would turnaround for the better. According to him, “No sane government will be happy while the workers suffer.” Ajimobi, speaking at Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, on the occasion of 2016 workers’ day, however, harped on the need for all workers to shun financial and attitudinal corruption and stick to ethical standards of the public service. Ambode commends workers on dedication Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Sunday, lauded workers in the state as they marked 2016 May Day celebration, saying the success story in Lagos was due to their dedication and commitment. This was just as the governor said every society must remember and appreciate its workers, who he described as real heroes of the society. According Governor Ambode, who was represented by the Head of Service(HoS) Mrs Olabowale Ademola, at the May Day rally, held at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, Workers Day is about remembering and celebrating those who give their time, best efforts and worked hard for the good of the society. Workers appeal to Amosun on salary In the same vein, workers' in the employ of Ogun State have appealed to Governor Ibikunle Amosun, to pay their salary in gross and not net pay as had been the practice over the years. This was contained in the address read by the state chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC ), Mr Akeem Ambali and his counterpart, in the Trade Union Congress(TUC ), Mr Olubunmi Fajobi, during the 2016 May Day celebration, at the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abeokuta, on Sunday.

Workers' welfare will receive priority attention —Wike In another development, Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has pledged that his administration will continue to always prioritise the welfare of workers in the state. He made the pledge in a goodwill message issued in Port Harcourt, on Sunday, to felicitate with workers on the occasion of the 2016 Workers' Day celebration. Commending them for diligently contributing to his administration’s efforts to build a 'New Rivers State', the governor urged workers in the state to remain committed to the ideals of selfless service and development. We'll address issue of salary adjustment —Enugu gov Meanwhile, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, on Sunday, said that his administration would address the issue of salary adjustment for the state workforce as soon as the ongoing biometric data exercise in the state is concluded. Governor Ugwuanyi, who said this, during the 2016 Workers Day rally, at Michael Okpara Square, Enugu, also said that the state government has inaugurated a committee to examine the issue of consolidated health salary structure for its health workers. Jigawa NLC decries inadequate training of workers Also, worker in Jigawa State have decried inadequate funding of training and retraining for the staff in the state civil service. This was contained in a speech delivered by the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Mr Usman Ya'u, during the Workers Day celebration, adding that training and retraining of workers will assist the government to achieve its set objectives. The NLC chairman said that majority of workers in the state need training in modern Information and Communication Technology( ICT). Ondo NLC marks workers' day with thanksgiving in church However, As Nigerian workers joined their counterparts across the globe to mark 2016 May Day celebration, the leadership of workers in Ondo State,

marked this year's edition with a thanksgiving service at the Holy Order of Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church, Ijoka, Akure. Speaking on the development, the state chairman of the Joint Negotiation Council (JNC), Sunday Adeleye, said the prevailing economic situation in the country calls for, prayer, saying the workers union decided to seek the face of God before taking any decision. In a related development, Civil servants in Cross River State have forfeited their promotion arrears amounting to N3.8 billion owed them by the state government for four years, between 2012 and 2016. They want the government to use the money for the development of the state. Mr John Ushie, chairman of the state branch of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), disclosed this on Sunday, in his speech at the 2016 May Day celebration in Calabar. Also, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) , Sokoto State, has said it will build 3,050 housing units for civil servants in the state. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reported that the state chairman of the NLC, Mr Aminu Umar, disclosed this in Sokoto, on Sunday, at the 2016 May Day Celebrations. Umar, who was represented by his deputy, Mr Abubakar Malami, said that the houses will be built in partnership with some private estate developers. However, as Nigerian workers join their counterparts world-wide to mark the International workers day celebration, the Oyo State director of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, has urged workers in the state to rededicate themselves to the actualisaton of the good policies and programmes of the current administration in the overall interest of all Nigerians. The NOA director advised workers to use the day to renew their commitment to transparency, honesty and probity in the discharge of their duties, imploring them to shun corrupt tendencies and other acts capable of bringing the image of the country into disrepute. Also, Senator Isiaka Adetunji Adeleke has called on workers of Osun State in the civil service and other organied sectors of

the economy, that in no distance in future, they will have cause to put permanent smile on their faces, as efforts are ongoing by different arms of government in Osun State to ameliorate the current temporary hardship confronting them. Senator Adeleke, said this in his May Day message, contained in a press release issued by his media adviser, Olumide Lawal and made available to newsmen on Sunday, Senator Adeleke said that civil servants are integral parts of the economy, whose interest should be jealously guarded at all times.

