5th July 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,538

TUESDAY, 5 JULY, 2016

Court sacks Sheriff again, says P/ Harcourt PDP convention —P9 valid

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Fani-Kayode, Nenadi Usman, 2 others granted N250m bail each •Omokore gets N50m bail —P31

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NNPC gets new board, as Baru replaces Kachikwu as GMD —P11

CBN removes Skye Bank's chairman, MD, others —P12

•Appoints Ahmed chairman, Abiru MD •New chairman assures depositors, stakeholders •Bank stock down 9.2% Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE to celebrate Eid-el-Fitri tomorrow —P6

Fayose's accounts remain frozen •As court adjourns till Sept 30 —P39

From left, Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema; Group Chief Executive Officer, OANDO Plc, Mr Adewale Tinubu and Mr Olufemi Adeyemo, during the OANDO facts behind the figures, in Lagos, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN.

PENGASSAN plans to shut oil facilities from Thursday —P11

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Don’t push Nigeria’s problems forward, Akinyemi warns FG •Calls for implementation of confab report •Says FG, Avengers must avoid ‘Aburi syndrome’ •As former confab sec calls for Nigeria’s restructuring From Biola Azeez, Abiodun Awolaja and Bola Badmus

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GAINST the backdrop of general restiveness in the country and the persistent calls for restructuring in the polity, renowned academic and diplomat, Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, has urged the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government not to ignore the serious divisions and problems in the country, in the hope that the problems would go away or be addressed by another administration.

Akinyemi, who served as deputy chairman of the 2014 national conference, gave this charge in an exclusive interview with the Nigerian Tribune, noting that the recent exit of Britain from the European Union (EU) should provoke sober reflections on the ongoing debate about the Nigerian project.

He urged the Federal Government to consider implementing the report of the 2014 national conference organised by the immediate past administration, saying it thrashed out some of the problems the administration was currently confronting.

While distancing himself from the calls for a referendum on Nigeria’s continued existence by some sections of the country, Akinyemi urged the Federal Government not to brush aside the yearnings of Nigerians because of temporary power.

He said: “Our people have a saying that somebody who is warned about an oncoming war; if he is wise, the war would not catch him (Aro to ba gbon, ki i duro dogun).

We have seen the unforseeable and unpredictable consequences of a recalcitrant attitude on the part of the British Prime Minister, who probably thought he would use threat of referendum to extract more concession from Europe.

“So, those managing our problems in Nigeria should not say okay they would leave this alone—it is not going to go anywhere—and that ‘in two years or three years, another administration would address these, I am not going to waste my time addressing them’.

“If you decide to ignore the problems, would the problems ignore you? And this is what kind of happen when you are reckless about something, or you are insensitive in addressing issues that you should address.

“People are saying something of this nature (Brexit) should happen here and Buhari should have a referendum about who wants to remain in Nigeria. I don’t buy into that. Yes, people

are probably taking an extremely position.

“To me you can disagree with a person without being

disagreeable. Your choice of words can show that you disagree without using crude words, demeaning

words as if you are brushing them aside or as if they don’t even exist all because you know, you are in control

of temporary power. Your power is not static, power is not static at all.”

He added that if Scotland

Troops ambush fleeing Boko Haram terrorists in Kukawa, kill 4 Avert suicide bombing in Monguno Chris Agbambu -Abuja TROOPS of 118 Task Force Battalion, 8 Task Force Division, on Sunday, ambushed some elements of Boko Haram terrorists along Gerere junction, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State.

The terrorists were suspected to be fleeing the advancing troops of 119 Task Force Battalion presently mopping the general area of Kangarwa, in Kukawa Local Government Area of the state.

During the operation, the troops killed four Boko Haram terrorists carrying lo-

gistics items and recovered 48 jerry cans containing 1,440 litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), Automatic Gasoline Oil (AGO), eight motorcycles, out of which two were destroyed, 21 rounds of 7.62mm (special) ammunition, two AK-47 rifles, an unprimed Improvised Explosive Device and a 36-Henagar Hand Grenade, as well as assorted drugs.

However, one of the military vehicles and communication equipment were badly damaged from gunshots by the terrorists.

The troops have continued

to intensify vigilance and high level of alertness, following concerted efforts of clearing the remnants of the terrorists.

Meanwhile, troops, on Monday, detected and gunned down three female Boko Haram terrorists suicide bombers, who attempted to attack innocent Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) fetching water at a borehole located about three kilometres, outskirts of Monguno town on Marte Road.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the terrorists wore

explosive belts which they were strapped with and the explosives exploded and injured two civilians nearby.

The injured persons were evacuated and were receiving medical attention at the 8 Task Force Division’s medical facility.

It was gathered that the third suicide bomber who followed a different route detonated some distance before troops deployment on the same road.

Troops later cordoned off the general area and imposed restriction of movement into Monguno.

Abia State governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, addressing the crowd of supporters who trooped out in solidarity for him at the Government House, Umuahia, on Monday.

Court refuses to set aside judgment sacking Ikpeazu as Abia gov We acted in compliance with your order, INEC tells court Sunday Ejike -Abuja JUSTICE of the Federal High Court, Abuja, Okon Abang, says he will not set aside his previous order removing Okezie Ikpeazu as governor of Abia State.

Ikpeazu, through Wole Olanipekun, had filed an application asking the court to vacate the order.

But in a ruling on Monday, Abang said he would not set aside the order, but that he would hear other applications on the matter on Thursday.

On June 27, the judge ruled that Ikpeazu was not qualified to hold office as Abia governor, because he had filed a fake tax clearance before his election in 2015.

He had given the judgment in a suit filed by Uche Ogah, a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain, against Ikpeazu.

In the suit, Ogah contended that the governor filed a forged tax certificate prior to his election, and as such, he was not qualified to hold an elective office.

The judge upheld the argument of Ogah, ordering the removal of Ikpeazu.

Abang also ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to issue a Certificate of Return to Ogah, who was first runner-up in the PDP Abia governorship primaries as governor of the state.

Meanwhile, INEC, on Monday, told the Federal

High Court in Abuja, that the Certificate of Return it issued to Uche Ogah, on June 28 as governor-elect of Abia State, was in obedience to its judgment delivered on June 27.

INEC explained that the Certificate of Return had already been issued on Ogah before it received the processes of the notice of appeal against the judgment and a motion for stay of execution of the judgment by Governor Ikpeazu.

The electoral body made the clarification through its lawyer, Mr Alhassan Umar, when a motion seeking a stay of the execution of the judgment came up for hearing on Monday before Justice Abang, who had delivered the verdict on June 27.

INEC was reacting to an application by Ikpeazu’s counsel, Chief Wole Olanipekun for adjournment of the hearing of his client’s motion till Thursday.

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were to break away from the United Kingdom as a consequence of Brexit, then in fact, this would energise the secessionist tendencies not only in Nigeria, but also in many parts of the developing world While expressing delight with the proposed dialogue between the Federal Government and the Niger Delta Avengers, he noted that the parameters for the dialogue must be clearly defined, urging both parties to learn from history and avoid what he called the Aburi syndrome.

He added: “I hope the dialogue between the government and Avengers would not break up and government would not go into it, having at the back of their mind that they are buying time and therefore appear insincere. I hope the militants would not go into the dialogue with the mindset that we have got to defeat the government.”

In a related development, the co-secretary of the last national conference convened by administration of President Goodluck Jonathan in 2014, Professor Isiaq Oloyede, has joined the call for country’s political restructuring, saying “the present system is unfair to everybody.”

Speaking with journalists in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, on Monday, Professor Oloyede, who is also the Secretary General of the Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), however said the restructuring might not be based on the report of the conference, which he largely faulted in some respects.

“People are talking about reorganising and reordering the federation and so on. I believe that it is a correct position to hold that we have a lopsided federation. There are so many things wrong with the current system.

There should be an agreement on how to restructure the federation. I would say it is timely for people to call for the restructuring of the federation. What we are running is not a federal system, it is a unitary one. I always believe that it is not sustainable.

Full interview tomorrow

Adeboye in Ibadan on Sunday GENERAL Overseer, The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor E. A. Adeboye, will be in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Sunday, July 10, 2016 to dedicate the stadium-like RCCG Covenant Sanctuary, opposite Zartech, Oluyole Estate, Ibadan.

Time is 8.00 a.m. Chief Host is Pastor Dele Balo-

gun, the pastor-in-charge of Region 21.

Pastor E. A. Adeboye

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OBJ calls for single currency for ECOWAS countries Olayinka Olukoya -Abeokuta

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ORMER president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Monday, stressed the need for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to adopt single currency (Eco) to enhance regional integration.

He said this while hosting the new president of ECOWAS Commission, Marcel Alain De Souza, at his Hilltop residence, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital.

Obasanjo said the development would engender growth in the communities with about 320 million population.

Obasanjo said: “We have decided that our unit of currency will be Eco. Let us now start using Eco and let it becomes our unit of currency.”

He promised to continue offering services for ECOWAS when duty beckoned on him to do so, adding that the over 320 million people must be developed in all areas of human endeavours.

The former president expressed displeasure over the slow rate of development being witnessed in many African countries because of internal conflict.

He said the communities lacked political will to move the sub-regional organisation forward since its establishment 41 years ago.

“Let me emphasis that 41 years ago, ECOWAS was established and the expectation of all of us was very high. I think we will not be fair to ourselves if we do not say the truth that we have not moved fast based on our expectation.

“As you have rightly said, there are issues that have come up that were not expected. I think again, we must tell ourselves the truth

that there has not been enough political will on our part to move that sub-regional organisation as far as we should have done.

“We never expected that internal conflicts will engage the attention of ECOWAS as much as it has engaged our attention in Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Guinea Bissau and Cote’d’Ivorie, just to mention but a few.

“The attention that we should have paid to the original objectives which is economic integration, economic development, socioeconomic progress. We have been diverted,” he added.

Obasanjo, who is a special envoy to Guinea-Bissau on peace-keeping mission, appealed to leaders in the African continent to embrace inclusiveness as a major drive to move it forward, while maintaining that peace and security was the basic ingredient for socioeconomic development.

Obasanjo said: “Of necessity, we have to pay attention to base on security.

My involvement in GuineaBissau was an enduring involvement. I have been in that development when I was in government as president of Nigeria and ECOWAS, appointing me as special envoy that kept my involvement and my interest.

“I want to say this, that most of these conflicts, most of these causes of insecurity or breach of insecurity were because adequate attention had not been paid to what I will call inclusiveness, inclusiveness in terms of political, economic and social development of all our countries.

“Inclusiveness genderwise, inclusiveness socialwise, inclusiveness religious-wise, inclusiveness ethnic-wise and we must appeal to our leaders in our sub-region to take these is-

Court refuses to set aside order sacking Ikpeazu as Abia gov Continued from pg

The commission, however, argued through its counsel, Umar, that the notice of appeal and the motion for stay of execution of the judgment did not operate as a stay of execution of a court’s judgment in a pre-election case.

INEC’s counsel argued that the law would have expressly stated, so if it intends to make a notice of appeal to operate as a stay of execution in a pre-election case.

Umar explained that in the case of election petition, a notice of appeal operated as a stay of execution of a judgment delivered by an election petition tribunal in an election petition because section 143 (1) of the Electoral Act expressly provided for that.

“My lord ordered the third defendant to issue certificate

of return forthwith and upon service of the order, my lord, on June 28, 2016, the 3rd defendant issued a certificate of return accordingly.

“The Certificate of Return was issued before we were served with the motion on June 28. We had issued the certificate upon being served with the court order.

“But the actual presentation of the certificate was on June 30, but we had complied with the order of my lord.”

Justice Abang had, in his judgment on June 27, ordered Governor Ikpeazu to vacate his office for allegedly disclosing false information in relation to his tax clearance details to INEC in his form, nominating him as the candidate of the PDP for the last year’s governorship election in the state.

sue of inclusion seriously.”

He also raised the alarm over the rate of unemployment in the African nations, urging leaders to pay adequate attention to youth employment.

“A situation, where more than 50 per cent of our youths are unemployed, is extremely dangerous. We now have a situation in part of West Africa, where people now are dying of starvation.

Is it that we are not producing enough food or are we not producing what we produce evenly? Whatever it is,

it is shameful. It has led us to be begging international community for supply of food to any part of West Africa, it is not right.

“All that I have said is that you have a lot of work to do. These are jobs that will demand all your efforts, it will demand persuading our leaders to do what is right, when it is right all the time.

Earlier, the visitor commended Obasanjo on his peace-keeping effort in Guinea-Bissau and the ECOWAS community as a whole.

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016 IBADAN ELECTRICITY DISTRIBUTION COMPANY WEEKLY EXPECTED POWER AGAINST AVERAGE POWER RECEIVED

27TH JUNE - 3RD JULY 2016 OYO OGUN OSUN KWARA IBEDC TOTAL

EXPECTED POWER TO IBEDC (MW) 281.5 303.2 189.9 195 969.6

AVERAGE POWER RECEIVED (MW) 93.55 104.63 99.71 78.23 376.12

Only about 33% of expected power was received this week

Only Ex-NSA Dasuki can explain $40m pipeline contract, says witness Sunday Ejike -Abuja THE principal witness in the ongoing trial of Mr Azibaola Robert, cousin to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Alhaji ibrahim Mahe, on Monday, told the Federal High Court that only detained former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki can explain why OnePlus Holdings Limited got a $40 million pipeline security contract.

Mahe, who recently retired as Permanent Secretary, Special Services Operations (SSO) in the Office of the NSA, told the court that he paid OnePlus $40 million out of the $600 million special security fund sourced from the Nigerian National Petroluem Corporation (NNPC).

Under cross-examination by counsel for Roberts, Chief Chris Uche, Mahe, who admitted serving only 11 months in the ONSA, also admitted that some other firms got security contracts in excess of $40 million approved for OnePlus.

He, however, failed to tell the court, presided over by Justice Nnamdi Dimgba the names of the companies that benefitted from the remaining $560 million of the special security fund.

He admitted that the ONSA maintained Naira, Dollar and Euro security accounts.

Also under cross-examination, Mahe admitted that prior to crediting the account of OnePlus with the $40 million, no fewer than nine officials in the ONSA minuted on the payment warrant.

The retired Permanent Secretary said he paid OnePlus based on the conviction that the firm’s security contract met due process requirements, having being endorsed by nine top officials of the ONSA. Mahe told the court that the ONSA was not in the habit of advertising security contracts, also admitting that for security purposes, certain security contracts could be given codenames.

Mahe denied being part of any bidding process for

the procurement of security gadgets, saying his responsibility only entailed disbursing monies already approved for security contracts.

Maye had, at the last adjourned date, informed the court that Dasuki had instructed him to prepare a payment mandate of $40 million in favour of OnePlus Limited.

Maye, who was the first witness called by the prosecution, told the court that Dasuki had endorsed a memo to him with details of the company’s account.

He said the memo was sent to him in his capacity as the Permanent Secretary, Special Service Office, a department in the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

Meanwhile, the lead counsel for Roberts, Chief Uche, had urged the court for an adjournment to enable the defence team cross-examine the second prosecution witness, Mr Olabode Fanilola, who tendered the bank account statement from Zenith Bank Plc.

Uche said he sought for the adjournment because he had not had ample information to enable him cross-examine the witness.

The prosecuting counsel, Mr Sylvanus Tahir, however, objected to the application on the grounds that there was adequate time in the course of the proceedings to cross-examine the witness.

He argued that Fanilola as a “banker has busy schedules” which would make it difficult for him to be in court at the next adjourned date.

Trial judge, Justice Dimgba, agreed with the defence that adequate judicial time had been spent for the day’s proceedings and adjourned the case till October 6, 7 and 19 for continuation of trial.

Roberts, together with his wife, Stella, were arraigned on June 8, on a sevencount charge bordering on money laundering, totalling about $40 million, to which they pleaded not guilty and were admitted to bail.

Law School DG, 21 others now SANs Sunday Ejike -Abuja THE Director-General of the Nigerian Law School, Mr Olanrewaju Adesola Onadeko and 21 other senior lawyers have been conferred the prestigious rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee.

Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the secretary to the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, Ahmed Gambo Saleh, who disclosed this to newsmen on Monday, said a total of 131 legal practitioners applied for the SAN rank, out of which 55 names were shortlisted.

Saleh said out of the 55 lawyers who made it to the final stage, 22 were appointed for the conferment

of the SAN rank by the Legal Practitioners’ Privileges Committee, headed by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed.

The senior lawyers who will be conferred with the prestigious SAN title on September 19 alongside Olanrewaju Adesola Onadeko are Nnamonso Udo Ekanem, Professor Muhammed Tabiu, Dr Valerie-Janette Ogonna Azinge and Olufunke Abimbola Agbor.

Others are Olusola Oladimeji Ojutalayo, Richard Ayodele NjeAkintunde, Oyesoji Gbolahan Oyeleke, James Onyeanwuna Njeze Ikeyi, Elisha Yakubu Kurah, Adewunmi Adedeji Ogunsanya, Olatubosun Ola Olanipekun and chief Kalu Ikwuonwu Umeh.

Also on the list are Adewale Sunday Adesokan, Andrew Chukwuemeka Igboekwe, Fredson Chijioke Alexander Okoli, Olaseni Abiodun Adio, Olasheni Ibiwoye, Abdulhakeem Uthman Mustapha, Mba Ekpezu Ukweni, Edward

Gyang Pwajok and Prof.

Chukwu Amari Omaka.

According to the Chief Registrar of the Supreme Court, the lawyers would be sworn in on September 19, and the total number of SAN in the country would step up to about 450.

RAMADAN MESSAGE O you who have believed, spend from the good things which you have earned and from that which We have produced for you from the earth. And do not aim toward the defective therefrom, spending [from that] while you would not take it [yourself] except with closed eyes.

And know that Allah is Free of need and Praiseworthy.

Satan threatens you with poverty and orders you to immorality, while Allah promises you forgiveness from Him and bounty. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing. He gives wisdom to whom He wills, and whoever has been given wisdom has certainly been given much good. And none will remember except those of understanding.

—Surat Al-Baqarah verses 267-269

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Appoint acting VC for OAU, academics urge Buhari Oluwole Ige -Osogbo AS the crisis over the appointment of the new vice chancellor for the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife festers, concerned academics in the institution, on Monday, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint an acting vice chancellor for the institution, pending the outcome of court litigation instituted by the Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) regarding the matter.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, on Monday, the dons, led by Professor Adegbola Akinola, contended that the resolution of the Federal Government to dissolve the governing council of the institution was a clear justification of their earlier claim that the appointment of Professor Ayobami Salami as the vice chancellor of OAU was questionable.

He called on the govern-

ment to constitute a panel of enquiry into the crisis rocking the university over the appointment of new vice chancellor, with a view to coming out with a report that would be acceptable to all the stakeholders in the university.

Akinola, who stated that life could only return to the university if an acting vice chancellor was appointed, said handing over the properties of the institution to the registrar, following the dissolution of the governing council, would not be ideal in resolving the current logjam.

According to him, “no academic in OAU can validly claim that due process had not been injured by the manner and actions of the university’s governing council since December last year, when the advertisement went out calling for application into the post of a Vice Chancellor for OAU.”

Buhari harps on need for new investments Leon Usigbe -Abuja

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has said his administration will continue to welcome support and investments from the international community in the agricultural and solid minerals sectors, as Nigeria moves to reduce dependence on crude oil.

In a farewell audience with the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Sweden to Nigeria, Mr Svante Kilander, at the State House, Abuja, on Monday, he said the Federal Government would create the enabling environment for local and foreign investments in

farming, animal husbandry, fishery and the exploration of solid minerals.

The president noted that a planned visit by some Swedish trade and investment delegations to the country later in the year would further encourage the ongoing process of diversifying the Nigerian economy.

He commended the Swedish government for the support extended to Nigeria in catering for the needs of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North East and the ongoing reconstruction of the areas affected by terrorist attacks.

President Muhammadu Buhari serving food to a physically challenged person, Miss Rahina Karmajiji, during the breaking of Ramadan fast with internally displaced persons (IDPs), artisans and others at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN.

FG yet to constitute committee on new minimum wage —NLC

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HE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Monday, said that contrary to reports, the Federal Government was yet to constitute a committee on the anticipated new national minimum wage.

The NLC President, Mr Ayuba Wabba, said in a statement in Abuja, said a report that the committee had started meeting was false and misleading.

CHAIRMAN, Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Senator Dino Melaye, on Monday, raised the alarm on what he called a plan by certain individuals to doctor the police report on the investigation of allegation of forgery levelled against the leadership of the Senate, so as to make the report to indict the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu.

Melaye, representing Kogi West senatorial district, in a personally signed statement, disclosed that those behind the sinister plot were scheming to forge a police report different from the

one signed by Dan’Azumi J. Doma, a Deputy InspectorGeneral of Police, in order to justify and prove a case of forgery against Saraki and Ekweremadu.

The lawmaker stated that it was necessary for members of the public to be aware of the “unlawful plan.”

According to him “we have our own sources and we have been reliably informed that the prosecution, having realised that there is a big hole in their case against Saraki and Ekweremadu, who were not mentioned in the police report, are now trying to doctor the report and include the names of both presiding officers of the Senate.

“We are aware of that de-

to set up two committees as a result of the major protest by labour, following the increase in the pump price of petrol.”

He named the two committees as the palliatives and the national minimum wage committees.

Wabba said the committees were to make recommendations to government on how to cushion the harsh effects brought on the populace by the increase in the

pump price of fuel.

He said the committees would also address other issues relating to the working of institutions in the downstream sector, especially the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency.

The labour leader noted that the committees would be expected to make recommendations on other challenges militating against regular supply of petroleum products.

Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE to celebrate Eid el-fitri tomorrow SAUDI Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have announced that Eid elFitri in the countries will be celebrated tomorrow.

Authorities, according to Al Jazeera, made the an-

Senate forgery case: There are attempts to tamper with evidence —Melaye Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

“To the best of our knowledge, government is yet to constitute the committee on the new national minimum wage.

“How could a non-existent committee have met?

“In the light of the sensitive nature of the subject matter, this story is not only alarmist; it constitutes an unnecessary overheating of the polity.

“To the best of our knowledge, government accepted

velopment and we want members of the public to know the level of desperation that these people are ready to go to nail the Senate president and his deputy.

“It is because of this plan that they refused to include the police report in the process they filed in court. We have said it repeatedly that the government and specifically, the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr Abubakar Malami, has no case against our presiding officers.

“They filed the case to distract the duo, embarrass them, force a change of leadership and eventually cow the Senate, in particular, and the National Assembly, in general,” he said.

nouncement on Monday evening, after failing to sight the moon that marks the start of the three-day festival.

The starting day varies every year and from country to country, depending on geographical location.

The development meant that today is the last day of the holy month of Ramadan.

Accordingly, Eid el Fitr would be marked in the Kingdom tomorrow.

In a message posted on Twitter, Dubai Media Office said today would be the last day of the holy month of Ramadan and, therefore, the country will mark Eid-el Fitri tomorrow.

In a statement released on Monday evening, the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs (Awqaf) in Qatar said Eid-el Fitr in the country would begin tomorrow.

“The announcement comes after the High Judiciary Council in Saudi Arabia said no new moon could be seen tonight,” Doha news reported.

Elsewhere in the world,

Majlis Ugama Islam Singapore, on Monday, announced that Muslims in Singapore would celebrate Eid-el Fitr tomorrow.

The announcement was made after no confirmed report of moon sighting received from any part of the country.

“According to astronomical calculations, the crescent for the month of Syawal did not appear during sunset today as it has set earlier than the sun. This signifies that tomorrow will be the end of 30 days of Ramadan.

“As such, I am pleased to declare that the first day of Syawal for the year 1437 Hijrah falls on Wednesday, July 6, 2016,” Dr Mohamed Fatris Bakaram Mufti, Republic of Singapore said in a statement.

Singapore, Japan, New Zealand and Australia are among the first countries where sun sets earlier than other places in the world.

Indonesia’s ministry of religious affairs ruled on Monday that Muslims would celebrate Eid-el Fitr tomorrow, after receiving a report that

the new moon is still not visible over the entire country.

Minister Lukman Hakim Saifuddin said for some of the observers — situated at 90 points around the country — the new moon had still not been sighted (known locally as ru’yah).

The beginning and end of Ramadan has traditionally been based on “hilal” sightings, which is the method mentioned in the Holy Quran and followed by the Prophet Muhammad.

As per this tradition, a new month is sighted on 29th of the prevailing month. If the new moon, Crescent, is sighted, the next day is counted as first day of the next month. If not, the next day is counted as 30th day of the prevailing month and the new month begins thereafter.

Since United States, United Kingdom, Canada and European countries normally rely on moon announcements by Saudi Arabia, Muslims in the countries will celebrate Eid-el Fitr along with their counterparts in Arab states.

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Lagosmetro

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

NURTW boss warns drivers against recklessness during sallah As LASEMA tells Lagosians to be vigilant during sallah Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin And Gbemi Solaja

Scene of a motor accident involving a diesel trailer and commercial buses at Toyota Bus Stop, Isolo, on Monday.

THE Lagos State chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, has warned commercial drivers in the state to exercise caution during the end of Ramadan fasting festival, just as he told them not to panic over plans to change the colours of commercial buses in Lagos.

The chairman, equally

Street trading ban: Hawkers quit highways, relocate to suburbs Akin Adewakun and Gbemi Solaja

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NLIKE Sunday, there was almost a total compliance with the ban on street trading in Lagos State, on Monday, with almost all the major streets in the metropolis free of hawkers as of press time. For instance, the usual spectacle of hawkers on Third Mainland, as early as 7am, was glaringly absent around 9am when Lagos Metro passed through the

route yestersay.

Besides, the ever-busy Kingsway Road, on the Island, was also free of traders plying their trade on the streets in in the early hours of the day.

Ojota was also one of the areas that was deserted, when Lagos Metro visited.This, was also contrary to what obtained in the area, in the past.

However, a couple of street hawkers were sighted, by Lagos Metro at Abule-Egba. Other ar-

eas of the state suburb were also said to witness an influx of hawkers, obviously moving from the metropolis. “Maryam” , a soft drink trader at the Iponri area of the Lagos Mainland, expressed shock at the ban , emphasising that she knew nothing about the order, and was just informed a few minutes before Lagos Metro contacted her.

