4th May 2016 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,493

WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY, 2016

NASS committees, ministers review final budget copy —P31

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Gunshots as Edo Speaker, deputy are impeached

•Woman elected speaker —P31

Rampaging herdsmen

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Senator Anisulowo regains freedom —P38

Enugu CP removed, Fayose threatens to poison water —Pgs4,6,7,32

•Those behind attacks must be apprehended, exposed —Buhari •Farmers/herdsmen clashes may escalate as World Bank warns on acute water shortage •3 persons, 4 cows die as cattle causes accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway

IMF pegs Nigeria's 2016 growth to 2.3% —P11

Nigeria runs most vibrant democracy in Africa —EU —P31

PROTEST OVER NIMBO KILLINGS: Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State (right), addresing a coalition of women groups during a protest over recent attack on people by herdsmen, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

Elimination of meningitis now in sight —Report —P6

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

4 news

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Herdsmen clashes: Those behind attacks must be apprehended, exposed —Buhari President being sabotaged, Catholic bishops allege Leon Usigbe -Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed his orders that heads of national security agencies must take all necessary action to apprehend and expose those behind the heinous Fulani herdsmen attacks in the country. He gave the affirmation against the background of reports of continued attacks on communities across the country by armed herdsmen. According to a statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, in Abuja, on Tuesday, Buhari restated his administration’s resolve to deal decisively and expeditiously with the matter. The president was speaking at a meeting with members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN). “We are determined to secure all Nigerians and I have told the Inspector-General of Police and other security agencies, in very strong terms, to deal decisively with

the attackers,” the statement quoted the president as saying. He expressed his personal condolences to the Catholic Bishop of Enugu, the people

of Ukpabi Nimbo and all other communities that had suffered fatalities and other losses from the recent attacks. Speaking on other national issues, the president assured

THE constant widening clashes between herdsmen and farmers across West Africa and, especially Nigeria, may get worse, as acute water shortage due to climate change hits Northern and Central Africa, including the Sahel region. The World Bank, in a new report entitled: “High and Dry: Climate Change, Water and the Economy,” said: “water scarcity, exacerbated by climate change, could cost some regions up to six per cent of their GDP, spur migration and spark conflict.” The report claimed that climate-driven water scarcity could hit economic growth by up to six per cent in some regions and that the combined effects of growing populations, rising incomes and expanding cities would see demand for water rising exponentially, “while supply becomes more erratic and uncertain.” “Unless action is taken soon,” the report said, “water will become scarce in regions where it is currently abundant - such as Central Africa and East Asia, and scarcity will greatly worsen in regions where water is already in short supply - such as the Middle East and the Sahel in Africa. “These regions could see their growth rates decline by as much as six per cent of GDP by 2050, due to waterrelated impacts on agriculture, health and incomes.” A check at the Lake Chad

institutions methodically, we need to change the way we do things. “In the last 10 years, crude oil sold for more that $100 per barrel, but Nigeria did

From left, Hajia Aisha Buhari; President Paul Biya of Cameroon, President Muhammadu Buhari and the wife of President Biya, Chantal, as President Buhari received President Biya at the State House, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Farmers, herdsmen may clash Sanya Adejokun -Abuja

the bishops that he was acting with deliberation and moving methodically to implement his change agenda for the good of the country. “We need to rebuild our

revealed that the change in the lake had contributed to local lack of water, crop failures, livestock deaths, collapsed fisheries, soil salinity and increasing poverty throughout the region. Between June 1966 and January 1973, the surface area of Lake Chad shrunk frm 22,772 km2 to 15,400km2. It was also found out that major overgrazing in the region had resulted in a loss of vegetation and serious deforestation, contributing to a drier climate. Commenting on the World Bank report, a director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture said water scarcity was responsible for the increased migration of herdsmen to the southern part of the country and the resulting clashes between herdsmen and farmers. According to him, “the problem is already escalating within Nigeria and it is getting intensified in Africa because of desertification.” Speaking on what the Federal Government was doing to stem the tide, he said “the Federal Government is already making plans to make cattle rearing a formal business by developing ranches and dams for animal use, as well as crop and grass production. It is believed that this will go a long way in tackling the problem.” Speaking in a similar vein, Country Manager for an international feeds company said clashes between farmers and herdsmen were already happening. He said, “The problem is

•As W/Bank warns of acute water scarcity

reported in Nigeria and all over Africa that maize farms, especially, are destroyed by migrating herdsmen.” The man who craved anonymity said the solution lay in the government turning “marginal pieces of land that are not good for crop production into land for grass production. There would be less crises between farmers and herdsmen over water if grass track could be produced and linked within Nigeria and Africa.” There has been an increase in the frequency of clashes between herdsmen finding water and grazing land for their cattle in Cameroon, Ghana and Nigeria in recent times with accusing fingers pointing at herders from Mali, Niger and Mauritania. Ethiopia has also been hit

by severe drought resulting in the mass death of animals. The report also warned that reduced freshwater availability and competition from other uses, such as energy and agriculture, could reduce water availability in cities by as much as two thirds by 2050, compared to 2015 levels. Water insecurity could multiply the risk of conflict,” the report added. “Food price spikes caused by droughts can inflame latent conflicts and drive migration. Where economic growth is impacted by rainfall, episodes of droughts and floods have generated waves of migration and spikes in violence within countries,” it said. “Water scarcity is a major threat to economic growth and stability around the world, and climate change is

making the problem worse,” said World Bank President Jim Yong Kim. “The negative impacts of climate change on water could be neutralised with better policy decisions,” the report said, with some regions standing to improve their growth rates by up to six per cent with better water resource management. “There is a silver lining,” said the author of the report and a World Bank Lead Economist, Richard Damania. “When governments respond to water shortages by boosting efficiency and allocating even 25 per cent of water to more highly-valued uses, losses decline dramatically and, for some regions, it may even vanish. Improved water stewardship pays high economic dividends,” the report said.

Herdsmen attack: Enugu CP removed Chris Agbambu -Abuja THE Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Arase, has ordered the redeployment of the Enugu State Police Commissioner, Nwodibo Ekechukwu. A new commissioner of police has subsequently been appointed for the state, he is Emmanuel Ojukwu. Until his appointment, Ojukwu was the Commissioner of Police, Eastern Port command. He had also served as the Force Public Relations Officer of the Nigerian Police. It gathered that the redeployment may not be unconnected with the disclosure by

the state governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, that he had intelligence information that the herdsmen would strike in the community and passed same to the police boss and security

agencies. When contacted, Force Public Relations Officer, Olabisi Kolawole, confirmed the redeployment of the officer by Force headquarters.

Protesters storm govt house Jude Ossai -Enugu HUNDREDS of protesters, on Tuesday, stormed the Government House, Enugu, to express their anger against the recent killing in Nimbo in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of the state by the Fulani herdsmen. The demonstrators made up of coalition of civil soci-

ety groups marched from Michael Okpara Square, to the Government House, Enugu, where they presented their grievances to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi on the killing of the Nimbo indigenes. Receiving the protesters, Governor Ugwuanyi noted how sad he felt when he visContinues pg7

not save. That is why we have found ourselves where we are today,” he said. He assured them that his administration was working hard to fulfill all the promises it had made to Nigerians, adding that his greatest motivating factor now was the desire to bring positive change to Nigeria. President of the CBCN and the Archbishop of Jos Diocese, Most Reverend Ignatius Kaigama, on behalf of the bishops, expressed the solidarity of the CBCN with the president. “We are willing to collaborate with you and with your administration, in which we see hope for a greater Nigeria,” he said. The bishops pledged continued prayers for Nigeria and the government, expressing their conviction that current hardships were temporary, and that Nigeria will soon overcome its present difficulties. The bishops alleged that things were not working for the president as he anticipated because some people had constituted a clog in the wheel of his progress. Speaking to State House correspondents after the late night meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Bishop Kaigama, said the conference found Buhari to be a sincere man who wanted to do well for the country. He said the president explained his difficulties to the bishops, saying the conference was, therefore, hoping that such undesirable elements would give way for the sake of the country. “We found him to be a sincere man with great sense of dedication. He wants the best for this nation. We also want the best for this nation. “He agrees that not everyone is working as he expects. There are some who are clogs in the wheel of progress. We are praying and hoping that such people will see that Nigeria is greater than all of us, that we should develop patriotic disposition and our aspiration should be to put this country first. “With that, criminalities and other things that are antisocial will give way. We have every hope. We only need to be a little more patient. “The president has explained to us the difficulties, challenges, bottlenecks that are there and we understood him fully,” he said. The conference noted the passion with which the president wanted to transform the country and wished him the best. It called on government to support the Catholic Church in its drive to provide education, regretting that levies were being imposed on Catholic schools and their students by governments.

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

6 news

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Elimination of meningitis now in sight —Report

ESS than 20 years after the record outbreak in Africa, elimination of meningitis is in sight. This is due to the reduced rate of the outbreak as a result of vaccine developed to eliminate the disease. According to a report by the CNN, each year, millions are at risk of outbreaks of meningitis that sweep across 26 countries, known as the “meningitis belt.” The bacterial disease infected a record 250,000 people and caused 25,000 deaths during an outbreak in 1996. The numbers have since come in annual waves, with rates of new infections as high as one in 100 people in some areas. A second peak of almost 90,000 infections occurred in 2009. “It’s the first vaccine developed solely for a strain that’s Africa-centric,” says Steve Davis, President and CEO of PATH, the non-profit organisation that led the development of the vaccine in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO). As of March 13, 2016, a total of 8,184 cases had been reported across the belt this year, with 690 deaths, according to WHO. Six strains (types) of the bacteria can cause epidemics and are seen globally, but one

dominates within this region, Strain A. “There was simply no vaccine for this strain,” says Davis. Meningitis is a bacterial disease infecting the lining of the brain and spinal cord and causes death in five to 10 per cent of cases, even if caught early. Those who survive the infection also have a 10 to 20 per cent chance of brain

damage, hearing loss and learning disabilities, according to WHO. Symptoms include a stiff neck, rash, fever, vomiting and sensitivity to light. People most affected are children under five and teenagers as they are more likely to encounter the bacteria. The new vaccine, known as MenAfriVac, began development in 2001, as part of the

Meningitis Vaccine Project (MVP). The project was set up to address the epidemics and prevent them from happening annually. Less than a decade later, the vaccine was ready to go and was first introduced in Burkina Faso in 2010. Since then, more than 235,000 people had been immunised, aged between one and 29 years, across 16

countries in the belt. As well as protect individuals, the vaccine also prevents asymptomatic people from carrying the Meningitis A bacteria in their system and spreading the disease without realising. “It’s gone from high numbers to almost zero...we’re almost at elimination of meningitis A,” says Davis. “We can’t declare victory yet,” says Davis, adding that

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose (right), exchanging pleasantries with, from left, vice-president, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), B Zone, Cosmos Oni; NUJ chairman, Oyo State Council, Mr Gbenga Opadotun;chairperson, National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ms Foluso Lala and the Chief Press Secretary to the Ekiti State governor, Mr Idowu Adelusi, during the World Press Freedom Day lecture, organised by Oyo NUJ, at the NUJ Press Centre, Iyaganku, Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE.

We will poison our water, Fayose threatens Fulani herdsmen By Kunle Oderemi and Tunde Ogunesan GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State, on Tuesday, warned marauding herdsmen that have sent many Nigerians to their untimely graves in parts of the country to steer clear of his state or otherwise risk a greater danger for their cattle. He said failure on their part to heed the warning would lead to the people of the state poisoning the source of water by the herdsmen for the cattle. Fayose stated this on Tuesday, while speaking on the topic: “Journalism and Politics; two sides of a coin,” at the World Press Freedom Day organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Oyo State Council, held at the Dapo Aderogba hall, Iyaganku, Ibadan. Fayose said the time had come for Nigerians to defend themselves in the face of unwarranted attacks and killings by suspected herdsmen across the country. Citing the carnage carried out by them in Benue and Enugu states, the governor said Boko Haram appeared to have changed its identity to herdsmen, unleashing terror on innocent citizens of the country, He said he had instructed his people to poison water with a particular brand of

chemical used against fungal attacks in the event of any herdsmen attack in Ekiti. “It seems Boko Haram has changed identity to herdsmen now. You as journalists must speak out, the killings are under reported. Is it about the mass burial in Kaduna State, the Agatu saga or the recent killing which happened on Monday? Ask questions,” he said. On his criticism of President Muhammed Buhari, Fayose said he had nothing against the personality of the president, but that the world democracy did not live on old leaders again. Fayose said it was wrong for the president to believe he could use the panacea he adopted to tackle national problems over 30 years ago as head of state to solve current national challenges. “President Buhari is too old to rule this country and that is why there is problem in this country now. He is like my grandfather. Nigeria should not produce any president that is over 60 years. “World democracy don’t parade octogenarians again. Young people should rise up to challenge the older generation. Maybe that is why there is a law that a pilot should not fly an aircraft after 65 years of age,” he said. Fayose advised journalists in the country to hold politi-

cians accountable for their deeds and character while in office, in order to save the country from going down. “You are the last hope of common man. When journalists support looters, there is confusion of vision. Journalists should shy away from it. Bad politicians should be brought to justice. Don’t write about issues you don’t know. Don’t rely on what a politician told you of his supposed enemy and don’t inherit his enemies. Journalists must help bring corrupt politicians to justice. “When politicians are going wrong, let them feel the heat first from you. Most politicians are using journalists in Nigeria for their dirty jobs and they are supporting wicked politicians. Journalists in Nigeria always shy away from the truth because they are self-centred and greedy. As a journalist, you need to discharge your duty without fear or favour. “Politicians have no address and this is why it is possible for a politician to defect from PDP after 12 years to APC and is being celebrated as a saint. Journalists should stop supporting and having soft spots for political parties and politicians. Some of you have sympathy for PDP or APC. Don’t join our battle. You are the hope of the common man and the only thing they can enjoy,” he said.

The governor said journalists were being used for dirty jobs, advising them to remember that Nigerians needed them more than politicians. “Nigeria needs you more than politicians. When you pervade the truth, Nigeria is in trouble. We are in the wrong direction in this country and it is time to keep all of us on course. “Journalists need to put politicians on their toes. Anybody that encroaches our constitution must be brought to book; you must defend our constitution. The career of most journalists that dabbled into politics had been destroyed. “This is an era of public governance and in the last 12 months, we have never had it so bad in this country. No fuel, no electricity and I can categorically tell you that we are in the wrong direction as Nigerians. I am pleading with you, save Nigeria,” he said. On 2019 elections, the governor assured that though PDP failed during the 2015 elections because those at the helm of affairs of the party were bereft of ideas, the party is being repositioned to return to power in 2019. According to him, “Yes, PDP failed in 2015, not because people didn’t like PDP, but because they didn’t like certain individuals. We are prepared to do the cleansing.

We are ready to make the drastic change. And I tell you, we’re coming back.” He said the party needed the services of younger and vibrant members and not the elderly ones, who ought to leave the stage when the ovation was loudest.”

cases would return if national immunisation programmes fail to include the vaccine into routine immunisations. However, experts have warned that the disease still has five other epidemic strains that could strike, known as B, C, W, X and Y. The first two are found more commonly in Europe, but cases of Meningitis C have been rising in Africa since 2013, according to WHO. “There are other strains circulating in Africa,” says James Stuart, an honorary Professor in Epidemiology at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. Numbers affected by Meningitis C have been rising in both Nigeria and Niger, resulting in 12,000 cases and 800 deaths in these countries within the first six months of 2015 and greater numbers are expected this year. Cases of Meningitis W have also been reported this year, with 276 cases reported across the belt as of March 13 2016. Stuart warned this was not the end of the epidemic and stressed the need to develop a pentavalent vaccine protecting against multiple strains, including A, C, W, X and Y.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly known and addressed as Aisha Ibrahim Hassan now wish to be known and addressed as MRS AISHA IBRAHIM MOHAMMED. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public should please take note.

7 news

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

EFCC can’t clear CCT chairman of corruption allegation —Saraki Sunday Ejike -Abuja

ENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has dismissed the purported clearance issued to the chairman of

the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Yakubu Umar, by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in relation to his alleged involvement in N10 million corruption

case. Saraki contended that there was no time the EFCC cleared Umar, adding that even where such clearance existed, it was a confirmation of his (Saraki) position

that the CCT, under Umar, could not ensure fairness in his trial. The Senate President, who spoke in Abuja through his lawyer, Ajibola Oluyede, argued that the clearance

purportedly issued Umar by EFCC could not override the recommendation made in 2014 by the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF) for Umar’s prosecution.

Again FG fails to produce Dasuki in court for trial •Court adjourns till May 23 THE Federal Government, on Tuesday, failed to produce former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), before a Federal Capital Territory High Court in Abuja for trial in corruption charges brought against him by the government. Although the witnesses in the case were assembled in court by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the trial was scuttled by the failure of the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to release Dasuki to EFCC for the trial. At the resumed hearing of the case, counsel for the EFCC, Mr Oluwaleke Atolagbe, informed Justice Baba Yusuf that he had made efforts through the EFCC to contact the DSS to produce the first defendant in court and regretted that as of the time the court was sitting, his efforts did not yield result. The counsel informed the court that there was no indication that the former NSA

would be brought to court for the trial, though the witnesses were in court and that Mr Rotimi Jacob, who was supposed to be the lead prosecution counsel, was at the Court of Appeal for a different matter. Atolagbe appealed that the matter be stood down pending the arrival of Mr Jacob

to come and shed more light on the absence of Dasuki. However, counsel for Salisu Shuaib, a former Director of Finance in ONSA, Chief Akin Olujimi, said the coming into court of Jacob would be inconsequential in the absence of the first defendant (Dasuki). In his own submission,

counsel for Aminu BabaKusa, a former executive at NNPC, Mr Solomon Umor, informed Justice Baba Yusuf that “ordinarily, the prosecution ought to apply for a bench warrant against Dasuki for failure to appear in court for trial,” but noted that in the case, the prosecution would not do so

Protesters storm govt house Continued from pg4

South West Youth Front and families of the detained Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) staffers, appealing to the National Judicial Council (NJC), National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the President, Federal High Court, Abuja, to release on bail, the CBN staffers from Agodi Prison. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

Nobody was killed in recent attack in Nasarawa —Police Ademola Adegbite -Abuja THE Nasarawa State police command, on Tuesday, dismissed the media reports that 20 persons were killed by people suspected to be Agatu youths from Benue State, at Adayi and Loko in Nasarawa Local Government Area of the state. The police, who, therefore,

because it was responsible for the absence of Dasuki because of his unwarranted detention. In his ruling, Justice Baba Yusuf said it was the responsibility of the prosecution to produce the defendant in court as required by law, but regretted that the prosecution had unfortunately abdicated this responsibility today as far as this case was concerned. He said because the conduct of the prosecution had been good in the past, he granted an adjournment of the trial till May 23.

Oluyede said it was only the AGF that possessed the power, under the law, to reverse a decision to prosecute, arguing that his client’s application urging Umar to disqualify himself from the trial was still before the tribunal. He faulted media reports that the application had been thrown out by the tribunal, noting that since the prosecution was yet to respond to it and had not been heard, the tribunal could not decide on it. He assured that he would argue the application before the tribunal once it was ripe for hearing, saying “we are not saying he (Umar) is guilty. We are saying he is tainted and that he cannot act independently while the EFCC that is investigating him and had indicted him is now prosecuting our client before him.”

confirmed the killing of about 83 cows during the incident, made this known in a press statement authorised by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Numan Umaru Numan, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune on Tuesday night. The statement, however,

described the report as mischievous, misleading and attempt to embarrass the command, adding that it was in that respect that a complainant of Nasarawa police division, Alhaji Ruwa, that the command was now monitoring the situation. It emphasized that the patrol had intensified efforts

to arrest the fleeing suspects as well as contain the escalation of the incident. It will be recalled that Fulani leader of Adayi area of Loko, Mallam Bideri Ahmadu and the traditional ruler of Loko, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Sabo, allegedly fingered Agatu youths in the killing of 20 men in the area.

ited the troubled community, recalling that he wept openly after seeing scores of victims and displaced persons in the community. Ugwuanyi stated that he had queried the security operatives to explain what transpired on the eve of the incident, stressing that he was assured that all was well in the community. The governor told protesters that he had already met with the traditional rulers with a view to proffering solutions to future occurrence. Earlier, the spokesman of the coalition group, Mrs Joy Onyeso, told the governor that 13 organisations convened on Thursday, at Roban Hotel, Enugu, to look into the Fulani herdsmen crisis at Nimbo community. “We strongly condemn the killings, abductions and

maiming of our people in vulnerable communities in recent past, especially the killings of April 25 at Nimbo community of Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area that claimed several lives,” she added. “We demand a comprehensive public and transparent inquiry into the immediate and remote causes of the Nimbo community killings by alleged Fulani herdsmen. We demand accountability and zero tolerance for unlawful extra-judicial killings and wanton destruction of properties, in accordance with Nigeria’s constitution and obligations under international human rights laws,” they stated. The demonstrators also called for an urgent extension of humanitarian aid to victims, which should be fast-tracked and effectively monitored.