Moreover, as workers celebrate 2016 May Day celebration, the caretaker chairman of Oluyole Local Government, Mr Orelope Kolawole, has charged the workers in Oyo State, to exercise more patience with the state government in its efforts at paying their outstanding salary. The chairman stated this in his congratulatory message to the entire workforce in the state on Sunday. He commended the endurance and understanding of the labour in the state at this period of economic challenges facing by

the entire nation. Also, as Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark 2016 Workers’ Day, the chairman of Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Honourable Mohammed Ali, has expressed commitment to the welfare of workers in his council area Addressing workers in Dekina, on Sunday, as part of activities marking the May Day celebration, Ali, commended the understanding and resilience of workers in the face of the current financial challenges in the state, indeed, the country at large.

A faction of Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), during a rally from Yaba to the National Stadium, Surulere, to mark the 2016 Workers' Day, in Lagos, on Sunday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Kogi State governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello (right), presenting the key of a bus to the state chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Mr Ranti Ojo, during the 2016 Workers' Day celebration, at the Confluence Stadium, Lokoja, on Sunday. With them are the state deputy chairman, TUC, Mr Ademu Dominic and the state acting Head of Service, Mrs H.O.K Lawal. PHOTO: YINKA OLADOYINBO.

From left, Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Abia State, Uchenna Obigwe; state Head of Service, Vivian Uma; Governor Okezie Ikpeazu; chairman on the occasion, Nwaigwe Solomon Nwaigwe and the speaker, state House of Assembly, Honourable Matins Azubuike, during the Workers' Day celebration in Umuahia, on Sunday.

Monday, 2 May, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

3SC draws at home again By Olawale Olaniyan

hooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) on Sunday settled for a 2-2 draw with Plateau United without their Technical Adviser, Coach Kadiri Ikhana, who was under the weather. The match day 14 game of the Nigeria Professional Football League played at the Lekan Salami stadium, Ibadan, lived up to its billings. The visiting team shocked 3SC after Joshua Obafemi opened the scoring in the 26th minute when his rising shot caught goalkeeper Emmanuel Fabiyi helpless. The Oluyole Warriors leading scorer, Wasiu Jimoh lost a penalty kick in 15th minute of the encounter. Tope Orelope equalised for 3SC in 32nd minute

through a penalty kick after Plateau Turba Benjamin had palmed the ball inside the box. Wasiu made up for his penalty error in the 37th minute after he followed Umar Abubakar’s shot and jammed the rebound past goalkeeper Danladi Isah.

Substitute Ibeh Johnson stunned the homers as he scored the equaliser in the 75th minute to deny 3SC of victory. Tribunesport gathered that coach Ikhana was unavoidably absent due to his health status. The source said “coach

Ikhana was tested for high blood pressure match venue before the match but team doctor, Bunmi Ogunjimi recommended bed rest for him which made him not to be on the bench . Meanwhile, Plateau United Technical Adviser, Coach

Baraje Zachary said he was very excited by picking his first away point of the season against 3SC. “I’m very happy and elevated by picking my first away point against 3SC who happens to be my former team. Ibadan is my home and to pick this point will really help us on the table.