According to Maryam, it was not a welcome development. She pleaded with the government to have

After 20-year feud, Alade Market traders quit Bola Badmus

TRADERS in Alade Market, on Monday finally agreed to relocate to a newly-built alternative market, after a 20year sustained resistance.

This, followed the intervention of the Lagos State government, Ikeja Local Government (LG), now headed

by Honourable Abiodun Taiwo and the Iyaloja of Alade Market, Chief Aina Adenuga, who disclosed that all legal allotees in the old market had started moving into the alternative market to pave way for its redevelopment to an ultra-modern shopping mall at a cost of N6.9billion. Consequently, the parties agreed to set up a relocation committee, to be chaired by the immediate past Executive Secretary of the council, Hon. Adekunle Dally-Adeokun, with other members, in-

cluding the Managing Director of Masters Reality Int’l Concept and concessionaire of the Alade Shopping Mall, Mr Lai Omotola and the Iyaloja

of the market.

The stakeholders, directed the concessionaire to erect a billboard, indicating that the old market had been relocated to the new one.

mercy and pity on the traders who she said were just mere petty traders, claiming her husband lost his job months back, and she had been sustaining the family with the little sales made from hawking soft drinks Another trader at Palmgrove said “hawking is in fact very risky to hawker, but what can we do? This is Lagos life. This is the only way I know. If am to stop this now, how I would I cope with my daily needs and the government should also know that buyers and Lagosians too will feel the absence of hawkers”.

Mufutau, a pedestrian commented that “the law was not new. I know everything and the noise will stop soon. It is more of a political thing.”

tasked his men not to worry over the plan by the state government, stating that the state council under his leadership will do everything within its power to ensure that interests of drivers are protected Meanwhile, Ahead of this year’s Eid- al- Fitr, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr Michael Akindele has urged Muslim faithful and Lagos residents to be security and safety-cautious,

Street hawkers off the roads, as only newspapers vendors were seen at Maryland. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

LASTMA warns officials over indiscipline Opeyemi Owoaseye

THE Chief Executive Officer, of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Chris Olapke, (retd) has warned officials of the agency to shun any form of indiscipline, including engaging in street fighting.

23 arrested for robbing worshippers at Ramadan prayer Olalekan Olabulo

TWENTY three suspected cult members, who attacked worshippers at a programme in Oworonsoki area of Lagos State have been arrested by the police. Lagos Metro gathered that the suspects, had invaded the Lailatu Quadri prayer session, organised by a popular Islamic scholar, Alhaji Shehu and robbed some of the worshippers.

The programme, which took place at Papa Playing Ground in Oworonsoki had people from all parts of Lagos and neighbouring states in attendance . It was gathered that the hoodlums ,numbering over

40 and armed with knives and other dangerous weapons stormed the area and began to rob the worshippers.

The hoodlums, who were suspected to be members

of a notorious cult group in Oworonsoki dispossessed the worshippers of their mobile phones, ,money and other valuables.

A team of policemen, from

the local divisional police station and the Rapid Response Squad(RRS), were immediately drafted to the area, leading to the arrest of some of the hoodlums .

Lekki building collapse: 11 survivors get N5.5million cash, tricycles Akin Adewakun

SURVIVORS of the March 8 building collapse at Lekki area of Lagos, were on Monday given N50,000 cash each and a tricycle, by the management of Lekki Gardens Ltd, as a way of ameliorating their sufferings. Donating the items to the 11 survivors at the company’s

Lekki Office, the company’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mr Richard Nyong, stated that the items were being donated to show the company’s profound regrets at the incident, and place the survivors on the path of financial independence.

According to him, the decision to donate cash and

during the public holiday to prevent disasters and emergencies that often occur during the festive period.

Akindele, gave the warning in a statement signed by the Public Affairs unit of the agency and a copy obtained by the Nigerian Tribune on Monday stating that the warning had become imperative to prevent occurences, leading to unnecessary loss of lives and properties of the people.

tricycles, was informed by the need to enable survivors have a means of livelihood and provide them with items that would generate income for them, after fully recovering from the incident. “A journey of 1,000 miles begin with a step, and this occasion marks the company’s step towards reducing the sufferings of these survivors.

He, spoke at a training programme in Lagos for officials of the agency.

“LASTMA is responsible for traffic management, control of accident scene as well as crime monitor. Discipline must be maintained and over-speeding reduced as a LASTMA official.”

The agency’s General Manager, Mr Bashir Braimah, also charged the officers to make discipline their watchword, adding that they would abide by the watchword of the agency by being disciplined. Braimah said “Say no to indiscipline and corruption, there must be zero tolerance for indiscipline. As a LASTMA official, you must be intelligent, and must have surveillance technique even as you control traffic.

“Your work is on the road, ensure you don’t run away from your responsibilities.”

It will be recalled, that the agency recently recruited one thousand, three hundred and fifty (1350) new officers, bringing the total number to 3,700.”

8

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

9 news Court sacks Sheriff again, says P/Harcourt PDP convention valid

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt

M

ORE troubles came the way of embattled Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the Federal High Court, sitting in Port Harcourt, on Monday, affirmed his removal as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party

(PDP).

This was as the court, presided over by Justice Abdullahi Liman, ruled that the national convention of the party, held in Port Harcourt on May 21, 2016, was duly constituted, declaring that the dissolution of the National Working Committee (NWC) and the National Executive

Committee (NEC) by that convention was valid.

In his judgment on the suit filed by the PDP against Senator Sheriff and others, Justice Liman declared that the appointment of the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led caretaker committee of the party to oversee its affairs was legal and, in line with the provisions of the PDP

Constitution.

According to the trial judge, Article 31 (1) of the party’s constitution vested the powers to convene a national convention on the PDP National Executive Committee (NEC).

The court held that, pursuant to the constitution of the party, the former PDP acting national

Sheriff appeals, says ‘I remain in office’ Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe -Abuja THE claimant to the office of the national chairman of the PDP, Senator AliModu Sheriff, on Monday, declared that he still remained the authentic national chairman of the party, despite the ruling of the court sitting in PortHarcourt.

Sheriff, after a marathon meeting with his National Working Committee (NWC) on the latest court ruling on the leadership crisis rocking the party, told newsmen that he had already instructed his lawyers to appeal against the judgment.

According to him, both the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt and that of Abuja that affirmed him PDP chairman last week, “are of coordinate jurisdiction.

“I also want you to know that the court that gave judgment in Abuja High Court last week and Federal High Court in Lagos, and today’s (Monday’s) judgment are all court of same coordinate jurisdiction.

“Therefore, the order we have in Abuja still subsists.

What it means is that unless the Court of Appeal decides otherwise, I still remain the national chairman of PDP. “Any court that is of the same jurisdiction cannot overrule another court except the Court of Appeal.

We disagree completely with today’s judgment.

We ask our lawyers to immediately file an appeal, and also ask the same court to stay execution on the judgment.

“There are three other judgments before his own, orders from federal high court of coordinate jurisdiction,” he said.

This came just as Counsel for the Sheriff’s faction of the party, Ajibola Oluyede, stated that the Appeal to the Court ruling was in progress and advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to take judicial notice of his client’s position on the matter so as not to run foul of the law.

According to him, “the judgment of the Federal High Court, Port Harcourt

Division further exacerbates the conflicting position between that Division on the one hand and the Lagos and Abuja Divisions on the other.”

In a statement he made available to newsmen in Abuja, on Monday, he said, “the Lagos Division by the hand of two different judges, Buba J. and Idris J. made preservative orders respectively on the 14th and 20th of May in respect of matters that challenged the notice of convention issued

for election of replacement for incumbents of the NEC and NWC of the PDP whose tenure had not expired.

“The PH Division made orders ex parte on the 23rd of May validating a meeting held in Port Harcourt by some PDP members as a valid national convention held pursuant to that notice, challenged in Lagos and validating a “caretaker committee” installed at the meeting to replace the officers of the PDP NEC and NWC who were fighting for

the continuation of their tenure at the Lagos Division.

“That ex parte order lapsed on the 9th of June.

“The Abuja Division on the 30th of June made interlocutory orders directing that only the Ali Modu Sheriff-led NEC/ NWC could represent the PDP or conduct its affairs, including primaries (This confirmed the previous orders of the Lagos Division.

This is a specific order concerning PDP primaries for Edo and Ondo states.

No winner, no loser, Makarfi tells Sheriff Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja FOLLOWING the High Court judgment which conferred legitimacy on his leadership of the PDP, the chairman of the national caretaker committee of the party, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, observed that there was neither a winner nor loser in the crisis that had apparently now been resolved by the court.

In his reaction to the judgment in Abuja, on

Monday, Makarfi appealed to Sheriff to join hands with him to rebuild the PDP. He averred that even though the court had ruled against the former party boss, Sheriff remained a respected member of the party whose contribution along with his supporters was needed to move the party forward.

However, Makarfi noted with sadness that the leadership crisis in the former ruling party had to be resolved through a court

judgment.

The party boss stated: “I am, indeed, happy with the judgment on the one hand, but also sad that it had to come to this.

“For me, there should be no winner or loser on this matter.

“I am still calling on Senator Ali Modu Sheriff and his followers to join us so that we can accommodate one another and, indeed, all other groups in a just, fair and equitable matter with a view to moving the party forward.”

Fake congress results: Oyo PDP stakeholders alert Makarfi STAKEHOLDERS of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State have alerted the chairman of the party’s National Caretaker Committee, Senator Ahmed Makarfi, over plot by some individuals in the state’s chapter of the party to submit fake congress results for the state, despite the fact that congresses have not been held, warning the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the judiciary not to “support such fraud.”

This was just as they congratulated Makarfi over the pronouncement of a Port Harcourt Federal High Court, which affirmed that his committee was duly appointed, noting that “the pronouncement has further rekindled the common man’s hope that Nigeria’s judiciary can be trusted and relied upon to serve the sacred cause of justice.”

The stakeholders, in a letter addressed to Makarfi and signed by one of its chieftains,

Alabi Caleb Olatunji, a copy of which was obtained by the Nigerian Tribune, said the stakeholders found it necessary to alert the caretaker committee about the activities of some people “who have concluded plans, to submit fake/conjured results for 2016 congresses that were never held in Oyo State,” saying that a similar act in 2012 had resulted in the party’s woeful performance in the last general election.

They pointed out that to avert a similar occurrence in the future, all stakeholders in the party had, with the consent of the PDP’s national secretariat, begun a move to reconcile all aggrieved party members and those who left the PDP to join other political parties, but could not conclude the reconciliation effort in time for all parties to participate in the 2016 ward, local government and state congresses held in April 2016.

The letter stated that the congresses were postponed indefinitely in the state with

the postponement said to have been unanimously endorsed and approved by all stakeholders in the state, and formally communicated to the national secretariat, noting, however, that a few members of the party had seized on that postponement to hatch a plot to submit fake results.

“Information reaching us further revealed that apart from making moves to forge documents and to get such fraudulent information into the records of the party at the national level (an effort that have thus far proved futile and which we hope will remain so), they are also toying with the idea of filing cases at the High Court to fraudulently obtain a judgment by illegally procuring counsel for the PDP, INEC and some other statutory bodies who will be paid to simply endorse their fraudulent results of congress(es) in respect of Oyo State,” the letter read in part.

chairman had no powers to unilaterally postpone the properly constituted national convention on a day all delegates had converged on Port Harcourt, the host city.

Justice Liman described the action of Senator Sheriff as unconscionable and pointed out that the former PDP acting national chairman participated in all the processes leading to the national convention, only to make a U-turn at the final minute after he had been screened and disqualified.

He said after Sheriff was disqualified, following his screening, the only option left to him was to go to the venue of the convention to seek the opinion of delegates on whether they were prepared to go on with the convention or not.

According to Justice Liman, the absence of Senator Sheriff from the convention did not reduce anything from the process of the conduct of the convention, as his powers were not usurped.

He said under Article 35 (b) of the PDP Constitution, in the absence of the chairman, the deputy chairman was empowered to preside over the national convention and, therefore, ruled that the May 21, 2016 PDP national convention, held in Port Harcourt, was properly constituted and the decisions taken at the convention, valid.

The Port Harcourt Federal High Court further ruled that, in line with Article 33 (2) of the PDP Constitution, its national convention was supreme and could exercise

the powers to dissolve the party’s NWC and NEC. On the issue of the abuse of court process as claimed by the former PDP acting national chairman, the court held that the plaintiffs in the case in question were not the same in the cases mentioned by the defendants, noting that the plaintiffs’ suit only centred on the national convention.

The court noted that, five days to the national convention, Senator Sheriff had, through his counsel’s dissociated himself from one of the suits they filed via proxies.

Justice Liman also emphasised that there was no suit challenging the conduct of the national convention in Port Harcourt and that no injunction was sought to stop the convention.

Speaking with newsmen after the judgment, PDP counsel, Dejo Lamikanra, said the judgment had settled all the contending issues concerning the party.

According to him, with the judgment, the decision of the national convention to appoint a caretaker committee remained valid, adding that Senator Sheriff was duly sacked.

Interestingly, counsel for Senator Sheriff, Mr John Martins Abu, commended the court for its judgment.

In his remarks, secretary of the PDP caretaker committee, Senator Ben Obi, declared that the committee would now settle down to carry out the responsibility bestowed on it by the national convention.

STUDIO PRESS NIGERIA PLC RC4414 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 35th Annual General Meeting of Studio Press Nigeria PLC will be held at Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) House, No. 77, Obafemi Awolowo Way, Ikeja, Lagos on Thursday, 28th July, 2016 at 11.00am to transact the following businesses: ORDINARY BUSINESS: 1.

To lay before the meeting the Audited Financial Statements for the year ended 31 st December, 2015 and the reports of the Directors, Auditors and the Audit Committee thereon.

2.

To re-elect Directors.

3.

To authorize the directors to fix the remuneration of the Auditors.

4.

To elect members of the Audit Committee.

SPECIAL BUSINESS: 5.

To fix the remuneration of the Directors.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD CAUTIOUS SERVICES LIMITED COMPANY SECRETARIES FRC/2013/ICSAN/00000002873 Date: 21st March, 2016 Plot B, Israel Adebajo Close, Industrial Estate, Ikeja, Lagos.

PROXY A member of the company entitled to attend and vote at this meeting may appoint a proxy to attend and vote instead of him. A proxy need not be a member of the company. A form of proxy is enclosed.

All proxy forms must be completed, duly stamped at the Stamp Duties Office and deposited with the Registrars, Pace Registrars Limited (Formerly known as Sterling Registrars Limited), 24, Campbell Street, Knight Frank Building, (8 th Floor), Lagos not later than 48 hours before the time of holding the meeting.

CLOSURE OF REGISTER OF MEMBERS AND TRANSFER BOOK: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Register of Members and Share Transfer Book of the Company will be closed from Monday, 18th July, 2016 to Friday, 22nd July, 2016, both days inclusive for the purpose of updating the Register of Members, in preparation for the payment of dividend.

AUDIT COMMITTEE: In accordance with section 359(5) of the Companies and Allied Matters Act, CAP C20 LFN 2004, any shareholder may nominate another shareholder for appointment as member of the Audit Committee by giving notice of such nomination in writing to the Company Secretaries at least 21 days before the Annual General Meeting.

RIGHTS OF SHAREHOLDERS TO ASK QUESTIONS: Pursuant to Rule 19.12 (c) of the Nigerian Stock Exchange’s Rulebook 2015, please note that shareholders has a right to ask questions not only at the Annual General Meeting, but also in writing prior to the Annual General Meeting and such questions must be submitted to the company on or before Friday, 22nd July, 2016.

The Directors of Studio Press Nigeria PLC hereby announce the results for the year ended 31 st December 2015 together with the comparative figures for the previous year as follows: 2015 2014 % 31st December 31stDecember Change N’000 N’000 7,343,902 7 Revenue 7,891,898 Loss before taxation (165,584) (269,755) 39 Income tax credit/ (expense) 71,800 (83,624) 186 Loss for the year after taxation (93,784) (353,379) 73 Total comprehensive loss (93,784) (353,379) 73

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD CAUTIOUS SERVICE LIMITED COMPANY SECRETARIES FRC/2013/ICSAN/00000002873 LAGOS, NIGERIA 21st March, 2016 Studio Press Nigeria PLC Plot B, Israel Adebajo Close, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria.

10

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

11

businessnews

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Baru replaces Kachikwu as NNPC GMD

•As Buhari constitutes new NNPC board, Kachikwu emerges chairman From Leon Usigbe and Ruth Olurounbi

D

R Maikanti Kacalla Baru has replaced Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu has the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Baru had been appointed the Group Executive Director, Exploration & Production in August 2015, in what was said to be President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid to transform the corporation into a lean, efficient, business-focused, transparent and accountable national oil company in keeping with international best practices.

Kachiku, who remains the Minister of State for Petroleum, is now the chairman of the newly corporation’s newly reconstructed board of directors approved by President Buhari, provided for under Section 1(2) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Act of 1997, as amended.

The Special Adviser to the president on media and publicity, Femi Adesina, confirmed this in a statement.

Baru’s appointment was not made separately but came by way of the inclusion of his name and designation on the board of the NNPC. It will be recalled that rumours have been doing the rounds since December 2015 that Maikanti may succeed Kachikwu as NNPC GMD. Adesina also confirmed that six more persons Mallam Abba Kyari, Dr Thom-

as M.A John, Dr Pius O. Akinyelure, Dr Tajuddeen Umar Mallam Mohammed Lawal and Mallam Yusuf

Lawal are also approved as members of the board.

According to the statement, president urged

THE Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) is set to spend N241 million before the end of 2016 on foreign medical expenses. The sum form part of the N382 million the agency has budgeted to cater for its medical expenses within the year 2016.

A breakdown of the total sum indicates that N108.875 is for drugs, N82.400 for local medical expenses while N241 million was budgeted for foreign medical expenses.

Besides, information obtained by our Correspondent revealed that N50 million is earmark for the rehabilitation of clinics at Lagos and Port-Harcourt Ports.

When contacted, the Managing Director of NPA, Habib Abdullahi asked our Correspondent to make enquiries from the agency’s Executive Director Finance and

upholding the public trust placed on them in managing this critical national asset.”

CBN denies interference in floating FX market

•As naira closes at N282.02/$ at interbank market Chima Nwokoji-lagos

From left: Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce, Qian Keming; Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma; Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmad; Minster of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed and Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbeh, at the 6th session of China and Nigeria Trade and Technical Cooperation Joint Commission, in Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

PENGASSAN to shut oil facilities from Thursday OlatundeDodondawa-Lagos

THERE is an impending fuel scarcity in the country as Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has ordered its members to leave their duty posts in all oil installations and offices throughout Nigeria as from Thursday, July 7, 2016 beginning from 12.01hrs.

PENGASSAN said it has also ordered its four zones, which include Lagos Zone, Port Harcourt

Zone, Warri Zone and Kaduna Zone to commence sensitisation of its members with details of the planned action as from Monday, July 4, 2016.

The strike, according to a statement signed by the PENGASSAN Acting General Secretary, Comrade Lumumba Okugbawa, will affect all sub-sectors of the oil and gas industry, which include the upstream, the midstream and the downstream sectors.

In a memo dated July 4, 2016 and addressed to all zonal chairmen, secretaries,

NPA sets aside N241m for foreign medical expenses Tola Adenubi-lagos

the new board to ensure the successful delivery of the mandate of the NNPC, “and serve the nation by

Nigerian Tribune

Administration, Olumide Abayomi Oduntan.

“Please make enquiries from the NPA’s Executive Director for Finance, he is the one in-charge of budget,” Abdullahi stated.

When contacted, the Executive Director, Finance, Olumide Oduntan, said it was untrue that the NPA had set aside N241 million for foreign medical expenses.

It will be recalled that the joint committee of the National Assembly, comprising of the Senate Committee on Marine Transport and the House of Representatives Committee on Ports, Waterways and Harbours has assured that it would strictly supervise the 2016 budget of the Nigerian Ports Authority NPA. Chairman Senate Committee on Marine Transport, Alhaji Sanni Yerima stated this during the joint committee visit to the headquarters of NPA in

Marina Lagos recently.

Yerima, who was represented by his Vice Chairman, Senator Samuel Anyanwu reiterated the need for prudent spending of government resources in view of the down turn in the nation’s economy.

The lawmakers noted that there was need for critical stakeholders in the maritime sector to collaborate and ensure that Nigeria ports were attractive and cost effective to attract more users.

“In our legislative agenda for this 8th Senate, we have decided that oversight functions should take the centre stage in all our dealings because we have seen the indicator that our economy is nose diving, and for that reason , we will try as much as possible to monitor the situation through our oversight functions and ensure it does not collapse,” Anyawu said.

all branch chairmen and secretaries, the Senior Staff Association directed its members to embark on gradual withdrawal of services from their various offices, sites and production facilities as from Thursday 07/07/16.

The memo, which was signed by the Acting General Secretary, PENGASSAN cited the inability of the Federal Government to honour agreements contained in May 12, 2016 Communiqué as the reason for calling for the strike.

The Senior Staff Trade Union listed some of the issues to include lingering irregular Joint Venture funding and Cash Call payment arrears, lack of a clear cut direction on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), forceful co-option of government agencies in the industry into the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), and spate of redundancy and retrenchment in the industry.

The Association said that several efforts to engage the government to forestall the strike were frustrated by the Government.

PENGASSAN stated, that sequel to the above subject, the Association tried to engage the Federal Government on May 24, 2016, which was inconclusive. The engagement was later fixed for June 23, 2016, which did not take place and again for June 30, 2016, which was unceremoniously cancelled with no date given.

“We see this as a deliberate attempt by the Government to frustrate the discussion of the myriad of issues raised in the com-

muniqué, which are critical to the survival of the Oil and gas industry in the country.

“Among the burning issues raised is that of the JV Funding/Cash Call arrears, which has stalled new investments and the creation of jobs in the industry and which has consequently brought about massive job losses in the industry.

“We have equally noted with great dismay that our tertiary institutions keep churning out graduates with no or very limited job placement opportunities for them.

“Even for those that are fortunate to have jobs it has been tug of wargetting their salaries paid as at and when due and are faced with redundancies on a regular basis also, especially in the service sector.

“We cannot fold our hands and watch this gradual collapse of our strategic oil and gas industry and its attendant consequences on the nation’s economy, which is a sharp contrast to the present government’s avowed promised to creation and retention of jobs.”

Speaking on the impending fuel crisis, the National Public Relations Officer, Comrade Emmanuel Ojugbana, said that all aspects of the oil and gas operations will be affected as there will be a total shut down of the industry.

“There won’t be any activities by our members.

All aspects, including loading of petroleum products, flow stations and jetties will be shut down in this strike until the government address our concerns that are impacting the industry negatively.”

THE Naira on Monday closed slightly stable at the spot rate of N282.02 as against N282.03 to the dollar it traded on Friday last week. It however reversed last week’s gain of N4.733 to the British Pounds as it traded for N374.8062 compared with Friday’s close of N375.4772 to the Pounds Sterling.

The local currency also closed slightly stable against the Euro as it traded at N314.3736 compared to Friday’s N314.3983 to the Euro at the interbank market.

This is just as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has said it is not true that the it has been interfering in the floating foreign exchange market, stressing that it is a flexible exchange rate regime where prices are determined by market forces of demand and supply.

Similarly, the naira at the parallel market strengthened against the American dollar.

The local currency which had depreciated on Friday, July 1 , gained strength to trade at N342/$1 on Monday, July 4 as against N351 it ended on Friday.

While some currency traders attributed the strengthening to reports that the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) will resume dollar sales to Bureau De Change operators, others said it was panic buying by some users of foreign exchange who fears that there might be scarcity of the greenback as a result of the two-day public holiday when street traders would be returning to their homes for Muslims’ Salah celebration.

“A lot of dollar came into the market today because there are reports that the CBN will commence sales of dollar to us. So those who have are selling theirs, hoping to get back from CBN,” one dealer said Meanwhile, the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr. Godwin Emefiele while answering questions at a press briefing in Lagos on Monday said that the CBN not been interfering in the foreign exchange market but rather, participates like every other market participant .

“But it is important to emphasize that CBN remains a player in that market. Indeed till now CBN is a major player, where there are other autonomous sources and other sources that are coming in.”

12

businessnews

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

CBN removes Skye Bank’s chairman, MD, others

•Over poor liquidity and high non-performing loans •Appoints Ahmed chairman, Abiru MD •Bank stock down 9.2% •New chairman assures depositors, stakeholders •Forces within and outside worked against bank —Oguntayo BySulaimonOlanrewajuand Chima Nwokoji

T

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), on Monday, sacked the chairman of the board of Skye Bank Plc, the Managing Director, Deputy Managing Director, all non-executive directors as well as the two longest serving executive directors of the bank.

The apex bank, which cited weakening capital adequacy ratio, low liquidity ratio and rising Non Performing Loans, however, gave the affected people a soft landing by allowing them to resign voluntarily.

It announced Alhaji Mukthar K. Ahmad and Mr. Adetokunbo Abiru as the new Chairman and Managing Director respectively.

In reaction to the development, the bank’s stock lost 9.2 per cent, shedding 10kobo, closing at N9.52 from the N9.62, with which it opened.

The CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, while addressing a press conference in Lagos, on Monday, said “In particular, Skye Bank’s liquidity and nonperforming ratios have been below and above threshold respectively.”

Skye Bank is said to have an estimated non performing loan portfolio of N700 billion, much of which is due to overexposure in the oil and gas sector.

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), had last week in a report, said that Deposit Money Banks’ NPLs reached 4.87 per cent in 2015, a situation currently raising concerns about quality of assets in the industry, though the corporation said the rate was still within the regulatory threshold of 5 per cent.

Emefiele said though depositors’ money remained intact and unaffected, the proactive moves of the CBN became unavoidable because of the persistent failure of Skye Bank to meet minimum thresholds in critical prudential and adequacy ratios.

The deteriorating ratios he said resulted in the bank’s permanent presence at the CBN Lending Window.

“To correct the anomalies in the bank, the CBN had several meetings with the management and board of

From left: Head, Corporate communications, Lagos Business School, Amaka Odunze; Dean, Lagos Business School, Dr. Enase Okonedo; Chief Operating Officer/Risk Advisory Leader, Deloitte West Africa, Anthony Olukoju, and West Africa Client and Industries Leader, Deloitte West Africa, Marie-Therese Phido, at the press conference to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Deloitte Nigeria and Lagos Business School held in Lagos on Thursday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA. Skye Bank as part of our strategy of close engagement whenever a bank’s financial or governance situation poses potential threats to the overall stability of our financial system.