Troops rescue 80-yr-old man from 3 persons, 4 cows die as cattle causes accident on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway that the accident occurred spilling its content on the critically injured as a result Boko Haram Olayinka Olukoya and of the incident. Destroy bandit camps in Kaduna, Zamfara Ademola Adegbite -Abuja TROOPS of 29 Task Force Brigade on clearance operations of remnants of Boko Haram terrorists, on Sunday, rescued a 80-year-old man in Shaltimari village, Borno State. According to a statement by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, the elderly man, Mallam Ibrahim Matuk, stated that he suffered untold hardship in the hands of the Boko Haram terrorists who killed all his children while in captivity. Also, the troops of 1 Division of Nigerian Army had intensified clearance operations against cattle rustlers and armed bandits in Ka-

duna and Zamfara states. Within the last four days, they have killed two notorious cattle rustlers suspected to have killed seven innocents persons in Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State. They also arrested five armed bandits who had been declared wanted and recovered arms and ammunition from them before destroying their camps. The troops, according to Colonel Usman, also conducted a clearance operation in Kuduru, Birnin Gwari Local Government Area of Kaduna State, where they arrested five cattle rustlers, recovered arms and ammunition and then destroyed the armed bandits camps.

Olalekan Olabulo

THREE people and four cows lost their lives in an accident that happened at the Lotto junction, Mowe end of the Lagos-Ibadan expressway, on Monday night. Lagos Metro gathered

as a result of a herdsman, whose cattle were crossing the road as the time of the incident. The truck, according to eyewitness account, was travelling from Lagos and heading towards Ibadan, when it rammed into the cattle which resulted into

highway. The three victims were so unlucky, as friction from a towing vehicle that was moving an accident vehicle without tyres, caused a spark and caught fire instantly. It was also learnt that three other people were

Scene of a Multiple tanker fire accident at Mowe along Lagos-Ibadan Expressway on Tuesday. PHOTO: SYLESTER OKORUWA.

Among the injured was an official of the Ogun State Fire Service, who was on official duty at the scene of the accident. The service truck, fire fighting engine earlier stationed at the scene of the accident to forestall any outbreak was burnt to ashes by the fire. The incident was confirmed to newsmen by the Public Relations Officer of the Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE), Babatunde Akinbiyi. Akinbiyi said the accident occurred by 11:00 p.m. on the fateful day, adding that the injured persons were taken to the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu, for treatment.

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

businessnews

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

IMF pegs Nigeria’s 2016 growth to 2.3% •Says Africa’s growth lowest in 15 years Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

HE steep decline in commodity prices and tighter financing conditions have put many large African economies under severe strain, and the “Regional Economic Outlook for Africa just released by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) calls for a stronger policy response to counter the effect of these shocks and secure the region’s growth potential. The report pegged Nigeria’s growth forecast for 2016 at 2.3 per cent According to IMF, after a prolonged period of strong economic growth, subSaharan Africa is set to experience a second difficult year as the region is hit by multiple shocks. The report shows growth fell to 3½ percent in 2015, the lowest level in 15 years. Growth this year is expected to slow further to 3 percent, well below the 6 percent average over the last decade, and barely above population growth. It attributed the situation to the slump in commodity price which hit many of the largest sub-Saharan African economies hard. While oil prices have recovered somewhat compared to the beginning of the year, they are still more than 60 percent below 2013 peak levels—a shock of unprecedented magnitude. “As a result, oil exporters such as Nigeria, Angola, and five of the six countries within the Central African Economic and Monetary Community continue to face particularly difficult economic conditions. “The decline in commodity prices has also hurt non-energy commodity exporters, such as Ghana, South Africa, and Zambia. “Compounding this

shock, external financing conditions for most of the region’s frontier markets have tightened substantially compared to the period until mid-2014 when they enjoyed wide access to global capital markets”, it continued. A severe drought in several southern and eastern African countries, including Ethiopia, Malawi, and Zimbabwe, is putting millions of people at risk of food insecurity in addition. Nonetheless, the impact of these shocks var-

ies significantly across the region and many countries continue to register robust growth, including in per capita terms. In particular, most oil importers are faring much better with growth of 5 percent or higher in countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, and many low-income countries. These countries continue to benefit from infrastructure investment efforts and strong private consumption. While the immediate out-

ical in many cases, as the policy response to date has generally been insufficient. “In commodity exporting countries, where fiscal and foreign reserves are depleting rapidly and financing is constrained, the response to the shock needs to be prompt and robust to prevent a disorderly adjustment. “Countries outside monetary unions should use exchange rate flexibility, as part of a wider macroeconomic policy package, to absorb the shock.”

From left: Tolulope Lawani, Marketing Manager; Francis John Angbo, Enterprise Printing Account Manager; Ify Afe, Managing Director and Allison Alassan, Trade Marketing Manager all of HP Inc. during a media conference by HP Inc., in Lagos.

Femi Otedola loses $400m in 9 weeks —Forbes NIGERIAN billionaire Femi Otedola has lost more than $400 million of his personal fortune over the last 9 weeks as the stock price of Forte Oil, the Nigerian-listed energy behemoth he controls, shed off 43.5 per cent in value within that period, according to a Forbes report. In late February the share price of Forte Oil hit an all-time high of N342 per

share after the Lagosbased utilities and petroleum marketing company released its impressive 2015 FY results and declared an attractive dividend of N3.45 per share. However, as at close of trading on Tuesday, its share price had dropped to N193.46 after recording consistent daily losses over the past few weeks. Otedola, who is the com-

Capital market turnover drops by 31.6% THE total volume of shares traded on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in April dropped by 31.57 per cent, the exchanged report for the month showed on Tuesday. The report, obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) revealed that during the period investors traded a total of 11.47 billion shares valued at N33.48 billion exchanged in 62,747 deals. The figure was lower than the 16.63 billion shares worth N48.16 billion transacted in 73,155 deals in March. A breakdown indicated

look for many sub-Saharan African countries remains difficult, the region’s medium-term growth prospects are still favorable. The underlying domestic drivers of growth at play over the last decade generally continue to be in place. In particular, the region’s much improved business environment and favorable demographics should help bolster growth in the medium term. To reap this strong potential, however, a substantial policy reset is crit-

that the financial services sector remained the most active, accounting for 10 billion shares valued at N18.12 billion, transacted in 12,010 deals. It was trailed by premium board, which accounted for 824.49 million shares worth N6.96 billion exchanged in 12,010 deals. The conglomerates sector came third with a total of 212.77 million shares valued at N297.59 million transacted in 2,322 deals. The market capitalisation, during the review period also decreased by

N83 billion or 0.95 per cent to close at N8.621 trillion against N8.704 trillion achieved in March due to price depreciation. Besides, the NSE AllShare Index shed 243.81 points or 0.96 per cent to close at 25,306.22 compared with 25,306.22 recorded in March. Commenting on the performance, Malam Garba Kurfi, Managing Director of APT Securities and Funds Ltd., attributed the lull to foreign exchange challenges which led to withdrawal of foreign investors from the nation’s bourse.

pany’s controlling shareholder, has seen his paper net worth drop from $1.6 billion when FORBES published its annual ranking of the World’s Billionaires in March, to $1.2 billion, according to the FORBES’ real-time billionaire scorecard. A source at Forte Oil said that the drop in the company’s share price was not unconnected to massive sell-offs of bonus shares from some of the company’s retail investors. Last year, Forte Oil offered investors a bonus of one new share for every five ordinary shares they held. In total, Forte Oil declared roughly 216 million bonus shares for the 2014 business year. The bonus shares were only issued to investors a couple of weeks ago and they have been scrambling to sell off their bonus shares on the market to cash in. This mass sell-off has precipitated the drop in the share price. “This is only temporary. As you’ll see, even though investors are selling off their bonus shares, there

are institutional investors who are buying up all the shares on offer as evidenced by the volume of the transactions in the last few days. When all those bonus shares are cleared up by institutional investors, you’ll see the share price rising again,” the source said. Of the 216 million bonus shares which have been issued, Femi Otedola received approximately 170 million. Forte Oil PLC is primarily engaged in the distribution of petroleum products such as diesel, aviation fuel and Premium Motor Spirit (PMS). The company has over 500 company-owned, dealer-assisted and dealer-developed gas stations spread across the country, oil storage depots in Lagos and Rivers states, a Power plant and a Joint User Hydrant Installation facility in Lagos. The company also sells its own range of automobile lubricants. In 2014 the company was included in the Morgan Stanley Capital International Frontier Market 100 Index.

Nigerian Tribune

FG to review tariffs in oil, gas sector Olatunde Dodondawa-Texas

THE Federal Government has announced it is set to review tariffs in oil and gas sector and have also concluded plans to extend fiscal incentives to all investors that have oil and gas facilities close to rural oil producing communities. Speaking at the Nigerian Content Forum on Tuesday in Houston, Texas, U.S.A, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources and Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said government is making efforts to harness the country’s hydrocarbon resources for industrialisation. He reiterated that government’s focus is no longer on revenue from crude oil exports, but to process locally to meet petrochemical, power, energy and domestic needs of Nigerians. However, indigenous operators in the a Nigerian oil and gas sector have again raised alarm over their inability to access the Nigerian Content Development Fund, which has reached $600 million over the last three years. But Kachikwu, who was represented by Tunde Adelana, Director, Monitoring and Evaluation, NIgeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) swiftly responded that the fund’s operating model was currently being reviewed to enhance its accessibility to local service companies for their capacity enhancement activities. He said the government is determined to accelerate the implementation of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Park Scheme to enable the country’s Small and Medium Enterprises focus on production and services while infrastructure and facilities are were being developed to support domiciliation imperatives. He said the sites are being acquired in strategic locations and physical development is expected to commence in strategic locations and physical development to commence in earnest to meet the aspirations of the industry. “Government is determined to keep our populace productively engaged, as such we are working on enforcing local content practice in other sectors especially power, construction and information and communication Technology,” he said.

12 news

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

S/West PDP splits into 3 camps over national offices By Kunle Oderemi

HREE camps have emerged in the South-West chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) ahead the party’s national convention in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, on May 21. Nigerian Tribune gathered last night that three powers appeared set for showdown over three national offices—national secretary, national publicity secretary and the national auditor zoned to the area. While one camp, comprising governors elected on PDP platform and a number of core stakeholders have slated a meeting for Akure, the Ondo State capital, today, another group of party buffs will converge on IjebuIgbo over positions zoned to the area. The conveners of the ijebu-Igbo meeting have listed 10 categories of PDP members to attend and they include PDP National Executive Committee (NEC) members, from the zone, as well as former ministers and members of the National Assembly. The third group that has so far emerged following the ongoing power tussle comprises PDP elders, particularly from Lagos, Ogun and Oyo states, who insisted on the South-West producing the next national chairman of the party. All the groups appear to be working across purposes, even as the crisis trailing the

parallel ward congresses conducted last Saturday remains unabated. The current national auditor hails from Ogun State, while the national secretary is from Osun State, but findings indicated that top on the agenda of the separate meetings taking place in Ijebu-Igbo and Akure was the sharing of the three positions zoned to the south-West. Some of the big names said to be seriously involved in the current high-wired politicking include Senator Iyiola Omisore, Senator Kasamu Buruji, Senator Teslim Folarin, Chief Olabode George, Dr Doyin Okupe, Professor Taoreed Adejumo, Makanjuola Ogundipe and the governors. There were indications that a few members of the Lagos group were keen on vying for the national chairmanship, in spite of the NEC of the party to zone the post to the North-East. Accordingly, the group is

yet to take a clear-cut position on the actual positions zoned to the South-West by NEC. It was learnt that the PDP leaders to be hosted in Ijebu-Igbo might ask Ogun and Lagos to strike a compromise on which of the two state chapters should produce national secretary, just as Ondo and Ekiti could be asked to produce a consensus candidate for the post of national auditor. On the other hand, the permutation among PDP leaders expected to meet in Akure is that Osun should be compensated with the position of national publicity secretary, a post Ekiti already has a stronger contender in Mr Lere Olayinka, a top aide of Governor Ayodele Fayose. According to sources, Ondo might be offered the position of national secretary under the deal to be considered by the leaders at the Akure meeting.

Oba of Benin: Edo govt declares 5-day holiday Banji Aluko - Benin City AS a mark of honour and respect for the Oba of Benin, who recently transited, the Edo State government has declared a 5-day public holiday with effect from Tuesday, May 3, to mourn the revered royal father. In a special announcement signed by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Prince Kassim Afegbua, only those

on essential services in hospitals, health centres, the Fire Service and others are exempted from observing the public holiday. The nation’s flag is expected to be flown at half mast across the state during the 5-day mourning period, while work is expected to resume on Monday, May 9. All government offices, establishments and parastatals are expected to fully comply with the directive.

100 Shi’ite members remanded in Kaduna Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna NO fewer than 100 members of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN) arraigned before Justice Hajaratu Gwada of the High Court has been remanded in prison custody on Tuesday. The case, with charge number KDH/ KAD/40C/2016 is accusing the arraigned members of the IMN with criminal conspiracy, culpable homicide, unlawful assembly, disturbance of public peace and wrongful restraint. The judge adjourned the case to 1st of June, in order to allow each of the accused persons to be served individual charges instead of the collective charge filed by the state government against all the accused. Counsel for the defendants, Festus Okoye, drew the attention of the court to the fact that his clients

were not served individual charges for the case against them being a criminal charge. On the other hand, the counsel for the state government, Bayero, argued that the accused persons had been served a collective charge in prison. The court also instructed that the six accused persons out of the 91 who were absent from today’s proceedings be served their charges, including those released on bail and the minors. Okoye told the court that among those absent from court today was a non-existing person mentioned in the list of those being accused of the crime by the state government, so also a seriously ill person and some minors. The court further instructed the counsel for the state government to ensure that they also serve the sureties of those released on bail, so

that they all could appear before the court on the given date for hearing in the case to commence. Other cases for hearing between the Kaduna State government and members of the IMN, in which 266 of them are facing trial included the state versus Aliyu Muhammad and nine others, coming up on the 19th of May, before Justice Esther Inuwa and the state vesus Muhammad Awwal Yakubu and 80 others before Justice David Wyoms, coming up on the 11th of May. Also in addition to the recently adjourned case, there is also another case, the state versus Muhammad Bedde and 30 others, coming up before Justice Hannatu Balogun. There is another court case coming up next Monday, involving women and minors earlier released on bail.

editorial

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Northern governors and preaching licence

AST Friday, the 19 northern state governors agreed to commence the issuance of licences to all religious organisations and preachers in the region. The governors, alarmed by the proliferation of sects and preachers in the region, also agreed to close down all religious organizations and institutions that refused to be registered with the respective state governments. Previously, there had been widespread condemnation of the Kaduna State Preaching Regulation Bill currently undergoing legislative consideration in the state’s House of Assembly. The bill, originated by Governor Nasir el-Rufai, ostensibly seeks to protect the state from religious extremism and hate speech. It is not difficult to see why the 19 northern governors are taking this action to rein in the use of religion to perpetrate violence and division. The North has a history of religious and sectarian crises, some of which were attended by monumental destruction of lives and property as well as displacement of many Nigerians. Whether the enactment of the Kaduna bill into law and its replication across the northern states will in itself put paid to religious violence in the zone is debatable. What is, however, cheery about the proposal is that it has elicited as many criticisms from Christians as it has from Muslims, an indication that it may not have been targeted at any particular religion. The proposed licensing of preachers is like a two-edged sword. Perhaps if some of the religious bodies in the northern states had adhered strictly to the tenets of their religion in preaching peace, tolerance and respect for freedom of others, there would have been no need to propose the preaching regulation bills. There is no gainsaying the fact that some religious bodies engage in excesses that even secular organisations would be morally restrained from engaging in. For instance, a United Kingdombased Nigerian Pastor had to face the British government discipline in 2005 when the Charity Commission investigators discovered that he had used church assets to buy a 13,000 pound Florida timeshare and spent 120 pounds on his birthday. He had to repay 200,000 pounds while he was removed from his role as chief executive. No one is even querying religious organizations’ finances in Nigeria. Churches in the entire country are seeing the proposal by the northern governors as a means of stifling their growth but the nation surely cannot permit every action in the name of God. There is a need for discipline and good corporate governance, otherwise unfettered freedom of religion has the potential to cause harm to public safety, public order, public morality and freedom of other persons. However, according to the Kaduna bill which the entire northern states have vowed to replicate, no external preacher can preach in Kaduna without a permit, which will be issued after due clearance by a Committee of the Jama’atu Nasril Islam

or a committee set up by Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), as the case may be. The question is whether this arrangement can really work. Can, and indeed should, anybody be forced to operate under any committee? Truth be told, the proclivity to violence cannot be situated only in the religious indiscretions by some unscrupulous practitioners. And it should be appreciated that reforms that do not address the abject poverty ravaging the North will fail. Religious extremists and hate preachers had always been in the North. But in the 60s, there was no religious crisis in the zone because people were profitably engaged and simply ignored them. The textile companies and many other economic enterprises were flourishing but the situation today is different. People don’t have anything to do. Persons with able bodies but idle minds are pawns on the chessboard of manipulative religious preachers who offer instant prosperity. Some of them even emphasize the glorious hereafter that awaits members who carry out heinous crimes in the name of religion and die in the process. At a time when the dropout rate from school is intolerably high, when almajiris have become a potent political force negatively deployed by politicians for peanuts, trying to stop violence that may erupt from religion only is scratching the problem on the surface. The veritable issues to be tackled head-on are the intertwined evils of unemployment, ignorance and poverty. Besides, the compartmentalization of the recognized religious authorities into two broad groups of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Jama’atu Nasril Islam is also an issue. Apart from the non-recognition of traditional worshippers, there are doctrinal variations among the denominations in Christianity and Islam. For instance, there are many Christians who are not members of CAN. Also, Ahmaddiya Muslims are reputed for not believing in the prophet as the last messenger. How does the proposal accommodate these outliers, including the traditionalists? Legislating on religion could be a tricky exercise. Religion cannot be driven out; it is personal to individuals. If the real fear of the northern governors is the violence that religious incitement could occasion, then the security agencies should be alive to their responsibilities. Those who incite with a view to causing the breakdown of law and order can be apprehended under the extant laws. An erstwhile governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu, was once confronted with religious extremists who were preventing people from reaching their area in the state but he acted proactively to prevent the religious bigots from creating a state within a state. This is the way to go rather than embarking on a controversial exercise which has needlessly pitched the major religious stakeholders in the country against the 19 governors.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

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Herdsmen’s attacks: No to retaliation

recently came across a post on social media which suggested the retaliation against Fulani herdsmen. I became seriously disturbed by this. I believe that I am not very far from hasty generalisation if I say that a vast majority of herdsmen have now taken the killing of farmers as a hobby. They are killing fellow human beings in order to cater for their cattle. First, it is good to inform those who are oblivious of the activities of the herdsmen in recent times and refresh the memory of those who al-

ready know. On Tuesday, April 20, 2016, herdsmen attacked five communities in Lagelu Local Government Area of Oyo State. On Monday, April 25, 2016; armed herdsmen attacked Ukpabi Nimbo community of Enugu State killing over 50 people, mostly farmers. These herdsmen have equally carried out serious attacks on communities in Osun, Ondo, Nassarawa, Benue, just to mention but few. Why should herdsmen kill their fellow countrymen? Why should they deprive a human being his own life in order to give life to cattle? Are cattle more important than hu-

man beings? Why should they demolish what has been built for months or even years within the twinkle of an eye? These herdsmen are frustrating other people’s comfort in order to create comfort for themselves. We received them to rear their cattle and live on our land, but they pay us back with evil. However, I know that this is the kind of frustration that prompted

the need for retaliation on social media. But retaliating is irresponsible, ridiculous, catastrophic and immoral. It defies the principle of common sense and propagates the division of our nation. It will only worsen the problem at hand; it will not in any way bring it close to an end. Therefore, retaliating is not an option for us as Yoruba sons and daughters, as well as other patriotic Nigerians.

