10th November 2015 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,367

Buhari sacks EFCC boss, Lamorde

TUESDAY, 10 NOVEMBER, 2015

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—P6

Ex-NSA accuses •Swears in new INEC boss, faults election petitions tribunals FG of threatening •Says those who subvert electoral processes should face full wrath of the law his life •Questions integrity of State Electoral Commissions —P7

Another wanted Boko Haram terrorist nabbed —P15

Osinbajo wants Vehicle Purchase Credit Scheme •Hints at higher tariff on used cars

N17m bribe, false asset declaration:

—P15

FG docks former minister, Orubebe —P7

PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

Biafra protests: S/East govs, Ohanaeze meet •As MASSOB grounds Aba —P41

$5.2b fine: MTN chief executive quits —P10

Gbajabiamila, loyalists boycott inauguration of House committees

•Accuse Dogara of working against Buhari —P2

news

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

House of Reps’ crisis deepens

•Gbajabiamila boycotts inauguration of House committees •All principal officers duly consulted —Chief Whip •Saraki assures Nigerians of good legislation Jacob Segun Olatunji and K olawole D aniel - Abuja

HE crisis rocking the House of Representatives deepened on Monday, as the Majority Leader of the House, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, shunned the official inauguration of the 96 Standing Committees of the House by the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, saying he was not consulted in all the processes which led to the inauguration. While the inauguration ceremony was in progress at the Chamber of the House of Representatives, Honourable Gbajabiamila was said to be busy, holding consultations on the matter at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Secretariat, Abuja, where scores of journalists had been laying siege for hours on his invitation However, the Chief Whip of the House, Honourable Alhassan Ado Doguwa, in his remarks, faulted Honourable Gbajabiamila’s claim, saying all the nine other principal officers were duly consulted and participated in the processes which culminated in the inauguration. According to Honourable Ado, “ I am speaking on behalf of other nine principal officers duly consulted by the presiding officer of the eighth House of Representatives, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, that we are in total support of Mr Speaker in all the processes that culminated to this inauguration ceremony; we support wholeheartedly the official inauguration of the Standing Committees by the Speaker.” Honourable Gbajabiamila’s media aide, Mr Olanrewaju Smart, had in an interview with newsmen on Sunday, stated that “as far as we are concerned, there had been no official communication to the office of the Leader and we will be guided accordingly.” Inaugurating the committees, Dogara said the “decision to formally inaugurate all the committees at once is borne out of the need for the committees to hit the ground running. It is also informed by the need to save cost and reduce legislative time that may be spent in inaugurating each committee independently.” On the number of committees, the Speaker said “it is to ensure value for money for Nigerians and that our

laws and policies are implemented faithfully, that many committees have been created. The need for more effective and efficient legislative oversight activities also informed this action. According to him, “this reasoning also informed the splitting of other committees, like health, which has about 150 institutions. Agriculture Committee was also split for the same reason. There is merit sometimes in setting up specific committees to handle specific problems,” he stated. The Speaker, however, noted that the change promised Nigerians could only endure and outlive any government which introduced it, only when it was anchored on legislation and not mere policy,

stressing that policy changes could easily be changed by an incoming government. To this end, he said: “It is necessary to point out that the splitting of committees has not resulted in increased cost of running the House. The committee clerks and other staff of the committees are sourced from the existing pool of staff being paid salaries and allowances already by the National Assembly. “The committee members are already paid salaries also by the National Assembly. No person gets an increased remuneration by virtue of appointment as a committee member or chairman.. The National Assembly budget has not been increased as a result. The situation in the Legislature is slightly differ-

ent from the situation in the Executive branch, where creating a new agency or ministry may lead to increased cost of running the offices. Speaking on the new committees that were set up, he said “some new committees were also set up to meet the exigencies of the moment and in response to the demand of some of our development partners for better oversight of funds that are being raised for a particular sector. “This reason informed the creation of the new committee on IDPs, Refugees, and Initiatives on the NorthEast. The House also created a new committee on Delegated Legislation to fulfill our legislative agenda, where the House committed itself to evolving mecha-

nisms to track delegated legislation.” On the anti-corruption war of the government, he said “we are committed to the anti-corruption fight of the present administration. Therefore, each committee of the House is expected to lead this fight through their legislative actions.” While calling on members to work together as one, he said “a committee that works together has better chances of executing its mandate successfully. The leadership of committees should involve committee members fully in committee assignments”. Leadership of the House, he said would continue to monitor the performance of the leadership of the various committees and would con-

Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki (left), with the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, during the inauguration of committees, at the National Assembly in Abuja, on Monday. PHOTO: BAYOOR EWUOSO

duct a mid-term review. According to him, “those who have not been appointed into leadership of committees should note that it is not a reflection of their capacity or competence. There will be other avenues to render service to the House and the nation. In any case, if any member in a leadership position fails to justify the confidence reposed in him or her, other persons will be given the responsibility.” Also speaking on the occasion, Senate President, who is also the chairman of the National Assembly, Dr Bukola Saraki, urged the leadership and members of the special and standing committees in the House of Representatives to live above board in the discharge of their statutory functions. Saraki assured that the eighth National Assembly would not disappoint Nigerians in the discharge of its duties and the resolve of the Senate to synergise with the House and remain united in the course of discharging their duties. According to him, “we have as a country, a myriad of problems, but the solutions are also in our hands. As the highest lawmaking body in the country, we have a huge task ahead of us, to find answers to our numerous problems. “The committee system is a veritable tool that helps to organise the most important works, including considering, shaping and passing our laws. They remain the most potent system for oversight and, therefore, anti-corruption.”

Dogara working against Buhari —Gbajabiamila’s loyalists LOYALISTS group loyal to the House of Representatives’ Majority Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, on Monday, accused the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara of working against the interest of President Muhammadu Buhari, owing to the way and manner the House Standing Committees were constituted. The group, however, said that for peace to reign “the only path of honour opened to Dogara, is to reverse the current order in the interest of Nigerians, who are waiting for All Progressives Congress (APC) deliverables.” Majority Leader loyalists, numbering about 20, was led by Honourable Musa Sarki Adar, to a press conference at the APC National

Secretariat, maintained that ‘since climbing to the seat, Dogara has refused to belong properly to the APC House caucus, frustrating meetings and instead, romancing openly with Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) legislators, including holding clandestine meetings to plot the downfall of our party.” According to him, “the composition of headships of committees must be seen for what it is: a declaration of war against the APC and the Presidency - all calculated at sabotaging the majority advantage that APC enjoys, with ultimate aim of rolling back the electoral victory of our party. “The composition of chairmen and deputy chair-

men of committees are clear manifestations of the marginalisation of the ruling APC. Under the seventh assembly, headed by Honourable Aminu Tambuwal, the then majority party – PDP got 63 out of 89 committees of the House, which constituted 71 per cent share of the committee, while the minority parties (ACN, ANPP, CPC and others) got only 26 out of the 89 committees, which underscores the fact that the minority got only 29 per cent share of the committees. “Unfortunetely, under Dogara, the majority party – APC got 50 per cent share of committees, same with the PDP and other minority parties, which equally got 50 per cent. No legislature

in the world had ever shared committees on 50:50 basis between the majority and minority parties. There must be a clearcut margin between majority and minority parties as was done in previous assemblies. “It is curious that strategic committees, such as Petroleum, Power, Environment, Works, Gas, Foreign Affairs, Banking, Information Technology, Aviation, National Planning, Nigerian Ports and Waterways, which are crucial to the success of President Muhammadu Buhari’s Change Agenda, were given to PDP by Dogara. “What is the motive behind such undemocratic move? Is it to derail the Change Agenda of President Buhari to ease their ungodly

marriage with PDP ahead 2019? Nigerians are yearning for meaningful development before 2019 and APC must be allowed to deliver on her mandate. “It is, therefore, absolutely clear that Dogara is, but a fifth columnist, an agent provacateur committed to destabilising the House on behalf of the powerful forces that have ruined Nigeria and brought us to the current sorry pass,” he stated. He equally alleged that “in furtherance of this treachery, he has severally frustrated efforts by patriotic members, who wanted to table salutary motions aimed at commending and encouraging Mr President’s anti-corruption measures so far taken.”

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

1. From right, Vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, Pastor Tokunbo Adesanya, Pastor Idowu Iluyomade, Pastor (Mrs) Sijuade Iluyomade and Pastor (Mrs) Yinka Morgan at Ikenne on Saturday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU 2. Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu with members of NUPPPROW. 3. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu with members of Nigeria Union of Pensioner Ogun State chapter. 4. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu, with executive members of Hotelier Association of Nigeria, Ogun State chapter.