“Despite the expectation of relevant regulators, market watchers, financial analysts and interested stakeholders that Skye Bank should be doing much better than it is right now, we have seen about the opposite in reality,” the Governor stated.

“In view of the long grace period allowed the bank to correct the situation, we came to the conclusion that, although the existing board had done its best to steer the ship, it had come to a realization that it would be unable to bring the bank out of its present precarious situation,” the CBN also said in a statement.

Emefiele stressed that Skye Bank was not in distress and remained a healthy bank.

“The CBN hereby assures depositors, shareholders and all relevant stakeholders that there is no reason for concern or panic as we seek their continued cooperation at this time. It is our expectation that the shareholders and remaining Executive Directors will work seamlessly with the new team to ensure that the fortunes of the bank are restored in the

shortest possible time,” he stated.

Speaking in the same vein, the new chairman, Ahmad, in a statement issued shortly after taking over, expressed optimism about the prospects of the bank, given its vast potential and its strategic position in the economy.

He stated that the bank is well positioned to deepen the retail and commercial banking services in the economy, having put in place the critical building blocks to win in this sector.

He stressed that the immediate priorities of the board and the new management team would be to quickly begin to leverage the huge investment in the enhanced branch network, technology and alternative channels to improve stakeholder value in a sustainable manner. He assured the shareholders, customers and depositors of the bank of his commitment to preserve their investments and deposits, while further assuring that the support and backing of the CBN and other relevant stakeholders have been obtained in this respect.

Meanwhile, a source within the bank told the Nigerian Tribune that the first sign that trouble was brewing in the bank on Monday came to the fore a little after 12noon when a memo was circulated about the resignation of the former Managing Di-

rector of the bank, Mr Timothy Oguntayo.

In the email, Oguntayo stated that despite his best effort to turn around the fortune of the bank, “counter forces from within and outside the bank…made it impossible to achieve steady progress.

“The last two years of my stewardship as the GMD/ CEO, has been very eventful and challenging,” he wrote. “I have put all that I have into turning the fortune of the bank around, working with each and every one of you. However, the results have not been commensurate with the efforts. There have been counter forces from within and outside the bank that made it impossible to achieve steady progress.”

He added, “It is in this vein that I have offered to resign my appointment as the GMD/CEO with immediate effect. I enjoin you all to cooperate with the new management that would be announced soon,” the memo that was sent at 12:11 P.M read.

The new chairman, Alhaji Muktar. K. Ahmad, is a seasoned public sector executive with over 35 years of distinguished experience spanning the public sector and the financial services industry.

He was the pioneer Director General and Chief Executive Officer of the National Pension Commission and also a pioneer

staff of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation and rose to become Director / Head of Department and member of the Interim Management Board.

The new MD/CEO Mr Adetokunbo Mukhail Abiru, is an alumnus of Harvard Business School (Advanced Management Program) and Lagos Business School (Senior Management Program). He holds a B.Sc (Economics) from Lagos State University and is a Fellow of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and an Honorary Senior Member of The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN).

Tokunbo has had a distinguished career in banking spanning about 26 years, of which his early ten (10) years were spent in the formative years of Guaranty Trust Bank Plc. Thereafter, he spent about Fourteen (14) years with the premier and most valuable banking brand in Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria Limited, where he functioned as Executive Director, Corporate Banking between 2013 and 2016.

Skye Bank resulted from the merging of five banks, Prudent, Cooperative Bank, Eko International Bank, Bond bank and reliance Bank. It acquired Mainstreet Bank in 2014.

Nigerian Tribune

31 losers drag down the stock market •As market dips by 1%

KehindeAkinseinde-JayeobaLagos

EQUITIES trading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) resumed the week on a bearish note as lead indicators further dipped by 1.0 per cent. The All Share Index lost 303.34 points to close at 29,002.06 compared to the closing figure of 29,305.40 points recorded last Friday.

Market capitalisation also decline to nine trillion naira mark closing at N9.960 trillion compared to N10.064 trillion recorded as the closing figure for last week.

Skye Bank Plc topped the day’s 31 losers with a decline of 9.52 per cent or 10 kobo in its share value to close at N9.52 per share, following the resignation of the Bank’s MD and board members as well as the Central Bank’s decision to take over the bank.

Other laggards were: Honeywell Flour Mills Plc which shaved off 6.21 percent or 10 kobo to close at N1.51 per share, Guinness Nigeria Plc closed at N99.50 per share as it lost 5.21 percent or N5.47, while FBN Holdings Plc also depreciated by 5.13 percent or 20 kobo to close at N3.70 per share and Forte Oil Plc dropped 5 percent or N9.51 to close at N180.84 per share.

On the other hand, Oando Plc led 10 gainers with an advancement of 10.16 percent or 68 kobo to close at N7.37 per share.

VANLEER Plc followed with a gain of 4.98 percent or 46 kobo to close at N9.69 per share, Red Star Express Plc added 4.88 percent or 21 kobo to close at N4.51 per share, while Continental Reinsurance Plc and DN Meyer Plc appreciated by 4.55 and 4.44 percent or 5 kobo and 4 kobo each to close at N1.15 and 94 kobo per share respectively.

At the end of the day’s trading session, investors had exchanged a total of N142.8 million shares worth N1.35 billion in 3,321 deals compared to N189.7 million shares worth N2.2 billion exchanged in 3,486 deals on Friday.

FBN Holdings topped volume movers having sold 21.8 million shares followed by Zenith Bank which traded 12.5 million shares and Access Bank 11.7 million shares.

13

editorial

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Of corruption and campaign funds

IKE several party primaries before them, the just concluded primaries for the gubernatorial ticket of the major parties in Edo State was reportedly riddled with heavy use of money to influence delegates who voted at the events. The use of money as a tool of vote buying has become entrenched in party primaries, such that commentators easily characterise party primaries as an occasion that party delegates and election managers look forward to for money making.

Reports from the primary of one of the parties alleged that over 2800 delegates went away from the venue of the primary with at least one million naira each, as each of the candidates endeavoured to win them to his side. Indeed, vote buying has become very critical at primaries in states where a party has a stronghold. This is because once a candidate wins the party ticket, there is a near guarantee that he or she would win the election proper.

The misuse of money in primaries remains a matter of concern. This is because of the corrupting influence it has on the political behaviour of politicians. Those who pay to get votes are not likely to be responsive and responsible to the electorate. Certainly, the role of money in politics is as old as the game itself. But the entrenchment of monetary influence in party primaries is traceable to the Second Republic when Chief MKO Abiola, a business mogul, allegedly tried to influence the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983 to win the presidential ticket, and was told by former President Shehu Shagari’s Minister of Transport, Umaru Dikko, that “the presidency of Nigeria is not for sale to the highest bidder”. Abiola proved this assertion wrong when, in the aborted Third Republic, he beat Babagana Kingibe and Abubakar Atiku to second and third place respectively at the Social Democratic Party (SDP) convention of March 1993 in Jos, Plateau State. To achieve the feat, he allegedly financed the accommodation of delegates in hotels outside Jos, thereby rendering them incommunicado to other contestants.

Under the Fourth Republic, primaries have become even more vulnerable to the influence of money. The parties themselves have raised the stakes of money in politics with the policy of financing political parties through expensive application forms for candidates seeking nomination for political office. This is further complicated by the activities

of godfathers who inordinately use money to secure the nomination of their preferred candidates as party standardbearers. In the event, delegates are made to swear fetish oaths as a commitment that they would vote ‘right’. Such political money are either stolen from public coffers or expended as investment to be recouped in public office. No event demonstrates these realities regarding the misuse of money in elections as the alleged Dasukigate, where several politicians are on trial over the alleged sharing of about $2.2 billion meant for security but diverted to prosecuting the 2015 elections.

Democracy cannot be consolidated if politicians continue to use money to garner votes at both primary and general elections. When money talks, liberal values are undermined. Elections without the liberal values of moderation, observance of the rule of law and respect for human rights are not democratic. Without such values, they cannot be free, fair or credible. Without a liberal culture, election becomes a zero sum game, leading to intense competition, violence, delegitimisation of government and political instability. Politicians must thus find a way of promoting a liberal culture with respect for human rights, especially the right of ordinary citizens to choose leaders through a free and unencumbered electoral process. They must give due regard to electoral rules and to the rule of law. The provisions of the Electoral Law with regard to party and campaign finance must be respected.

In general, political parties, like the politicians that constitute their leadership, do not observe campaign finance laws. They neither keep proper records of membership and income nor make public disclosure of their accounts.

Political parties lack membership subscription and are susceptible to being hijacked by moneybags. The Electoral Act must include provisions that make laws on campaign finance less difficult to enforce. The Muhammadu Uwais Committee on Electoral Reform recommended the establishment of an Electoral Offences Commission because it wanted Nigeria to achieve effectiveness and success in dealing with electoral offenders. Electoral offenders must be punished to reduce electoral malpractice. In relation to party and campaign finance regulation, this may help to reduce the role of money in perverting the electoral process.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letters@tribune.com.ng or by sms to 08053412982.

It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

IGR: Are Nigerian states really viable?

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AST week, an organisation, Economic Confidential, after an investigation, released the amount states make as internally generated revenue (IGR), while comparing them with what they get from the Federal Goverment. It is so unfortunate that the majority of the states depend on federal allocations for survival.

Some of these states struggle to generate just 10 per cent of the total

amount they receive from the federal allocation, and this is really disturbing.

The truth of the matter is that we have people in positions of authority who are not qualified to be there.

Administering a state is like running a company; we have seen instances whereby some company bosses take their firms from the brink of bankruptcy to profitability.

These are the type of people we need in positions of authority.

Anybody, even a secondary school student, can run a state if the yardstick is how our state governors perform.

It pains one that our state governors don’t really think of how to shore up their internally generated revenues. Even states that don’t have many companies sited in them like Lagos and Ogun states, can focus on agriculture.

Agriculture is big business all over the world today, and it contributes about 30 per cent to the

Kogi needs a new minister SINCE the late Minister of State for Labour, Mr James Ocholi, died in a road accident, the Federal Government is yet to appoint another minister to represent Kogi State.

I believe President Muhammadu Buhari is a man who is known for justice and equity, and he would not allow Kogi State to continue without having

Fuel price is reducing IF Nigerians had known, we would have given former President Goodluck Jonathan the chance to implement the deregulation of the downstream sector of the nation’s oil economy.

After President Buhari stopped paying subsidy fund to oil importers, and the government pegged the price of oil per litre to N145, Nigerians have started reaping the benefit of that policy. Today, I can say only a few filling stations are selling for N145.

Most are now selling between N139 and N143.

In fact, with the fierce competition, I hope it will soon go down to N100.

However, I hope the Federal Government won’t fail us; it should use the money saved from the subsidy payments to make life better for Nigerians. We need amenities that will make life more conducive for us, particularly uninterrupted power supply and good roads.

•Najim Kassim, balkazzy@gmail.com

a minister, who will also contribute to the development of the country.

The present Federal composition without anybody representing Kogi is not fair enough.

The state is blessed with men and women of integrity, and the president will not go far before discovering someone who he can

appoint from the state.

I am, therefore, calling on President Buhari to quickly appoint someone from Kogi to replace the late Barrister Ocholi, so that the people of the state can feel a sense of belonging in this current dispensation.

•Bala Nayashi, Lokoja, Kogi State.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Brazil. So there is nothing bad if a state focuses only on agriculture.

Have we forgotten that the Federal Government says states can now mine the mineral resources in their localities? What are governors saying about this? I have not see a governor come out to say that this is what it plans to do as regards the exploitation of mineral resources, and funny enough, one of the state governments that are owing civil servants several months of salary arrears has gold in commercial quantity under its soil. So why the over-reliance on allocation from the Federal Government for survival?

If the Nigerian government is, however, serious about finding a lasting solution to this problem, then it is important that it tells all the states to also contribute about 50 per cent of the amount they are earning from the federation allocation. So

a state that earns about N100billion annually from the Federal Government is also expected to generate about N50billion in IGR. The Federal Government, therefore, needs to take a tough stance on this.

Another solution is to return to regionalism, where we will have only the six geo-political zones of the country with premiers heading them, and may-

ors heading the towns and communities in the zone.

For example, the South West will be a region, while towns like Abeokuta, Ibadan, Osogbo, Oyo, and other towns will be headed by mayors. This policy will bring about competition among the various regions for development.

•Dr Taju Alalade, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Of youths and Nigerian politics I want to support the new policy that makes it possible for anybody from 30 years and above to seek for any political position in the country.

The majority of our politicians are old men who lack the vibrancy to take us to the next level, and giving young Nigerians the right to contest for political positions, even to the presidency, will revitalise our politics.

However, one negative

thing about this development is that our politics is played with money, and at the age of 30, most of the youth who are politicallyinclined would not have made money to make them realise their dreams.

In fact, in Nigeria today, except one is a child of a wealthy individual, one struggles to the mid-40s.

So how does one raise the funds to pursue political ambitions?

I believe youths can join parties like the Labour Party, which focus on youths and workers’ welfare.

It is, however, painful that such parties have also been taken over by moneybags who use them as a springboard for their political advancement.

For example, we have seen politicians who won on the platforms of these ‘small’ parties who later decamped to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Whatever it is, the decision that Nigerian youths can now aspire to the highest office in the land is a good development. I, therefore, hope that through the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), youths can embrace a political party through which they can launch their political ambitions.

We need more youths in political positions in this country. Our elderly politicians have failed us for long, and that is why we are in the economic mess we are in today.

•Fidelis Akpan, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State.

15

opinion

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

OAU crisis: Understanding VC selection rules

By John Opaloka

T

HE appointment of Professor Ayobami Salami as the new Vice-Chancellor of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife has now brought to an end the earlier suspended selection of a new Vice-Chancellor for a five-year term for the university. The suspension of the selection process was occasioned by the violent protests from two non-teaching staff unions, NASU and SSANU, condemning the selection process because it was considered as a violation of university statutory provisions governing the selection of a new vice-chancellor. Their claim was that the Governing Council usurped the statutory duty of the Joint Council and Senate Selection Board by shortlisting candidates before the Joint Council/Senate Selection Board was even put in place in the first instance.

I have followed the various events and the politics around the selection process from the view points of both the aspirants and the condemning unions through their released statements, protests, ASUU interactive forum, and also through comments from senior academic staff members and of course from the grapevine as well. From all these, it was evident that the protests arose from a lack of awareness and understanding of the current provisions that have made the Governing Council selfregulating with respect to the selection of a vice-chancellor.

This ignorance then became a veil for aggregating and venting bottled displeasure with the out-going vice-chancellor which was then couched as a manipulation of the selection process to favour that the candidature of Prof Ayobami Salami. The ignorance of the selection procedure also affected some of the candidates who applied, a situation that caught some of them unaware with respect to networking and establishing rapport with the ‘kingmakers’, that is, the Governing Council members.

They had thought the change of government would affect the composition of the Council whose membership were composed under the previous government. This informed the persistent call for the dissolution of the current Council and the blackmailing of its members as having being compromised.

Rather than own up to the fact of their ill-preparedness, some of the internal candidates picked up grouse with Professor Salami. Their grouse with him lied in the choice of method he used to campaign for support, as against that of the rest of the aspirants to the office of vice-chancellor.

Professor Salami’s previous positions in the university must have further boosted his interest for higher leadership roles in the University. While he was in Senate in 1996, Professor Wale Omole was the vice-chancellor. Prof Salami has been part of the transitions from Professor Wale Omole to Professor Roger Makanjuola and then to Prof Mike Faborode. All these selections, were done under the regulations. As a member of the Council then, he participated very actively in the ushering in

of the new vice-chancellor, Professor Faborode. From 2006, he was appointed Director of the Institute of Ecology and Environmental Studies up till 2010 when he again became a Member of the Governing Council of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo in Ondo State from 2010 to 2014. As an insider and a member of the team that supported Professor Tale Omole as vice-chancellor in 2011, Professor Salami was elected to become the Deputy ViceChancellor of the university, a post he has held till date.

Professor Salami has traversed all these transitions from different university administrations at Obafemi Awolowo University as a key player in the highest decision-making organs of the university and, thereby, was in good knowledge of how things are done in the system.

Armed with this knowledge, he had known which direction his campaign strategy would move. So while most of the aspirants their campaigns, focusing more on outside influences such as running after governors, prostrating in royal palaces across Yoruba land, and courting influential pentecostal men of God all over Nigeria, Professor Salami simply chose to be guided by his administrative experience in the recent past.

Contrary to the issue of imposition touted against the outgoing vice-chancellor, Professor Omole, by NASU and SSANU in their releases and declarations in their protests and advertisement in the national dailies, Professor Salami was, and is still, a grass root person.

The impression of many members of the university community is that a number of the aspirants to the office of the vice-chancellor did not even campaign to any of the internal members of the Governing Council who they knew so well, while Salami was running up and down, his impressive and compelling credentials notwithstanding. He obviously was able to persuade many.

Another factor that spoke more eloquently of Professor Salami’s chances above all other candidates was an intimidating list of several grants he has brought into the university since 2004 as a world-renown researcher. He is ranked as one the best two researchers in terms of research funds attracted to the university. Grants are cardinal for research to run and for students to be abreast of standard practices in research and knowledge dissemination.

In terms of preparation for the race, few of the aspirants seemed to have started early enough. Quite a number of them just woke up with the call for applications for the vacant job in December 2015. Unlike others, Professor Salami had been preparing for becoming vice-chancellor a long while ago, given his administrative experience over time which towered over that of all others. His strategy was to build his intimidating curriculum vitae rather than depend on the goodwill of godfathers.

The Governing Council did their shortlisting and the result was a shock to the university, and particularly those who had expected their candidates to make the shortlist. The result should be a big shame to the University! Out of eleven aspirants who applied, only six were shortlisted with five of OAU professors knocked out of the list while two contestants from the Federal University of Technology, Akura (FUTA) made the list. The five professors were knocked out for not being productive in scientific publications for the past five years, or since the announcement of their professorship, lack of international exposure and lack of grants attracted to the university.

Instead of staff unions protesting against the shortlisting, they should be ashamed because this was a big statement on the state of research in the university. How can such professors sustain themselves on their jobs in foreign universities where you have to justify the reasons the university must keep you for the next minute? How would the university now account for the research grants in tertiary institutions such as ETF and TETFUND to the Federal Government? The university administration must find a way of shaking up this lethargy among academics, especially professors, who traditionally are supposed to be the drivers of research innovations.

Therefore, ASUU need to help their half brothers and sisters in unionism, that is NASU and SSANU, to be more ethical in union activism and popular struggle each time there is a cause for such in the university. ASUU should provide the required leadership in this direction for other unions, that is, the sanctity of data and information must be protected for the communication of truth. The ivory tower shouldn’t be a home of violence but a haven where problems are solved for the society.

Once again, I like to restate that when the old system had long ceased to be in force, it was still brimming in the psyche of some office seekers. And by the time they came close to the reality of the whole show, it was almost too late for redemption. So the real cause of the crisis in the university was not the manipulation of the selection process in favour of Professor Salami but the ignorance of critical stakeholders about the selection process.

•Opaloka is a Research Assistant at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.

Of Osun’s educational reforms

By Olaniyi Ajibola THE indelible postulation of the late American Social Crusader, Malcom-X, might have been the philosophy behind the renewed efforts in Osun State to resuscitate academic excellence from the very beginning.

Malcom-X posited education is the passport to the future, because the future belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Of course, the very illuminator of the darkest side of life, and the assuring instrument of better future remains qualitative education.

Irrespective of the economic condition of a country, an educated person still have the hope of a better future, and little comfort, unlike an unlettered person, whose hope lies in his strength and ability to “hustle” and make ends meet.

It is with this mindset that the administration of Mr Rauf Aregbesola revisited the tenets of education in the state, and devised the robust strategy of restoring the glory of education in line with the road map entrenched in the defunct Western Region in which the present Osun State was part and parcel.

Aregbesola, upon his assumption of office, held an unprecedented education summit, where erudite scholars and veteran educationists brainstormed on the way to rescue the comatose educational system in the state, while rekindling the consciousness of academic excellence in the pupils and students alike.

The re-classification of schools to elementary, middle and high schools categories was a direct product of the summit. According to the Deputy Governor, Mrs Titi Laoye-Tomori, who doubles as the Commissioner for Education in the state, “the re-classification policy is a conscious effort towards repositioning schools in our state from what we met in 2010 to its rightful position of honour and excellence.

“It is not in any way a system of merger as some people mischievously say; it tends towards restructuring the schools in

all ramifications for better performance and a means of giving socio-economic power to these future leaders.

Indeed, the evergreen definition of education by the great South African leader, Nelson Mandela, quite captures Tomori’s position, “education is power, it is the only weapon to change the world.”

The act of restructuring the educational system in Osun and make it meaningful must start from the beginning, that is, the basic education in the state must be made functional and efficient, with desirable human resources and necessary infrastructure.

The comprehensive analysis of the psychology of the pupils and students alike has revealed that conducive environment with modern facilities and moderate incentives drastically reduce truancy and absentism, and aid the level of learning and assimilation in no small way, hence the massive construction of schools across the state, and continuity of the school feeding system.

This present administration is strongly determined to reform

the education sector in the state with passion and utmost commitment, particularly in elementary and middle schools, which form the foundation phase of educational growth and development across the globe.

This conviction has been proven through several giant strides that have been taking place in the sector since this government came on board, despite the serious economic crunch that befell our nation since 2014, when there was an acute drop in the federal allocations to states as a result of the oil glut.

The government has embarked on aggressive and massive infrastructural developments such as construction of new 31 model schools, in bungalows and storey buildings, fully equipped with modern students and pupils’ furniture, ICT equipment, science laboratories, water and electricity for the purpose of building sustainable and strong academic foundation for pupils in the state and make them responsible citizens.

There is, indeed, a passionate focus and emphasis on basic education, that was what informed the re-classification of schools for greater efficiency and optimal maximisation of human resources, the policy intrinsically reformed the 6-3-3-4 , where a pupil will spend his four years in the elementary school, another five years in the middle school, and the rest three in the high school.

Without mincing words, facilities in most of the schools were in terrible conditions before 2010, and this pathetic situation was responsible for high level of truancy in schools, where primary school pupils at the lesson hours would be busy in the bush hunting or fetching firewood.

The situation has changed today, with education being given its place of pride in the state; kudos should, therefore, be given to the Osun State government for its pragmatic efforts in making basic education more efficient and effective.

•Ajibola is a public affairs analyst.

16

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

agriculture Govt does not know real farmers

BOA in N40bn deficit

—Grassroots farmers mobiliser Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

—Ogbeh Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

THE Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Audu Ogbeh, has said the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) is currently crippled with about N40 billion deficit dating back to 20 years.

The minister also said measures are being put in place to recover the money, restructure and recapitalise the bank to function at its full capacity.

Ogbeh also harped on the need to revive the bank in order to facilitate credit facilities for farmers as the interest rate of commercial banks have not been farmers’ friendly.

According to him “the Bank of Agriculture in in deficit to the tune of nearly N40 billion debts dating back to 20 years. So they are very weak now, we are about to start measures to recover them.

“The bank is structurally weak, it is not digitalised and management has to be strengthened”.

He revealed that a programme is ongoing to strengthen the bank in the next 9 months to compete favourably with its counterparts in other countries.

“Right now, a programme is in place by the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) to restructure and re-energise and when we do so, we shall operate the bank along the lines of Rabo bank of Holland and the credit Agricole of France.

“The current interest rate regime cannot sustain agriculture and that’s where we are heading, in another 9 months, it will be there, the processes are slow but the CBN is work, the President is pushing and the Vice President is working on it.

“We are looking for the Bank of Agriculture strong enough in capital to lend cheaply to farmers, the process is going on, the Federal Government capital in the new bank will be 20 per cent, private sector investment and that of the nearly 25 million farmers in this country will make up the rest, then that bank will be the biggest bank in the country and the bank servicing the rural areas” he noted.

Chief Ogbeh further added “We expect investors like PenCom and the new Nigeria Development Bank and foreign development banks, the World Bank will invest in this project”.

Ifeanyiwa Afe, MD, HP Nigeria

HP commits to zero deforestation by 2020

By Ruth Olurounbi

H

P Inc. on Thursday announced a commitment to achieve zerodeforestation by 2020, saying that all HP brand paper and paper-based product packaging will be derived from certified and recycled sources by 2020, with a preference for virgin fiber from certified sources of the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

The announcement coincides with the release of the HP 2015 Sustainability Report, which outlinesprogress made in 2015 and goals setfor 2016. The zero deforestation goal is one of three new goals included in the report. HP in the report, also pledged to achieve 100 per cent renewable electricity within global operations with an interim goal of achieving 40 percent worldwide by 2020, while also stating it committment to reduce the GHG emissions intensity of its product portfolio by 25 percent by 2020 .

Analysts view HP’s new goal as significant, as Forest500 had stipulated that only eight per cent of companies have an overarching zero or zero-net deforestation commitment.

This goal, which reinforces HP’s leadership position among global companies, highlights the company’s ongoing efforts to help customers make responsible printing and purchasing decisions that lower the environmental impact of their operations.

This zero deforestation pledge also reflects the breadth of actions the company is taking to address the effects of climate change, according to the company in a statement.

“Climate change is the most challenging environmental issue ofour lifetime. HP is committed to being an environmental steward; therefore,we continue to measure and reducetheimpact of our products, operations and supply chain activities,” Nate Hurst, HP’s Chief Sustainability & Social Impact Officer, said.

It will be recalled that 2015, HP achieved the public for-

estry goal of 50 percent FSC-certified fiber in HP brandpaper products. Moving forward, HP said it will work with World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Global Forest & Trade Network-North America (GFTN-NA) to reduce fiber sourcing risks for products and packaging, source more environmentally responsible paper and packaging products, and engage suppliers as partners in this journey.

“HP’s efforts to lead the way on eliminating deforestation from its paper products and packaging are commendable. This is a leadership-level goal within HP’s broader sustainability commitments,” Linda Walker, Director of Responsible Forestry & Trade at WWF-US, said.

HP was the first company in the IT industry to set GHG emission reduction goals across its operations, supply chain and products.