We believe that stabbing the head is not the cure to headache. If we should do what the social media forum preaches, we would have only succeeded in adding salt to our injury. That will obviously lead to ethnic war and Nigeria will be on the brink of becoming a nation that once existed. This is not what we want as a people; so, how do we solve this problem? We should let it sink in

our minds that the government has the major role to play in solving a national problem that threatens the country’s existence. Government should reach out to the herdsmen so that they will know that destroying farms and killing innocent people will no longer be condoned. •Jamiu Idowu Esho, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State

due to the fact that we cannot generate enough forex that is putting pressure on our local currency, the naira, in the money market. The solution is that we should abandon foreignmade goods. I don’t think there is anything made abroad that cannot be produced at home. We should work towards curbing our imports, par-

ticularly petroleum products, which I know we can refine at home. We should also reduce our dependency on imported food. Let us see this period as an opportinity to develop our local economy, which will translate into jobs creation for our youths. •Vincent Ebuka, ebiksvince@gmail. com

Nigeria’s economy: We need patience

T may seem as if everything is not fine with this country, particularly with the ongoing fuel scarcity, which is hurting Nigerians, but I can say that we should just bear it for a while, and that everything will soon be fine. President Muhammadu Buhari is working round the clock towards ensuring that everything returns to normal in the country. Some people have been criticising the president’s frequent travels abroad, while urging him to stay more at home and tackle the enormous problems facing us, but the truth is that the president’s travels will soon begin to yield fruits. What we lack in the country today are investors who can revolutionalise our critical sectors. If we can get 10 investors to build refineries in the country, then we will never have the problem of fuel shortages again; the same thing goes for electricity. That is why we shouldn’t be in a hurry to criticise the president’s foreign trips. One good thing about this administration is that it has international acceptance, and our president is respected by global lead-

ers. It is, therefore, a matter of time before we begin to reap the rewards of democracy. In my own opinion, why we have not been having Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) of late is because of the global economic slowdown. The fall in the price of crude oil is a testament that the world’s economy is not as buoyant as it should be, but the rebound is a sign of hope that things are coming up economically again. I, therefore, want to urge Nigerians not to lose hope in this government, as it is serious about changing the fortune of the nation. We just need to be a little patient. Developed countries of the world have also passed through this phase, so it is nothing to be ashamed of. Since Rome was not built in a day, we should all be patient, with the belief that we will get to our promised land. However, everybody needs to contribute his quota to the development of the country, and in the end, everything will work just fine for us. •Yomade Afolabi, yomade4me@gmail. com

Why naira is weakening THE Nigerian naira is just so weak today that it is now selling for over N320 to a dollar. We need to ask ourselves where we are going in this country. We cannot continue to blame President Muhammadu Buhari for our economic woes, rather, we should blame our past leaders for not diversifying our economy when we had

money. I could remember that a former Head of State once said Nigeria’s problem is not knowing how to spend our wealth. Now, we are suffering for not being creative enough over the years. Crude oil is no longer valued in the world; the glut is a testament to that, and that is why its prices have been falling of recent. It is

opinion

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Transformational leadership: The Singapore experience (2) By Adedara Oduguwa

IGERIANS are not chess-boards which politicians can direct or redirect at will. The price of fuel is ridiculous even in rural-urban area like Sagamu; electricity supply is in shambles and disgraceful, as it is so difficult to even get an handkerchief ironed to work. Just recently, the Nigeria police were looking for only 10,000 job seekers, but over 700,000 showed interest. Civil servants have not been paid in months and government is yet to sign the 2016 budget. This is hyper-inflation; N50 worth of pepper is now sold for N200 (400 per cent increment), a bowl of rice now sells for N500 from N250 (100per cent increment), yet salary remains unpaid and the same. Enough is enough! This is not an APC change government. It’s a government that has refused to move. It’s the government of Federal Republic of Nigeria where APC and PDP are subsets. Unlike few others, I like to talk about our problem and recommend solution(s). On this case, I will proudly introduce you to transformational leadership, citing late Harry Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore as model. About Lee Kuan Yew Lee Kuan Yew, GCMG, CH, SPMJ (born Harry Lee Kuan Yew, 16 September 1923 – 23 March 2015), informally known by his initials LKY, was the first Prime Minister of Singapore, governing for more than three decades from 1959 to 1990, including through Singapore’s independence from Malaysia in 1965. After Lee chose to step down as Prime Minister in 1990, Lee’s successor, Goh Chok Tong, appointed him as Senior Minister, a post he held until 2004. In total, Lee held successive ministerial positions for 56 years. He continued to serve his Tanjong Pagar constituency for nearly 60 years as an elected Member of Parliament until his death in 2015. Singapore has traditionally relied on water from Malaysia. However, this reliance has made Singapore subject to the possibility of price increases and allowed Malaysian officials to use the water reliance as a political leverage by threatening to cut off supply. In order to reduce this problem, Lee decided to experiment with water recycling in 1974. But shut-down in 1975 to cost and

reliability issues. And by 2008, Singapore International Water Week was established; it focused on sustainable water solutions for cities. The Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize was also introduced in recognition given to outstanding contributions towards solving global water crisis. The prize has become an international award given out to individuals and groups worldwide. Intellectual Stimulation (IS) - the leader challenges followers to be innovative and creative. A common misunderstanding is that transformational leaders are “soft,” but the truth is that they constantly challenge followers to higher levels of performance. By establishing First World infrastructure and standards in Singapore, the new nation could woo American, Japanese and European entrepreneurs and professionals to set up base there. By the 1970s, the arrival of MNCs like Texas Instruments, Hewlett-Packard and General Electric laid the foundations, turning Singapore into a major electronics hub the following decade. According to Mr. Lee, “The transformation of our society is a project in which we all have a shared interest.” He added, “In a different world we need to find a niche for ourselves, little corners where in spite of our small size we can perform a role which will be useful to the world. To do that, you will need people at the top, decision-makers who have got foresight, good minds, who are open to ideas, who can seize opportunities like we did... My job really was to find my successors. I found them, they are there; their job is to find their successors. So there must be this continuous renewal of talented, dedicated, honest, able people who will do things not for themselves but for their people and for their country. If they can do that,

they will carry on for another one generation and so it goes on. The moment that breaks, it’s gone.” Having presented the case of Singapore in this format, it’s pertinent as a people to start looking above political party affinities, ethnic or religious preconceptions. Wrong is always wrong and whatever is black could only be white through a process of transformation. On this note, I present the following advice for Mr. President and his cabinet: 1. Stop giving excuses for non-performance, generate useful ideas and implement. 2. Stop blaming your predecessors for today’s woe, instead act! 3. Governance is about governing challenges, even in economies that looks perfect i.e Canada or U.S, there are challenges for government to wrestle with. 4. Nigerians voted for change (positive transformation) not complete sets of hopeless-drifters whose only interest is to talk and walk-about. 5. If anyone is guilty of corruption, persecute the person with all instrument of government, legitimately (this could be capital or corporal punishment); but don’t concentrate all your energies chasing shadows. We all know the thieves! 6. Feel free to ask for expert advice and don’t be too proud to cry-out if you are trapped. Remember no one is an island of knowledge. 7. Finally, if you think nothing can work again, don’t be ashamed, humbly resign! It is better to humble than to fumble. It is not a do-or-die affair! Remember, a leader that never emerged is better than one without clue. Conclusively, having talked about transformational leadership style using Harry Lee Kuan Yew as study, I therefore recommend this style of leadership to Mr. President and other public sector administrators in Nigeria. As a person, I am tired of relying on hope and excuses. Government should act fast before some of us commit suicide. •Oduguwa sent this article via adedaraoduguwa@yahoo.com (Concluded).

Say no to nuclear energy By Arese Carrington I read an article on April 26, 2016, in a Nigerian newspaper “Nuclear power not safe for Nigeria by Senator Shehu Sani.” I hope his voice will not be a lone voice on this issue while the citizens he is trying to protect look on. Although I don’t live in Nigeria, it is my native land and I love my native land, the people are my people and thus their predicament my concern. Despite the efficiency of the Japanese government and its people, their advancement in technology and history of excellent disaster management preparedness the nuclear disaster in Japan is proving to be one of the worst nuclear disasters, since Chernobyl. History is the study of the present and the past to project into the future. Nigeria’s history of disaster management or maintenance culture in the past and the present has much to be desired of, so how can it want to project into a future of nuclear energy with all the attendant risk. It does not take an expert in Nuclear energy to be able to state basic obvious facts that are glaring. Any major mishap involving radiation leaks from nuclear energy can lead to a disaster of catastrophic proportions that could lead to thousands of deaths, long term health problems, spikes in cancer incidents and birth defects. The devastation of a nuclear disaster in a highly populated country like Nigeria would send shock waves around the world. A breach in the nuclear containers of a nuclear reactor or a nuclear meltdown would release nuclear materials into the atmosphere and ground and could literally obliterate parts of the country and turn them into waste lands and “ghost lands”. No matter how prepared even the extremely prepared and efficient countries are, in a case of a nuclear disaster they can only try to mitigate the damage, so what chance would Nigeria have if a nuclear melt down were to occur in the country? Even if the argument is that the likelihood of a nuclear disaster is minuscule, should Nigeria of today, the way it is, subject its people to that risk? The risk out weighs the benefit. Thirty years on the Chernobyl disaster is still vivid in our

minds and the impacts of the damaging effects are still being felt. Was it not in Koko, Delta State, that someone shipped in containers of nuclear waste? Countries try to get rid of their radio-active waste, yet a Nigerian shipped it into his country and dumped it amongst his people. The community, struggling under their daily routine for survival did not sense the eminent danger and instead opened up the containers, used them to collect water and for other domestic use. By the time the government brought it to public knowledge, the people in the affected area of Koko had been exposed to radiation. When scientists came with Geiger counters to measure the amount of radiation in the area and also on the people, a lot of them did not understand what was going on and had little understanding of the dangers of nuclear radiation. Have the people of Koko been followed? Have longitudinal studies been done on their health status? Were children born in that area since the episode monitored? Is the soil in that area still being tested regularly or have the people of Koko been forgotten? These are but a few of the questions. It took about 400 children to die before something was done about the lead poisoning saga in a rural community of Zamfara State. Sadly the Chibok girls are still missing. All they wanted was to get an education so they could carve out a better future for themselves and yet their country could not protect them. Their safety could not be guaranteed against Boko Haram. What is the guarantee that these nuclear plants can be

adequately protected? The people deserve constant electricity power but do not deserve to die for it. Which state and whose “backyard” are the nuclear power plants going to be built in? The people need to understand the imminent danger of a nuclear power plant being built in their “backyard”. Constant electricity supply is important for economic development. The 2billion naira that has been allocated for nuclear plants in the 2016 budget should be used for safer methods of electricity generation. Nigeria is blessed with sunshine; it can invest in solar energy. It has vast areas of empty flat land so it can invest in wind energy by using turbines. It has valleys and lakes thus it can invest in hydro electric power by building dams. Kainji dam is one of the longest dams in the world. Was the dam ever maintained? Are all the hydro electric turbines working? Even if the dam is drying up, additional new hydroelectric dams can be built. Hydro-electric power stations if properly maintained can be a relative inexpensive source of power supply. There are a lot of hydro electric power stations around the world today. Sun, wind and water, these are all safer renewable sources of energy. Nuclear power is not child’s play and even the developed and prepared countries have seen that. The birth of a child is a time of great rejoicing, yet what type of country are we bringing that child into? Is the planet being sustained for future generations? As a country do we plan a future for that child? No matter their socio-economic status, is the child assured of basic human rights such as health, education and shelter? Will they be able to get a job or have the ability to generate income when they grow up? It seems that sayings like “A good name is better than riches” and “honesty is the best policy” have gone down the drain in Nigeria. Nigeria needs good governance, accountability, honest people that are truly vested in the people. The future of the country must not be discounted. What have we chosen to do with the truth? As a nation and as individuals, we must begin to speak the truth because the truth shall set the nation free. •Dr Carrington sent this article via aresec@yahoo. com

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

tribune cartoons

Adeeko Olusegun adeeko.olusegun@yahoo.com 0811 695 4638

FUNOLOGY

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA

Mike

Adenuga Jr.

SEGELUULU

CHURCH BOY

(The Bull)

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Born on 29 April, 1953 in the ancient city of Ibadan.

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He received his secondary school education at Ibadan Grammar School, Ibadan. He worked as a taxi driver to help fund his university education. He graduated from Northwestern Oklahoma State University and Pace University, New York with degrees in Business Administration.

•

Dr Mike Adenuga, a native of Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun State, is a Nigerian business tycoon, and the second richest person in Nigeria. His company Globacom is Nigeria’s second-largest telecom operator.

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He became a millionaire at age 26.

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Forbes has estimated his net worth at $3.2 billion as of September 2015 which makes him second wealthiest Nigerian behind Aliko Dangote, and the sixth richest person in Africa.

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In 2012 he was made Grand Commander of the Order of Niger (Nigeria).

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On Friday, 29 April, 2016, Michael Adeniyi Agbolade Ishola Adenuga Jr clocked 63.

THERE ARE 10 DIFFERENCES IN THE CARTOONS BELOW. THE DIFFERENCES SHOULD BE MARKED IN B

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

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nigerdelta

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Delta inaugurates DESTMA to enforce traffic laws Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri IN obvious response to the yearnings of Deltans in recent times, the Delta State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, has inaugurated the Delta State Traffic Management Agency (DESTMA). The agency was charged to improve traffic compliance, ensure safe, reliable and incident-free transportation on roads in and around the state. Speaking at the end of the 8-Day Induction Course for pioneer DESTMA staff at the weekend, in Asaba, Governor Okowa said that the inauguration of the agency was meant to check unhealthy road behaviour and enhance free flow of traffic, safety level and security on the roads. Smartly kitted in one of the uniform branded with his name, Okowa said: “I want to congratulate the management and staff of the Delta State Traffic Management Agency [DESTMA] for the successful completion of this induction programme.” According to him, “it is a good starting point for a critical intervention agency that has the unenviable task of ensuring safe, reliable and incident-free transportation on our roads.” Continuing, he said: “All over the world, the growth of urbanisation has created overcrowded cities leading to increasing traffic congestion and other anti-social behaviour on the roads.” He noted that “most countries in the world have also put in place traffic management measures to improve compliance with traffic rules and regulations, ensure free flow of traffic and promote safe mobility.” “DESTMA has the goal of checking bad behaviour and enhancing the overall level of safety and security on our roads,” the governor tutored. While noting that the induction programme was meant to prepare the staff for the tasks ahead, Senator Okowa informed the officers that “traffic management entails traffic control, incident management, efficient control and management of heavy duty vehicles as well as driver support and monitoring, including dissemination of safety-related materials.”

Ijaw youths in one of their protests against what they termed injustice by DESOPADEC.

Ijaws tackle DESOPADEC on centralised budget projects Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

RISIS is gradually brewing in oil-rich Delta State over alleged injustice, marginalisation and manipulations in the 2016 appropriation bill of the Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (DESOPADEC) as regards centralised projects earmarked for each oil-producing ethnic group on the commission. The Ijaws, under the aegis of Delta Ijaw Oil and Gas Producing Communities in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State, at a press conference at the weekend in Warri, accused DESOPADEC of “skewed allocation” as regards the centralised projects in the appropriation bill. They also alleged that the appropriation bill of the commission for the projects, which is currently at the Delta State House of Assembly, is tilted in favour of

the Itsekiris and Urhobos whose sons occupy the chairmanship and managing directorship positions of the commission. They argued that the six projects worth N1, 769,257,11.00 allotted to the Itsekiris, the seven projects worth N572,646,725.00 allotted to Urhobos, the Ndokwa’s four projects worth N330m and Isoko’s N300m for two projects as against one project worth N300m for Ijaws were not only insulting, but provocative of an ethnic group that accounts for the second highest producer of oil and gas in the state. The group, represented by Bishop Samson Amajene and Comrade Morrison Anuwo of the Gbaramatu and Egbema as well as four representatives of Diebiri, Ogulagha, Iduwini, Ogbe-Ijoh and Kou kingdoms, frowned on the additional five centralised projects worth N657m of which two are for Urhobos and one to Ndokwa as Ijaws’ high point of humili-

ation and marginalisation. While condemning the injustice and abuse of power as displayed in the 2016 DESOPADEC budget for the centralized projects, the group called for a strict adherence to allocation of money to ethnic nationalities based on oil and gas production quantum. It urged Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and Speaker of DHA, Monday Igbuya, to compel the lawmakers to review the appropriation bill to reflect the true position of the law, justice and equity as regards centralised projects allocation to the various ethnic groups. It will be recalled that barely a week ago, the Itsekiris raised a similar alarm, accusing their own representatives on the board of allocating the centralised projects to favour their communities and local governments alone as against popular interest and demands.

How we spend deductions from amnesty allowances —Itsekiri youths Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri WORRIED by rumors being bandied around by fifth columnists as regards how deductions from stipends from Itsekiri beneficiaries of the amnesty programme are managed, the Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) has disclosed where the deductions are channelled to. INYC legal adviser, Mr Robinson Ariyo, who addressed the press on the issue at the weekend in Warri, Delta State, stated that part of the deductions were usually being channelled to the palace of the Olu of Warri to assist a scholarship scheme meant for the underprivileged among the Itsekiris. According to him, another part of the deductions goes into assisting about 30 Ph.D and 70 M.SC Itsekiri students in various higher institutions while another chunk of the deductions is forwarded to the aged,

most of whom are members of the Itsekiri Leaders of Thought (ILT). The Mr David Tonwe-led INYC, registered as the Itsekiri Natives Youth Council, said disgruntled elements from the ethnic extraction, who were throwing spanners into the works of the Itsekiri amnesty programme through misinformation, should seek audience with the Olu of Warri, Ogiame Ikenwoli, for details on the identities of the actual beneficiaries and how the deductions from their allowances were managed. InsideNigerDelta gathered that some prominent Itsekiri personalities, armed with misinformed prejudices, had taken to the social media and the traditional media to distort facts as regards the number of beneficiaries and the usage of the fund accruable from the deductions. Ariyo, who spoke on behalf of Mr Tonwe,

explained that the member representing Warri Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Mr Daniel Reyenieju, had, during a briefing as part of events to mark the 27th coronation of the late Olu of Warri, Ogiame Atuwatse II, disclosed that no fewer than 100 beneficiaries were studying abroad in various universities under the programme. He described the distorted publications as “a huge misconception that the Post Amnesty Programme is a money-spinning business like the Pipelines and Surveillance Programme.” The fiery lawyer disclosed that “the Itsekiri Amnesty Programme is the only amnesty programme that passed through legislative process,” before only 500 slots out of 5,000 earlier requested were endorsed by the presidency. He averred that the Itsekiris did not

initially participate in the Amnesty Programme on the ground that they were not militants, but got themselves armed against aggression from their Ijaw neighbours in the wake of the Warri crisis.

CREW

Dapo Falade -Rivers 08078891924 lasep09@gmail.com Ebenezer Adurokiya -Delta 08060113609 ebenezeradurokiya@gmail.com Banji Aluko - Edo 08067030572 adebanjialuko@yahoo.com Austin Ebipade - Bayelsa 08065400743 austinebipade@gmail.com Alphonsus Agborh 08035838703

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

By Wale Ojo-Lanre 0803 349 0986 waleojolanre@gmail.com By Wale Ojo Lanre

EER! This four letter-word has remained with humanity since the evolution of modern society. It is a name attached to a liquid caged in bottle or can with certain and less degree of alcohol which distinguished it from liquor and wine of higher grade of ethanol. Beer is not only synonymous with entertainment but must be available anywhere there is celebration and excitement or where you want to create liveliness or spark the environment with memorable acts . The absence of Beer at any occasion automatically makes that event uneventful and unmentioned. For Beer, is it and must be it. And it has always been. Thus to some, Beer is Life! Without beer, the world would have been in void and waste. However as good as Beer is, majority of those who should patronise it do not do so. Not that they don’t have the money or capacity to buy and sip a bottle in a day nor that they don’t buy for friends or during social gatherings, but they will not or can not move near a jug of beer themselves just because of the stigma, the stereotypes and miscomputation about beer attributes. I am not a beer drinking person. I have not taken a pint of beer in my life not only because of the misconception or stigma, but just because that its alcoholic composition is too low! But to others, they dislike beer just because they believe as being peddled that beer drinking is sinful; it is sugar based; it is buffeted with ethanol; it is unhealthy; it fattens; it causes belly; it deadens brains; it is not good for old age; it stimulates anti – social behaviour; it affects sexual performance and many other sundry unfounded reasons. Thus they allowed themselves to be swept away with the fallacy of generalisation without having to think critically about the veracity of these claims. Hence some of us deadly believe in these beer stigmas. We agreed hook, line and sinker with the stereotypes and embrace the misconception about beer with a big hug. And poor enough the major beer producers in the world have not been proactive enough to enlighten the public and expose to the world comprehensive overview of Beer as an integral part of living healthy and an essential article of hospitality and tourism. However, the wool of ignorance was swept off my face between April 27 and 30 at a four - day retreat organised under the Bloggers Beer Academy by Nigerian Breweries in Ibadan, Oyo State, a eye and mental stoking retreat where I realised that most of all these stigma and stereotyping about beer are not but a bundle of misconception and grand exercise in ignorance. The first shock treatment was a vivid pictorial reports of the most successful men ever in the world bowing down for jug of beer, starting from the philosophers of yore whose postulations are the surviving ingredients and pillars that hold the world, Cicero said about Beer “A wise man invented the Beer”. Alexandria Armstrong “Beer: The best chemistry ever created”. Jack Nicholson ‘Beer is the best damn drink in the world “While world leaders like Presidents Barrack Obama, USA, David Cameron, Britain French Prime Minister Francois Fillon, and even my own spiritual guardian on earth Pope Benedict are lovers of beer.

