8th June 2016

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,519

WEDNESDAY, 8 june, 2016

Raise strong, patriotic team to salvage economy, Yoruba leaders urge Buhari —P31

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Osinbajo meets service chiefs, govs over Niger Delta crisis

PDP prays for Buhari, hands —P2 •US okays dialogue with militants over secretariat to —P3,4 Makarfi's committee

Nigerian Tribune

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New education policy: Ajimobi —P9 apologises, admits mistakes were made

Mass sack in banks

FG threatens to withdraw erring banks' licences —P2

Alleged $40m money laundering: Jonathan's cousin arraigned, remanded in Kuje Prison —P10

Bello defeats Wada at tribunal —P3

From left, Chairman, Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi; Deputy Chairman, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu; Senator Femi Okurounmu, Princess Bisi Sangodoyin and the CoChairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, at a press conference organised by the YUF, at Premier Hotel, Mokola, Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE. MORE PICTURES ON PAGE 32.

CCT chairman advocates return of Decree 2 to punish journalists —P30

2 news Mass sack in banks: FG threatens to withdraw erring banks’ licences Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Soji-Eze Fagbemi -Geneva

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he Federal Government, on Tuesday, threatened to withdraw the operating licence of any bank and telecommunications company which failed to yield to its earlier directive to stop mass sack of Nigerians who are in their employment.

Speaking in Geneva, Switzerland, where the 105th session of the International Labour Congress (ILC) is on-going, Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, said the government would go a step further on erring companies, if the banks and the telecommunications outfits continued.

The minister, who addressed journalists immediately after his speech to the ILO National Assembly, said: “We will go a step further if they continue. We know what to do. After all, the banks have the licences given by the government.

We know what to do. They

need to comply. They need to come to the negotiation table.

“We did that in the oil industry and we succeeded.

Even if you are going to lay off, there is a way to declare redundancy, there is a process. Section 20 of the Labour Act says it. You must

call the unions and discuss with them. You don’t just treat them as slaves in their own country and you want us to keep quiet.

“We want them to maintain the status quo. As far as I am the Minister of Labour, I will protect the interest of workers; same to the tele-

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State, flanked by the National President, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Alhaji Najeem Yasim (right) and the state chairman, NURTW, Chief Odion Olaye, during their visit to the governor in Benin, Edo State.

PDP prays for Buhari, hands over secretariat to Makarfi’s committee Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe -Abuja In a rare display of politics without bitterness, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Tuesday, offered special prayer, led by the Deputy Senate President, for the quick recovery of President Muhamadu Buhari.

This came as the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led sevenman national caretaker committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), finally took over the affairs of the party, after it was appointed at the Port-Harcourt national convention.

On hand to receive members of the committee were the chairman of the Board of Trustees(BoT) of the party, Senator Walid Jubrin; eight of the governors elected on the platform of the party led by the Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who is also the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, members of the National Assembly caucus led by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, and some members of the immediate past National Working Committee (NWC) led by Prince Uche Secondus, former deputy national chairman of the party.

Prince Secondus, while handing the mantle of leadership to Senator Makarfi, declared that there was no division in the party as being made to believe in some quarters, saying the members of the immediate past NWC were in full support of the appointment of the caretaker committee as the best option to the peaceful resolution to the seeming crisis rocking the party.

Secondus, who declared that the was party set to capture power in 2019, said all those who wished their party evil “can now see the former working committee members are here, they can see that the governors are intact they can see that the Senators are intact and are ably led by the Deputy Senate President. They can see that the BoT is intact. We are not divided.”

According to him, “PDP must buckle up and be strong to take power and to provide leadership for this country. We have to restate here, that all politics are local. Our leaders must go back to the grassroot. It is not enough to be in Abuja.

It is not enough to say I am strong in Abuja. It is not enough to say I am former this, I am former that. I am strong here, I am strong there. You must be able to prove your worth in local politics and popularity.”

“We are no longer in government, we no longer have security agencies, we no longer have money. So, what matters is the grass root, the popularity of your person at the grass root to be able to deliver, do not wait for another person to deliver for you and for you to earn all the glory in Abuja. So, go back home and campaign for your party”,he stated In his remark, Senator Makarfi promised to operate within the mandate given to his committee, including reconciling the aggrieved party members, to organise credible congress, the national convention and others within 90 days.

He, however, warned former members of the party now in the ruling party, the APC, against their utterances on the performances of the PDP while in power for 16 years, saying they were part of the government and

that they only left the party of recent.

Makarfi, who said the committee had been working hard behind the scene on how to move the party forward, pointed out that “people wondered why we did not rush into the secretariat after the convention.

We were appointed and not elected. That was the reason, we had to watch it.

“If the process has hurt anybody, I publicly apologise, and in the spirit of democracy, they should embrace dialogue as well,” he said.

Senator Ekweremadu, who insisted that there was no division in the party, disclosed that the elected members of the party in the National Assembly who deffected to the APC recently, based on the seeming crisis, would soon forfeit their seats for being misled in taking such a risky venture since there was no division in the party in the

Over $10 trillion needed to end poverty in 2030 —ILO Soji-Eze Fagbemi -Geneva Over $10 trillion is required to end poverty in all its forms everywhere across the world by the year 2030, even as the Director-General, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Guy Ryder, said the Sustainable Development Goal of ending poverty by 2030 is at risk.

According to ILO new report on World Employment and Social Outlook (WESO) 2016: “Transforming jobs to end poverty,” the economic crisis in Nigeria and other developing countries has

further increased the level of poverty globally; and has also increased the cost to end poverty by 2030 to $10 trillion.

According to the ILO, over 36 per cent of the emerging and developing world live in poverty and on a daily income of less than $ 3.10 purchasing power parity (PPP).

Using the latest available data, the ILO said some $ 600 billion a year or nearly $10 trillion in total over 15 years, was needed to eradicate extreme2 and moderate3 poverty globally by 2030.

The ILO noted that the

global deficit in quality jobs and deteriorating economic conditions in a number of regions threatened to undo decades of progress in poverty reduction, this is even as it warned that developed countries were now inclusive, as relative poverty1 was on the increase there.

The ILO warned that the problem of persistent poverty could not be solved by income transfers alone; but more and better jobs were crucial to achieving this goal.

It is estimated that almost a third of the extremely or moderately poor in developing economies have jobs.

first instance.

Speaking on behalf of the governors, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum said the leadership crisis that rocked the party in the past few weeks was over for good with the assumption of office of the Makarfi-led caretaker committee.

According to him, “I speak on behalf of the governors, my colleagues that in one accord, we are in support of Senator Makarfi. We support him because his caretaker committee was properly constituted in accordance with the constitution of the PDP. Any other body by whatever name or pretension can only be illegal.

“I also with the mandate of the governors to appeal to anybody that feels in all this resolution process that he has lost out to come on board so that together we can build a strong and united PDP. But for now, in accordance with our constitution, the caretaker committee is the constitutionally constituted body to run the affairs of PDP,” he stated.

On his part, Senator Jubrin underscored the party’s unity and that they never took over the party, but only took over the assets and liabilities of the party as mandated by the party’s constitution in the face of a leadership crisis.

communications companies, they are also talking about compiling lists without discussing with anybody.”

On the position of the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) that the companies in the private sector has the sole power to hire and fire and that the power doesn’t reside in the government, Senator Ngige said the organised private sector, represented by NECA, was protecting its own members, and merely expressing their opinion.

But the minister warned that this could not be done at the detriment of the Nigerian workers and the law of the land.

He said: “The organised private sector, NECA is protecting their own interest.

They are a leg of the tripod, nothing stops them from having their own opinion.

They are the section that protect private investors.

They are employers’ body and the people I am talking to are also employers.

“The bank’s boards, the banks chairmen, the bank’s managing directors, are the people I am talking to. I also talk to unions whenever the need be. In the same order, I also asked the unions not to picket the banks. They had mobilised to picket the banks. It is the job of the government to maintain a peaceful milieu on both sides and that is why I issued the directive.

“From investigation and preliminary report available to us, the banks, the insurance companies, the financial institutions are all laying off. And in some cases, they do not allow their workers to unionize and that is wrong and against the ILO principle.”

He emphasised that they had not entered into collective bargaining agreement (CBA) which was the first step to take to lay off workers.

He added: “We have conclusive evidence to show they did not do that. Even when we invited them, they were reluctant to come and when they came, they started showing signs of ‘we are not ready for this discussion, we are interested in our profit’.

“We will not allow them to reap the profit at the expense of our workers. Any bank worker you remove from work has about 10 members of family to cater for. We don’t want them to put them into the pull of unemployment like that. It must be negotiated.”

RAMADAN MESSAGE O you who believe! Stand out firmly for Allah and be just witnesses and let not the enmity and hatred of others make you avoid justice. Be just: that is nearer to piety, and fear Allah. Verily, Allah is Well-Acquainted with what you do.

Allah has promised those who believe (in the Oneness of Allah) and do deeds of righteousness, that for them there is forgiveness and a great reward (i.e. Paradise).

—Surat Al-Ma’idah verses 8-9

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Kogi guber: Bello wins as tribunal dismisses Wada’s petition From Sunday Ejike and Yinka Oladoyinbo

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HE Kogi State Governorship Election Petition Tribunal, sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday, dismissed a petition brought before it by the immediate past governor of the state, Captain Idris Wada and his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), challenging the emergence of Yahaya Bello as governor of the state.

The three-member panel of justice of the tribunal, headed by Justice Halima Mohammed, held in its judgment, that the petition jointly filed by Wada,

his running mate, Sunday Awoniyi and their party, the PDP, lacked merit.

The tribunal had, on Monday, upheld the preliminary objection raised by Governor Bello; his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), against the petition by James Faleke and consequently struck out the petition for also lacking in merit.

It held that the petitioners lacked locus standi to challenge the nomination of Bello as the APC candidate in the December governorship election of Kogi State.

The Justice Mohammed-

led tribunal held that the nomination and sponsorship of Bello as the governorship candidate of the APC was a domestic affair of the party and added that neither the petitioners, the tribunal nor any other person, who did not participate in the primaries of the party had the legal capacity to question the nomination of the party’s candidate.

It further held that Bello, having participated in the August 29, 2015 primaries of his party (APC) and came out as the first runner-up, with Audu emerging as the APC’s standard-bearer, the substitution of Bello with Audu, by the reason of Au-

du’s death, was valid.

Justice Mohammed also ruled that the votes recorded in the November 21 election belonged to the various political parties.

Wada had asked the tribunal to hold that he polled the highest lawful votes in the November 21 election and the December 5, 2015 supplementary election and should be returned as the elected governor of the state.

The original candidate of the APC in the November 21 election, Abubakar Audu, was already coasting to victory with 240,857 votes as against Wada’s 199,514 votes, when he suddenly

From left, Governors Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom; Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa; Nyesom Wike of Rivers; Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta; Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo and Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, during a meeting of the vice-president with Niger Delta governors, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Tuesday.

Militancy: Osinbajo, N/Delta govs meet in Aso Rock Leon Usigbe -Abuja AGAINST Federal Government’s new desire to engage Niger Delta militants towards securing a cessation of attacks on oil and gas installations, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday, met with governors of oil-producing states, service chiefs and other stakeholders.

After the meeting, the Delta State governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, confirmed to State House correspondents that military action would be distilled to allow for the engagement with the militants to commence immediately.

He said the meeting was called because of concerns over developments in the area, noting that synergy between the Federal Government and states involved was necessary to tackle the situation.

The governor revealed that while they were briefed by the service chiefs, the governors also made their position known to the meeting.

He said decisions were later taken, which would help to de-escalate the situation and return normalcy to the area.

Okowa said: “We, governors of the oil-producing states,

security chiefs and ministers, who are concerned met with the vice-president and I believe we had a very fruitful meeting.

“One thing we identified which is the synergy between the Federal Government and the states which is very important and this meeting has raised a lot of issues and we believe that the collaboration will help us to tackle the issues in the Niger Delta.

“Of course, we were briefed by the service chiefs and the governors also have their own perspectives along with the Minister of State for Petroleum.

“We have taken a lot of decisions which will help us mitigate what is going on currently in the states particularly Bayelsa and Delta. We believe we are going to find a solution to it.

“One of such is that there is a need for us to share intelligence which is very important and for us to be proactive, working together with the various stakeholders in the states to achieve a better result going forward.

“We have also agreed that there is a need to distill military operations by helping communities where the military need to actually remain

on our waterways to ensure that we adequately man the waterways itself, while we engage the communities and that engagement will start any moment from now.”

On the Niger Delta Amnesty Programme, which was thought to have been stopped, Okowa said that was not the case, noting that it was still being maintained contrary to speculation.

He stated: “I don’t think the amnesty has been put to a stop. I think the process is still ongoing. We have a special adviser in charge of amnesty and it is doing very well.

“I am aware that he did come in to talk with some of the communities and alongside the advocacy team that was put up in Delta State.”

The governor added that the decisions of Tuesday’s meeting would be implemented immediately.

“Right from today, there is a meeting right after this and we are going to be collaborating even as we return to our various states,” he said.

Also speaking, the Edo State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, explained what looked like a government change of heart regarding the crisis in the Niger Delta as being neces-

sitated by the need to talk to the people.

The governor, who had previously called for military action against the militants, said an elected government must talk to the people.

Agreeing with Okowa’ position, the governor added: “Nigeria is not at war and we cannot be at war with ourselves.

“If we have conflicts, we will talk through those conflicts. There are laws that have to be enforced.”

Also speaking on the amnesty programme, he pointed out that there had been issues with it since it was in the transitional stage.

He also stressed the need to provide jobs for those who had been trained under the programme.

The governor revealed that the meeting agreed that “we all have to work together to refocus on development issues, economic issues, military issues and community issues.”

Among those present at the meeting were governors of Rivers, Bayelsa, Ondo, Delta, Edo and Abia states; Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu and the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru.

died after the poll was declared by INEC as inconclusive.

Wada contended that Bello only polled 6,885 votes in the December 5 supplementary election and could not possibly inherit the 240,857 votes polled by Audu in the November 21 poll.

The petitioners also contended that Bello was not qualified to contest the election on the ground that he went into the election without a running mate, the deputy governorship candidate who ran with Audu, Faleke, having allegedly withdrawn his candidacy before the supplementary poll.

They, therefore, asked the tribunal to hold that having polled a total of 204,867 votes in the November 21 and December 5 supplementary poll, as against the 6,885 votes polled by Bello in just the supplementary poll, Wada was the validly elected governor of the state.

After Audu’s death, INEC declared the election inconclusive and asked APC to name a replacement and Bello, who was named as the replacement, defeated Wada in the supplementary election that held on December 5, 2016.

The former Kogi State governor said INEC contravened the electoral law by accepting to allow the APC to replace the late Audu with Bello.

But the tribunal, in its judgment, on Tuesday, held that Wada lacked the locus standi to challenge the process that produced Bello as the APC candidate and added that Bello’s nomination was in line with the Electoral Act and that the former governor, not being a member of the APC, had no right to challenge the process.

Wada had also prayed in his petition that the tribunal reject the nomination of Bello as a replacement for the late Audu, because it was done outside the 21-day period allowed by the Electoral Act. In her verdict, the tribunal chairperson said the 21-day period for the substitution of candidate did not apply in the matter since Bello “is a member of the APC and having come second in the primaries earlier conducted by the party.”

It added that INEC was right to have collated the 240,857 votes polled by the APC “through the instrumentality of its candidate,” the late Audu and merged them with the 6,885 votes recorded by the party in the supplementary poll.

The merger of the results brought the total votes recorded by the APC to 247,752.

“It is, therefore, a fact that the 240,857 votes recorded

by Prince Audu belonged to the APC,” adding that “the

first respondent (Bello) is entitled to benefit from the votes acquired by his party.”

On the issue of Bello’s non-qualification to contest because he had no running mate, the tribunal held that the issue was not part of conditions of qualification to contest as governor under section 177 of the Constitution.

It held that the issue was also not part of conditions of disqualifying a candidate to contest such election under section 182 of the constitution.

It held that Faleke remained the deputy governorship candidate of the APC in the supplementary election, as he failed to withdraw his candidacy as spelt out under section 35 of the Electoral Act which required him to give 45 days notice to his party before the election and his party would in turn notify INEC. It held that the letter Faleke wrote to INEC withdrawing his candidacy as Bello’s running mate was of no effect.

“Therefore, the first respondent (Bello) was qualified to contest the election and returned as duly elected,” the tribunal ruled.

On the petitioners’ allegation that the election was conducted in some parts of the state in substantial noncompliance with the Electoral Act, the tribunal ruled that they failed to adduce evidence to prove it.

Wada heads for Appeal Court

The immediate past governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada, has rejected the verdict of the Governorship Election Petition Tribunal that dismissed his petition.

Speaking through his Special Adviser, Media and Strategy, Jacob Edi, the former governor said he would appeal the ruling of the tribunal.

He said as a believer in the judicial system of the country, he would prosecute the case and go ahead with an appeal before the appellate court.

PDP will appeal judgment —Awoniyi

The immediate past deputy governor of Kogi State, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, on Tuesday, said the PDP would appeal the judgment of the Kogi State Election Petition Tribunal.

Awoniyi told newsmen, shortly after the tribunal’s judgment that consultation was already going on within the party’s legal team of lawyers on how to appeal the judgment.

The former deputy governor told newsmen that the desire to appeal the judgment was to deepen the country’s electoral laws.

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We’ll not tolerate any unhealthy product in Nigeria, FG vows Ademola Adegbite -Abuja

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HE Federal Government, on Tuesday, vowed not to tolerate or allow any unhealthy product to be smuggled to Nigeria, urging Nigerians not to entertain any fear on the Genetic Modified Organisms (GMOs) products currently in circulation in the country.

Director-General of the National Biosafety Management Agency, Rufus Ebegba, who made this known at a press briefing in Abuja, therefore, assured that any product that contained GMOs would be labelled.

According to him, “it should be clear that no one would be forced to use or consume GMOs in Nigeria.

GMOs would be labelled.

Nigeria should not be panic.

They don’t have to entertain fear for what they are consuming.”

He explained that some countries abroad consumed such products which people were smuggling to Nigeria, saying the Federal Government would not tolerate or allow any product that was not good for Nigerians.

The Director -General said the agency was working assiduously with other government agencies in Nigeria

to fish-out the products in the country.

“The agency is systematically set up to deal with such challenges and it has been working with security agen-

cies in the country.

“Within the limited resources we have, we are trying to ensure that we take a preliminary steps to see that most of those things are put

in place. Some of what we have done is surveying the GMOs in the country.

“We have given people six months ultimatum to formalise their dealings and

they cannot pretend to be ignorant of law,” he explained.

It will be recalled that consumption of GMO products was on argument on a popular radio programme called

“Ebelembe” in Abuja, since Monday, and had also gone viral on internet as a dangerous product which had been introduced to Nigeria market.

US okays dialogue with Niger Delta militants It will be counter-productive —Group Christian Okeke -Abuja The United States (US) government, on Tuesday, said it remains supportive of efforts, including the promotion of dialogue, in addressing grievances in the Niger Delta.

It said it would encourage all parties in the renewed attacks on oil installations in the region to resolve their disputes through peaceful means and emphasised that human rights of all Nigerians must be protected in the ongoing crisis.

Militants had heightened attacks on oil facilities in the region, blowing up oil pipelines in succession and vowing to bring oil production to zero level.

On Monday, the militants, under the aegis of Joint Niger Delta Liberation Force, issued a statement, threatening to destroy any vital government institution built with oil and gas resources

from the region.

But in what appeared to be its first official reaction to the threat, the US government, through its mission to Nigeria, said it was monitoring the reports of attacks and other incidents in the Niger Delta.

“We share the concerns of all Nigerians about these attacks,” it said.

In the statement, the US called for provision of economic opportunity and needed services for residents of the Niger Delta.

The statement reads: “We continue to call on all Nigerians to persevere in efforts to achieve common goals to end violence and curb the activities of criminal elements; to establish conditions and mechanisms for profound, positive and lasting changes in the region; and to provide economic opportunity and needed services for residents of the Niger Delta.”

Meanwhile, a group, River-

ine Security (Coast Guard of the Federation), has warned that it will be counterproductive for the Federal Government to negotiate with the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and other militia groups over the attacks, warning that doing so was an option that was

not sustainable.

Commander Bibi Oduku, who said he is the Commandant-General of the group, in an email to the Nigerian Tribune, stated that pipeline vandalism and oil bunkering in the region would be a thing of the past

the moment the group was commanded to protect the oil and gas facilities in the area.

He condemned the activities of the NDA and asked them to sheathe their swords and embrace the path of peace.

Fayose commends Buhari over negotiation with Niger Delta militants Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, has commended President Mohammadu Buhari for listening to wise counsel by opting to negotiate with the Niger Delta militants, especially the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and suspending military action.

He, however, said there must be display of absolute sincerity from the Federal Government such that the militants would have trust in the process.

According to a statement

issued by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Lere Olayinka, the governor maintained that “the Niger Delta region, as at today, is still the golden goose laying the golden eggs on which all other regions are surviving and it will be suicidal for military action to be sustained against the militants.”

Governor Fayose who, in a statement last week Thursday, advised President Buhari to dialogue

with the Niger Delta militants, said he was happy that, “for the first time, the president took to advice and suspended military actions in the Niger Delta and opted to dialogue with the militants.”

He maintained that the President’s approach to civil unrests of any kind had caused more security problems in the country, adding that “the President must stop talking tough on issues that dialogue can resolve.”

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We will restructure Nigeria —Saraki

Says executive, legislative harmony good for democracy Taiwo Adisa -Abuja

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ENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday, said the current National Assembly will restructure Nigeria, through the ongoing constitution amendment.

Saraki, who stated this while speaking with select newsmen, said though restructuring is desirous, it might not be immediate as the National Assembly planned to immediately deal with settled issues in the last constitution amendment process.

He said the National Assembly would deal with issues that were less controversial in the last amendment and which could not sail through in the Seventh Assembly.

“Going back to what I said, what we want to focus on now is the areas that we have all agreed on. Restructuring, I think, will involve arguments to and fro, pros and cons.

These are the kind of thing I think at this first stage will pretty much distract us.

“We have been doing constitution amendment for many years, yet we don’t amend it. Let us amend the ones that we all agree that need to be amended.

“There are certain parts of the constitution we all agreed that need to be amended. If not that the former president, for whatever reason, did not assent to the last amendment, we would have been done with that.

“My view is that let us do those less controversial ones. After that, at the second phase of the amendment, we will bring new issues, possibly issue like restructuring,” Saraki said.

The Senate president also called for harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislature, adding that though the situation had improved, there was the need to make it better.

On the anti-corruption war embarked upon by the incumbent government, Saraki said there was the need for the government to ensure transparency in the fight against graft.

“When we start to paint the fight against corruption and people begin not to be sure whether it is corruption fight or politics, we do more harm to the war on corruption.

“The fight against corruption should be very transparent so that when you find somebody guilty, Ni-

gerians will know. But you see, sometimes, people are found guilty even on the socalled corruption, the society will still embrace them.

And this is because people do not have belief in the system. When we do things like these, we taint the system,” he said.

The Senate president added that the Senate was ready to support the fight against corruption, adding that the chamber had already demonstrated its resolve through its motion on the Treasury Single Account (TSA).

“Look at the last investigation we did on TSA, everything was made open. I was

in the Seventh Assembly, those kind of reports don’t see the light of the day. I did a motion on oil subsidy, till the time the Seventh assembly ended, it never saw the light of the day.

“But the TSA report did not only see the light of the day, it’s recommendations did. Even till today, you can see those involved sponsoring articles against us.

“I saw one the other day saying that the Senate president is in dilemma because I personally have a credit card that I am being charged one per cent. What does my credit card got to do with a national matter?” he said.

Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja THE Senate, on Tuesday, commenced investigation into Escravos Gas To Liquid (EGTL) project contract which was awarded at a sum of $2.9 billion and was allegedly increased to $10.03 billion by Chevron Nigeria Limited (CNL), leaving a difference of $7.4 billion Senate Committee on Gas, at a public hearing

on Tuesday, queried reason why the company increased the contract sum without contacting its partner, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Senator Bassey Akpan, chairman of the committee, blamed CNL for increasing the contract sum at such magnitude, adding that with that, the company had violated the terms of the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA).

As Edo REC confirms commission’s possession of 490,000 PVCs THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Tuesday, hinted that it had so far received 32 applications from various associations seeking for registration as political parties.

Chairman of the commission, Professor Yakubu Mahmood, disclosed this in Abuja, on Tuesday, during the second quarterly consultative meeting with chairmen and secretaries of registered political parties.

He said the commission had started processing the applications, adding that the exert figures could not be confirmed for now.

The INEC boss assured representatives of the political parties that “the commission remains committed to the opening of the democratic space in line with the law and our guidelines.”

On the recent revelations of alleged involvement of INEC staff in the subversion of 2015 general election through cash inducement, the INEC chairman said “INEC will also take further administrative ac-

tion against staff found culpable in the dastardly conduct.”

Meanwhile, the Edo State Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Mr Sam Olumekun, has disclosed that the commission is in possession of at least 490,000 permanent voter cards (PVCs) out of 1.7 million registered voters in the state.

He also said the commission was looking forward

to distributing them ahead the September 10 governorship election in the state.

According to him, the commission would carry out a continuous voter registration exercise in the state between Wednesday, June 22 and Sunday June 26, in order to register those who had attained the voting age of 18, those who registered but could not find their names on the ex-

isting voter registers, those whose names appeared on the voter registers without their photographs and those whose fingerprints were not captured during the last election.

During an interaction with journalists on the state of preparedness of the commission ahead the September 10 election, the state REC declared that card readers would be used during the governorship

I wasn’t involved in $1.6bn LG judgment debt scam —Adoke

By Tunde Ogunesan FORMER Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, Mohammed Bello Adoke, has set the record straight on the alleged diversion of the sum of $1.6 billion from the payment of $3.188 billion of a court judgment by the 774 local government councils in the country.

It will be recalled that the 774 local government councils in the country obtained a court order which directed the Federal Government to pay them $3.188 billion.

It was, however, alleged that $1.6 billion of the

Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, wrote the Senate, telling the chamber of his 10-day vacation which would enable VicePresident Yemi Osinbajo to act on his behalf.

The letter, dated June 6, 2016 and addressed to the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, indicated that he was writing in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 constitution as amended.

President Buhari had, on Monday, left the country in respect of the vacation and is expected back in the

country next week.

The letter, which was read during Tuesday’s plenary by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over the sitting, read: “In compliance with Section 145(1) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, I wish to inform the Distinguished Senate that I will be away on a short medical vacation from 6th to 16th of June, 2016, and while I am away, the Vice-President (Osinbajo) will perform the functions of my office.

Please accept, as always, assurances of my highest esteemed considerations.”

Senate queries Chevron Nigeria over $7.4bn contract inflation

INEC receives 32 fresh applications from political parties From Jacob Segun Olatunji and Banji Aluko

Osinbajo to act as president as Buhari writes Senate

amount was diverted.

The former minister, in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune, said “I wish to state categorically that I was not at any time involved in the alleged diversion of the sum of $1.6 billion paid pursuant to the judgment of the court or any other sums of money.”

He said the Ministry of Justice was not involved in the payment of the alleged judgment sum and could not have been involved, since the Ministry of Finance was primarily liable.

“I could, therefore, not have been involved in the alleged diversion. It is in-

structive to note that the publication detailed the names of individuals and corporate entities to which monies were allegedly paid. I am not mentioned as an individual beneficiary and, therefore, find it mischievous and malicious that my name featured prominently in the aforementioned headline.”

Adoke, who said he had ignored the publication, however, added that he thought otherwise when he discovered that sponsors of the “mischief” were hell bent on pitching him against the anti-corruption agencies in the country.

She wondered why the project, with 33,000 barrels per day capacity, would cost $10.3 billion, while a similar project in Qatar, with 34,000 barrels per day, was constructed for $1.2 billion.

According to him, investigation into the EGTL project was also done by the Sixth and Seventh Senate, while pledging that the Eighth Senate would conclude the investigation within the shortest time.

“Between 2008 and now, the project cost had risen by an additional $5 billion and this is quite worrisome.

“We need to sit down and look at the cost, it is quite astronomical for you to have the cost that was approved at $2.99 billion with a completion cost of about 10.3 billion.

“We are going to guide our decision by the venture agreement and every other related Act of the National Assembly, we would frown on anybody who breaches the law,” she said.

The committee also queried why the share ratio on the EGTL project was 75 per cent to Chevron and 25 per cent to NNPC, when all other simiter ventures between the two were 60 to 40 per cent.

However the Director, NNPC/Chevron Joint Venture, Mr Monday Ovuede, disagreed, saying the CNL never violated the agreement as it invited the NNPC on several occasions to meet and that when it was evident that the contract had to be reviewed, he notified NNPC and called for meetings of several occasions which the NNPC shunned.

He said the company was left with two choices, either to forget the over $2 billion investment and abandon the project or go ahead with it.

Senator Akpan, however, insisted that NNPC’s non response was not synonymous with a go-ahead order to CNL to increase the contract sum.