THE National President of the Grassroots Farmers Development Initiative of Nigeria (GFDIN) Eze Anthony has said the problem of Nigerian agriculture is the government have been unable to identify who a real farmer.

He also pointed out the most of the agricultural loans government rolled out in the past have fallen in the hands of businessmen and politicians who can easily produce collateral and access the funds immediately.

Anthony, who disclosed this during an interview with Nigerian Tribune at his office in Abuja, said it is necessary that government have a comprehensive data of real farmers in the country.

According to him “the issue is that government doesn’t know farmers and farmers at the rural areas doesn’t know government, so how do you give loan to somebody you don’t know.

“Government does not have a comprehensive data of who is farmer in Nigeria, so when they release the money, business people, politicians will smartly come and be accessing that money and you think it’s farmers.”

Speaking on the challenges of rural farmers, Anthony said “everything that has to do with agriculture and farming is problem to grassroots farmers. There is no aspect of farming to the grassroots farmers that is easy.

“There is no aspect of agriculture that you can confidently say that government have been able to address.

It is only in Nigeria that grassroots farmers does not farm with network of irrigation.

“The bottle necks of accessing funds from government which was discussed over the years, which government pledged support that they are going to reduce are still there.

“The larger percentage of rural farmers does not know there is anything called government funding for agriculture.”

Step up cassava farming to

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE Association of Nigeria Cassava Growers has called on the Federal Government to step up efforts to increase cassava production in the country, this according to the association will serve as a booster to the economy.

The association’s National President, Segun Adewumi, said this in a presentation made to the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, and pointed out that apart from the fact that “cassava can be cultivated in all parts of Nigeria,” its high level of resistance to harsh weather makes it a unique plant as

“it grows with rain but survives with dews”.

He canvassed that though garri is about the most popular food made from cassava, “over 20 local food types like Lafun, Fufu, Tapioka, Eba, Starch, Pupuru and others are derived from Cassava,” he said.

While speaking on the uniqueness of garri, he disclosed that “it can be preserved and will remain fresh for over four years.”

He also enumerated some major Industrial Products that could be derived from cassava; among which are ethanol, industrial starch, cassava flour, glucose syrup and sweetner.

Incidentally, these products are also raw

17

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

For enquiries, contact:

08116954637, 08039521408

Tuta Absoluta: Russell IPM proffers solution for Nigerian tomato growers

By Ruth Olurounbi

IN response to a recent insurgence of Tuta absoluta in Nigeria which resulted in a 400 per cent price hike of tomato, Russell lPM has profered solution to the small but damaging pest which poses threat to Nigerian tomato growers.

Russell lPM, a market leader in providing customer focused solutions to issues facing pest controllers, in a statement made avaliable to the Nigerian Tribune, said with its seven years’ experience in Tuta absoluta management and control, it has launched an effective and sustainable solution to combat the pest.

The solution, a three-component system, based on beneficial soil microbes and biopesticides, has been found to work in synergy to destroy both larvae’s and adults of Tuta, boost the plant’s defences and promote plant growth in a safe and sustainable way, the organisation said.

It will be recalled that the tomato leaf miner moth was responsible for damaging almost half of this year’s anticipated tomato harvest, resulting in a significant shortage for the vegetable.

Russell IPM said in collaboration with Agronet Limited, it has conducted field demonstrations to show farmers how they can use the products and gain complete control of the pest. Local farms that have been using the organisation’s Recharge, Antario and Biotrine systems have noted a significant reduction in Tuta population and tomato damage, the organisation said.

It added that one of its solution users was the Tenti

Farms located in Jos, Nigeria, with 25 hectares of greenhouse where they primarily grow tomatoes and peppers. It quoted Odunayo Orowumi, Head Agronomist at the farm saying “in the past, our farm has been devastated by the Tuta absoluta pest and despite trying a number of conventional pesticides, the moth caused complete losses in our

greenhouses.

“We cannot overstate the importance of following the complete Russell lPM control programme right from the beginning of the season. Applying Recharge within the nursery will enable successful control of the pupae. Then, using Antario and Biotrine provides preventive cover which led to a drastic

reduction of adult flies.”

Babatunde William-Funmilayo, the Managing Director of Agronet Limited, said he found recharge to be very successful in soil media, stating a “zero incidence of Tufa absolufa resulting in plants that show improved vigour, good foliage, excellent fruit conversion and resistance to disease.”

Don expresses worry over losses on tomato post-harvest Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

A university don, Professor Goke Bodunde, has expressed worry over high rate of losses of harvested tomato fruits considering its current scarcity and low production process in Nigeria.

Bodunde, a Professor of Horticulture, at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNNAB), said the country was doing poorly in the processing and production of tomatoes, putting the average yield of tomato worldwide at about 25 tonnes.

He said that the average yield of tomato in the country is about 12 to 13 tonnes which is below half of the world tonnes.

He said tomato is classfied among fruits that are vulnerable to spoilage within the shortest

period of time.

He explained that the poor production and processes of the fruit prompted him to embark on research that would result in increased yield of the crop and improved post harvest handling of the fruit.

“After looking at the Agronomy practices in tomato, we felt it should not just stop there. So, we decided to look at what happens after the production, which is called post-harvest handling, with reference to increasing the shelf-life of the harvested fruits.

We are currently looking at the means of remediation of ethylene gas effect on stored tomato fruit, trying to minimise the effect in order to increase the shelf-life.

“Ours is not a country where we

have modern storage technology, particularly, at large scale level and as such, we want to see what is attainable and can be done in our circumstance. In a situation where even if you have your cold storage device, you cannot do cold storage on account of inadequate power supply. So, we looked at those things that can be done outside cold storage.

“We looked at the use of certain chemical substances that do not necessarily have to be in contact with the fruit so that the fear of eating chemical by the consumer is allayed. What is done is that the chemical substance are used in the medium of storage and by this, I mean within a space in the environment of where the fruits are stored,” he added.

boost economy, growers urge FG materials to numerous industrial items with limitless domestic and export market potential; an indication that cassava can trigger massive industrial revolution in Nigeria to the extent that every village will have viable cassava industries.

According to Adewumi, findings have revealed that ethanol, which can easily be derived from cassava is used as industrial solvent: which is one of the main ingredients used in paints, printing inks, wood finishers and pharmaceutics among other products. It is also used in alcoholic beverages like whisky, brandy, dry gin and wine.

He added that cassava had the answer

to the economic problem of Nigeria.

Adewumi then posited that “from the over 84 million hectares arable land available in Nigeria, if five million is devoted to the production of industrial cassava and if we are able to reap 40 MT of cassava from an hectare of farmland, it implies that we shall have 200,000,000 MT per year”.

He went on to state that “the 200 million MT of raw Cassava can be milled into 50 million MT of Industrial Starch and at present, Industrial Starch sells for over N200,000 per ton which means we can The National President, Association of Nigeria Cassava Growers, Segun Adewumi generate N10 trillion yearly from Cas- (left) making presentation to the Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh on many derivable benefits of cassava. sava.

Agric sector stakeholders commend FG on NEGPRO scheme Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

STAKEHOLDERS in the agricultural sector have commended the Federal Government for instituting the National Egg Production (NEGPRO) scheme as well as appointing Tuns Farms Nigeria Limited as consultant and manager of the scheme.

NEGPRO is an initiative of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture aimed increasing the output of egg production in the country to 50 million table eggs daily by 2018.

It also aims to create about 1 million jobs at full capacity, empower as many farmers as possible, increase contribution of poultry sector to GDP of Nigeria and increase internally generated revenues to the Federal Government.

In a message to Tuns Farms Limited, Chi Farms, expressed support for the Federal Government for introducing the scheme saying that NEGPRO is an important initiative that will improve food security and economic diversification.

The message which was signed by the company’s Executive Director, Martin Middernacht, also commended Tuns Farms Limited for the appointment, promising that Chi Farms, as a stakeholder, will support the successful implementation of the initiative.

Agric seed council boss warns against fake seeds Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

IN the past four years, Nigeria’s national seed production capacity has tremendously increased. Alongside this was a rise in the activities of unscrupulous seed merchants selling adulterated seed to unsuspecting farmers, a situation that has been leading to crop failure.

To reverse this undesirable trend, which could jeopardise the gains made within the period, and to ensure that only quality seeds of proven cultivars get to the Nigerian farmers in 2016 wet season, the National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) embarked on a nationwide educational enlightenment in Kano, Jigawa and Kebbi states recently.

The campaigns were meant to educate the public on the activities of the unscrupulous seed merchant in Northwestern Nigeria and to discourage such inappropriate trade tactics. The exercise, which lasted for four days, was spearheaded by Director General, National Agricultural Seeds Council (NASC) in company of his senior officials, a team of plant breeders from the Institute for Agricultural Research & Training (IAR&T) Ibadan, Institute for Agricultural Research (IAR/ABU), Zaria and National Cereals Research Institute (NCRI), Badeggi.

18

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

From left, Head, Government and Community Relations, Etisalat Nigeria, Mohammed Suley-Yusuf; Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jubril and the Minister of Environment, Hajia Amina Mohammed, at the World Environment Day 2016, organised by the ministry, in partnership with Etisalat Nigeria, in Abuja, recently.

From left, Chief Afolabi Sodunke, his wife, Abiola and Otunba Olakunle Ojora, cutting the 60th birthday cake of Chief Sodunke, in Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently.

Principal, Government Girls College (GGC), Dala, Kano, Mrs Aisha Ahmed (left), receiving a gift from the Regional Head, Channel Sales, Etisalat Nigeria, Babangida Mukaddas, at the World Environment Day 2016 seminar organised by Etisalat Nigeria for its adopted school in Dala, Kano, on Monday.

Francis Akinlosotu and Lilian Ibomor during their wedding in Ibadan, recently.

The couple, Mr and Mrs Joshua Ayodele Adeshina, with the groom’s parents, Mrs Dupe Adeshina and Elder David A. Adeshina, Permanent Secretary, Political, Governor’s Office, Ilorin, Kwara State, at the wedding held in Zaria, Kaduna State, recently.

From left, team member, “Not in my Country,” Martins Adun; Creator and Producer, Akin Fadeyi; Senior Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu; Nollywood actress, Efe Mayford-Orhora and another team member, Busuyi Ojo, after a meeting with Senator Ojudu in Abuja, at the weekend.

From right, Prince Babajide Oyedeji, Mrs Christiana Thomas (the eldest child), Prince Richard Oyedeji, Mrs Kehinde Oke, Mrs Taiwo Adejumo, Mrs Idowu Olaosebikan, Mrs Toyin Ogunmokun and others, at the farewell and thanksgiving service of their mother, Olori Patience Titilola Ibidapo Oyedeji, held recently at First Baptist Church, Ori-Apata, Olupona, Osun State.

From left, Mrs Mojisola Ogunleye, wife of late Elder (Engr) Olaolu Josiah Ogunleye and children, during the Christian wake service held for Elder Ogunleye, at the open field, beside Rotary House, Favos Road, Bodija, Ibadan, recently.

For bookings, contact ’Laolu Afolabi on 08054681741 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

19

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

D

URING your tenure as the Cross River State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), you were accused of shutting out intending members from rival parties and that even now, you are making yourself inaccessible?

I will answer your last question first; I did welcome you into my private residence even when I did not know your mission. Didn’t I? When you came in, you saw all the people there or the ones I had attended to before. Didn’t you? I represent a people and I work for entire Nigerians.

So, honest and good intentioned people can be sure that my doors, both in the office and at home, are open to those with genuine problems and useful contributions as to how we can move the country and the affairs of the Niger Delta towards greater good. To your second question, I had not become the chairman of the APC when the membership registration took place. I only became chairman during the rescheduled congress and have since then followed the party guidelines to admit members into the party. Before the elections, I made deliberate and conscious efforts to woo some persons whom I knew we could midwife to victory into the APC but such persons, apparently feeling that they will be automatic winners if they got PDP tickets, rebuffed my overtures and went to wrestle it in PDP. Now tell me, are you talking about those who used all their might against APC? I had at no point refused anybody membership of APC. Where a man comes because he lost election in PDP or any other party and begins to insinuate that there were no persons in APC, this is not fair to the foundation members of APC. As the state chairman of the party, I owed my party men a duty to protect them and fight for their benefits. How does it feel for a man who ate and broke the pot to immediately go to another man’s cooking pot and want to even dish food ahead of those who have been patiently waiting and persevering starvation when the food has been prepared? I still maintain my stance, which is that benefits should be served first to those APC members who have suffered and worked because anything short of that will be a betrayal of the resilience and hard work of those who hoped when others scorned and some despised. This was also, the maiden pronouncement of the president after election. Let the so-called “no names” be known. For example, I was Personal Assistant and Commissioner before I became 35. It means there are many talents untapped in APC that we can harness, because, out of conviction displayed in their resilience, these groups of people have the integrity to drive the agenda and ideology of the present government. I tell you sincerely, strengthen a small name with character and watch him become a giant.

But, it is assumed in many quarters that new and influential members of the APC in Cross River who you feel should join the queue, are the ones offered choice appointments by the Buhari administration.?

Well, I am a party man, a product of the party. If the leadership of the party so decides, I will not have any contrary stance.

But I stated earlier that we have evenly qual-

Why N/Delta stakeholders must cooperate with Buhari —Minister

Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, in this interview with some newsmen, speaks on the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region, among other issues. ANTHONY UBONG brings excerpts:

and collectively ensure to live the ideology of APC. They should ensure to win all elections, even as they complain daily about the PDP government in Cross River State.

We seem to hear less of your activities as Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, what is happening?

Well, I don’t work to be heard but to achieve results.

Can you briefly tell us about your activities since assumption of office?

I have done what I will say I am happy with. But, the ministry is new and so much is yet to be done. Unfortunately, we assumed office to meet the budgeting process and the budget has just been passed, so you should expect more action now. I am however, worried that no project has been commissioned or completed since the formation of the ministry of Niger Delta Affairs except a cassava processing plant in Ondo State, which we commissioned recently; it has been refocused. That has framed my burden whose jinx I want to immediately break. Recently, I formed a technical audit committee to audit all projects awarded by the ministry so far.

Though they are yet to submit the full report, the preliminary report will shock you. I think that’s the way to begin, that is, to know what job was awarded to whom, how much and what has been done. Does it conform to what has been paid, if not when was the job supposed to be completed and all that? You will realise that the observed differ remarkably from the claims we have.

Usani

Recently, I formed a technical audit committee to audit all projects awarded by the ministry so far.

Though they are yet to submit the full report, the preliminary report will shock you. ified persons in the members that hoped when others scorned and despised APC and so, those people should be considered first for appointments, if we want to prove that there is dignity in labour, in resilience and in contentment.

What is your advice for all APC

members in Cross River?

Unity! Let them unite and be able to call any leader to accountability. They should be able to speak out through all known civil media. They should be able to take collective positions and speak same without intimidation by any leader, without fear or favour.

They should also resolve to individually

There is resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta region of late. What is your ministry doing to stem the tide?

My ministry is deeply involved while the operational action is performed by the security Agencies. So, the ministry will continue to do what we have been doing before now. But, I must say that the environment is ours and destroying it will not do us any good. Imagine the Ogoni reclamation is going to take 30 years, yet we have not learnt.

Rather than support President Muhammadu Buhari to do more, we are adding to the destruction of the environment, our ecosystem, fresh water and aquatic lives. It is a condemnable and unthinkable approach that should be desisted. Imagine of all leaders that this UNEP report has been made known to, in just one year in office, this President has implemented it. I can say that the Niger Delta region is benefiting more under the APC regime led by President Buhari than it benefited from any other regimes.

20

politics&policy

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Edo as Sheriff’s cannon fodder

LEON USIGBE writes on the fate of the chances of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Edo State election against the backdrop of the court order ceding the gubernatorial ticket to the Ali Modu Sheriff faction.

B

Y last Monday, the Federal High Court in Port Harcourt, would have resolved the legitimacy issue of the national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which held in the Rivers State capital on May 21. Recall that the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the party presided over by Senator Ali Modu Sheriff as the national chairman, convened the convention to elect new national officers of the party. Also recall that on the day of the convention, Sheriff unilaterally announced its cancellation on the ground that there was a court order which forbade the conduct of elections into the offices of the national chairman, the national secretary and the national auditor.

The convention went ahead without Sheriff, presided over by his then deputy, Prince Uche Secondus, and by a unanimous resolution, dissolved the National Working Committee (NWC) and in its place, set up a National Caretaker Committee, headed by a former Kaduna State governor, Senator Ahmed Makarfi. Sheriff’s rejection of the outcome of the convention and his continuous claim of the office of the national chairman has since factionalized the opposition party.

Both sides have obtained several court injections conferring temporary legitimacy on each other, leaving the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) guessing as to what to do in the circumstance of the gubernatorial elections coming up in Edo State in September.

The commission has been careful about which of the factions to relate with over the election. They have conducted parallel primaries to select the gubernatorial candidate of the party but dispute remains on which of the factions is the legitimate one to submit a candidate to the electoral body. While Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu emerged as the candidate under the National Caretaker Committee, Honourable Matthew Idurioyekemwen, got the nod of the Sheriff faction. Whereas the primaries that pro-

duced Ize-Iyamu fulfilled the Electoral Act requirement of notifying INEC about any proposed primaries at least 21 days prior to the exercise, the Sheriff’s faction fell short of the provision. Therefore, INEC shunned the primaries that produced Idurioyekemwen.

The consequences do not worry Sheriff. Notwithstanding the previous conflicting court orders since the conduct of the Port Harcourt national convention, Sheriff has been able to obtain a much more potent order which could jeopardise what has been viewed as the beat chance of the PDP to snatch Edo from the governing All Progressive Congress (APC) in the September 10 election.

Last week, Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court Abuja granted an injunction restraining INEC, the PDP and their agents from dealing with or according any facility required by law to any other persons or group than the Sheriff-led National Working Committee of the party. The ruling was in an interlocutory application filed by two governorship aspirants on the platform of the PDP in Edo and Ondo states, Chief Benson Akingboye, and his counterparts in Edo State, Ehiozuwa Agbonayinma.

Justice Abang ruled that his restraining orders against the INEC and the PDP would subsist pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit, FHC/ABJ/ CS/439/2016, filed by the plaintiffs. INEC is the 1st defendant while PDP is the second defendant.

This restraining order came barely 24 hours after Justice Valentine Ashi of a High Court of the Federal Capital Territory in Apo, Abuja, delivered a judgment sacking all national officers of the party who assumed office on the basis of an illegal amendment of Article 46(7) of the party’s Constitution. Former National Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Adamu Mu’azu whose tenure Sheriff came to complete, benefited from the voided amendment.

The PDP in Edo has lined up its structure behind Pastor Ize-Iyamu and has suspended Idurioyekemwen who was beaten to second place by Ize-Iyamu in the primaries

Modu Sheriff conducted by the National Caretaker Committee. Beyond having the party structure behind him, Ize-Iyamu also enjoys the support of who-is -who among the elders of the party in the state. His popularity among the voters is such that observers had taken it for granted that he would be the one to end the APC reign in Edo state. That is now hanging in the balance unless the court vacates the order restraining INEC from accepting nomination from the National Caretaker Committee of the PDP. It does appear that Sheriff cannot be bothered by the lack of popular support for his candidate, Idurioyekemwen, as long as he, Sheriff, has the Edo gubernatorial election as a bargaining chip for relevance in the former ruling party.

Pundits say that for Sheriff therefore, the Edo election is an expendable cannon fodder for his survival battle.

Brexit is bad news for aid recipients —Aduwo Olufemi Aduwo, President, Rights Monitoring Group (RMG) and Executive Director/CEO, Centre for Convention on Democratic lntegrity (CCDI), was in London as an observer of the recent referendum through which the UK pulled out of the EU. He speaks with DEPUTY EDITOR, DAPO FALADE, on the implications of the decision, among other issues. Excerpts: WHAT do see as the likely far-reaching negative impact of the Brexit on the economy of Greta Briatin economy and the people?

Over the past week, buyer’s remorse has begun to set in, as the hypothetical became very real: Pound Sterling plunged, Scotland threatened to break away and some of the working people who supported the “Leave” campaign started to realise the bleak future that both the country and they personally face. Even the champions of “Leave” are retracting their dishonest pre-referendum claims about Brexit. In a spontaneous response, over four million people petitioned the Parliament to hold a second referendum.

By the time the parliamentary debate on this petition took place, it was not inconceivable that more people would have signed the petition that voted for Brexit. Just as Brexit was a negative surprise, the spontaneous response to it was a positive. People on both sides of the referendum, and most importantly those who did not vote-particularly young people under 35 years old- had been mobilised. This is the kind of grass roots in-

820,000 at the beginning of 2016 and the one seeking to block Donald Trump from the UK after he called for a “total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States”, which had almost 600,000 supporters at the end of last year.The lgbos or my people from the Niger Delta are more protected within the confine of a just and egalitarian Nigeria.

volvement that the EU has never been able to generate over the years.

How do you think it might affect the Nigerian economy, given the fact that UK is one of our major trading partners?

UK is the number one funder of IDA17 (the concessional borrowing window at the World Bank) with about a 13.20 per cent share, with a possible negative implications on the UK’s development initiatives in SubSahara African countries. At a time when the process for IDA18 replenishment is underway, the Brexit may not be good news for aid recipients. Let us have a closer look at the impact of the Brexit on bilateral development assistance.

UK is one of the biggest contributors to the European Development Fund (EDF), the EU’s development assistance arm which provides funds to developing countries and regions. UK currently contributes between £409 million and $585 million-making up 14.8 per cent of contributions to the fund.

The fund is one of the world’s largest providers of multilateral concessional aid, with disbursements exceeding the ones channeled through the World Bank’s International Development Association (IDA). While a Brexit would deprive the EDF of British resources for development assistance, the consequences are negatively numerous to sub-Saharan African countries, ECOWAS and AU. How do you perceive the development in the light of the increasing agitations by some groups for self-rule in the country? l don’t think we have anything like Biafrexit or NigDelexit in Nigeria. Anyway, our

Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy and four others are on trial for alleged forgery of the Senate Standing Rules. What is the implication of this?

Are they above the law? The answer is an emphatic no!.A former president of Egypt and many others were sent to jail. It must be established if indeed the document could be classified as forged under the practice of the Senate.

constitution doesn’t allow for such silly referendum that could propel either Briafrexit or NigDelexit to success. While the Brexit was precipitated by bigotry and long-time rivalry, the Nigerian copycats whose agitation is more about neglect and long-time suffering fail to understand that the EU referendum was more of a call for political dominance and identity, rather than disintegration. Many who voted for the UK exit from U does not understood the gains in union; it was after the election that they got to understand the implications.

As at today, four million people have signed for second referendum. The petition for a second EU referendum has also gathered far more names than one calling for the Meningitis B Vaccine to be given to all children, which was signed by more than

How will you describe the ongoing corruption war by the Federal Government through the EFCC? I am in total support of the anti-corruption war. What l may not be comfortable with is when the Rule of Law is replaced with the Rule of Men. Rule of Law is the pillar of democracy; a democratic government should obey the court orders. A former EFCC chairman, Mr Ibrahim Larmode, is in a better position to confirm my assistance and support to the commission under him, unlike some paid agents, lawyers and jobless activists who believe that the best way to fight the anti-corruption war is through appearance on television.

EFCC or President Muhammadu Buhari cannot fight corruption; the people are the real anti-corruption army. Trust and sincerity on the part of the leadership are needed.

21

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

features

A near deserted street at Oporoza with mostly females.

Aftermath soldiers’ invasion: We live in fear —Oporoza residents •Say ‘Our livelihoods threatened’

EBENEZER ADUROKIYA was on the entourage of the new acting Inspector General of Police that visited Ugborodo and Oporoza in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State last Friday, and reports the hardship pervading the Gbaramatu traditional headquarters.

G

LORY and Mercy (surnames unknown) rushed back to school at the early hours of June 27 at Oporoza, headquarters of Gbaramatu kingdom in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State.

However, only a few colleagues of theirs could be sighted in a school that boasts of no fewer than 100 pupils.

Besides, most of the teachers who should be at their duty posts, were nowhere to be found, notwithstanding the fastapproaching third term examinations that now hung in the balance.

Lamenting the academic situation in the community, Glory, who a Primary 6 pupil in one of the schools at Oporoza, said emphatically that, “Peace has not returned to Oporoza because we are hungry. Soldiers still come to disturb us, but it not as much as before.

“School is now in session, but not many pupils come to school. Teachers are scanty because of fear; they are not coming.

“Those around are teaching. We are not many because of fear of soldiers,” the female pupil noted while code-mixing pidgin and English language.

From the look of things in the community, the entire economic, cultural, traditional, political and social system in the community has been distorted.

The community, unlike the vivacious Ugborodo community nearby where the IG got a rousing welcome, literally wore a mournful look, exuding an atmosphere like a ravaged and ravished virgin since soldiers were deployed to the area in May. Some of the returnees were mostly seen moping around like sheep without a shepherd as even the Pere of Gbaramatu, whose palace is at Oporoza, was said to have temporarily relocated to Warri to have some breath of peace.

Harriet Harvest, an SS 2 pupil, further paints the same gloomy picture in her narrative. The stocky-looking female student, who bravely volunteered to speak on events in the community, said most of her colleagues in class had fled to Warri or other neighborhood in the wake of soldiers’ invasion of the community.

She also expressed worry on how the promotion exams

would be conducted when they had not exhausted their syllabus for the term/session that would warrant writing an exam.

“We have no teacher now and all the students have fled to Warri. Those around don’t teach for fear of invasion.

“We don’t know how we are going to write our exams now because our teachers are not yet here.

“We don’t know what to do. They have disappeared because of fear of soldiers,” moody-looking Harvest said.

She said the teachers fled the community, to save their lives since they still had families to cater for.

“We want the government to normalize things so that our teachers and students can return so that our future can be bright in order to take care of our community and all these terrorism will be over so that our younger ones will not experience all these things.

“We want to go school so that we can take care of people and be good leaders of tomorrow in Gbaramatu clan,” she reiterated.

Hunger is a major problem ravaging the entire Oporoza community as returnees are finding it pretty difficult to recover from losses suffered from the military siege laid on the area in May over activities of members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA).

We can’t find anything to eat; we just run from one bush to another. We don’t sleep till daybreak.