Beer is Life! Soul of hospitality

Professor, ‘Tola Atinmo, Professor of Human Nutrition, Department of Human Nutrition, University of Ibadan did a brilliant expose on the health contribution of beer to the body. Making reference to Rusell Crowe “I have respect for beer.” Prof Atinmo listed some of the benefits of drinking beer with emphasis on moderation. He revealed “this presentation is not about recommending beer as a healthy drink, but to showcase the associated nutritional benefits of beer from the perspective of findings from evidence-based scientific researches.” Professor Atinmo pointed out “Nutrition is all about eating and drinking appropriately for good health and wellness.” He captured the relationship between beer and health with a quotation by Paracelsus, a German physician of the 16th century “Whether wine (or beer) is a nourishment, medicine or poison it is a matter of dosage.”

He gave the ingredients of making beer to include Water, malted barley, hops, yeast and corn as some of the ingredients used to brew beer. Hops add spicy aroma and bitter flavours, yeast changes sugars into alcohol, Corn and other adjuncts give beer a milder and lighter-bodied flavour. He revealed the nutrient components of beer which are needed by the body. Beer has nourished and comforted homo sapiens for millenniums in a safe manner and has been part of the daily food intake. Many people are not aware that drinking beer actually benefits their health. He listed the health benefits of beer as follows. Beer is one of the best sources of silicon in diet. New researches suggest silicon is important for the formation of strong bone mineral density. Beer contains folic acid which offers some

protection against coronary heart-diseases through homocysteine. Antioxidants for protection against many forms of cancer. Healthy hydration -92 per cent of beer is water (can count as part of the recommended eight glasses of water per day, but should not be a substitute for water) Stress relief Sexual health Lactation Old age cognitive health Helps with kidney stones, dementia, osteoporosis etc. Prof Atinmo with research evidence showed that beer causes no pot belly neither does it lead to obesity but” Beerbelly’is caused by too many calories in an individual’s diet (from over-eating, sugary food and beverages etc) and a sedentary lifestyle. More calories are ingested than what is burned. The excess is stored in the body as fat. Fat is stored more in the belly by men, hence the prevalence of‘ “beerbelly” in them. Concerning pregnant women, Prof Atinmo said it is not advisable for pregnant women to indulge in drinking beer and during breast feeding, but there is nothing harmful for ladies or women to drink beer. He also listed the disadvantages of drinking beer beyond moderation. “Everything about drinking beer is about moderation which applies to all things. The WHO recommends the maximum intake of beer in a day and if you stay within the level of moderation the disadvantages might not be yours.” Ben Anozie, a retired Beer Manager of 35 years of experience took us through the history, origin and preparation of beer. It was from him that we learnt at the brewery that apart from the fact that 90 per cent of beer contains water everything used for making beer is natural. Also, one realised that the matter of sugar content of beer is nothing, but a farce, for there is no sugar concentration in the preparation of beer and no ethanol introduced. Since water is life and 90 per cent of beer is water, beer is thus life. And going by the fact that world philosophers endorsed it, embraced by presidents, religious leaders, achievers and men and women of great achievements with evidence of having no harm to the body if taken within the limit of moderation, Beer is good for you. Away with stigma which prevents one from enjoying the benefit of good beer. Down with the anti – social stereotypes of old which have excluded one from tapping the socio networking of cool, cool beer and put a stop to the misconception about its consumption and embrace sipping beer moderately to replenish your brains and look great! Beer is Life, live it !

Emirates SkyCargo leads EMIRATES SkyCargo, the world’s largest international air cargo carrier, is taking a leading role to foster quality standards in the worldwide air cargo industry. It announced its membership in CargoiQ, an IATA group of over 80 key global air cargo players whose mission is to collaboratively create industry standards that would result in reliable and timely delivery of shipments throughout the entire air transport supply chain. “We are delighted to become a member of CargoiQ as its mission aligns with Emirates SkyCargo’s long-established commitment of “Delivered as Promised” to our

tourism

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Director General, Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation, Mrs Sally Mbanefo and Senegal Ambassador, Abubakar Samba

A Cultural Group entertaining guests

HOPE has again risen for tourism in Nigeria, as various promises were made by the government while stakeholders in the industry also recommended ways to reposition and develop the globally adjudged money spinning sector in the country, during the 2016 Nigeria Culture and Tourism Summit, organised by the Ministry of Information and Culture. President Muhammadu Buhari, taking the lead in his address, described tourism as a resource of development and means of providing an additional opportunity for a non-industrialised country like Nigeria, to diversify its economic base for the betterment of all. The President, represented by the Minister of Industry, Trade & Investment, Dr. Okechukwu Enelamah said: “the road for us as a nation to achieve our set objectives of diversifying our economic base will depend partly upon the quality of design and implementation of tourism policies; we must develop appropriate policies and the right attitudes towards achieving the desired goals. “We are aware that the development of the tourism sector all over the world is largely private-sector-driven. However, as evident in the 2016 budget, this administration will continue to provide the required enabling environment for arts, culture and tourism to thrive and develop, through the massive upgrading of infrastructure and the provision of security. We will continue to encourage public and private sector participation and partnership in all the desired areas, including transportation, beach and resort development as well as tour operations, hotel and hospitality development.” President Buhari then charged the Ministry of Information and Culture to effectively liaise with other relevant ministries and agencies to work out appropriate programmes, including actions and measures that would help in fighting the scourge of these social vices brought by the collapse of our value systems.

2016 Nigeria Culture, Tourism Summit:

customers. We have been following CargoiQ’s development over the years and are impressed with the solid initiatives it has developed, including the Master Operating Plan, which was conceptualised to support the implementation of quality management processes and metrics. With the rebranding of CargoiQ and the launch of their strategic transformation programme, we felt that the time was right to become a member. We look forward to making meaningful contributions to the group as well as learning from fellow members to further improve our own quality assurance programme,” said Nabil Sultan, Emirates

Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo. Emirates SkyCargo will provide representation and leadership on the Board of CargoiQ with the appointment of Mr Henrik Ambak, Senior Vice President for Emirates’ Cargo Operations Worldwide, as a board member. As a start, the company will adopt the Master Operating Plan into its shipment cycle management. The Master Operating Plan has been endorsed by IATA as a recommended practice and therefore accepted as the air cargo industry standard description of the end-to-end transportation process from shipper to consignee.

Hope Rises for Tourism in Nigeria (1) The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, during the Gala Night of the summit, held at the Congress Hall of Trascorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, boosted the moral of the stakeholders present as he promised the readiness of the present administration to make culture and tourism the bedrock of Nigeria’s economy. His words: “In this summit, we have brought together all the people who can make the culture and tourism industry work, stakeholders from both the public and private sectors that are well-grounded in the industry. “What we want to do is to let the world know that the culture and tourism portfolio is as attractive as Ministry of Petroleum Resources.’’ Mohammed advised members of staff of the ministry and its agencies not to feel rejected given the current government establishments’ structure.

He gave assurance that the sector would be made money spinner for government and the pride among government establishments for public and civil servants. The minister opined that Nigeria has a vibrant culture sector, which according to him is second to none in the world, saying, “Moreover, our rich cultural heritage is ‘soft power’ to confidently take on the world. Therefore, to deploy this ‘soft power’ to effectively promote international cultural diplomacy, we have to leverage the potentials in our culture to help drive our tourism sector so as to obtain our share of the global tourism benefits that would help resuscitate and redefine our tourism industry for sustainable economic development.” Mohammed, however, described the challenges before the country as to work out long term strategies to develop the nation’s culture and tourism sectors and move them into the mainstream of the economy, “while not failing to design ways and means

of plucking some low-hanging ‘fruits’ along the way.” Earlier in a welcome address, Ayotunde Adesugba, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry said that the gathering would design ways culture and tourism would impact on other sectors. “The summit will highlight the critical sectors of culture and tourism with a view to create job opportunities and improve other sectors like agriculture, transport and manufacturing. “Culture and tourism have become dominant sectors in many countries around the world and the drivers of their economies. “Nigeria must take the advantages of its rich, diverse and abundant culture and tourism potentials,’’ she said. Adesugba thanked participants and delegates to the conference and urged them to contribute their best to make culture and tourism the bedrock of the Nigerian economy.

Bishop weds 109 couples MOST Rev. Mathew Audu, the Bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Lafia, Nasarawa State, on Saturday in Masaka wedded 109 couples and urged in-laws not to interfere in their affairs. Audu, who was on his third pastoral visit to St. Martin’s Catholic Church, Masaka, appealed to relatives of the new couples to allow them to build their marriages. “As newly wedded couples, you must love each other just as Christ Jesus loved the church and died to set souls free. “You must respect each other’s feelings; care for each other, share views and reason

together in peace and unity. “You must not allow a third party to come into your matter; always invite God to intervene in your case. “Ensure that you are coordinated in all your dealings and make the word of God your standard, your pillar, your faith and your hope. “If you can keep these entire commandments, your marriage will be perfect and other couples will want to copy from you,’’ he said. The Bishop, who also confirmed 1,390 faithful, blessed 56 Eucharistic Ministers and 76 lectors, saying the blessing would strengthen their faith. He said that the confirmation and the blessings the members received would energise them to evangelise to people and win more souls into the kingdom of God. Audu said that confirmation in the Catholic Church was the sacrament which reaffirmed a person’s status in the church. He advised the members who were confirmed to keep doctrines of the Catholic Church and ensure that they carried out responsibilities

given to them diligently. “The Catholic Church sees confirmation as a rite in which grace falls on the person confirmed as they announce their commitment to God and the Church,’’ he said. Earlier, Rev. Fr. Jude Maigari, Parish Priest of the parish, said that the mass wedding was a culture imbibed by the church to enable couples with little finances wed in the church. He encouraged the couples to heed the advice given by the bishop saying it would help them to live in peace and harmony.

ecoscope

m:08038000394 e:doyinadeoye@tribuneonlineng.com t:@kreatif_ink

Kenya lights $100 million ivory bonfire to save elephants

•As WaterAid Nigeria celebrates 20th anniversary

sustainable WASH and to achieve this, all hands must be on deck,” he said. The minister further noted that the ministry have equally set in motion policies which will soon be forwarded to the National Assembly for final review and approval, to address issues around availability of water in every home in Nigeria. In his remarks, Country Representative, WaterAid Nigeria, Dr Micheal Ojo, noted that it was imperative at this juncture to engage policy makers, government officials and political representatives from the three tiers of governments, as well as citizens in a dialogue on implementation of sustainable development Goal 6. “Our dialogue today is designed to help us to find out what is likely to work in our context, given the challenges and opportunities of our political, policy and financing arrangements,” he said.

Adidas teases first-ever sneaker made from ocean plastic ADIDAS is releasing the first sneaker made from ocean waste later this year. This is the latest step in a wide ranging plan to improve the company’s social and environmental footprint. The brand developed a process for culling ocean plastic pollution and turning it into yarns and filaments for a flexible sports shoe and other apparel. While the product line will be ready for purchase later this year, it is a symbolic gesture that demonstrates the brand’s willingness to curb its environmental impact. Plastic pollution is becoming an increasingly dire problem for the world’s oceans, as eight million tonnes of plastic enter the world’s oceans every year. There are about 5.25 trillion pieces of plastic in the oceans today. Big pieces of plastic

are routinely ingested by animals who then face a range of health problems. As plastic breaks down, it leaches toxic chemicals into the water and deteriorates into small debris that are ingested by organisms up and down the food chain. Other threats facing the world’s oceans include overfishing, water acidification and the destruction of coral reefs. The new athletic shoe made from recycled plastic is one of the more tangible efforts Adidas is making to combat pollution in their supply chain. Adidas’s latest sustainability report was the most thorough to date, exploring the state of oceans and touching on a broad range of issues such as water conservation, worker rights and recyclable materials.

Until you dig a hole, you plant a tree, you water it and make it survive, you haven’t done a thing. You are just talking. — Wangari Maathai, was a Kenyan environmental and political activist

with Doyin Adeoye

Ministry of Water Resources committed to attaining Goal 6 — Adamu MINISTER of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, have identified prevalent challenges militating against the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) sector in the country to include finance mechanism and sector coordination, both at the federal and state levels, causing major setbacks in the sector in the last two decades. The minister disclosed this at a policy dialogue held in Abuja recently to mark WaterAid Nigeria’s 20th anniversary. With the theme: “Achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, Integrating WASH in Wider Development,” the minister who chaired the panel discussion, said that states and local governments do not always keep to financial commitment, “and for us to attain all SDGs, we must overcome this issue. “We need to scale up our plans and projections for

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed with stakeholders at a meeting on Ogoniland cleanup

THE Kenyan government has spent the past month assembling ivory from some 10,000 elephants into a dozen pyres. These captured tusks intended for trade have gathered dust for decades, but authorities destroyed them all in a spectacular message to poachers.

Authorities torched the stockpile, weighing more than 100 tonnes on Saturday, as hundreds of media, activists and locals looked on. It was the largest of such burn in history and a last-ditch effort to curb a poaching trade that kills 35,000 elephants a year.

“Kenya is making a statement that for us ivory is worthless unless it is on our elephants,” Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta, told dignitaries before igniting the blaze, according to Reuters. Casualties this large are hard to quantify, but if all of the elephants

Women key agents for tackling climate change Minister of Environment, Amina Mohammed (right) and Akon

Ogoniland cleanup not

about money sharing —Minister M INISTER of Environment, Amina Mohammed, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment towards the cleanup of oil devastated Ogoniland in Niger Delta, saying that the cleanup will happen before the end of the first year of this administration. The minister who disclosed this at a stakeholders’ meeting on the cleanup of Ogoniland and other impacted areas in the Niger Delta, at the weekend in Port Harcourt, warned that the process will not be a money-sharing galore, but

emphasised the need for adequate security for an effective implementation of the clean-up exercise. The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) had recently conducted an assessment of the environment and public health impacts of oil contamination in Ogoniland, and reported that the sustainable environmental restoration of Ogoniland will take 25 to 30 years to achieve. For this long term process, the minister while speaking at the stakeholders’ meeting noted that the sensitisation forum was neces-

sary to ensure that the interest of all affected communities including women, children and youths were captured in the cleanup process. “Security is very important to the cleanup process of Ogoniland and roles of the state government are so vital. It is not about sharing money. It is about investing in the future of the people of Ogoniland. In the next few weeks, we will begin to roll out the timeline,” she said. The event which had in attendance Ogoniland’s paramount ruler, His Majesty, King Godwin Gininwa; Ambassador of The Royal Kingdom of Netherlands, Mr John Groffen; Managing Director, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Ibim Seminitari and Commissioner of Environment, Rivers State, Professor Roselyn Konya, among others, was a platform for all stakeholders to address the issue and recommend solutions. The minister’s dedication and commitment over time has attracted international players in the environment sector, as she has been up and doing in the past month, relating with stakeholders in the country and beyond to create partnerships that would enhance environmental sustainability in the country. While receiving President, Board of Trustees, Gas to Health Initiative, Alhaji Sani Dangote,

to the ministry’s headquarter in Abuja recently, ways of exploring renewable energy potential with focus on empowering people and fighting climate change, were discussed. The minister also recently received international artiste, Aliaume Damala Thiam, better known as Akon and his delegation at the Nigerian Mission to UN, where she spoke about the Federal Government’s Great Green Wall project, noting that Nigeria remains committed to improving the livelihoods of Nigerians through access to energy and job creation. The Senegalese-American singer recently launched Akon Lighting Africa initiative’s Solar Academy, which is aimed at providing an affordable source of electricity to 600 million Africans. Since its launch in Mali’s capital, Bamako, Akon says the institution has made significant progress by installing solar street lights for public lighting and home service systems for household use. The minister, during the recent trip to the United States, also had a meeting with Kathy Calvin, President and Chief Executive Officer of the United Nations Foundation, and Radha Muthiah, CEO, Global Alliance for Clean Cook Stove, on how to improve the cooking environment for women in Nigeria.

THE why and how of mainstreaming women’s empowerment in the context of climate change projects and programmes was the focus of a one-day training session held as part of the Green Climate Fund’s Accelerating Direct Access week, which was held between April 25 and 29. Organised jointly by the GCF and UN Women, the workshop provided country partners with a comprehensive introduction to developing gender-responsive initiatives, where case studies were presented on gender in the context of sustainable energy and climate-resilient agriculture. In her remarks, Director, UN

Women’s Programme Division, Maria Noel Vaeza, said “Women are key agents for tackling climate change. “They have an important role to play, not only in addressing the effects of climate change but also in contributing to the other Sustainable Development Goals.” Ms. Vaeza noted that despite more than two decades of climate change negotiations, gender and gender equality remain inadequately addressed in the climate change process, citing a study that found only 17 per cent of National Adaption Programmes of Action (NAPAs) by countries incorporated a gender perspective.

“In the instances where gender was included, women were portrayed as victims and not as contributors to climate action,” she added. Ms. Vaeza said the Paris Agreement on Climate Change represents a tremendous step forward. “For the first time in the history of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), gender equality is in the preamble and articles of the Paris Agreement. “The agreement recognises gender equality and women as agents of change to the solution of climate change. Now it is up to us to work together to make it happen.”

UNEP awards winners of children’s painting competition THE three global winners of the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP’s) 24th International Children Painting Competition received their awards recently at the organisation’s headquarters in Nairobi. The winning works of Gloria Yang

from the United States, Salya Richita Susanto from Indonesia and Sataporn Thitiprasert from Thailand, were selected from among nearly 63,000 submissions from 66 countries around the world. The theme of this year’s competition: “We have the power,” inspired

thousands of young artists around the world to share their visions of how renewable energy can be harnessed for the wellbeing of people on the planet. “Through the painting, I showed how mining causes pollution on Earth,” said the winner of the second prize, Salya Richita Susanto. Launched in 1991, the competition is co-organised every year with the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), and has been receiving the support of the Al Sayer Group since 2015. It aims at raising awareness on environmental issues among children and providing them with information and tools on how to build a sustainable future for our planet.

who once owned the ivory in Kenya’s stockpile were walking across the African savannah, trunk to tail, they’d stretch for more than 30 miles, according to National Geographic explorers-in-residence, Dereck and Beverly Joubert. The couple has long documented the scourge of poaching across the continent, sounding an alarm that without action, we could lose the entire species within a few decades. The Kenyan burn includes one tonne of horn from rhinos, which is another specie under threat. The animals could disappear in just 10 years if current poaching rates continue. The Kenyan stockpile is worth upwards of $100 million and South Africa is sitting on nearly $2 billion in rhino horn. But environmentalists argue that such a decision would only increase demand and elephants are far more valuable alive. “Ivory should be worthless,” the Jouberts said in an email to The Huffington Post. “While it is lying around, it is a currency and can be lifted into the marketplace and that increases the reward for poachers and traders.” Philip Muruthi, vice president of species protection for the African Wildlife Foundation, said as long as wildlife populations are in crisis, a legal trade must be avoided at all costs. Such a decision, he said, wouldn’t benefit Africans, and only leech animals from lucrative ecotourism enterprises, by far the largest source of an animal’s longterm profitability. “We cannot be saying it’s time to start a legal trade,” Muruthi said. “Stop the illegal trade, let’s recover these populations, let us put wildlife at the forefront of sustainable development for Africa,” he said. The value of a single elephant over the course of its life is worth far more than the estimated $20,000 value for a pair of tusks. A 2013 report found an elephant generated nearly $1.6 million over the course of its lifetime.

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

with Tunde Dodondawa m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

More trouble for

Nigeria as crude price climbs above $40 pb?

Last week, crude price lea ped above $40 per barrel and recorded its seven m onths high since Novembe r 2015 when it fell below $3 0 per barrel and sent pani c, economic woes to monoeconomic countries like Nigeria and Venezuela. OL ATUNDE DODONDAWA, looks at the possibility of the recent gains in global crude prices signaling mor e troubles for Nigeria.