7

Wednesday, 6 June, 2016

Lagosmetro Makoko floating school collapses Chukwuma Okparaocha

T

he popular threestorey floating school in Makoko area of Lagos has collapsed.

The collapse, it was gathered, came after hours of torrential rains that hit various parts of Lagos, including Makoko, a lagoon community, whose inhabitants live on water in floating shanties.

Details of how the threestorey building, which was meant to serve the residents, whose only source of education is a small nursery and primary school, the Whayinna Nursery and Primary school, collapsed were still sketchy as of the time of writing this report, and it was not yet certain if there were casualties involved.

The floating school, it will be recalled, was meant to house over 100 school children with their teachers, but was declared an illegal structure by the state government in 2013.

It was jointly built by the residents of Makoko/Iwaya Waterfront community in Yaba Council Area, United

Nation Development Programme (UNDP) and a private firm -NLE works, Nigeria.

A group under the aegis of Activist for Good Governance, in solidarity with Federal Cadastres Miners Association, has accused the government of imposing illegal and double standard stop-work order on sand miners and dredgers.

Leading a protest in Iyana-Ipaja area of the state,

and its promoter, Kunle Adeyemi, believed that the structure would have served as an extension of

the only existing school in the coastal community, Whayinna Nursery and Primary School.

The collapse Makoko school.

KAI officials manhandle, extort Tribune photojournalist for taking pictures Chukwuma Okparaocha

N

EFARIOUS activities of men of Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI) were, again, brought to bare after a journalist was molested

Sand miners, dredgers protest stop-work order Ovadje Elliot

The building sat on a foundation of 256 plastic drums and powered by solar panels suspended on the roof,

the national coordinator of the group, Comrade Declan Ihekaire, alleged that with the act, their means of livelihood had been threatened.

According to him, “we want to make it unequivocal that such order from government is illegal, strange and totally unknown to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The protesters

and extorted for taking the pictures of their officials who were engaged in fisticuffs the public.

While narrating his ordeal, the journalist of the Nigerian Tribune photojournalist, said he was at Old Toll Gate end of Ojota when he spotted a man being forcefully dragged into a waiting blackmaria van, which apparently had some occupants in it.

“After taking a few shots of the man being manhandled by two KAI officials, little did I know that a civil defence official who was perhaps working with the KAI team was looking at me. Immediately I finished taking the shots, the man grabbed me and forced me into their vehicle,” the journalist said.

According to him, despite pleas made to the officials to let him go, he was driven to KAI office at Onipanu, where he was dumped inside a blackmaria alongside others who had also been ‘arrested’ for diverse offence.

“After spending some minutes sitting on one of the roughly-made benches inside the blackmaria, a female KAI official came inside the bus and began negotiating and bargaining for our release.

“She threatened that if we failed to cooperate, we would be taken to the KAI headquarters at Alausa where we would we would be made to pay as much N20,000 before

we would be released.

“So she requested for N10,000 per person, but after much pleading, she agreed to collect N3,000 from each of us. Initially there were eight of us, but more people were later brought, and everyone was made to pay N3,000,” he

narrated.

He further disclosed that those who had no cash, including himself, were made to withdraw with their ATM cards, adding that the officials were smart enough not to do the withdrawal themselves.

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647 60-year-old female agent dupes accommodation seeker N1.3m Gbemi Solaja ONE Caroline Eneh, a 60-year-old woman, was, on Tuesday, arraigned before a Yaba magistrate’s court over allegations of falsely obtaining money from an accommodation seeker, a man identified as Adeola Adeniran.

Eneh allegedly collected N1.3 million from the complainant for the purpose of securing a two-bedroom flat which she did not make available.

The prosecutor, Orinbure Godwin, narrated how the suspect falsefully collected the money from Adeola who was in desperate need of an accommodation, posing as a reliable agent knowing full well that she had no capacity to provide such services effectively.

He said the accused committed the offence at Iwaya Yaba sometimes in July 2015.

According to him, Eneh comnitted an offence contrary and punishable under sections 278 (1) and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.

Eneh however, pleaded not guilty to a two-count charge of false representation and stealing.

KAI officers dragging a man into blackmaria, on Tuesday, at the Toll Gate.

Family of electrocuted WAEC candidate rejects EKDC N1m compensation Olalekan Olabulo FAMILY of 14-year-old Deborah Faleke, who was electrocuted to after a high tension cable tripped off and fell on her in Alakuko area of Lagos State has disagreed with the management of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKDC).

The father of the deceased, Pastor Ademola Faleke, told Lagos Metro

that the management of the electricity company made an offer of N1 million to him, which he rejected.

“My lawyer and I have met with the management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company. They persuaded me and promised to pay me N1 million for the compensation of the death of my daughter,” he said.

Deborah had gone to Alakuko to see one of her friends after her West African Certif-

icate Examination (WASCE) when the cable fell on her at Fagbeyinro Street, Alakuko.

The rejection of the compensation is coming at a time the management of the electricity distribution company set up a committee to review the incident.

Head, Corporate Communications Unit of the power company, Mr Felix Ofulue, told newsmen that the company would look at the incident critically.

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016 8 news Navy arrests 2 suspected Avengers over attack on NNPC, Chevron, SPDC pipelines in Delta Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

I

N what could be adjudged as a major breakthrough on the war against the activities of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) in Niger Delta, the Nigerian Navy has arrested two prime suspects believed to be the main coordinators of several attacks on oil and gas facilities in the embattled region.

One of the suspects, believed to be a kingpin of the NDA, was said to be responsible for the destruction of oil and gas facilities belonging to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Chevron Nigeria Ltd (CNL) in the state, in recent times.

The suspect was said to have specifically and successfully coordinated the ruthless attack on Chevron’s Okan Valve platform offshore Escravos on May 4, 2016.

He was picked up by a crack team of the Nigerian Navy last Thursday, at an undisclosed popular town in Delta State.

The second prime suspect, believed to have aided the Avengers in the silent bombing of the newlyrepaired Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC)’s 48 inches crude oil pipeline onshore Forcados, last Thursday, was apprehended at Ogulagha in Burutu Local Government Area of the state.

He is said to be the head of the vigilance group in the town and has confessed to having knowledge of the perpetrators, but oblivious of their names and addresses.

Although paraded masked, details of identities of the two suspects were restricted in order not to circumvent further investigations that would lead to the arrest of their collaborators who were said to be on the run.

Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), Commodore Raimi Mohammed, who briefed the press on the development in Warri, the state capital, on Tuesday, said the arrests were made after several weeks of rigorous trailing and monitoring of the suspects’ movements.

He said before the eventual arrest of the prime suspect, who coordinated the bombing of the NNPC and Chevron oil and gas facilities, several of his footsoldiers had been nabbed.

Excited Commodore Mohammed, who thanked other security agencies and the Delta State government for their supports and cooperation, stated that the prime suspect had

been deeply involved in pipeline vandalism to steal crude oil. ‘’He steals crude oil from about 35 abandoned oil well heads in Okpoko and

Obodo in Warri South Local Government Area of the state. ‘’The Nigerian Navy believes that with the arrest of this suspect, the attacks

on Chevron/NNPC oil and gas facilities will abate,’’ the naval boss noted.

He also disclosed that some of the foot-soldiers and collaborators of the

suspect, who were now on the run, would be fished out.

Items recovered from the two suspects were displayed when they were pa-

Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Reverend Uja Tor Uja (left), welcoming the Director-General, National Lottery Regulatory Commission (NLRC), Mr Joe Ekpe, during the DG’s courtesy visit to the commission, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Kogi assembly crisis: Reps summon Bello, Buratai Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja

The House of Representatives, on Tuesday, summoned the governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, and the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Tukur Yusuf Buratai, to appear before its ad hoc committee over alleged illegality and impunity bordering on violation of the National Assembly joint resolution on the state assembly crisis.

The House resolutions was sequel to a motion moved by Honourable Chukwuemeka Uja, entitled: “Urgent need to stop the illegality and impunity in Kogi State.”

To this end, the House directed all parties to the dispute to stop forthwith everything regarding legislative businesses of the House until the National Assembly vacated its earlier resolution on the matter.

The lawmakers also warned the governor to stop forthwith the implementation of the state’s 2016 budget, describing it as “illegal” and “impeachable.”

Honourable Uja, while moving the motion, had alleged impunity by the governor, saying “the Federal High Court Abuja, on the May 19, 2016 nullified the purported impeachment of Honourable Momoh Jimoh, the Speaker of the Kogi House of Assembly, reinstated him and recalled his fourteen(14) loyalists and asked them to resume

plenary and legislative business immediately.”

“Armed military men, alleged to be officers of the Nigerian Army, led by one Captain Usman from the Nigerian Army, was in Lokoja, in the company with the security details and escort of the governor. The armed military men further went to the House of Assembly around 10.00a.m and displaced men of the Nigeria Police who were stationed to maintain law and order at the Kogi State House of Assembly complex, took over the security of the assembly complex and led the five members allegedly loyal to the governor to the House for legislative business in defiance of the resolution of the National Assembly and in disregard of the judgment of the Federal High Court, Abuja,” the lawmaker said.

Contributing to the motion, Honourable Ali Isa

Jesse expressed displeasure at the governor’s disregard for the resolutions of the National Assembly, urging the House to initiate an impeachment proceeding against him.

While describing the disregard of the resolution of the National Assembly and ruling of the court by Governor Bello as an act of impunity, the House Majority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, said there was no immunity protecting the governor from investigation.

He added that the governor had no right to deploy the military in the state, more so that it was against a legally recognised group of lawmakers whom were favoured by a court judgment.

The resolution to summon the governor was preceded by an amendment to prayers of the motion as proposed by the Minority Leader, Leo

Ogor, urging the House “to invoke Section 89 of the constitution which empowers the parliament to invite anyone within Nigeria to appear before it to give explanation as may be required.”

Gbajabiamila also expressed displeasure on the matter, saying “the issues border on violation of the constitution, which clearly talked about quorum. The five-man legislature which was giving legislative backing to the governor could never have formed a quorum in a House of 21 members. And even if the governor enjoys immunity under Section 308 of the constitution, that immunity does shield him from being investigated.’’

The House, therefore, charged the Gbajabiamila-led ad hoc committee, which earlier investigated the matter, to invite all parties stated in the motion for explanations.

raded along other suspects involved in illegal oil refinery activities and killing of soldiers at Batan, sometimes ago.

The items included IEDs, cables, motor battery, saws, hammers, bolts and others used in blowing up pipelines.

However, when asked if the prime suspects, caught in connection with the destruction of oil and gas pipelines belonging to NNPC and Chevron, Commodore Mohammed said he was not after names, but perpetrators of economic saboteurs in the region.

“I can assure you that we have got the right person and based on what has happened and what has not happened, since his arrest, I remain convinced that he is the person we have been looking for.

“On whether the suspect is a member of the NDA, I’m not actually after the name, I’m not bothered about the name anybody claims.

“I want to know those behind it; those that when I take out, the illegality and the criminality will stop.

That’s what matters to me.

“If I pursue names, anybody can claim names or bear any name, I’m not interested in that. And I have not asked him whether he’s a member of the Niger Delta Avengers.

“If he is, it is the effects I’m interested in. If he has been helping them, they’ll definitely need to look for another person now.

“I’m after those committing or aiding the criminality in my area of responsibility,” Mohammed insisted.

Meanwhile, a suspect, Michael John, who was caught in connection with the killing of soldiers at Jones Creeks about three months ago, confessed to journalists that he was also involved in several killings, one of which was the killing of another soldier, a policeman and a boat driver at Batan in April 2016.

NECO releases 2016 Cowbellpedia qualifying exam result

By Kehinde Adio

The National Examinations Council (NECO) has released the results of the 2016 Cowbellpedia Mathematics Qualifying Examination.

According to a press release from Promasidor Nigeria Limited and made available to the Nigerian Tribune, on Tuesday, a total of 46,698 students, comprising 4,892 (junior category) and 22,443 (senior category) sat for the

qualifying examination in 235 centres across the country.

The release revealed that this year’s enrolment was 40 per cent above last year’s figure, with three states recording the highest enrolment growth. These states are Kaduna, 214 per cent; Kebbi, 164 per cent and Sokoto, 146 per cent.

From the 46,698, enrolment figure, 108 students (54 each for junior and senior categories) are to pro-

ceed to the second stage, which is the Television Quiz Show. This figure is made up of the top 20 for the two categories; and 34 best scores, based on one per state.

The second stage, which will be in a quiz format, will be further sub-divided into preliminary, semifinals and finals. The show will serialise into 13 episodes and will be aired on 14 television stations across the country.

The Managing Director of Promasidor Nigeria Limited, Mr Olivier Thiry, acknowledged the support given by NECO, state Ministries of Education, school principals, teachers, the press and other partner agencies for their support for the initiative over the years.

He explained that the company had significantly increased the prize for the finals for both students and teachers.

9

news

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

New education policy: Ajimobi apologises for poor communication

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare, Abiodun Awolaja and Wale Akinselure

O

YO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has apologised to the people of the state for the furore that greeted the new education direction of the state, acknowledging that the state government committed three mistakes.

He listed the three communication errors of the state government as its failure to meet with relevant stakeholders before placing advertorial in the media, charging N250,000 for expression of interest form and placing advertisements in the media.

Speaking at the rescheduled stakeholders’ meeting on the management of schools, held on Monday, at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Ibadan, Ajimobi claimed responsibility for all the gaffes.

“We made three mistakes.

We should not blame the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology or my other advisers or members of my cabinet. There is some politics in introducing and implementing policies. First, we failed to meet relevant stakeholders, that is, having a pre-meeting, before placing advertorial in the media. Then, we should not have asked stakeholders to pay N250,000 for expression of interest form. Third, we made a mistake by publicising this in the media, although the thinking was that we make the policy known to everyone at once through the media. Above all, I accept all the mistakes, please, forgive me,” Ajimobi said.

Ajimobi explained the intent of the state government was public/private engagement in the management of public secondary schools, aimed at addressing the degeneration in the education sector of the state.

Against this backdrop, he said the government could no more solely manage the schools and was compelled to change its strategy which included involving individuals, old boys’ associations, missionaries in some aspects of managing the schools like provision of school infrastructure.

He hinted that it cost the state government N55,125 to take care of one student compared to N1,000 education development levy collected from each student per term.

He appealed to the Labour movement to embrace dialogue, while emphasising that the state government would not return schools to any individual or group or retrench teachers, as feared in some quarters.

On fears of increased tuition, Ajimobi assured that the government, through the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology would regulate and set standards of operation for the new partners.

Furthermore, Ajimobi intimated of government’s desire to constitute different community committees, where schools were sited, that would be involved in schools’ management.

He expressed displeasure at the ongoing strike called by the Labour movement, inviting the Labour, opposition and stakeholders to submit their alternate ideas to the policy of government to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology by the end of the month.

Ajimobi said government did not intend to abdicate its responsibility, thereby assuring of monitoring for quality assurance, policy formulation, curriculum development, regulation of charges/fees and setting standards for teaching and learning.

In the longterm, he said the new policy would improve the standard of education, results of students in examinations, school infrastructure and enhance efficiency in schools’ management.

The stakeholders’ consultative meeting was attended by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III; the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Bishop, Ibadan South (Anglican Communion), Reverend J. A. Ajetunmobi; chairman, Muslim Community of Oyo State, Alhaji Kunle Sanni; educationists, traditional rulers, Muslim and Christian clerics, among other stakeholder groups.

Also in attendance were state deputy governor, Mr Moses Adeyemo; Secretary to State Government, Mr Olalekan Alli; Chief of Staff, Dr Gbade Ojo; Head of Service, Mr Soji Eniade; permanent secretaries, members of the state House of Assembly, local government chairmen, among others.

The Alaafin and the Olubadan lauded the state government’s initiative as capable of revolutionalising the education sector of the state.

The Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Samuel Adegbola chided the state government for poor communication of the policy intents.

Similarly, Alhaji Kunle Sanni said the stakeholders’ meeting should have been held before the state government disseminated an advertorial in the media, especially questioning the part where interested individuals were asked to purchase ex-

pression of interest form at N250,000.

He called for the resuscitation of school inspectors and setting up committees in different communities to see to the development of schools in their different areas.

An educationist, Professor Moji Oyebola of the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan, urged the state government to regularly pay teachers’ salaries, provide incentives to workers and monitor to instil discipline in the teachers.

Reverend Ajetunmobi called for the understanding of all stakeholders in the matter.

He noted that the N250,000 request for expression of interest was wrong, while also noting that the impact of the N1,000 education development levy collected by the state government was not evident in schools.

Workers take over Ibadan streets

Earlier, workers in Oyo

State, under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Tuesday, in furtherance of the war they declared on the state government to fight what they described as the privatisation of public schools in the state, took over major streets and market places in Ibadan, to express their grievances and sensitise the masses about their stance.

The ‘Occupy Oyo’ protest which took place in addition to the stay home indefinite strike, was a peaceful rally called by the leadership of the NLC in the state.

Workers turned out en masse to show their support for the protest, which took off at the NLC Secretariat in Agodi and had stopovers at Oje market and Bere roundabout.

The procession, which had teachers fully represented, was led by a blue truck filled with sound systems and public address systems wand was playing different nursery rhymes.

Residents of the routes taken by the procession came out in droves to show

solidarity, while many also joined the protest. The protest which enjoyed a huge turnout turned back at Bere and headed back to its secretariat.

Commercial activities were brought to a standstill and all vehicular movements stopped, as the workers were all over the streets and policemen were seen in strategic points trying to ensure the protest continued to be peaceful.

The workers, in loud voices, condemned the action, describing it as a barbaric and unproductive move, which they vowed to fight till a standstill.

There were chants and abusive songs from members of the public, who believed privatisation of schools would add to the financial difficulty they were already battling with.

Students’ protest, dangerous omen —Ex-Education Minister

The violence unleashed

on Monday by secondary school students protesting the planned privatisation of some public secondary schools in the state is a dangerous action with dire consequences for the future, a former Education Minister, Professor Tunde Adeniran, has said.

Adeniran, who spoke with Nigerian Tribune at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, during a press conference organised by the Yoruba Unity Forum on the state of the nation, stated that he was alarmed by the violence unleashed by the youth, who he said vandalised his vehicle.

He said: “I am not in full grasp of the issues involved, but the only aspect that bothers me is the tendency, the orientation being given to school children, the violent tendency.

“It is sad, it is very dangerous when children of that age will now resort to violence, believing that it is through violence that they can get whatever they want.”

From left, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Governor Abiola Ajimobi; Secretary to the State Government, Mr Olalekan Ali and the Olubadan of Ibadanland,Oba Saliu Adetunji, at the stakeholders’ interactive forum on public secondary schools, in Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU.

Police dismiss, arraign corporal for killing, burying Inspector After withdrawing N300,000 from his account Biola Azeez -Ilorin THE Kwara State police command has dismissed a corporal, Mr Daramola Tosin, of Ekiti Police Division from service for allegedly withdrawing N300,000 from bank account of an inspector, Mr Lateef Shuaib, shooting him to death and burying him in a bush near Osi Police station, in Ekiti Local Government Area of the state.

The command also arraigned the dismissed officer on Tuesday, at the Magistrates’ Court in Ilorin, the state capital.

According to the First Information Report (FIR), ob-

tained in Ilorin, on Tuesday, Shuaib’s sister, Mrs Sherifat Hammed, reported on May 10, to the Osi Police Station, that her brother had not been seen since May 6.

The FIR further said Mrs Hammed also reported that she suspected Mr Tosin, adding that her elder brother had told her that he gave Tosin his Automated Teller Machine (ATM) card when he was sick, based on trust, for him (Tosin) to be withdrawing money from his UBA account for him.

The FIR further quoted Mrs Hameed as saying that Tosin dishonestly started transferring money from Shuaib’s account, bit by bit,

without the late inspector’s knowledge and consent, withdrawing N300,000.

The FIR said the offences were culpable homicide, breach of trust and theft, contrary to Section 221, 312 and 289 of penal code law.

When the case was called up, the police prosecutor, Mr James Odaodu, told the court, presided over by Mr Nurudeen Adeyanju, that the offence of the murder was capital in nature, adding that it was not ordinarily bailable.

He pleaded with the court to remand the accused in prison custody.

Adeyanju did not take plea from the accused, but said the court lacked jurisdic-

tion to hear the matter, as it involved a murder charge, adding that it should be handled by high court.

The magistrate, however, ordered that the dismissed officer should be remanded at the Federal Prisons, Mandalla, in Ilorin and adjourned the case till June 21 for further mention.

State Commissioner of Police, Mr Sam Okaula, had earlier stated that when the matter was brought to his attention, he ensured thorough investigation into the matter.

He said the corporal later confessed to committing the crime and he subsequently dismissed him.

10

news

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Alleged $40m money laundering: Jonathan’s cousin arraigned, remanded in Kuje prison Sunday Ejike - Abuja

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HE Federal Government on Tuesday arraigned former President Goodluck Jonathan’s cousin, Roberts Azibaola and his wife, Stella, before the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja.

The Roberts are being prosecuted over alleged payment of $40 million into their company, One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, by the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA).

They pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charge and the trial judge, Justice Nnamdi Dimgba, ordered that Roberts (the 1st defendant) be remanded in Kuje Prison till today pending the determination of their bail applications, while the court admitted Mrs Roberts (2nd defendant) to the administrative bail earlier granted by the EFCC. Chief Chris Uche, representing the first defendant, had earlier urged the court to admit his client to bail on liberal terms, arguing that the offences which Roberts was charged with were bailable.

In the bail application which was brought pursuant to Section 36 (5) of the 1999 Constitution and Administration of the Criminal Justice Act (ACJA),

Roberts’ lawyer prayed the court to admit his client to bail in view of the “pains” he had suffered in the custody of the EFCC despite a valid court order admitting him to bail.

In moving the motion,

Uche submitted: “The alleged offences are not capital offences and are therefore bailable. Roberts had been in EFCC custody for these alleged offences for over two months for no reason.

“We went to court and an

Abuja High Court granted him bail in the some of N10million, but the order was flagrantly disobeyed by the respondent (EFCC).

“When these orders were disobeyed, we wrote the respondent, but they refused

Cousin of former President Goodluck Jonathan, Roberts Azibaola and his wife, Stella, during their arraignment at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, on Tuesday.

Money laundering: Former Air Chief, Umar, seeks out-of-court settlement THE Federal High Court, Abuja, on Tuesday, heard that a former Chief of Air Staff, Mohammed Umar, has commenced an out of court settlement in the money laundering charge against him.

Umar is being tried on a seven-count charge bordering on money laundering of N4.8 billion, while he was Chief of Air Staff.

He had pleaded not guilty and was granted bail by Justice Binta Nyako on selfrecognition.

At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, Umar’s counsel, Hassan Liman, informed the court of moves by his client to have the matter settled out of court.

Liman said that his client held meetings with officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

He said the first meeting, involving the head of legal department of the commission, the prosecuting counsel and Umar, was held on May 31 while another meeting was held on June 3.

He said that in attendance at both meetings was a member of the EFCC task

force, Ibrahim Musa and the prosecution counsel, Sylvanus Tahir.

He said it was resolved that the defendant should send a formal communication to the commission.

Liman further disclosed

that a formal letter addressed to the Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Magu, dated June 6, had already been dispatched.

Confirming the development, the prosecuting counsel said that he was aware

that the defendant had written a letter to the chairman of the commission.

He said that in the letter, the defendant was seeking to engage the Federal Government in a discussion over the charge.

Campaign funds probe: We have no record of Adeseun’s arrest —EFCC

By Moses Alao A Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has granted an order that the Ibadan branch of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) be served the court process in suit FHC/IB/ CS/59/16 between Senator Ayoade Adeseun and EFCC, citing the refusal of the national headquarters of the commission in Abuja to be served on the ground that it had no record of Adeseun’s arrest or detention.

Adeseun had sued the EFCC for abuse of his fundamental human rights, having been arrested and detained since May 10, 2016, without arraignment or written statement of the charges against him.

His lawyers, led by Michael Lana, revealed before the court that the court bailiff was turned down from serving the commission in Abuja, because it said “it had no record of Adeseun in its database.”

The senator, Nigerian Tribune gathered, is being held for his involvement in the collection of campaign funds for the 2015 general election in Oyo State. But Lana prayed the court to grant three orders: to serve the court process on the Ibadan branch of the EFCC; release Adeseun or admit him to bail and direct an EFCC official, Zakari Biu, to appear before the court and produce the senator.

In his ruling on the exparte application, however, Jus-

tice Nathaniel Ayo Emmanuel granted the first order to serve the Ibadan branch, but declined to grant the remaining two orders, adjourning the case till June 13, 2016, when the main application would be considered.

Speaking with newsmen after the proceeding, Lana queried why Adeseun could be detained for close to a month without arraignment or a written statement of charges against him, noting that it was bizarre that the EFCC headquarters said it had no case against Adeseun or have his record in its database, saying: “It means that an officer of the commission is flexing muscles.

This is a democracy and this should not be allowed to happen in a democracy.

to obey the orders. Roberts was whisked away to Lagos

by EFCC operatives and he collapsed in Lagos.

“The facts as they are, is that his rights as a citizen have been breached. Right to bail for a man who is presumed innocent until proven is a constitutional right.

The offences are not capital offences,” Uche stated.

In opposing the bail application, prosecuting counsel, Aliyu Yusuf, urged the court to deny Roberts bail on the ground that the offences for which the defendants are being tried are serious.

Part of the charges reads: “That you Azibaola Robert being the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer and a signatory to the Zenith Bank account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited, Mrs Stella Azibaola Robert, being a director and a signatory to the account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited and Amobi Ogum (now at large), on or about 8th September, 2014 in Abuja within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did conspired among yourselves to commit an illegal act to wit: money laundering of the sum of $40million transferred to the domiciliary account of One Plus Holdings Nigeria Limited with Zenith Bank.

Court remands 21-yr-old for death of 18-yr-old girlfriend Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti A 21-year-old man, Olanrewaju Olorunfemi, has been remanded in prison custody by an Ado Ekiti Magistrates’ court for alleged complicity in the death of his girlfriend from alleged abortion.

Olorunfemi was detained along with his alleged accomplice, Miss Sadiat Akeem (18), in prison custody for allegedly involving in abortion.

The police prosecutor, Sgt. Caleb Leranmo, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 25 at Ilawe-Ekiti in Ekiti South West Local Government Area of Ekiti State.

Leramo alleged that Olorunfemi was the boyfriend of 18-year-old Fumbi Taiwo, who had died in the process of abortion.

The police accused them of alleged unlawfully murdering Miss Taiwo through an abortion process.

According to the prosecutor, the accused committed an offence contrary to Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap C 16, Laws of Ekiti State 2012.

Nigerian Tribune

Bill taxing hotel services in Rivers scales first reading Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt THE two executive bills seeking to regulate and ensure the collection of taxes in Rivers State, especially on hotel services, scaled through the first reading during their presentation on the floor of the state House of Assembly, on Tuesday.

The two bills, “Rivers State Taxes and Levies (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2016” and “Rivers State Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Bill 2016”, sought to empower the state government to impose and collect levies, taxes, dues and other revenues.

Speaker of the state legislature, Honourable Martin Amaewhule, presented the two bills, adding that the first one would regulate the rates of taxes and levies from time to time by service under the hand of the state governor and would be administered by the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RSIRS).

He further said the Rivers State Hotel Occupancy and Restaurant Consumption Bill, 2016, when it becomes operational, would impose tax on goods and services consumed in hotels, restaurants and event centres within the territory of the state.

The bill, which had six parts and 21 sections may be cited as the ‘Consumption Tax Law of Rivers State’ when passed into law and would ensure that every hotel, restaurant and event centre within the state was registered with the Rivers State Internal Revenue Service (RSIRS).

Delta assembly suspends legislator, recalls council chairman THE Delta State House of Assembly has suspended one of its members, Honourable Reuben Izeze, the representative of Ughelli South state constituency, over alleged legislative misconduct.

The Majority Leader of the House, Honourable Tim Owhefere, moved the motion.

“He is hereby suspended for a period of three months” the Speaker, Honourable Monday Igbuya, said during the plenary on Tuesday.

In another development, the House recalled the suspended chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government Area, Mrs Nkechi Chukwura.

Nigerian Tribune Wednesday, 8 June, 2016 11 businessnews Low oil price: Shell sacks 12,500 workers worldwide, FG to raise N105bn in local to leave 10 countries currency bonds Olatunde Dodondawa with agency reports

F

OLLOWING low oil price regime that has characterized the global crude market for about two years, Royal Dutch Shell has announced it will exit oil and gas operations in up to 10 countries in a drive to deepen cost cuts and pay down debt following its $54billion acquisition of BG Group. The main source for cost savings, including 12,500 job cuts this year, will come from overlaps in operations in areas including Australia, Brazil and the North Sea. The company is active in more than 70 countries and said it would like to focus on 13 important nations where it is making good returns, including Brazil, Australia and the United States.

“Our portfolio is probably more diverse and spread around the world, and in some parts more mature, than we would like it to be,” Shell’s Chief Financial Officer, Simon Henry, told reporters on Tuesday.