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Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

news Buhari faults election petition tribunals

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

•Questions integrity of SIEC By Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, in Abuja, said that election tribunals were not doing enough to curb impunity in the nation’s electoral system. The president, who spoke in the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, at the swearing in ceremony of the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and five national commissioners, also queried the integrity of the State Independent National Electoral Commission (SIEC) over the tendency for governing parties to always sweep local council polls most times under suspicious circumstances. Giving hint of a collaborative plan for electoral reforms to address some lapses in the existing system, Buhari who fell short of citing specific judgments of election tribunals, said it was long overdue to address what he described as shortcomings in the nation’s judicial system. He said besides the decisions of the tribunals, those who subverted electoral processes should face the full weight of the law. “It is not just enough for an election to be cancelled and a new one ordered. It would be much better if all whose actions or inactions led to the cancellation of such election be investigated and if culpable prosecuted, whether they are individuals as candidates or party agents, institutions such as political party, electoral body, or public officers as electoral staff or security agents. “Similarly, perpetrators of electoral violence and thuggery should not be spared. Unless our system stops covering up all forms of electoral malpractices we can hardly get it right. No system endures with impunity,” President Buhari emphasised. Sworn in were Professor Mahmood Yakubu, Chairman; Mrs Amina Zakari, Mr Solomon Adedeji Soyebi, Professor Antonia Taiye Okoosi-Simbine, Dr Muhammed Mustafa Lecky and Alhaji Baba Shettima Arfo, as commissioners. Buhari promised not to interfere in the work of the commission, but warned the new appointees not to subject themselves to

the influences of outside forces as he asserted that the change promised by his party, All Progressives Congress (APC), must be all embracing. He said: “Your Excellencies, distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I hereby acknowledge and pledge to respect the independence of the Commission, and this government will not interfere with its operations. “For your part, you should not allow yourselves to be unduly influenced or subject yourself to the control of outside forces. You must respect the law and we will hold you bound by the oath which you have just taken. The nation has reposed a

•Promises not to interfere with INEC

lot of trust and confidence in you. You cannot afford to fail.” Recalling that the APC promised to encourage electoral bodies to conduct transparent elections, he added: “The APC government has promised Nigerians change. In electioneering, this change should be all embracing. It starts from change of attitudes, change of work ethics, change in attitude to corruption and corrupt practices, change of party political conduct-right from primaries to the emergence of candidates and finally the conduct of elections. “In the conduct of elections, we promised to re-

spect the independence of our electoral body, INEC. We promised non-interference in its activities and above all we promised to encourage them to conduct transparently free and fair elections. I hereby pledge to keep that promise.” The president expressed worries over the conduct of elections by state governments, where their electoral bodies often declared the respective ruling parties winners of all the seats contested, observing that the situation had always called to question the integrity of those elected in such elections. Buhari said: “Needless to add that the APC is not limited to the control of Fed-

eral Government alone. There are many states that are APC controlled; I expect them to do no less in the way they handle their various States’ Electoral Commissions. All of us, and this includes other political parties, have a responsibility to safeguard the sanctity of democratic values; and the foundation of such values are free association, transparent electoral process and free and fair elections. “I am aware of the Federal Government’s constitutional constraints in its engagement with the state’s electoral bodies. But the government has a social responsibility to protect the democratic rights of all.”

President Muhammadu Buhari, congratulating the national chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmud Yakubu, during the swearing-in ceremony of the INEC boss and five national commissioners, at the Aso Chambers, State House, Abuja.

Buhari sacks Lamorde, EFCC boss, as Senate suspends his probe By Leon Usigbe, Taiwo Adisa, Ayodele Adesanmi and Sunday Ejike PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has ordered the removal of Mr Ibrahim Lamorde from his post as the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). In his place, he has approved the appointment of Mr Ibrahim Mustafa Magu as the Acting Chairman of the anti-graft agency. A statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) in Abuja, on Monday, did not give any reason for the action. It simply noted that Mr Magu, who is an Assistant Commissioner of Police, is

to take over from Mr Lamorde who is proceeding on terminal leave ahead of the formal expiration of his tenure in February next year. Lamorde has been at the helm of affairs at EFCC since November 2011 when he succeeded Farida Waziri. Meanwhile, the probe of Lamorde, scheduled for Tuesday by the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, has been postponed indefinitely. The postponement, which was made known on Monday by the Clerk to the committee, Mr Freedom Osolo, through a statement in Abuja, did not give reasons for the postponement.

It will be recalled that a security expert, George Uboh, had dragged Lamorde before the Senate in August for allegedly diverting N1trn proceeds from forfeited assets seized from corrupt Nigerians, which were kept in custody of the anti-graft agency. The Senate panel investigating the claims of the petitioner against Lamorde, suspended further action pending the plea by the EFCC legal team, which requested for more time pending the release of the agency’s annual financial report by the end of September. The statement reads in part, “I regret to inform you that the hearing of the Senate Committee on Eth-

ics, Privileges and Public Petitions slated for Tuesday, 10th November, 2015 has been postponed for the time being. “You will be duly informed when the meeting is rescheduled, please. The committee regrets any inconveniences the postponement would have caused you.” Last Thursday, same Clerk issued a statement that the committee would hold a public hearing and in appearance would be all the petitioners and those they petitioned on Tuesday, November 10, by 2:00p.m. at the Meeting Room 120, New Senate Building, National Assembly, Abuja.

He revealed that the Federal Government would therefore work with state governments to evolve ways to make state electoral commissions freer. The president added: “I am of the view that it is totally unacceptable to hide under the cover of the technicality of law to deny the citizens’ rights. “Accordingly, the Federal Government is considering a different strategy of engagement with state governments on how to make state electoral commissions much freer than many are today. “In almost all the states, the party of the sitting government wins all the council elections – while there is nothing wrong with that if it is the true wish of the people – but majority of Nigerians more often than not think it is not, hence have little respect for the outcome of our council elections. “This is responsible for questioning the integrity of such winners throughout their tenure.” Similarly, Buhari expressed concern over the decisions of election tribunals which he said were not doing enough to address impunity associated with elections. He said beyond the decisions of the tribunals, those who subverted electoral processes should be prosecuted. The president remarked: “Another area of concern is the justice administration of the electoral tribunals. It is long overdue that our justice system addresses these shortcomings. The ceremony was witnessed by Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, and other top government t officials Meanwhile, the new Chairman of INEC, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on Monday assumed office with an assurance that he will be guided by the Electoral Act and the constitution of the land in the discharge of his duties. Yakubu, who arrived the INEC headquarters in Abuja along with other five new National Commissioners shortly after their inauguration by President Muhommadu Buhari also assured that he would be courageous in discharging his official duties as the chief electoral officer of the Continued on page 7

news

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Buhari faults election petition tribunals Continued from page 6

federation He said that he had been hearing people saying that INEC job was very difficult but did not believe the notion since there were rules guiding the operations of the Commission as contained in both the Electoral Act and the Constitution of the land. According to him, “I am not sure that it is really difficult, simply because the constitution is very clear. The roles and responsibilities of INEC are very clearly spelt out and the provisions of the electoral act are also very clear. “Our responsibility is to ensure that in whatever we do, we are guided by the letter and spirit of the constitution. And these we are going to do with courage. Whatever we need to do, we will ensure that this is done courageously and according to the law.’ Yakubu also promised to be just to all and never to fail the expectations of Nigerians in his new roles, saying he loves hard tasks. “One of my bosses used to say that the public office has tenure, a minimum of one day and a maximum of the tenure. In the case of the INEC, it is a minimum of a one day and a maximum of five years. In between is the privilege to serve. We will never ever fail this nation,” he said. “We will be courageous in what we do, and we will be courageous and just to all that we are supposed to serve,’’ he added. He also pledged to build on the successes that were

recorded by previous administrations, especially in the conduct of the 2015 general election. “We have come a long way. We have had commendations both locally and internationally, in the conduct of the 2015 general election. As I said at the Senate screening, our responsibility is actually to consolidate and add value,” he declared. “Nations don’t make progress by always starting afresh; nations make progress because there is a building block which we now build more,” he said. Yakubu promised to go through the notes handed over to him, including both local and international observers’ reports, for proper implementation. While commending the outgone acting chairman of INEC, Hajia Amina Zakari, for holding forth, he called for cooperation and understanding of all staff of the commission as extended to previous leaderships. Earlier, Zakari had said that with the inauguration of the new commission, comprising of six national commissioners, it had assuaged the fears of Nigerians about the ability of the comission to conduct elections. Zakari said under her watch, the commission had successfully conducted two by-elections while it had assiduously worked towards the Kogi and Bayelsa gubernatorial elections, as well ensure seamless transition. She said INEC was committed to conduct free and fair election in a credible manner based on interna-

tional best practices. According to her, “With the incoming commission members now, we are fully ready to conduct those two elections. We have

the permission granted him since November 3, to travel abroad for treatment of his ailing medical condition by the court. In a motion on notice filed pursuant to section 36(5) 37 and 41 of the 1999 Constitution and sections 1(1) and (2) and 266 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015, the Dasuki also sought for order of the court extending the order of November 3, permitting treatment of his ailment abroad. The motion on notice was premised on five grounds, including the request to enforce the three weeks permission granted him by the court on November 3 to keep a re-rescheduled medical appointment with his physician abroad. He claimed that the Federal Government, acting through the operatives of

commission settles down, it will not be difficult to continue where we have stoped.” She appreciated the members of the commis-

sion for keeping pace with the electoral reform and ensuring continues service to the nation, even when the commission was not fully constituted.

Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun (centre); his deputy, Chief (Mrs) Yetunde Onanuga (right); Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command, Rear Admiral Rafael Osondu (second left); Command Intelligence Officer, Commander Mohammed Hassan (second right) and the Command Education Officer, Commander Regina Eleazu Suraj Bello, during a courtesy visit on the governor, on Monday.

FG docks former minister, Peter Orubebe, over false assets declaration, money laundering Sunday Ejike - Abuja

THE former Minister of the Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Peter Orubebe, was on Monday arraigned before the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) in a four-count charge preferred against him by the Federal Government. The trial of the former minister could not go on because the prosecution was unable to assemble its wit-

Former NSA, Dasuki, accuses FG of threatening his life FORMER National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (retd), on Monday, dragged the Federal Government before the Federal High Court in Abuja, seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to dignity and security of life. Dasuki is asking the court for a mandatory order compelling the Federal Government and its agents, especially operatives of the Department of the State Security (DSS) to vacate his house, located on 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro, with immediate effect. In the suit filed by his counsel, Ahmed Adeniyi Raji, Dasuki pleaded with the court to stop the siege laid on his house and remove all impediments, human and non-human barricade said to have hindered

not rested on our oars in the last four months; we have tried to maintain the services of INEC to the best of our ability. We hope by the time the

the DSS and other security agencies had frustrated the said order by barricading his apartment since the permission was granted. The former NSA also requested the court to extend the order of Number 3, since it could not be implemented due to the action of the security agents. Dasuki further asked the court to dispose with his appearance in court for the purpose of this application, because of the alleged constant threats to his life by the security agencies. In a 13-paragraph affidavit in support of the motion, Dasuki claimed that following the order of November 3, permitting him to travel abroad for medical attention, he immediately purchased his travel ticket and boarding pass issued to him to accomplish the trip.

nesses before the tribunal. The Chairman of the tribunal, Justice Danlami Umar, frowned at the inability of the Federal Government to bring its witnesses to the tribunal to commence the trial of Orubebe. After the “not-guilty” plea of the former minister, prosecution counsel, Musa Ibrahim Usman, pleaded with the tribunal for an adjournment to enable him assemble his witnesses, adding also that the principal witness is out of Abuja. The defence counsel, S. Larry, opposed the request for adjournment and prayed the court to continue proceeding in the matter, saying that the prosecution had all the time to make their witnesses ready for the matter. The tribunal chairman, who was apparently angry with the prosecution said, “I am not happy that the prosecution’s witnesses are not before the tribunal. They have ample time within which to make their witnesses available today. The prosecution should take the proceedings of the tribunal serious,” Justice Umar noted. Before adjourning the matter till November 26, for definite hearing, Justice Umar reminded parties in the case that the Administration of Criminal Justice Act provides for speedy hearing in criminal matter. Orubebe pleaded not guilty to the charges, bor-

dering on breach of Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act, when they were read out to him. The charges were filed by Peter Danladi of Code of Conduct Bureau, on October 8, 2015, on behalf of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). One of the charges reads, “That you Godsday Peter Orubebe while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29, 2011, did make a false declaration in your Asset Declaration Form by failing to declare Plot 2722 Kyamu District, Abuja, on assumption of office on September 26, 2007 and on leaving office (at the end of your tenure), on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under Section 15 of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act Cap C15 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) & (2) of part 1 fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and punishable under Section 23(2) of the CCB & T Act and as incorporated under paragraph 18 of part 1, fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).” “That you Godsday Peter Orubebe while being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Min-

istry of Niger Delta Affairs, on or about June 29, 2011 did made a false declaration in your asset declaration form by failing to declare Plot 2059 Asokoro district, Abuja, on assumption of office on September 26, 2007 and on June 29, 2011 and you thereby committed an offence under Section 15 of the CCB & T Act, Cap C15, laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 11(1) & (2) of part one fifth schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), and punishable under Section 23 (2) of the CCB & T Act and as incorporated in paragraph 18 part 1 fifth schedule to The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended). “That you Godsday Peter Orubebe, being a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in charge of Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs on or about September 19, 2012 asked for and accepted N50 million from one Pastor Jonathan Alota, as bribe for the contract awarded in favour of his company, Chemtronics Nigeria Limited and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 10 of the CCB & T Act CAP C15 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 and as incorporated under paragraph 1, Federal Republic of Nigeria and punishable under Section 23 (2) of CCB & T Act as incorporated.

Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Lagosmetro Shut down of business activities in Apapa as petroleum tankers take over Apapa expressway on Monday. Will the 90 days threat solve the problem of petroleum tankers on Lagos roads? Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa

People still living in 600 buildings marked for demolition —Safetycommissionboss Chukwuma Okparaocha

HE management of the Lagos State Safety Commission has restated its resolve to rid the state of abandoned vehicles littering the roads as well as distressed buildings. Making this known on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the General Manager of the Commission, Mr Fouad Oki, admitted that little had been done to ensure that people were stopped from living in the over

600 houses marked as distressed buildings particularly on Lagos Island in the last five years. Oki’s call came days after a series of building collapse incidents were recorded in parts of the state which led

to loss of lives and property. He insisted that those living in such houses were leveraging on the seeming lack of action by relevant building control agencies to send people out of those

houses, as people had continued to live in them, thus putting their lives and property at risk. But Oki, however, said that going forward, the commission would use relevant laws in the state

SCORES of members of the Lagos Mainland chapter of the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) on Monday stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly to protest the ejection order issued to them by the state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr Samuel Babatunde Adejare. The protesters, who

explanation, the House, led by its Speaker, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, insisted that the Safety Commission boss must bring out more practical way to ensure the safety of Lagosians.

Traffic: LASTMA CEO reads riot act Chukwuma Okparaocha MIFFED by the current state of traffic gridlocks in Lagos, the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Lagos State Traffic

Management Authority (LASTMA), Mr Christian Olakpe, has declared as a “do or die affair” his mandate to restore sanity to Lagos roads. Mr Olakpe made this

known on the floor of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday, where he appeared in company with the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bashiru Ibraimo, to answer ques-

Mechanics protest relocation order Bola Badmus - Lagos

to compel people whose houses had been marked as distressed to carry out relevant tests on such houses to help determine whether they would be demolished or not. Not satisfied with Oki’s

chanted solidarity songs endlessly, also displayed placards with various inscriptions, including “NATA, we do pay our tax,” “NATA is 4 APC,” “NATA, we are law abiding citizens,” “NATA, we are responsible citizens,” “NATA, why is Lagos after us, this is double standard,” among others, however, urged the government to reverse the decision. The protesters, while claiming that they had

spent close to N30million to build the business site, which was originally swampy hideout for hoodlums, enjoined the government to make available alternative location in case it could not reverse the ejection order. Leader of the protesters, Mr. Rasak Mumuni, who spoke with newsmen, said the commissioner stormed their base under the Third Mainland Bridge last Friday and gave them a three-

day quit notice. Mumuni, who disclosed that the place used to be the equipment office of a construction company, added that it had been abandoned by the government for over 30 years and became a hideout of hoodlums before his association got permission to use it from the former chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Adekanye Oladele aka Lado.

tions relating to traffic problems, which is believed to have been on the rise in the past few weeks in the state. While supporting his assertion with an eight-point agenda, Olakpe who is a retired Assistant Inspector of Police, said he had the mandate of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, come up with a roadmap that would help ease the flow of traffic in all parts of the state. As part of his eightpoint agenda which he said would help him come up with the roadmap, Mr Olakpe said he would set up a “robust anti-corruption crusade.” This he said would involve setting up of a special squad in LASTMA

that would carry out raids on perceived corrupt as well as unkempt officials with a view to meting on them appropriate punishments. He said further that there would be strict compliance with the traffic laws in the state, saying that he had even warned his friends and relatives not to call him over any erring motorist, while promising to deal with deviant LASTMA officials. “I am an advocate of reward for good work and punishment for evil work. I can dismiss any officer on the spot and we are going to revive LASTMA within a short period of time. We will give the authority the impetus it needs,” he said.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