18th Nestle Milo Basketball Championship: Lagos, Oyo berths in Western Conference semi finals Yejide Girls Grammar School Ibadan, Oyo State picked the first semi final ticket in the girls category at the ongoing Western Conference playoffs of the Nestle Milo Secondary Schools Basketball Championship. The hardworking Ibadan side defeated Regina Mundi Snr Sec Sch Iwo,Osun State 41-02 to grab the semi-finals ticket with a very bold stance. Also, Wesley Girls Snr Sch Lagos State silenced Anglican

High School Ado, Ekiti State by 35-20. In the other matches played, Greater tomorrow Intl college Akoko, Ondo State defeated Idia College Benin City , Edo State by 15-13, while Ugborikoko Sec Sch Warri, Delta State outstroked Adedokun International school Ogun State 21-9. The girls from Oyo state will slug it out with Anglican High Sch Ekiti in the

first semi final, while Wesley Girls Snr Sec Lagos will confront Ugborikoko Snr Sch Warri,Delta state in the second semi finals scheduled to hold today at the indoor sports Hall of the national Stadium. In the boys categories, the, dedicated and disciplined Henson Demonstration School Benin, Edo State recorded a clean sheet in the group stage- defeating Greater Tomorrow Intl College Akoko, Ondo state 48-

11 in their last game, while Lagos side Ilupeju Grammar defeated Greenland Intl Academy Abeokuta, Ogun State by 28-14 to pull through to the semi-final. The boys semi finals pairing will features Ilupeju Grammar Sch Lagos take on Osadenis Mixed Sec Sch Asaba, Delta state, while Ado Grammar Sch Ekiti State will face Henson Demonstration Sch Benin,Edo State at the same venue.

Ondo hosts West Africa Bikers competition Hakeem GbadamosiAkure At least 15 Bikers clubs across West African countries under the auspices of West African Bikers, have converged on Akure, Ondo state capital for the Second Edition of bikers competition. The competition which was organised to promote regional integration, will feature events like biking styles, safety precautions, public enlightenment among others, will hold between 28 April till May 2, 2016 in Ondo state. Declaring the competition open, the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko noted that the game would go a long way to foster unity among west African states and will also boost the image of tourism development among members state.

Monday, 2 May, 2016

schoolsport

Nigerian Tribune

Anchor: Nurudeen Alimi oladimejialimi@yahoo.co.in 08111847089

Games masters lament decline in school sport

Kazeem Barakat the SS2 female Student of Brightville College, Ibadan that set 11:00 seconds time record in 100 metres race at the event. Kazeem Barakat who posted11:00 seconds in the 100 metres race at the University of Ibadan invitational tourney.

cross section of schools’ games masters have lamented the nonchalant attitude of sports administrators towards the development of school sport in Nigeria. They said the trend has really affected the morale of games masters in schools as well as grassroots coaches. Representative of the group, Isaac Friday Ogada, who is also the proprietor of Brightville College, whose school participated and came out tops in a recently held invitational athletic event organised by the University of Ibadan stated this while speaking with newsmen shortly after the tournament. While commenting on the flaws of the university students during the build-up of athletic event put together by the University of Ibadan as part of preparation for the upcoming West African University Games (WAUG), Ogada said the future of the country in track and field events will remain bleak if sport administrators fail to change their attitude to-

wards the development of school sport. The games masters believe sport administrators must be proactive by making policies that will positively impact on school sport, as school sport remains the best avenue to discover talents and nurture them to stardom. A female SS2 student, Kazeem Barakat from Brightville College also made a remarkable time record of 11:00 seconds in the 100 metres race, a feat the proprietor of her school said she had recorded severally during their school’s inter-house sports and could be still be improved on if she is exposed to adequate training from a better knowledgeable athletic coach. “We have many talented fast runners in our school, some have passed out and many are still at the junior classes, if they are well monitored and given tutelage by professiuonal coaches, very soon they would be challenging some already established athletics stars like Blessing Okagbare and a host of others,” Ogada said.