The move, which includes the sale of 10 percent of its oil and gas production assets, will make Shell a smaller company that offers investors access to a more gas-heavy portfolio than some of its rivals such as ExxonMobil.

Presenting its strategy following the close of the BG deal in February, the Anglo-Dutch company outlined plans to target annual spending of $25 billion to $30 billion until the end of the decade, or less if oil prices remain below $50 a barrel.

It lowered its planned 2016 Capital Expenditure (Capex) to $29 billion, with exploration set at $2.5 billion, in a third cut from an initial $35 billion and raised its target for savings from the integration of BG to $4.5 billion, up $1 billion from previous guidance.

Chief Executive Officer

Ben van Beurden hopes the new cuts will help boost Shell’s share price, which has underperformed rivals since oil prices started to collapse in mid-2014.

He promised shareholders Shell would generate double-digit returns for investors by the end of the decade.

“We need to be number

THE Controller, Federal Operations Unit of Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ikeja, Umar Dahiru, said the unit impounded goods with a Duty Paid Value (DPV) of N780.4 million between January 1 and May 31, 2016.

The Public Relations Officer of the unit, Uche Ejesieme, disclosed this in a statement in Lagos recently He said that the unit also apprehended 69 suspects in connection with the seizures.

“Comparatively, the report represents a positive increase when compared with the report of the corresponding period of 2015,” he said.

He confirmed that over N297 million was recovered through the various interventions during the period.

Dahiru said that the

$60s in 2018.

“With all promises to shareholders maintained and lower forward capex than many thought possible, Shell in their own words is ‘creating a world class investment case’ which we agree with,” said analysts at Bernstein, who rate Shell’s stock as ‘outperform’.

THE Federal Government plans to raise N105 billion ($527.6 million) in local currency-denominated bonds with maturities of five to 20 years on June 15, the debt Management Office said on Tuesday.

The debt office said it will raise N50 billion from a local bond maturing in 2036, N40 billion on paper maturing in 2026 and N15 billion on debt maturing in 2020.

All the debt notes are reopenings of previously issued paper.

‘IMO evaluation will spur NIMASA to better service’ Tyavzua Saanyol-Abuja

From left: Managing Director/CEO, AshakaCem Plc, Rabiu Umar; chairman, Suleiman Yahyah; Complany Secretary, Zainab Umar and Vice Chairman, Edith Onwuchekwa, during the 41st annual general meeting of the company, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

Oil price climbs above $51 per barrel Olatunde Ddondawa-Lagos

CRUDE oil prices hit their highest in eight months on Tuesday, as Brent rose to $51.22 per barrel as at 11.35 GMT, highest since October 2015.

This is cause by the dollar nearing one-month lows and by falling Nigerian oil output after a spate of at-

tacks on oil installations and infrastructure, according to analysts.

“With Brent staying above $50, oil is on an upward momentum with the restart of French refineries that were shut on strikes and pipeline attacks in Nigeria,” said Kaname Gokon at brokerage Okato Shoji in Tokyo.

Customs impounded N780m worth of goods in 5 months Tola Adenubi-Lagos

one when it comes to total shareholder return,” van Beurden told journalists after the company announced a 10 per cent return in capital employed by the end of the decade, up from around 8 percent between 2013 and 2015.

Under this scenario, Shell assumes oil prices will average in the mid-

achievements did not come on a platter of gold in view of the challenges the unit continued to face with miscreants masquerading as smugglers.

“Every now and then our operatives are confronted by these street urchins with hostilities, aimed at frustrating the efforts of our operatives. It is instructive to note that these smugglers are deadlier than armed robbers both in style and mode of operations.

“However, I am pleased to tell you that our operations have benefitted from the training and re-training policy of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Retired Col. Hameed Ali,” Dahiru said.

The Controller said the unit continued to develop new strategies for fighting smuggling, adding that it was on the basis of this

that the unit had remained on top of its statutory mandate.

Preliminary work got under way on Monday to restart three of Total’s French oil refineries, stopped as part of nationwide strikes.

Crude futures have nearly doubled since January when they hit their lowest since late 2003 buoyed by supply outages in Canada, Venezuela, Libya and Nigeria.

Nigeria’s Bonny Light crude output is down by an estimated 170,000 barrels per day (bpd) following attacks on pipeline in-

frastructure, a source told Reuters.

OPEC failed to agree on a clear oil output strategy last week, but traders said Saudi Arabia’s promise not to flood the market has provided support to oil.

“Oil prices at $50 a barrel could revive shale drilling activity and stabilise declining U.S. oil production, possibly already harbingered by the recent uptick in rig counts,” said Norbert Rücker, head of commodities research at Julius Baer.

Low oil prices: Cisco GM recommends digitisation

By Ruth Olurounbi

OFF the back of a disappointing Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) ministerial meeting last week, Cisco’s General Manager in Nigeria, Olakunle Oloruntimehin, has proffered alternative to oil dependence, saying Nigeria and oil dependent countries in general, to digitise their economy for sustainable growth.

“With the OPEC countries failing to reach an agreement on oil production levels, it will become more and more crucial for oil-reliant countries to digitise their economies.

If Nigeria is to remain the largest economy on the continent, it will have to move to other modes of revenue generation and a viable one at this stage, is country digitisation. Country digitisation is the connection of everything that makes a country function optimally. Connecting people, companies, devices, appliances, and homes by using digital technology to allow us to function optimally, smarter and more costeffective,” Oloruntimehim said on Tuesday.

It will be recalled that following insistent fall in oil prices, Nigeria’s GDP

contracted by 0.36 per cent year-on-year in the first three months of 2016, compared to a 2.11 per cent expansion in the previous period and way below forecasts of 1.7 per cent growth.

According to him, digitisation will not only diversify the economy and fast track the creation of jobs, it will also provide the platform for improved efficiency and transparency of government services by affording citizens engagement and visibility about what Government is doing to improve services in a cost effective manner, drive innovative job creation.

DIRECTOR General of Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dakuku Peterside has expressed confidence that the ongoing evaluation of maritime safety in the country by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) will spur the agency to better service delivery.

In an interview with the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, Peterside affirmed that, Nigerian Maritime and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is committed to the enthronement of global best practices in the provision of maritime services in Nigeria.

He welcomed the IMO evaluation team, acknowledging that, the audit will ensure that member states are using modern tools required of them for safety of ship, passengers and cargo.

The DG stated further that, the audit guarantees efficiency and effectiveness. According to him, “we are determined to develop indigenous capacity that will be of global standard”.”

Even as he conceded that sanctions could be imposed on the Country if the audit reveals gross violation of safety standard in Nigeria.

“The audit is not a fault finding exercise but it is where the IMO verifies the true condition of member’s sea safety.

Where there are gaps, recommendations will be made to close those gaps and get our system to work better and more efficient.”

He assured that, the evaluation will give the Nigerian maritime sector the opportunity to make amends and record successes where the country has done well.

Nigerian Tribune Wednesday, 8 June, 2016 12 businessnews Crude oil export drops below 1.3m bpd —Kachikwu GSK assures

T

HE Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, has said that Nigeria’s current crude oil export volume is less than 1.3 million barrels per day.

Kachikwu said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the export level was negatively affecting the 60 per cent to 40 per cent Joint Venture agreement of the Federal Government.

“In terms of exports, you know that usually we tend to have a 60 to 40 per cent Joint Venture (JV), the 1.6 million barrels is a mixture of Production Sharing Contract and JV production.

The first is the 445,000 barrels which goes into our local production for the refined petroleum products that we see. If you take that out, we are probably at less than 1.3 million barrels in the export volume and we all treasure that 1.3 million and affects Nigeria in 6040 relationship business,’’ he said He noted that the volume of oil available to the federation had dwindled substantially, adding that Federal Government was making every effort to ensure increase in the volume.

According him, the increase is important to enable the government to meet the demand of 2016 budget projection on the oil production.

He said that the survival of oil sector “heavily depends on activism to push your range, work, profile and stands’’.

He said peace in the Niger Delta was necessary to get things back to normal in the country, adding that what is important is that once we find the peace,

which I am sure we will, the very nature of Nigerians are a lot of peaceful people at the end of the day.

Eventually, we will have to sit down and talk and find

solutions. And once we do, hopefully, there would be enough time for us to ramp up and recover some parts of the losses,’’ he said.

NAN recalls that the Fed-

chiefs, opinion leaders and the minister of Petroleum Resources would be part of the group that would engage the militants in the dialogue.

From left: Executive Director Environmental Right Action (ERA), Godwin Ojo; Director Women Action Environmental Right, Ambassador Wardar Ayibakuro and Environmental Legal Expert, Simon Amaduobogba, during the Environmental Right Action Kick-Starting the UNEP report recommendation and Ogoni clean up in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SUNDAY OSUNRAYI

FG appoints Florence Anyanwu acting Auditor-General Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

THE Federal Civil Service Commission (FCSC) on Tuesday approved the appointment of Mrs. Florence Anyanwu as the acting Auditor-General of the Federation (AuGF).

This is according to a statement issued by Mrs. Olawunmi Ogunmosunle, the Chief Press Secretary, Office of the Auditor-General of the Federation in Abuja.

Anyanwu took over in acting capacity following the retirement of Mr. Samuel Ukura, who attained the mandatory age of 60 years on June 5, 2016.

The Secretary to the Government of the Federation had directed the FCSC to appoint an acting AuGF, pending the appointment of a substantive one within three months.

“Mrs Florence Anyanwu was the Director of Audit in-charge of Legislature, Judiciary and Security Agencies Department of the Office of the AuditorGeneral for the Federation, Nigeria.

“She has more than 32 years’ experience as a professional auditor. She joined the OAuGF in 1984 as Auditor 1, and became Director of Audit in 2011.

“She earned her mem-

Communications minister promises reprieve for telecoms operators’ challenges MINISTER of Communications, Adebayo Shittu has promised to look into problems militating against smooth operations of licensed telecommunications operators in the country by setting up of a technical committee to interface on identifiable challenges.

Playing host to members of the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) in his office in Abuja on Tuesday, the Minister said the Committee, which will comprise of officials of the ministry and members of the association will address some of the problems enumerated by the Association and identify relevant bodies to solve them.

eral Government on Monday said it would open dialogue with militants in the Niger Delta.

It said the national security adviser, military

The association, through its chairman, Gbenga Adebayo, sought government intervention through the office of the minister on issues of interference with the smooth operations of telecom services, closure of base station sites without appropriate court order, multiple taxation and the proposed Communication Service Tax Bill 2015 by the National Assembly.

Shittu said there was the need to create an enduring platform to solve these problems, hence the need for setting up the committee, which will suggest appropriate avenue such as the Presidency, National Assembly and the Ministry to address each problem.

He promised to continue associating with relevant

bodies in the ICT sector, including ALTON which he described as adding value to social, economic and financial values of Nigerians adding that he will support the Association holistically.

bership of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria in 2004 and was conferred a fellow in 2013.

“She is also a member of

Chartered Institute of Taxation Nigeria, 2011, and Nigeria Institute of Management in 2004,” it said.

‘NIPOST to increase revenue generating capacity’ THE General Manager, Expedited Mail Service (EMS) section, Nigeria Postal Service (NIPOST), Umar Musa, on Tuesday said there were plans to increase the agency’s revenue generating capacity by 50 per cent.

Musa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the increase in revenue would be brought about by technological innovations and improved service quality rather than increased prices.

He said the main aim of the increased capacity was for the agency to attain the same standard with other courier companies such as the DHL and UPS. “There will be an im-

provement in our courier service; we will create awareness on the new system and deal with issues hindering NIPOST courier service. The vision is to improve the revenue generation by 50 per cent. To achieve this laudable achievement, certain things have to change.

“I promise to restructure the EMS section so it will attain the same standard with other courier companies. We will also build quality EMS centres at Lagos Island, Lagos Mainland, Ogun and Oyo territories,” Musa said.

He reiterated that the agency would not hike its prices to increase revenue but would rather improve its operation to attract more customers.

shareholders of sustained benefits, divests drinks Kehinde Akinseinde-JayeobaLagos

GLAXOSMITHKLINE Consumer Plc (GSK Nigeria) has assured it’s shareholders of continued profit just as it announced the acceptance to divest from its drinks’ bottling and distribution business, in a statutory filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

This is subsequent to a non-binding offer made in January 25, 2016, by Suntory Beverage and Food Limited (SBF), the global owners of Oasis, Iced tea as well as the locally produced Lucozade and Ribena drinks.

Thus, the company assured it’s shareholders of sustenance of profit from its core business pharmaceutical consumable products.

GSK Consumer Nigeria’s Company Secretary and Legal Director, ? Uchenna Uwechia, in a chat with the Nigerian Tribune, disclosed that the release of assets to SBF, will enable the Pharmaceutical and Consumer Healthcare company to focus solely on its core areas which is the Manufacturing, marketing and production and distribution of pharmaceutical, oral care and nutritional products.

“In reality, we need to maximise our potentials, we are a Pharmaceuticals company and we believe we have potentials in our retained business. If you recall, last year our parent company entered into a joint venture with Novartis, another major global health care company, this has made available to us products like Calcium 101 which has beefed up our portfolio,” he said While allaying fear of retrenchment, Uwechia hinted that aside the sale of the mechanisms used in running that aspect of their business, the possibilities of employment opportunities is assured as SBF has indicated interest in employing all hands involved in the drinks business.

Glo breaks data record, offers 48GB for only N8000 NIGERIA’S leading data network, Globacom, has unveiled a new plan tagged “Data Overload”, designed to give Nigerian data subscribers unprecedented value as the network has increased data value by additional 100 per cent across board.

A breakdown of the offer shows that the N1,000 plan which used to give the subscriber 1.5GB of data now gives 2GB, while

the N2,000 plan which hitherto came with 3GB of data now has 6GB data.

Similarly, subscribers will now get 10GB of data for N2,500 plan instead of 5GB and 12GB for N3,000 instead of 6GB data which the plan offered before.

For the N4,000 data plan, the subscriber will now get 18GB instead of the old 9GB, while the N5,000 subscription will give the customer 24GB.

The biggest offer is the N8,000 subscription which, instead of the old 24GB, now gives the customer a whopping 48GB of data.

A statement from Globacom explained that the new Data Overload was designed to promote upward migration from lower plans and excite Nigerians.

The company added that customers can buy the data plans by dialling *777#, adding that they can also

share and gift any part of the plan to their loved ones.

“As the data gamechanger in the industry, we have decided to give our esteemed subscribers the most affordable data value on our super fast network powered by the Glo 1 submarine cable. We also wish to enrich their communication experience through unbelievable data volumes at best-in-class prices,” Globacom added.

13

editorial Buhari and presidential visits

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

O

N Monday, President Muhammadu Buhari left for London to begin a 10-day vacation during which he would undergo further treatment for an ear infection. For some time, the media had been awash with reports that the president was ill, but with the presidential spokesman emphasising that the president was as fit as a fiddle. But in another breadth, he said that the president was to travel to London in order to attend to a persistent ear infection, based on the recommendation of his personal physician.

It is thus gratifying that as he was set out to jet out of the country for the London trip, President Buhari unequivocally acknowledged that as a mortal, he was bound to fall ill. This assertion elicited spontaneous empathy from Nigerians, who wished him a quick recovery. However, we need to remind public officials, especially those saddled with managing the president, that they would be doing their principal and indeed his administration a major disservice by being hugely economical with the truth concerning his affairs.

Nigerians deserve to know all vital issues in respect of the Number One citizen rather than being subjected to empty semantics.

It was rather unfortunate that certain engagements that the president was billed to perform in recent times had to be delegated to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo apparently at the last minute after elaborate preparations, including a blitz of publicity. While such synergy between the president and his deputy is commendable and deserving, there is grave danger inherent in improper coordination in packaging the president, as it usually creates room for rumour and cheap blackmail.

For instance, the president’s planned trips to Adamawa, Edo and Kano states were cancelled for one reason or the other and, very significantly, Vice President Osinbajo had to stand in for him at the flagging off of the clean up exercise in Ogoniland, a region widely acknowledged as unfavourably disposed to his presidency but which supplies the nation’s economic lifeline. It later emerged that it was his health condition that put paid to that visit. In particular, the cancellation of the planned visit to Lagos at the last minute caused a lot of apprehension for Buhari’s admirers who had figured that the visit to Lagos could be converted to some political mileage for him.

Indeed, presidential visits to the states could, if well handled, be most beneficial to both the host and the guest. It probably might have profoundly altered the narrative in the Niger Delta, for instance, if the president, in company with the immediate past president, had ventured to pay a visit to the region with an olive branch. The visit might have doused the tension amongst the agitators and created an opportunity for a new rapprochement between them and Federal Government.

Nigerian Tribune

If the Niger Delta region was labelled, albeit wrongly, as a hostile host, what about Lagos State, which is home to the Vice President, or Kano State, from where the president garnered unblemished endorsement during the 2015 elections? In Lagos State, the last minute cancellation of the visit caused a monumental waste considering both the expenditure made by the state government towards receiving him and the huge socio-economic advantages that could have accrued to the state from the commercial transactions which the visit would have encouraged. But the president inexplicably chose to dampen the morale of the state government, abort its expectations and raise legitimate doubts in the minds of the people.

Beyond the foregoing, however, is the huge opportunity for political cohesion which the presidential visits could have availed the country at a period in which political observers have claimed that the country has never been more politically divided in its political history. In the hands of a politically astute personality, the state visits would have been converted into an opportunity to reach out to political foes, weaken their resistance and endear him to unmade minds, all in the interest of the country.

It would seem that President Buhari has unwittingly chosen to feast his critics with his cancelled state visits and swell the band of cynics who have also become dangerously incredulous. If it is easy and convenient to push his health challenges forward as the reason for the cancellation of the scheduled visits, his records do not stand him in good stead, as his trips to foreign countries have never failed on the same account. We are persuaded that the state visits should have given him a firsthand experience of his popularity and acceptance as opposed, to what he is being fed by his leash holders.

The state visits would have also afforded him a forum to address friendly and hostile audiences alike across the country, an advantage for a president who came to power via an opposition ticket and has a reform programme to sell to a sceptical public. He will without doubt need the skills of a professional salesman so that people can believe in his wares. One reason for the scepticism against the war against graft is that the relevant sector of the population knows no alternative.

Buhari’s disposition to state visits therefore does very little to justify that optimism. Although the medical intervention which the president has now gone to seek abroad may have mitigated the peoples’ disappointment a little bit, the saliently disconcerting question is; even when he was relatively fit, why did he routinely trounce the plans for presidential visits to the states?

President Buhari’s advisers must rise to the challenge of statecraft and rescue him from the festering impression that he just does not care about the people anymore.

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14 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Learning from Abia-Australia education partnership

R

ECENTLY, 120 teachers and selected Education Secretaries across the three senatorial zones in Abia State were afforded the opportunity to upgrade their knowledge through a training programme facilitated by an Australian- based Non- Governmental Organisation, Precious Kids Education Empowerment (PKEE).

The four- day programme is part of the state government’s efforts towards giving education a place of pride. The programme, which was conducted by some experts, addressed some critical areas such as classroom management, teacher-student relationship, first aid and security alert.

The training came at a very auspicious time. For instance, the “security alert” component of the training was particularly relevant in the face of kidnapping and other forms of criminality across the country, with secondary and primary schools not

spared. The training is expected to equip school officials and administrators with skills that will enable them take a pro-active approach to their schools’ safety through a variety of different tools and methods that analyse potential risks.

Security, according to Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, is a basic human need. If a school is threatened by insecurity, it will affect the attendance of both students and teachers and their physical and mental state. Besides, no parent would want to expose his ward to danger by sending him to a school that is not secured. A safe and secured learning environment would not only afford the students and teachers the opportunity to concentrate, but would reflect on their overall performance. The importance of having a safe and secure learning environment for the academic development of Abia students cannot be overemphasised.

Classroom management

is another component of the training that requires a critical approach. The term is defined as the measure adopted by teachers to ensure that classroom lessons run smoothly despite the disruptive behaviour of students. It also implies the prevention of disruptive behaviour. There are actions and methods teachers can use to achieve a successful and conducive learning environment.

The teacher-student relationship is another strategic component of the training programme. This component has a strong relationship with classroom management because it is argued that a cordial teacher-student relationship fosters a conducive learning environment. On the contrary, a sour teacherstudent relationship would engender a hostile learning environment. This component is as important as salt is to food because the student spends appreciable number of hours with his teacher daily.

The need to provide first

aid services in schools cannot be over-emphasised.

The basis of this claim is that health problems arise in schools that require urgent attention before the

arrival of emergency service providers.

The idea of this exchange programme in the area of education should be replicated across the states as it

will help develop Nigeria’s educational standard.

•Okechukwu Ukegbu, Umuahia, Abia State.

Keshi

On list of recovered loot THE much-awaited list of recovered funds stolen by corrupt government officials has been finally released by the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture, and accoding to the minister supervising that ministry, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the whopping sum of N78billion, $185million and £3million were recovered by the government.

Also on the list were landed properties, completed and uncompleted buildings, vehicles, marine vessels, among others.

With this shocking revelation, Nigeria is, indeed, a fantastically-corrupt country (apology to David Cameron). This recovery is just a tip of the iceberg,

considering the manner in which the cancer of corruption has eaten deep into our national lives, and it is so unfortunate that this defies any logical explanation.

It is, therefore, not surprising that in the last 16 years of our democratic experience, Nigerians have not enjoyed the dividends of democracy.

Billions of dollars generated through crude oil sales have been squandered by those entrusted with leadership in the country.

Throughout the bumper years, Nigerians did not enjoy stable power supply, functional education system, effective transportation system or good road network.

The present administration should, therefore, be commended for its efforts towards eradicating corruption, which has stunted

our economic growth. At least, the war on corruption is endearing Nigerians to President Muhammadu Buhari. It is so painful that Nigerians are living in abject poverty despite the enormous wealth at our disposal.

I hope this war on corruption will not be compromised; I also want to use this opportunity to call on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to beam its searchlight into the operations of local governments in the country if it wants to recover more stolen funds.

I also hope that the names of indicted corrupt people to be published and adequate punishment meted on them, as this will serve as a lesson to other corrupt people.

•Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna State.

Why Buhari should dialogue with Niger Delta Avengers I want to use this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari to dialogue with the new militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers. It is easy to say that the military will tackle militancy in the region, but since the renewed insurgency began, the military has not been able to stop the continued bombings of oil pipelines.

Today, Nigeria is losing hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil per day due to the attacks, and with our dwindling economy, this is a real setback for the country.

Apart from the economic loss, I don’t think the Nigerian government will want to open another war front in the Niger Delta region, considering the fact that we are just achieving victory over the Boko Haram insurgency.

However, my opinion is that we can achieve a more

stable Niger Delta if government channels a larger percentage of oil earnings into the region. I believe if the government continues with the amnesty policy, then the restiveness of the youth in the region will be curbed.

At the moment, the Nigerian military cannot tackle the activities of these militants because of the terrain; one can travel for several hours on water in most of the Niger Delta region, and the military does not have adequate knowledge of the creeks.

I hope President Buhari will see reason in my suggestion, since it is not every issue that force resolves.

The president should just bring the militants together, hear their own side of the story, and work out ways through which their grievances can be addressed.

•Olu Ajibade, Akure, Ondo State.

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opinion

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Buhari’s first year scorecard: Many things to cheer about

By Gani Enahoro

A

SSESSING the past one year of President Muhammad Buhari’s government is a mixed bag of hardworking and successful outcomes on some fronts, near misses in some cases and disappointment in a few places. For a government whose slogan is “change,” it must be difficult, or out rightly unfair, to pass a verdict on a journey of four years in its first year, particularly when systematic steps are required to form the base for the envisaged heights.

However, without doubts, there is no better time than now for a formidable foundation to be laid towards building international trust in our country, as well as the possibility of foreign investment inflow into the country. I must commend President Buhari because the country that was a pariah state in the past, due to widespread corruption, is now leveraging on his famed integrity.

There is a very good perception today that Nigeria can be a home to foreign investors, and in many cases, donor agencies can hopefully increase their activities, without reminding us of the hate speech of the garrulous US Republican Party presidential aspirant, Donald Trump, whose theorem of America colonising us to manage our funds away from our leaders’ ‘itchy fingers’ was made in bad faith.

President Buhari’s administration in the past one year has been slow on the economy so far, but quite successful on foreign diplomacy, which many have criticised for its extensive worldwide itinerary, but in actual fact, they are meant to shore up Nigeria’s visibility in order to project a new and better image for the country.

For me, I will team up with those who consider this strategy as a worthwhile and effective weapon. President Buhari has done very well in that regard, be it in the spiritual realm in far away Saudi Arabia, where he got a red carpet and the uncommon privilege of entering and praying inside the most hallowed chamber of Kaaba, or in the bilateral trade relations agreement or commitments between Nigeria and older or new allies, from the West and the East of the globe.

It is like we have just gained independence and we are

a new bride now. This has been managed very encouragingly by the government, when it is weighed against the rots that our leaders in recent and distant past foisted on us.

Another strategy is that the president has fallen back on is his ‘tough man’ stance as a no-nonsense former Head of State. President Buhari has deliberately or inadvertently played up the role of body language in his style of governance, the famous “New Sheriff in town” disposition, which has oiled the public relations machinery of government in the past one year over and above the scarce policy pronouncements that were being eagerlyawaited to transform or strengthen the polity.

This hype of body language is a good tool in the short run of leadership, but it is not a fantastic virtue, and prone to expire quickly if not effectively followed by a sustained regime of “reward for good and punishment for evil doing.”

The trust invested by Nigerians in this government is currently huge and must not be misplaced or taken for granted; it should also not be hinged on body language alone.

We have long grown in awareness and freedom of speech to be cowed now. Only President Buhari has ever held our national trust for so long and so well. General

Murtala Muhammed’s government had it for short, before it was painfully truncated. The fact that the recent Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) strike action failed when the pump price of petrol was hiked speaks volume of the citizen’s trust in this government.

In the country’s security battles against the Boko Haram insurgents, government has scored excellently well, such that today, no part of the country has the Boko Haram flag hoisted. We were beginning to heave a sigh of relief in the North Eastern zone of the country when recently the militancy in the Niger Delta resurfaced through the birth of a new group, the Niger Delta Avengers, which has indiscriminately been bombing oil pipelines and installations, while threatening to shut down the economy.

Equally frightening is the new dimension by which herdsmen have been attacking innocent people across the Southern part of the country.

However, on the economic front, there is not much that has happened ever since, and the resurgence of militancy in the Niger Delta will further have serious negative implications that would shape the future assessment of this administration in the years to come.

In the area of job creation, a lot still needs to be done, but with the fact that the 2016 budget has just been passed, then we can now begin to monitor how much the figures therein will boost our depressed economy.

At the appropriate time, we will know if the unemployment figure of 12.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, as released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on May 23, 2016, will reduce in subsequent quarters or otherwise.

We will also know if the non-dependence on oil, which is the thrust of this administration, will see agriculture revived through the hands of a youthful and more productive segment of our population.

Now, the final assessment is that President Buhari has performed excellently in certain areas, while he needs to put in more efforts in others, but looking at the overall scorecard of this government in the last one year, we have many things to cheer about, as there is hope for a brighter future for Nigeria.

•Dr Enahoro, Vice President, African Veterinary Association, lives in Warri, Delta State.

Niger Delta Avengers: Peace is cheaper than war

By Umar Sa’ad Hassan

The only thing it succeeded in doing was raising human rights questions in the international community, and if one also considers the army’s previous poor human rights record, I wouldn’t be surprised if the US and other Western countries refuse to sell us arms on grounds of human rights violations, just as they did to the Goodluck Jonathan government when he sought to buy weapons to fight Boko Haram; such refusal could just be when we need the weapons most.

There are reports of how innocent people were harrased, maimed and intimidated in Gbaramatu, and it is hard to figure out what the Commander-in-Chief and his troops were hoping to achieve.

Even if it had succeeded in arresting some members of the militant group, there was always the possibility of that inciting the others to increase the spate of attacks so as not to appear defeated as is common with such elements.

Well, shortly after the army’s visit, the militants bombed three key oil installations in quick succession to further buttress their readiness to see out their cause.

These happened after the deployment of about 100 gunboats and numerous warships to tackle the militants.

That is a clear pointer to the fact that the government has

adopted the wrong approach. Dialogue remains government’s best option in this issue. There must be a tactical and ‘respectful’ wooing of the militants to the discussion table.

Whether or not we can defeat the Niger Delta Avengers is not what is important, the paramount consideration should be the damage they are capable of causing before they are subdued (that is if they are subdued).

The country’s oil production has been cut down by more than 800,000 barrels per day, and Delta State is already reporting a N2.6 billion loss in revenue due to the activities of militants. Peace is cheaper than war and this war is quite expensive if you ask me.

The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr Paul Ackright, has lent his voice to the call for the government to tow the path of reason. There couldn’t possibly be a better way of resolving this crisis. It would heal the wounds which the pathetic handling of the situation by government has already caused. A lot of regrettable comments have been made by key members of this administration before the militants increased the heat, and it is advisable to watch whose help government enlists in bringing the militants together because of the heightened sensitivity involved at this stage.