NE of the reasons Nigeria lost its US market share, which accounted for about 50 per cent of Nigeria’s crude export, was the discovery of shale gas as oil continues to rise, US shale companies are starting to resume mothballed production. Shale gas production was viable when crude was selling at above $100/barrel because while it costs an average of $18-$28 to produce conventional crude from hydrocarbon deposits, it was costing an average of $50/barrel to produce crude from shale deposit. Crude price at less than $40/barrel practically shut down shale gas exploration and led to crude imports by the US from Nigeria, though still at a very low level. First, it was pioneer, an American based exploration company, who said it was expecting to deliver production growth of over 12 percent in 2016 compared to the company’s previous production growth target of 10 percent. It also added that it expected to add five to 10 horizontal drilling rigs when the price of oil recovers to approximately $50 per barrel and the outlook for oil supply/ demand fundamentals is positive. According to oilprice.com, “other U.S. shale giant, Whiting Petroleum, who admitted that $45 oil is good enough, and that it is increasing its production forecast to a range of 131,400 barrels of oil per day (bpd) to 136,900 bpd, adding that with the majority of completions scheduled for the second half of the year, the company expects to realise the full production benefit in late 2016 and 2017.” However, according to the latest Reuters production survey, in the aftermath of the failed Doha oil freeze agreement, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) will be the next to boost production in the coming month, expanding supplies

from an already oversupplied 32.46mb/d to 32.64mb/d. As Reuters notes, its survey indicated output from the OPEC rose by 170,000 bpd in April from 32.47mb/d in March to 32.64 mb/d in April. OPEC has no supply target because at the December 4 meeting, the producer group scrapped its output ceiling of 30 million bpd, which it had been exceeding for months. According to the Reuters survey, Nigeria’s crude production fell by 4.5 per cent from 1.76 mbpd in March to 1.68 mbpd in April 2016. Another African country, Algeria recorded 1.10 mbpd in April as against 1.11mbpd in March. Angola recorded 1.80 mbpd in April and 1.75 mbpd in March, Ecuador had 0.53 mbpd in April and 0.54 mbpd in March, Indonesia recorded 0.72 mbpd in April and 0.72 mbpd in March. Iran had 3.40 mbpd in April and 3.23 mbpd in March; Iraq recorded 4.35 mbpd in April and 4.21 mbpd in March; Kuwait produced 2.72 mbpd in April and 2.82 mbpd in March; war-torn Libya recorded 0.34 mbpd in April and 0.33 mbpd in March, Qatar recorded 0.64 mbpd in April and March; Saudi Arabia recorded 10.15 mbpd in April and 10.18 mbpd in March; United Aran Emirates recorded 2.82 mbpd in April and 2.75 mbpd in March and Venezuela recorded 2.39 mbpd in April and 2.43 mbpd in March. From the data, it showed that while Nigeria’s production declined by 4.5 per cent, OPEC production increased by 0.5 per cent. How 50 per cent of proved oil reserves may have vanished An extensive new scientific analysis published in Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: ‘Energy & Environment’ revealed that

proved conventional oil reserves as detailed in industry sources are likely overstated by half. According to standard sources like the Oil & Gas Journal, BP’s Annual Statistical Review of World Energy and the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), the world contains 1.7 trillion barrels of proved conventional reserves. However, according to the new study by Professor Michael Jefferson of the ESCP Europe Business School, a former chief economist at oil major Royal Dutch/Shell Group, this official figure which has helped justify massive investments in new exploration and development, is almost double the real size of world reserves. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews (WIRES) is a series of high-quality peer-reviewed publications which runs authoritative reviews of the literature across relevant academic disciplines. According to Professor Michael Jefferson, who spent nearly 20 years at Shell in various senior roles from head of planning in Europe to director of oil supply and trading, “the five major Middle East oil exporters altered the basis of their definition of ‘proved’ conventional oil reserves from a 90 per cent probability down to a 50 per cent probability from 1984. The result has been an apparent

OPEC has no supply target because at the December 4 meeting, the producer group scrapped its output ceiling of 30 million bpd, which it had been exceeding for months.

(but n o t real) increase in their ‘proved’ conventional oil reserves of some 435 billion barrels.” Global reserves have been further inflated, he wrote in his study, by adding reserve figures from Venezuelan heavy oil and Canadian tar sands despite the fact that they are “more difficult and costly to extract” and generally of “poorer quality” than conventional oil. This has brought up global reserve estimates by a further 440 billion barrels. Nigeria’s reserves have also dropped from 40 billion barrels to about 35 billion barrels due to lack of new explorations and new discoveries caused by non-directional policies from the Federal Government as a result of non-passage of Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB). “Put bluntly, the standard claim that the world has proved conventional oil reserves of nearly 1.7 trillion barrels is overstated by about 875 billion barrels. Thus, despite the fall in crude oil prices from a new peak in June, 2014, after that of July, 2008, the ‘peak oil’ issue remains with us,” Jefferson concluded. Why increase crude price is unsustainable Although, oil is on track for its’ monthly gain in seven years, boosted by a weak dollar and a decline in US production that has helped to ease concern of persistent supply glut. Brent crude, the international benchmark, has gained over 22 per cent in April, up more than 70 per cent from its January lows. The US marker, West Texas Intermediate, has recorded a similar increase this month. The recent crude price may have been driven in part by signs of declining US oil production and a weakening dollar, which makes oil and other dollar-priced commodities cheaper for holders of other currencies. However, Nigerian policy makers should not rejoice but should continue continue to work on the alternatives to foreign exchange earnings for the country because after talks in Doha failed to secure an output freeze, a looming production rise from some OPEC producers such as Saudi Arabia and Iran may drag down the stronger price perforContinues on pg23

energy

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

IOCs suffer huge losses due to crude price fall Stories by Olatunde Dodondawa - Texas

HE international oil companies (IOCs) suffered huge losses due to crude oil price crash in their first quarter 2016 results. Chevron reported a first quarter loss of $725 million, compared with a $2.6 billion profit a year earlier. But the company feels more optimistic because it recently completed several large projects including the massive $54 billion Gorgon LNG export facility in Australia, which should improve cash flow moving forward. Italian oil giant, Eni reported a 792 euro loss ($897 billion) in the first quarter, down from a profit of 832 euros in the first quarter of 2015. The result was largely in line with expectations and the company’s share price barely budged. ExxonMobil loses AAA rating in its reports earnings. The world’s largest publicly-traded oil company lost its sterling AAA credit rating by S&P, a perfect rating that it has held for more than 80 years. S&P was concerned about rising debt levels and a hefty shareholder dividend that weighs on cash flow. Besides, ExxonMobil’ first quarter earnings revealed a profit of $1.8 billion, down from $4.9 billion a year ago and its lowest result in more than a decade. The company saw production rise on by 1.8 per cent year-on-year on an oil equivalent basis. Its downstream unit performed well, and the oil supermajor reduced spending by 33 per cent compared to the first quarter of 2015. ConocoPhillips reported a quarterly loss of $1.5 billion, down from a profit of $272 million in 2015.

It also cut 2016 spending from $6.4 billion to $5.7 billion. The company said that bringing its debt below $25 billion would be a top prior-

ity. The company’s CEO Ryan Lance also said that Conoco would not “grow for growth’s sake.”

China’s state-owned oil company, PetroChina, reported a quarterly loss of 13.8 billion yuan ($2.13 billion), which was its first

quarterly loss on record. The company has many aging and expensive wells, with production starting to decline.

Oil Companies. The survey identified the non-passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill as a major

threat to Nigerian Content development, with the creation of an uncertain investment climate.

AS part of its efforts to facilitate gas optimisation in Nigeria, the Nigerian Gas Association’s Executive Council has established five study groups to spearhead research and explore viable methods to further develop the nation’s vast and untapped gas resources for domestic utilisation. Commenting at the inauguration of the study groups, NGA President, Bolaji Osunsanya, said “I am excited by the calibre and experience of the volunteers involved, and the vibrant enthusiasm they’ve shown for the task at hand. The rejuvenation of

the study groups encourages the self-development of our members, and establishes the groups as focal engagement points and drivers of the NGA’s pertinent objectives. More importantly, the key findings collated will significantly enhance the association’s advocacy capacity, and enable us better synergise with the government and other important institutions to promote the best technical, regulatory, and contractual practices.” Also commenting, NGA first Vice President and overseer of the study groups, Mr Dada Thomas said, “The fact-based

research and key position papers provided by the study groups will play a crucial part in advancing the NGA’s Four Cardinal Value Propositions of anticipating and driving legislation and policies; positioning the association as the data and knowledge resource center of choice within the industry; encouraging best practices and acceptable standards; and promoting viable investments within the Nigerian gas sector. The executive council is committed to the prevailing success of the groups, and willensure adequate support is constantly provided.”

Local content: Indigenous operators decry lack of

access to cheaper fund

Nigerian Content Act was established. As developmental partners, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board is seen to have performed well in assisting indigenous companies but as regulators, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board has failed to effectively and/or sufficiently monitor the activities of IOC’s, and/or is lagging behind in its enforcement role, the survey stated. Another area of consolidating on the success of the local content policy is for the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board to be ready to make information accessible to the public for greater transparency and in ensuring Nigerian Content compliance by International

SPDC divested interest in 3 OMLs in 2015 THE Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC) divested interest in three onshore leases and a major pipeline in 2015. The company, which made this disclosure in its 2015 Sustainability Report released recently, said that the company’s performance metrics for Nigeria this year reflect, in part, these divestments. Besides, SPDC Joint Venture has put its daily crude oil theft in Nigeria at 25,000 per day. At $40 a barrel, the company may have lost $365 million to crude oil theft in 2015. Also, Shell Companies in Nigeria (SCiN) recorded seven fatalities in 2015, in four separate incidents. According to the company, in one incident, four people lost their lives while working to remove an illegal tap point from a pipeline in the Niger Delta.

From left; Moromoke Oluyede, Public Relations Coordinator, SEPLAT; Dr Chioma Nwachuku, External Affairs & Communication, SEPLAT; Austin Avuru, CEO SEPLAT; Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Vice President of Nigeria; Yetunde Taiwo, General Manager, Gas SEPLAT; Okechukwu Mba, General Manager Commercial SEPLAT, during a meeting on SEPLAT Gas to power development project..

ONE of the challenges confronting successful implementation of the local content policy in Nigeria is inadequate funding as stakeholders decried lack of access to cheap fund. In a survey by a local content advocacy group, The Borderless, it was discovered that most indigenous operators still view access to funds as a main challenge, and want greater access to cheap funds. The survey stated that they also want a clearer and less cumbersome process of accessing the Nigerian Content Fund. It was also discovered in the survey that International Oil Companies (IOCs) are perceived as progressively more committed to Nigerian Content development when compared with when the

Nigerian Tribune

NGA constitutes study group to propel gas growth

‘Regulation of downstream sector responsible for acute fuel scarcity’ Continued from pg22

mance seen last month. “Scheduled restart in United Arab Emirates and Nigerian production, combined with a continued Iranian ramp-up, could result in OPEC production exceeding our third-quarter 2016 assumption,” said analysts at Deutsche Bank. The rebound in prices has come as investors position themselves for the biggest decline in non-OPEC supply in 25 years and what they hope will be a more balanced market later in the year. “Fresh year-to-date highs have been this week’s predominant theme. The relentless march higher continues,” said Tamas Varga at London-based oil broker PVM. “The ongoing oversupply and record-high US crude oil stocks are being ignored,” said Carsten Fritsch, analyst at Commerzbank. Many analysts and forecasting groups expect the oil market to rebalance later this year as supply and demand align. Outages in cash-strapped producer countries such as Nigeria and Venezuela, they say, will help support prices. But some have warned 2016’s price moves could follow the same trajectory as last year when a peak in May was followed by a sharp drop. At the very least, any price gains could be capped. “The latest rebound in oil prices is set to prolong the supply glut and further delay the market’s rebalancing,” said Nor-

bert Ruecker, head of commodities research at Julius Baer. Crude price increase means increase in subsidy payment by FG Lack of economic and political will to liberate the oil sector may continue to worsen the situation in the Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. For instance, continued regulation of the downstream sector is responsible for the acute fuel scarcity the country has been experiencing since August 2015. While the government insisted on marketers to sell at government regulated prices, many Nigerians are buying at between 200 and 300 per cent increases in price. No competition among marketers who preferred to wait for the NNPC to import and get products from the government agency. Unlike Venezuela that also rely heavily on crude exports for its foreign exchange earnings, but has several refineries that not only supplies its domestic needs but also exports refined products, Nigeria relies on crude exports for its foreign exchange earnings and uses the foreign exchange earnings to finance importation of refined petroleum products into the country. Therefore, as crude price increases at the global crude market, subsidy payment on imported products will also increase and negate the gains recorded in the increase in crude price. Conclusion Subsidy on petrol has jumped to N515.2 million daily ac-

cording to the pricing template of Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA). Based on average Platts’ prices as at 28 April, 2016, landing cost of petrol was N85.08 per litre while the subtotal margin (cost of distribution and logistics) was N14.30 per litre. The Expected Open Market Price (EOMP) was N99.38 per litre while the ex-depot price was N76.50 per litre. This resulted into N12.88 per litre as subsidy payment daily by the Federal Government on petrol. If the products have been deregulated, Nigerians will not pay as high as N200 per litre on petrol, there will be products availability and Nigerians will not waste productive man-hours at filling stations attempting to buy fuel into their vehicles and many small and medium scale enterprises will not shut down due to non availability of products. However gains recorded from increase in crude price will be used to finance other critical sectors of the economy while smuggling of petroleum products from Nigeria to other neighbouring countries will be eliminated. In the US, oil majors like Chevron, Exxon and others have sizeable presence in the downstream sector. They operate filling stations, they have refineries and they also export refined petroleum products to countries like Nigeria because the sector is deregulated. Until the oil sector is fully liberated and deregulated, fuel scarcity will always live with the country because arbitrageurs and saboteurs will always take advantage of the gap created by the fuel subsidy policy.

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

Why we shouldn’t lose hope on Chibok girls —Ogun gov’s wife Wife of the Ogun State governor, Dr Olufunsho Amosun, celebrated her 50th birthday on Monday. In this interview with journalists at the Government House in Abeokuta over the weekend, she speaks about her projects, life as a governor’s wife and visions for the state, among other issues. DOYIN ADEOYE who was at the interview session, brings the report.

OW does it feel being 50 and what is going to change about you now that you’ve attained the golden age? It feels the same way. But, to be honest, the only point of focus is that I am very grateful to God for the opportunity to attain this milestone, because I know that it is not everybody that attains this age. I pray nothing changes, aside for the fact that when you attain that age, you become more reflective; you realise that it is actually a privilege to be able to attain the golden age and your perspectives to life changes. Things that might have not been so important to you start becoming important. You just sort of become emotionally more reflective, realising that this is a new phase. But I am just thankful to God, reflecting on where I am, the grace that He has given me, the opportunities, the privilege of good health and I am just thankful to God because he has really been kind to me, even in terms of a husband, lovely children, I can’t just stop counting my blessings and I am just so thankful. How was growing up for you I was born on May 2, 1966 to a humble family of Bishop Michael Ayoade Odesanya and Elder Olushola Odesanya. I did half of my primary school education in the United Kingdom and the second half in Ayodele Nursery and Preparatory School, which was in Iyaganku, Ibadan. I then went off to Yejide Girls Grammar School, Molete, Ibadan before I proceeded to the Oyo State School of Art and Science and later to the University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University, where I studied English Education. And then, I fell in love. I met His Excellency, who then owned an accounting firm and the rest is now history. We have five wonderful children whom we are very proud of. Your husband has openly said that he is a difficult person to work with and many are also of the opinion that he is a ‘local boy’ which is almost the opposite of who you are. You are sophisticated and western, compared to your husband. Is he really the local boy even as a husband? My husband is the most loving, practical, responsible and hands-on husband that anybody could ask for and I think that this is what manifests in the way he goes about his duty in loving the people of Ogun State. My husband is in tune with reality and I don’t see him as a local person. I see him as a compassionate, hands-on and responsible husband. After 25 years, I believe that we are one and the same; we complement each other. Maybe we don’t always see eye to eye, however, we always reach a compromise. I don’t think we have ever gone to bed holding on to an argument because he won’t let you. You are involved in different pet projects aimed at safeguarding the environment, empowering the youths and women, among others. Apart from these, in what other ways do you contribute to the success of the administration in Ogun State? I would like to hope that, truly, I am complementing or contributing to the success of this administration. I have

Olufunsho Amosun a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), called the UpLift Development Foundation. UpLift stands for ‘Understanding People’s Limiting and Inhibiting Factors Today’ and taking it from that aspect, it is about just lending assistance any way you can. So, what drives me is to help the needy, whether the needy is a man, woman, physically challenged person, a child. Once an opportunity opens up to assist, I go for it and I try to the best way that I can.

The present administration has really focused on security issues, but my message would be that we shouldn’t lose hope.

In that regard, I don’t have a pet project tailored to any particular group. It is intervention in any way that it manifests, and any way that I can complement the administration of the governor, any way I can use the platform as the wife of the governor to improve or assist people that I can. Then I just go for it. So, my pet project if I were to have one is reaching out the vulnerable. What are those things you have identified as the major needs of our people? I can’t say that I have identified anything in particular because one of the general problems in the nation as a whole is unemployment and this why, through the green initiative, I have tried to preach to our youths about sustaining the environment where we can actually make a living. There are so many jobs around sustaining the environment and I am trying to stir their minds to be creative and innovative and stop folding their arms.

You recently gathered some boys and girls, young footballers that started in Abeokuta. And many of them are making a headway in football today. Are you still into the vision of catching them young? Yes, if the opportunity warrants itself again. The last effort we made was in last November. The UpLift Development Foundation has over 20 UpLift programmes, and that means we have more than 20 groups we are attending to and we don’t want to be a jack of all trades and master of none. However, the intervention and the assistance is on a router kind of, unless it is a particular assistance which is for a particular group of people, we tend to think it’s been a long time we’ve reached out to the women or widows. However, some are going now. For instance, the UpLifting the aged has been on since the inception of this administration, where we reach out to vulnerable aged, who are over the age of 70 and we give them stipends on a monthly basis just to assist them just to buy their basic needs. So this started this 2012 and is still ongoing. Also there is UpLifting the SSS3 students, where the best students in each of our local government area is taken on a leadership programme just to give them further exposure. And that is determined by when they sit for their SSS3 examinations. So things like that are time bound and are done systematically. But when comes to programmes that involves giving hands-on, it first depends on what we have to give and then we take into consideration there is a group that we haven’t reach out to in recent times. You took a walk last year for the Chibok girls and they are yet to be found. What is your message to Nigerians and our leaders? The present administration has really focused on security issues, but my message would be that we shouldn’t lose hope. I am concerned about the whereabouts of the children; I am concerned about what they have been subjected to; I am worried that they might not even want to come home anymore, maybe they have becomes wives to these people and brainwashed to believe that that is where they’ll like to live. To be honest, I am lost on that topic; it is something that is very painful but because I have the efforts that the current administration has put into getting these girls back, I think the only thing we can do is to implore mothers across Nigeria to pray on behalf of these children for their safe return.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

INCE the beginning of the current political dispensation, former governor of Bauchi State, Mallam Isa Yuguda, has been an active player in the politics of the state and Nigeria as a whole. Apart from various positions he has held so far, his influence within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) could not be wished away. Against all odds, in June 2000, Yuguda was appointed the Minister of State for Transport in the government of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. He was moved to the Ministry of Aviation, where he served from May 2003 to June 2005. He was elected governor in April 2007 on the platform of All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) despite stiff opposition to his aspiration by former Governor Ahmed Mua’zu, who later became the national chairman of PDP. Yuguda’s eight years in office as governor of Bauchi State was marked by activities. Apart from Mua’zu, Yuguda was among those who gave PDP a lifeline in the state and the entire North-East. He contributed to the emergence of Mua’zu as governor of the state in 1999, while his influence helped the PDP to win the state. This gave credence to why he was compensated with ministerial posts. After Mua’zu’s eight years in the saddle, Yuguda declared his intention to contest the governorship election but his friend, Mua’zu, was not favourably disposed to the idea and worked to deny him the PDP ticket. Yuguda then defected to ANPP and got the nod to contest on its platform. He got sympathy votes a cross the state, especially from those who felt Mua’zu betrayed him, having supported in him 1999. Less than two years into his administration, Yuguda abandoned the ANPP platform and made a dramatic return to the PDP. He also moved against his deputy, Alhaji Garba Gardi, who was not willing to follow him to the PDP. Most of his supporters, who voted for him in the ANPP, thus felt betrayed by his sudden defection to PDP. While some of them followed him to the PDP, others remained in the ANPP, thus polarising the party. The defection was a rude shock to the then presidential candidate of the party, General Mohammadu Buhari, and other stalwarts. Throughout his eight-year tenure, he was one of the active players in PDP and allies of former President Goodluck Jonathan. But, analysts posited that Yuguda and other notable PDP members in the state like former Minister of FCT Senator Bala Mohammed, a former national chairman of the party, among others, undermined and depleted the strength of PDP over unnecessary bickering. Apart from this postulation, there are those who perceived political events prior to the April 2015 election in the state as working against the party, while moles in the party made efforts to weaken its ranks. PDP, before the election, was in total disarray in Bauchi. It was alleged then that those who claimed to be PDP in the state were actually APC stalwarts in PDP attire. Since PDP lost the presidential election and all the other elections conducted in the state to APC, the former governor had gone under ground and refused to join the fray in PDP, especially the brouhaha over how to reposition the party. But his loyalists and others were shocked last week by his sudden withdrawal from the PDP. Yuguda said he decided to leave the PDP because the party had lost focus and presently lacked the will to bring development to Nigeria. He was however mute on the direction of his political future, as he failed to disclose his next step. He said: “Already, I have told my sup-