The returnees, who can be better described as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), have not received any relief material from governments or organizations as seen in other parts of the country such as the North East.

The fishermen among them do not launch out into the waters for fear of being harangued and tagged Avengers by soldiers who still carry out occasional raids in the area.

Therefore, booming economic activities, such as the halted construction works earlier ongoing at the site of the Nigerian Maritime University, Okerenkoko and construction work at the palace of the traditional ruler of Gbaramatu at Oporoza which had occupied the youth have been halted.

The implications of this are empty pockets and hunger among the people who had preoccupied themselves with menial jobs available in these sites to earn a living.

Hairdressers and petty traders, such as corn roasters, as well as soft drinks sellers, expressed sorrow over the biting hunger in Oporoza and occasional threats posed by unsolicited visits of soldiers to the community.

Mrs Perpetua Monday, owns a salon which was begging for patronage amid few returnee residents.

“Things are not normal. Yesterday night (Thursday), soldiers came. Some people are still in the bush. Women have run away.

“This morning, I sat down in my shop for work, but nothing. Anytime we see military people, we run, because we don’t know when they will come.

“We don’t know whether it is men or women they come to carry. So, we keep running, but we don’t want to run anymore. I just returned recently.

A woman, Tenado, who was seen roasting fresh maize cobs, expressed the same economic downturn in the community.

According to her, the situation has really not improved as many of their breadwinners were still hiding in the woods for fear of arrest by soldiers who still carry out occasional, unscheduled raids in the area.

“People aren’t back. See the town, its empty. Our husContinues pg22

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features

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Safety on roads: FRSC restrategises to curb accidents

By Adewale Oshodi

A

S part of the efforts towards strategising on how to reduce accidents on our roads, the Oyo State Sector Command of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) recently held its second quarter strategic session where operational issues were discussed.

The session, which had in attendance unit commanders and sector heads of departments (HODs), was an opportunity for the state Sector Commander, Mr Yusuf Salami, to brief the officers on what is expected of them, particularly as regard the need to achieve the Federal Government’s Nigeria Road Safety Strategy (NRSS).

In his opening remarks, Mr Salami explained that the Corps Marshal had promised that his administration would continue to promote capacity development, as it assists in equipping personnel to perform better on their jobs.

“The strategic sessions also ensures that we do not derail from our goals, and as a result, we must continually examine, re-examine and re-appraise our strategies, approaches and resolutions on how to achieve the desired result.

“Therefore, the main aim of this strategy meeting is to enable the Command to evaluate its operational activities to date, while also ironing out where we need to improve upon,” the Oyo FRSC boss said, while promising that the Command would continue to channel its energy towards capacity development, while evolving a system that dispenses justice, fairly, firmly and professionally.

On the enlightenment programmes of the Command, Mr Salami said the majority of residents in the state now know that tyres have expiry dates.

“We have also been able to inform them of the need to drive carefully while behind the wheels, and it is as a result of this that we are experiencing a drastic reduction in road accidents in the state.

In his lecture at the strategic meeting, the Deputy Sector Commander, Mr Olusegun Martins, highlighted the need for officers to be dedicated to their jobs.

He explained that junior officers should carry along their immediate bosses in whatever they do.

FRSC officers at the second quarter strategic session.

“When you carry your bosses along, he will be able to defend you when things go wrong; there is also the need to be disciplined and committed to the job,” Mr Martins said.

On the steps being employed to discipline erring officers, Mr Martins said as soon as complaints are received against any official, then the Command will investigate it, and the appropriate punishment will be meted to such official.

“However, I want to say that our officials are highly-disciplined at this Command, and it is also what we discuss among ourselves during the strategic meetings, so everyone knows his/her limits in the discharge of his profession.

Another senior official at the Command, Mr Clement Coker, used his lecture sensitise officers on how to act while on duty.

He explained that officers need to be tolerant as they come across people with different behaviours in the course of their duties.

“Some people are temperamental, while some are cool, so officers need to develop a great human relationship in order to be able to interract with members of the public without creating a scene,” Mr Coker said.

In the end, officers were told that the need to bring about zero deaths as a result of road crashes in the major assignment of officers, and this must be done with all efforts.

‘Some are still hiding in the bush’ Continued from pg21

bands are still in the bush. We are scared.

We can’t sleep well at night.

“My business is suffering. There is nothing. When the men come, they won’t have money to feed themselves,” she lamented.

Tenado, disclosed that many of them were beginning to develop high blood pressure as a result of constant harassments.

“We can’t find anything to eat; we just run from one bush to another. We don’t sleep till daybreak. Even now, some people are still in the bush. Some packed their load into canoes and ran to other villages.

“Students were arrested and put in prison, innocent people! We beg government to remove the army from our river so that we can have peace, so that we can have hope,” Mama Tenedo appealed while not losing sight of her maize cobs on coals of fire.

To Fresh Erelube, a food vendor, business is drab and at its lowest ebb at Oporoza after the invasion of soldiers, noting that she lost her meat stocked in a deep freezer to rot after the place was thrown into darkness by the marauding soldiers in May. An elder and chief at Oporoza, Chief Thomas Egula, managed to wear his pair of shoes to make his way to the venue where IGP Idris and his entourage were hosted.

Persuaded to narrate what had transpired in the embattled Oporoza community in the past few months, the 76-yearold chief said his big toes would not let him walk a long distance because he sustained injuries while fleeing the onslaught of soldiers deployed to smoke out members of NDA from the community in May. Pa Egula, who, however, acknowledged the gradual return of residents to the community, said emphatically that his people

Ag. IGP Idris addressing Oporoza community.

Chief Egula

loathed the presence of soldiers let alone cohabiting with them for long.

“People are gradually returning now.

When the army came all of us ran into the bush. The soldiers stayed almost a week.

And that week, a lot of people ran to Warri and other villages.

“So, after that, I too ran, but later came back. I sustained injuries for my big toes when I was running for cover. I’m still nursing the injury now.

“After soldiers left, they came back again and people continued to run. They shot,” the Gbaramatu chief disclosed.

He enjoined the Federal Government to help people of the community in the area of relief materials, saying, “This situation, we don’t want it. We don’t want soldiers now.

We can’t live with them. They attacked our place.”

Chief Egula, who described the IG’s visit as historic being the first IGP to do so, reit-

Glory erated that “We’ve not seen any IG before.

We only hear of them. Today is our first time of seeing an IG. We appreciate it.”

The acting IGP, who, after visiting Ugborodo, was at Oporoza with some senior officers of the force including the newly posted Commissioner of Police to the state, CP Zanna M. Ibrahim, during his address, sued for partnership with people of the community to engender peace and security in the community.

With the same message he gave at Ugborodo, where he was welcomed with cultural display of the Itsekiris, Idris said: “We are an arm of the security and we are part of the government. It’s the responsibility of everybody to provide security.

“We are here to assure members of the communities and to tell them that we are not their enemies. We belong to them. We have to protect them. It’s a community policing strategy to bring us closer to the

Harriet people so that we can partner with them,” the acting IG told reporters during a chat.

The acting IG added, while addressing the Ijaws of Oporoza, that the people should embrace dialogue, saying dialogue could resolve every matter.

According to Idris, “I’m here to see how we can partner together so that we can have peace and security all over Nigeria.

I’m also here to pay respect to all of you because without you, we are nothing.

“We are your servants. We want to serve you. We will give you maximum protection and we want you to assist us because the police cannot be everywhere. Security is for everybody. We shall work with the communities. We need you to succeed.

Anywhere they see the police, we are here to serve you. We solicits your cooperation,” Idris, who said he was at the community on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari.

23 thesouth-west Tunde Busari 08127593530 Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare 08116706853 Tunde Ogunesan 08116954634

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The

South-West Editor Wole Efunnuga 08111813056

Got news for us; contact: southwesttribune@yahoo.co.uk or southwesttribune@gmail.com

The South West region formerly the pacesetter in revenue generation has in recent times found itself among laggards in this area.

How did this happen? How did the region lose its pride of place. What can it do to reverse the trend?

SULAIMON OLANREWAJU interrogated these issues.

Aregbesola

Fayose Ambode Ajimobi

Amosun Mimiko

South West: Sliding oil

revenue, dwindling IGR

A

T its peak, the Yoruba nation was the envy of others. It was the centre of commerce, the heartbeat of manufacturing, the reference point for construction and the model for farming. The people were not only energetic, they were exceedingly industrious and the government harnessed the people’s industry to build a pool of wealth which made the Yoruba nation tower above its peers. With its full engagement in wealth creating activities, the nation was able to champion many developmental efforts in the country. The first housing estate in the country was the creation of the Yoruba nation. So were the first skyscraper, the first modern stadium, the first television station, and the first industrial estate, among others. So great was the stride of the nation that it was the first to pay living wages to workers in the country. Even when oil was discovered and the states had to file to Abuja to get allocation, the Yoruba nation was still able to combine the revenue from the centre with that generated locally to make the life of every citizen of the region the dream of those from other regions.

But the glorious days seem to be in the past for the Yoruba nation because these days, as a consequence of the falling price of crude oil which resulted in the reduction of money that accrues to the Federation Account, many of the states in the South West region of the country find it difficult to meet their avowed obligations. Only two of the region’s six states are up to date in salary payment.

One of the two paying states is even said to be behind in remitting deductions made from workers’ salaries.

According to a report by Economic Confidential, only

Inside

Lagos and Ogun states appear viable among the six states in the South West region going by the internally generated revenue (IGR) of each of the states. The report says in 2015, Lagos States generated N268,224,782,435.23 internally, which is 150.2 per cent of the N178,549,361,363.13 it earned from the Federation Account. The import of this is that without the monthly handout from the federal purse, Lagos State can run its affairs. Ogun State’s IGR was N34,596,446,519.2 in 2015 and this was 57.6 per cent of its allocation from the Federation Account, which stood at N60,070,767,635.93. so, the state can also manage to survive without the allocation from the government at the centre.

But not so the remaining four states in the region. Oyo earned N15,663,514,824.73 in 2015 as IGR but this was merely 18.6 per cent of the N84, 044,983,198.03 it got from the Federation Account in the same year. Ondo, an oil producing state, made N10,098,000,000 from IGR in the year under review. This was just 14.1 per cent of its federal allocation of N71,491,617,166.92. Osun, in 2015, generated N8,072,966,446 internally, a mere 12.2 per cent of the N66,005,570,597.93 it got from the Federation Account.

Ekiti’s IGR in 2015 stood at N3,297,707,703.96, which was just 6.5 per cent of its earning of N50,460,337,004.42 from the Federation Account.

From the foregoing, it is clear that the states with their heads above the waters financially are those that have been able to generate IGR in excess of their wage bill. Those with poor IGR are the ones struggling to pay workers’ wages and are unable to embark on meaningful developmental

projects. In Oyo State, workers are said to be owed about six months’ salaries. In Osun State, the government owes about six months salaries although efforts are being made to pay half salaries to the workers subject to availability of resources. Ekiti is also said to owe five months salaries while Ondo’s debt to its workers is in the region of seven months.

Journey to insolvency Many of the states are today struggling because of the wrong decisions of the past. In the immediate past, the states were swimming in unearned money, a situation that forced many of the helmsmen to embark on a spending spree. Just in September 2013, all the three tiers of government shared N1.19trillion. That was humongous money for each of the states but they failed to do much with it. As the unearned revenue from the Federation Account grew, the states increased their expenditure to the extent that there was usually not much left for wealth-creating activities after the distribution of the money from the centre.

Speaking on this matter, Dr. Austin Nweze, a lecturer at the Lagos Business School, said the governors failed to understand that the money from the centre was not meant to be consumed; but meant to be invested in activities that would lead to revenue generation.

His words, “States are not supposed to expend the money they get from Federation Account on consumption; the money is supposed to be invested in commer-

Controversy over Saki vibrations

Continues on pg24

—p25

24 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

How Lagos broke jinx of low IGR

Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, Bimbo Adekanmbi

Lagos State Commissioner for Finance, Mustapha Akinkunmi Continues from pg23

cial activities and infrastructure that would increase their ability to generate resources. The governors have always operated like most commercial drivers who, because they earn money on a daily basis, hardly save. Their slogan is ‘I will get more money tomorrow.’ Unfortunately that is the attitude of most of our governors. That is why they spend money as if it is going out of fashion. They squander the resources meant for the development of their states. Unfortunately, now that the free money seems to be scarce, they have thrown their people into untold hardship.”

Nweze explained that what happens in many of the developed countries is for revenue from natural resources to be deployed for the development of other sectors. But many of the states have failed to do that.

Speaking in a similar vein, Professor Adeola Adenikinju, Director, Centre for Petroleum Economics and Energy Law, University of Ibadan, said he and some other people had been talking about the inevitability of the crash of crude oil price for years without anybody paying attention.

“For the discerning,” he said, “the crash of the price of crude oil was just a matter of time. It is something that is bound to happen. The reason is simple; the world has been on the lookout for cleaner energy for a while. A lot of resources have been expended on researching on cleaner energy. So, we have known all along that it would come to this and we have been advising governments to invest money from crude oil sales in other sectors so that we can have a buoyant economy. But the ease of making money from oil and the convenience of going to Abuja every month to collect money from FAAC gave the governors the impression that the oil money would last forever. But now we all know better.”

The Professor of Energy Economics said the governors have to change their views about revenue from the centre and develop ways of generating funds internally to avoid running their states aground.

South West states and IGR In the past, the strength of the South West was its ability to raise IGR. Money came from every angle because there was a preponderance of companies in the region.

From manufacturing to food processing, vehicle assembling plants etc. Oyo State had Leyland Motors, Exide Battery, Nigeria Wire and Cable, NIPOL Limited, Standard Breweries, Worldwide Insurance Company, Cooperative Bank, Trans International Bank, Oyo State Paper Mill, Sketch Newspapers, Monitor Newspapers, Trans Nigeria Assurance Company, Askar Paints Limited, Niger Match, Yanatty Flour Mills and United Beverages Ltd, bottlers of Dr. Pepper, among others. But all of these companies are now extinct and in their place there are shopping malls and stalls. The narrative is the same in many of the states in the region. Not only did these companies pay taxes and levies while they were in existence, they also had in their employ, workers who paid taxes to the state government, all of which contributed to the generation of robust IGR by the states.

So, one of the factors that have contributed to the dwindling IGR in the state is the decline in commercial activities by corporate bodies in the region.

South West governors determined to increase IGR Faced with dwindling revenue from the centre, state governors have been taking the issue of IGR very seriously.

Ogun State Commissioner for Finance, Adewale Oshinowo

While presenting the 2016 budget estimates to the state House of Assembly, Governor Abiola Ajimobi, who noted that the state was merely able to achieve 36.26 per cent of its IGR target of N37,755,415,500 as it only managed to generate N13,691281,229, said, “I am glad to announce that we have embarked on a major restructuring of these agencies. In this regard, we have effected major reforms of the State’s Board of Internal Revenue Services. With this development, it is expected that our IGR will substantially increase by about 400%, that is, from N1.2b to about N5 billion per month in the coming year. This is a daunting task, but we believe it is achievable.”

Similarly, Osun State hopes to increase its IGR to N5billion monthly.

According to the Chairman, Osun Internal Revenue Service (OIRS), Mr Dayo Oyebanji, “In the last few months, we have seen steady growth in number of tax payers, which ultimately will translate to significant increase in value.

“Within the next two months, we should comfortably be on N2billion. The target of the government is N5 billion per month and that is the only time the government can say, we don’t need Abuja to survive.

“When Governor Aregbesola came into office, the state was generating about N300 million monthly, inclusive of the state PAYE, that means, effective inflow from other sources at that time was barely around N100million.

“With the system that we have put in place, like the Revenue Administration Law, the blockage of leakages, the automation of revenue collection that now makes all revenue go to the coffers of the government, the revenue first moved to N600 million and at a time when there was oil boom, it moved to N1.5 billion.

“Therefore, because of the economic situation in terms of average, we are operating between N800million and N1 billion now. Our focus is to hit not less than N5 billion in the next few months.”

In Ondo State, efforts are also on to increase IGR. According to the chairman of Ondo State Board of Internally Generated Revenue, Mr Akin Akinsehinwa, the board has become proactive and dynamic and is looking at how it can generate more revenue.

Part of efforts to raise revenue is the vehicle registration exercise which the state started last year.

Akinsehinwa said, “We have just started enforcing the Land Use Act enacted by the Ondo State House of Assembly. We have informed the various landlords’ associations and stakeholders’ meeting had been held in that regard.

The chairman added that the state government had decided to set up a special court to try tax offenders.

“The era of tax evasion is gone and the era of aggressive tax drive is here; whoever that does not want a collision with government should exercise his/her civic duties,” he

The era of tax evasion is gone and the era of aggressive tax drive is here; whoever that does not want a collision with government should exercise his/her civic duties.

warned.

Last year, Ekiti State government made known its intention to put a new tax order in place in the state.

In a statement by the state governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Idowu Adelusi, the governor said, “A new tax order in Ekiti State is in the offing. This job is about you and I and we have no other place to call our own. We depend on taxes to survive and we depend on you. Let people go and pay to the bank and any indicted state worker will be appropriately sanctioned.

“We hope to double our IGR in six months. We must devise strategy on revenue generation and do it with sense.

The state will employ spread cost strategy so that the impact of any levy will not be hard on the payer and the public at large”.

But while speaking on the resolve of state governments to raise their IGR, Dr Segun Aluko, a Lagos-based business analyst, said IGR is not just a matter of increasing taxes or levying citizens but a function of many factors, chief of which is the availability of viable and vibrant business entities in the state.

According to him, the IGR level of the states will not increase tremendously until there is an improvement in the quality of infrastructure in those states, adding that most of those who run the affairs of the states fail to realize that investment goes where infrastructure is provided.

He said, “Many of the governors, especially in the South West, will give an arm and a leg to drive investments to their states so that they can boost their IGR. But that will not happen unless they ensure the provision of infrastructure.

“Look at the state of the roads in the South West, which of the states can boast of good roads? Only Lagos and Ogun. Is it any wonder then that they are the highest IGR earners in the region? There is no magic about it. Investors put their money in areas where they will get high returns on their investment. This will happen if the cost of doing business is low. One of the factors that reduce cost of doing business is the provision of infrastructure.”

Nweze, apart from agreeing with Aluko on the provision of infrastructure as being critical to attracting investors to states, added that the governors also have to remove encumbrances to accessing land.

“There is not much an investor can do without land. But you find out that in most of the states, the difficulty that attend acquiring land for any purpose is similar to that of a camel passing through the eye of a needle. A piece of land that should not take more than two weeks to access takes forever in most cases. Then there is the danger of falling victim to ‘Omo Onile’. All these drive investors away from states. And the fact is that states will remain poor if all they depend on is what comes from the Federation Account.”

Nweze added that it is good that many state governments are thinking about diversification of their economies but they are going about it in the wrong way.

He explained, “With the dwindling revenue from the Federation Account, states are talking about embracing agriculture. That is good, no doubt. But embracing agriculture to what end? Is it to ensure food sufficiency or to ensure increased revenue? If it is to ensure food security, the approach they are deploying is okay. But if it is to increase revenue, they are going about it the wrong way.

There cannot be increased revenue if we rely on primary produce. What will bring real money to the states is to process agricultural products into finished goods and that is industrialization. This brings us to the initial issues. Without adequate infrastructure, investors will not be attracted to a state. Similarly, without liberalizing the process of land acquisition with the aim of making it easy for those who need land for business purposes to acquire it, the investment drive of the states will meet with failure and that means they will not be able to generate enough resources to meet their needs.”

But a chartered accountant, who is also a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), Mr Taiye Adeyanju said state governments were not making the most of the tax opportunities available to them.

He said, “States in Nigeria are not generating enough revenue because they don’t understand the provisions of the tax laws for them to generate revenue. There are some tax laws they are not practising. I do not know of any state that applies the capital gain tax. They are not using professionals for revenue generation. The problem they have is that they keep on doing the usual thing; withholding tax, Pay As You Earn etc. There are other taxes they are not taking Continues on pg28

25 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Controversy over Saki vibrations

It is earth tremor —residents •‘No, it’s ordinary vibration’ •Govt is working to put things under control —Oyo Govt

According to residents, this house was affected by tremor.

Since 2015, residents of at least six areas within Saki metropolis in Saki West Local Government Area of Oke-Ogun, Oyo State have, been experiencing strange sounds like the blast of a rock. The incident became worrisome around two months ago when its timing increased. Chief Reporter, TUNDE OGUNESAN, who visited the scene of the incident, reports.

F

OR close to two months now, most residents of Salam Salam, Balako, Ogbooro road, Abimbola layout, Medina area, veterinary and Daresala areas in Saki town, Saki West Local Government Area of Oke-Ogun, Oyo State have been living under palpable fear of an unexplainable sound within the areas.

The sound at the moment which is being linked with earth tremor that reportedly occurred for the first time sometime in 2015, around Veterinary area of Saki. Then, those who first experienced it could not explain what it was. Ironically, their stories, which seem “unbelievably” died a natural death.

In a crude manner, the only explanation they could mum up was that the strange sound usually comes like that of the blast of a rock. The affected residents however have different accounts to give. Their wives and children who spend more time at home had more gory stories to share.

In their separate narrations, they said series of researches had taken place. Nigerian Tribune gathered that the residents, in their opinions, attributed the probable causes to too many boreholes in the area. Others informed that they were told that it was as a result of hot water generated by heat, before rain, from their boreholes. But during the rainy season, they said it subsided, lending credence to the fact that heat might have something to do with it as speculated.

In contrast, few weeks after the rains, the sound re occured, forcing the residents to turn to God for divine intervention.

Since then, the residents have been living in fear, with the belief that it will subside naturally, relying on the spiritual power of prayer.

To them, God has been answering their prayers, especially when the “mystery sound has become a general problem”, but on the evening of Tuesday June 21, around 7.40pm, nature, itself granted the power by the same God came alive again. And this time round, it became unbearable as the sound became louder and heavier, thus causing more fear in the residents.

According to one of the residents, who is also the Chairman, Muslim Hospital Area II, Rasak Akande, a.k.a Show them, in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune,the sound was thunderous.

Mr Akande informed that at the initial stage, they mistook the sound to that of bombs mostly used by miners to blast rocks. But he said they were amazed because the miners usually come to inform them before they embark on such exercise, and was quick to add that its re-occurrence showed that they were wrong.

According to Akande, “We were proved wrong at the initial stage because we thought it was that of rock blasting, but it came out not to be. The first thing we noticed was that it

happened in the dead of the night. I have had more than four experiences and the sound travels more than a kilometre. At the initial stage, we used to run out of Hon Jide Olatunbosun, FCA, member representing Saki West/Saki East/Atisbo House of Representatives.

Dr Adepelumi Abraham our residences to confirm where the sound was comDogara and titled “matter of urgent public importance ing from, only to discover that same thing applied to other neighbours. At that point, (standing Order VIII rule 46) urgent call on the federal government to investigate the persistence earth tremor currently we knew that something was wrong.

“With that experience, we took our case to Saki Parapo As- being experienced in Saki, the headquarters of Saki-West Losociation, which in turn as a mouth piece of all Saki people cal Government Area of Oyo state.”, called the attention of the and residents, took a save our soul message to the office of House and federal government to the “persistent vibrations/ the Caretaker Committee chairman of Saki West Local Gov- tremor in Saki.”

He also alerted that “anytime the earth vibration/tremor ernment, Alhaji Kareem Adegoke, who in turn reported the occurs, the building and other physical structures in the afmatter to the state government,” he said.

Furthermore, Messrs AbdulRazak Agbede, Gbadamosi Ji- fected areas will shake violently and has created a large army moh who is a retired Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) who had vacated their Commission (TESCOM) zonal office Saki and now Chairman homes, farmland and their places of business.’

He further added that the “attendant social dislocation has Afote area and Baale Abimbola area, Fatai Mopelola all corroborated Mr Akande’s story. However, they added that the brought untold hardship on my people as thousands of people are already cut-off from their homes and sources of liveincident had become a source of worry for the residents.

A housewife living within the axis, who had been living in lihood.”

In his appeal to the House and committees affected, Olatuthe area for over nine years, Mrs Aolat Gbadamosi revealed that when the sound first started, it almost turned the neigh- bosun wants the House to “Mandate the National Emergency bours against themselves, especially those living in storey Management Agency (NEMA) to urgently provide Camps and relief materials for the Internally Displaced Persons so buildings.

On his experience, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed, a panel as to ameliorate their suffering; urge the Committees on beater said the Tuesday, June 21 experience left his family Emergency and Disaster Preparedness and Environment and Habitat to liaise with the Federal Ministry of Environmembers scampering for safety.

He said “On that day, I wanted to switch off my power ment and other relevant Agencies to investigate the immedigenerating set when the sound came again. Despite that I ate and remote cause(s) of the earth tremor and conduct an was closer to the generating set, the sound was louder that Environmental Impact Assessment in the areas affected by I couldn’t hear that of the generator again. And before I knew the tremor and report back to the House within one week for what was happening, my wife and children who were already further legislative action and urge the Committee on Legislaasleep had woken up and were running helter skelter. So far, tive Compliance to ensure that the above resolution(s) of the we’ve experienced the sound over 50 times. And you know house is complied with.”

Irrespective of the technical analysis of the situation, the sitthe most bizarre thing is that it’s spreading to other areas now. It started around Veterinary area, in 2015. And when- uation had already had victims. A woman, Alhaja Wulemotu ever it occurred, you will feel the vibration while standing on Ayinke, around Salam Salam area, who was reported to be hypertensive was alleged to have died as a result of the incesthe ground while some houses on the rock do also vibrate.”

Before June 21 strike, it was gathered that both the Deputy sant sound. Furthermore, a house along Abimbola layout had Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Abdul- also collapsed halfway.

One of the occupants of the house, Mrs Ajara Ahmed told wasi Musa and a member, representing Saki West/Saki East and Atisbo at the House of Representatives, Olajide Olatubo- our correspondent that she was already preparing to move sun, FCA, had presented the case at their various assemblies. out of the house. She said since “the sound has refused to Olatubosun, in a letter dated June 9, 2016, addressed to cease and nobody has come out to tell us any tangible story, Continues on pg28 the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu

26 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Ondo will be great again —Ekungba Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

A

member of the Board of Trustees of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and aspirant in the forthcoming governorship election in Ondo State, Chief Jamiu Ekungba, said de-

spite the current challenges, the state would be great again.