All hands must be on deck to ensure the Niger Delta Avengers give up their cause without further damage being done.

If the government can’t guarantee the security of our oil installations, then, at least, it must be able to bring the militants to a round-table for discussion, which will, therefore, lead to a halt of all hostilities.

,

HISTORY will forever remember the late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua’s handling of the Niger Delta militancy when he was the number one citizen of this country. He vigorously pursued peace by dangling the amnesty programme, while establishing the Niger Delta ministry.

Government ‘Tompolo’ controlled one of the most vicious groups then, and he was the very last to drop his weapons and met the President. I admired Yar’adua for meeting Tompolo personally, while smiling through it all for the cameras.

Tompolo, at the parley, appeared shy and some- what reserved. It was obvious a lot had been put into getting the much-dreaded ‘Government’ to sit on that table in the mood he was in, and President Yar’adua deserved very much to reap the reward of his hardwork. That was crisis management at its finest.

The Niger Delta Avengers is at the fore front of a recent bid to establish a sovereign nation of the Niger Delta, and it has promised to cripple Nigeria’s oil producing capacity to zero level till it wards off all resistance.The group has been on a crazy spree over the last few weeks, bombing several oil pipelines, including two Chevron oil wellsRMP 23 and RMP 24 because the company embarked on repairs of installations it had bombed earlier. The militants also bombed a Shell oil facility on June 3rd to round up an unprecedented attack of key oil installations in a matter of days which had affected almost everyone in the country.

I hope President Muhammadu Buhari can also handle this crisis in the manner the late President Yar’adua did then. The attack on Gbaramatu Kingdom in Delta State by the Nigerian military was irrational to say the least.

•Hassan, a lawyer, is based in Kano.

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA

Iyalode Bisoye Tejuoso Chief Mrs Bisoye Esther Tejuos o (OON) was born into an Egba royal family in 1916.

Her grandfather was Oba Karunwi, Osile of Oke-Ona, Abeokuta, Ogun state.

•

She studied at Igbein Primary School, Abeokuta before attending Idi Aba Teacher’s Training College, Abeokuta.

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Madam Bisoye Tejuoso, mother of Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, was a prominent Nigerian businesswoman from Abeokuta.

She was the third Iyalode of Egbaland, the first woman industrialist in Nigeria.

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In 1970, she established the famous Teju Industries, a firm specialized in foam manufacturing.

•

She is remembered as a pioneering African woman who attained the summit of financial independence and success.

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She died in 1996 at age 80.

SEGELUULU

CHURCH BOY

FUNOLOGY

•

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

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

A

B

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

inside

nigerdelta Delta pensioners cry out over screening report

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

Delta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa (2nd right); Speaker, State House Assembly, Rt Honourable Monday Igbuya (2nd left); Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, Sapele Local Government Chairman, Honourable Ejaife Odebala, during the Governor’s inspection of Sapele/Warri Road in Sapele, Sapele LGA.

Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba PENSIONERS in Delta state have raised the alarm over the non implementation of the report in respect of the 33 per cent pension increase approved by the Federal Government in June 2010.

The government was said to have conducted a screening exercise in May last year to ascertain the actual number of pensioners with a view to fishing out ghost ones among them, just as it understudied the pension increase.

According to findings, the report of the screening committee was ready, but it’s allegedly being frustrated in order not to see the light of the day.

Some of the pensioners, who spoke to InsideNigerDelta in Asaba on Monday accused government officials of standing on the report ostensibly to delay the payment of the enhance pension package.

The pensioners, who preferred to be anonymous, said the delay in releasing the report was a calculated plan to deny pensioners their legitimate rights and possibly pitch them against the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, whom they said had shown enough resilience in the welfare of senior citizens.

However, a retiree from Ethiope East Local Government Area of the state, Mr Samuel Ichipi, while reacting to claim of ghost pensioners, wondered why there could be ghost pensioners among them even as he charged the state government to do the needful and keep fate with pensioners entitlements.

He told InsideNigerDelta “that government should increase the pensions in line with increase in salary of workers”, adding that most of the pensioners could no longer meet their financial obligation to families or even obtain medical treatment among others.

Okowa charges Avengers to employ civil means to address issues Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri

D

ELTA State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has urged the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) and others vandalising pipelines to sheathe their swords and employ civil approach to address con-

Group lauds Buhari over kick-off of Ogoni clean-up Ebenezer Adurokiya-Warri PRESIDENT Muhammdu Buhari has been lauded for taking a bold step in the commencement of the implementation of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) report on Ogoni land.

National Coordinator, Centre for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ), Comrade Sheriff Mulade, gave the commendation at the weekend in Warri, Delta State.

He said the development was the fulfillment of one of APC’s campaign promises.

The Centre, however, urged the President to extend the clean-up to other parts of the Niger Delta region equally devastated by oil spills.

CEPEJ called on all stakeholders to support the Federal Government in the implementation of the UNEP report on Ogoni land.

It also urged the militants destroying oil and gas pipelines to show restraint, as the environment, being devastated, was the only heritage of the people.

The Centre warned politicians not to politicise the clean-up exercise, but should give credit to a party that had fulfilled its campaign promises.

A cross section of women welcoming Okowa.

A cross section of women during the inspection of Okuetolor-Arhagba Road in Sapele LGA.

tentious issues.

The governor made the call during the inauguration of Jeddo/Ughoton road in Okpe Local Government Area of the state as part of activities to mark his one year in office.

“The pipeline vandalism that is going on is very bad for Delta State; we are suffer-

ing from pollution; our communities are affected; we are the greatest losers; our communities are impacted negatively.

“I want to appeal to our brothers, who are involved in one way or the other in this vandalism to stop; we cannot destroy ourselves in order to make a point; there are more civil ways of channeling grievances which we should apply than vandalising pipelines and endangering our people,” the governor appealed.

Governor Okowa said his attention was drawn to the deplorable state of the road by the Orodje of Okpe, HRM Orhue I and commended the contractor for the speedy delivery of the road.

Orodje of Okpe, Orhue I, in a brief speech, congratulated Deltans for having a listening governor, disclosing that only a phone call attracted Governor Okowa to construct the road which also leads to the community where the Commissioner for Works, Chief James Augoye, hails from.

Chief Augoye, in his speech, observed that the road was impassable as of December, 2015 when the contract for the construction of the road was awarded.

CREW

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

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

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

World biggest cruise ship, Harmony of the Seas makes inaugural sailing to Barcelona

Inside the ship

By wale Ojo Lanre (Who was on Board of Harmony of the Sail, Barcelona) Facts Costs 1 billion dollars 1,188 feet long 22 knots cruising speed 5,479guests (double occupancy) 6,780 guests (totally) 24 guests’ elevators 4 bow thrusters 97,500HP each) 30 feet draft 16 guests decks / 18 total 2,100 crew

H

istory was made in the annals of cruise tourism development on Sunday 5 June, 2016 in Barcelona when the biggest and most luxurious cruise ship christened Harmony of the Seas made its inaugural sailing to Barcelona where over 4, 500 guests got on board.

The French built ship which made its way from Southampton Port in the UK arrived Barcelona on Sunday which will be its summer base for its Mediterranean journeys.

The ship is regarded as a ‘wonderful engineering feat of the century ‘it is taller than the Eiffel Tower and is the widest cruise ship ever built with capacity of car-

rying 6,780 guests, The 16-deck ship is 362-metre-long (1,188 feet) and boasts of more than 2,500 staterooms, 20 dining venues, 23 swimming pools and a park with more than 10,000 plants and 50 trees.

Before arriving in Barcelona the Harmony of the Seas docked in Vigo in the northwest and at Malaga, dwarfing the small Mediterranean port.

Built at a cost of more than $1bn (£700million) over nearly three years, it is the 25th ship to join the Royal Caribbean International fleet and lays claim to a number of new cruise ship records.

The giant on the sea, Harmony of the Seas is in a world of luxury of its own as it parades not only finest sophistication in fittings and fixture, but ensures that every item on board is of standard.

Its fifth floor which serves as the reception parades wonderful facilities capable of bowling the imagination of any guest such as a rising bar platform which hosts guests and rises from the bottom of the ship to the top deck, while a robotic drink mixer does a bar tender’s job with accuracy and promptness.

It also dazzles with a head statute made of shining bronze that forms human face from which ever angle one views it.

Rooms The rooms are of different categories, but have a total of 2747, with 1,768 balconies, 46 wheelchair accessible staterooms and 76 virtual balcony staterooms, it has the highest capacity of any cruise ship. By comparison, it carries more than 10 times the number of travellers than the world’s largest passenger jet, the Airbus A380, which

has about 525 seats.

The staterooms are spread over 16 decks, although the ship has 18 decks in total. It is so large passengers will use GPS devices to ensure that they don’t get lost.

Its signature room is the Royal Loft Suite, a behemoth spanning two storeys with 1,600 square feet of living space on the main floor and 874 square feet on a mezzanine, making it larger than many big-city apartments.

The gross tonnage of Harmony of the Seas exceeds that of any other passengership and is slightly higher than Allure of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas, two other vessels in Miami-based Royal Caribbean’s Oasis class. It is 226,963 gross tons.

It also has the tallest slide ever in the world, a 100ft plunge on the Ultimate Abyss, a towering slide that takes goes from deck 16 to deck six.

It is the tallest slide at sea It took 2,500 workers at the STX France ship yard in Saint-Nazaire a total of some 10 million work hours to build the enormous vessel after work began 32 months ago in 2013.

It has seven numbers of ‘neighbourhoods’ on board, including the Coney Island-inspired Boardwalk, where guests can retreat to a tequila bar, play arcade games, get their fill of hot dogs or eat at a Johnny Rockets diner. The Royal Promenade has boutique shops and a bar with robotic bartenders while Entertainment Place has comedy and jazz clubs.

The other neighbourhoods are Vitality at Sea Spa and Fitness Centre, Youth Zone, Pool and Sports Zone, and Central Park. The ship has in its middle, a Central Park, an oasis that has 10,587 plants, 48 vine plants and 52 trees, including some that are taller than 20 feet.

Central Park is one of the neighbourhoods on the ship, boasting several cafes, bars, restaurants and shops with an uptown feel. There are nearly five million pounds of water in Harmony of the Seas’ 23 swimming pools and other water attractions.

Other amenities include a theatre with performances of Grease, a casino and a climbing wall, and there are 11,252 works of art on display throughout the ship.

The Harmony of the Seas is an extra magnificent edifice of comfort, bunker of luxury and fascinating city of wonder on the sea which every human being should strive to visit. It is a legendary contribution to not only the cruise tourism industry, but to human development in recent times.

It is unchristian to keep quiet in the

Reverend Uja

The Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Christian Pilgrim Commission (NCPC), Rev. Tor Uja has said that it is unchristian to keep quiet in the face of corruption. He stated this during a courtesy visit by the Presidential Prayer Team (TPPT) to the NCPC Corporate Headquarters, Abuja.

Rev. Uja stressed that corruption is not a Christian characteristic and has no biblical support as such he called on Christians to work uprightly and shun corruption.

The NCPC boss called on Nigerians who travel outside the country to see themselves as Pilgrims and to maintain the integrity Nigeria is known for. In his words “I want all Nigerians to believe in Nigeria that all the problems we see today are temporal”.

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Faleke leads dignitaries to Ogidi Day Festival

Entireties Oshunmakinde, Oreoluwa Lawal, Sunmisola Orija, and Omodesire Popoola representing Nigerian Children at the Emirates Childrens’ Day Event at Ikeja City Mall, Lagos, recently.

Owu Crown Hotel boss praises staff at third anniversary The Chairman, Owu Crown Hotel, Alahji Fatai Akinbade has praised the ingenuity of the staff of the hotel for “their unalloyed commitment to ethics of hospitality service and the embrace of the courtesy of customer is the king in the last two and a half years since the team took over the management of the hotel”.

Alhaji Akinbade who made this assertion at the Restaurant of Owu Crown Hotel, Iwo Road, Ibadan, in his speech at the event put up to mark the third anniver-

sary of the hotel pointed out that ‘Your performance within the last two years has proved that Nigerians are not only capable of managing an hotel well, but we can do better than the so called experts”.

He revealed “giving the right latitude and creating a conducive environment, a typical Nigerian will give his best out which has been the experience here in Owu Crown Hotel”.

Alhaji Akinbade “Honestly, what we are celebrating today is a story of the suc-

Chairman, Owu crown hotel, Alahji Fatai Akinbade and staff.

face of corruption —ncpc boss He affirmed the need for the church to support the cause of pilgrimage in Nigeria, because according to him, “the Church of Christ is big enough to take the responsibility of pilgrimage”.

Reverend Uja thanked his guest for their initiative of setting up a Presidential Prayer Team. He promised to work with them to establish rectitude in the country.

He informed them that he would convene a National Prayer Summit in Abuja this year.

Earlier, the National President of the Presidential Prayer Team, Elder Emmanuel Ade Bebeyi, who was represented by the National Coordinator, Apostle Olusegun Oyewole, congratulated the NCPC boss on

his appointment as the Executive Secretary of NCPC by President Muhammadu Buhari. In his words, “we are here to felicitate with you and to congratulate you”.

The Prayer Team acknowledged the role the NCPC boss played in convening Christian Leaders all over the country for a prayer summit last year to pray for a successful presidential election in Nigeria.

He prayed for God to use the present administration to revive the economy of Nigeria, to uphold the new office of the NCPC boss and to grant him the wisdom to execute all the plans God has laid in his hands”.

The NCPC boss was overwhelmingly offered the patron ship of the Presidential Prayer Team which he accepted.

cessive survival of Owu Crown Hotel as one of the few best hospitality centres in South – West , including Lagos . I am happy today because the staff of this hotel made it so. Owu Crown Hotel is so now because of the commitment of the staff to their duty and robust sense of service to customers”.

He pointed out “You have achieved a feat which some of us erroneously believed could be done only by the experts. When the so called experts left, many people were sceptical that you cannot do it, but to the grace of God, you have not only performed better, but able to retain your clients and also widen the customers base of the hotel”.

Alhaji Akinbade urged the staff to ‘tie their loins well and shore up the quality of service as there is still a long road to trek in the mission of making Owu Crown Hotel number one in the country”.

He called for the harmonisation of taxes being levied operators of hospitality centres in the state arguing that “We understand that one of the very good sources of internally generated revenue for the state government is hospitality business, but that the taxes are too many. It would be okay if the government can harmonise these levies and make the hoteliers see reasons why they should pay a particular tax or levies”.

Alhaji Akinbade assured the staff of his willingness to see to their welfare since “You have proved to me severally in conduct and deeds that you see this business as your own. This is impressive and I will not let you down”.

Responding, the General Manager, Owu Crown Hotel praised Alhaji Akinbade for his candour and robust appreciation of the staff’s efforts at making sure the hotel maintains its front seat rating. “On behalf of the staff, I have to thank our chairman for believing in us and we use this opportunity to assure him that we are not only going to buckle up, but also to rededicate ourselves to the services of our clients and living up to the expectation of our chairman”.

The Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Customs and Excise, Mr James Abiodun Faleke will lead dignitaries from various walks of life to grace this year’s Ogidi Day Festival in Ogidi-Ijumu, Kogi State.

The festival comes up at the Community Hall Grounds, Agegbe, Ogidi, Ijumu Local Government Area, Kogi State on Saturday, June 18, 2016 at 10 am.

Ahead of the festival, Faleke, who is billed to be the chairman of the day, has embarked on the repair of the 16-kilometre Kabba-Ogidi-Ayere Road.

Also expected at the event are the former Deputy Chief of Staff in the Obasanjo Presidency, Prince Olusola Akanmode, father of the day; Otunba Gani Adams of the O’odua People’s Congress; Ms Diana Chen, Chief Executive Officer, CIG Motors, Lagos; Mr Eniola Bello, Managing Director, Thisday Newspapers, Lagos and Mr. Tajudeen Ayo Yusuf, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Capital Market.

The occasion which marks the official presentation of the new yam is also used by the community to raise funds for various development projects in the ancient community.

The national publicity secretary of the Ogidi Development Union, organisers of the programme, Otunba Shuaib Ipinmisho, in a statement in Lokoja said cultural troupes from Lagos, Edo, Ekiti and Osun states will join their local counterparts to thrill the audience at what he termed the nation’s biggest culture event in June.

Prominent indigenes of the community and organisations deemed to have contributed to its development in the course of the year will be honoured with various awards while the Ologidi of Ogidi, Oba Rabiu Oladimeji Sule will also present honorary chieftaincy titles to dignitaries on the occasion.

The yearly Ogidi Day Medical Outreach organised by the ODU and Ripples Foundation, a United Kingdom-based charity organisation will be held to conduct tests and give free drugs to the people of the community.

This year’s event will also feature a Youth Connect Night at which the popular hip hop artiste will entertain guests at an all night show and a mountain climbing expedition to the famous Oroke Oda which offered refuge to the people of the community during the Nupe raids of the late 19th century.

Faleke

20 with Doyin Adeoye

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

Fellows more confident to report science-based environment stories

World ‘goes wild for life’ W

ITH the theme ‘Zero Tolerance for Illegal Wildlife Trade,’ the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) while marking the 2016 edition of the World Environment Day (WED), has called on everyone to ‘go wild for life’ and take action to help safeguard species under threat for future generations.

Celebrated globally every June 5 since 1974, the WED has been dedicated to raising awareness about the globe’s most pressing environmental problems, from the spread of desertification and deforestation, to the need for an inclusive green economy, among other issues.

“We have chosen this theme because damage from this trade has become so serious and so far reaching that urgent action is needed to reverse it,” UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner said in a video message on the occasion of the day.

The UN official underlined that the effects of wildlife trade include the destruction of natural capital in which many nations could build healthy tourism industries; the spread of corruption and the undermining of the rule of law all around the world and the ‘fattening of purses’ of the international crime syndicates.

Giving special attention to eight species in particular: orangutans, sea turtles, pangolins, rosewoods, helmeted hornbills, tigers, elephants and rhinos, the WED 2016, is aimed at reducing the demand for illegal wildlife products, as the campaign stresses that greed, fashion, ignorance, indifference, investment, corruption, pseudo medicinal use and cultural belief should not be

allowed to endanger any species of animal or plant or tree.

Illegal trade of wildlife has been a major challenge, especially across Africa, where many animals have gone, or going into extinction at really alarming rates. According to UNEP, the value of the world environmental crimes is between $91 billion and $258 billion in 2015, higher by 26 per cent in 2014.

Speaking at the official opening of the WED in Luanda, Angola, Steiner noted that with the clock already ticking on delivery of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, “we are asking the world to help end illegal trade in wildlife, because this not only concerns the obvious goals like protecting ‘life on land’ and ‘life below water,’ but also directly impacts the goals addressing poverty, hunger, inequalities, economic growth, climate change, health and wellbeing, as well as peace and justice.

“In other words, this one action will help the world make progress on more than half of its priorities for the next 15 years.

The impact of the illegal trade in wildlife is no more restricted by national boundaries than the biodiversity it exploits,” he said.

To combat the illegal trade in wildlife, the United Nations system and partners have launched the ‘Wild For Life’ campaign, which draws on support from celebrities such as Gisele Bündchen, Yaya Touré and Neymar Jr. to mobilise millions to take action against poaching and the trafficking of illegal wildlife products.

Meanwhile, UNEP’s Deputy Executive Director, Ibrahim Thiaw at the Nairobi celebrations of the WED, said that there is need to take professional action to support the global momentum for change in areas like ending the illegal trade in wildlife.

“Even though wildlife is worth more alive than dead, 100,000 elephants were killed in just two years

and the last three Northern White Rhino live under guard. 3,000 great apes disappear from forests every year, following those already lost forever from Gambia, Burkina

We are the first generation to feel climate change and the last that can do something about it —President Barack Obama

ecoscope

2016:

Stories by Doyin Adeoye, Rhodes Island

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

—ED, Metcalf Institute

Dr Sunshine Menezes is the Executive Director, Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting, University of Rhode Island, USA. She speaks with DOYIN ADEOYE on the objectives of the workshop and how many journalists have been transformed over the years through the annual event, among other issues.

Faso, Benin and Togo.

“Pangolins have also taken a double hit from being both the most illegally trafficked mammal and probably one of the least well

known.”

He therefore urged everyone, especially decision makers, to do more in ensuring that illegal tirade of wildlife, especially in Africa

Flooding in Nigeria: Preparing for the inevitable LIVES have been lost over the years to flooding across various states in the country. And with the heavy downpour having started already this year, it is sad to note that loss of lives have already been recorded in some states in the past few months.

This brings one to the question: how well prepared are we all year round for rainfall?

Although with the constant changes in our environment, which has adversely affected the time and amount of rainfall, making it hard to predict when the rain will

fall, or how hard it will hit when it eventually does, it is however, important to be well prepared for the inevitable as the rainy season begins.

Arising from both natural and human causes, flooding across many areas in the country is inevitable. From bad drainage systems, to poor house planning structures especially in the urban areas, and individuals’ attitudes of dumping refuse in water bodies, many factors are responsible for flooding, and more and more people are likely to be affected by it in coming years, if some of these issues are not addressed.

Although we do not always know when and where they will happen, the worst effects of flooding can be partially or completely prevented by preparation, early warning, and swift, decisive responses.

There is need to set up measures to minimise flood damage and invest in its prevention, rather than wait for it to happen before jumping into action.

Expansion of drainages, demolitions of structures that are blocking water ways, adequate awareness campaigns, and training of volunteers on emergency responses for evacuation, among others are some of the ways the effects of flooding can be reduced over time.

WHAT exactly are the objectives of the Metcalf Institute’s Science Immersion workshop?

This workshop was inspired by the fact that there are a lot of journalists out there covering environment stories who didn’t have any training in science and they were asked to cover science based stories. And as you know, it is a really difficult topic to cover, not just because it is about science, but because of being asked to weigh different types of science whether that is legitimate or not.

So there was a need for this kind of training.

As at the time that Metcalf started doing this workshop, there were also other organisations around the US providing this kind of training. There still are some, but very few now, as most of them having lasted. So we are still doing

this 18 years later and bringing now journalists from around the world to attend this intensive programme.

Now in its 18th year, how has the Institute fared over the years?

From this programme alone, we have more than 200 alumni, covering stories for all news outlets, large to small all over the world.

And we found that there is a big difference in how the alumni in this programme are able to cover environment stories in a couple of ways. First, they feel more confident digging into the science and second, they feel more confident talking about scientific uncertainties in their reporting and third, that they are able to put any specific environmental issue into a bigger context.

Talking about an oil spill for in-

Doyin Adeoye,9 journalists benefit from Metcalf Institute’s 18th annual workshop AIMED at equipping environment journalists for better research work and detailed reporting, 10 journalists are currently undergoing training at the University of Rhode Island’s Metcalf Institute for Marine & Environmental Reporting, to help them sharpen their investigative skills.

Chosen from the largest pool of applicants in the workshop’s history, journalists and staff from a variety of media organisations, large and small, were selected for the 2016 edition of the annual Metcalf Institute Science Immersion Workshop from the US, Nigeria and Pakistan.

Now in its 18th year, Metcalf Institute is an internationally recognised leader in providing environmental science training for journalists. The workshop, which runs June 5 -10, helps journalists sharpen their investigative skills by putting them directly in the field, laboratory and classroom, to gain a greater understanding of how

scientists approach, conduct and analyse their research.

The Fellowship also provides important context for environmental stories and builds journalists’ confidence in translating complex scientific data. Fellows leave the workshop with the background, tools, and sources to break stories on a range of environmental topics.

The 2016 Metcalf Fellows are Doyin Adeoye of the Nigerian Tribune; Richard Gardella of NBC News in Washington, DC; Catalina Jaramillo, a reporter and editor, freelance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Maddy Lauria of Cape Gazette in Lewes, Delaware; Jeff Mosier, Dallas Morning News in Dallas, Texas; Susan Phillips, of WHYY in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Muhammad Qaseem Saeed, of Geo News in Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan; Kate Siber, freelance in Durango, Colorado; Andy Uhler of Marketplace in Los Angeles, California and Amelia Urry, of Grist. org in Seattle, Washington.

stance, rather than thinking about the impact of that oil spill, the alumni of this programme tend to say let’s look at what was going on in that area before the oil spill and really think about these impacts in the context of everything else.

With many of the Fellows being Americans, there are more of national issues being discussed. How do you blend in the international Fellows to really gain more from this programme?

We want all the journalists here to benefit from one another and so, having international journalists here with the US based journalists is really helping everyone in the group. There is a lot of learning that goes on between the Fellows. So having these different perspectives is a really important piece to the programme.

Also whenever we develop the topics for the week, we are thinking of topics that are relevant to all our Fellows, regardless of where they are coming from.

The specifics might be different in their coverage areas, but the issues are still going to be there and so the way you think about covering the story is still going to be the same.

With a Fellow selected from Nigeria, how has the institute influenced Africans that have benefitted from the workshop over the years?

You might be the second African ever to attend this workshop.

Although we have many international applicants, the issue is when people apply, they are looking for a more basic journalism introduction than they are really about environmental reporting.

And that is not what we do. We need people who are already good journalists, but need more training on how to cover the environment.

So the reason we selected you for this workshop is that we could see you are a really good reporter, and you already have your foot in environment reporting. So we knew that our investment in training you was going to be a really good investment.

ecofact

The Amazon rainforest also known as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle is a moist broadleaf forest that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America. This basin encompasses 7,000,000 square kilometres, of which 5,500,000 square kilometres are covered by the rainforest. This region includes territory belonging to nine nations. The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60 per cent of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13 per cent, Colombia with 10 per cent, and with minor amounts in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and French

Guiana.

• Twenty per cent of the earth’s oxygen is produced by the Amazon rainforest.

• During the past 40 years, at least 20 per cent of the Amazon rainforest has been cut down.

• The Amazon Rainforest is home to about 2.5 million insect species.

• Over 40,000 plant species, 2,200 fishes, 1,200 birds, 420 mammals, 420 amphibians and 370 reptiles have been scientifically classified in the Amazon region.

• The Amazon represents more than half of the earth’s rainforests.

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

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

‘Deregulation:

Government should remove pump price cap’ Mr Patrick Iloh is the Managing Director, PetroCam Filling Stations. In this interview with OLATUNDE DODONDAWA, he explain the challenges confronting the downstream sector after removal of subsidy and the way forward. utensils of gas is sold at PetroCam

Patrick Iloh

A

FTER deregulating the downstream sector, what do you think the government can do to mitigate the risk of sharp practices by marketers in deregulated market after subsidy removal?

To be honest, government should hands off completely from downstream sector. Sharp practices will not work because in a deregulated market, it has to be a free entry and exist. If you do a sharp practices and you are not given a measure of value, people will gravitate to other places. This is time for competition. The recent adjustment is the right step.

Government should not put a cap.

The problem is that the government is putting a cap on how much to sell which is N135-N145 per liter. Price will adjust on function of a market and if you are putting a cap into it, it means it

is not deregulation. So the best thing for Nigeria is to let people fix their prices and it will be a function of competition. The question marketers need to ask is that, how am I able to be effective to bring my product at a cheaper price. Nobody regulates cows, tomatoes, and diesel so why petrol. The more government puts its hands, the more inefficiency.

Let the NNPC bring a lot of products and sell in their stations at a price. If the government can not do it, then why go to other people.

We are more of a trader, we trade on the water and sell to some big names like Oando and so on. People can not see our activities in the water so we decided to trade on the land too.

What prompted you into investing in solar-power filling station?

I promised the nation that I am going to build a Mega Station

which will have positive impact in the society without relying on grid supply to run the filling station. This is a major feature of this filling station and another feature is that the filling station has taken a new dimension in terms of values, beauty and presentation. The filling station has gas skid which can refill all cylinders. The major reason for this is that the ecosystem is being destroyed and we are willing to protect the environment. Deforestation through wood cutting should stop and be discouraged. Usage of kerosene should be played down and gas should take over. We have actually invested in our own little way by making sure every household is able to use gas with access to fill 3kg, 5kg, 6kg, 12.5kg, 25kg and 50 kg cylinders depending on their capability.

We also have a digital scale in which if you can not afford to buy 3kg, you can buy lesser. Other

Investors are complaining due to paucity of foreign exchange, what is the secret behind your massive investment at this crucial time?

We started before there was a critical shortage of forex and I am also part of the forex regime.

I must tell you, government is looking into it. They are bringing in the flexible forex regime and we are waiting for the guideline.

I am very confident that in the next couple of weeks, it will be something everybody will be able to key into. Forex will not be an issue, though it may be high but it will rise and come down. I am very confident because the population is high and people want to come and invest in Nigeria and at the end of the day, a lot of inflow will come into Nigeria in terms of foreign investment and everybody will be able to tap into it.

Is PetroCam wholly Nigerian firm or it has foreign affiliates?