Excitement as Lead City school holds annual Sports Day STUDENTS were full of excitement competing on a standard sports facilities put in place by Lead City International School as the school recently held its 6th intra-moral Sports Day at her newly-constructed ultra-modern sports complex at Jericho, Ibadan. The event which lasted a week, afforded students the opportunity to showcase their talents in various track and field events which included 100 and 200m races, skipping races, catching the bus. Red House emerged winner with over 200 points while Blue, Yellow and Green houses came second, third, and fourth respectively. While addressing parents and participants, the proprietor of the school Mrs Taiwo Owoeye said: “Being at the vanguard of developing the total child, we want to sustain our commitment in helping to mould the character of young Nigerians to become mature and well-rounded adults ready to face future challenges.” She described sport as a good tool that instills in students lessons and skills that are essential in life. “Sport provides opportunity for young ones to learn values like discipline, team work and this will no

doubt help them to concentrate on whatever they do because they need to be focused and be self-confident,”

Captain, Ibadan Polo Club, Mr Koyinsola Owoeye presenting trophy to the captain of the winning house during the Lead City International School interhouse sport meet.

said Owoeye. Other side attractions during the event included the maiden show of the

Lead City International School cheerleaders, taekwondo presentation, and staff/ parents races.

SIDELINES A mother was reportedly shot dead on the way to her daughter’s

no 16,491

MONDAY, 2 May, 2016

UR country needs heroes and heroines. No one can fault or query this fine statement. Our country of the present times of vulgar hypocrisy and brutal brutality and barbaric barbarism of the political class will always compel and seize our attention as journalists and columnists. In fact, every deep-minded and conscientious journalist and columnist must be concerned enough with the current affairs of our country that needs solid heroes and heroines to give stamp to its colour of civilization. I may be wrong to think as I am thinking, but my little journalistic reflection on the subject convinces me that our judiciary can redeem us. Of course, there are many bad eggs and rotten apples in our judiciary, as everyone knows, but it is the judiciary that can halt and detain permanently the hypocritical hypocrism, barbaric barbarism and brutal brutality of the ruling class. The right and ripe judiciary can imprison permanently the brutality of our system and civilization many members of the ruling political class display with impunity before our very eyes. We must make no mistake about it: the brazen corruption several of our contemporary political men and women and bourgeoisie display without qualms before our very eyes is part of the oppressive brutality and outrageous violence directed against the masses and people of Nigeria. The hunger in the land derives from this in the same way that the outlandish unemployment rate and other grotesque vices in the country derive from it. What is really serious and painfully so is that corruption of all kinds has become an economic possibility, a chronically acute and acutely chronic one, choking the breathing of our existence. Our judiciary can halt and suppress this vicious gesture, if it means to, through the Chief Justice of our country ably, nobly and presidentially supported by our president. Of recent the Chief Justice has tried to carve a niche and distinction for himself by casting some

n150

wedding by an irate soldier, whose offensive gun shot was also said to leave some others in serious injuries. On his arrest, the uniformed man reportedly denied killing the woman and blamed it on a motorcyclist, whose identity is not known yet. Now, if the soldier claimed not to be the killer, and knew the culprit, but as a gun carrying soldier, how come he still allowed the said culprit to escape from the scene of the crime?

in&out with Tony Afejuku

08055213059

Letter to Chief Justice of Nigeria questionable judges out of our temple of justice that they have sullied. But the Chief Justice needs to do more as I hereby enjoin him to do. Our judges of all shades, colours and categories, beginning with our apex court judges who recently gave away some Southern states to architects and champions of selfish violence, must stay and live above board – even though we must recognize the truthful beauty contained in errare humanum est (“to err is human”). The errors of any magistrate or judge should not be erased by any of the erasers of our Chief Justice; instead his pencils of judicial discipline should erase their names and titles from our glorious and sacred temple permanently in such a manner that the erasers in his pencils shall remain untouched. I hope my metaphor is judicially clear and lucid enough. And our Chief Justice should begin with his fellow Supreme Court judges aforesaid. Or is this not a fair and equitable enough proposition? If gold rusts, what will become of iron? What will iron do if gold should rust? Believe it or not, we are in a state of war against impurity, impunity and corruption – high grade or low grade. Thus we want judges who can look,

We must be heroes and heroines of justice. without blinking, at the faces of all these unfortunately grotesque killers of our people, killers who they must deal with without fear or favour. And when the present war is over the judges who successfully prosecuted it should be retained still as peace-time judges. Simply, I am advocating for ense et aratro judges – judges serving our country in war and in peace. One of such judges is Danladi Umar who has been doing wonderfully well so far what he has been doing as chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal. Because he refuses to be intimidated, or because he is calling a judicial spade a judicial spade, a coalition is being mounted against him.