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It’s now mandatory to report rape cases —Govt Bola Badmus - Lagos COUNSELLING Ambassadors Organisation (TCAO), on Monday called for stiffer penalties for sexual offenders, perpetrators of domestic violence and those who protect them from prosecution. President of TCAO, Iyabo Obasa, made the call, while speaking during a sensitisation walk, as part of activities of the Press Week organised by the Lagos State Governor’s Office Correspondents (LAGOCO). This was just as the Di-

rector, Office of Public Defenders (OPD), Omotola Rotimi, said that reported cases of assault, rape and domestic violence had increased, disclosing that no fewer than 14,166 cases of domestic violence had been recorded since 2007, with 2,000 of them so far recorded for this year alone. On her part, the Coordinator of the Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, disclosed that it was now mandatory for all residents to report cases of sexual offense and

harassment to the appropriate authority. To this end, she said that no fewer than 600 mandated reporters had been trained, with 2500 students from 50 schools in the state engaged over 2500 students from 50 schools in the state, for the purpose. Speaking further, President of TCAO, Obasa said the increase in sexual harassment, rape, among others was as a result of cover ups by traditional rulers, neighbours and family members of victims. According to Obasa, who

disclosed that no fewer than 406 rape cases had been recorded this year alone, it was such conspiracies that had encouraged perpetrators to continue in the crime. “Sexual violence happens in our homes, it happens to us but most of us keep quiet about it. There are so many women that are battered at home but they will not come out to talk about it because of the culture that is against you reporting your husband, so you have to keep quite. But those times are now gone,” Obasa said.

NURTW members to control traffic —Agbede Lanre Adewole MEMBERS of the National Union of Road Transport Workers will start controlling early morning and evening traffic in Lagos. Chairman of the union in the state, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede made this known to the members in a speech, giving them a feedback on the outcome of the union’s parley with the state government. According to him, “The essence of today’s emergency meeting is to brief you about the outcome of our meeting with the state government officials, with Governor Akinwunmi Ambode chairing the meeting. “The meeting centred around security situation in the state, incessant congestion and high rate of hoodlums robbing people held in traffic and how our union can be of help to assist in curbing the menace of insecurity in the state “It was agreed that im-

plementation of Schedule II of the Lagos State Road Traffic Law 2012 which restricts okada tricycles on some routes would go a long way to curb menace of armed robberies “At our own level, l want us to be very supportive of the state government determination to ride the state of miscreants , hence will must play our part. As from today, officers of our branches along major expressways must always be on standby to assist security agencies saddled with responsibility of traffic control. “All branches along these routes: Ikorodu road - Yaba; Agege motor road- Abule Egbe; Iyana Ipaja- Ajegunle(boundary between Lagos and Ogun state); Oshodi- Mile2; Mile2 -Badagry; lyana lpaja- lkotun- lgando.Our officers operating along these routes must always be controlling traffic from 6 am- 6pm,” he said.

Land grabbers using police chiefs to take my land —Ex-senator Olalekan Olabulo

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode (left), arrests a commercial bus driver who was driving against traffic on Ejigbo road, during his inspection of the ongoing construction of the road, on Sunday.

I’m surrounded by sickle cell carriers —Ambode Bola Badmus - Lagos LAGOS State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has pledged the state government’s support to see to the completion of the Bone Marrow Transplant Centre at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), saying the completion would go a long way to save the lives of those suffering from sickle cell disorder.

The governor pledged the support on Monday when the Chairman, Sickle Cell Foundation Nigeria (SCFN), Professor Olu Akinyanju and National Direction and Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation, Anneite Akinsete, paid him a courtesy visit at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja, where he was adopted as the Patron of the Sickle Cell Club, Lagos, Nigeria. The position was only

previously occupied by former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The governor, commended the Foundation for intervening and providing succour to victims of sickle cell in Nigeria, expressing optimism that the establishment of the Centre would be a major breakthrough as he recalled that about five people already sent by govern-

ment to Rome had come back proven that having sickle cell does not mean a death sentence. According to him, the state government will provide support in line with the cardinal programmes of his administration to touch as many lives as possible. “I want to say that I am surrounded by people who have sickle cell disorder, so I understand the depth of what you are doing.

A former member of the Nigerian Senate, Senator Sunday Fajinmi has blamed unscrupulous police officers for the activities of land speculators in Lagos State and other parts of the country. The former Osun senator, who is currently facing a battle over a parcel of land around Mangoro area of Lagos State, also advised residents of Lagos State and other parts of Nigeria to always report to appropriate authority. Senator Fajinmi also expressed his surprise at the role of top police personnel in the criminal activities of land grabbers, who according to him, can go to any length to have their way. The former lawmaker,

while speaking with Lagos Metro, wondered why policemen would accompany thugs to attack victims of land speculators. He stated that “the land speculators use their relationship with police officers to victimize owners of any property that they want to forcefully take over. Senator Fajinmi while speaking on his experience insisted that he had remained alive from the activities of a certain alleged land grabber, simply identified as Rasheed, because he was a former senator. The former lawmaker stated that land grabbers as part of their efforts to frustrate victims move from one police station to another to intimidate their victims.

businessnews

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

No BVN, no purchase of forex from Bureau de Change —CBN Gbola Subair-Abuja

HE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has insisted that it will not rescind its directive on the presentation of Bank Verification Numbers (BVN) as a prerequisite for the purchase of foreign exchange from Bureau De Change operators. Rather, the apex bank said the BVN requirement actually forced the BDC operators to comply with forex limits on the maximum amount which they could sell to low forex end users for travel allowances, medicals, school fees, among others. Investigations have indicated that most of the BDC operators are now left with large volume of unsold dollar cash, most of which they bought from the Central Bank of Nigeria official

window and are blaming the BVN requirement as mainly responsible for their inability to sell. However, the apex bank denied the assertion that customers now shun the BDCs and in its stead, patronise the parallel market which pushed the rate at the parallel market to above N225 as of last week. When contacted on the recent development in the BDC segment of the foreign exchange market, the spokesman of the apex bank, Mallam Ibrahim

Muazu, discountenanced the assertion that introduction of the BVN as a requirement for the sale of foreign exchange is responsible for the low patronage. He described such an assertion as just a ploy to arm-twist or blackmail the CBN into reversing the directive on BVN requirement. Mallam Muazu further noted that BDCs were licensed to service the low end users whose demands fall between $4,000 and $5,000 (and below) as Basic Travel Allowance (BTA)

or Personal Travel Allowance (PTA) as the case may be. However, the BDC operators have engaged in bulk sales of foreign currency over the years to those who carry the foreign currencies across the borders. He said the introduction of the BVN as a mandatory requirement for purchasing foreign currencies from the BDCs had checked that flagrant disobedience of regulations guiding of their operations. Speaking further, the Mallam Muazu noted that

those with legitimate demand for foreign exchange need not fear as the BVN requirement is to facilitate the enforcement of authorised limits of sales and spread to end users and reduce the incidence of multiple purchases, round tripping and illicit transfer of funds. The CBN spokesman also allayed the fear of the customers in terms of compromising part of their banking information, stating that BVN is

Labour faults seaport operator over tally clerks

FBN money market fund hits N54bn

Tola Adenubi-lagos

Chima Nwokojji-Lagos

THE FBN Money Market Fund has reached a record high of over N54 billion in assets under management (AUM). The fund, managed by FBN Capital Asset Management, is registered by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as an open-ended mutual fund that invests in a broad range of money market securities such as treasury bills, commercial papers, fixed deposits. Operating under the new brand name FBNQuest, the fund aims to offer a high level of investment security across various windows, coupled with a competitive yield. A statement from FBNQuest noted that based on the figure reported as at the 29th October, 2015, the Fund is currently yielding 12.39 per cent, which are much higher returns than customers would receive in a regular savings account. The Fund is also rated Aa(f) by Agusto and Co. because it has minimal to low risk of investment loss due to low net asset value volatility it stated.

Our Error WE erroneously referred to Mr Ifie Sekibo, who is the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Heritage Bank Plc in our Monday, September 9, publication, as the Managing Director, Keystone Bank. This error is regretted. —Editor

just a unique identification number which is grossly inadequate to provide access to customers’ accounts. The BVN is neither a payment instrument nor an account number and therefore could not be used to access any account by unauthorised users, he assured. In practice, he said travellers who need to buy the forex submit more personal information like bank statements, international passport details and other personal information to the embassies, travel agents and airlines on demand without fear of compromise while the BVN is just a number which ordinarily the BDCs cannot access their personal information.