PetroCam is a firm from South-Africa and it was moved to Nigeria in 2011. The real promoter of PetroCam is Shuran Ganny and we are partners but the major thing was that because PetroCam is an African company, we are all over Africa. Though we might not be physically present but we trade in all African countries. Our experience has widely travelled, we were able to see new things and we were able to imbibe those things so that the customers will have the best.

What are other relevant details of the pumps including capacity?

We have 11 underground tanks, 10 for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol

and one for Automobile Gas Oil (AGO) otherwise called diesel.

We also have five gas plants with digital scale which can fill four cylinders at a time. We were able to store minimum of 600,000 litres of gasoline in the facility. We can sell continuously for two days at full bloom without any shortage.

We also have 15 trucks in which we apply the vulture concepts in making sure all the trucks are waiting to discharge. We have the space pumps which can dispense at a faster rate and all the pumps are automated. The resources to face the challenges of the 21st century in terms of petroleum products and there is no power failure because we are running on a solar.

What is the capacity of the gas skid?

The capacity of the gas skid is 5000 Metric Tonnes (MT) and it is in compliance with the regulation of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

What is the cost of the filling station and what inspires you to venture into such business?

The station should run into several millions of naira and more stations are going to come as soon as possible. This is what I have been doing right from the time I was in England. I have been selling to Tescos, Summerfill and so on. So when I came back to Nigeria in 2010, my job brought me back and I started working for that company. I left to start my own. I have seen the filling station people built; I saw that people are not getting values for money in terms of dispensing products. A filling station must have a shop in which you can do your alignment, coffee shop and coffee bar and gas. So that was what gave me reasons to venture into it.

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

No prepaid meter, no electricity billing —Consumers

Expose energy thieves —IKEDC tells community Stories by Olatunde Dodondawa - Lagos

T

HE saying that goes thus: ‘Consumer Sovereignty’ meaning consumer is always a king, may be put to test as some power consumers have resolved not to pay for electricity bills except prepaid meters are provided and all customers are metered.

This is coming on the heels of huge metering gap that exists across the country, the issue of unmetered customers who have been faced with challenges of estimated billings, the distribution companies may be faced with herculean task of collecting their bills. This is because some power consumers seem to have decided no to pay for electricity consumed based on estimation except prepaid meters are provided.

Specifically, in a chat with the Nigerian Tribune, a member of Community Development Association, Obanikoro, where the Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo’s family house is located, Mr. Yemi Akinyemo, stated that the community members have resolved not to pay electricity bills until every residents are metered.

“We have been faced with the issue of estimated billings where the management of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) will bill us for what we didn’t consume. They bring as much as N30,000 in a month for unmetered customers. Meanwhile, customers with are metered don’t pay as such on the average,” he said.

When asked if the CDA had taken any steps in the past to address the challenges, he stated that “yes we have had reasons to

write them. They always ask our members to continue to write but usually insisted that we settle the outstanding before further discussions can be entertained.”

In his reaction, the Head of Corporate Communications and Strategy, IKEDC, Felix Ofulue, urged the residents to help in exposing those that are stealing energy in their community to in other to reduce the amount they are paying for energy consumed.

According to him, “those who are stealing energy are usually at the forefront for the call not to pay except they are metered.

They do this to perpetrate their unholy acts. Some certainly come to us and dialogue while some take to the streets. We have had lots of engagements with our customers and we are still holding.

“There are certain things beyond our control like energy supply from the generation companies. Metering challenges is not just peculiar to their community.

As we speak, there metering going on in other communities. We have 5-year plan to meter all our customers. Metering isn’t something you just pick a meter and meter your customer.

“You will invest and either import or buy locally. We can’t all our customers in Lagos at once, we are doing it gradually. Nobody is talking about the economic situation in the country. It is affecting everyone.”

He however explain that each community is billed and charged accordingly based on allocation from the grid. “We pay for what we got from the grid. We don’t confront our customers but would rather engage to understand how the process works,” he said.

paid meters by the Discos.

Credited Advance Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) was introduced effective May 2013 and was initiated

by NERC to address the slow pace of customer metering by the 11 distribution companies, as well as the high level of com-

The immediate past chairman of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi disclosed recently that the last regulatory audit of the metering gap in Nigeria’s power sector showed that up to two million electricity consumers are yet to be provided with pre-

NGA seeks re-valuation of business at gas forum

Chevron, Star Deepwater, others support FRSC on road enforcement AS part of their efforts Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), Chevron Nigeria Limited, its subsidiary, Star Deepwater Limited, and other Agbami Co-venturers have donated superbikes to Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to ensure smooth enforcement of traffic rules.

Speaking during the handing over ceremony of the power bikes, on behalf of the Agbami Co-venturers, the Director of Star Deepwater, Mr Jeffrey Ewing, stated that “The Agbami Co-venturers have continued to demonstrate commitment to conducting their business here in Nigeria in a socially-responsible manner; adding value to the lives of the people and contributing positively to the socio-economic development of Nigeria. That explains why we are partnering with the Arrive Alive Road Safety Initiative (AARSI), the Lagos State Capital Territory Development Agency (LSCTDA) and the Federal Road Safety Com-

mission (FRSC) to deploy this program aimed at strengthening the safety measures being put in place within the State especially along the Lekki-Epe Expressway.

“Safety is a core value among the Agbami Co-venturers, in continuation of this N40 million road safety campaign, today, we are donating three Police Motor Bikes to the FRSC, Lagos State Command in support of the road safety initiative in the State.

“Nigeria is one of three African countries participating in the Arrive Alive program pioneered by Chevron. Through the partnership, we have deployed regular training programs for drivers, provided helmets for motorcycle riders and organized enlightenment programs for truck drivers and members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers. We have also organized child road safety campaigns in some States of the federation with a view to help

plaints received from customers and dissatisfaction with estimated billing practices.

However, paucity of funds, unfavorable foreign exchange regime and other economic challenges have been adduced to be responsible for poor implementation of CAPMI.

the children imbibe road safety culture early in life.”

Furthermore, he stated that Agbami Co-venturers have performed creditably well in Nigeria regarding their CSR activities. He noted that in the health sector, “the Agbami Co-venturers have been committed to supporting the development of the health sector in Nigeria.

We have built and equipped 25 chest clinics with state-of-the art equipment in different States of the federation; funded HIV/ AIDS campaigns, Roll Back Malaria and Mass Deworming programs; built and donated a fully equipped Diagnostic Laboratory and a fully equipped Mother and Childcare Center.

“In the area of Education, the Agbami Co-venturers established and funds Agbami scholarships for engineering and medical students in which over 15,000 scholars have benefitted, built and donated 32 fully equipped Science laboratory complexes

to schools across the country as well assix Hybrid libraries and two conventional libraries built and donated to schools.”

In the area of economic empowerment, he said “we have collaborated with Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) to support and roll out some initiatives aimed at enhancing the development of Agriculture in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria.

These programs include: Pilot projects in three value chains in aquaculture, cassava and palm oil in Delta State; Partnership with the National Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) to train six local equipment fabricators for the production of the palm oil small-scale processing equipment in Delta and Imo State; Development of Rice Value Chain in Niger State and Sponsoring of Cassava Youth Empowerment Scheme in Ondo State, Oil Palm Processing Project in Imo State and Dry Season Vegetable Farming project in Katsina State.

THE Nigerian Gas Association (NGA) is seeking re-evaluation of gas business at the forthcoming 2016 Gas Business Forum taking place in Lagos soon. The association said it is using the forum to prove itself an attractive and voice for the gas industry.

According to the Publicity Secretary, NGA, ‘Debo Fagbami, since 1999, the Nigerian Gas Association has rallied some of the industry’s most remarkable minds, to discuss, debate and gain insights needed to make gas pay in Nigeria.”

The NGA Gas business forum seeks to further the Nigerian gas demand and supply debate with specific emphasis on maximizing its potential as it affects the industry and national development.

“For those in the industry, one of the major hopes is that, the discuss will bring an answer to the question of how energy sector contracts will work in the future.

“Nigeria ostensibly, currently boasts as World 9th largest and Africa biggest gas reserves country, a natural endowment that should propel its industrialization considering the vast use of gas in nearly all sectors of the economy from agriculture, to power, pharmaceuticals, industrial solvents, LPG, plastics, manufacturing, and transportation, and of course export as LNG, and through pipelines to create additional foreign exchange for the country, to shore up the ailing naira value from its predators.

“Besides its proved reserve of 187trillion cubic feet (TCF), the country also has a potential of additional 600 tcf which would push its ranking to World 4th largest in gas reserves.

“However, because the country only stumbled on gas from its oil exploration efforts, and therefore, looks only to oil revenue, there has not been that seriousness on the part of government for non-associated gas exploration and production,” Fagbami stated.

He reiterated that more than 140 leadership experts, including captains of industry, ministers, academics, researchers and international experts have conducted presentations to NGA conferences and business forums to review current and future gas structures.

24

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016 Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor taiadis@yahoo.com

Why Buhari must overhaul his economic team —Wole Oke

God that our decision to amend the Procurement Act has given us an opportunity to look at the Defence sector and involve a very robust best international practices in the new Act that we are looking at so that the Defence sector can be adequately captured in our procurement procedures.

Honourable Busayo Oluwole Oke, chairman, Committee on the Bureau of Public Procurement in the House of Representatives, bares his mind on the performance of the 8th Assembly, crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), war against corruption and the federal cabinet.

SENIOR DEPUTY EDITOR, JACOB SEGUN OLATUNJI brings some excerpts of the interview:

Y

OUR committee on the Bureau of Bureau of Public Procurement had issues with the Industrial Training Fund,ITF and the Pencom over their alleged non-compliance with the BPP Act. What is the situation so far?

Under the Bureau of Public Procurement Act, companies are expected to abide by certain social provisions, that is in the areas of pensions payment scheme, Companies are expected to comply with those Acts and also contribute into training funds for young people. Specifically, the two bodies, that is, the ITF and the PenCom, have been working outside the provisions of the Act and based on interventions, we have all agreed that we should work with the provisions of the Act. In other words, if a young man who has just graduated is coming to the entrepreneurship arena, you don’t have to ask him to go and tell lies that he has been in operation for ages and he should go and borrow money for contribution in advance.

He should be realistic; he should be able to display that, ‘look I don’t have up to three workers, it’s just me. I am just starting work.’ On that strength, ITF should be able to exempt him and of course, take note of him, register and monitor him and annually, he should come back to renew.

Pencom should not use the requirements for their compliance certificate to deter such starter from being patronised by government agencies. So, we have agreed on that and the BPP have said that they do not want to create a kind of update to discourage companies from complying with the provisions to both PenCom Act and the ITF Act but ITF and PenCom should issue an exemption certificates to such entrepreneurs.

What is the level of compliance by other Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government as we learnt that some heads are said not be co-operating?

I don’t think that any Chief Executive Officer of MDA will ignore the summons of the parliament. The Procurement Act is still new. Our people are used to the old ways of doing things. Change is very difficult to effect but through serious oversight, we are whipping them to line and

Hon Oke

they are complying and beginning to see that the Procurement Act is based on some fundamental and imperative parametres. Every Nigerian, be it individual or corporate individual that has met certain requirements, has a right to patronage and that is why, the Act stipulates that procurement agencies should advertise whatever they want to do. Don’t do it in the hidden; let Nigerians be aware. There is a country wide Assessment by the World Bank and it was discovered that out of every Naira spent in Nigeria, 60 kobo goes to private pockets illegally, because in the first place, people are not even aware. You have over invoicing, you have collusion, with the Procurement Act put in place, we are able to, as a matter of fact, if the President Buhari wants to succeed, the

one tool that he needs to work with, is the procurement Act. I must also commend the EFCC. It has through our synergy set up a procurement unit. You have a set of investigators from EFCC, whose focus is from the procurement procedures; ditto ICPC. The chairman of ICPC should also be commended. We must commend the MDAs’ readiness to comply with provisions of the law. However, the Armed forces and the paramilitary sector are yet to really see the procurement procedures in the right perspective. Is it every item you transfer as security? You want to buy papers and stationeries, you want to build houses, you want to buy cars, you want to build barracks, are they security in nature? Conducting trainings, are they security in nature that people should not be aware of? And thank

Look at our fiscal and monetary policy, they are very hostile. Tax collection has gone down.

I expect the Minister of Finance to look at our tax design and overhaul the entire tax system.

How will you access President Muhammadu Buhari one year in office?

One thing you cannot take away from President Buhari is his integrity; the President’s body language alone conveys a lot of message with him saying anything. His determination to confront corruption in this country is working for us. So when you hear people who looted the treasury are already returning the money they took away voluntarily is because of the determination of the head to tackle corruption. So, I commend him on that because God has blessed this country immensely but some people often take undue advantage to shortchange the country anyhow. But with the government of President Buhari, everybody is now on their toes as a matter of fact, as people are returning the loot. So, it is working but one area the President should look into is economic management. He needs to evaluate his team. He needs to re-examine his team.

For example, the Minister of Finance and others in charge of the economy, I don’t understand they have the capacity to man the critical sector (Nigeria’s economy). Even where they have access to professionals, the best hands in the land to advise and guide them, what we are seeing so far does not suggest that they are on top of the situation. Yes, we are experiencing problems in the oil sector globally, that a barrel of crude oil that used to sell between $120 to $140 is now less than $50 so, we are experiencing a decline in revenue accruing to government. Is that the only source of revenue to government, we should look at the non-oil sector pragmatically. Okay, they are talking about solid minerals and agriculture.

When you talk about solid minerals, what step have you taken to maximise our potentials in the sector? What did you allocate in the budget to that sector because if you don’t invest in the sector, you can’t reap anything? On this issue you have to look at the quantum of what is appropriated in the budget for that sector. The issue is very important. An attempt by the parliament to do justice to it was resisted.

They are not looking at the service sector.

Last week, the National Communication Commission (NCC) auctioned 2.6 megahertz spectrum, and they realised $96 million. NCC fined a service provider for breaking its rules and effort to get that fine was averted by the government; it is sad. You go to China to borrow money and that credit comes to Nigeria in form of equipment, so you don’t actually see the money itself in the real terms. Look at our fiscal and monetary policy, they are very hostile. Tax collection has gone down. I expect the Minister of Finance to look at our tax design and overhaul the entire tax system. The converging point across the globe in the tax arena is VAT. What are we doing about it? We are talking about communication tax.

politics&policy It’s wrong to say Niger govt is slow—Governor’s aide 25

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Babajide Orintunsin, Senior Special Assistant to the Niger State governor on Media and Publicity, speaks with ADELOWO OLADIPO on the past one year of the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led administration in the state. Excerpts: THE perception of the people in the state is that this administration was slow in starting its activities in the past one year. Do you agree?

You see, I have to first of all correct the impression that the government is slow. The government is not slow, just that it has to get its priorities right before kick started any activity in the state. There is a proverb in Yorubaland that “you heard the sound of thunderstorm and that the cloud is gathering and the little water you have in your drum at home, you poured it out even before the drops of the rainfall.”

You don’t do things like that in governance; you need to sit down and plan. And we have been able to do that. That is why, in the last few months, if you travelled round Niger State, you would have observed that works are going on all over the place. Go to Tegna in Rafi Local Government, go to Zungeru in Wushishi Local Government, go to Agaie , Kontagora, Suleja local governments of the state and see the level of construction works that were going on in those places by the state government.

The Suleja- Minna road is a federal road, but it is being rehabilitated by the state government. The Tegna township road, a federal road, is also being rehabilitated by the state government, just like the Zungeru –Tegna road. So, we do not play to the gallery. Go to Minna Waterworks, work is going on seriously. We are doing the road networks in the waterworks because we want to overhaul the entire plant.

Since that plant was built almost 40 years ago, there was no maintenance carried out on it. But we are doing it. The work must be solid because heavy machines are being used to effect the repairs. You can also go to Bosso in Bosso Local Government of the state; four industrial boreholes were sunk in Bosso to serve the people of Bosso both at the low cost housing and Bosso Estates. We have been able to fix

in the agriculture programme in Swachi Dam in New Bussa in Borgu Local Government Area of the state, we are engaging almost 40,000 Nigerlites. Also in Lapai Local Government, we have a rice plantation with investors from India.

We are engaging about 10,000 youths to work on the farm.

And around Minna city today, we are having the interlocking beautification scheme; we are engaging over 100 youths for that project. Therefore, all the projects of Governor Abubakar Sani Bello are geared towards ensuring that our youths are taken care of.

Zungeru Waterworks , which is serving Zungeru and Wushishi, the Local Government Headquarters of Wushishi Local Government. Suleja Waterworks is being looked into now as well as in New Bussa in Borgu Local Government of the state. And these are things, you cannot get on the shelves because you will need to make importation and this takes time . In a matter of weeks or months now, you will see them back fully.

The government has been accused of paying lip service to its programmes on youths and women empowerment...

That is not true because the government is doing something about the programmes religiously. There is an agreement all the contractors must engage the local youths in the execution of projects in every parts of the state. For instance,

What can you describe as the greatest challenges confronting this administration?

Well, the challenge in the last one year is principally funds.

Our internally generated revenue profile has been very, very down. When we came on board, it was about N200million every month. But in the last one year, we have been able to increase it to about N450 million and N480 million every month. By the end of this year, we intend to hit N1 billion internally generated revenue in the state because in this year’s budget, our projected IGR is N16 billion. So, we believe that this year, we are going to have an increase.

And if I may inform you again, we met a debt profile of about N67 billion and every month, there is an irrevocable standing order of N500 million from our allocation from the Federation Account and the wage bill of the state is about N2.7 billion. Our income from the Federation Account is subsisting between N1. 7 billion and N2billion. In fact, it has been very, very daunting on us. That was why when the governor came on board, the first thing he did was to reform the State Civil Service whereby the ministries were reduced from 24 to 15 in order to have a compact and manageable civil service.

At the same time, we are having a staff audit, so that we can know the genuine staff we have. We want the staff to do the biometric verification (BVN). We cannot continue to spend all the money that comes from Abujaon salaries of workers. And in the same vein, the governor felt that the 25 local government areas in the state should enjoy their Financial autonomy. So, from May this year, all their allocations will go directly to them.

APC must put its house in order, otherwise...—Ali I urge APC to be more united if it must survive the present rough terrain of the country.

The lingering crisis in the ruling the All Progressives Congress (APC) is a major concern to Alhaji Muhammad Lawal Ali, leader and founder of a pressure group in the party in Kwara State APC. He spoke on other issues affecting the party with BIOLA AZEEZ. Excerpts: SOME Nigerians are skeptical about your party delivering on its promises. Do you think the APCled Federal Government can still fulfill those promises?

Yes, it can. The possibility of achieving those campaign promises is unquestionable. What the government need do is to annex the support of all stakeholders in the areas of politics, economy, and security. The executive, legislative and the judiciary should work closely in a manner of progressive relationship. Such healthy relationship will amount to the boom and safety of local and foreign industries, and also equitable distribution of the dividends of democracy.

What is the understanding of the people of Kwara state, and Ilorin in particular to the importance of Dr Bukola Saraki as Senate President?

Kwarans are now beginning to understand the importance of having an industrious representative at the central level, charting the cause of their collective contributions to the national growth and development. There are two ways that states can contribute to national growth: one, is to have representatives that are contributing meaningfully to the growth of the country through decision making, interpretation and execution. And the other one is for the state to concentrate on producing goods and services where it has a comparative advantage to improve the country’s GDP. That is what the office of Saraki stands for; that is, Kwara state at work for the growth of Nigeria. If he fails, the state fails in that regard. Because we saw him fit, that’s why we voted him to represent us in the Senate in voice and service. I’m speaking collectively now that we Kwarans gave our unflinching support to Saraki for the success of the Eight Senate.

How would you describe the relationship between Kwarans, and Ilorin people in particular with Saraki’s political leadership?

His leadership is overwhelmingly accepted. He is accessible, compassionate, and dedicated to the growth of the state and the country at large. I can say that the relationship is cordial. The contributions of this family to the state ranges from infrastructure like road, street, electricity, water, shelter, market, schools ; politics and empowerment. In politics, the late Baba Olusola Saraki showed Kwarans the rights and wrongs of politics. The family ensures that dividends of democracy cut across the nooks and crannies of the state. As a political leader, Saraki was never bias in the selection of political representatives. He chose governors from Okene, Lafiagi, Offa, and so on. The present political leader in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki is superb in playing progressive politics and addressing the plight of the masses.

Ali

How do you see the future of APC in Kwara, considering the alleged friction between party stalwarts in the state and some at the federal level?

Unless the leaders of APC at the federal level are more careful and also play politics with decorum and fear of God, the party has no future. The party wrestled out power from the PDP government in the 2015 general election because Nigerians were tired of the division in the PDP that crippled their government from performing creditably. Now, the APC government should concentrate on the unification of its party actors within the three tiers of the government to have all hands on deck for massive implementation of people -oriented programmes that will make life better for the masses.

The party should uphold the tenet of unity to avoid factions like what the situation was in the Republic of France in 1792 after the dethronement of King Louis XVI. The national convention was divided into many factions like Girondins, Jacobins, Montagnards, and Cordeliers. The weakness led to the fall of their national convention in France and paved way for the emergence of Napoleon Bonaparte in France.

We’ve had enough of our own Bonaparte in Nigeria already.

How would you describe the progress made so far by the Senate under his leadership?

I will say the Senate under his leadership has been so far transparent in its dealings, and is simply the people’s Senate, as it thoroughly represents the masses. It ensures the passage of people-oriented bills in the areas of economy, security and education.

What would you recommend as a remedy for the country’s dwindling economy, security threat, and corruption?

It is quite clear that the country is sick economically due to over reliance on oil. The security threat bedeviling the country is because of the high level of unemployment in the society. Poor remuneration for workers and fear of poverty is the cause of rampant corruption. I say these for us to know the causes of our problems. They say a problem known is half solved. Since our problems are open and clear, it is left for the government of the day to fight harder to diversify the nation’s economy through agriculture, solid mines, and industrialisation aimed at mass production for export purposes. Workers should be well fed by giving them healthy salary as at when due.

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politics&policy

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Ogoni clean-up is for sustainable growth —Parker Former Commissioner for Health, Rivers State, Dr. Samson Parker, in this interview with newsmen, speaks on the issue of Ogoni clean-up and sustainable development in the area. BOLA BADMUS brings these excerpts:

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HEN the Ogoni issue started, the state and the Federal Government shared same party and political ideologies, but now the political ambiance is different. Do you think this will impact on the political will to see the project through?

After elections, we must develop a culture of collective and shared interest in community development because that is the reason we all offered ourselves for public service.

This clean-up is not for a political party, but to ensure that our people in Ogoni and similarly affected areas do not see industrial development as an irreversible disaster to their health and livelihood. Irrespective of our political persuasion, that must be a value that we all share collectively. In that respect, I am certain we also all share an equal commitment. It must be so.

Are you saying that such issues are capable of eroding the political differences among major stakeholders at the state and federal levels?

I am saying that when it comes to the development of our people, they must come first before our political persuasion. If anything, our persuasion should compel all of us to act more in the collective interest and

sink any differences we have before elections and, therefore, concentrate on the improvement in the lives of our people after every election. If we do that, our people will see elections simply as a model to re-assert their sovereign power to decide who should govern their collective development and not merely a blood-sport amongst the elite. So, I am positive we can and should have cooperation and collaboration in this endevour, because that is what the people expect from all of us. The well-being of the people of Rivers State is more important than any of us.

How significant do you think is the environmental clean-up exercise?

The is important in many respects. A healthy environment is one of the key requirements for the health of a people because the level and distribution of health of a population is intrinsically linked to the environment on a continuous basis in terms of the interactions with the biological and physical factors in the environment, for instance, air quality impact on nutrition through possible contamination of water, food and other micronutrients, as well as possible direct impact on livelihood such as the economic activity of the population, namely fishing, agriculture and others.

For the people of Rivers State, water and land are closely linked to their livelihood and because of this, pollution in any form, constrains and impacts on this livelihood.

Therefore, it impacts on their health and their sustainable growth. While this cleanup exercise is a vital requirement, we must be able to push the envelope from a reactive occasional intervention, as we are currently having, to make it a proactive, continuous sustainable partnership between all stakeholders, both from the public, private and community leadership. Before we go to the need to establish a whole-of-society partnership, we must remember that as a country, apart from the need to protect every inch of our environment for the benefit of our people and future generations, we also have international obligations which compel us to act to see that efforts such as the Ogoni clean-up succeed.

For a start, apart from the numerous environmental conventions which Nigeria, as part of the international community, should uphold, there are also important considerations linking Ogoni land, and other such places in Rivers State with the global marine environment. So if we degrade these areas, we are also indirectly creating negative externalities for other

If anything, our persuasion should compel all of us to act more in the collective interest and sink any differences we have before elections.

Parker parts of the world. But apart from the disaster risk and how this increases the vulnerability of our people to health hazards, we must also see in these issues not only the threat but also the opportunities.

Given that the natural resources in our environment must be exploited so that it can add value to the lives of the Ogoni, Rivers State and other similar parts of Nigeria, we must step up our health, safety and environmental efforts on the part of all stakeholders, both on the part of the industries and the agents of government whose task it is to ensure daily actions to prevent or mitigate such events, so that we do not come to this stage of expensive response and recovery.

Saraki:Will cause of justice be served?

By Alex Okoroafor

AT the inception of the trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki for alleged breaches in assets declaration at the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), I sounded it loud and clear that the case was not about infraction of any law but political persecution and victimization of Saraki due to the manner he emerged as Senate President, which was against the interests of some party leaders of the APC. And the way the trial has been conducted so far has validated my view, that in fact,

Dr Saraki is a victim of the internal powerplay and politics of the APC. The Tribunal chairman Mr Danladi Umar, who himself was under investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) until recently, has not demonstrated sufficient fairness in the manner he has handled the case to give one confidence that there is no predetermined goal of bringing down the Senate President.

In my opinion, Umar’s antagonism towards the defence, body language and general conduct during the trial do not suggest that he is a fair as anyone who has followed the case closely can attest. At one point in the trial, he threatened to jail Ajibola Oluyede, one of Saraki’s counsels.

Oluyede’s offence was that he filed a motion asking Umar to disqualify himself because, in his view, the investigation by the EFCC of the chairman had compromised him, making him likely to be bias against the defendant.

The counsel argued that the CCT chairman is considered to be a willing tool at the hands of the executive arm of government, which was responsible for his employment, particularly as he himself was under investigation from the EFCC. This infuriated Umar, who flared up and threatened to send the lawyer to jail. Of course, he did not disqualify himself from the case but has gone on to make more controversial decisions.

One of these is the decision that the trial of the Senate president should hold daily. At first glance, there is nothing unusual about this since the new Admin-

istrative of Justice Act makes provision for it to ensure speedy trial of suspects.

But a curious fact is that of all the cases before the tribunal, it is only that of the Senate President that is going on a dayby-day basis.

There are three ongoing cases at the CCT, including that of the Senate President. The other two are those of the Godsay Orubebe, the former Minister of Niger Delta and a certain Rasheed Taiwo, a former Customs officer, both of whom like Saraki are before the tribunal for alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct Law. Of all the cases, however, it is only the trial of the Senate President that takes place daily. It is imperative to therefore ask: why the special treatment in the case of Saraki?

Is the law longer blind and respecter of no person, whether rich or poor?

While I concede that it is within the authority of Umar to decide on the nature and speed of the trial, what troubles me is the special interest the tribunal chairman appears to pay to the Saraki case at the expense of other equally important matters. If it is because he wants to see the cause of justice served quickly, why is he not equally interested in concluding other cases before him? For instance the trial of Mr Taiwo, the former Customs officer, has been on-going for about three years since 2013 when it started. The Orubebe case has suffered several long adjournments.

The last one was for one month from April 19 to May 20. This seeming lack of interest in the Orubebe matter by Justice Umar had irritated his lawyer Larry Selekeowei

(SAN), who openly told the judge that ‘no case is more important than the other.”

As far as I know, in the history of criminal justice system in Nigeria, the trial of Dr Saraki is the only case that has gone on daily. What this suggests to me is that there is a plan to be deny him the opportunity to preside over the Senate while the trial lasts, and thereby deprive him of the responsibilities and privileges of his office.

I am fairly certain that Saraki and his legal team would not mind a speedy trial if they are sure of justice being served in the case. But nothing has happened in the court gives anyone an assurance that will be the case. The emotional outbursts do not give hope that justice will be served at the end of the day.

That would clearly be sending the wrong signals both to Nigerians and members of the international community about the nature of our judicial system. It would also defeat the intent in the age-old dictum that justice must not only be dispensed but must be seen by all-defendant, prosecutor and the general public at large- to be done.

More importantly, the conduct of justice Umar would in a way help to undermine the credibility of the fight against corruption in the country as there will always be that nagging doubt as to the validity of convictions obtained by the state in other trials of suspects.

Okoroafor, a public affairs analyst, sent this piece from Abuja.

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

features

Editor: Bayo Alade featurestribune@yahoo.com 0805 500 1747

The mini river taken over by the crude oil content of the damaged pipeline at Forcados.