The Chief Justice must stand by Justice Umar until his sword of justice cuts off the head of any corrupt sinner against the state. Any coalition in support of impurity, impunity and corruption should and must be resisted and decapitated. The Chief Justice must be Justice Danladi Umar’s genie. He should provide now – if he has not done so - Justice Umar the hatchet and cord of justice to thwart the brutality of organized corruption and a vicious wind of blackmail. In fact, all judges in the land in the heroic mould of this heroic judge should be stood for by the Chief Justice, our president and all of us if we must be heroes and heroines. Perhaps we should begin now to imprison our despair and breed a liberating violence against corruption. We must be heroines and heroines of justice. We must be heroes and heroines of our country. Our Chief Justice must be the judicial leader of the chief protagonists of our Red Army against corruption and impunity. After the successful war our president – with our full support – shall give him the befitting rank of Emeritus Chief Justice of Nigeria (ECJN), the first judicial personage to be so recognized and honoured. I aver this prophetically.

Man Utd puts Leicester City’s EPL title on hold BY NURUDEEN ALIMI Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester City’s hope of becoming the 2015/2016 English Premier League title was put on hold after the team failed to beat Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday, just as both teams settled for a 1-1 draw. The Foxes needed three points to win the league for the first time, but with thousands of fans back in Leicester and millions of new converts around the world watching on television, they had to make do with the draw after Wes Morgan cancelled out Anthony Martial’s opener for United. Leicester, who lost Danny Drinkwater to a late red card, will be crowned champions unless second-place Tottenham Hotspur win at Chelsea on today, but if Spurs do prevail, Ranieri’s men will be left requiring two points from their final games, at home to

Everton and away to Chelsea. It would still take a monumental collapse for Leicester not to claim the title, but their players, staff and anxious supporters must wait a few more hours, if not days, before their place in sporting history can be confirmed. While Leicester’s title destiny remains in their own hands, it was a damaging result for Louis van Gaal’s United, who were left four points below the Champions League places with only three games to play. Leicester have turned winning with minimal possession into an art form this season, but United’s early dominance here was to prove the precursor to a soft opener. Antonio Valencia, preferred to 18-yearold Timothy Fosu-Mensah at right-back, was allowed to cut inside Christian Fuchs and trundle a cross to the back post, where Martial exploited Danny Simpson’s errant positioning to slot his 15th goal of the season

past Kasper Schmeichel. Back at the ground where his father, Peter, made his name, Schmeichel then produced a sharp one-handed save to thwart Jesse Lingard after Marouane Fellaini had chested down a cross from Marcos Rojo. Shortly after Schmeichel’s save, visiting captain Morgan outmuscled the floundering Rojo to meet Drinkwater’s Arcing free-kick with a header. The game was now an intense, robust encounter and Fellaini was guilty of a wild elbow to Robert Huth’s chin, after the German had provoked him by yanking his hair, that could earn the Belgian a retrospective ban. Referee Michael Oliver did not spot Fellaini’s infringement and he was also involved in two incidents prior to halftime that could have had major ramifications for either side. Earlier, Lingard intercepted a pass from

Simpson, a former United player, on halfway and raced towards goal, only to go to ground as Simpson leant into him. It would have been a red card if Oliver had called it a foul, but he saw no wrongdoing and it was the same story moments later – albeit perhaps more contentiously – when Riyad Mahrez crashed to the turf after being caught by Rojo inside the United box.

RESULTS Swansea Man Utd Southampton

3 1 4

Sunshine Stars 3SC Rivers Utd Nasarawa Utd FC IfeanyiUbah Enyimba Tornadoes

0 2 3 2 0 2 1

EPL

Liverpool Leicester Man City

1 1 2

Pillars Plateau Utd Rangers Warri Wolves Abia Warriors Lobi El-Kanemi

1 2 1 0 0 2 0

NPFL

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Telephone: 08165728976; 08073598322. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 02/05/2016.