From left, Chinedu Ifezue, winner of the Port Harcourt leg of the Gulder Ultimate Chase; Chinedu Ubachukwu, Gulder Ultimate Search 2014 winner; Benjamin Akuruka, winner of the Owerri leg of the Gulder Ultimate Chase and Chinedu Odimgbe, winner of the Enugu leg of the search, during the presentation of the car to Akuruka for winning the Owerri leg of Gulder Ultimate Chase at Hero’s Square, Owerri, on Saturday.

NCC, MTN impasse: Dabengwa, Group CEO, resigns By Bode Adewumi

MTN Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr Sifiso Dabengwa, has resigned, taking responsibility for a $5.2 billion Nigerian fine that’s wiped 16 per cent off the value of Africa’s biggest wireless carrier, while its largest shareholder questioned the role of the company’s board in the events. Dabengwa will be replaced by former Chief Executive Officer and Chairman, Phuthuma Nhleko, as the company searches for a permanent successor, Johannesburg-based MTN said on Monday. Nhleko, who led MTN for almost nine years until 2011 and increased subscriber numbers 30-fold through rapid international expansion, said he would relate with Nigerian authorities personally over the penalty. Talks are at an advanced stage, according to people familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified as discussions are private. Nhleko, 55, said he would “pro-actively deal with the Nigerian regulator and will continue to work with them in addressing the issues.” MTN shares traded 1.1 per cent higher at

159.21 rand as of 4:22 p.m. in Johannesburg. Dabengwa, 57, resigned over the weekend after consultation with the board. His financial compensation hasn’t been decided, spokesman Chris Maroleng said by phone, describing the move as an “honorable gesture.” The company has until November 16 to pay the Nigerian fine, which was imposed

for missing a deadline to disconnect 5.1 million unregistered subscribers and is based on a charge of N200,000 ($1,008) for each such customer. “We’ve been anticipating this, but not the timing,” Arthur Goldstuck, an analyst at World Wide Worx, said by phone. “One can only assume his role in the negotiations was not effective.”

MTN’s largest shareholder, the Public Investment Corp., called on the company’s board to take greater responsibility for the levy, according to a statement on Monday. The Pretoria-based money manager, which owns 13 per cent of the company, will also be seeking a meeting with Nhleko, who will stay as CEO for as many as six months.

Huwaei, African Union talk partnership on ICT By Paul Omorogbe

GONG Xingyuan, Huawei’s Senior Vice -President, has said the company is ready to strengthen cooperation with the African Union and contribute to its national plan implementation and ICT advancement. “We will also develop more ICT professionals for Africa, and our Seeds for the Future programme is a key part of this goal,” Xingyuan said. He said this while Dr Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, Chairperson of the African Union, recently visited the exhibition hall of Huawei’s Beijing Research Centre during her stay in China. Xingyuan thanked Zuma for supporting Huawei and

the entire ICT industry. “In the future, we will have a better connected world, and ICT will play an even larger role in boosting socioeconomic progress in Africa. Zuma exchanged views on Africa’s ICT strategy, industry development, and talent nurturing. Xingyuan said Huawei had experienced remarkable growth in the African market over the past 16 years. While seeking steady development, he added, Huawei is committed to localising its operations and expanding investment in Africa. He said its customercentric innovative solutions have created great value for its customers and Huawei

had set up 24 representative offices in Africa, covering 54 countries on the continent. Among its 7,100 employees in Africa, about 70 per cent are local hires, according to him. Zuma also remarked that “I appreciate Huawei’s strategic innovation solutions to advance development globally in the ICT industry. I also appreciate the initiatives for developing the ICT industry on the African continent.” “Specifically, I appreciate the work Huawei is doing with the African Union in technology support and capacity building and through specific training programmes, and also encourage Huawei to continue cooperating with Africa.”

THE Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria (MWUN) has faulted the Managing Director of Apapa Bulk Terminal Limited (ABTL), Capt. Mohammed Bashir, over relevance of tally clerks at the seaports. Bashir had stated that cargo surveyors, and tally clerks are needed at the seaports. Speaking to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, the President-General of MWUN, Comrade Tony Nted, stated that “Capt Bashir does not understand what he is talking about. “Cargo surveyors have an instrument they call calibration. It is used to know the draft of a vessel. That is the only vessel they have and they also use it at the bulk terminals as well. “How can he say the seaport does not need tally clerks? Who will tally the number of cargoes that are brought into the country if tally clerks are not needed? “I read the publication where he said how will the tally clerks know how many grabs are put in a hopper? Grab is not water, it is not liquid, so when one grab is put into a hopper, a tally clerk will say it is one grab. If two grabs are put into a hopper, the tally clerk will know it is two. So, a tally clerk will know how many grabs are put into a hopper to make 600 tonnes. “In the past, some people have argued that tally clerks are not needed at the break bulk terminals, that only cargo surveyors should be there, but we have been able to make them see why that is not true.”

businessnews

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Standard Bank wants peaceful resolution of Stanbic IBTC tussle Chima Nwokoji-lagos

HE Standard Bank Group has expressed confidence that the current dispute between Stanbic IBTC and the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) will be resolved “fairly, appropriately and reasonably.” The group, to which Stanbic IBTC belongs, also reiterated that Stanbic IBTC fully complied with appropriate Nigerian laws and regulations, and with international financial reporting standards applicable in the country. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), last week, said after examining past finan-

cial statements, it did not find any case of ‘material misrepresentation’ by Stanbic IBTC and saw no need to ask it to restate them. The affirmation by the apex bank came after the FRC faulted the bank’s audited accounts for 2013 and 2014 and ordered a restatement of the accounts. FRC failed to follow due process, CBN said. Sim Tshabalala, CEO, Standard Bank Group, speaking during a meeting with a delegation of the Nigeria-South Africa Chamber of Commerce in Johannesburg, traced the genesis of the controversy to the franchise arrangement between Stanbic IBTC and Standard Bank.

He said the Standard Bank Group’s operating model, which covers a wide range of services, including IT, are provided by the Standard Bank Group to all its franchises in Africa. In the case of Stanbic IBTC, the charges for these services amount to approximately five per cent of the total cost base of Stanbic IBTC. Over the past few years, the Nigerian National Office for Technology Acquisition and Procurement (NOTAP) has objected to the payment of the fees, which resulted in the accumulation of an outstanding intercompany balance between Stanbic IBTC and Standard Bank South Africa as these charges cannot be remitted

Lagos International Trade Fair ... Lagos International Trade Fair ... Participants optimistic as fair commences Stories by Akin Adewakun Adn Gbemi Solaja-Lagos

PARTICIPANTS at this year’s edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair, which kicked off on Friday, have expressed optimism that it will provide the opportunity to further showcase their products, sensitize consumers to their

latest offerings and network with other brands. In separate interviews with the Nigerian Tribune, the participants commended the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry for keeping up the tradition of organising such a fair that annually provides the opportunity for businesses to break new grounds.

Come up with financial statements, get bank support, SMEs urged A representative of Guaranty Trust Bank, Ifedolapo Ogunlaja, has advised small and medium enterprises to cultivate the culture of preparing financial statements to enable them attract bank facilities. Speaking at the LCCI’s summit at the fair, Ogunlaja explained that small businesses are increasingly finding it difficult getting loan facilities from the nation’s financial institutions because most of them do not possess structured financial statements. “SMEs always complain

about banks not giving them facilities, but the fact remains that banks are ready to support SMEs since they are engine room for growth, unfortunately, most of them do not have financial statements,” she stated. While reiterating the bank’s commitment at enhancing SMEs growth in Nigeria, Ogunlaja stated that one of the reasons for partnering with LCCI for the Trade Fair summit is to reach out operators of SMEs with the aim of finding a common ground.

While expressing his delight at being at the fair to the Nigerian Tribune, at his company’s stand, the Chief Executive Officer of Everbright Globelink Ltd, Mr Donatus Obi, explained that besides showcasing the company’s latest doors and imported tiles, the fair, he stated, would also provide the company the opportunity to sensitise the public to the presence of sub-standard tiles and doors in the market. “By coming here with our products and putting them on the stand, Nigerians would have the opportunity to really identify those that are genuine from those that are not; since those dealing in those substandard products will not have the confidence to come and showcase them here,” he stated. Expressing his optimism about the fair, Nigerian Representative of Goyum Press, Mr Oye Oyewo, explained that the company was bringing its machinery to the fair to avail Nigerians the opportunity of using the oil mill for self-employment.