PHOTOS: EBENEZER ADUROKIYA

Forcados Export Terminal bombing:

You will bear the consequences —Navy You can’t hold us responsible —Host communities

The country’s oil mono-economy sank deeper into the doldrums last Friday when the rampaging Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) announced via Twitter that they had damaged the crude oil export line belonging to oil giant, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), at Forcados crude oil Export Terminal in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State. EBENEZER ADUROKIYA, who was at the site, describes the altercation between the Nigerian Navy and host communities:

M

OST Nigerians were still sceptical about the various oil and gas pipelines destruction which members of the Niger Delta Avengers (NDA) claimed to have perpetrated, until this reporter was privileged to be part of an on-the-spot-assessment visit to Forcados Crude Oil Export Termi-

nal, site of the damaged 48-inch underwater crude oil trunkline.

The Avengers had claimed that it attacked the underwater facility due to the refusal of SPDC to heed its warning not to carry out repair works on the damaged pipeline. The facility was earlier bombed, as it were, on February 14 and was fixed between April

and May, given its economic importance, with the hope that there would be some respite.

It will be recalled that between March and April, the country lost about 300,000 barrels per day due to the bombing of the same Forcados pipeline.

About 249,000 barrels per day (bpd) were scheduled to be exported from the Forcados stream in both February and March.

As gathered, the spill from the subsea pipeline that resulted from the blast on February 14 forced Shell to declare force

You people promised that time that this asset, will not accommodate damage, whether by perpetrators within your communities or outside.

Now, it has happened again.

Point where the 48-inch Forcados Export Terminal crude oil trunkline belonging to SPDC at Ogulagha was damaged.

majeure on February 21 in addition to the loss of 2,000 MW electricity per day.

So, the all-important assessment tour to the site between 4:30p.m and 8:30p.m last Friday under the heavy security cover of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS DELTA), Warri Naval Base, led by its Commander, Commodore Raimi Mohammed and other senior officers of the base, left much to be desired.

It would be stating the obvious to say that the country’s economy is bleeding profusely, just as the trunkline’s haemorrhage has not abated. However, the spill is frantically being contained by staff of SPDC with the aid of water booms to prevent further spread of the gushing acidic product into rivers and the ocean.

Choking smell at the site On arrival at the site of the damaged pipeline, the first evidence of sabotage was the piercing odour emanating from the volatile crude oil spill and the resplendently dazzling substance on the river surface. The river, under which the pipelines are laid, is sandwiched by a thick forest by the right and an aging tarred road with palm trees lining it on the left.

Thereafter, one could sight security agents from the navy, Civil Defence and the JTF, as well as some leaders and members of Odimodi and Ogulagha communities hosting the facility and some staff of SPDC either working to contain the spill or bemoaning the economic sabotage on the economy of the nation and the environment.

Staff of SPDC had laid lengths of yellow Continued on pg28

features Forcados bombing: Navy, communities trade words

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Continued from pg27

water booms across the mini river under which the export crude oil pipelines were laid. Some of the crude oil was also being recovered into a stationed water tank. A fire truck was stationed to arrest any possible outbreak of fire resulting from the flowing inflammable crude oil.

At the point of the damage, which is at the centre of the mini river, under which the pipeline lies, rings and spiral bubbles of crude oil emerge; a stick had been planted at the spot above the water level to aid easy identification.

People were not allowed to draw near the crude with their mobile devices because according to Shell workers they could ignite fire from the inflammable crude oil.

Interacting with host communities The commander, NNS DELTA, Commodore Mohammed, though calm, betrayed much disappointment over the incident.

He interrogated the leaders of the security patrol team, SPDC staff laying the water booms and leaders of Odimodi and Ogulagha communities .

The leaders of Odimodi and Ogulagha, the naval boss said, had earlier promised the Navy in April, that they would ensure sabotage of such nature never took place again in their domain. He, however, wondered why it was not prevented and no clue presented as to who did it and how it happened.

The community leaders, in their response, did not take it lightly with the Navy as they insisted that it was not in their purview to go to sleep with one eye open, watching over the facility when security agencies with surveillance contracts were sumptuously paid to do the job.

The engagement between the naval boss and the community leaders, however, sprang up a mild, contentious drama between the two parties as the communities leaders refused to yield grounds nor accept responsibility for the sabotage.

Commodore Mohammed reminded leaders of the two communities of Odimodi and Ogulagha how, in April in his office in Warri, before the last repairs started, they had pledged to keep an eye on the facility, which, he said, they described as their farm.

“During my meeting with the representatives of the two communities, you people promised that time that this asset, will not accommodate damage, whether by perpetrators within your communities or outside.

Now, it has happened again. What do you have to say?” he requested.

In response, Captain Solomon Prebor, Chairman of Ogulagha community, said: “What I have to say is that this 48-inch pipeline passes through the sea. As we can all see, it’s far away from our settlement. And we are not here to look after it.”

Not satisfied with the response, the naval boss went further to ask if it was possible for anyone to have flown across sky without passing through the communities to cause damage to the pipeline, to which Capt. Prebor responded, “it is possible because Ogulagha is a free place; anybody can come in.”

When asked if his statement had not shown that the community was indifferent to state of the facility, Capt. Prebor insisted that, “I’ll accept responsibility if anything of this nature happens to an extent. But why should I, when we have the Nigerian Army, JTF, Civil Defence here. This place is contracted to people who take care of it and these people are supposed to take primary responsibility for the security of this installation because that’s the reason the Federal Government brought them here. If we have any information regarding what led to an incident like this, we won’t hide such.”

Commodore Mohammed also wondered why since February when the pipeline

Commander NNS DELTA, Warri Naval Base, Commodore Raimi Mohammed, interrogating the community leader of Ogulagha, Capt. Solomon Prebor.

Commodore Mohammed leading his officers and journalists to inspect the extent of damage and pollution. was first bombed, he had not been fed with information on the saboteurs, warning that the communities would face dire consequences this time round if they did not provide useful information on the miscreants who carried out the economic sabotage.

“I’ll be waiting for the information. Please note that the presence of security agencies here is to assist and not to take over the responsibility or provide all information on everybody coming in or going out, but if you want the security agencies to do that, the consequences, I’m sure, you won’t like it. If so, we’ll control the movement of people going in and coming out here,” he disclosed.

Another community leader, Mr Solomon Iyiepada, who is the vice chairman of Odimodi community, also denied knowledge of how the incident happened.

According to him, “It’s like if somebody is coming in to destroy somebody. If we

The stretch of the crude oil spill on the mini river at Forcados.

know, we’ll pass the information to the security. But this one, we don’t have any information about what happened. In the morning, we got the information and we ran to this place and started to work with Shell to block the oil that wanted to spill to other places.”

Leaders of the security formations safeguarding the facility could not also give a clue as to how the sabotage was carried out.

The leader of NSCDC security patrol team, whose security post stands about 10 metres directly opposite the river harbouring the pipeline, could not also ascertain how the dastardly act was executed without their knowledge.

“This morning, my officers in patrol discovered that there was crude oil on water,” he said, claiming that his boys carried out the normal patrol at night. “They patrolled the land from Odimodi to Terminal round the tank farm. That’s what they normally do. It was this morning (Friday) they ob-

I’ll accept responsibility if anything of this nature happens to an extent. But why should I, when we have the Nigerian Army, JTF, Civil Defence here?

served it.”

The NSCDC official, whose name was not divulged, said they heard no explosion throughout the night and in the morning before the discovery.

We suspect sabotage –Shell Meanwhile, an official of Shell, who spoke with the Navy Commodore Mohammed, confirmed that the pipeline is a 48-inch pipeline. When asked if it was possible to cut through it with a saw, he said: “from our observation, we suspect sabotage, but we cannot be exact for now.”

Meanwhile, Commodore Mohammed, in a chat with journalists at the end of the encounter, claimed the villagers had not lived to their responsibility and pledge to safeguard the oil facilities or provide information as promised last February. He warned of the dire consequences on the environment and the economy of the country, which he said would affect the federal allocation to Delta State, local government and the host communities.

The naval boss alleged that “the perpetrators either passed through their villages or they are among them. I’m giving them time to fish out the culprits or we’ll start monitoring movement in their communities and they won’t find that easy.”

According to him, “I believe that from what I’ve seen, it is sabotage, but we thank God that Shell has been able to curtail the spillage and not allow it to spread as they are already recovering some of the crude.”

He vowed that his men would track down the perpetrators, saying “we shall also follow this one up. Wherever they came from, we shall follow it up for each one until they know that we are serious about this business.”

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Wednesday, 8 June, 2016 Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08158610216

maka nd’igbo Echoes from Eke Ikwashi Festival Jude Ossai - Enugu

T

HIS year’s Ikwashi Festival held in Eke, a community in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State, has come and gone, but the event will continue to bring sweet memory to the people of the area and beyond.

Maka Ndigbo observed that the annual festival attracted highly placed individuals in the society including religion leaders, newly appointed Director-General of the Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu and the former Secretary to Enugu State Government (SSG), Chief Onyemuche Nnamani.

It was gathered that the Ikwashi festival, which is as old as the community itself, is a day the people of the community remember the time they were given protection by a "juju man" against external aggressors.

Interestingly, old ritual associated with the event has given way to Christian prayers, dancing and drinking.

At this year's final event, which held

Saturday June 4, 2016, thousands of people from far and near gathered at Amakwo-Eke at the villages square for the celebration.

The Eke community is made up of five villages namely: Amankwo-Eke, Oma, Amufia, Ogui and Enugu-Eke. How the people of Eke invited a medicine man long time ago to prepare “Juju” for them is now history but what is perhaps more significant is the continued relevance of the deal as people from the community cutting across age, religion, social, economic and political status gathered each year at the village square to commemorate the event.

One of the high profile personalities at the event was the principal of the College of the Immaculate Conception (CIC), Reverend Father Dr Nnamdi Nwankwo.

The Catholic Priest was a cynosure of all eyes as many people watched him beat the drum to the great delight of the audience, combining Christian religion and tradition with passion.

The Director-General of VON, Okechukwu, took the occasion to delve

into politics when he urged the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) and Movement for Actualization of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) to forthwith stop their agitation for sovereign state ofBiafra and support President Muhammadu Buhari.

Okechukwu maintained that President Muhammed Buhari’s administration would soon commence work on the 2nd Niger Bridge, Enugu-Onitsha and Enugu-Port Harcourt expressways, which were captured among others in the 2016 budget.

The chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) called on groups agitating for Biafra - IPOB and MASSOB - to sheathe their swords because their agitation was not in the interest of Ndigbo who are not only doing well in all the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, but have the high chance to produce Nigerian president of Igbo extraction in 2023.

Asked how feasible the chance of Ndigbo to produce a president is, Mr Okechukwu agreed that the Constitution of the All Progressives Congress (APC) A cross section of participants of the festival.

has no provision for rotation or zoning, but convention gives Ndigbo a good chance if they support President Muhammadu Buhari till 2019.

“In the public domain, there is the law, with its legal teeth and the convention with its moral weight. “If Ndigbo collectively support the Buhari administration, we stand to gain as most of the dilapidated roads, 2nd Niger Bridge, Enugu Coal will be fixed. I, therefore, plead with the boys agitating for Biafra to consider the overall interest of Ndigbo who are doing relatively well in all nooks and crannies of Nigeria.

“Therefore, if we support Buhari, nothing will stop us from harvesting the moral weight of zoning convention, since equity and justice is on our side. For our brothers of the South - West and South South have had their turns since our return to democracy in 1999” the erstwhile spokesman of South-East APC leadership caucus said.

How Enugu celebrated 2016 Children's Day Jude Ossai - Enugu

ACPN decries high rate of counterfeit drugs in Igboland Jude Ossai - Enugu ASSOCIATION of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) has decried high rate of fake and counterfeit drugs in Igbo land and other parts of the country, saying the use of adulterated drugs has remained a major challenge in the health sector.

Addressing reporters in Enugu on Monday, the National Chairman of the Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr Albert Alkali, said that the success made by the former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration (NAFDAC), Late Professor Dora Akunyili was not sustained.

Dr Alkali recalled that the late Akunyili, as a professor of pharmacy, executed her job with great vigour because she knew the system, stressing that God had been helping Nigerians.

"We hope this government will do the needful by appointing the right person there to protect Nigerians against the

menace of fake and adulterated drugs.

Only trained pharmacists will know a drug that can lead to kidney failure, brain damage, cardiovascular disease and will do everything possible to stop the use of such medicine", he added.

Dr Alkali also appealed to the Federal Government to review the import duties on raw materials for the production of drugs in the country, lamenting that the lingering Currency Fluctuations and lack of Foreign Exchange had become a major problem to drug manufacturers in Nigeria.

Lamenting the hike in the prices of drugs due to currency issue, he warned that the development could lead to untold hardship to many Nigerians.

The ACPN boss, who said over 6000 Community Pharmacists from all the 36 states of the country and the Federal Capital Territory, were in Enugu for their 35th Annual National Conference with the theme "Manpower Development in Community Pharmacy Practice - Adopt-

ing Global Best Practices" noted that it had become imperative for government to declare emergency in foreign exchange before the problem spiraled out of hands.

"I think government needs to declare an emergency in that area of foreign exchange so that our people will not suffer unnecessarily. Government should do something by creating an enabling environment where we can start becoming self-sufficient in drug production. The pharmaceutical industry has potentials of developing lots of drugs if we have the enabling environment. If that can be done urgently, then we don't need Forex but for now something should be done.

"We are specifically asking for waiver on the importation of raw materials for drug production. Once the raw materials are not properly priced it equally affects the finished product as prices will be so high.

We expect government to work on that quickly," he concluded.

WHEN Ruban Mutual mooted the idea of giving smile to children of 8 grade in the United States of America (USA) some years ago, little did he know that it would be universally accepted. Thanks to United Nations General Assembly which adopted it and gave it prominence.

Although the 2016 Children's Day has come and gone, the memory will remain green in minds of many people particularly children.

In Enugu State, government and nongovernmental organizations took part in the children's event.

Maka Ndigbo observed that this year's children's day was unique as it started with a road work by the children from Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium to Lion Building, Government House, Enugu. It was packaged by the Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with United Nations Children Fund (UNICEF).

Representing Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at the occasion held at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu, the deputy governor, Mrs Cecilia Ezeilo, advised parents/guardians to give their children/ wards adequate protection, warning them against child abuse and early girl marriage.

Indeed, the Enugu State government, through its Ministry of Gender Affairs and Social Development, brought smiles to many children in the state as it gave them hope for a brighter future.

CREW Jude Ossai-Enugu-South East Bureau Chief 08052817955 Joe Nwachukwu- Owerri 08033271227 Suzy Oruya- Onitsha 08063653735

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News

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

CCT boss advocates return of Decree 2 to punish journalists Sunday Ejike - Abuja

T

HE Chairman, Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Danladi Yakubu Umar, has advocated for the return of Decree Number 2 to curb the alleged excesses of journalists in the country.

Speaking at Tuesday’s proceedings, Umar, who was apparently not too comfortable with the reportage of proceedings of the trial of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki, said:

“Journalists should be punished for publishing falsehood, it is a criminal offence.”

Umar said that his position was informed by last week’s publication in some newspapers to the effect that the tribunal had adjourned the trial of the Senate President sine-die (indefinitely).

Apparently angered by the publication, the tribunal chairman accused journalists of practising irresponsible journalism that is in

We ‘ll continue to borrow for projects —Benue commissioner Johnson Babajide - Makurdi DESPITE the lean resources accrued to the state, Benue State government has said that it would continue to borrow money to embark on infrastructural development even in the face of non payment of salaries.

The Commissioner for Finance, Mr David Olofu, said that the present administration in the state would place emphasis on developmental projects not minding the lean resources.

According to him, “their is no alternative to infrastructural development. Government is ready to source for funds to finance critical infrastructural projects rather than borrowing to pay salary.”

Olofu who stated this yesterday during a press briefing to breakdown the 2016 budget estimates of the state, said that it was only in this way that government could fulfil its promises to the electorates.

He averred that the state government embarked on rehabilitation of abandoned roads as a way of opening up the rural areas and also to attract investors to the state.

While answering questions on the non payment of five months salaries to its workers, Mr Olofu maintained that the Ortom’s administration categorised payment of workers’ salaries which according to him, commenced in March 2016, assuring that the exercise would be sustained until all outstanding salaries are cleared.

He further disclosed plans to establish a ‘Benue Collective Vision Funds’, where money would be saved.

The commissioner said the total aggregate budget proposal was increased from N133 billion to N150.7 billion with capital projects gulping the highest amount of N84 billion while recurrent expenditure has N66 billion.

Police recruitment takes off smoothly in states Chris Agbambu – Abuja THE Nigeria Police recruitment began nationwide on Monday with reports of orderliness, peaceful conduct and large turnout of candidates in most of the centres.

The exercise, driven by the Police Service Commission in collaboration with the Nigeria Police entered day two yesterday while officers of the Federal Character Commission were in the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to monitor the exercise.

The Inspector General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, also posted Commissioners of Police to the various centres to join the Police Service Commission in the state screening.

Head of press and public relations, Ikechukwu

Ani, said that the National Coordinator of the programme and Chairman of Police Service Commission, Mike Mbama Okiro, said the screening in most of the states had been very impressive.

He noted the excellent arrangement put in place by the commission to make the screening stress-free for the candidates, stressing that the commission would ensure that the integrity of the exercise is not devalued at any point.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Chairman, House of Representative Committee on Police Affairs, Honourable Udende Emmanuel Memga, has commended the commission for a successful and well coordinated take off of the screening exercise in most of the states.

bad taste for him and for his tribunal.

He said: “If I have my way, I would bring back the Decree 2 of the olden days to take care of the irresponsible journalists in this country.

“How can they dare to publish that we have adjourned the trial of this defendant (Saraki) indefinitely. It is the highest point of irresponsible journalism but I thank God for them that we are in a democratic era and that is why they are doing what they are doing now.

“They are embarking on sensational journalism to sell their newspapers at the expense of truth, but that is not journalism, but a serious crime that can lead them to jail,” Umar stated.

It will be recalled that during the military administration of General Buhari, Decree Number 2 gave the Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters the power to detain journalists for up to six months without trial, same applies to anyone considered a security risk.

In his response to the remark of the CCT boss, Saraki’s lead counsel, Chief Godwin Kanu Agabi, announced that he admires journalists a lot because of their contributions to the enthronement of democracy in the country.

Agabi told the CCT chairman that what Nigeria needs now is peace and not Decree 2 and urged that all Nigerians should pray for peace rather than anything that can disturb the peace of the country.

Meanwhile, the tribunal chairman said yesterday that Saraki would face the full consequences of the charges brought against him by the Federal Government in spite of the alleged delay tactics in his trial.

Umar, who was reacting to the allegation of delay tactics by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, against Saraki’s counsel, said that the consequences of the trial and the charges will, in no way be reduced on the accused person by his tribunal.

However, Saraki’s lead counsel, Kanu Agabi who was taken aback by the remark of the CCT chairman, got up and asked the chairman of what he meant by the consequences of the tribunal.

Agabi told the tribunal chairman that he and his client are worried over “assumed prejudices”.

The former AGF cautioned the tribunal against influence from opposition and enemies, adding that the defence team is against, “assumed prejudices” as it is against justice.

Nigerian Tribune

31

south-westnews

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

Raise strong, patriotic team to salvage economy, Yoruba leaders urge Buhari •Want Nigeria restructured •Call on S/West traditional rulers to mobilise against herdsmen’s attack

ByTundeOgunesanandAbiodun Awolaja

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has been advised to raise a team of strong, patriotic Nigerian economists to help navigate Nigeria’s economy out of its current doldrums and put it on the track of 21st century development.

The appeal was made by an umbrella body of Yoruba socio-political and sociocultural groups, the Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF), in a press statement read by its chairman, Rt Reverend Emmanuel Gbonigi (retd), during a press conference on the state of the nation, held at the Premier Hotel, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

The Forum, which xrayed the current state of the economy, the anticorruption war, insecurity, fuel price hike and lopsided federal appointments, among others, advised President Buhari to heed the calls made by progressives to restructure the country, using the 2014 National Conference report as a road map.

The Forum noted: “We appreciate the necessity of the President’s foreign trips as a platform to seek international assistance on the war against terror and to attract foreign investment to Nigeria at a time when foreign direct investment in Nigeria continues to drop sharply.

“However, we question the frequency of these trips.

The President has travelled overseas in the last 12 months to almost 30 countries, including multiple trips to some of them.

“Nigerians at this moment of economic and social crisis need to have their President stay more at home to attend to pressing domestic problems.

They will also appreciate if he would reduce his penchant for making important policy pronouncements concerning the nation while engaged with foreign audiences. He should show greater regards for Nigerians who are first and foremost, his primary constituency.

“The economy in the last one year has continued to perform dismally, leading to contraction in the first quarter of 2016. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the gross domestic product contracted by 0.36 per cent from a year earlier as against a GDP growth rate of 2.11 per cent recorded in the last quarter of 2015. Unemployment rate increased to 12.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to

10.4 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2015, signifying that the number of unemployed persons in the nation increased by about 1.5million. The inflation rate soared to 13.7 per cent in April from about 12 per cent a month earlier. The Nigerian Stock Exchange continues on a steady decline, losing over 12.5 per cent so far this year. Foreign investors are fleeing our shores in droves.

“The production of crude oil, our major source of revenue, has collapsed from a projected 2.2million barrels per day to just about 1.4 million barrels per day due to Niger Delta militancy. Power generation level in the country has dropped to 2320mw as compared to a previously attained high of over 4000mw.

Our external reserves have dipped to below $27billion from about $32billion a year ago. These are dire statistics and the public may be forgiven if they are now a little weary of hearing all of these attributed to the previous government, a year after there has been a change of baton.”

Though the Forum commended President Buhari for recording significant successes in curbing Boko Haram insurgency in the

country, it stressed that this had been blighted by the menace of Fulani herdsmen and the proposed grazing reserve bill and Niger Delta crisis, insisting that restructuring was the best way to tackle the menace.

According to Gbonigi, some of the “sectionally centred insurgencies are bound to continue to arise from time to time with our present over centralised, quasi-unitary structure of governance. This is why well meaning, respectable Nigerians have agitated for decades and continue to agitate for a restructuring of the country to achieve true fiscal and political federalism and to enable each section to mobilise and develop its own resources.

“It is also for this reason that many Nigerians welcomed the 2014 National Conference. The President’s recent remarks therefore that he will consign the recommendations of the Conference to the archives, and the present posture of his party against restructuring show that they are out of step with progressive thinking in the country. Restructuring of the nation will eliminate most of our recurrent problems.”

On the forex policy of

the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Forum regretted that the CBN’s “adhoc policies on managing Nigeria’s foreign reserves have not achieved the desired results and consequently, businesses continue to suffer while our foreign reserve is on the decline,” urging the government to review its monetary policies and take appropriate steps to narrow the gap using realistic monetary and fiscal mechanism to fix an appropriate exchange rate for Nigeria.

On the recent increase of petrol prices to N145 per litre, Bishop Gbonigi stated that the Forum recognised the need for a partial deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, but was appalled by the insensitive manner in which the issue was handled.

It added that, with the new deregulation policy, a new agency solely to regulate the downstream sector will now be required to replace the PPPRA, with a role similar to that of the Nigerian Communication Commission which does not fix call rates for networks, but only regulates the industry.

On the Fulani herdsmen, it said “The nefarious activities of armed Fulani herdsmen across the Middle Belt

and Southern Nigeria now constitute a most potent threat to national security.

These armed Fulani herdsmen abuse the hospitality of their host communities by attacking and killing innocent people, raping girls and women, burning houses, and destroying crops and farmlands.

“The lackadaisical attitude of government and security agencies in confronting these criminals, who roam the streets of Nigeria with automatic weapons in broad daylight, send mixed signals and may compel citizens to take all necessary measures to defend themselves.

“We are very unhappy that the President has remained silent even in the face of the heinous crimes committed by this group such as the Agatu massacre in Benue State and the Enugu Massacre just to mention a few. When the President eventually thought it fit to comment, his remarks were without conviction. This silence has been interpreted to mean that these armed Fulani herdsmen may be receiving sympathy from the highest official quarters.

“The President must publicly condemn these

From left, Olori Rashidat Adetunji; Co-chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu and Olori Kudirat Adetunji, during a courtesy visit on Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji, by the Yoruba Youth Forum members, at his palace, on Tuesday. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

Ekiti strike: ANCOPSS, deputy speaker appeal to labour Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

EKITI State chapter of the All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS) has appealed to the striking labour in the state to urgently sheath their swords and immediately return to the round table with the

state government so that the strike action would be over very soon.

ANCOPSS also urged the state’s arm of the labour to ensure that they separate politics from activism and see reasons with the government so that a compromise could be reached for the strike to be over.

The principals spoke on Tuesday during the inauguration of the new state executives of the union.

Meanwhile, the Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, has, again, appealed to striking workers in the state to shelve their strike “in the spirit of Ra-

madan.”

He said in a statement, on Tuesday by his media aide, Stephen Gbadamosi, that the workers should “consider the holy month of Islamic fasting, Ramadan, to make peace with the state government over the issue of their unpaid salaries.”

atrocities with the conviction and passion he has shown with lesser crimes.

The wanton destruction of lives and property by the Fulani herdsmen such as the recent one in Oke Ako, Ikole Local Government of Ekiti State while security agents watch or claim ignorance only portends danger for the corporate existence of Nigeria.

“We therefore call on the traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organisations and hunters in the Southwest to put in place local vigilantes to protect and defend their people as the government and security agents have demonstrated their unwillingness to defend them from aggression. Furthermore, we call on all governors of the South West states to send bills to their various Houses of Assembly to pass legislations banning nomadic grazing in their various states. Those engaged in cattle breeding should establish ranches.

“Another act of provocation embarked upon by the Federal Government is the proposal to establish grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen. Nigerians are shocked that a President who prided himself as belonging to no one and belonging to everyone will conceive a policy clearly designed to favour a particular ethnic group which also happens to be his ethnic group. Public funds should not be used to establish grazing reserves. Animal husbandry is purely a business venture.

“The time has come for the Fulani herdsmen to embrace modernity by building ranches to breed their cows as is done in all civilised societies. Certainly no Southwest land shall be available to establish grazing reserves and we urge all our lawmakers in the National Assembly to take note. Government should withdraw the grazing reserves bill from the National Assembly in the interest of peace and stability of the country. We also call on government to ban nomadic grazing in Nigeria with immediate effect.”

Present on the occasion, were Rt Reverend Bolanle Gbonigi, Dr (Mrs) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Senator Kofoworola Bucknor Akerele, Dr Femi Okurounmu, Dr Kunle Olajide, Professor Tunde Adeniran, Princess Bisi Sangodoyin and Chief Emmanuel Adelana, Chief (Mrs) Bola Doherty, among others.

(Full text on Pages 32 & 33)

32

RECORD

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

FOR THE

State of the nation:

A year after Buhari’s assumption of office Being an address by Right Reverend Emmanuel Bolanle Gbonigi (retd), chairman and leader, Yoruba Unity Forum (YUF) at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, on behalf of the YUF, on Tuesday.

From left, Chief Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, Bishop Bolanle Gbongi and Chief Tokunbo Ajasin, on Tuesday.

D

istinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, May 29 2016 marked exactly one year since Muhammadu Buhari was inaugurated President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The Yoruba Unity Forum, as the name suggests, is an umbrella forum for all Yorubas, irrespective of political affiliation. It is therefore appropriate, a year into the new administration, to examine how it has impacted on our people. The President Buhari administration took over power at a time Nigeria was confronting three major challenges; namely, Insecurity, Declining price of crude oil and Worsening economic indices. It is also pertinent to note that President Buhari came into power with an unparalleled euphoria in the history of Nigeria.

Expectations were unbridled as the change Nigerians clamoured and voted for finally seemed to be on the horizon.

The last 365 days have indeed been momentous for Nigeria. While the President has made significant progress towards routing out the Boko Haram insurgents and restoring peace in the North East, centres of various other insurgencies have sprouted in other parts of the country, like the South South and the South East, not to mention the

new terror posed by the rampaging Fulani herdsmen. This sectionally centred insurgencies are bound to continue to arise from time to time with our present over centralised, quasi-unitary structure of governance.

This is why well meaning, respectable Nigerians have agitated for decades and continue to agitate for a restructuring of the country to achieve true fiscal and political federalism and to enable each section to mobilise and develop its own resources. It is also for this reason that many Nigerians welcomed the 2014 National Conference. The President’s recent remarks therefore that he will consign the recommendations of the Conference to the archives, and the present posture of his

The last 365 days have indeed been momentous for Nigeria. While the President has made significant progress towards routing out the Boko Haram insurgents and restoring peace in the North East, centres of various other insurgencies have sprouted in other parts of the country

party against restructuring show that they are out of step with progressive thinking in the country. Restructuring of the nation will eliminate most of our recurrent problems.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, we appreciate the necessity of the President’s foreign trips as a platform to seek international assistance on the war against terror and to attract foreign investment to Nigeria at a time when foreign direct investment in Nigeria continues to drop sharply.