Ekungba, who stated this during a media parley at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre in Akure, assured the people that the APC would rid the state of poverty if elected in

LG election: Akinlabi, Ojo, Muraina set for supremacy contest in Ibarapa central

By Tunde Ogunesan

AS politicians step up consultations ahead of local government elections in Oyo State, three leading figures in Ibarapa Central local government are set for a supremacy contest in the area.

Honourable Ajibola Muraina, Chief Ademola Ojo, and Mr Akinyemi Akinlabi, who had all served the local government as chairmen one way or the other in the last 16 years, now hold the aces in the local government.

Muraina, a former member of House of Representatives, served for one year as the chairman Caretaker Committee of the local government during the tenure of a late governor of the State, Alhaji Lam Adesina; Ojo was chairman for eight years (two years as a caretaker and two terms of three years as elected chairman), while Akinlabi served two terms as caretaker chairman totalling 12 months.

The three are not holding any political position as of now, but they currently belong to different political parties.

Akinlabi is a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC); Ojo (Accord Party), while Muraina belongs to the PDP. Observers in the zone believe that the three gladiators could determine where the pendulum of victory swings in the local government election in the zone coming up in September.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that though Akinlabi is already gearing up to contest the election, the other two are said to be working together to present candidates for the polls.

At the moment, three politicians jostling for the chairmanship ticket of Accord from the Zone include Rasheed Okunlola (aka Alatishe), Soji Akinteye and Mr Sakiru Omitoogun while the only known candidate in the PDP is Segun Oke, who is a former chairman, Caretaker Committee of the council.

The APC has about 10 aspirants, among whom are Akinlabi; Habib Ibrahim, Rufai Azeez, Sesan Odunaye, Bernard Adegoke, Olatundun Olojede, Wale Adeyemo, Chris Okesola and Patrick

Oyatumo.

Sources said that going by factors which had influencedpast elections in the zone, the battle this time could be between the trio.

A source, who pleaded anonymity, alleged that “In Ibarapa Central, Akinlabi, Demola Ojo and Honourable Muraina hold the ace. The three young politicians now determine who wins elections here.It reflected in the result of the elections.”

A politician from Igbo-Ora, Kabiru Babatunde informed that,”Whenever two of them belong to a party, it (party) carries the day in the local government.

Whenever anyone of them stands for election and the other two are not contesting, the candidate wins.

The greatest problem, in Ibarapa central occurred in 2007, when A,kinlabi and Ojo contested the chairmanship election of the council under the defunct AC and PDP respectively.

Although Ajibola Muraina was in PDP with Ojo, he stood aloof.

“During the 2003 general election, the PDP was lucky to have the three of them in the party.

the November governorship election in the state.

The aspirant also promised to bring an end to the economic problems facing the state by utilising his wealth of experience in accountancy and the banking industry.

He attributed the level of underdevelopment and poverty in the state to the poor management of the state

fund and resources, criticising the alleged extravagance of the current administration in the state. He claimed that over N71billion had been received by the state as allocation from the federation account in the last one year.

He pledged that his administration, if he is voted for, will give priority to youth development, qualitative and comprehensive education,

Lagos PDP crisis: Why my group’ll not reconcile with Salvador —Factional chairman Bola Badmus- Lagos

FACTIONAL crisis rocking the Lagos State chapter of Peoples Democràtic Party (PDP) has continued to linger as both sides insisted on their separate positions, with the Moshood Salvador-led group, which is in control of the party secretariat saying there is crisis and, therefore, nothing to resolve, while the

Segun Adewale-led group said it is Salvador that should come for negotiation with it on its own terms.

The party had broken into factions, following the conclusion of its congresses to elect its officials from the ward to local government and finally to state level, with Adewale claiming to bé the authentic chairman of PDP in the state.

for roundtable approach CARETAKER chairman, Iseyin local Government, Mr Saheed Alaran has restated the imperativeness of a roundtable approach to the current impasse between workers and government over salary and pension arrears, with a view to bringing up relevant solutions.

Alaran, in an interaction with journalists, stressed that no amount of bickering would proffer solutions to the impasse unless the two parties shift grounds to arrive at positions that are favourable to the generality of workers in the state.

In a related development, Alaran has beckoned for the understanding of the labour movement among other stakeholders, in view of the criticisms and oppositions that have trailed the

attention by his administration.

The APC chieftain also pledged to explore limestone, bitumen, crude oil, natural gas, cocoa, palm oil, glass-sand, arable crops, animal husbandry, fishing, iron ore, coal, granite, kaoline, ball clay, Olokola, lignite, timber, rubber, antiques and artefacts for the development of the state.

From left: Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko; his deputy, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo; wife of the deputy governor, Alhaja Fatimat Oluboyo; Commissioner for Women Affairs, Olasimi Akindele-Odunbaku; Chief Imam of Ikare, Alhaji Sheik Abass Abubakar; Chief Imam of Akure, Alhaji Abdulakeem Yayi-Akorede and the Grand Mufti of Ondo State, Alhaji Sheu Batuta, at the breaking of fast with the Ondo State Muslim community, at the Internatonal Events Centre (The Dome), Akure, at the weekend.

Oyo Govt/Labour impasse: LG chairman calls

By Wale Akinselure

adequate power and energy, access to good health, creation of opportunities, dynamic civil service, tourism and sporting excellence.

He also listed modern technology, inter-faith understanding, infrastructural development, justice for all, effective security, community building, effective women participation commerce and industry as read to be given

Nigerian Tribune

partnership initiative of the state government in running the education sector.

He avowed that the proposed public private partnership initiative would heal the ailing education infrastructure and degrading standard of education in the state.

According to him, the education sector of the state could not be revamped with the efforts of the government alone, but also the intervention of individuals, alumni and corporate organisations.

“The education sector in our state has received so much attention that one would not have envisaged the present condition of our schools and their infrastuctures but the number of schools is large. Iseyin alone has about two hundred primary schools that are also jostling for atten-

tion just like the secondary schools that are everywhere.”

“It is not possible for government to say it would abdicate its responsibility in this area despite the humongous requisites for maintaining them so what is required is understanding between government and other stakeholders. No amount of bickering will give us solution to the problem at hand unless the labour agrees to truce terms and a middle channel is forged so our children can go back to school.”

In the same vein, Chairman, Iseyin Development Union (I.D.U), Iseyin Chapter, Mr Gbadebo Ogundiran has advised the government to, as a matter urgency, find a solution to the industrial crisis in the State so as not to jeopardise the future of children in public schools.

Speaking with our correspondent, factional chairman of the PDP in the state, Mr. Adewale, while insisting that nobody was holding forth at the PDP secretariat at Sogunle, Ikeja, said the Salvador-led group had been making overtures to them, but pointed out that his group had rebuffed such because they had resolved to work with the sacked National Chairman of PDP, Senator Ali Modu Sheriff.

Adewale vowed that his group would continue to rebuff the Salvador-led exco, maintaining that he had nothing to do with them, adding that the situation

would remain like that unless they reconciled with Sheriff at the national level.

“They did approach to reconcile with us. The reason we cannot allow them hold any dialogue with us is because the real fight is at the national level,” he said.

But sources close to the PDP secretariat in the state maintained that the party had no crisis rocking it, declaring that there was no factionalisation within the fold.

According to one of the sources, the Adewale-led group was only looking for relevance, saying the party was not ready to oblige the group the opportunity.

Senator Buhari condems Oyo lawmaker’s assassination

By Tunde Busari

The Chairman Senate Committee on ICT and Cybercrime, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari has condemned the gruesome murder of a member of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Gideon Aremu.

Aremu was murdered in his Ibadan residence on Friday evening by yet to be identified gunmen.

Senator Buhari, representing Oyo North Senatorial district at the Senate, expressed shock at the incident and described it as a great loss to the people of Oorelope ,Oke Ogun and Oyo State at large.

“Though we are not from the same party, we both share the vision of contributing greatly to the development and advancement of Oke Ogun and its people, “ he said.

While condoling the bereaved family, Senator Buhari, who just returned from Umrah, prayed that almighty God grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

He urged the security operatives in the state to ensure thorough investigation into the matter with a view to bringing those behind the act to book and also giving justice to the soul of the deceased.

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016 27 thesouth-west Ondo Guber: PDP, APC await guidelines for party primaries Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

A

HEAD of the November governorship election in Ondo State, an indication has emerged that the two leading parties in the state: the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) have not released guidelines towards the conduct of shadow election that will produce the parties’ standard bearers for the election.

Investigation by Nigerian Tribune revealed that the two parties were still awaiting the guidelines and rules guiding the primaries for picking candidates.

A source within APC said “ We are still awaiting the guidelines from the National Secretariat and I can assure you that the guidelines will be released before the end of this month.

He said the party leadership recently called all the aspirants to a meeting at the party secretariat where it was resolved that they aspirants should pay N2m each as developmental fee.

The source who said though all the aspirants agreed to pay the levy however, said this might be a yardstick to prune the number of aspirants in APC. This will separate the boys from the men”.

Similarly, there were indications that the ruling PDP in the state was not in a hurry to conduct its primary.

A leader of the party in the state also said the guidelines would be issued by party secretariat in Abuja, adding “ this is not new, we know what it is go-

ing to contain and serious aspirants also know what those guidelines should be, and they are already working towards it.”

He, however, assured that

AS politicians strategise ahead of 2018 governorship election in Osun State, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Kola Ogunwale has joined the race, contending that he possesses the wherewithal to restore the socio-economic fortunes of the state.

Unveiling a 9-point agenda, Ogunwale maintained that people were tired of the All Progressives Congress (APC) alleged misrule and increasing economic hardship, just as he stated that only the PDP can salvage Osun from total economic recession.

He decried what he termed irregular payment

It is also believed that both APC and PDP in the state have decided not to zone the party ticket in producing the party’s flag bearer.

Alleged FG intimidation: Ekiti PDP LG chairmen pledge loyalty to Fayose •Say ‘FG’s antics will not shake us’ Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

From left, the beneficiaries, Mr Lawal Olalekan; Mr Idowu Olubukunmi; chairperson, Youth Empowerment Committee, Dr (Mrs) Ayoyinka Babatunde; the president General, Central Council of Ibadan Indigene, Chief Wole Akinwande; Mr Ishola Abdul-Ganiyu; Mr Mustapha Abdul Azeez and Secretary CCII, Dr. G. A. Oyedele during the presentation of empowerment of Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes meeting held at Ibadan House, Yemetu Area, Ibadan, on Friday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

APC chief counsels Buhari, FG on proposed welfare scheme Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State and member of the seventh National Assembly, Mr. Bamidele Faparusi, has charged the Federal Government not to cancel the proposed welfare scheme for poor Nige-

rians.

He said the government should sustain the programme in spite of the shrinking of the revenues accruing to the government, and counselled that rather than dumping the programme, President Muhammadu Buhari should place high premium on the

Osun 2018: PDP gov aspirant, Ogunwale unveils 9-point agenda Oluwole Ige, Osogbo

the PDP primary will be free of rancour and will be crisis-free, noting that the number of aspirants for the party’s ticket could be adequately handled by PDP.

Nigerian Tribune

of salaries to civil servants in the state, stressing that it amounts to sheer wickedness and injustice, paying some categories of workers half salaries since July, 2015.

Ogunwale, who represented Osun West Senatorial District in the Senate between 2003 and 2007, however, listed regular payment of salaries of civil servants and rescheduling of Osun’s debt as his priority if elected into government.

In a statement issued in Osogbo, the aspirant promised to strengthen local government autonomy by giving the third tier of government full freedom in the performance their statutory roles.

The statement read in parts, “Osun State has been having issues paying salaries. Local governments are non existent again. A lot of motion without real movement.

I have done my research properly before coming up with these areas I want to concentrate on.

“6-3-3-4 education system would be revived in Osun. Federal allocation will also be used for the purpose the money is meant for. We will respect opinions of traditional rulers in selecting new monarchs. On the issue of salaries and wages, I promise to insure that by a reputable insurance company to ensure non failure of salaries,” Ogunwale said.

proposed welfare scheme for vulnerable Nigerians, where each beneficiary will take a monthly stipend of N5,000.

According to him, the time has come for the fashioning of robust policies bygovernment at all levels for vulnerable Nigerians in the country. He said the neglect being suffered by these category of people could worsen their situation and dash their dreams.

Faparusi also urged well-meaning individuals “to imbibe the culture of giving to the less privileged in the society to complement government’s efforts of making lives meaningful to this category of people.”

The APC chief, who said this while donating items to inmates of Erelu Adebayo Foundation Home, said “the welfare scheme remains the flagship of the Buhari government,” saying “the programme should be well executed to favour poverty-stricken Nigerians, especially the grossly vulnerable ones.”

He lamented that “apart from government, it is necessary for wealthy individuals to embrace the attitude of giving in order to put simile on the faces

of the downtrodden. This is the best legacy one can give to humanity which can attract blessings from God. “The harsh economic condition of the society occasioned by pervasive corruption of the past administrations could have subjected the less privileged to hunger, starvation and ailments emanating from malnutrition and many other sources.

“So, we have to come to their aid. We must defend their rights. We must fight for them because it is practically impossible for them to fight for themselves. The provision of daily need materials to the children was not political but a directive from God. Earlier, a social worker in the children home, Mrs Bisola Adeniyi, described the gesture as a rare privilege for the children home, most especially when the economy of the country was becoming more devastating.

Hesaid the food items donated would go a long way in ameliorating the sufferings of the children and reduce perpetual hunger experienced as a result of poor funding of the foundation.

THE chairmen of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 16 local government areas of Ekiti State have restated their loyalty to and solidarity with the state governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, in the face of what they said was harassment and intimidation of the governor allegedly by the Federal Government.

The chairmen warned the government of the consequences of its alleged intimidation of the Governor Fayose, saying “loyalty to the governor cannot be shaken by the intimidation.”

In a communique after a meeting recently, they passed a vote of confidence on the governor and emphasised that “no amount of harassment or persecution can make us review our loyalty to the state governor.”

In the document signed by Clement Olufemi Bamisile, Idowu Akinbode and Isreal Ogundele, chairman, secretary and public relations officer respectively of the Forum of Chairmen of PDP Local Government Areas in Ekiti State, they described the alleged persecution of Governor Fayose as “a visible vindictiveness on the part of the Federal Government who has seen the governor as their enemy because he has become the major voice of the opposition in Nigeria.”

They contended that the recent freezing of the private account of the governor had “demonstrated the Federal Government’s desperation to cow Governor Fayose in order not to criticise the misgovernance of President Muhammadu Buhari, ranging from disrespect for the rule of law to arbitrary trampling on the rights of citizens.”

The chairmen noted that “a democracy without a robust opposition can not thrive but the present Federal Government being run by the All Progressives Congress (APC) has clearly shown that it doesn’t want that, but Nigerians will not succumb to this as this can only result to anarchy.”

The chairmen therefore urged the Governor Fayose to continue to lead the opposition in the country, saying that “his rewards will be sooner than later.”

28 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Can South West survive on IGR? Continues from pg24 advantage of like capital gain tax and capital transfer tax.

These are sources of revenue they are not tapping in Nigeria. For failing to activate taxes like capital gain tax in cities like Ibadan, Ogbomosho and Oyo, the state government is losing a lot of revenue.

“What it means is that when you are selling any property, anything that has long life span, a plot or a building, whatever gain you make on it, if you are an individual, your state government takes 10 per cent. If you are a limited liability company selling the property, the Federal Government takes 10 per cent.

“I just found out that in Oyo State, for example, I do pay my tax when they come for it; none of them has ever talked of capital gain tax. None of them has talked of capital transfer tax. But because they do not seek the views of experts, they will always be talking of withholding tax and PAYE. And these are just two out of so many they can use.

And when they calculate the withholding tax, they don’t understand the computation. I have met some of them on

the field. And because our duty is to make sure our clients are not over-charged, we have to tell them to go by the provisions of the law. Look at the way people sell land and property here, and the government of Oyo State is taking nothing.”

The chartered accountant also counseled states not to overburden those who currently pay taxes but should endeavour to widen the tax net to bring in as many people as possible.

The Lagos example There is no doubt that Lagos State is a model of a self-sustaining state. The state has been able to generate enough resources internally to meet its obligations. The testimony to the success of the state in this respect is the decision of President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint Mr Babatunde Fowler, immediate past Chairman of the Lagos State Inland revenue Service, as the Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) with the hope that he would reenact at the federal level the feat of turning Lagos into a state that can survive independent of federal allocation.

Lagos has been able to raise its IGR from a paltry N600million in 1999 to over N25billion by doing a number of things.

First, it increased the number of collection stations. By taking the collection stations closer to the people, the state was able to discourage tax evasion. The state also went a step further by plugging leakages in the system through the encouragement of direct payment to banks.

Then, the state improved the infrastructure in areas where the most revenue was generated. Lagos state was quite strategic about this. It created business districts and improved infrastructure in those districts.

To give tax payment a force of law and criminalise non -payment, the state in 2005, sent a bill to the state legislature seeking to reform the Lagos State Board Internal Revenue and its administrative arm, the Lagos Internal Revenue Service. The final step was to put in charge of the service a man who was bold enough to step on powerful toes. The result was an exponential growth in the state’s tax revenue.

If it worked for Lagos, it will work for other states.

‘Government has been slow in its approach’ Continues from pg25 and with the status of our house, we’re ready to leave this house.”

The incessant sound was also confirmed by Alhaji Razak Agbede at Ogbooro road, who revealed the various steps so far taken by various heads of the affected community to help the situation.

The Caretaker Chairman, Saki West Local Government, Alhaji Kareem Adegoke noted that “in the first place, the local government made official report to the state government while the state emergency team sent a team to investigate.

The team came and conducted an inspection around the places with an equipment to detect what was happening.

Also, they invited the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and inspected the place. But during their five-day visit, the incident did not happen. Immediately they left for Abuja, the sound persisted up to five times a day.”

Before the June 21, it was gathered that a team of experts, among led by Dr Abraham Adepelumi from Geology department, Obafemi Awolowo university, Ile-Ife, Osun state, Oyo State Emergency Management Agency and NEMA from Abuja/Lagos came to inspect and conduct a preliminary investigation on what is actually happening in Saki, but within the two weeks that they were in Saki, nothing happened.

The Bagi of Saki, High Chief (Alhaji) Abdur-Rasheed Ghazal Adegoke Olasunkanmi, Adekilutoro, said the matter became worrisome when residents started relocating from their original residence. He however appealed to the people of the community to put their trust in government’s word at being on top of the situation.

The residents further informed that few days after they had left, the sound then returned on Tuesday June 21, a situation which warranted a state delegation paying a facility visit to Saki 24 hours after, by the newly appointed Commissioner of environment and Water resource, Chief Teju Ishola.

During the visit, Chief Isaac Ishola visited the scene with some experts from the ministry on an on-the-spot assessment facility visit. He appealed to the residents to remain calm, assuring them that all hands were on deck to avert any environmental hazard in the state. He said “Let me assure you that this visit was to have an on-the-spot assessment to ascertain the earth tremor and proffer adequate solution to forestall hazard in the zone. Let me tell you findings so far by the experts revealed that the sound is just a fore-shake which cannot lead to earthquake. Please, be calm as both the state and federal governments are working to put things under control.”

But some of the residents were of the opinion that government had been slow in its approach. To them, their lives were taken for granted when they learnt that the seismic machine to determine the actual occurence cannot be purchase by the state government.

Alhaji Keulere Ojuolape of Salam Salam area, Ogbooro road while corroborating the tremor sound validly declared that the sound had been on for over five years, but said they never knew that it was such an alarming case. He however fumed at the explanation on the purchase of seismic machine as he was told was mentioned by the state delegation team.

However, the leader of a Geodesy and Geodynamics and Geodesy (CGG), Toro, Bauchi State’s team to Saki, Dr Adepelumi Adekunle Abraham, said the tremor was a signal to an impending disaster of an earthquake in four year’s time,

He has also co-authored two other articles on earthquake published by International Journal of Scientific and Engineering research, volume 5, issue 10 in 2014, published in an open journal of Geology also in 2014.

The two articles are “The review of seismicity of central mid-Atlantic fracture zone” and “An evaluation of September 11, 2009 earthquake and its implication for understanding the seismotectonics of South-Western Prof Moshood Tijani, Head of Geology Department, Nigeria” published online on Chief Teju Ishola, Commisioner for Environment, Oyo State.

University of Ibadan. www.scrp.org in 2014.

In a preliminary report precisely before 2020, in South Western Nigeria.

Till date, Adepelumi has three recent reports on earthquake of the tremor in Saki, submitted to the Director, Center for analysis which has called the attention of the authority to an Geodesy and Geodynamics and Geodesy (CGG), Mr. Yakubu impending danger in South-West region within the next four Tahir Abubakar, and titled “Preliminary assessment of earth tremor occurrence in Shaki area, Saki West Local Governyears.

First is a “preliminary interpretation of the September 11, ment, Oyo state”, Dr Adepelumi said “Our findings show that 2009 earthquake in Abeokuta environs with Mw =4.2”; sub- the earth tremor that was experienced in the Shaki area is a mitted on September 29, 2009, a “Short-term probabilistic series of fore-shock, main-shock and after-shock of a small forecasting of earthquakes occurrence in South-western Ni- scale earth-tremor with local magnitude 2.5 on the Richter geria”, and a Preliminary assessment of earth tremor occur- scale that originated along the Ifewara, Romanche and Charrence in Saki area, Saki West Local Government, Oyo State.” cot fault system in the atlantic ocean that passed through Saki town.

In his position, the Head of Department of Geology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria, Professor Moshood Tijani called for international collaboration, especially with the United States geological survey for proper monitoring of the situation.

Professor Tijani said “I know US Geological survey if there is any earthquake in any part of the world, no matter how small those small movement is, they have an instrument that will pick it in US – that at a particular time, something shake the ground.”

Abdul Razaq Agbede Yinusa Adebayo He said that the situation in Saki is that “there is a fracture zone that passes through Saki which we know before and terminated around Iseyin areas. And that is why there are some special types of rock in that area environment that is not in other parts of the state which we call sienite rock, so we think the tectonic favour that one. And most of these fault lines they are fault lines that are deep seated in the ocean.

We have about three or four of those fault lines. Our suspicion is what is happening is like a reaction to something happening in the ocean. And those fault lines extend inland, Razaq Akande Alh Keulere Ojuolape even to part of Ijebu-Ode and part of Abeoukuta which was a reason for that time Ijebu-Ode tremor and sort. It is like something is likely to be happening in the Atlantic Ocean and when something happen, you have the shock wave and the shock wave will move outward. If there is no any brickwall that will stop or return the shock wave, it is the weak zone that transmits shock wave. So, we feel those fractures are shock wave are dissipating through the fault zones and causing that noise below as if something is trying to move.

To me, it is still a low level of movement that has not triggered to the level of tremor.

Fatai Mopelola Mrs Ajara Ahmed

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Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

By Tajudeen Abdulkareem

T

HE pangs of national economic downturn has forced state governors to look beyond the narrow confines of federal allocation and internally generated revenue. Many are now wise enough to tap all available opportunities, including windows of investment in agriculture, solid minerals and human capital development.

Although many governors previously displayed a lukewarm attitude to providing marching funds for soft loans and foreign grants, the aggressive advocacy drive of the Bank of Industry, BOI, has started to yield positive results, especially in the promotion of small and medium scale business.

The BOI management, led by Mr Waheed Olagunju, has demonstrated an uncommon passion and commitment, traversing all nooks and corners of the country in a bid to woo state governments on the benefits of promoting small and medium scale business; and also assisting artisans and semi-skilled Nigerians to improve their capacity for greater efficiency.

As the oldest and most successful development finance institution in the country, the bank has been consistent in providing long-term financial support to various sectors of the Nigeria’s economy. BOI was incorporated in 1959 as ICON Limited, restructured into the Nigerian Industrial Development Bank in 1964 and renamed BOI in 2001.

In recent times, it has rapidly expanded its risk assets without compromising quality such that the ratio of its non-performing loans is currently 3.8 per cent which is one of the lowest in Nigeria’s banking industry. Indeed its commodity-based industrialisation strategy emphasises adding value to Nigeria’s vast agricultural, solid minerals and petroleum resources.

Records indicate that thousands of micro, small, medium and large enterprises across the country have received some life line from the bank. This gesture has had far-reaching multiplier effects on the economy such as job creation and resultant wealth creation, as well as poverty alleviation. Because many of the assisted projects are also import substitution and export-based, BOI’s esteemed customers have contributed significantly to efforts at attaining national self-reliance through backward integration and economic diversification, all of which positively impact the contribution of the manufacturing sector to Nigeria’s Gross National Product.

In June last year, Fitch Ratings London gave the bank an AA+ rating. In January, this year, Moody’s Investors Service gave the bank a first-time rating of ba3 positive rating with a stable outlook, while positive ratings are also being expected from other international rating agencies.

The bank has a remarkable profile in promoting entrepreneurship among the young people. Worthy of mention is the N10 billion, Youth Entrepreneurship Support Programme designed to address youth unemployment in Nigeria. The scheme has earned the bank considerable accolades, home and abroad. Within six weeks of the online business ideas completion, almost 40,000 entries were received, which is unprecedented. No fewer than 10,000 beneficiaries are expected to emerge within the first year of the Programme. The successful participants will not be job seekers as they would also become employers of labour with each of them creating at least four to five jobs. Going forward, BOI, has identified 40 micro, Small and Medium Enterprises clusters

Aggressive drive of BOI yielding results

which qualify for single-digit interest rate funds under simplified security arrangements which allows the bank to lend up to N10 million to credible ventures.

The scheme is projected to create about 36,000 direct and indirect jobs annually.

Recently, BOI disbursed N48.44 million to 15 out of 25 budding entrepreneurs of the Kaduna Startup Entrepreneurship Programme whose business proposals met the banks Risk Acceptance Criteria. The scheme is the brainchild of the Kaduna State government in conjunction with the Kaduna Business School and the Development Finance Institution, to empower aspiring entrepreneurs who wish to access various intervention funds in support of SMEs. The bank has promised to devise strategies to increase the success rate of beneficiaries in minimizing the chances of failure.