Build trade fair facilities in major cities, Olawale-Cole advises govt MEANWHILE, the VicePresident and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Chief Michael OlawaleCole, has asked the government to build trade fair centres in every major city in the country. Speaking with journalists on Monday, Olawale-Cole stated that getting a permanent site for fairs would save organisers time and efforts spent in putting the

temporary structures every year. He described this year’s edition as a testimony to the organisers’ commitment to trade promotion and the advancement of the Nigerian economy. According to him, the decision of the organisers to hold this year’s fair simultaneously at Tafawa Balewa Square, Muson Centre and Freedom Park was in re-

sponse to the yearnings of the business world. Meanwhile, organisers of the fair on Monday released the calendar of the LITF Special Day celebrations, where brands are expected to take their turn at the Focus Centre to interact with the media. Interestingly, both local and international brands have indicated their interests to make it a date with the media.

without NOTAP’s regulatory approval, Tshabalala explained. FRCN’s assertion that the absence of approval for the franchise fee and recent IT licence fees from NOTAP invalidates the accruals raised for such intra-group items, and that the reflection of these accruals as liabilities on the financial statements as a misstatement, is incorrect, Tshabalala said. “Essentially, in our view, the regulator has sought to reject the validity of an established contractual arrangement between Standard Bank SA and Stanbic IBTC,” he stated. Tshabalala argued that the regulator was not in a position to make this call, “and we are not alone in this opinion.” He also noted that KPMG did not agree with the decision taken by the FRC as it does not reflect the true po-

sition in this matter. “The decision of the FRC is erroneous on its merits and the process that led to it is significantly flawed and not in compliance with the requirement of the FRC Act,” Tshabalala quoted KPMG as having stated.” The Standard Bank chief said the charges for services and IT licenses have been correctly reflected as liabilities under International Financial Reporting Standards, despite the fact that foreign currency payments due to the Group cannot be remitted in the absence of NOTAP’s approval. “More fundamentally, we believe that these are not matters of financial reporting at all but matters under the commercial discretion of Stanbic IBTC’s board of directors.” While acknowledging that disagreements are inevitable in partnerships, Tshabalala said Nigeria and South

Africa, as the continent’s foremost economies, have to complement each other to drive overall growth on the continent. He expressed the Standard Bank Group’s strategy in eight words: ‘Africa is our home, we drive her growth.’ In other words, we’re firmly committed to doing all we can to support and promote inclusive economic growth in Africa. We believe that the long-term profitability and sustainability of our business is inextricably linked to the development, stability and prosperity of the African continent.” In resolving the current dispute, Tshabalala said Standard Bank Group remains committed to doing business in Nigeria, and to building constructive relationships with the Nigerian authorities based on clear communication and transparency.

From right, exhibition representative, Oando Oleum Syn Lubricant, Mukoro Serah; Chief Operating Officer, Oando Marketing plc, Olaposi Williams; Head Lubricant & Research Manager, Mohammad Dahiru and Ojeme Benahili Faith, a student of the Petroleum & Gas Engineering Department of the University of Lagos Akoka Lagos, during the demonstration at University of Lagos as part of activities introducing the engine lubricant at the OTL Africa Downstream Expo Conference in Lagos.

S&P upgrades Ecobank Nigeria to ‘stable’, at ‘B+/B ratings ECOBANK Nigeria reflects the profitability and asset quality of its parent, Ecobank Group, and will likely remain core to the wider group’s performance. Ecobank Nigeria has also reduced its nonperforming loans (NPLs) from six per cent in 2013 to 4.7 per cent in 2014 (the Group went from 6.2 per cent to 4.4 per cent in the same period). S&P said this is commensurate with other Nigerian institutions. “We anticipate that the group’s asset quality should remain broadly stable in 2015, reflecting its diversification across countries and better risk-management practices at the group and affiliate levels,” S&P said, adding that it expects NPLs to average around five per cent through to 2018. “In our view, Ecobank Nigeria benefits from the wider

group’s scale and franchise in corporate and retail segments across Africa, which should help ensure business growth and revenue stability, despite the difficult Nigerian economy. We con-

sider the group’s business stability to be strong, owing to geographic diversification that supports growth in key markets where it operates among the top-tier banks,” S&P said.

Barclays to remove Nigeria’s local bond index February 2016 Chima Nwokoji With Agency Report

BARCLAYS Bank will remove Nigeria’s sovereign debt from its emerging markets local currency government bond benchmark, the bank said on Monday. “Nigeria will be removed from the flagship Emerging Markets Local Currency Government Index as of February 1, 2016,” the bank said in a statement, adding that the debt would con-

tinue to be eligible for its broader Emerging Markets Local Currency Government Universal Index. Africa’s largest economy has taken a hammering from the steep drop in oil prices since mid-2014. The move by Barclays is adding to Nigeria’s list of financial woes after rival index provider JP Morgan announced in September it would drop Nigeria from its index, citing a lack of liquidity and currency restrictions.

business

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

DAILY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) FOR MONDAY, 9 NOVEMBER, 2015

TOP 5 GAINERS

TOP 5 LOSERS

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Congratulations The Chairman Awrab Suites Limited

Alhaji Abdullatif Kunle Ajeigbe on behalf of the management and staff congratulate you

ALHAJI MAHMUD

BABATUNDE AJEIGBE on your

well-deserved appointment as Hon. Commissioner in the Kwara State EXCO. We wish to thank The Leader His Excellency, The Senate President Distinguished SENATOR (DR.) ABUBAKAR BUKOLA SARAKI and our Amiable Governor His Excellency, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (Sai Maigida) for appointing our brother and illustrious son of Offa to this position.

We are confident that given your antecedent and records, you will make Offa proud and serve diligently. May Almighty Allah grant you and the whole KWSG EXCO good health, long life, strength and wisdom to serve, Amin.

Once again congratulations!!!

Alhaja Rabiat Ibilola Ajeigbe Street, Off Ojoku Raod, Lamodi Area, Offa Kwara State. t: 08078221142, 08074673844, 08164044040 e: awrabsuites@yahoo.com w: www.awrabsuites.com

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015 14 kogi/bayelsa2015 INEC will conduct credible elections in Kogi, Bayelsa —Yakubu Leon Usigbe-Abuja

EWLY sworn in chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Mahmood Yaku-

bu, has assured that the commission would conduct free, fair and credible elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states. Kogi and Bayelsa states gubernatorial elections have been scheduled by

INEC for November 21 and December 5, 2015, respectively. Speaking to State House Correspondents after he took his oath of office alongside five INEC commissioners on Monday, he

said he would do the right thing. He said INEC, under his leadership, would be guided by the Constitution and the Electoral Act in the discharge of its responsi-

Why we supported Wada —Kogi Central people Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

THE people of Okene in the central senatorial district of Kogi State on Monday said they were supporting second term ambition of the state governor, Idris Wada, because of his commitment to power rotation. They said the governor had demonstrated strong commitment to the issue of power rotation and were sure that he would ensure that power move to other parts of the state apart from the Eastern senatorial district. The Speaker of the state

Assembly, Momoh Jimoh and the Senior Special Assistant (SSA1), Alhaji Yahaya Karaku, said in Okene, headquarters of Okene Local Government Area of the state, that the people believed in rotation of power among the ethnic groups in the state. Speaking during the electioneering campaign of the governor, he said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) remained the only platform through which power rotation could be achieved. Jimoh said the people of the area were ready to

ensure that the governor is returned during the November 21 governorship election. In the same vein, Karaku urged the governor to continue to support the people of the West and Central senatorial districts to achieve their aim of governing the state. He also charged the governor on the rehabilitation of township road in Okene and the Ekuku Dam rehabilitation to make potable water available in the local government. Addressing his supporters, Wada said the PDP

UNDP pledges support for women emancipation Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Monday, pledged the continued support of advocacy and programmes that could enhance women emancipation in Nigeria. The democratic governance specialist and project director, UNDP, Mintwab Tafesse, said this in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, at the Kogi gender dialogue for governorship candidates in the forthcoming governorship election in the state. According to her, the UNDP had always been committed to gender issues as it affect women around the world, saying the body would continue to support agitations and moves by the women folk

to assume their rightful place in the scheme of things in the country. She said the gender dialogue put together by Women Advocates’ Research and Documentation Centre (WARDC) and other civil societies in the state, was an all inclusive programme to ensure that women are carried along in policy formulation, implementation and governance generally. She however, said the UNDP would sustain the programme through partnership and support to make sure that issues of women were brought to the front burner. The convenor of the national gender dialogue, Dr Abiola Afolabi, said the programme was organised as an avenue for women to come together and speak