However we question the frequency of these trips. The President has travelled overseas in the last twelve months to almost 30 countries, including multiple trips to some of them. Nigerians at this moment of economic and social crisis need to have their President stay more at home to attend to pressing domestic problems. They will also appreciate if he would reduce his penchant for making important policy pronouncements concerning the nation while engaged with foreign audiences. He should show greater regards for Nigerians who are first and foremost, his primary constituency.

On the recent increase of petrol prices to N145 per litre, while we recognise the need for a partial deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry, we are appalled by the insensitive manner in which

the issue was handled. There should have been prior consultations with all stake holders and the various palliative measures which the government intends to adopt to cushion the harsh effects of the sudden price increase should have been made known to the public. With the new deregulation policy, a new agency solely to regulate the downstream sector will now be required to replace the PPPRA. The role of the agency shall be similar to that of the Nigerian Communication Commission which does not fix call rates for networks but only regulates the industry.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, the economy in the last one year has continued to perform dismally leading to contraction in the first quarter of 2016. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the gross domestic product contracted by 0.36% from a year earlier as against a GDP growth rate of 2.11% recorded in the last quarter of 2015. Unemployment rate increased to 12.1% in the first quarter of 2016 as compared to 10.4% in the fourth quarter of 2015, signifying that the number of unemployed persons in the nation increased by about 1.5million. The inflation rate soared to 13.7% in April from about 12% a month earlier. The Nigerian Stock Exchange continues on a steady decline, losing over 12.5% so far this year. Foreign investors are fleeing our shores in droves. The production of crude oil, our major source of revenue, has collapsed from a projected 2.2million barrels per day to just about 1.4 million barrels per day due to Niger Delta militancy. Power generation level in the country has dropped to 2320mw as compared to a previously attained high of over 4000mw. Our external reserves have dipped to below $27billion from about $32b a year ago. These are dire statistics and the public may be forgiven if they are now a little weary of hearing all of these attributed to the previous government, a year after there has been a change of baton.

The manufacturing sector which accounts for about 10% of GDP and represents the most viable path to creating sustainable jobs and growing the economy has in the last one year continued to shrink as a result of low capacity utilization, leading to huge layoffs and declining sales revenue attributable largely to the inability of manufacturers to source foreign exchange to import essential raw materials, machine spare parts and consumables. Furthermore, many industries such as the textiles are distressed, requiring urgent bailout funds to reactivate and modernize production facilities to become more competitive. We advice the President to put together a strong team of patriotic econoContinues pg33

33

fortherecord

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

State of the nation, a year after Buhari’s assumption of office Continued from pg32

mists to help us navigate our way through the economic doldrums we are now passing through.

At the heart of the economic woes of the country, aside from the low price of crude oil is instituting an appropriate mechanism to determine the value of the Naira against major currencies such as the US Dollar.

The huge disparity between the official exchange rate and the parallel market rate which only fuels corruption and currency trafficking continues to generate concerns amongst industrialists and major players in the economy. The Central Bank’s adhoc policies on managing our foreign reserves have not achieved the desired results and consequently, businesses continue to suffer while our foreign reserve is on the decline.

Government must review its monetary policies and take appropriate steps to narrow this gap using realistic monetary and fiscal mechanisms to fix an appropriate exchange rate for the Naira.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, insecurity in the country has continued to spread to states hitherto regarded as safe. The nefarious activities of armed Fulani herdsmen across the Middle Belt and Southern Nigeria now constitute a most potent threat to national security. These armed Fulani herdsmen abuse the hospitality of their host communities by attacking and killing innocent people, raping girls and women, burning houses, and destroying crops and farmlands. The lackadaisical attitude of government and security agencies in confronting these criminals who roam the streets of Nigeria with automatic weapons in broad daylight send mixed signals and may compel citizens to take all necessary measures to defend themselves. We are very unhappy that the President has remained silent even in the face of the heinous crimes committed by this group such as the Agatu massacre in Benue state and the Enugu Massacre just to mention a few. When the President eventually thought it fit to comment, his remarks were without conviction. This silence has been interpreted to mean that these armed Fulani herdsmen may be receiving sympathy from the highest official quarters.

The President must publicly condemn these atrocities with the conviction and passion he has shown with lesser crimes. The wanton destruction of lives and property by the Fulani herdsmen such as the recent one in Oke Ako, Ikole local government of Ekiti State while security agents watch or claim ignorance only portends danger for the corporate existence of Nigeria. We therefore call on the traditional rulers, community leaders, youth organizations and hunters in the Southwest to put in place local vigilantes to protect and defend their people as the government and security agents have demonstrated their unwillingness to defend them from aggression.

Furthermore, we call on all governors of the South West states to send bills to their various Houses of Assembly to pass legislations banning nomadic grazing in their various states. Those engaged in cattle breeding should establish ranches.

Another act of provocation embarked upon by the Federal government is the proposal to establish grazing reserves for Fulani herdsmen. Nigerians are shocked that a President who prided himself as belonging to no one and belonging to everyone will conceive a policy clearly designed to favour a particular ethnic group which also happens to be his ethnic group. Public funds should not be used to establish grazing reserves. Animal husbandry is purely a business venture. The time has come for the Fulani herdsmen to embrace modernity by building ranches to

From left, Chief Dipo Jimilehin, Dr Kunle Olajide, Princess Bisi Sangodoyin and Chief Abiola Ogundokun, on the ocassion.

From left, Princess Bisi Sangodoyin; former NUJ President, Comrade Lanre Ogundipe, Chief Mrs Bolajoko Doherty, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, Chief Mrs Kofoworola Akerele-Bucknor and the Co-Chairman, ANN Plc, Ambassador (Dr) Mrs Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu. PHOTOS: TOMMY ADEGBITE breed their cows as is done in all civilised societies. Certainly no Southwest land shall be available to establish grazing reserves and we urge all our lawmakers in the National Assembly to take note. Government should withdraw the grazing reserves bill from the National Assembly in the interest of peace and stability of the country. We also call on government to ban nomadic grazing in Nigeria with immediate effect.

Still on insecurity, the renewed restiveness in the Niger Delta should be of great concern to all Nigerians, not only because the region is responsible for between 80% to 90% of our foreign exchange earnings but also, it is responsible for supplying 100% of gas used in powering the turbines that generate about 70% of electricity to Nigeria. The agitation in the Niger Delta is as old as the region. The current initiative, the Amnesty Programme, is already showing signs of stress and failure resulting in the upsurge of violence and acts of sabotage. Our appeal to government is to sit with the real leaders of the people and take a holistic view of the agitations for the purpose of finding a lasting solution to the grievances of their people. Palliative measures only help to postpone the task of according justice to the people.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen of the press, the bedrock of our democracy is the rule of law. The President must be commended for the war against corruption and we call on all Nigerians to support this war.

The President must, however, ensure that the war is not selective as it is perceived by many that only persons from the opposition party are hunted and prosecuted while allegations abound of many corrupt persons in the ruling party with no evidence that they are being investigated or have been investigated by any of the anti graft agencies.

Mr. President, it might interest you that the opinion held by many is that the wave of defections to the APC from the PDP stems largely from the desire to avoid harassment

from EFCC and other anti graft agencies.

This perception, Mr. President, is not good for our democracy, the image of Nigeria among the comity of nations and the credibility of the war against corruption. The anti graft agencies are public institutions and the operators as civil servants have the responsibility to perform their duties as professionals without external influences and in accordance with the rule of law.

Only recently, a former head of the EFCC was accused of fraudulently withholding part of recovered assets running into billions of Naira and we are made to believe that he has been cleared of the offence by the same EFCC such that he even refused to honour an invitation from the Senate. Can a person be a judge in his own cause? No government agency can operate for long without the confidence of the people. We therefore call on the National Assembly to amend the laws establishing the EFCC, ICPC and CCT with a view to placing them under the supervision of the Judiciary. This will remove the perception that the agencies are tools in the hands of the Executive arm of government to hunt its opponents. Furthermore Mr. President, a sincere fight against corruption should not only go after corrupt people in previous governments, but must also

The President must be commended for the war against corruption... The President must, however, ensure that the war is not selective as it is perceived by many that only persons from the opposition party are hunted and prosecuted.

stop acts of corruption within the incumbent government. The figures of legislators’ salaries, personal allowances and quarterly unaccountable constituency allowances of about N224m per Senator and N172m per Rep, being widely circulated and, in the absence of any rebuttal, being believed by the public, does not portray us as a serious nation. Nor does it enhance the credibility of the administration to fight corruption and bad governance. We congratulate the President for recovering the sum of N115b so far from treasury looters but hasten to add that unless such looters are named and brought to justice, the mere act of recovering their loot will encourage rather than discourage looting, since a prospective looter would know that the worst that could happen to him would be to forfeit some of his loot.

Ladies and gentlemen of the press, we are dismayed that almost all the states are unable to pay salaries and pensions to civil servants as at when due. Worse still is the fact that the allocations coming to the states are insufficient to pay just salaries and pensions alone. These are indications that many of the states as currently constituted are unviable and may be failing. All revenues accruing to states cannot be dedicated solely to the payment of salaries and pensions given that the civil servants constitute less than 5% of the population in the states. The bailout granted states by the federal government was meant to pay salary and pension arrears and has not fundamentally altered the revenue profile of the states. Certainly we cannot continue to live on borrowed time; the need to restructure Nigeria is even greater now.

Finally, Mr President, we cannot conclude this address without mentioning the observation which Nigerians across all divides have made, throughout your period in office so far, of the extreme lopsidedness of your appointments into public offices, in favour of the North. Your appointments to Presidential offices, to Permanent Secretaryships, to Executive and Board positions in the nation’s top parastatals have sent jitters down the spines of members of nationality groups in the Southern part of the country and set them wondering about their status in Nigeria under your presidency. Mr. President, is it not odd that Northerners control all the security-related outfits and the major government information media, such as the Army, the Air Force, the Civil Defence, NSA, DSS, EFCC, Immigration, Prisons, NTA, FRCN, etc? And to rub salt on our open wounds, a so called group of Northern elders, under the umbrella of the Northern Elders Forum, wrote you recently, complaining of marginalisation of the North through the instrumentality of the 2016 budget. This impetuous claim naturally provoked us into taking a detailed look at the 2016 budget capital appropriations, and to our amazement and consternation, we found that just as your appointments have unduly favoured the North, the capital appropriations in the budget were even more annoyingly skewed towards the same North. The President needs to be reminded that he was elected by all Nigerians, to serve all Nigerians.

A glance at the table showing key appointments made so far underscores the extent of the marginalization of the South. The summary of appointment shows that the North West which is the President zone has 26 positions or 44% of all appointments made by the President so far, North East has 9 positions or 15%, North Central has 6 positions or 10%, South West has 7 positions or 11.

8%, South South has 8 positions or 13.56% and the South East 3 positions or 5%. This bring the total for the North to 41 positions or 69.5% while the South is left with 18 positions or 30.5%.

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I, formerly Miss Daniel Ojogbane Joy now MRS IDAKWO OJOGBANE JOY. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr Ayandokun Waheed Ayandele now MR AYANDOKUN WAHEED ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adetona Muinat Sijuwade now MRS MUSTAPHA SIJUWADE MUINAT. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Lawal Musa now LAWAL MUSA ORIYOMI. All former documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ajao Omotundesola Elizabeth now PETER OMOTUNDESOLA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Alhaja Mosunmola Mustapha now HAJIA MUSILIMAT IBRAHIM ABOLADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adegbite Adenike Kikelomo now MRS AJAYI ADENIKE KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Akintola Lola Funke now ILUYOMADE LOLA FUNKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeniji Adeboyin Hannah now MRS IGHEGHE ADEBOYIN HANNAH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Olalere Iyabo Idowu now MRS FASHOLA IYABO AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adaramola Oluwakemi Yemi now MRS OKE OLUWAKEMI YEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Olabode Olanibi now OLABODE OLANIBI JOSEPH. My correct date of birth is 28th of February, 1983 not 4th of March, 1983. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF DATE OF BIRTH

This box is for sale CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olowolayemo Yahaya Muazu Omogbolahan now AROGUNDADE MUAZU GBOLAHAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ajibola Oladunni now BELLO OLADUNNI JOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Shakirat Omobola Oni Ajibike am the same person bearing Shakirat Omobola Oni Anighoro. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as SHAKIRAT OMOBOLA ONI AKILAPA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Bello Funmilola Mabel am the same person bearing Owatemi Funmilola Mabel. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as BELLO FUNMILOLA MABEL. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olayinka Olawunmi Lawal now MRS OLAYINKA OLAWUNMI AYODELE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Blessing Ngozi Nwoye now MRS BLESSING NGOZI UFOMBA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ajide Oluwamayowa Moses now AJIDE OLUWAMAYOWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Salau Blessing Afolake now MRS ADEGOKE BLESSING AFOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bankole Oluwatoyin Damilola now MRS IDOWU OLUWATOYIN DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Margaret Olaide Obadare am the same person bearing Mrs Laide-Leke Adekanmi. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS MARGARET OLAIDE ADEKANMI. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Sanusi Adesina Solomon, hereby state that my date of birth is 15th day of November, 1962 and not 15th day of November, 1961 as erroneously recorded by Guaranty Trust Bank.

All documents remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Samuel Segun Adams now OBAZEE SEGUN ADAMS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajadi Aishah Opeyemi now MRS OGUNNIRAN AISHAH OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. All authorities concerned and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ireyemi Oluwatoyin Rofiat now MRS ALLEN-ALATE OLUWATOYIN ROFIAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

35 THIS BOX IS FOR SALE CONFIRMATION OF NAME

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Arogundade Omobolanle Shukurat now MRS ADESANYA OMOBOLANLE SHUKURAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ainabe Grace Vivian now OMONZEJELE GRACE VIVIAN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I Owofachor Shedrach Agbajumi am the same person bearing Sunday Shedrach Agbajumi and Owofachor Shedrach Agbajumi.

Now, I wish to be known and addressed as OWOFACHOR SHEDRACH AGBAJUMI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, Roland Stanley am the same person as Roland Stanley Iyene and Roland Stanley but now wish to be known and addressed as ROLAND STANLEY. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Sarah Samuel now SARAH JUDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Otoyibo Lovee now ERUOTOR LOVEE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Molo Ati John now ATI MOLO SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olowoyo Esther Temitope now MRS. ANETOR ESTHER TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. GTB Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Stephen Emmanuel Peres am the same person as Tefue Emmanuel Oghenero but now known as STEPHEN EMMANUEL PERES. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Eco Bank Plc, UBA Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Comfort Fogeh now MRS EFERORO COMFORT FOGEH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Lofty Omamuli now BEMIGHO AFEJUKU DOMINO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Emumanor Edna now EMUMANOR UVIEDUKE EDNA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

RECONCILIATION OF NAMES/CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

I, Adam’s David Mamus am the same person as Adam’s David, but now ADAM’S DAVID MAMUS and was born on September 11, 1989 not September 9, 1989. All documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

INCLUSION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Miss Evelyn Omokinievo Ovohe now MRS EVELYN OMOKINIEVO OKURAME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Tope Musibau now MRS. TOPE AISHA RAFIU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinyera Modinat Olasunmbo now MRS. ALIMI MODINAT OLASUNMBO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Nwangele Kingsley Peter now NWAKPA CHUKWUKA NWANGELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Amza Jimratu Abeni now MRS. BIOKU JIMRATU A. All former documents remain valid.

College of Health Technology, Irepo Local Government and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Kadri Zaharat Olamide now KADRI-ALABI ZAHARAT. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Nwaoko Monica Ufoaku now VINE MONICA NDUBUISI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Safiu Mariam Adenike now MRS. ADETAYO MARIAM ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Temitope Olabisi Onayemi now ABDULWAHAB RUKAYAT OLABISI TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Lawal Funke Tomilola now MRS. ADENIYI FUNKE TOMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Abike Abimbola Bakare now MRS. VICTORIA ABIKE BAKARE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Joy Eze Chinasa now MRS. JOY CHINASA ILESANMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adetula Oluwatosin Christiana now MRS. OLASALAKO OLUWATOSIN CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olatundun Awoyinfa now OLATUNDUN OLADOKUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Janet Ifeoluwa now MRS. ADEBAYO JANET IFEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I, Akintomiwa Isaac AkinOnigbinde am the same person as Akintomiwa Akin-Onigbinde.

Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AKINTOMIWA ISAAC AKIN-ONIGBINDE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Ajibola Timileyin Damilare am the same person bearing Ajibola Timileyin. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AJIBOLA TIMILEYIN DAMILARE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, Orioye Olamide Dorcas am the same person bearing Orioye Dorcas.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ORIOYE OLAMIDE DORCAS. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Corporate Affairs Commission, FIRS, Banks and general public take note.

I, Orioye Victor Peter am the same person as Orioye Victor Tunji.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ORIOYE VICTOR PETER. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

Corporate Affairs Commission, FIRS, Banks and general public take note.

I, Ayadi Michael Segun am the same person as Ayadi Michael Oluwafemi.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as AYADI MICHAEL SEGUN. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, Adeyemi Ifeoluwa Damilare am the same person as Adeyemi Ifeoluwa. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ADEYEMI IFEOLUWA DAMILARE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aremu Olubunmi Christianah now MRS. ALAGBE OLUBUNMI CHRISTIANAH. All former documents remain valid.

Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Bowen University Teaching Hospital and general public take note.

I, formerly Amodu Monday Komolafe now AMODU MONDAY WEST. My correct date of birth is 30/11/1981 and not 13/10/1981.

All documents bearing these names remain valid. Union Bank Plc., Diamond Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oduwole Hephzibah Iyanunijesu now MRS. AKARAKIRI HEPHZIBAH IYANUNIJESU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akinyemi Adesina Solomon now AKINYEMI ADESINA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME AND CORRECTION OF DATE OF BIRTH

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Egbolodje Orevaoghene Blessing am the same person as Uloho Blessing and Ikpirhirhin Blessing. Now, I wish to be known and addressed as EGBOLODJE OREVAOGHENE BLESSING. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ebikeseiye Oforigbala now MISS RUTH OFORIGBALA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Comfort Nndidi Onwugbufor now MRS COMFORT NNDIDI CLETUS. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Adeegbe Benjamin Temitope, my correct name is ADEEGBE BENJAMIN TEMITOPE not Adeegbe Benjamin Sunday.

All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Eesuola Omolola Oluwaseun now MRS OJO OMOLOLA OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso and general public take note.

I, formerly Fatuase Olumide Bakare now FATUASE OLUMIDE SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunmodede Oluwatoyin Margret now MRS HASSAN OLUWATOYIN MARGRET. All former documents remain valid.

GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Adebayo Sofiat Adepeju now LASSISSI SOFIAT ADEPEJU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olawuyi Folasade Jelilat now MRS ADEBAYO FOLASADE JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adedokun Ayodele Olufemi and Adedokun Ayodele now ADEDOKUN AYODELE OLUWAFEMI. All former documents remain valid. FBN and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Folasade Muslimat now MISS ADEYEMI FOLASADE TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Suarau Adewale now MR. SHUAROOU ABDULQODIR. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Lasisi Adeniyi Ojebisi that my name is wrongly written as Lasisi Adisa Ojo. My correct name is LASISI ADENIYI OJEBISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Ojelabi Solomon Gbenga am the same person bearing Ojelabi Solomon. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OJELABI SOLOMON GBENGA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. GTBank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Veronica Bolanle Ogunleye now MRS BOLANLE AYENI. All former documents remain valid. Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, UBA Plc, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ajagbe Omotunde Ekundayo now MRS BANJO OMOTUNDE EKUNDAYO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr Akinsoji Olasupo Olujide Olarinre now MR AKINSOJI OLUJIDE TIMOTHY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ogundiran Taiwo Adesola now SUNDAY TAIWO ADESOLA. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc, EcoBank Plc and general public take note.

I, Salaam Idris Akin am the same person bearing Idris A. Salaam and Idris Salam. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAAM IDRIS AKIN. All documents bearing these names remain valid. Skye Bank Plc, Stanbic Bank and general public take note.

I, Rafiu Sefiu Temitope am the same person as Rafiu Sefiu Tope and Rafiu Sefiu. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as RAFIU SEFIU TEMITOPE. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

Osun State Polytechnic, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Esther Kerebo Golu now MRS ESTHER CHINASA PETERANYIKAEME. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Kelani Taofeek Olaide am the same person bearing Babalola Taofeek Olaide. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as BABALOLA TAOFEEK OLAIDE. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Amao Florence Funmilola now MRS OWOEYE FLORENCE FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid.

Obafemi Awolowo Teaching Hospital and general public take note.

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Salaudeen Hisamat Akanda am the same person bearing Salaudeen Isamotu Akanda. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as SALAUDEEN HISAMAT AKANDA. All documents bearing these names remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ganiyu Kafilat Toyin now MRS OKUNLOLA KAFILAT TOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

TESCOM and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Taiwo Oluyemi Ojo now AKINLOYE TAIWO OLUYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Elufowoju Emmanuel Bukola now AKINLOLU EMMANUEL BUKOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ariyibi Omolade Oluwatoyin now MRS. OLAFARE OLUWAKEMI OMOLADE OLUWATOYIN VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Oginni Okikiayo Seun my name was mistakenly written as Oginni Samuel. My correct name is OGINNI OKIKIAYO SEUN. All documents bearing these names remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Akidele Michael Adetoro am the same person bearing Akidele Adetoro. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AKIDELE MICHAEL ADETORO. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc., GTBank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oguntade Layokemi now MRS. OGUNRANTI LAYOKEMI MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Lawal Opeyemi Sulaimon now LAWAL OPEYEMI ADIGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Udenyi Charity now MRS. OTOKPA CHARITY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Oyedotun Rotimi Moses now OYEDOTUN O L U WA R O T I M I BENJAMIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Josephine Unobueze Osamade now MRS. JOSEPHINE UNOBUEZE MORDI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omopariola Olaotan Opeyemi now MRS. LAWAL OLAOTAN OPEYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I Ogunyamoju Omowole Samuel am the same and one person as Ruben Omowole, Ogunyamoju Omowole, Omowole Samuel and Omowole Godwin Reuben. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OGUNYAMOJU OMOWOLE SAMUEL. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. UBA Plc, Eco Bank Plc, Skye Bank Plc and General public take note.

I, Falashe Olusegun Marufdeen my correct name is FALASHE OLUSEGUN MARUFDEEN not Falashe Olusegun Eba. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank Plc., Skye Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Isau Salaudeen am the same person bearing Salau Yisau Oyelere.

Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as SALAU YISAU OYELERE. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid. First Bank Plc., Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Ayeni Kehinde Deborah now MRS. ALUKO KEHINDE DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. Authorities concerned and general public take note.

I, formerly Bridget Benjamin now TYOLUMUN NGUYILAN B. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc., First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Oloyede Nimota now OLOYEDE NIMOTA FOYEKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, Adekanbi Ayobami Abisoye am the same person as Opawusi Adeyemi. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OPAWUSI ADEYEMI. All documents bearing these names refer to me and remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Folawuyo Oluwatoyin Atinuke now ONI OLUWATOYIN ATINUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016 36 news NUJ Resident doctors to begin nationwide strike June 9 Kwara loses member

T

he National Association of Resident Doctors of Nigeria (NARD) will start a nationwide strike on Thursday, June 9, the National President, Dr Muhammad Askira, has announced.

Askira told newsmen in Kano, on Tuesday, that the decision was taken at the ordinary general meeting of the National Executive Council of the association, held between May 30 and June 5 in Jos.

He said “16 out of 58 federal tertiary institutions or centres were exempted from the initial centre based strike for the commitment of the Chief Medical Director of the hospitals to implement the Federal Government’s

directives.”

He said if by midnight of Sunday, June 19, their demands were not met, all members of the association, including those exempted, would join the indefinite nationwide strike.

Askira said the association found it necessary to take the painful decision following the inability of the government to meet its demands.

“Due to the failure of the government to address the demands of NARD, it has declared a total and indefinite strike.

“NARD has to take this painful decision in order to highlight the plight of our hardworking members who have had to endure a long period of deprivation and disenfranchisement,” he said.

He said the association would continue to be open to discussion and ready to partner government to ensure effective health care service delivery to Nigerians.

JUSUN protests 2-month unpaid salaries in Nasarawa Godwin Agwam- Lafia Wife of the Senate President, Mrs Toyin Saraki (left), receiving her National Identity Card from the General Manager, Legal and Regulatory Services/Commission Secretary of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), Hadiza Ali Dagabana, in Abuja, on Tuesday.

FG to unravel causes of Boko Haram insurgency soon —AGF Sunday Ejike-Abuja

The Federal Government, on Tuesday, said it will soon unravel the root cause of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North Eastern part of the country.

The Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), while addressing aggrieved lawyers in the country, who staged a peaceful protest on the menace of Boko Haram to his office, said a judicial commission of inquiry might soon be set up to investigate how insurgency found its way into the country.

About 100 lawyers under the umbrella of Lawyers United for Equality and Human Rights Advocacy protested to the office of the AGF, on Tuesday, to demand the investigation and prosecution of persons found to have been sponsoring insurgency in the country.

The director in charge of general services in the Ministry, Mrs. Lola Uket, who represented the minister to receive the protesters, assured them that the minister would act very fast on their demands.

“You have made your demands and I am sure the minister will act and act very fast to meet your demands. None of them will not be addressed. I believe you gave a time frame in your demands and I am

sure they will all be met.

Your demands have not been met before now not because of negligence on the part of the minister but because of certain circumstances.

“Let us be patient with them because they are also learned men like you. Let us give them the benefit of the doubt that something will be done,” she said.

The lawyers in their position paper asked the minister to ensure the investigation and prosecution of sponsors of the Islamic Terrorist group, Boko Haram, and to ensure their prosecution at the International

Criminal Court (ICC).

In the paper, addressed to the AGF, the convener of the group, Samson Esekhaigbe Esq and Nnena Okereke, the publicity secretary, said the recent development in the country, is capable of causing serious political upheavals.

He also said they were pointers to the fact that top politicians in Borno State, who created Boko Haram, are still in touch with their “foot soldiers”.

“We are afraid that the senseless killings by this animalistic bunch will not stop unless their sponsors are identified, tried in our

local courts or dragged to the International Criminal Court at The Hague and accordingly imprisoned for facilitating heinous crimes against humanity.

“This is the only way that enduring peace would return to the North and Nigeria in general. A situation whereby no fewer than 10,000 persons have been killed in various brutal activities spearheaded by the group is alarming.”

The lawyers said it is their duty as a group of refined legal minds to fight and preserve Nigeria, and condoled with those who lost their loved ones to insurgencies.

NYSC Batch ‘A’ Stream II to commence orientation June 13 Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

Finally, the 2016, Batch ‘A ’ stream II Orientation course for prospective Youth Corps members, will commence from Monday, June 13 to Wednesday, June 29, across the country, the National Youth Service Corps NYSC has revealed.

This is following the approval and release of funds to the scheme by the President Muhammed Buhari to hold the planned orientation course.

This was contained in a statement issued by the Head of Press Unit, Mrs Abosede Aderibigbe in

Abuja, on Tuesday.

“The management of the National Youth Service Corps wishes to inform all prospective Corps members that the President, Commander-in-Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari has approved and released funds to the Scheme to hold its planned Orientation course.

“Consequently, management of the scheme has scheduled the 2016 Batch A Stream 11 Orientation course to commence,” the statement read.

It advised prospective Corps members to log

on to the NYSC Portal to commence printing of their Call-up letters from Tuesday, June 7, 2016 by 2.00p.m as earlier printed Call-up letters are now invalid.

Also, those who did not subscribe for online printing were directed to start collection of Call-up letters from Thursday, June 9 from their various institutions.

“Management also wishes to thank all stakeholders in exercising patience for this new date and wishes all prospective Corps members a hitch-free orientation exercise,” it said.

The Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria (JUSUN), Nasarawa State chapter, on Tuesday, protested over its unpaid two months salaries by the state government.

The chairman of the union, Jemo Musa, who led the protest in Lafia, on Tuesday, told newsmen that the decision to embark on the peaceful protest, was taken at the its emergency meeting in the early hours of the day.

Jemo disclosed that the union decided at its meeting that if government failed to heed to their peaceful protest, they would be forced to embark on an indefinite strike on Wednesday, June 8.

“Imagine with the economic hardship everybody in the country is going through, the government has not paid two months salaries. How can you survive without salaries for two months, and you are still expected to go to work,” he queried.

The chairman added that aside from the issue of unpaid salaries, the union also wanted financial autonomy for the judiciary and better welfare package for its members.

He also said the union would resist any attempt by the state government to cut down the salaries of its members by percentages.

Responding to the protesters, the state Chief Judge, Sulieman Dikko, said the protest was in good order and assured the union that salaries would be paid before night falls.

Biola Azeez-Ilorin

The Correspondents Chapel of the Kwara State council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has lost one of its members, Alhaji Abioye Olanrewaju of the Union Newspapers.

Alhaji Olanrewaju, aged 60, died on Monday, June 6, 2016 at a private hospital in Ilorin during a brief illness.