Mohammed Yuguda

What next for PDP after Yuguda’s exit? ISAAC SHOBAYO examines the likely impact of the recent withdrawal of former Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the politics of Bauchi State and the North as a whole. porters that I will not force them to leave PDP. Anybody that wants to remain in PDP is free to do so and whoever wants to move with me is welcome. “I decided to leave PDP because the party can no longer bring development to Nigeria, it’s unfortunate that the party has lost focus. I pray for the success of President Muhammadu Buhari in the discharge of his duties as president of Nigeria. We must always pray for the success of our leaders because the Holy Quran admonishes people to pray for their leaders to succeed and that is why we should pray for the success of President.” In a swift reaction, a member of PDP in the state and former member of the House of Representatives representing Mingi

His defection to APC might not come so soon, as many variables need to be considered and crucial political matters settled

Warji Constituency, Honourable Andulrazak Nuhu Zaki, said the exit of the former governor had no significant effect on PDP. To him, the exit was a welcome development that would bring unity to the party in the state. He added that with his exit, a huge burden had been lifted off the neck of PDP in the state. “Yuguda’s leaving the PDP is a welcome development. With his exit, a huge yoke has been lifted off the neck of PDP in the state. With God on our side, the PDP will emerge victorious in the coming elections as we are working hard to see that we reposition the party. It is a blessing not only to the good people of the state but also to the wellbeing of our great party in the country because the present crisis rocking the party will soon fizzle out.” However, Yuguda’s withdrawal from PDP is causing ripples. The party’s state women leader, Hajia Asabe Isa Tirum, 20 coordinators and the Giade Local Government party chairman also announced their withdrawal from the party and pledged loyalty to Yuguda. According to Asabe, “this resignation is sequel to the defection of my leader, and mentor, Mallam Isa Yuguda from the PDP in Bauchi State. I have come to the realisation that my membership of the PDP has become untenable.” Some analysts however believe there is the tendency for him to switch allegiance to another political party in future. But there are others who hold a contrary opin-

Muazu ion. One of his staunch supporters who craved anonymity said his current move was a way of testing his popularity and political prowess. “When he defected to other platforms in the past, it was as a result of injustice and the attempt to denied him participation. He is a grassroot politician. A political party is just a platform, he is on ground as far as Bauchi politics is concerned. He consulted widely among his supporters before he withdrew his membership of PDP,” he said. Findings revealed that many of Yuguda’s supporters have defected to the APC at their various wards and local governments, while sources close to the governor revealed that his defection to APC might not come so soon, as many variables need to be considered and crucial political matters settled. However, with the withdrawal of Yuguda from PDP, things appear to have fallen apart for the party. Indeed, with former Governor Muazu watching from the sideline, and with other PDP stakeholders like former FCT Minister, Senator Mohammed, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed and others on sabbatical, coupled with the fact that Bauchi has always been a strong political base of President Buhari, PDP might experience difficulties finding its bearing again in the state.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Why PDP needs northerner as chairman now —Odebunmi arrangement, pending the time the presidential candidate of the party will emerge. Why won’t we agree and settle for the chairman from the North so that he can serve as the bridge between the members in the South and those from North and function as a national party? But after the presidential candidate emerges from the North, there will be a new arrangement for him to step down to have a presidential candidate purely from the North, while the national chairman goes to another zone. Do you think that calculation will work? Why not? We are talking about a party that is no more in government; a party that is looking for way to return to government democratically. It is a give-and-take formula we need at this crucial time to achieve our goal.

Honourable Segun Dokun Odebumi is representing Ogo Oluwa Surulere Federal Constituency of Oyo State and the Chairman of the Committee on information, National Orientation Ethics and Value. In an interview with TUNDE BUSARI, he speaks on why North should produce the chairman of the party. Excerpts

learnt of a meeting you held over the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) issue. What is the picture of things now? I was at the meeting. There was a premeeting before that one when we had a courtesy visit to the acting national chairman. I was with the leaders of our party and I asked them why the decision to support a Northern candidate was initiated in the first place. Before I declare support or engage in anything, I always want to know why. And from the analysis, I was convinced enough to see the reason to support the chairmanship of the party coming from the Northern part of the country. We all believe that PDP is a national party and with the present situation in the country, if we go by the outcome of the last election, you will realise that the PDP won elections in a particular zone and another zone dem-

Hon. Odebunmi onstrated its anger with the party with its votes. There is need for us to carry everybody along in the move to unite the party so that we can bounce back by 2019. Presently, majority of the governors the party produced are from the South. If we have the chairman of the party to that one, definitely the party could become a zonal party. In order to avoid this, we have blended everything together so that we will have a national outlook, even if it’s a temporary

Former President Goodluck Jonathan has refused to comment on the issue. Don’t you think he could be having some misgivings about the issue? I disagree with such view because whoever is in his shoe will definitely be silent now. He may be talking in proxy. He would have a way of getting back to the party. He would have a way of communicating with the public on issues without making noise in the media. He is the leader of the party and I am very sure he will be happy to see his party reclaiming the government seat It is rumored that the acting chairman of the party Senator Alli Modu Sheriff, is also interested in the seat. Do you think he has what it takes to lead the party? There is a story behind what led us to

where we are today and as realists, we are the problems of ourselves in PDP. The emergence of Sherrif wasn’t the problem behind the crisis in the party. It was designed and originated by some people. Those who designed the crisis never knew it would favour Sherrif. We are all human beings. When he came on board, some people noticed his charisma, the way he was moving, especially carrying along the Northerners. We then concluded that ‘if this man can be given the opportunity he will be able to do exactly what we need to get to win the Northern people back to the party’. We want somebody that has the charisma; a rallying point who can call upon some leaders including the former and the present governors. I think Sherriff has that kind of charisma. He is a leader you can call at any time and he would pick your phone without even knowing you before. Are you in support of Sheriff now? I won’t deceive you, I am in support of Sheriff until we have a presidential candidate from the North. I want to tell you that even at the NEC of the PDP, we have all agreed that presidential candidate should come from the North in 2019 Indiscipline is said to be one of the problems of the party. How true is this? Indiscipline is a man-made problem and it can be curbed by good leadership. By the time a genuine and responsible leader is at the helms of affairs, indiscipline will stop because a responsible leader won’t take bribe or encourage corruption.

Saraki’s trial: An eyewitness report By Tope Ajayi I finally made out time to attend the ongoing trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal in Jabi area of Abuja last Wednesday. I wanted to watch the proceedings myself and gauge whether the allegations of bias against the Tribunal chairman, Mr Danladi Umar, carry any weight. My discovery was truly shocking. In that court, the scale of justice does not appear even. There were two issues before the tribunal for the day. The first was the request by the Counsel of Saraki, Ajibola Oluyede for the Tribunal chairman, Mr Danladi Umar to rescue himself from the case due to likelihood of bias because of his curious relationship with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), which until a while back, investigated him for corruption. The other was the cross-examination of Michael Wetkas, a prosecution witness from the EFCC, by the Defence. Umar was cheerful and exchanged banters with all the counsel before him that Wednesday. People around me appeared shocked; a man sitting close by volunteered that that was the most cheerful, he had seen him ever. Back to the business of the day, Oluyede moved the motion that Umar should disqualify himself from the case because the EFCC, which is practically prosecuting the case, also had an outstanding issue with him. He argued that the letter which purportedly cleared Umar could not be considered a clearance. A little background on the matter: In 2012, a petition was sent to the EFCC by Rasheed Taiwo, a retired Customs official, who claimed to have been pressured through persistent phone calls by Mr Umar for an alleged N10 million bribe. Although Mr Umar denied the allegation, his personal Assistant, Gambo Abdullahi, was found to have allegedly received a N1.8 million deposit in his Zenith Bank account from MrTaiwo. The suspicion was that the said PA acted as a conduit for

Saraki his boss, Umar. After investigating the matter, the EFCC wrote to the former Secretary to the Government, stating that: “There are indications that the Tribunal Chairman might have demanded and collected money from the complainant through his said Personal Assistant. However, efforts made to recover the telephone handset used by Justice Umar proved abortive, as he claimed that he had lost the telephone in 2012. This has made it impossible to subject it to independent scientific analysis with a view to corroborating the allegation. In the same vein, the complainant could also not make available his telephone set for analysis on the grounds that he had lost it. Justice Umar also

admitted that he met privately with the complainant in his chamber at the Tribunal. This is a most unethical and highly suspicious conduct on his part.” However, the EFCC concluded that there was not enough evidence to charge Umar as “the facts as they are now against Justice Umar raised a mere suspicion and will therefore not be sufficient to successfully prosecute him for the offence.’’ Oluyede’s argument was that the letter does not constitute clearance since nowhere in its content did it exonerate Umar, only stating that for the material time there were not enough facts to prosecute him. ‘’But that may change later,” he said. The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) argued in the opposite direction that the letter constituted exoneration and that Umar should go ahead with the trial since he had not been charged before any court, not to talk of being found guilty of any crime. It was an interesting exchange, as should be expected of opposing counsels. But my concern was the judge, Umar. After the niceties at the beginning of the proceedings on that fateful Wednesday, Umar threatened to jail Oluyede, one of Saraki’s lawyers, for his passion in pleading the motion that Umar should disqualify himself from the case. This led to an emotional outburst from the judge, followed by the threat of jail. But if that were all, it would not have raised a red flag for me. Judges are, after all, humans and can be vexed. Oluyede’s motion sought to disqualify Umar from the trial, stopping him from further hearing the case based on the reasons stated above. In considering ruling on it, Justice Umar made a Freudian slip and said, “shall we decide on this ruling now in my chamber and continue with the cross examination later?” I believe a judge does not have to force himself to hear a case, especially when one of the parties feel strongly that there is a huge likelihood of bias, except he has a special interest in the matter. Ajayi writes from Lagos.

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featurestribune@yahoo.com 08111845048 One of the buildings razed by the herdsmen

Nimbo: Blood, ruin of a tortured lot

Recently, herdsmen injured and killed scores of people when they invaded Nimbo community in Uzo-uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State. FESTUS IYORAH, who visited the area, captures the unnerving silence and woes that befell the community in the wake of the attack.

LUCHI Odinako Ako, a lady in her early 30s, was indoors when herdsmen shot her brother at close range in the wee hours of Monday, last week. She looked gloomy, still reeling from the shock that hit her like a bombshell. She clutched the picture of her brother, C.Y. Ako to her bosom—wailing, weeping intermittently. “I was indoors when they stormed our compound as early as 6 a.m., they shot at the sliding windows before shooting my brother,” Oluchi said amid tears. Another female survivor who spoke on the condition of anonymity stated that she lost her husband in the massacre. Nigerian Tribune gathered that men were mainly subjects of the massacre at Nimbo. How it happened John Okweli, a vigilance group member in Nimbo, said he became aware of the attack when the Catholic Church’s bell chimed continuously, alerting people of the invasion in the early hours of Monday. Scores of villagers ran helter-skelter, streaming out of Nimbo to other neighbouring communities like Nkpologu, Abbi and Nsukka. During the invasion, houses, motorcycles and vehicles were burnt; people were killed in their homes and some

others who fled from their abodes to seek refuge in their farmlands met death there. Another survivor who simply identified herself as Helen told Nigerian Tribune that the invaders were armed with machetes and sophisticated weapons (such as AK 47 rifles) dangling across their necks. At Oluchi’s residence, they smashed her aluminium glass with bullets. “They started killing people silently with machetes before they started using their guns; that was when the villagers became aware. They divided themselves—some went to Onueke, others went to Ugwu achara,” Okweli said. “When I woke up around 6 a.m., all I saw were herdsmen with machetes. The village was in panic. Everyone was running helter-skelter during the attack and it’s pathetic that the herdsmen escaped after they launched the attack,” Dominic Utazi, another Nimbo resident told Nigerian Tribune through a translator at Ugwu Echara – one of the villages in Nimbo. Corroborating what Helen said, Chinwendu Ani, a student nurse at Shannahan Hospital in Nsukka town said most of the victims were hacked with machetes. Ani, who was on duty when some victims were wheeled into the causalty ward, showed

our correspondent the gory pictures of the victims who were later transferred to the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Enugu. “Out of four victims, three have been transferred while the last victim was confirmed dead,” Ani added. Rushed out Josephine, a 55-year old woman from the community, is still unconscious days after she was admitted at the hospital. She lost consciousness after she tried to escape from the herdsmen when they sacked Nimbo. “She was trying to escape from the herdsmen when she collapsed. We found her body lying in the bush the next day, so we rushed her here,” her daughter, Helen told Nigerian Tribune. “We rushed out of the community after they besieged us on Monday,” Helen said through a translator. She left with her relatives, her siblings and other residents to Nsukka town. Nimbo: A ghost town Nimbo, once lively, has morphed into a ghost town. Their shops were closed; their markets empty. Many residents had fled the town after the occurrence. Nimbo, a far-flung community in Uzo-

Oluchi clutching the picture of her dead brother uwani LGA of Enugu State, is wedged between Kogi and Anambra states. It is a two-hour drive from Nsukka town where the University of Nigeria is situated. Our reporter’s visit to the community coincided with that of the Catholic Bishop of Nsukka Diocese, Most Rev. Prof. Godfrey Onah, who was on a condolence visit to the residents. At Ugwu Echara, the bishop consoled the pockets of people who trooped out to put what has happened behind and to pray for God to forgive them. He enjoined them to remain law abiding, adding that they should not take the law into their hands. When our correspondent visited Onueke Continues 28

features

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Now a ghost town... Continued from 27

market, few miles away from Ugwu Echara, it was deserted. No one came to the market due to fear of another attack. At Christ Holy Church in Onueke, Nigerian Tribune gathered that the pastor and his family escaped death by the whiskers after they razed his house and destroyed his vehicle. Afterwards they headed straight to the residence of a Catholic priest where they attempted to burn his house but could not since they did not find any petrol in the car, motorcycle and generator in the compound. “When their attempt to break into the house failed, they fired gunshots into the rooms, in an attempt to kill all those whom they suspected were hiding inside,” Bishop Onah said. The genesis Investigations reveal that the herdsmen had earlier chased the people out of their large farms to their smaller farms which are nearer to their homes. Following these incessant invasions of their farms by the herdsmen, the residents asked the herdsmen to leave their community and farms. “The herdsmen have been a thorn in our flesh. They invade our farms, rape our women and we appealed to them to leave but it backfired, they attacked us instead,” a distraught Dominic Utazi said. However, media reports suggested that the herdsmen launched the attack after a boy was found dead in their community. But Okweli, a vigilance group member in Ekwuru, rebuffed the claim stressing that none was killed. Okweli maintained that the Fulani struck after they told them to leave their community. “We got to know about the massacre few days before they attacked us” Okweli confirmed. “The most painful aspect of the Nimbo massacre is that it was announced, expected and executed without inhibition—in broad day light,” Bishop Onah said while reacting to the killings. Alphonsus Alumona, whose brother was shot when the herdsmen ransacked Onueke, Nimbo blamed the police. “We got the report that they were coming four days earlier. The police too were informed but they could not protect us. When they invaded, we called policemen at Adani, a stone throw from Onueke but they didn’t answer us. They didn’t come until the herdsmen escaped, no one was captured,” he said. During a chat with Bishop Onah in Onueke, a top security officer said the security agents were not there when the mayhem struck and all the herdsmen escaped. Nevertheless, the police, army and civil defence corps have moved in to beef up security in Onueke, Nimbo. Grim statistics With the unabated killings of innocent citizens, grim statistics shows that the Fulani herdsmen have been added to the short list of global terrorists. According to 2015 global terrorism index, herdsmen have been named the fourth deadliest terror group in the world. Between 2010 and 2013, the herdsmen killed about 80 in total, but by the end of 2014, they had killed 1,229 people. The index shows that 90 percent of the attacks carried out by the group are on private citizens accounting for 81 percent of deaths in southern Nigeria.

A burnt vehicle

Security agents have moved in to restore normalcy in Nimbo

Alphonsus Alumona

Onueke Market deserted after the attack Scores killed, still counting... Nigerian Tribune gathered that scores of people have been confirmed killed while many were injured but the actual number of victims both dead and injured remained unknown as of the time our correspondent visited Nimbo. The media reported that about 100 people are dead but Utazi, who was involved in evacuating corpses from farmlands and houses, puts the number of corpses at 50. He added that they were still recovering corpses littered around farmlands. Alumona said he counted 15 dead bodies at Onu-Eke market.

“At present, nobody can say with certainty the number of those killed, given that more of those who were badly wounded are still dying and some bodies are still being recovered from the bush where the people had been killed while taking refuge,” Bishop Onah told newsmen. A shout against violence Meanwhile, Bishop Onah in his press briefing titled “Stop this Madness” at Saint Theresa Catholic Cathedral condemned the massacre. He said the killings were akin to what happened to south easterners in the 1966 civil war. “We call on the Federal Government not

John Okweli to only arrest and prosecute the perpetrators of the massacre as well as their sponsors and collaborators but to also disarm all those who carry assault rifles publicly when they have no permission to bear arms,” the bishop said.

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

31 news

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

NASS committees, ministers preview final budget copy Buhari to sign budget before weekend —Source Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi - Abuja

said the task before the executive and the parliament

was to present a workable budget to the country.

The source also denied the claim that the Nation-

al Assembly had reduced the alleged padding from

HE final copy of the 2016 budget was at press time being previewed by the leadership of the Appropriation Committees of the National Assembly and a number of ministers designated to undertake the exercise by President Muhammadu Buhari. Sources close to the process told the Nigerian Tribune that the meeting, meant to review the final copy of the budget, kickedoff at 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday, adding that the meeting was to ensure that all items agreed to were intact before the presentation to the president. The source said the National Assembly and the executive were working together on the matter, adding that the budget would be signed during the week. “I can tell you that we have received a copy of the budget for preview. The two groups are meeting at about 4.00 p.m. Because it was to be consensual, ministers will look at what they have done so that it will be agreed fully that this is what will be presented. “What we have received may not be the final copy, but we want to preview it to ensure what we are forwarding to the President,” the source said. On whether the promise that the president would still assent the budget this week, the source said the vice-president was the head of the economic team, adding that the assurance would be kept. A source in the legislature

From left, United States Consul-General, F. John Bray; media consultant, Ms. Kadaria Ahmed; president of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Waheed Odusile; Professor of Communication, Lagos State University (LASU), Lai Oso and the West Africa representative of the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Mr Peter Nkanga; discussing press freedom on World Press Freedom Day, in Lagos, on Tuesday.