Wada to adopt participatory budget system if re-elected —Awoniyi Governor. Idris Wada of Kogi State has said that his administration would adopt participatory budgetary approach to enhance the percentage of implementation of its subsequent annual budget, if re-elected. The state deputy governor, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday, in Lokoja ,that the system would change the state for better. Awoniyi said that the percentage of implementation of the state’s annual budgets had often fallen short of the proposals. He said a realistic pro-

cess where budgets were based on available resources would be the best for the state in view of prevailing dwindling economic circumstances. “One fundamental ingredient of governance that will come to bear is the issue of participatory budgeting. We need to sit down and plan carefully how much we have in the pool and how to judiciously spread it. “If only for everybody to have a sense of belonging, one section won’t feel marginalised or short-changed. So, these are some of the things we will bring to bear when we come back,” he said.

with one voice on the issues affecting them. According to her, the available data on women participation in decision making process, maternal and child mortality, employment among others showed appropriate space shoukd be created for the jssues to be effectively addressed. Afolabi said, “It is premised on the realisation that if we truly want to address issues affecting women, we need to engage political office holders through dialogue and negotiations as opposed to confrontation and blame game.”

would ensure that necessary steps are taken to ensure that the minority areas in the state have access to power. He said already, the party had set up a committee to work out the modalities for rotation of power among various ethnic groups in the state.

bilities. Asked what new things he would bring on board as the boss, he said with the widely acclaimed success of the 2015 general election, INEC could not afford to rest on its oars. “It is not about bringing something new, it is about doing the right thing that the constitution and the Electoral Act enshrine. “Yes, there will be elections in Kogi on the 21st of this month and election in Bayelsa on December 5. “As far as INEC is concerned, they are routine matters, governed by the constitution and the law. “It is not that we are going

to do anything new that Nigerians don’t know. The goal post is not going to shift. “Nigerians will know that the elections will be credible as the 2015 general election were adjudged as credible. “The card reader will be deployed and the PVC will also be deployed and thereafter, if there is any value technology we can add, we are going to also explore.” He continued: “The constitution and also the Electoral Act are very clear. These are the two documents that will guide the operations of INEC under my chairmanship and we will not waver.”

Police arrest 2 over vandalism of billboards in Bayelsa Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

The police in Bayelsa State, on Monday, arraigned two persons before Chief Magistrate’s Court 4, Ovom, over alleged vandalism of Governor Seriake Dickson’s camapign billboards and defacing of his posters. The suspects , Emereru Jesus, and Godknows Reuben, were arrested by the A-Division of the State Police Command, Yenagoa, on Saturday.

While Emereru is from Delta State, Reuben hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The suspects were arraigned on two counts of conspiracy and wilful and unlawful damage of billboards and posters of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governorship candidate for December 5 poll, Chief Dickson. Emereru and Reuben were arraigned by the police prosecution under Sections 378 and 445 laws of Bayelsa State, 2006. When their pleas were taken, the suspects caused

stir in the court room, as they veered off from the matter and started speaking out of context. The presiding magistrate, Mrs Nyingi Utomovie, having observed their demeanours and unstable state of mind, discharged the suspects. She, however, placed the suspects on a threeyear bond and cautioned them to be of good behaviour.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Mustapha Tawa Juliet now MRS. AJAYI TAWA JULIET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

15 news

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Another wanted Boko Haram terrorist nabbed in Adamawa As General Buratai urges military to end insurgency From James Bwala and Muhammad Sabiu

S all hands are on deck to finally defeat Boko Haram terrorists in our country, on Monday morning, another declared wanted suspected Boko Haram terrorist, Ishaku Wardifen, was nabbed by vigilant troops of 23 Brigade Special Battalion at a checkpoint in Maiha, Adamawa State. According to Colonel Sani Kukasheka Usman, acting Director, Army Public Relations, preliminary interrogation revealed that the suspected terrorist was a Cameroonian citizen. “Visual matching with photographs on the poster of the 100 declared suspected Boko Haram terrorists’ wanted list released last month, showed that he clearly resembled the suspect on serial number 22 on the list. “The suspect had been handed over to military intelligence for further investigation and possible prosecution,” he said.. Nigerian Army would like to, once more, call on all citizens and all wellmeaning residents of our country, to continue to be more vigilant and security-conscious, to enable us rid our great nation of the menace of terrorism and insurgency. Meanwhile, the Chief of Army Staff, Genenral T.Y. Buratai, on Monday, visited troops stationed at various battlefields, particularly those in northern part of Borno State, urging them to remain focused, in order to give a final push to end the Boko Haram insurgency. This was just as he said they should meet the December dateline given by President Muhammadu Buhari. Speaking during the inspection of the at the battle frontline, General Buratai, while at 113 Task Battalion, 118 Task Force Battalion and the 23 Task Force Brigade in Gubio, Mobar and Kaga local government areas, asked the troops to ensure they give all they have to completely destroy the insurgents and free the state from their clutches. “You have done well and must maintain the tempo,” the Army boss said, as he commended the troops. He also assured the troops that the Army headquarters was concerned about their welfare, saying the issue of their allowanc-

es and salaries were being sorted out. “There is no cause for the alarm,” he added, saying “there may be a little delay, but everything is being sorted,” Buratai said. He, however, urged the battle-hardened troops to be on the offensive and waste no time in giving a final push to ending Boko Haram menace, saying: “You have to be offensive as you advance.” Buratai, who was accompanied by the Theatre Commander of the ‘Opera-

tion Lafiya Dole’, MajorGeneral Yushau Abubakar and other principal officers from the Army headquarters, monitored the progress of the task force up to Kareto town, which is about 13 kilometres to the main target. The Army Chief also visited the advancing 118 Task Force Battalion advancing to capture Damasak, a major border town linking Nigeria and Niger Republic, where he interacted with the battalion, urging the troops to be offensive as they were

expected to have a fiercer battle, with an expected number of about 8,000 Boko Haram insurgents to battle with, in order to completely free Damasak. General Buratai also visited the location of the newly formed 23 Task Force Brigade with tactical headquarters in Jakana town in Kaga Local Government Area, Buratai participated in a night operation with the troops of 29 Task Force Brigade along the Jakana, where he ended the visit.

In a related development, Nigerian Army Investigative Panel set up by the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Tukur Burati, to investigate the role played by some of its personnel during the governorship and presidential elections, had commenced sitting in Kaduna, on Monday. The panel, headed by the General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1 Division, Kaduna, Major-General Adeniyi Oyebade. Other members of the

From left, Raize Roof, Doel Stunner, Ismalech Afefe and Big Magana, all up and coming artistes within Egbeda, after their performances at the Egbeda edition of Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert, in Lagos, on Sunday.

panel were Brigadier-General Sunday Araoye, Brigadier-General Emmanuel Kabuk and Brigadier -General Baba Ibrahim, while Colonel Danladi Salihu is to serve as Secretary of the Presidential Panel (PPI). In its inaugural address, General Oyebade noted that the just concluded general election elicited critism by the general public about the conduct of Army personnel during the governorship and presidential elections, respectively. ‘These allegations were centred on the governorship and presidential conducted in some states, such as Ekiti, Osun, Rivers and Akwa Ibom states, to mention a few. He said it was based on this premise that the COAS, on assumption in office, articulated his vision of having a professionally responsive army, instituted this panel, adding that the panel was to investigate the allegations and recommend appropiate measures to prevent a recurrence. The president of the panel maintained that “politics, we strongly believe should be left entirely to the politicians,” adding that “the role of the military must strictly be in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the country.”

Egbeda residents defy rain to savour Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert THOUSANDS of fun-seeking residents of Ebgeda, Lagos, on Sunday, defied the mid-day heavy downpour to savour the fun, entertainment and frills of Globacom’s music concert, Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce. The event, held at theopen arena of De Santos Hotel, marked the second time in three weeks that Glo had hosted a show in the town, having earlier held its comedy show, ‘Glo Laffta Fest’, at the Floral Hall of the same hotel. Aderibigbe Olusegun, a mechanical engineer, who attended the show with his wife and two daughters, said with “the way people in my area have been talking of the last show Globacom held here some weeks ago, I promised myself that I will not miss this show. Honestly, I can’t recall when last I had fun like this. This is a good outing for me and my family; kudos to Globacom.” Another Glo subscriber, who identified herself as

Olajumoke Adigun, said “Globacom has a peculiar way of doing things. I am having fun here and the show is bam. It will remain in my memory for long.” Anchored by popular radio presenter, Jimmy D Hypeman, the Egbeda edition of the Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce concert paraded some of the brightest entertainers in the nation’s entertainment industry,

such as Ego, Di’Ja, Reekado Banks and Flavour. The first big act of the night was Ego, who nostalgically entered the stage with her “people, are you ready?” line from her days with her mentor, the legendary saxophonist, Lagbaja and went on to perform other tracks like ‘palava’ and ‘Wherever’. Next came Di’ja, who serenaded the crowd with

her sonorous voice, as she sang her hit tracks, including ‘Awww’. She was joined by her Marvin Records colleague, Reekado Banks, thus changing the tempo of the concert. Flavour, who capped the night, was simply amazing in his performance, as he got the audience dancing and singing along to his hit tracks. Besides the known stars, a legion of up and coming

artistes from the locality, such as Raize Roof, Doel Stunner, Ismalech Afefe, Big Magana, Felix Handsome, Supa Rymes, Black Model, Arinze, Rafael, King Salvage and Adeboi were given opportunities to showcase their talents. There was also a dancing competition, which was open to all age categories, with the winners receiving Glo gift bags.