A statement issued and signed by the secretary of the chapel, Biola Azeez, prayed God to give the family, friends and associates of the departed colleagues the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Meanwhile, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has described the death of Alhaji Abioye Olanrewaju as shocking and painful.

The governor in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, expressed sadness over the sudden demise of the renowned journalist and professional.

“Words cannot express the rude shock and pain in losing such a compatriot in the struggle to make our society a better place,” he said.

The remains of the late journalist had since been buried at his hometown, Inaja, near Ira in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State.

Ramadan: Jigawa reduces work hours The Jigawa government has approved the reduction of official work hours in the state by two hours during the Ramadan.

This was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, in Dutse, by Malam Isma’il Ibrahim, the Public Relations Officer in the Office of the State Head of the Civil Service, Alhaji Inuwa Tahir.

It said civil servants in the state, would report to the office at 9.00a.m and close by 3.00 p.m. between Monday and Thursday instead of 5.00p.m.

The statement said the workers would report to work on Fridays by 9.00a.m and close by 1.00p.m. instead of the usual 3.00p.m.

It enjoined civil servants in the state to use the Ramadan to pray for God’s guidance and blessings for the state.

Meanwhile, the Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the Akran of Badagry in Lagos State, on Tuesday, urged Muslims to use the Ramadan to pray for Nigeria to overcome its current economic challenges.

The Akran said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in the ancient town of Badagry, that prayer was key to resolving the nation’s economic and sociopolitical problems.

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Human Rights Commission to probe alleged travel ban on Fayose Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

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he executive secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Professor Ben Angwe, on Tuesday, said that the commission would investigate the travel restriction allegedly placed on the Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose and one other governor from the South South by the Federal Government.

Professor Angwe said this in Abuja, on Tuesday, while addressing members of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, who were in his , o ffice to submit a petition on the alleged placement of travel ban on Governor Fayose and the refusal of the Department of State Services (DSS), to obey a Federal High Court judgment, ordering the service to pay N5 million damages on the illegal arrest and detention for 18 days of a member of the House, Hon ourable

Afolabi Akanni.

The executive secretary, who said that the commission would have to step in right away to prevent a situation where the allegation would become a reality, said that the commission would contact relevant government agencies for necessary information before it would know what to do.

On the refusal of the DSS to carry out a valid court order, he promised a comprehensive investigation into the matter in ensuring justice.

He commended members of the House of Assembly for their commitment to the sustenance of rule of law in the country and cooperation with the

executive arm of government in the state, this was worthy of emulation by lawmakers in other states of the federation.

Speaking earlier, the chairman of the House Committee on Health, Honourable Samuel Omotoso, had said that the lawmakers decided to cry out to avoid any embarrassment of the nation before the international community.

Omotosho said that by Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) Governor Fayose, was covered by immunity as a sitting governor from arrest, investigation or being compelled to appear before any court of law.

The Ekiti State House of

Assembly had petitioned the NHRC, National Assembly, Amnesty International, Embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom over the alleged plot by the Federal Government to prevent Governor Fayose from travelling outside Nigeria without getting clearance from DSS. The petition, which was signed by the speaker, Honourable Kolawole Oluwawole, was submitted by his deputy, Honourable Segun Adewumi; Chairman House Committee on Information, Honourable Gboyega Aribisogan and the chairman, House Committee on Health.

The petition submitted to the NHRC reads; “We

write to bring to your attention another impending infringement on the rights of the Governor of our state, Mr Fayose and by extension, the entire Ekiti by the Federal Government.

“It is, therefore, on the premise of display of arrogance and contempt for the laws of the country by DSS under President Buhari that we decided to bring this latest plot to place Governor Fayose on travel ban to your attention.

The NHRC is by this letter, being put on notice that Governor Fayose will travel out of Nigeria anytime he wishes to and attempt to stop will be a direct invitation to breakdown of law and order.

Women empowerment, tool for economic development —Florence Ajimobi

By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare The wife of Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi, has called for continuous empowerment of women in society, describing empowerment programmes for women as a vital tool that will help the economy of every family as women, through proceeds from their business, helps to support the family and care for the children.

Mrs Ajimobi said this while hosting the Police Officers Wives Association (POWA) during a courtesy call on her at her Oluyole residence, Ibadan, on Tuesday.

The governor’s wife said that her office has engaged in series of empowerment programmes dedicated to setting women up in business to enable them meet their needs.

She further promised to support the association in its empowerment programmes and reiterated her willingness to partner with POWA in a bid to reach and touch more lives positively, especially, the vulnerable ones.

Earlier, the wife of the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Adebimpe Oyebade, had appealed to Mrs Ajimobi, to support the association in reaching out to the widows, stating the association’s readiness to partner with the office of the wife of the governor in its empowerment and people-oriented programmes.

OYSCATECH holds 3rd sug election The 3rd Students’ Union Government (SUG) election of Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology (OYSCATECH), Igboora, has been held using electronic voting system.

The Dean, Students’ Affairs, Mr Akinsola Olapagba, thanked God for the peaceful conduct of the election, he commended the effort of management of the institution under the leadership Professor Gbemiga Adewale, towards the success of the election.

Mr Olapegba also commended the Information Communication Technology (ICT) director of the college and the technical team for the skills displayed towards a hit-free electronic voting at the ICT centre.

The Students Electoral Committee (SELECO) chairman, Mr Adeniran Babatunde, described the mandate given to him as electoral committee chairman as a call to serve and commended other committee members who served with him.

Adediran said that the committee had successfully conducted an acceptable, free and fair election for a new set of leadership for SUG for the 2016/2017 academic session.

GOMERM holds monthly service Members of staff of African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, born in the month of June, cutting their birthday cake at the company’s boardroom, Imalefalafia, Ibadan. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

Oxbridge Academy launches ‘International Year One’, partners 11 UK varsities Naza Okoli - Lagos Oxbridge Academy, Lagos, on Monday, formally launched its partnership with the Northern Consortium, UK (NCUK), which offers students the opportunity to spend the first year of their undergraduate programme at Oxbridge before proceeding to the United Kingdom Known as “International Year One”, the programme is supported by all 11 mem-

bers of the consortium, including University of Sheffield, University of Liverpool, University of Manchester, University of Salford, University of Bradford, and University of Leeds.

Others are: Leeds Beckett University, Liverpool John Moores University, Manchester Metropolitan University, Sheffield Hallam University and the University of Huddersfield.

Speaking at the launch,

the founder of Oxbridge Academy, Dr Olufemi Ogunsanya, said up to 50 thousand dollars could be saved by prospective students who opted for the International Year One programme.

“With this programme, Oxbridge Academy now offers the first year of the UK undergraduate programme.

That means instead of going to the United Kingdom for three years, the students spend

CAN presidency: Group drums up support for Otubu A group, Coalition for Christian Unity, on Tuesday, said it is not the turn of the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN), to produce the next president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

The next president of CAN, it said, would be elected on June 15, in Abuja, by the 109-member National Executive Council (NEC) of the body.

Reverend (Dr) Supo Ayokunle and Professor

Joseph Otubu of the Organisation of African Instituted Churches (OAIC), are contenders for the presidency.

Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, the national coordinator of the group, Pastor James Ige, said the CCN had already produced two presidents for the apex Christian body Ige recalled that Prelate Mbang and Archbishop Akinola, were CAN presidents as recent as 15 years

ago.

He said it would be unfair and unjust for another CCN to produce the next leader of CAN. He said the impression that some people were the kingmakers of CAN should be jettisoned for peaceful and harmonious relations.

“In the interest of unity and peaceful coexistence, it is fair that a group that has never produced the president be allowed.

one year with us and then, spend two years in the UK,” she said.

Also speaking, the Director of International Liaison at the University of Sheffield, Professor Tim Crick, urged Nigerians to embrace the unique opportunity.

“Throughout these universities, the quality level is identical. Over the years ,since 1987, when the consortium was formed, we have worked with nearly 20 countries and about 30,000 students have passed through NCUK. It is a very serious organisation which has history and quality written right through it.”

The launch was also attended by the Co-chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria, (ANN) Plc (Publishers of the Tribune titles), Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, a representative of the British Council, Lucy Pearson, educators, business experts, parents and students.

God’s Mercy Revival Ministries (GOMERM), will hold its monthly prophetic impartation service tagged, “Festival of miracle, God will give me a new sign and a wonder”, at Mercy Revival Centre, 25/33, Alake Lakonko Street, off Ikotun -Idimu Road, Ile Epo Bus stop, Ikotun, Lagos, on Sunday, by 9.00 a.m.

Ministering are Pastor (Mrs) Deborah Akanbi; Pastor Emmanuel Odunmorayo; Pastor Ezekiel Adewuyi; Pastor Victor Idowu; Pastor Josiah Mogbonjubola; Pastor Joe Odiase; God’s Mercy Choir and guest artiste and Sister Yetunde Are. The General Overseer, Pastor (Dr) James Akanbi, is the host and will be assisted by others.

Pastor (Dr) James Akanbi

communitynews Lawmaker tackles ulcer, killer diseases in Epe communities

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chukwumaOkparaocha-lagos

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ESIDENTS of communities in Epe area of Lagos are already beaming with smiles after their access to good healthcare was boosted when a lawmaker in the Lagos State House of Assembly sponsored the distri-

Wednesday, 8 June, 2016

bution of drugs to them.

Moved by the desire to improve the health status of residents of Epe, the lawmaker representing Epe Constituency I in the state assembly, Honourable Abiodun Tobun, championed the sponsorship of drug distribution for the treatment of health challenges such as

peptic ulcer, malaria, body aches and pains, typhoid, high blood pressure, diabetes, among others.

The drug distribution exercise was held recently during a pre-Ramadan lecture tagged; “Peptic Ulcer Diseases, Causes and Treatment,” at the secretariat of

the All Progressives Congress (APC) at Paramount Area in Epe. During the exercise teeming residents of Epe including men, women, politicians, youths, market men and women were tested for ulcer, malaria, high blood pressure, diabetes and others.

Officials of Bhaj Helping Arm Foundation with some of the beneficiaries of its diabetes screening and healthcare services at the event held at the First Baptist Church premises in Okeyinmi, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State recently. PHOTO: SAM NWAOKO.

Foundation deworms Ekiti children, distributes mosquito nets sam nwaoko-ado-ekiti

A non-government organisation, Bhaj Helping Arm Foundation, has distributed mosquito nets to nursing mothers and pregnant women in Ado Ekiti community, as part of its social responsibility to the underprivileged.

The group, which came to Ekiti State from Abuja, also carried out the deworming of 400 school children of ages 2 to 12 years while its personnel also carried out free diabetes screening for 250 adults, in a two-day event that took it to various parts of the community.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the foundation, Mrs. Adejoke Ogundana, explained that the exercise was in pursuit of its vision “to see a community free of diseases” adding that “we have to start somewhere.”

According to her, the group is made up of public health specialists from Ekiti State and other states, adding that since “this is the season of mosquitoes and we need to start somewhere, we decided to begin by giving our pregnant women and nursing mothers mosquito nets, deworm our children and screen adults for diabetes. This would set us on the path of achieving our goal of attaining a diseasefree community.”

Mrs Ogundana said she

serves “as the CEO but we have personnel who are more competent than me in the team and we have 280 long-lasting mosquito nets to distribute to our pregnant women and nursing mothers.

“Then we are targeting a deworming exercise for children of school age and we have 400 children, two to 12 years old is our target. We are also targeting 250 adults for free diabetes screening because we know of the epidemic of diabetes in Ekiti State.

“We refer those found to have a sugar level that is above normal to the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH) because we are collaborating with EKSUTH and we have some of their doctors with us in the team,” she said.

The Bhaj Helping Arm Foundation expressed appreciation to the leadership of the First Baptist Church, Okeyinmi, Ado Ekiti for freely giving their premises for the use of the foundation, noting that the strike by civil servants in the state prompted the search for an alternative venue to the Primary Health Centre in the area, which was locked by the striking workers.

One of the beneficiaries of the programme, Mrs. Abosede Olaiya, who received mosquito-treated nets and had her child de-

formed, expressed appreciation to the foundation and thanked them for “not being discouraged by the strike which initially created doubts about the programme.”

She said the large turnout of beneficiaries was “a testimony to the good work the foundation has come to do in Ekiti and we are grateful to them for choosing to come to Ekiti.”

They were subsequently given drugs donated by Honourable Tobun which included analgesics, antimalaria pains reliever, multivitamins, anti-biotics, antacids among others.

In his remarks, Tobun said it was disheartening that a lot of people were always very busy such that they often failed to rest properly, adding that this could lead to hypertension and ultimately death.

The lawmaker stated that if certain health challenges were not treated early, they could lead to more serious conditions, while also advising people above 40 years of age to take their health seriously.

“Most women don’t take care of their bodies until their bodies break down.

We have witnessed many sudden deaths, so we decided to organise this programme so that old women and men including youths would have direct access to health facilities and medication.

“We have also discovered that high blood pressure has killed many people.

This is why we decided to sponsor the tests and donate drugs for the use of the people. Those incharge of tests are professional doctors and nurses,” he said.

He told Community News, which also witnessed the event, that the exercise would be carried out annually, especially

‘Don’t turn Ile-Oluji coronation to political jamboree’ hakeem gbadamosi-akure

TRADITIONAL Chiefs from Ile- Oluji in Ile-Oluji/ Okeigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have warned politicians in the state not to turn the coronation of the new traditional ruler of the community, Oba Julius Adetemehin, to a political jamboree.

Speaking on behalf of traditional Chiefs during a press conference to herald the coronation of the new traditional ruler, the Lisa of Ile-Oluji kingdom, High Chief Fagbamiye said the community leaders have met with political parties in the town to ensure that the celebration is devoid of political colouration Fagbamiye said the call became imperative because of the present political activities in the state, saying the traditional stool of the town should not linked with politics.

He said sons and daughters of the community were

free to belong to the political party of their choice but stressed the need for them to come under one umbrella for the development of the town and to honour the new new traditional ruler.

Fagbamiye also called on parents to warn their wards against being used by politicians, saying that the ceremony is meant to celebrate the new royal father.

His words: “I will like to seize this opportunity to solicit the support of all sundry, morally and financially for the success of this ceremony. I also want to appeal to persons participating in any or all of these events to ensure that their celebration is devoid of political colouration and rancour.”

According to him, there will be a football match between Bamikemo District and Usama District at the Holy Saviour’s High School play grounds where the coronation trophy donated

by Price Ade Akinfiresoye

will be competed for by the districts on 9th June, 2016.

Fagbamiye stated further that on the coronation day which is on Friday, June 10, there will be a procession of all Olodes (hunters) by 6 a.m., followed by the procession of drummers.

According to him, on the same day,there will also be dancing round the town by districts, groups, clubs, associations, individuals to the reception points at Gboluji (Ang) Grammar School, Ile-Oluji.

He maintained that the week-long programme will be rounded off with a thanksgiving service at The Cathedral of St. Peter, IleOluji, on Sunday, June 11, 2016.

Some of the dignitaries expected at the ceremony include, the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Professor Yemi Osibajo; Ondo State governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko and Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who is the Aare of Ile-Oluji.

just before Ramadan so as to equally use the religious period to enlighten residents on the physical and spiritual benefits of fasting.

Legislator empower constitents with tools,money by niyi alebiosu

DRIVEN by the passion to make the people of his constituency the focal point and the vision to help curb poverty, hunger while build a life of dignity for all, the member representing Ese Odo/Ilaje federal constituency of Ondo State in the National Assembly, Honourable Kolade Akinjo, has said that the nation must be ready to build the nexus between the people, democracy and their representatives.

He said this while distributing empowerment items and money to youths, women, artisans and groups in his constituency.

The items are motorcycles numbering 122, 20 vulcanising machines, 21 sewing machines, 27 grinding machines, 121 bags of fertilizer, 60 bundles of fishing net.

Other items distributed under the special group support are 10 sewing machines and N250,000 for the tailoring association, while N700,000 worth of batteries and tyres were provided for the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW).

In his blueprint to alleviate the suffering of the people of his constituency, Akinjo created a fund category programme where 34 law school students from his constituency received N25,000 each, 17 overall best students in high schools received N20,000 each and 20 women under the Legislative Recognition Award received N25,000 each.

Also in the blueprint is the Award for Excellence of N30,000 each for three primary school teachers, N25,000 each for 14 faithbased intervention funds, N15,000 each for 24 market women support scheme, N20,000 each for 11 physically challenged persons, N25,000 each for 44 women in various wards in the constituency and N25,000 each for 60 youths.

The National Association of Ilaje Students got a donation of N250,000.

Earlier in his speech, Akinjo said: “Being an elected representative of the people, my job is to relentlessly deepen the understanding of this framework along the path of robust ideology which places unequivocal premium on the people.”

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corporatesport

With Niyi Alebiosu adeniyi70@yahoo.com 08116954642

2016 Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield:

Fifth Chukker/Access Bank are Charity Shield champions

Victor Ikpeba, Exinternational footballer, giving handshakes to the players before the kick-off during the 2016 COPA Coca-Cola Lagos Grassroots finals held at the Lagos state National Stadium Legacy Pitch recently.

2016 Copa Coca-Cola tourney enters regional stage …As Rockford College emerges Lagos champion

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hirty two schools from across the federation have entered into the regional stage of the 2016 U-15 Copa Coca-Cola tournament, just as Rockford Junior College, Ikorodu emerged winner of the Lagos grassroots finals.

At the Legacy pitch of the

National stadium where the match was played, Rockford defeated rival team, Jibowu Junior School 7-0 to make their way into the next stage of the competition. It was a highly tactical match as the Rockford boys dominated all through the game scoring seven sensational goals.

Commenting on the match, the Marketing Director, Coca-Cola Nigeria, Patricia Jemibewon expressed delight at the display of football skills by the teenagers, noting that Coca-Cola would continually provide platforms that support teenagers’ passions.

Erameh wins BCGS captain golf tourney Abiodun Jimoh- Benin City

Professor Waziri Erameh has emerged overall winner at the 2016 Benin Club Golf Section (BCGS) inaugural golf tournament concluded over the weekend at the golf course, Benin City.

Professor Erameh handicap eight who swing a total of 82 gross to emerge overall winner also won the nearest to the pin award in the event that featured over one hundred golfers across the federation participated at the golfing actions that lasted two days at the lush green course in the City.

Speaking at the occasion, the winner who could not hold his emotion commended the organizers of the event, adding that it was a great joy for him to have won the tournament in the midst of other experienced golfers that played in the game.

Furthermore, he said “I did well in the game while same cannot be said of oth-

er contestants, it was a fine event well organized and hitch free. Golf is a game of handicap because you may play well today and do something different the following day. Though it is gentlemen game but difficult as well because course is your main opponent.”

In the same vein, Mahmud Sharafa-deen emerged winner in the handicap 1-18 men’s category with 76nets while the duo of AVM Aliyu and Oseni Ahmed placed first

and second runner-up having recorded 81 Nets respectively just as the best gross award was won by Peace Anuna with 88 gross.

Similarly, handicap 19-28 category best award went to S. Okundigie (hcp 26) with 77net ahead of Mojeed Momoh (hcp 25) who played 79net while the third placed prize went to Mike Edokpolor with 80net.

Also, Stella Emina won the longest drive ladies event while Uche Nilinor won

Jemibewon said that, “Coca-Cola is committed to the overall development of young Nigerians, especially teenagers, and research has shown that, beyond being just a sporting activity, football plays a huge role in the development of teenagers because of the values they learn from playing, which include determination, friendship, hard work, and responsibility. All of these skills are useful for the future, hence; Coca-Cola is committed to promoting the game of Football among teenagers.”

Some of the ex-international football stars, including Victor Ikpeba, Tajudeen Disu and Henry Nwosu commended Coca-Cola for expanding the scope of the Copa Coca-Cola competition to accommodate more participation.

According to Ikpeba, “Many of the football stars you see today began their careers from competitions such as this.

Emirates’ football themed liveries make an impressive departure Emirates’ specially emblazoned football club aircraft recently took to the skies in seven, carefully coordinated takeoffs in the course of a few hours in one day, showing the airline’s unwavering support for its football club partners with the season drawing to a close.

The club themed aircraft

celebrated Emirates’ football partnerships that touch over 1.5 billion people around the world, the combined fan base of all six iconic clubs.

The bespoke decals were installed on both A380s and Boeing 777s, and include club crests and first team players from Arsenal, Real Madrid, Paris Saint Germain, HSV, Benfica

and AC Milan in action.

Since the decals were first placed on the seven Emirates aircraft in 2015, over 1,800 flights, clocking in almost 12,000 hours have been made. The different aircraft offered the opportunity for football fans in more than 150 Emirates destinations to see and travel aboard aircraft adorned with their favourite clubs.

Access Bank-Fifth Chukker defeated MRS 8-7 to clinched the Charity Shield title as the 2016 Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament came to a flourishing end in Kaduna.

Access Bank, in line with this year’s edition aimed at highlighting the plight of the vulnerable children and orphans and the especially Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in northern Nigeria, donated N10,000,000 to UNICEF much to the admiration of Governor Nasir El Rufai, who was one of the dignitaries that attended the final.

Fifth Chukker, formed

by Lawal Mohammed (0), Bello Buba (+4), Julio Estrada (+7) and Manuel Crespo (+7) took control of the game from the start

scoring through a 30yarder

by Crespo in the opening chukka to level up having started on a goal deficit due to handicap difference.

The Argentine converted another 30 yarder to give Fifth Chukker a 2-1 lead.

Idris Badamasi (+2), Bashir Dantata (+3), Leroux Hendrix (+5) and Tom De Bruin (+7) formed the MRS team, and they even score 2-2 through their South African captain De Bruin to end the first chukka.

Estrada finished off a brilliant move to restore Fifth Chukker’s lead at the start of second chukka but the chance to tie the match again goes begging as De Bruin’s 30yard came off the outside of the post.

They eventually leveled up through a brilliant goal from Dantata.

UNICEF Country Representative, Jean Gough, Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai and Head, Corporate Communication, Access Bank Plc, Olubusola Osilaja with the dummy Cheque of the N10 million donated to UNICEF by Access Bank Plc during the closing ceremony of the Access Bank UNICEF Charity Shield Polo Tournament in Kaduna on Sunday.

Oyo SWAN congratulates Waheed Ekun at 60

By Nurudeen Alimi

SPORTS journalists in Oyo State, Under the aegis of Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN), Oyo State chapter, has congratulated former national table tennis champion, Alhaji Waheed Ekun, who clocked 60 on Monday.

According to a statement signed by the chairman of the association, Niyi Alebiosu, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Tuesday: “We want to felicitate with Alhaji Waheed Ekun who has contributed immensely to the development of table tennis as well as sports in general in Oyo State and Nigeria as a whole.

“There is no doubt, Ekun’s contribution to the development of the game of table tennis and other sports can not be quantified. His ap-

pointment by the governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, as his Special Adviser on sports during his first tenure in office is an attestation to his versatility in the world of sport.

“We, therefore, wish him many happy returns of his birthday, long life with sound health and riches”. The statement held.

A lecture to mark Ekun’s 60th birthday has been fixed for a later date.

Ekun

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One police corporal, Mr. Daramola Tosin, of Ekiti Police Division, allegedly shot to death his colleague, a police inspector, Mr. Lateef Shuaib, after he withdrew N300,000 from his bank account. Not only that, he buried him in a bush, even near a Police station. What cruelty!

If a policeman is not just a thief but a killer, where is the hope of the oppressed? How does one know a wolf in the midst of sheep?

Lennox Lewis, Will Smith to be Ali’s pallbearers Britain’s former world heavyweight champion, Lennox Lewis and actor Will Smith will be pallbearers at Muhammad Ali’s funeral on Friday.

London-born Lewis, 50, became undisputed world champion in 1999, while American Smith, 47, played Ali in the 2001 film of the same name.

Three-time heavyweight world champion Ali died last Friday at the age of 74 in hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.

His funeral will be held in his home town of Louisville, Kentucky.

Muhammad Ali and Will Smith

Lennox Lewis with BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award in 1999 and Muhammad Ali with BBC Sports Personality of the Century award same year.

Rio Olympics:

Siasia may drop Awoniyi, three others

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top official of the Nigeria U23 side has told Goal that four key players are in danger of losing their places in the team ahead of the Olympic Games in August, following coach Samson Siasia’s disappointment at the performance of the team.

Nigeria lost two matches and nicked a final win at the Suwon four-nation invitational that ended on Monday as part of preparations for Rio 2016 which kicks off in less than two months.

The culprits of Siasia’s wrath are central defender Erhun Obanor, fullback Stanley Amuzie, striker Taiwo Awoniyi and goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel.

The four players may have played their last game for the Olympic team unless they can find their form in the next series of test games.

Siasia was saddened by the 6-2 defeat to Denmark in the second game that he has vowed to weed out unproductive players in the team.

He confessed that he was very disappointed with the performance of the players.

“Siasia is not happy that a player like Taiwo Awoniyi has failed to live up to expectations by not converting the numerous chances that came his way despite his potentials,” an official told Goal.

“He is considering dropping him for a more prolific striker unless he bounces back to scoring goals. That is if he considers him for the other friendly games any way.

“The chief coach is also unhappy with the form of goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, the team’s first choice in goal and he has told him to sit up or be shipped out.

“He is also not happy that Obanor has not seized the opportunity left by injured Segun Oduduwa to lay claim to the central defense position while Stanley Amuzie that he had so much hope in has been given a final warning.

“Siasia told Amuzie that if he refuses to sit up other players from Europe will take his position.

“It was a heart to heart and very blunt meeting Siasia had with members of the team after the team’s 3-1 victory over Honduras in their last match at the Suwon Tournament.

“He told the players bluntly that the Olympic football tournament is not child’s play and any player that is not ready should go back to where they came from,” the official concluded.

Siasia has less than two months to put together a team capable of

reaching the final in Rio de Janeiro to match the feat of his last team at the Beijing 2008 games.

Today’s NPFL fixtures MFM vs Nasarawa Utd Enyimba vs Rivers Utd vs 3SC Lobi Stars Akwa Utd vs Sunshine Stars vs Ikorodu Utd Abia Warriors Wikki Tourists vs El-Kanemi vs Heartland FC Warri Wolves Rangers vs Kano Pillars Niger Tornadoes vs Plateau Utd

Chelsea, Mourinho settle with former team doctor Eva Carneiro has agreed an undisclosed settlement with Chelsea on the second day of her employment tribunal.

The tribunal, which began on Monday, was expected to last between seven to ten days, while Jose Mourinho unexpectedly attended on Tuesday afternoon.

Carneiro has now dropped her claim of constructive dismissal against Chelsea, as well as her separate claim of sex discrimination and harassment against Mourinho.

While the settlement figure has not been revealed, it was con-

firmed on Monday that Carneiro had already rejected an “open offer” of £1.2 million.

In a statement released by Chelsea on Tuesday, the club offered an apology to the 42-yearold doctor.

Mourinho publicly criticised Carneiro for running on to the pitch to treat Eden Hazard in the closing stages of Chelsea’s draw against Swansea City last August.

Carneiro, who was called “impulsive and naive” by the then Chelsea manager, was subsequently stripped of her first-

NFF crisis: Reps constitute committee to harmonise resolutions THE House of Representatives’ Committee on Sports on Tuesday constituted a committee to harmonise resolutions of its meeting with the two factions in the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) crisis.

Chairman of the committee, Bukar Lawan, disclosed this after a meeting with the two NFF factions led by Chris Giwa and Amaju Pinnick in Abuja on Tuesday.

Lawan said the committee’s report on the resolutions would be presented to the House during

Will Smith was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Muhammad Ali The other pallbearers will be Jerry Ellis, the brother of Jimmy Ellis, Ali’s former sparring partner and fellow world heavyweight champion, Ali’s cousins John Grady and Jan Wadell, nephew Ibn Ali, former brother-in-law Komawi Ali and family friend John Ramsey.

Friday’s service, which will be attended by a number of world leaders, heads of state and celebrities, will be open to the public and streamed live on the internet.

plenary.

“We have concluded on what the House mandate us to do. We invited all of them and what is left for the committee is to report back to the House at plenary.

“Today is the end of the meeting because we have heard from both Giwa and Pinnick.

“Anything the House decides upon will be binding on them.

We did not take side and very soon there will be something from the committee,’’ he said.

News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

team duties before she left the club in September.

“Chelsea Football Club is pleased to announce that it has reached an agreement with Dr Carneiro which brings her employment tribunal proceedings against the club and Jose Mourinho to an end,” said Chelsea’s statement on Tuesday.

“The club regrets the circumstances which led to Dr Carneiro leaving the club and apologises unreservedly to her and her family for the distress caused. We wish to place on record that in running onto the pitch Dr Carneiro was following both the rules of the game and fulfilling her responsibility to the players as a doctor, putting their safety first.

reports that the committee had last week expressed optimism that the factions would cooperate with it in its task.

It had been mandated by the House of Representatives to find a lasting solution to the lingering crisis in the country’s football governing body.

The crisis was triggered by a Jos High Court ruling which purportedly sacked the current NFF board led by Pinnick and asked the Giwa-led board to take charge.

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Eva Carneiro