Gunshots as Edo Assembly Speaker, deputy get impeached Woman elected Speaker Banji Aluko - Benin City SIXTEEN out of the 24 lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly, on Tuesday, impeached the Speaker of the assembly, Honourable Victor Edoror and his deputy, Honourable Bright Osayande. The only woman in the assembly, Honourable Elizabeth Ativie, (Uhunmwode Constituency), was elected new Speaker and Honourable Joseph Okonoboh, the Deputy Speaker. The motion for the im-

peachment of Edoror was moved by the Majority Leader, Folly Ogedengbe (Owan West) and seconded by Honourable Gani Audu (Etsako West I). In the motion for the impeachment, the lawmakers said “we, the underlisted and undersigned honourable members representing the various constituencies in the Edo State House of Assembly have, on this day, 3rd of May, 2016, resolved to impeach our Speaker, Honourable Victor Edoror and the Deputy Speaker,

Honourable Osayande for act of gross misconduct. A Speaker ex-tempo, Honourable Patrick Iluobe ( PDP Esan North-East I) was appointed to preside over the House, as the the impeached Speaker was not in the assembly. The arrival of the impeached Speaker to the assembly was heralded by suspected thugs who fired shots to scare people out of the chamber. About six people were said to have sustained injuries following the me-

lee that accompanied the arrival of the impeached Speaker and the thugs to the assembly. In her remark, shortly after she became Speaker, Honourable Ativie said the assembly could no longer tolerate the Speaker, pointing out that the impeached Speaker had about six cases with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). She immediately constituted a five-member committee to investigate what she termed the financial

Nigeria runs most vibrant democracy in Africa —EU AMBASSADOR and Head of European Delegation to Nigeria, Mr Michel Arrion, has commended the country for running the most vibrant democracy in Africa, with absolute press freedom. News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that Arrion made the statement at the 2016 World Press Freedom Day celebration with the theme: “Access to information and fundamental freedom: This is your right,” in Abuja, on Tuesday. He described the freedom the Nigerian media enjoyed as an asset, adding that freedom of opinion and

N500 billion to N70 billion, adding, however, that the areas of differences were being worked on. “They (the differences) are being eliminated one by one and Nigerians will be happy when the budget is passed. They are being eliminated and reduced. It will be a budget for Nigeria made by Nigerians. “I don’t even know which one is padding. I am not aware of N500 billion padding, not to talk of reducing it to N70 billion. “We want to make sure that it is done properly, so as to keep each other’s powers intact. The executive has its powers, very enormous. The small powers of the legislature is preserved. So, in matters like these, it is the legislature that is the oga. So, the executive have to respond. We are the ones begging them to pass budget,” he said.

expression was essential in enjoying a wide range of other human rights. Arrion added that these significant steps underlined the priority the European Union (EU) accorded to freedom of opinion and expression as an essential foundation for democracy. He said that the EU recognised that free, diverse, independent media were essential for the promotion and protection of freedom of opinion and expression. “By facilitating the free flow of information and ideas on matters of public interest and by ensuring transparency and accountability, independent media

constitute one of the cornerstones of democracy,” he said. According to him, an informed, active and engaged citizenry was not possible without free, independent and pluralistic media. He lauded the role of social media activists in deepening public discourse, shaping public opinion and promoting transparency and accountability in the country. Arrion said social media had thrown up new challenges, adding that all human rights that existed offline must be protected online in terms of freedom of opinion, expression and

right to privacy. “Nigeria, in our assessment is a country, where freedom of expression is in general respected, the traditional media is relatively pluralistic, bloggers and cyber activists share their views. “Nigeria boasts of a large, vibrant social media community, whose engagement with the social-political processes has enriched public discourse and widened the frontier of participation on issues that concerns the citizenry,” he said. Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr Lai Muhammed, said freedom of information was

good for Nigerians. He said the mechanism for its operation was simple, stressing that the Freedom of Information (FOI) Law had succeeded in creating accountability and probity in governance. The minister said it had enable Nigerians to participate in governance and hence, had succeeded in curbing corruption. He called on UNESCO to ensure that the right of information was enhanced and protected in Nigeria and promised that the government would put machinery in place to ensure that the FOI was not abused.

recklessness of the impeached Speaker from the inception of his Speakership in June, 2015 till May 3, 2016, adding that the report of the committee would be handed over to the appropriate authority. Meanwhile, the impeached Speaker, Honourable Edoror, has described his impeachment as a ruse, insisting that he remained Speaker of the assembly. Edoror, who spoke after a brief meeting with six other lawmakers, pointed out that 11 members could not impeach the Speaker in a 24-member assembly. He also said the assembly erred by convoking plenary in his absence. He said: “They have a paper duly signed by 11 members. That is not a quorum to remove a Speaker. We do not want to suspend any member now. They have learnt their lessons and ran away from the chamber. “They don’t have the numbers. We are carrying out our jobs for the benefit of the state in support of the comrade-governor. There is no allegation of corruption before me. Those allegations are frivolous.” It was gathered that all the lawmakers later met the Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, at the Government House, Tuesday evening.

news Your sufferings'll soon be over, UN assures Boko Haram victims

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Red Cross gets N109.4m Japanese support for N/East Sanya Adejokun and Christian Okeke-Abuja with Agency Report

he United Nations (UN) Resident Coordinator, Ms Fatma Samoura, has assured the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) by the Boko Haram insurgency that their sufferings will soon become a thing of the past. Samoura told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, in Abuja, that the UN was doing everything possible to ensure that the IDPs resumed their normal lives. Samoura, who is also the UN Humanitarian Coordinator and Resident Representative of UN Development Programme, urged the Boko Haram insurgency victims not to give up on their current condition. “For the IDPs, I just want to encourage them that their sufferings will be a thing of the past very soon. “I also want to assure them that conducive conditions for their safe return will be put in place so that they can resume their normal lives,” she said. She said, apart from directing the immediate relocation of the UN Humanitarian Coordination Centre to Borno State, she had taken steps to improve access to IDPs through dialogue with humanitarian actors. Samoura said there were people who had still not been reached due to the insurgency, calling for the presence of more security

personnel to enable access to those people. “There is the need to enhance the security of the humanitarian actors based in Maiduguri through more regular flights in and out of Maiduguri. “There is also the need to

secure the roads leading to the different capitals of the states in the North-East region,” she urged. Samoura said she was undertaking a robust advocacy strategy with international donors. “I have an upcoming trip

to Istanbul where I will be attending the World Humanitarian Summit from May 23 to 24. “I am going to really establish special working group to attract the world attention to the appalling situation of the IDPs and

From left: Governors Badaru Abubakar of Jigawa; Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu and Kashim Shettima of Borno, during a sympathy visit to Enugu State governor, over the recent attack by Fulani herdsmen, in Enugu, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

Fulani herdsmen: APC govs visit Enugu, describe invaders as criminals Jude Ossai-Enugu

GOVERNORS under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, condemned, in its entirety, the mayhem unleashed on the people of Nimbo community in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State, by suspected Fulani herdsmen, two weeks ago, describing the invaders as criminals. The APC governors, led by Chief Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, who made this known while com-

miserating with Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, said the carnage that occurred in the Enugu community called for caution, saying that playing to gallery would not be a lasting solution to the security challenge facing the nation. Governor Okorocha said what happened in Nimbo community was painful, stressing that “death is death and the most painful is the one that is manmade which was never expected.” The chairman of the APC

Governors' Forum said “We are one, irrespective of the parties you come from. We are APC and you are PDP, but in death, there is no party. It is important that your governor and people have shown maturity in leadership. It would have been another story if the people of Enugu had engaged in reprisal", he stated. The governor of Borno State, Shetima Kashim, while joining the governor of Imo State, remarked, “ It is our duty to pay condolences to our brothers and

Enugu assembly calls for redeployment of security heads Jude Ossai-Enugu

PIQUED by the unprovoked attack on Nimbo Community, Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State by Fulani herdsmen, members of the Enugu State House of Assembly, at a plenary session, on Tuesday, unanimously asked President Muhammadu Buhari to redeploy all security chiefs in the state. While condemning the bloodbath penultimate Monday, the assembly maintained that what transpired at Nimbo Community should be conveyed to all the international human right organisations. In addition, the assembly urged the state executive, led by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to liaise with the National Emergency

host communities in the North-East of Nigeria. “We are advocating for NGOs working on food security, nutrition and also in health, water and sanitation to augment the exiting capacity in IDPs camps and within the host communities.”

Agency ( NEMA) to ensure that the displaced people of Nimbo were taken care of. Commending his colleagues for making robust contribution to a motion brought by the member representing Uzo-Uwani at the assembly, Honourable John-Kevin Ukuta, on the menace of Fulani herdsmen, Speaker of the assembly, Honourable Edward Ubosi, urged the people of Enugu State not to live in fear or to take laws into their hands as government was doing everything to protect their lives and property. “I thank you all for your contribution to the motion. You all spoke from your heart because human lives were involved. However, I urge the people of the state

not to live in fear or to take laws into their hands,” Ubosi exhorts. Contributing to the debate on the motion, members spoke scathingly against the dastardly waste of lives and property at Nimbo and other places in the state. Honourable S.K.E UdeOkoye, representing Awgu North, in his contribution, said if nothing was done, the entire Igbo nation would be in trouble, adding that the attack was a calculated attempt to whittle down the population of the Igbo race. He wondered what the Igbo man has done to deserve the type of treatment being meted to them in Nigeria. "Where shall we run to. Have we the Igbos done

anything evil. Tell us and we'll apologise to you. Are we not part of Nigeria? Is the life of a cow worth more than that of human life?" he queried. Ude-Okoye suggested that the assembly should urge the government to adopt the security measure employed by Anambra, Delta and Bayelsa states in curtailing Fulani herdsmen menace. He was, however, overruled by the speaker, who said Enugu should not borrow but adopt a peculiar security strategy. In his contribution, Honourable Chinedu Nwamba of Nsukka East suggested that the way out of the logjam was to enact a law militating against the herdsmen moving from one place or the other in the state.

sisters and compatriots of Enugu State, because in the best traditions of our people, we must mourn with our compatriots just as we enjoy together in moments of happiness, as well as in moments of grief. “It is particularly important for us to express our heart-felt sympathy because of the existence of the terror associated with Boko Haram, we know the meaning of terror and the associated pains. We have been through that for over seven years and we have been able to forge ahead largely because of the empathy we have received from our compatriots from all over the country, including the sympathy of the good people of Enugu State. “In our last meeting with Mr president, it might interest His Excellency and other eminent personality to know that we acknowledged the generous contribution of the government and people of Ebonyi State to the victims of Bokoharam in Borno State. Though we belong to the APC club, Ebonyi is South-Eastern state, a Christian state, but in the true spirit of nationhood, they show sympathy and support to the people of Borno State. "I want to pay a special tribute for our traditional rulers, for our religious leaders for maintaining calmness in moments of crisis.”

Samoura said many UN agencies and international organisations had already started helping the women IDPs to undertake incomegenerating activities. She said such activities included embroideries to make traditional caps, perfumes, knitting and tailoring in the camps. She encouraged the IDPs to continue to be vigilant so as to preserve their safety within the camps. Besides, she enjoined them to work towards peaceful and conducive environment through continued dialogue among the various ethnic groups within the camps and among the different members of their families. Meanwhile, the government of Japan has again announced the donation of $550,000 (N109,450,000) to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and Nigerian Red Cross to support humanitarian efforts in the North-East. The North-East has been ravaged by Islamist Boko Haram insurgency for close to a decade and has seen more than 1.5 million people displaced. “Recent assessments done together with the Nigerian Red Cross have shown that as many as 90 per cent of houses in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states have been destroyed, along with sanitation facilities, markets, and farm land,” said Samuel Matoka, IFRC Operations Manager, Nigeria, at a press briefing in Abuja, on Tuesday. “With relative security having returned to the region, people who fled want to return home, even if, at the moment, that means returning to very little,” he added. The funding support will enable Red Cross operations in the three states to accomplish interventions targeting 35,000 people in the three states on five areas focusing shelter; health, sanitation and hygiene; livelihoods; distribution of household items; and psychosocial support. “While it is critical that returning families have access to shelter, health care and clean water, we cannot afford to ignore the trauma they have experienced,” added Matoka. “The Ebola outbreak reconfirmed for us the importance of also addressing the emotional and psychological needs of those traumatised from having witnessed some extremely disturbing events.”

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

news

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016 Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Calls for scrapping of NYSC scheme sinister —Sultan

HE Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, on Tuesday, described calls for the scrapping of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC) as sinister, saying it has helped to promote national unity and development.

The Sultan made the remark when the DirectorGeneral of the NYSC, Brigadier-General Suleiman Zakari, paid him a visit in his palace in Sokoto. ‘’People making such dastardly proposals for the scrapping of the scheme have negative minds and

negative tendencies,’’ Abubakar said. The monarch stressed that the scheme “has remained relevant and the only unifying factor in Nigeria in spite of our diverse religious and ethnic differences. ‘‘We believe in Nigeria and its existence as

Hijab: Appeal Court asks applicants to apply for 5-man panel Ayomide OwonibiOdekanyin-Lagos FOLLOWING an appeal challenging the ban on hijab, the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, on Tuesday, adjourned to enable its full panel to hear the appeal. The lower court had upheld

the ban on the wearing of hijab (Muslim head scarf) in public primary and secondary schools in Lagos State. A three-man panel led by Justice Amina Augie informed the applicants, two 15-year olds and the Registered Trustees of the

Consider paved road as alternative to bituminous road, FG urged GIVEN economic loss of a staggering $1.5 billion (about N300 trillion) annually, due to failed roads, the federal and state governments in Nigeria, have been called upon to consider paved roads as a sustainable alternative to bituminous roads in order to save the nation the huge economic loss. This is just as hope has risen for the fixing of the dilapidated Wharf-Apapa Road in Lagos, as stakeholders had recommended the use of concrete pavement to rehabilitate the road. The ray of hope was expressed by combined delegation from the Federal Ministry of Works, Power and Housing, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), during inspection tour of a 25 kilometre Ibese-Itori concrete paved road in Yewa, Ogun State, constructed by the AG Dangote Construction Nigeria Limited, at the weekend. The officials said they

had observed that concrete roads were more durable than bituminous ones. Leader of the delegation and General Manager of Western Ports, Chief Mike Ajayi said based on what they had seen, concrete roads would be viable alternative for Nigeria, in terms of quality and durability and against the background of the incessant failure of bituminous roads. “I will strongly recommend to states to adopt paved concrete for road construction because of the strength of concrete pavement and durability. This will save the nation huge resources deployed to unending rehabilitation of roads. “Particularly when you observe that Southern Nigeria has soft top soil and with heavy rain year in, year out, the solution to the longevity of our roads lies in the adoption of concrete pavement. We have to give it a trial because it also takes a shorter time to construct,” Chief Ajayi stated.

Muslim Society of Nigeria (MSSN), that the matter was sensitive, since all three justices were Muslims. “The appeal is very sensitive since it involves the right of the applicants, who are Muslims, to wear the hijab over their school uniform in accordance with Koranic injunction. “We are a three-man panel, and more importantly, an all Muslim panel,” Justice Augie said. She added that if the three justices went ahead to hear the appeal, it could raise issues of bias. Responding to an observation by applicant’s counsel, Chief Gani Adetola-Kazeem, the judge said, “any way the decision goes, we would be under fire. We’re protecting ourselves as much as we’re protecting you. “It’s a very sensitive matter that will most likely still get to the Supreme Court.” The court ruled that the suit was a constitutional one and a five-man panel was required to hear it. It directed the applicants to apply in writing to the President of the Court of Appeal for a five-man panel to be appointed to hear it. It will be recalled that on October 17, 2014, Justice Modupe Onyeabor of an Ikeja High Court, dismissed the suit instituted against the Lagos State Government by two then 12-yearold girls under the aegis of the MSSN, Lagos State Area Unit.

Delta killing: Fish out killer-soldier or face litigation, group tells army Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

AUTHORITIES of the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, Delta State, have been urged to fish out the soldier that shot dead Mrs Alice Akparobi, when she was on her way to her daughter’s wedding, last Saturday morning. Describing the killing as barbaric and reminiscent of the dark days of military despotism in the country, National Coordinator of the Centre for the Vulnerable and Underprivileged (CENTREP), Oghenejabor Ikimi, in a press briefing

in Warri, said the group would resist any attempt by the army to cover up the blue murder. “CENTREP has formally written a Letter to the Commanding Officer of the 3 Battalion, Nigerian Army, Effurun, where the said erring soldiers are attached to, and the Chief of Army Staff on the above issue, and we shall not hesitate to commence a legal action against the Army authorities in the event of a cover up,” Ikimi warned. The human rights activist called on the Army authorities to apprehend

the alleged killer-soldier and hand him over to the Nigerian Police for a murder trial, saying “there is no law that gives a soldier the power to shoot at commuters at an army checkpoint if the vehicle or tricycle they board refused to stop.” Mrs. Akparobi, it will be recalled, was shot dead at about 8:00a.m on Saturday, April 30 by one of five soldiers at Ekpan Junction, Effurun, Uvwie Local Government Area, while on her way to her daughter’s church wedding ceremony.

one big family. Nigerians should continue to assist one another to build Nigeria. ‘‘God cannot make a mistake by creating us together as a country and we will continue to do what is right in line with

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the Islamic teachings.’’ The Sultan promised to continue to support the scheme, and advised the new DG to sustain the successes recorded by his predecessors. Earlier, Kazaure had told the Sultan that he

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was in the state as part of his nationwide tour of NYSC facilities across the nation. He commended the Sultan for his contributions to sustainable peace and unity in the country, and globally.

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35 CHANGE OF NAME

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Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

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Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Suspension of Ogun PDP chairman illegal —National auditor Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

HE national auditor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Adewole Adeyanju, on Tuesday, faulted the purported suspension of the chairman of Ogun State chapter of the party, Chief Adedayo Dayo, along with the secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, by nine members of the State Working Committee (SWC) of the party. In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Tuesday, Adeyanju, described the action as illegal and against the constitution of the party The national auditor said that no state chapter of the party has the power to suspend or discipline its chairman without due process as contained in the constitution of the party, stressing that only the National Executive Committee (NEC), has such power, after a thorough investigation into allegations against him “Dayo, being a member of NEC of the party, can only be disciplined or suspended from office by NEC, based on reports from the state chapter of the party upon a thorough investigation,this has not been,until this is done, the purported suspension is illegal.” Adeyanju also said that the purported suspension became questionable, having discovered that some of the SWC members involved in the action had left the party prior to the 2015 general election. “Many of them defected to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) while some defected to the All Progressives Congress(,APC )and the party had since replaced them from their respective zones,they are only coming back to cause crisis in the party,this we will not be allowed to happen,” he said. While calling on members of the party to remain calm over the plan of some people to cause crisis in the state chapter of the party, Adeyanju assured that the NWC of the party would handle the matter appropriately in due course. The state organising secretary of the party, Dr Folashade Filani, it will be recalled, had on Monday, in Abeokuta, on behalf of nine members of SWC, announced the indefinite suspension of the state chairman and secretary re-

spectively, over alleged financial misappropriation, imposition of candidates and exclusion of party officials from the on going Party Congresses in the State. Reacting, Chief Dayo, denounced media reports that he and the state secretary of the party, had been suspended from office.

In a statement he issued on Tuesday, in Abeokuta, Dayo said, “The attention of state chapter of the PDP has been drawn to the action of some former and suspended members of the state chapter of PDP in which they said my humble self and the state secretary have been purportedly suspended. “Ordinarily, we would

not have joined issues with these characters but for the fact that lies told severally without a debunk will naturally put on the garb of truth. “I have decided for the sake of the unsuspecting members of our great party and the general populace to put a lie to the misinformation from the impostors

and set the record straight as follows: “While it is true that some of these people were elected with me and the secretary, Alhaji Semiu Sodipo, as members of the SWC during the 2012 congresses of our party held in Abeokuta, a good number of them are mere busy-bodies and impostors.”

From left, Chief Abidemi Atobatele; Chief (Mrs) Amidat Atobatele; the Balogun of Egbaland, High Chief Sikirulah Atobatele; Chief (Mrs) Veronica Atobatele and Mrs Bola Dele, during the 70th birthday anniversary of the Balogun of Egbaland, last weekend.

We have no intention to license preachers —Plateau govt Isaac Shobayo - Jos AS controversy continued to trail the decision of the 19 northern states governors to license preachers in their respective states, the Plateau State government has exonerated itself from the decision, saying the government has no in-

tention to license preachers in the state. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Jos, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Honourable Rufus Bature, said though, a communique was issued to that effect, it was not forced on members, adding that each state

has the right to domesticate it based on its peculiarities. “If you are in a meeting, majority voted in favour of an issue, as a minority, you have no choice than to agree.” The decision is to take care of incessant crisis emanating from religious

Change should begin with individuals —Health minister By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare MINISTER of Health, Professor Isaac Adewole, has stated that for the change being expected to be realistic, it should begin with individuals, adding that Nigerians could be good followers if they have the right leadership. Professor Adewole said this on Tuesday while speaking at the media launch of ‘Not in my country’, a citizen-based anti-corruption campaign created and produced by a Business and Communication expert, Mr Akin Fadeyi, at the Protea Leadway Hotels, Maryland, Lagos. Not in my country is an enlightenment anti-corruption drive aimed at reorientating the populace about the need to change as individuals before the leadership can be effectively

changed. The minister, represented by Mrs Boade Akinola, said further that the Not in my country project, is a welcome development at this critical time in the history if Nigeria as it keys into President Muhammadu Buhari’s agenda that corruption needs to be totally wiped out of the country “The government is committed to supporting innovative initiative that will help the country grow and this project will engender the needed revolution in Nigeria. The health ministry is ready for a strategic collaboration with Not in my country, to curb all acts of corruption in Nigeria. “The Federal Government is committed to ensuring Nigerians enjoy universal health care and will in the next two years ,put in place 10, 000 primary health care

centres to make this vision possible,” he said In his address, Mr Fadeyi said that corruption in Nigeria is not the government’s problem but a problem of the citizens, adding that for change to be effective, it must start with individuals. He stated that the entire Nigerian system is warped. “Our value system is warped in Nigeria. People complain of corruption, yet, they vote in corrupt people because they are family or give us money. “Before we can fight corruption, we need to change ourselves before we change the leadership. . he said Other speakers at the event include , the Managing Director/Editor in Chief of Vanguard Newspapers, Mr Gbenga Adefaye and Otunba Gbenga Kareem, the Head of Schools, Unique Group of Schools, Lagos.

preachings and others. However, because of the complexity of the northern region, states were asked to domesticate this law according to their peculiarities, if you find that it is good for your state, go ahead and if it is not good, it is not mandatory that all the states should do it. “We are not implementing license for preachings for now in Plateau State” he said. He charged the people of the state to continue to embrace peace, sincere dialogue and honesty, adding that it is by doing that, permanent peace and development could be achieved in the state. “We are able to achieve the prevailing peace through sincere dialogue and understanding. We also try to build confidence among the people, these are the things we intend to continue with so that the relative peace in the state now will one day, become permanent,” he said. According to him, the state government, despite financial challenges confronting it, had recorded major achievements that are feasible, adding that the government is continuing with the projects left by the immediate past administration.