The Sokoto State government has also sealed an agreement with the bank to establish a N2 billion Industrial development fund to boost micro, small and me-

At the last count, 19 states have embraced the partnership cooperation offered by the bank in a determined effort to encourage entrepreneurship, local self-reliance and poverty alleviation across the country.

dium scale enterprises in the state. For an appreciative Governor Aminu Waziri Tambuwal the focus on SMEs was important because they are critical in implementing the industrialisation policy of his administration.

At the last count, 19 states have embraced the partnership co-operation offered by the bank in a determined effort to encourage entrepreneurship, local self-reliance and poverty alleviation across the country. It is instructive that interests on loans disbursed

by BOI are far more business-friendly unlike what obtain in commercial banks.

In line with its cluster specific approach, BOI also launched the N2 billion fashion fund for female SME operators in the fashion industry. The fund is the third in the series of special SME cluster-focused products that the bank introduced, after the launch of the Cottage Agro processing fund in 2014, and the launch of the BOI Nolly Fund. The bank’s foray into the fashion industry through this fund is to exploit the enormous opportunities the industry, create jobs and generally grow the stature of the Nigerian fashion sector within the global fashion industry.

To enable it get closer to its customers and improve service delivery, the bank established a Customer Service Department, to refocus its operations as more consumer-centric in keeping up with best global practice. It also increased its branch network by establishing seven new state offices in a year, increasing them to 17. The bank also upgraded its banking application from Equinox to a more robust version, the Rubikon banking platform; integrated its system with NIBSS for seamless customer payments and collections, and launched an online loan application portal and ? a mobile App, among other digital products.

At this year’s Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry Awards, BOI won the award For Industry Support through Intervention Funds. The bank recently

Mr Waheed Olagunju received recognition for its dynamism in overhauling its system with the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems compliant certificate.

Indeed, BOI has been at the front row among agencies promoting national self-reliance through economic diversification for decades, Nigeria’s economy has been import dependent, literally swimming in petro-dollars. In a bid to promote self-reliance and production of locally made products, the bank staked N.6.6 billion on the ultra-modern steel complex of Kam Industries Limited, Ilorin, Kwara State, under the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Intervention Fund. This one project destined to boost commercial activities and socio-economic development of Kwara State even as it creates no fewer than 750 jobs. As emphasized by Mr Olagunju, for Nigeria to domesticate the production capacity of its economy, the iron and steel sector has a very crucial part to play because the plants and machineries used in the sector are all imported.

The bank has also shown commitment in improving living standards and booting economic activities of rural dwellers.

Its Solar Energy Programme, designed to provide affordable and consistent power supply to homes and micro businesses in rural areas, is up and shinning in six rural communities, one in each of the six geopolitical zones across the country.

Some 1,200 homes, each fitted with a 24kw micro grid/stand-alone solar system are already captured. Presently, each home now has sufficient solar electricity to power at least three lighted bulbs and other gadgets.

The bank has indicated its preparedness to partner with all state governments on solar electrification projects in off-grid areas. This is a worthy cause that will surely impact the lives of Nigerians in a sustainable and positive manner.

Kareem is an entrepreneur and a beneficiary of BOI SME loan.

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news

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Omokore, others docked, granted N50m bail •Trial begins Sept 19 Sunday Ejike-Abuja

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USTICE Binta Nyako of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Monday, granted a N50 million bail to Olajide Omokore and others arraigned before the court on a nine-count charge slammed against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Omokore, an associate of former Minister of Petroleum, Diezani AlisonMaduekwe, is standing trial along with others over allegation of money laundering.

All the defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against them and their counsel prayed the court to grant them bail on self recognisance or on liberal terms.

The prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, did not oppose the applications, but however, told the judge to give them conditions that would make them appear in court for trial.

In her ruling on the bail application of the defendants, namely, Olajide Omokore, Atlantic Energy Brass Development Ltd, Atlantic Energy Drilling Concept Ltd, Victor Briggs, Abiye Membere and David Mbanefo, Justice Nyako said each of the defendant must produce a surety, who must either be a senior civil servant or must have a landed property.

She said the sureties

must depose to an affidavit of means and that all the defendants must deposit their international passport and other travelling documents with the court Earlier, counsel for Omokore, the first defendant in the matter, Rafiu Lawal Rabana told the court that the charge was not ripe for hearing on the ground that, Kolawole Aluko Akanni, who is now at large, was not before the court among the defendants.

Rabana, whose submis-

sion was adopted by all the defence counsels, told the court that the administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) stated that all defendants must be present in court in a criminal trial, and that in the instant case, Akanni must be present in court before the arraignment could go on.

The defence counsel argued that as far as Aluko’s name was listed as one of the defendants, he ought to be served with the charge, arguing that there was no

way a trial could proceed without serving Aluko, “because we don’t want our clients to be tried twice” But Jacobs, the prosecuting counsel countered that a party not available can be arraigned in absentia. “Any time we get him, the charges could be amended and charges filed against him.

“Aluko is in Europe, we could not even take his statement, yet they want us to serve him along with others so that they could create a lacuna. The plea of those

present in court should be taken”, he argued.

Having taken the hint of the court, Jacobs asked the court to strike out Kolawole Akanni Aluko’s name from the charge sheet to enable the defendants present in court to take their plea.

Upon the request, Justice Nyako, accordingly struck out Aluko’s name from the charge sheet and the ninecount charge was read out to the defendants. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Ex-ministers, FaniKayode, Usman granted N250m bail AyomideOwonibiOdekanyinLagos

From left, Principal, Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Grammar School,Ojodu, Mrs Victoria Adebola; a student of the school, Adenekan Adebayo; Nollywood actress, Mrs Chioma Akpot; the celebrant and President, Women Arise, Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, another student, Theresa Odubote; Director, Co-curriculum Science and Tech, Education District Six, Oshodi, Mrs Oguntola Ramoti and Mrs Elizabeth Adepoju, as Dr Joe Okei Odumakin celebrates her birthday, at Babs Fafunwa Millennium Senior Grammar School, Ojodu, Lagos, on Monday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Anambra PDP crisis: Court summons INEC boss over contempt charges Sunday Ejike-Abuja JUSTICE John Tsoho of a Federal High Court, Abuja, on Monday, ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and its chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, to appear before it to answer to contempt proceedings pending against them.

Justice Tsoho gave the order in his ruling on arguments on whether or not the physical presence of INEC and its chairman was necessary for the court to determine the contempt proceedings initiated against them by Ejike Oguebego and Chuks Okoye - Chairman and Legal Adviser of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anambra State.

The judge rejected argument by INEC’s counsel, Adegboyega Awomolo to the effect that the nature of the contempt proceedings against his clients was civil and could be determined without their physical presence.

Justice Nyako asked counsel in the matter to adhere with the practice directions of the court and adjourned till September 19 to commence trial in the matter.

Justice Tsoho said whether civil or criminal, contempt proceedings were always quasicriminal, which required the physical presence of the alleged contemnor in court for him/her to be heard on whether or not the order of committal should be made.

Relying on the provisions of Order 9 Rule 14 of the Judgment Enforcement Rules, Justice Tsoho said it was the duty of the court’s registrar to issue and serve Forms 48 and 49 on a party in disobedience of court’s order for him/her to attend court, failing which a bench warrant might be issued against him/her to attend court and show cause.

“I hold that the alleged contemnors are under obligation to appear before this court to show cause why an order of committal should not be made against them,” the judge said.

Justice Tsoho, who specifically directed the alleged contemnors to pres-

ent themselves in court on Thursday (July 7), said a bench warrant would be issued for their arrest should they refuse to be present in court on the next adjourned date.

Oguebego and Okoye, suing for themselves and on behalf of other members of the Executive Committee of the PDP, Anambra State, are accusing INEC and Mahmood of refusing to obey the December 5, 2015 judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja, delivered by late Justice Evoh Chukwu.

Chukwu had, in the fifth order as contained in the judgment, restrained INEC, its agents, among others, “from accepting or receiving any delegates list or nominated candidates that may emerge from the congresses or primaries conducted by the caretaker committee set up by the first defendant (PDP) for the Anambra PDP, except those that emanated from the plaintiffs.”

Worried by INEC’s al-

leged refusal to comply with the judgment, particularly the fifth order, Oguebego and Okoye initiated contempt proceedings against the INEC chairman before the Federal High Court, Abuja.

On May 20, Justice Tsoho granted an order ex-parte for substituted service of processes in relation to the contempt proceedings, including Form 48, on Yakubu.

For service on the INEC boss, Justice Tsoho directed the plaintiffs to serve the court processes, including Form 48 on “an adult person, staff or official at the Legal Department of INEC at No: 436 Zambezi Crescent, Maitama, Abuja, being the usual place of business of the second repondent (Yakubu).

As it affects INEC, the judge ordered the services of all processes, including Form 48, “by delivering or leaving same at the Legal Department of INEC, the commission having

refused to accept service of same from the bailiffs of this honourable court.”

The Form 48 issued by the court’s registrar on March 31, 2016, a notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court states: “Take notice that unless you obey the directions contained in the order of the honourable court, attached to this Form (in particular, the fifth order, restraining you from acting on any list of nominated candidates for the PDP in Anambra State, in respect of legislative seats for the 2015 general election, except those that emanated from the plaintiffs), you will be guilty of contempt of court, and you will be liable to be committed to prison.

“Take further notice that if the INEC continues to disobey this order, you, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the chairman of INEC, will be held liable for contempt of court and liable to imprisonment,” the judge said.

RELIEF came the way of embattled former Ministers of Aviation and Finance, Femi Fani Kayode and Nenadi Usman on Monday, as a Federal High Court in Lagos granted them bail in the sum of N250 million.

Fani Kayode, Usman, one Danjuma Yusuf, and a company, Joint Trust Dimension Nigeria Limited, are being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for an alleged fraud of N4.9 billion.

Justice Muslim Hassan granted them bail of N250 million with two sureties in like sum and ordered both of the defendants to deposit their passports in the custody of the court pending the outcome of the case.

The sureties, the court said, must be owners of landed properties within the court’s jurisdiction.

The sureties are also to present evidence of tax clearance in the state.

The accused were, on June 28, 2016 arraigned before Justice Hassan on 17 counts bordering on conspiracy, unlawful retention of proceeds of theft and money laundering.

Fani-Kayode, who was the spokesperson for former President Goodluck Jonathan’s campaign organisation in the 2015 general election, was accused of conspiring with the others to directly and indirectly retain various sums which the EFCC claimed they ought to have reasonably known were proceeds of theft.

The alleged offences are punishable under Section 18(a) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) (Amendment) Act, 2012, punishable under Section 15(3)( 4) of the same Act. The four defendants had pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The EFCC Prosecutor, Rotimi Oyedepo has listed 17 witnesses he intends to call during trial.

Justice Hassan adjourned till October 19, 2016 for the prosecution to open its case.

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Nigerian Tribune

Eid-el-Fitri: Saraki, Dogara, govs, Tinubu, others call for religious tolerance

By Our Reporters

T

HE President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Monday, urged the Muslim faithful in the country to sustain the values and virtues which the holy month of Ramadan taught them in their day-to-day relationship with God and fellow men.

Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, in commemoration of this year’s Eid-elFitri, also urged all Nigerians to remain steadfast and prayerful in the face of daunting socio-economic challenges.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media & Public Affairs, Turaki Hassan, in Abuja, urged Muslims to use the period of Eid-el-Fitri to pray for Nigeria to overcome its present challenges.

Dogara also charged Muslims to allow the lessons of humility, sacrifice, love and selfless service garnered during the 30-day fast to guide their lives and activities.

Also, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Sulaimon Lasun Yussuff, appealed to Nigerians to love one another irrespective of religious inclination and eschew violence.

Lasun noted that it is in the atmosphere of peace, love and unity that meaningful development could be achieved.

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, has said that the Ramadan period, apart from providing a period of self examination and deep reflection, has become a necessary tonic for both religious commitment and nationalistic revitalisation.

“Nigeria must feel the impact of the fasting and prayers in the new spirit of tolerance, good neighbourliness, patriotism, compassion and forgiveness. Unless we reflect these both in our private and public conducts the teachings and lessons of Ramadan will be of no effect.”

The immediate past President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, on Monday decried the rampant cases of violent crimes in the country just as he challenged all men of good will to rise up to the occasion to remedy the situation.

Mark, in a felicitation with Muslims and Nigerians alike through his Media Aide, Paul Mumeh, on the

Sallah celebration, lamented the spate of crimes ranging from terrorism, kidnapping, armed robbery, vandalism and religious extremism that are fast destroying the fabrics of the society.

Nasarawa State governor, Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, urged Muslim faithful in the country to use the spiritual lessons of Ramadan as a formidable tool to rebuild the fabric of national unity and reaffirm Nigeria’s com-

mon destiny as one indivisible entity.

The governor who made the call in his Sallah message, through a press statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Ahmed Tukur, expressed optimism that Nigeria would be the ultimate beneficiary of the spiritual lessons from the Ramadan season.

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State and his

Abia State counterpart, Okezie Ikpeazu, on Monday, pledged to ensure peaceful co-existence and non-violence in the South-East geopolitical zone.

The governors spoke in Owerri at a workshop on: “Conflict Prevention, Peaceful Co-existence, Tolerance and Alternative Dispute Resolution in the SouthEast.”

Represented by his Special Adviser and Director-

General of the Corps, Mr Peter Ohagwa, Okorocha said herdsmen/host communities conflicts were among the greatest threats to peaceful co-existence in the state.

Ikpeazu, represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Ude Chukwu, said “We must as brothers endeavour at all times to avoid murderous competitions but explore modest ways of addressing our common agitations and

Wife of the Osun State governor, Alhaja Sherifat Aregbesola (middle), with Alhaja Suaibat Babalola Adubi (second right), Alhaja Sidikat Atinuke Daodu (left), Alhaja Zeenat Isah (right), and Mrs Agboola Idayat Omolara (second left), at the distribution of Ramadan incentives, tagged: Ramadan Outreach and Well Wishes donated by Hajia Aisha Buhari, at the Government House, Osogbo, on Monday.

FG orders improved security intelligence at airports

By Shola Adekola with Agency report

IN order not to be caught napping in view of the recent threat by militants and Boko Haram to bomb some strategic places in Lagos, particularly the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, the Federal Government, through the

Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), has ordered all airports to improve security intelligence ahead of Sallah celebration.

In line with this, security has been further beefed up around the Lagos airport which has led to increase in security surveillance.

Earlier last week, all the security agencies and avia-

tion authorities including FAAN, the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and airline representatives held a crucial meeting where they brainstormed on how to keep the airports in the country safe during and after the Sallah.

According to the General Manager, Corporate Affairs, FAAN, Yakubu Dati, among

IGP orders adequate security THE Acting InspectorGeneral of Police (I-G), Mr Ibrahim Idris, has ordered all zonal headquarters and police commands to ensure adequate security in their areas of responsibilities throughout the duration of the Eid-el-Fitri celebration.

The order is contained in a statement issued by the Force Spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Don Awunah, in Abuja, on Monday.

It directed that officers should be deployed evenly to cover the highways, worship and recreation centres, government installations and all vulnerable points.

It enjoined Nigerians to give useful information to the police as such information would be treated with the confidentiality it de-

serves.

The statement assured that the police would provide adequate security with robust and proactive patrols during and after the

celebrations.

It enjoined Nigerians to be law-abiding at all times for the peace, progress and development of the country.

the security measures put in place at the airports to forestall any form of security breach include the installation of 3D screening machines, metal detectors and CCTV cameras.

Confirming the latest security network at the Lagos airport, the Managing Director of FAAN, Alhaji Saleh Dunoma, declared; “Security is already in place, the only thing is that once things happen you need to beef it up to a certain level above what we already have on ground. Such measures have been put in place. All the airports have been advised through a circular that they should improve security intelligence.”

FRSC advises motorists to exercise caution on highways THE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) on Monday advised motorists to exercise caution while driving on the highways during the Eld-el-Fitri celebration.

Mr Umaru Abdullahi, the new Ore Unit Commander of the corps in Ondo State gave this advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said there was always heavy vehicular movement

during celebrations, adding that only patience and caution would engender safety of lives and property.

“Motorists should know that there is no second chance when accidents happen, so they should take necessary precautions to save lives and property.”

He also warned that motorists must adhere strictly to all traffic rules, saying that the FRSC would not tolerate flouting of the

rules.

He said that his command would deploy corps marshals on the BeninOre expressway to caution and arrest erring motorists who flout traffic rules during the Sallah.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Nasarawa State Command, has redeployed 1,000 personnel to curb insecurity during the celebration.

necessities through a diversity of peaceful methods.”

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, also called on Nigerians to rededicate themselves to the cause of a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria where citizens regardless of ethnic, religious, political or social status can flourish.

Governor Ambode, who spoke through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Habib Aruna, said this on Monday, pointing out that it was only by embracing peace, unity and fairness that Nigerians could put the country back on the path of growth and development.

Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has advocated for tolerance, perseverance, and love for one another as basis for a peaceful and prosperous society.

Governor Ahmed, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Abdulwahab Oba, noted that honesty, resilience and piety are critical lessons of Ramadan which are also crucial for societal growth.

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, charged leaders and the well-to-do in the country to empathise with the poor and remember them in their policies and actions.

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, in Ado-Ekiti yesterday, the governor said, “with the hardship that Nigerians are currently going through, this is not the period to turn a deaf ear to their crying for the amelioration of their situation.”

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, appealed to Muslims in the country to maintain the tempo of their supplications to God during the Ramadan period, stressing that the country still remain in dire need of prayers to surmount her numerous challenges.

In his Eid-el-Fitri message issued by the Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, in Akure, on Monday, Governor Mimiko called on Muslims in the nation to also sustain the lessons of Ramadan by allowing the God-like character they lived all through the period to become a way of life for them.

Also, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Osun State chapter, has prayed that Allah would answer the prayers of Muslims in the country and particularly in the state.

In a message of hope sent to the Muslim faithful, signed by Mr Sunday Bisi, Publicity Secretary of the party in the state, the party called on all Muslims to continue to live in the spirit of Ramadan.

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40 inmates regain freedom at Suleja prisons JacobSegunOlatunji-Abuja HEAD of 2016 Sallah celebration, 40 inmates of the Nigerian Prisons Service (NPS), located in Suleja, Niger State, on Monday, regained their freedom courtesy the National Commandant, Peace Corps of Nigeria, Ambassador Dickson Akoh.

The inmates, who were of between ages 18 and 30, were released to Ambassador Akoh by the Comptroller of the Prisons, Mr Ibrahim Usman, after their various fines were duly paid by the corps as part of the activities marking its 18th anniversary.

After perfecting the immediate release of the inmates made up of 38 males and two females, Akoh gave them various sums of money as their transport fare to their various destinations.

This came just as Ambassador Akoh, who was

A

Pneumonia kills over 170 children annually in Nigeria —Kano commissioner

Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State Commissioner for Health, Dr Kabir Ibrahim Getso, has said available data indicates that Pneumonia disease claims the lives of over 170 children in the country annually.

The commissioner said the state recorded 650,000 cases of infected children annually, adding that there is the need to prevent the deadly disease so as to safe the lives of children in the state and the country in general.

Dr Getso said this during the inauguration of Pneumococal Conjugate Vaccine (PVC), adding that if the vaccine is effectively administered on children, by 2018, there would be a radical reduction in the death of children.

According to him, pneumonia is a deadly communal disease, adding that available data indicated that 800,000 children under the age of five years die yearly worldwide.

Dr Getso further said that pneumonia is a disease that is affecting everybody in society but children under the age of five and elderly were more affected.

This vaccine would be administered on children under the age of one, six, 10 and 14 weeks respectively, which indicated that children will have it three times in their lifetime,” he said.

in company of some of the officers of the corps to the Prisons, donated a cow and other food stuff to other inmates of the Prisons for its management to prepare special meal for them during Sallah.

He told the Prisons officials that the corps was not only interested in setting them free but would document them for proper reformation since one of the aims and objectives of the

organisation is youth development.

He called on the Federal Government to see to the review of administration of criminal justice in Nigeria, saying, “it is very wrong in a society where somebody who steals a material worth less than N10,000 will be sentenced to several years in prison while another who steals billions of naira, will just be fined or set fee on tech-

nical grounds”.

Akoh, while assuring that the corps would do everything humanly possible to reform the freed inmates, warned them to be of good behaviour.

He said that the corps decided to donate the cow and the food stuff to the inmates so as to celebrate the Sallah in good mood and to make them have a sense of belonging as Nigerians.

In his remarks, the prison

boss lauded the gesture of the corps and pleaded with individuals and corporate organisations to emulate the Peace Corps However, some of the freed inmates, including a female, said that they were not criminals but picked up while at night clubs and subsequently, fined and brought to the prisons when they could not afford the fines imposed on them.

Peace Corps trains 115,000 youths as staff officers JohnsonBabajide-Makurdi OVER 115,000 youths have been trained and commissioned as staff officers of the Peace Corps of Nigeria.

The national commandant of Peace Corps, Ambassador Dickson Akoh, said this on Monday during the passing out parade of gentlemen cadets of Peace Corps at Aliade, headquarters of Gwer Local Government Area, Benue State.

The Peace Corps of Nigeria bill, under the Ministry of Youths Development, has passed third reading and passage at the House of Representatives and second reading at the senate.

Akoh noted that when it eventually passed into law, it will help in sustainable development and peace efforts in the country.

Earlier, the Benue State governor, Samuel Ortom, had commended the initiative of the national commandant, adding that the country at this critical period, deserves peace, considering the emergence of insurgency across the nation.

Abandoned babies

The Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi (right), leading other traditional rulers on a sympathy visit to the Primero Transport Services Limited, over the destruction of 48 Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) buses by hoodlums, in Lagos, on Monday. With them is the Managing Director of the company, Mr Fola Tinubu (fourth right). PHOTO: NAN

BABY Abiye was found abandoned on May 17, 2016, opposite C.A.C. Grammar School, Odo-Eja area, Ede, Osun State.

Labour protests over 50% salary cut in Nasarawa Vows to commence strike today Godwin Agwam - Lafia THE joint Labour Union in Nasarawa State has protested over the 50 per cent reduction of workers’ salaries by the state government.

The state governor, Umaru Tanko Al-makura, had constituted a committee to review the salaries of workers in the state and vowed to stand by the recommendation which did not go down well with workers in

the state.

Speaking to journalists before the commencement of the protest in Lafia, the state capital, on Monday, the chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in the state, Abdullahi Adeka ,said they are embarking on the strike as a warning to bring the government to reach an understanding with the union.

He said that the N18,000 minimum wage is a right

by the law and not a privilege, saying workers’ salaries cannot be reduced in the face of the current hardship witnessed by workers in the state.

He added that workers in the state had sacrificed enough for the government by forfeiting their promotions, annual increment and a host of other benefits belonging to them.

“The time has come and the hour of reality has pre-

Wada to AMCON: Plot to criminalise me will fail Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE immediate past governor of Kogi State, Idris Wada, on Monday, raised the alarm over an alleged plot to link him to the ownership of debtor companies so as to pave way for the freezing of his personal accounts.

Wada, who spoke through his Chief Communications manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, said there were efforts by some forces at criminalising him using the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) as the linchpin.

AMCON, had last week, claimed it secured an interim order from a Federal High Court in Lagos,

empowering the corporation through its appointed receiver/ manager, Chief Robert Ohuoba, to take over the business, trading activities and all fixed and floating assets of Tampetro Nigeria Limited, a company the corporation believes is owned by Wada over unpaid debts.

But Wada ,who was listed as the 4th defendant in a suit filed by AMCON against Tampetro Nigeria Limited, has denied any link to the company in an affidavit he swore to in the Lagos judicial division of the Federal High Court.

Wada said in the affidavit that he knew nothing about the formation/ incorporation of Tampetro

and never gave his consent to or signed any document relating to the company with AMCON or any other person.

According to him, the signature purportedly signed on form CAC2.3 (particulars of directors), does not represent his signature and said he was ready to rely on his specimen signature to prove his innocence during the trial.

The former governor insisted that he never had any dealing with Tampetro Nigeria Limited and International Logistics and Fulfillment Services Limited, who were listed as the first and second respondents in the suit filed against them

by AMCON.

sented itself, our patient has been abused, our collective intelligence has been insulted and dehumanised, our morale has been destroyed and commitment and sacrifices for a better Nasarawa State, has been misconstrued to be cowardice,” he said.

The chairman also requested that Governor Al-makura should explain how he used the N8 billion released by the Federal Government.

He stated that, if nothing is done by the mid-night on Monday (yesterday) to reverse the decision, workers in the state would resume its suspended strike from Tuesday (today).

The Nigerian Tribune gathered that the protest was carried out around Shendam Road and the Government House area, in Lafia.

Attempts made by the state Head of Service (HoS), Joseph Ancho, to address the protesters failed as they insisted they must speak with the state governor.

After waiting for some hours at the gate of the Government House, the deputy governor, Silas Agara, addressed them and assured that the state government would continue to prioritise their welfare.

MALIK Joshua was found abandoned on November 17, 2015, with his sick mother, who is anow deceased, at Beloved International school area, OkeGada, ede, Osun State.

BABY June, was found abandoned in the bush beside Foreign Link Campus, Moro, via Ile-Ife, Osun State, on June 20, 2016.

ANYONE with useful information about the parents of these babies, should, please, contact the Social Welfare, zonal office, Lagere, Ile Ife or the nearest police station as well as the social welfare office, Ede.

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foreig naffairs 08116954632

with seyi gesinde foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Flooding kills more than 180 people in central, southern China Muslim worshippers gather at the Prophet’s Mosque in Saudi holy city of Medina. PHOTO: AFP.

Saudi Arabia: Explosions rock Prophet’s

Mosque in Medina

T

WO explosions have struck near a mosque in the eastern Saudi Arabian city of Qatif, residents report said on Monday.

Saudi-owned al-Arabiya TV also reported a suicide explosion near the security headquarters of the Prophet’s Mosque in Medina.

Witnesses earlier said a suicide bomber blew himself up outside a Shia mosque in Qatif on Monday evening without causing any other injuries.

They reported seeing body parts lying on the ground in the city’s business district.

“Suicide bomber for sure.

I can see the body” which was blasted to pieces, a resident told the AFP news agency.

Nasima al-Sada, another resident, told AFP that “one bomber blew himself up near the mosque,” frequented by Shia Muslims in downtown Qatif, on the Gulf coast.