We didn’t pay Saraki’s lawyer N500m —Kwara govt Biola Azeez - Ilorin KWARA State government has debunked allegation that it paid N500 million as legal fee of Mr Kanu Agabi, who is the lead counsel In the trial of senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT). In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the state governor on Media and Communication, Dr Muideen Akorede, which was made available to journalists in Ilorin, on Tuesday, the state government described the allegation as mischievous. The text of the address read thus: We hereby deny allegations by Sahara reporters that the Kwara State government paid a sum of N500 million to Mr Kanu Agabi, the lead counsel in the trial of Dr Saraki, at CCT, Abuja. The allegation is mischievous and has no basis. In fact, Dr Saraki is perfectly capable of funding his own defense. Also, the state government has no responsibility to fund the legal defense of the senate president or any other individual. Neither does it intend to do so. Additionally, it is ridiculous to expect a state government that requires N2.4 billion monthly for salaries, pensions, and overheads but received N1.5 billion in allocations last month, for example, to spend any money on the senate president’s trial. It is, therefore, impossible for the government to fund the senate president’s trial.

Apo killings: ECOWAS court delivers judgment May 10 Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Court, sitting in Abuja, will on May 10 (Tuesday), deliver judgment in a case brought before it by victims of the September 20, 2013 shootings at Apo legislative quarters, Abuja. The court, in its quest to dispense justice in the matter, has issued a hearing notice to the parties involved in the matter, directing them to come for judgment in the case on Tuesday. A Joint Task Force (JTF) of the State Security Services (SSS) and the military, had, on Friday, September 20, 2013 raided an uncompleted building at Ago legislative quarters, Abuja. The raid claimed eight lives while 14 people were injured.

south-westnews

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

Health workers protest non-payment of salaries in Ondo Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

EALTH workers across Ondo town in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State on Tuesday paralysed social and economic activities in the town, protesting against the non payment of their five months’ salary by the state government. The workers, who trooped to the streets in their hundreds as early as 8a.m., rendering various solidarity songs, blocked the major road in the town, causing

traffic gridlock within the ancient city of Ondo. Armed with placards of various inscriptions, which include, “Pay our salaries, “We are dying of Hunger,” Pay us before we die,” “We save lives, save us from Hunger,” while the health workers, which include, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory technologists, threatened to down tools if the state government failed to address the issue of their salaries soon. One of the protesters told Nigerian Tribune that they decided to organise

the peaceful protest to register their dissatisfaction about the continued silence being maintained by the state government over their salaries. He said “we are experiencing hell and the state government seems to be insensitive to our plight. We understand the economic reality in the country, but we want the state government to save us from hunger. “Some of us who are working here with our wives have been turned to debtors because our only source of income is here and we can

no longer feed our children while many of them are out of school.” Patients who visited the various hospitals within the town returned home disappointedly as the health workers vowed not to attend to them until the state government pay their five months’ salaries. Addressing the workers in his palace, the Osemawe of Ondo, Oba Victor Kiladejo, appealed to the workers to go back to their various offices with assurance that the state government would soon pay their salaries.

The monarch, who said he understood the plight of the workers, expressed optimism that the state government would act quickly, saying the state government could not afford that the health sector suffer. However, the Ondo State Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, has appealed to the protesters to be patient with the government, saying efforts were ongoing on how to pay the workers’ salaries. He said, “We will continue to beg the workers, it is not that the government is taking them for granted, it is due to the current economic situation, but I want to assure them that very soon, the government will pay them.”

Fulani herdsmen: Cleric calls for decisive action Youths warn against atrocities in Ekiti, Yorubaland By Oluwole Ige

Prophet Joseph Adeoye (left), during a visit to the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, recently.

Abduction: Senator Anisulowo rescued after 6 days Olayinka Olukoya -Abeokuta FORMER Minister of State for Education, Senator Iyabo Anisulowo, abducted by armed men, last Wednesday, has regained her freedom six days after. Nigerian Tribune recalled that the former lawmaker who represented Ogun West Senatorial District from 2003 to 2007 at the National Assembly, was abducted at her farm in Sawonjo/Iganokoto area of Ogun State, in Yewa North Local Government Area. This development was confirmed in a release signed by the state Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who said two suspects were arrested in connection with Anisulowo’s abduction. Adejobi said the ex-lawmaker was rescued at Gbegbelawo Village, near Olorunda town in Abeokuta North Local Government Area. Her Toyota Sport Utility Vehicle with registration number LSD 115 AM was

recovered by the police shortly after the incident, at about 7.00p.m, on Tuesday evening. “The police have rescued Senator Iyabo Anisulowo at a village called Gbegbelawo, near Olorunda town,

Ogun State, today at about 7.00 p.m. Two suspects arrested,” he said. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, had last Saturday, deployed two helicopters in search of the former min-

ister, while the state police command offered N5 million for any information on her whereabouts. Details of her release from abductors’ den was still sketchy at the time of filing this report.

Ondo Assembly Crisis: Court upholds Odimayo as rightful candidate of PDP Sunday Ejike -Abuja A Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, ruled that Gbadebo Akinola Odimayo is the authentic candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Ode-Irele Constituency, in the 2015 General Election, into the Ondo State House of Assembly. Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed gave the ruling on Tuesday, while delivering judgment on a suit by Odimayo against Philip Ajimotoki, PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The plaintiff, who con-

tested for a ticket under the platform of the PDP, to represent Irele in the Ondo State House of Assembly, had sued his party (PDP) for allegedly substituting his name in the final list submitted to the electoral body. Odimayo claimed that he won the party’s primaries held in November 2014, at the St Peters Catholic Hall in Irele, with 35 votes while the first runner-up, Ajimotoki scored 23 votes out of 58 and asked the court to declare his substitution illegal and unlawful. He also requested for an order for the restoration of

his mandate as well as an interlocutory injunction restraining INEC and PDP from recognising Ajimotoki. In upholding the plaintiff’s case, Justice Mohammed said he had read the affidavit of the plaintiff as well as the counter-affidavits of the defendants and had also listened to the submissions of all the counsel in the matter and had come to the conclusion that the only issue to be determined was whether or not the plaintiff won the primaries of the PDP for Ode-Irele constituency.

and Sam Nwaoko

THE Diocesan Bishop of the Osun Anglican Diocese, Right Reverend James Afolabi Popoola, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to take decisive measures in tackling the growing menace of Fulani herdsmen in the country. He said the killings of the people and destruction of their farmlands in different part of communities in Nigeria by Fulani herdsmen must be immediately checked to avoid violence and inter tribal war. Popoola, who made the appeal in Osogbo, during his presidential charge delivered to the second session of the 10th synod said, “The deadly activities of Fulani cattle rustlers in different parts of the country calls for urgent action. Meanwhile, a group of Yoruba youths under the aegis of National Coalition of Yoruba Youths and Students have warned that assailants suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, whom they said were marauding across the country, should stay away from Yoruba territory, saying “the youths will resist attempt to carry out any genocidal action in the zone.” The group said through its National Coordinator, Mr Sunday Asefon, that “the senseless killings in Enugu, Benue and other states by these suspected marauders underscored the level of porosity in the country’s security.”

Nigerian Tribune

Anwo assures Afijio people adequate infrastructure THE Caretaker Chairman of Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State, Honourable Anwo Lukumon Olasunkanmi, has assured the people of his council area of adequate and even distribution of social infrastructures. In a release issued and signed by the local government press officer, Mr Oladejo Taiwo, at Jobele, headquarter of the local government, the chairman said, despite paucity of fund facing all tiers of government at present, he added that his administration was able to keep religiously to his promises to the people. He added that upon his assumption of the office as chairman, his administration has taken a giant step to prevent occurrence of flood disaster and make life more comfortable for his people at the local government area. For example, as the rainy season is approaching, his administration has embarked on dredging of waterways in the council as construction and dredging of the waterways had already started at Iware and other communities in the local government such as Ilora, Fiditi and Awe.

Rural development, panacea for Nigeria’s economic growth —Kaka Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta A former member of the National Assembly, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, has identified rural development as one of the factors that would boost the nation’s economic growth. The ex-lawmaker stated this shortly after the handing over of a block of three classrooms at Local Government Primary School, Makun-Irokun, in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, which was facilitated by him while in office. Kaka, who represented Ogun East Senatorial district from 2011 to 2015, noted that provision of minimum basic requirements of life for people living in the rural areas would contribute to be the overall Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country. He lamented that rural communities in the country were underdeveloped by governments which had resulted into implosion of the urban areas.

Wednesday, 4 May, 2016

corporatesport

With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

RGANISERS of the Okpekpe International 10km Road Race have reiterated their readiness to organise a bigger and better event this Saturday in Okpekpe near Auchi in Edo state. Race director Zakari Amodu says the first and only IAAF Bronze Label race in Nigeria will live up to its billing as one of the prestigious road races in the world. ‘Everything is set for a good race,’begins Amodu. ‘The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) have set requirements for us to follow as a bronze label event and I can tell you we have met all the requirements and have even moved several steps higher,’ he continued. ‘What we are waiting for is just for the race day to be here so that we can put into practice all we have been doing in terms of keeping to the requirements. ‘We have met the requirement concerning the number of elite athletes that must be present for a bronze label event. In fact we have met the requirement for a gold label event which, considered alongside other requirements which we have also met will facilitate our upgrading into a silver label event,’ he further said and revealed they have met other conditions like insurance cover for the athletes, the equality of the prize money, doping controls and other requirements

From left, Cooperative Villas Tennis Tournament Captain, Seyi Awodiya, Secretary, Yemi Ladejobi, Chairman, Yemi Gbadamosi, Special Assistant on Sports to the Governor of Lagos and Chairman, Lagos State Sport Commission, Deji Tinubu, Lawrence Elumezie and Moshood Adelotan during the 2016 Cooperative Villas Tennis Tournament Sponsored by Etisalat Nigeria in Lagos recently

Okpekpe race: Organisers promise

world class race outlined by the IAAF. ‘The IAAF requested that we subscibe to a third party liability insurance policy to cover the risks for which

the race organisation may be held liable, including any accident which might occur to athletes and officials and this we have done

with Linkage Assurance. ‘The international body also requested that prize money offered to competitors, including bonuses

The Emirates FA Cup hots up EMIRATES and the FA Cup elevated the excitement for the tournament with the unveiling of an Emirates FA Cup themed Airbus A380 aircraft. The bespoke design was presented just ahead of the Emirates FA Cup semifinals which was held between 23rd and 24th April.

For its maiden voyage, the specially decked out Emirates FA Cup A380 flew to London Heathrow today, operating as EK001. The aircraft was met by former England and Liverpool goalkeeping legend, David James who was pictured welcoming the aircraft with the trophy.

Sir Tim Clark, President of Emirates Airline, said: “We are incredibly proud of our partnership with the FA Cup, the oldest association football competition in the world. Being the title sponsor for the Emirates FA Cup along with our sponsorship of Arsenal shows our deep

Ajibaye wins IGC Captain’s Day inaugural kitty By Olawale Olaniyan A member of Tiger Golf Club, Reverend Charles Ajibaye, last weekend won the 22nd Ibadan Golf Club Captain’s Day inaugural golf kitty played at the IGC, Ibadan. The kitty was organised to usher in the new Captain of IGC, Barrister Idowu Salami alongside his co-executive officers who would run the affairs of the club in the next one year. Ajibaye who is playing handicap 16, played 82 Gross and 66 Net over the one-day event, just as he won the Men’s longest drive in hole 18 ahead of Tunde Akande who played 87 gross and 68 Net.

for times achieved shall be equal for all competitors regardless of their nationality or gender. In other words prize money for po-

Evelyn Oyome won the Ladies best Net after she played 77 Gross and 72 Net ahead of the new Lady captain of the club, Mrs Anne Oladejo who played 98 Gross and 78 Net. An elated Salami told Tribunesport after the tournament that he is ready to take IGC to the next level, just as he begged all members of the club for support. “I intend to give the club a new facelift, we are extending the pavilion and is expected to cost a huge sum of money. I already have a sponsor, Akogun Tunde Afolabi who has promised to help us, he has brought his architect for site assessment and we are commencing the project in the next

two weeks. “We are also looking at relocating our bar to a place that will be more visible and elevate the club to the next level in terms of getting golf equipment, reshape the golf course. I have sponsors who are ready to do all this and I will get there by the grace

of God. “Corporate organisations are no longer sponsoring competitions because of paucity of funds and the economic situation in the country in recent times, but we will try our best to ensure that we have good golfing activities before the years runs out.”

commitment to the United Kingdom and football. The Emirates FA Cup A380 will literally bring the iconic cup to a fan base spanning the globe. It is exciting for us to connect both football and aviation fans with their passions in this unique way.” Russell James, FA Marketing Director said: “Thanks to our partnership with Emirates, we’ve been able to inspire and connect with even more fans of teams both here in the UK and across the world. As we enter the finals period, we’re excited to have the Emirates FA Cup branded A380 aircraft flying across the world, helping us continue to bring the adventure of the tournament to new audiences.’’

Uwalaka’s birthday Golf kitty holds Saturday GOLFERS from around the country will gather this weekend to celebrate Frank Uwalaka’s birthday with a golf kitty which is scheduled to hold at Tiger Golf Club (TGC), Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo, Ibadan. According to the Captain of the club, Dr John Dongo,

it has become part of their activities to honour every club member through a golf kitty to mark their birthday celebration. Dongo said over 120 guests and participants are expected to celebrates Frank Uwalaka’s birthday golf kitty while the TGC

will be celebrating him too for his role in the construction of a block of nine rooms chalet on the club’s premises. “We have two new clocks of charlets, Frank Uwalaka completed one while TGC and the Division completed the other one.

sitions should be equal for men and women and for nationals of the host country and athletes of other nationalities. This we have also done where the prize money for the first eight finishers are the same for men and women,’ Amodu explained and added that drinking/ sponging and refreshment stations will be adequately staffed by competent personnels and that water and refreshments shall be provided free of charge for all participants on the course and at the finish area. ‘The whole course from Apana road to Okpekpe will be closed to vehicular traffic, with the exclusion of official vehicles, for the duration of the event. The start will be traffic free until the last runner has started and the finish will be traffic free until the last runner finishes. On doping we have appointed one of Nigeria’s foremost sports medicine practitioners Dr Akinwunmi Amao to be our chief anti-doping officer and everything needed to ensure a dope-free race have been provided,’ said Amodu who explained that athletes are always scared when they know the man heading the anti-doping unit is a nononsence and honest.

SIDELINES

NO 16,493

N150

WEDNESDAY, 4 MAY, 2016

A goat with its owner was recently arrested by the police in central India for crimes bordering on gross misconduct and destruction of property. The police officer in charge of the case said the goat was a “repeat offender”. If one may ask, how will the police make the goat turn a new leaf?

Agents demand new bumper deal for Iheanacho

The Leicester City team bus arrives at the San Carlo Pizzeria in the city centre as the players go for a celebratory lunch today

Leicester fans bring city centre to standstill L EICESTER City fans brought the city centre to a standstill today as the club’s players celebrated their Premier League title with lunch at a pizzeria. Hundreds of excited supporters gathered outside San Carlo Pizzeria in Leicester as the newly-crowned champions marked their fairytale achievement. The players, whose manager Claudio Ranieri is Italian, were surrounded by fans, police and secu-

rity guards as they entered and left the restaurant. It was a special moment for a team who were famously rewarded with pizza by Ranieri in October following their first clean of their title-winning season. The Thai-owned club’s chairman Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha and top scorer Jamie Vardy were among those dining out at the award-winning restaurant. If there were a few sore heads at the club’s training ground this

morning it didn’t show, as the players laughed and joked with each other despite partying until 4:00am. Players including club captain Wes Morgan - who appeared to be in much the same outfit as the night before - were seen arriving for training at around 10:00am on Tuesday following a remarkable 5,000/1 storybook ending which ranks among the greatest sporting feats of all time. Star striker Vardy was the first

CAF U20 qualifier: ‘Amuneke drops 6 players from Flying Eagles camp By Nurudeen Alimi AHEAD of the U-20 Africa Cup of Nations Cup qualifier against Burundi later this year, Flying Eagles coach, Emmanuel Amuneke, has announced the delisting of six players from his 37-man provisional list. The decision was taken after the team defeated Nigeria National League (NNL) side, Supreme court 1-0 in a friendly game with Kingsley Michael scoring the only goal of the encounter via a penalty kick in the 65th minute. Coach Amuneke thanked the dropped players whose names were not mentioned for their perseverance during the screening exercise and advised them to stay fit as their services may still be needed in the future. One more player will be dropped next week to reduce the number

in camp to thirty. The Flying Eagles have so far played five matches defeating Sia-One Academy 4-1, Dabo Babes 5-0, Ace FC of Kaduna 6-2 and holding Dreams

FC to a 0-0 draw. Nigeria must beat Burundi over two legs to advance to the final round of the qualifiers in July this year.

Leicester City renews bid for Ahmed Musa THE newly-crowned Premier League champions, Leicester City has renewed their interest in Nigerian and CSKA Moscow attacker, Ahmed Musa according to the Daily Mail. Leicester City were keen on signing Musa back in the January transfer window, but felt that CSKA Moscow’s asking price of £20million was too high. With the league championship safely secured – and the prospect of Champions League football looming large – Leicester are already looking at targets to boost

their squad. Manager Claudio Ranieri is said to rate Musa highly, with the Nigerian’s versatility and goal-scoring prowess two attributes that make him sought after. The Foxes have sent scouts to watch Musa playing for CSKA in recent times and to keep up with his performances in the Russian Premier League. Musa, 23, has scored 11 goals in 26 appearances for CSKA, who have a two-point lead at the top of the log with four rounds of fixtures remaining.

to be seen as he emerged from his £1million mansion hours after he and his teammates toasted their club’s first ever top-flight title in their 132-year history. The 29-year-old - who was this morning seen being driven to training - hosted a gathering at his home last night, and his dream that it would turn into a title party was realised when Tottenham Hotspur could only manage a draw with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. It signalled the start of wild celebrations as he and tens of thousands of fans in Leicester and across the world partied the night away in honour of the unlikeliest of feats. Many of the club’s players left Vardy’s late last night before heading to Club Republic in Leicester city centre. There they were greeted and congratulated by jubilant supporters before heading home in the early hours looking a little worse for wear. Leicester manager, Claudio Ranieri, the mastermind of the club’s success this season, arrives at San Carlo Pizzeria The nightclub last night wrote on its Facebook page: ‘Just had a phone call from some lad called Jamie booking a big booth for tonight! Come join him & his mates at Republic tonight! We’re open until 3.30am! #JamieVardyHavingaParty’. Among those pictured out on the town were Morgan, striker Leonardo Ulloa, defenders Danny Simpson and Robert Huth, goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel, England international Danny Drinkwater and Ghanaian winger Jeffrey Schlupp.

THE agents of Kelechi Iheanacho have demanded a bumper new Manchester City contract that will pay the Nigeria starlet a mindblowing 200,000 pounds-a-week over five years, AfricanFootball. com can exclusively reveal today. “He has deserved his keep at City as he is now one of the most effective forwards in the whole of Europe when you put his game time against the number of his goals,” a top source argued. The 19-year-old Nigeria international has netted 13 goals in all competitions this season with seven of them in the Premier League. In October, Manchester City offered Iheanacho 50,000 poundsa-week. As first reported by AfricanFootball.com, City have opened talks with Iheanacho’s handlers over a new contract after he justified his promotion to the first team at The Etihad with goals and five-star displays in his debut season in the English Premier League. We have further learnt that Iheanacho is currently earning “between 10,000 and 18,000 pounds a week” after coming through the City youth ranks. AfricanFootball.com was specially told by an insider that the least paid City first-teamer is on 180,000 pounds-a-week with the biggest earner at the club Yaya Toure pocketing almost twice that sum. Iheanacho is expected to bag a new contract by July.

Iheanacho

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. 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. 4/5/2016.