“We are in the last 10 days of Ramadan and those places are crowded because of that for Maghreb (sunset) prayers,” Khaled Batarfi, a Saudi Gazette columnist, told Al Jazeera.

Another witness told Reuters news agency that one

explosion destroyed a car parked near a mosque, followed by another explosion just before 7pm

local time.

Early on Monday morning, two security officers were injured as a suicide

MORE than 180 people have been killed in flooding along the Yangtze River in China following torrential rain, officials say.

Between 10cm and 50cm of rain has fallen in seven provinces, and storms stretching 1,600km (1,000 miles) are sweeping across central and southern China, BBC revealed.

At least 45 people are missing and 33 million are affected, officials say.

The rain has also washed

bomber blew himself up near the US consulate in the Red Sea port city of Jeddah.

Death toll in Iraq suicide bombing rises to 165 THE number of people killed in Sunday’s suicide bomb attack in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, has risen to 165, interior ministry officials say.

The government has declared three days of mourning after the huge blast, which also injured 225 people.

A lorry packed with explosives was detonated in the Karrada district while families were shopping for the holiday marking the end of Ramadan.

It is believed to be the deadliest single bomb attack in Iraq since 2007.

BBC revealed that rescu-

ers said whole families had been killed. Many people were badly burned.

So-called Islamic State (IS) has said it carried out the suicide attack.

Prime Minister Haider alAbadi was greeted by angry crowds when he visited the mainly Shia Muslim area in the hours after the bombing.

His office said Mr Abadi understood the reaction of residents and would increase security by banning “magic wand” fake bomb detectors and improving vehicle inspections at roads into the city.

The fake bomb detectors, some based on cheap de-

other NEWS

away railway lines and shut down road networks.

The dead included 23 people who were killed in a mudslide in Guizhou Province and eight who died in the city of Wuhan in Hubei Province when a section of a wall collapsed, state media said.

Heavy rain is forecast to continue until Wednesday across parts of southern and western China, the South China Morning Post reported.

vices for finding golf balls, were sold in large numbers to Iraq by fraudsters.

One British businessman, who was jailed for 10 years, sold more than 6,000 devices to Iraq for up to $40,000 (£30,000) each.

The UK banned their export to Iraq in 2010 and several other fraudsters received prison sentences. Despite warnings that the devices were useless, the Iraqi security forces continued to use them.

Men continued to dig through rubble at the Karrada site on Monday, searching for the remains of those still missing.

The Hadi Centre, which used to be full of busy clothes shops and cafes, was gutted.

PHOTO: REUTERS

Rainwater left a stadium flooded in Ezhou, Hubei province. PHOTO: REUTERS

UKIP leader Nigel Farage stands down NIGEL Farage says he is standing down as leader of the United Kingdom Independence Party.

Mr Farage said his “political ambition has been achieved” with the UK having voted to leave the European Union.

He said the party was in a “pretty good place” and said he would not change his mind about quitting as he did after the 2015 general election.

Leading UKIP was “tough at times” but “all worth it” said Mr Farage, who is also an MEP. He added that the UK needed a “Brexit prime minister”.

Mr Farage said the party would campaign against “backsliding” on the UK’s exit from the EU, saying he planned to see out his term in the European Parliament - describing his party as “the turkeys that

voted for Christmas.”

He said his party’s “greatest potential” lay in attracting Labour voters, adding that he would not be backing any particular candidate to replace him.

“May the best man or woman win,” he said.

Mr Farage said he would “bury the hatchet with anybody” including UKIP’s sole MP Douglas Carswell, who tweeted an emoji picture of a smiley face as the leader’s resignation was announced.

Nigel Farage.

Former Chinese presidential aide sentenced to life in prison Muslim Match dating website hacked LING Jihua, who served as the top aide to former Chinese President Hu Jintao, was sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of accepting bribes, stealing state secrets and abusing power.

Prosecutors had accused Ling of accepting more than 77 million yuan ($11 million) in bribes either directly or through his family members, according to Chinese state-run news agency Xin-

hua.

CNN expressed that he also was found guilty of illegally obtaining a large amount of state secrets and using his official position to help others get promoted and acquire houses.

Ling, who once held a post that is considered the Chinese equivalent to the White House chief of staff, was arrested last summer and tried in a closed-door court in June.

His conviction is considered one of the biggest catches in current Chinese President Xi Jinping’s massive anti-corruption campaign.

Ling Jihua. PHOTO: CNN

THE personal details of more than 150,000 members of dating website Muslim Match have been posted online.

More than 700,000 private messages between members have also been leaked.

A message on the site’s homepage said: “We have been made aware of an alleged security breach and we are reviewing our systems as we work to

remedy the situation and tighten our security.”

The leaked details included sensitive information such as whether a member would consider polygamy, BBC said.

The breach was discovered by security researcher Troy Hunt who runs a cybersecurity alert website.

Details of members’ employers, location, marriage status and whether

they were a convert to Islam were revealed, as well as names, email addresses, Skype handles and IP addresses - according to technology news site Motherboard.

Muslim Match’s Facebook page describes the site as: “Single, divorced, widowed, married Muslims coming together to share ideas, thoughts and find a suitable marriage partner.”

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Ogun LG election holds Oct 8 —OGSIEC OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta

T

HE Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission (OGSIEC), has scheduled October 8, for the conduct of election into the 20 Local Government

and Local Council Development Areas.

This was disclosed by the electoral body’s chairman, Alhaja Risikat Ogunfemi, at a press conference on Monday, that the election was in compliance to Section 197(1)(b) of the Con-

stitution of the Federal Republic 1999 as amended and Section 10(1) of Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission Law 2007 (as amended).

The chairman assured members of the public of level playing ground to all

participating political parties and appealed to youths to desist from being used as political thugs in the election.

Ogunfemi also appealed to all politicians to play the game according to the universal rule of “one man,

Glo jubilates with Nigerian Muslims at Eid-el Fitri AS the Nigerian Muslim faithful join their counterparts across the globe to mark this year’s Eid El Fitri, the nation’s grandmasters of data, Globacom, has sent a message of felicitation to all Muslims across the country for the successful completion of the Ramadan fast.

Globacom, in a statement issued in Lagos, on Monday, felicitated with the Muslims, expressing confidence that the prayers they offered for the peace and unity of the country had gone a long way in helping the country to survive the hard times being experienced worldwide.

The Ramadan fast takes

place in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar as enshrined in the Holy Quran and is concluded with the celebration of Eid el Fitri.

The company enjoined all Muslims to take advantage of the celebration of the Eid el Fitri to promote the fear of God and piety, and called on all Nigerians to embrace peace and live in harmony with fellow Nigerians irrespective of tribe, political persuasion or religion.

“Globacom wishes all our Muslim brethren a very happy Eid El Fitri. We join all Nigerian Muslims to celebrate the conclusion of this holy month and urge all to redouble efforts to make Nigeria a land of

peace and prosperity. As you round off the Ramadan fast, May the Almighty Allah accept your prayers,” the statement said.

The company also enjoined millions of Muslim faithful to pray for the peace and unity of the nation. “It is our earnest belief that, with our collective efforts, our nation will grow from strength to strength,” the statement added.

Globacom stated that the company will continue to provide customer-centric voice and data services during the Eid El Fitri holidays and beyond. It urged both existing and potential subscribers to take advantage of the mega bonus

gigabytes offered by Glo Data Overload and other pocket-friendly packages to reach out to friends and family members in and outside Nigeria to share love and goodwill.

The Ramadan fast, which began on June 6 after the sighting of the moon, ends at the sighting of the moon about 30 days later in early July 2016.

Twitter suspends Niger Delta Avengers’ account ONE of the information spreading platforms of militant group, Niger Delta Avengers, has been sus-

From left, Mr Jinmi Morgan, Director, Governing Board of Nigerian Leadership Initiative; Chief (Mrs)Yetunde Onanuga, Ogun State Deputy Governor; Mr Yinka Oyinlola, C.E.O.,Nigerian Leadership Initiative and M Leke Adewolu, Ogun State Commissioner for Special Duties, at the 2016 induction ceremony of new Associate Fellows of Nigerian Leadership Initiative held at the Valley View, Oke-Igbein, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

PDP kicks off governorship campaign in Edo Banji Aluko - Benin City

AMIDST the cheering news of the Port Harcourt ruling that declared Senator Ahmed Makarfi as the legitimate caretaker chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), leaders of the party across the country on Monday, in Benin, appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to provide a level-playing field for candidates contesting the September 10 Edo State governorship election.

Among the PDP leaders, who converged on Benin for the flag off were a former Board of Trustees chairman of the PDP, Chief Tony Anenih; Esama of Benin, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion; Chief

Tom Ikimi, Senator Ben Obi, Governor Udom Emmanuel, and the deputy governor of Delta State, Kingsley Otuaro, who represented Governor Ifeanyi Okowa.

Others were Senator Matthew Urhoghide, Senator Clifford Odia, former Senators Victor Oyofo and Yisa Braimah, Hon Omosede Igbinedion, Hon Omoreige Ogbeide-Ihama, among several party chieftains who came to associate with the party on the epoch-making event.

In his remark, Chief Tom Ikimi narrated his contributions to the formation of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), appealing to Mr President to repay

him back by providing a level playing field during the election.

He recalled how in 2012, he led Governor Adams Oshiomhole to President Goodluck Jonathan to demand for a level-playing field in the governorship election conducted that year, appealing to President Muhammadu Buhari to reciprocate the gesture by allowing Edo people to decide their collective destinies themselves.

Senator Odion Ugbesia in his speech said the message given to him was to deliver a quit notice to the APC government in the Edo State government house and hand over the keys to the Osadebey Avenue as

one vote.”

Corroborating the chairman, Mr Mutiu Agboke, a commissioner in the electoral body, submitted that OGSIEC would maintain “no PVC, no election” system in the conduct of the election.

Agboke also said that forms would be given out to aspirants free of charge based on a court judgment against the body on whether it has the right to sell forms to aspirants.

He said the body would work in tandem with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on issue of factionalisation of political parties.

represented by the PDP flag to the PDP candidate, Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu.

Speaking on behalf of the PDP BoT, Professor Jerry Gana hailed the choice of Pastor Ize-Iyamu as the PDP’s candidate, saying “this man will be fair; he is godly and displays the capacity to work.”

In his remark, Edo State PDP chairman, Dan Orbih, described Ize-Iyamu as the man who will redeem Edo State from the hardship APC plunged the state into, saying “the problem of Edo State cannot be solved with panadol, it cannot be solved by codeine or common APC. The solution is the only legitimate candidate of the PDP, Pastor Ize-Iyamu.”

pended by Twitter.

Niger Delta Avengers are responsible for the recent spate of attacks on pipeline installations in the Niger Delta region, blowing up five pipelines between Friday and Sunday.

The group usually disseminates updates on its activities through its website, www.nigerdeltaavengers.org, and its Twitter account, @NDAvengers.

As of Monday morning, the Twitter account of the Avengers had been suspended by the authorities of the micro-blogging platform.

A visitor who attempts to access the account gets the error message: “Account suspended. This account has been suspended.

This is not the first time that an information platform of the Avengers would be shut down.

In early June, the official website of the militant group – www.nigerdeltavengers.com – was replaced by the error message: “404. That is an error. The requested URL was not found on their server. That’s all we know.”

Less than 24 hours after the website went down, the group launched a new one — www.nigerdeltaavengers.org, claiming that “our website was not shut down. It was under maintenance.”

However, the website supposedly under maintenance never came back up, as the militant group continued to spread its message on the newly created platform.

Nigerian Tribune

UI VC, Prof Olayinka, felicitates with Muslims THE Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, has felicitated with the Nigerian Muslims, especially the University of Ibadan Muslim community, on the successful completion of this year’s 30-day of prayer, self-denial and charity-giving.

Professor Olayinka, in a statement by the University’s Director of Public Communication, Mr ‘Tunji Oladejo, urged them not to lose sight of the lessons of the Ramadan Fast which was in fulfillment of Allah’s injunction.

The VC enjoined Muslims to use the lessons of the Ramadan “to modify our personalities and character in order to promote harmony, peace and love across all religions, tribes and nations.”

The VC commended the Muslims in the University for their Continuous Contributions to the sustainable development of the premier institution, maintaining peace and sustaining peaceful coexistence with their neighbours as well as people of other religious persuasions.

Olayinka stressed “Nigeria has a lot to offer the world with its enormous human and material resources if we decide to relate with one another with compassion, selflessness and sincerity to harness our full potentials.”

...Shafaudeen head, Prof Olagoke, too MUSLIMS all over the globe, who have just successfully completed this year’s annual Ramadan have been admonished to sustain the virtues associated with the holy month, otherwise their sacrifices would be an exercise in futility.

Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, founder and Spiritual Head of Shafaudeen-InIslam Worldwide, gave the admonition in his Eid-ElFitri message made available to newsmen in Ibadan, on Monday.

Describing the Ramadan period as that of mercy, knowledge, charity and piety, the religious Leader urged believers to maintain the qualities experienced during the time, adding that to do otherwise would amount to backsliding.

“The just are disappointed seeing the people, including Muslim adherents, returning to leaking the regurgitated vomit after the fasting period.” He pointed out stressing the essence of piety.

The President of Ajagun Esin Consultative Forum explained that the benefits of Ramadan which are “to strengthen the will-power, which is essential to individual and society.”

39

South-west news

Tuesday, 5 July, 2016

Fayose’s accounts remain frozen until...

As court adjourns till September 30 for hearing Sam Nwaoko, Ado Ekiti

G

OVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State will still not be able

to operate his personal accounts for now, following the adjournment of the case he filed against the freezing of his account by the Economic and Financial Crimes

Commission (EFCC).

When the matter came up at the Federal High Court in Ado Ekiti, on Monday, the EFCC and Zenith Bank, first and second defendants

respectively, who were ordered to make appearance in the matter when it came up on June 28, appeared and filed counter-affidavits in the matter.

Rotimi Oyedepo, who appeared for the EFCC, said in complying with the order of the court, “we have filed a 10-paragraph affidavit with nine different exhibits,” and added that the processes had been served on the applicant.

Oyedepo added that in reaction to the motion on notice in which the applicant was asking that the suspension on his account be lifted, his clients had also responded by filing a counter affidavit with one exhibit and a written address, which he said had also been served on the complainants.

In reaction, counsel for Governor Fayose, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), told the court that he received the counter affidavit only “three minutes” earlier and asked for time to go through the document.

He sought for adjournment, saying “it is only proper that we be given an opportunity to traverse everything they have alleged and with the bulky document, they have foisted an adjournment on us.”

Ruling on the application, Justice Taiwo Taiwo adjourned the matter to September 30 for hearing.

Abducted 19-year-old girl escapes from kidnappers’ den Hakeem Gbadamos -Akure

From left, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi; Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Honourable Michael Adeyemo and the widow of the slain member of the Assembly, Mrs Bukola Aremu (extreme right), during a condolence visit to the residence of the deceased, in Ibadan, on Monday.

Court sacks Ekiti Assembly member Sam Nwaoko, Ado Ekiti

THE federal high court sitting in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, has annulled the election of the member representing Ado Constituency I in the Ekiti State House of Assembly,

Mr Musa Arogundade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Justice Taiwo Taiwo, in a judgement on Monday, also ordered the Speaker of the Assembly to swear in Mr Toyin Obayemi also of the PDP, as the right-

ful member representing Ado I Constituency in the assembly.

Obayemi had approached the court to determine whether Arogundade, who was sworn in as a member of the assembly, was a candidate

Killers of slain Oyo Lawmaker will be caught —Ajimobi assures •Aremu for burial Thursday

By Wale Akinselure

GOVERNOR Ajimobi of Oyo State has assured that persons involved in the killing of the slain member of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Gideon Aremu will be apprehended.

Speaking on a visit to family of the deceased lawmaker, on Monday, Ajimobi decried that the incident had blotted the peaceful landscape that the state boasted of in recent years.

While sympathizing with the deceased wife, Mrs Bukola Aremu, and children,

Accord calls for investigation into Oyo lawmaker’s murder

By Dare Adekanmbi

THE Oyo State chapter of Accord Party has condemned in a very strong term, the gruesome murder of a member of Oyo State House of Assembly representing Oorelope State Constituency, Honourable Gideon Aremu, who was felled by the bullets of assassins last Friday night.

In a release issued and signed by the party’s state publicity secretary, Dr Nureni Adeniran, Accord described the “heinous crime as one too many at this auspicious time in the political history of Oyo State.”

“This dastardly act is unwelcome in the state as we do not bargain for political assassination in the Pacesetter State again. Honourable Aremu was a brilliant lawmaker with a very bright po-

litical future, but whose life was wickedly terminated at prime.

“Accord therefore, calls on the security agencies, especially the Commissioner of Police, to swing into action and unravel the mystery behind this killing with a view to bringing the culprits to book and exposing them along with their sponsors so as to serve as deterrent to others.

“On behalf of all members of Accord, we commiserate with the immediate family of the deceased, people of Oorelope State Constituency, the Speaker and members of Oyo State House of Assembly, government and people of Oyo State as well as the entire Political Class in Oyo for the untimely death of a wonderful colleague and compatriot.

Ajimobi assured of the state government’s support for the family.

“It was an untimely and tragic death that has disrupted the otherwise peaceful environment that the state is proud of.”

“You remember that in 2011, we have maintained peace. We have never had political assassinations. Even armed robbery, thuggery and brigandage reduced considerably. This is the first time in our government that we will have such a tragic event, particularly a member of the house of Assembly so callously murdered.”

“We sympathise with the family and promise that not only shall we find the murderers, but we will also ensure that we give the family the necessary support. The children, wife are very young.

And by the grace of God, whoever was responsible will be caught,” Ajimobi said.

Meanwhile, the late Aremu will be buried at his home town, Igboho, Oorelope local government, on Thursday.

The burial will be preceded by a valedictory plenary at the chamber of the house of assembly as well as lying in state.

in the election held on April 11, 2014, having not been duly nominated by the PDP (second defendant), as a candidate.

The court held that after the disqualification of the winner of the primaries conducted on November 29, 2014, Mr Talabi Odunayo, over alleged certificate falsification, Obayemi should have been his replacement, having come second in the primaries in compliance with sections 31 and 36 of the electoral act.

He said Arogundade was wrongly used as a substitute and that he lacked the locus standi to obtain an order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to swear him in.

He also set aside the court order obtained

by Arogundade through which he was nominated as a candidate by INEC.

A 19-year-old girl, Moyinoluwa Abdulkareem, who was reportedly abducted by suspected kidnappers in Owo, Owo Local Government Area of Ondo State, has regained her freedom.

She was found on Sunday evening, at Idanre road in Akure, after escaping from the den of her kidnappers.

The young girl was said to have been kidnapped last Friday, in Owo, by a motorcycle rider while coming from the bank and her abductors forcefully took her away.

Narrating her ordeal, Moyinoluwa explained that she went to one of the new generation banks on Friday, after writing her exams and said “I boarded an okada to take me home but the okada man handed me over to the kidnappers who have been waiting in a car.

I queried the okada rider when he diverted from the road to the bush but he told me he was avoiding the police check point but when we got to the car, he handed me over after receiving an envelope.”

She said two pregnant women and two other boys have been in the captive of

the kidnappers before she was abducted and they had to move the victims from the room to a more spacious room.

Explaining how she escaped, she said the abductors forgot to lock the door and she took the courage to run from the house into the bush and said “it took me close to 24 hours to get to Idanre, on Sunday morning, from their den.

“They drove us from Owo towards Akure before they diverted to Ilu Abo and we spent about 30 minutes driving in the forest before we got to our destination.

“The area and the building are isolated and they kept us in the house till the following morning before they left us without locking the door.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Femi Joseph, said his men were on the matter, combing the whole environment to rescue other victims, saying a Special Squad of the police are on trail of the suspected criminals.

Joseph, however, advised the public to always be security conscious, especially before boarding a commercial vehicle and motorcycle.

Don’t pardon convicts, community warns Fayose SOME aggrieved members of Esure-Ekiti community in Irepodun-Ifelodun Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have appealed to Governor Ayo Fayose against granting the prerogative of mercy to seven accused persons who were convicted of various offences ranging from rioting to malicious and willful damage in the community in 2014.

No fewer than seven persons were arraigned and convicted by the court in 2014 after a bloody feud between members of the

two warring quarters of Ilomu and Ayinshin in the town. During the crisis, houses and cars were damaged and a lot of people suffered casualities.

The letter of appeal to the governor, dated 29 June, 2016, written on behalf of Ilomu quarters by their counsel, Dr A.O. Adebayo, disclosed that the town has remained peaceful since the accused persons were convicted in 2014.

In the letter, the counsel declared that: “Our clients are constrained to

write this letter in view of the information at their disposal that some highly placed people, particularly from Esure-Ekiti, including the traditional ruler have been mounting pressure on the government to release the prisoners through the exercise of the prerogative of mercy.

“They argued that the convicts were brought before the normal court, tried and convicted, stating that the only option opened to the accused persons was to appeal against the judgment.

SIDELINES

NO 16,538

TUESDAY, 5 JULY, 2016

An undergraduate of the University of Ilorin, Anita Bazuaye, according to a media report claimed that her pot of soup was stolen right on the fire, while one Alhaja Hamidalat Olawale, said the beans meal she prepared to break her fast was also stolen in the same manner. If one may ask, are these incidents a reflection of the harsh economic reality in the country or acts of cruelty to fellow beings?

N150

Guardiola embraces Iheanacho

By Ganiyu Salman With Agency Report NIGERIA international, Kelechi Iheancho met his new boss at Manchester City, Pep Guardiola on Sunday.

The former FC Barcelona manager embraced the starlet during his unveiling ceremony at a fan festival at the club’s training ground.

After the event, the pair posed for a picture together which Iheanacho posted on his Instagram page.

The meeting has sparked speculation that the Super Eagles forward will feature prominently in his plan owing to his brilliant debut last season.

Iheanacho recently made it clear that he will be staying with The Citizens for preseason rather than participate in the 2016 Rio Olympics despite being named in the Dream Team 35-man preliminary squad.

The Citizens begin their pre-season campaign against Bayern Munich on July 20 at the Allianz Arena before travelling to China for the International Champions Cup. Iheanacho prior to Pep’s meeting had spoken of his desire to work with the former Bayen Munich tactician.

“I think Pep’s arrival is very important for the club and most of all for the fans. We are all looking forward to it,” he told reporters.

“I think everyone knows what we are looking forward to: greatness, good football and most of all trophies, the Champions League and the Premier League in particular.

We just need to work hard, play good football for the team, for the fans and we will come out with something this season.”

Meanwhile, the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup winner and Most Valuable Player (MVP) had through his twitter handle after the last game of the season in May expressed appreciation to his former boss, Manuel Pellegrini for giving him the opportunity to hone his skill.

“Huge thanks to Manuel Pellegrini.

Thanks you for believing in me.I wish you the very best for the future. Gracia’s!!,” the Imo State-born player tweeted, just as he thanked City fans for aiding him to have a wonderful season.

“Thanks you to all the @MCFC fans for all your support. You made my first season a fantastic one. Have a great summer.”

Iheanacho has so far netted 14 goals in 35 appearances for The Citizens.

Pep Guardiola (right) with Iheanacho during the meeting.

NFF banks on $1.5m lifeline to hire foreign coach T HE Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is now banking on a sum of $1.5 million from a sponsor to cover the salaries of a new foreign coach for the country, AfricanFootball. com has specially gathered.

The cash is expected

Paul Le Guen, one of the top applicants for Nigeria job.

t h i s week and if it came through, Nigeria could appoint a new coach as early as next week, AfricanFootball.com further learnt.

The NFF is broke and the sports ministry has made it abundantly clear the government will not help out with paying for an expatriate coach.

The nation’s soccer ruling body is known to have sounded out a bank and an oil company to pay for the new coach, who will lead Nigeria through a difficult 2018 World Cup qualifying group that has Algeria, Cameroon and Zambia.

It would be recalled that a major telephone company bankrolled the salaries of German coach, Berti Vogts between 2007 and 2008, while a presidential task force was responsible for the salaries of the country’s last foreign coach, Lars Lagerback, for the 2010 World Cup. Interim coach, Salisu Yusuf, according to the NFF technical committee chairman, Chris Green is jostling for the plum job alongside former Cameroon coach, Le Guen, Serbian Goran ‘Plavi’ Stevanovic and former Kano Pillars Slovenian coach, Ivo Sajh, among others.

Euro 2016: Germany can’t be afraid of France —Low JOACHIM Low does not agree with suggestions France has a complex about facing Germany ahead of the Euro 2016 semi-final clash.

The two nations have met four times at major tournaments, Germany triumphing on the last three occasions after France won the first clash 6-3 in 1958.

Low faced questions over a hoodoo his team supposedly faced going into their quarter-final against Italy, a team they had never beaten in eight matches at the World Cup and European Championship.

The Germany coach did not give credence to the subject ahead of the penalty shoot-out win over Antonio Conte’s team in Bordeaux.

And he feels counterpart Didier Deschamps’ will be similarly dismissive of claims Les Bleus are intimidated by their poor record against the world champions.

“I don’t believe France have a Germany complex, we didn’t have an Italy complex,” said Low. “I don’t put much stock in such talk.

What has happened in the past does not count.”

France booked their place in the semi-finals with a 5-2 thumping of Iceland in Saint-Denis on Sunday, and Low was impressed by their display.

“France played an excellent game.

The early goal helped them. They will have all kinds of confidence and are playing at home,” he said.

“I said right from the start that with their home advantage they are one of the favourites for the title.

“We know what we have to do. I am looking forward to the match.

It will be very even. I love knockout

games like this.”

The Germany coach deployed a three-man defence for the clash with Italy, but he is unsure if it will be the right approach against France.

“I am not sure [on our defensive line-up], I will have to think about it more,” Low added. “Against Italy a three-man defence was the right solution.

“France are less predictable than Italy because players like [Antoine] Griezmann and [Paul] Pogba are always moving positions.”

Mario Gomez has been ruled out of the remainder of the tournament, while the suspended Mats Hummels and injured midfielder Sami Khedira will miss the France match.

With Bastian Schweinsteiger also in doubt, Low acknowledged changes will be necessary as Germany try to secure a place in the final.

“There will be personnel changes, but I have faith in all of my players, even those who have not had much game time,” said Low.

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. 5/7/2016.