Osinbajo calls for vehicle purchase credit scheme Leon Usigbe - Abuja VICE President Yemi Osinbajo has called for a comprehensive vehicle credit purchase scheme that will enable Nigerians to afford new vehicles. Speaking after receiving briefing from the National Automotive Design and Development Council in his office, at the State House, Abuja, he said the policy should be detailed,

noting “the council bill is taking time, but should be made to work for those who cannot afford new vehicles.” Noting the pressure on foreign exchange as a result of used vehicles importation, the vice president encouraged the move to revive vehicle assembly plants in the country. He said the initiative, under the National Automotive Industry Development

Plan (NAIDP), was laudable and had the capacity to grow the automotive industry. Osinbajo hinted that imported used vehicles might attract higher tariff, even though he expressed concern about the effect it might have on Nigerians who cannot afford new cars, as well as on transportation in general. Also expressing concern about smuggling of used

vehicles which had impacted negatively on the economy, he urged the council to work with other agencies, such as the Nigeria Customs, to check the menace. Earlier, Director-General of the council, Mr Aminu Jalal, said the objective of the policy was to “ensure the revival, development and growth of the Nigerian Automotive Industry, using local human and material resources.”

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Femi Ibirogba adefemi2007@yahoo.com 0811 695 4646

Challenges of Nigerian farmers new agric minister should confront Tackling challenges of farming and making agriculture a sustainable business in Nigeria require massive investments in a corruption-free atmosphere, and stakeholders in the sector believe the incoming minister of agriculture has a great task ahead. FEMI IBIROGBA writes.

rop production and livestock farmers in Nigeria are encumbered with challenges that make the country’s aspirations of food sufficiency and employment generation, as well as a diversified economy a wishful thinking. The challenges are numerous, but a few of them are considered here. Irrigation infrastructure Grossly inadequate is the irrigation facility in Nigeria. The country relies heavily on rainfed agriculture and a few irrigation facilities that are struggling to survive are located in the northern part of the country. Rainfall is seasonal, scarce or unreliable and his causes crop failure, as experienced in some parts of the country in the last main planting season between April and August this year. Thousands of maize, rice and other grain farmers are counting their losses now. Mr Paul Ilona of Harvest-Plus Nigeria and Dr Francis Nwilene of Africa Rice have earlier said providing irrigation facilities, though capital intensive, is inevitable. Extension failure Agriculture is knowledge-driven and it requires frequent dissemination of information about new techniques, varieties, chemical and fertilizer applications, harvest and postharvest handling to prevent losses, but the government farm extension unit across states of the federation is dead. Professor Damian Chikwendu, former National Coordinator

of West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programmes (WAAPP), had earlier said ineffective extension service delivery was a significant contributor to the low productivity in agriculture in the country. Grazing land mapping To say migratory Fulani herdsmen have constituted a threat not only to crop production but also to lives of farmers is an understatement. Efforts should be intensify on the national grazing land plan and commitment of resources into developing grazing zones as well as awareness creation among the herdsmen for maximum cooperation. Low and fluctuating market prices Farmers suffer from low and fluctuating market prices for their products, and hence cannot plan or budget adequately. Several individuals, farmers’ groups and corporate entities have advocated the creation of commodity boards. Akin Olusuyi, Managing Director of Oluji Cocoa Products, was of the opinion that private sector driven commodities boards would go a long way in moderating price fluctuations and would encourage farmers to expand production, knowing that there would be minimum guaranteed prices for the farm produce. Poor storage and access roads In the more remote areas, farmers often have difficulty in getting their surplus pro-

duce to the market. Some farmers have had to reduce their scale of operation because of the lack of access roads. The ministry of agriculture is also saddled with rural development but virtually nothing has been done to link rural areas where crops are produced to the market places through road construction. A lot of produce also get spoilt in Nigeria because of poor storage facilities, and where there are, they are hardly available for farmers’ use. Chairman of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Mr Olumide Ayinla, said his members had to sell their grains, most of the times, at give-away prices because of poor processing and storage facilities, calling on the Federal Government to create central storage facilities in each of the local government areas of the federation. This, she said, though could be resource demanding, could be done and would alleviate the poverty of farmers around the country. Shortage in farm labour Migration of people from rural to urban areas and commercialisation of motorcycles as a means of public transport have contributed to the acute shortage of labour, reducing food production and stressing infrastructure in the urban centres. This shortage is aggravated by grossly inadequate agricultural mechanisation in the country. Mr Adeniji Lucas, an agro-allied fabricator and food processor, said Nigeria faces two major challenges of

lack of farm labour and machinery, calling on the government to provide adequate modern farm machinery in an atmosphere devoid of politics. Identifying true farmers through their groups and providing them with inputs, machinery, chemicals and storage and processing facilities would help Nigerian farmers to be sustainable and, to avoid post-harvest losses, he said. Improved varieties and other inputs Many peasant farmers do not have enough money to buy artificial fertiliser and better varieties of seeds which can help to improve their yields. The Growth Enhancement Scheme (GES), which subsidized some inputs for small-scale farmers, should be expanded to accommodate commercial farmers and done in a transparent atmosphere to achieve the purpose of increasing productivity of farmers. It must also be noted that many conservative farmers are opposed to the use of insecticides, improved seedlings and fertilizers. Therefore, efforts should be made to create awareness on benefits of using new improved varieties and boosters. Professor Gideon Adeoye, a soil scientist at the University of Ibadan, has also persistently advocated the use of organic inputs such as manure, natural and biological insecticides and other environment-friendly farm inputs. Hence, the new government should support organic farming research, technologies and adoption.

NSCDC, NASC partner on seed surveillance Collins Nnabuife - Abuja The National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC), in collaboration with the police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has embarked on seed surveillance to grid the market of poor quality seeds.

This was a result of the continued menace of seed merchants involved in the unwholesome practices. The Director-General of the National Agricultural Seeds Council, Dr Phillip Olusegun OJo, advised farmers to buy seeds from reputable seed companies or registered agro-

dealers, adding that farmers should look out for the council’s blue certification tag which offers a third party quality assurance. He also urged seed companies to join in creating awareness among farmers in their various locations of operation to demonstrate the potential of improved seeds.

agriculture

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

‘FG to mainstream nutrition into agriculture’ By Femi Ibirogba

he Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono, has disclosed the planned initiative of government to mainstream nutrition into agriculture using bio-fortification, home fortification and large and medium scale fortification in a value chain approach. Echono disclosed this at the International Nutritious Food Fair which took place at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) station, Kubwa, Abuja, where he represented the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo. The permanent secretary stated that the present administration viewed bio-fortification as complementary to dietary enrichment and had therefore embraced a broad and comprehensive food systems approach to address malnutrition. He said: “We easily visualise how food fortification fits into broader agribusiness model to make nutritious food available, accessible and affordable to enable us to provide diverse foods and make more foods more nutritious.” Echono explained that after a full decade of promoting large scale fortification, it should equally be of importance to optimise industry compliance to expected food fortification standards. According to him, the bio-fortified crops currently promoted include the Vitamin A rich cassava and orange flesh sweet potatoes. The permanent secretary said Nigeria’s agricultural sector’s vision is to achieve a hunger-free country through an agricultural sector that drives an all-inclusive income growth, accelerates achievement of food and nutritional security, generates employment and transforms Nigeria into a leading player in global food markets to grow wealth for millions of farmers. To achieve these, he said, the government had embarked on a comprehensive review and resuscitation plan that revolved around unlocking the potential of agriculture through

Chairman, Oyo State chapter of AFAN, Mr Olumide Ayinla (left); AFAN National Deputy President II, Chief Olufemi Olaifa (4th left) and other South-West AFAN chairmen during a meeting in Ibadan, last week. a total value chain to enable the private sector leadership grow food, create jobs and wealth, as well as improve nutrition. Echono stated that the administration sees agriculture beyond the food production domain, but also through food processing, as

be compromised. Mr Bouis explained that the global programme had made more progress in Nigeria than any other, saying almost 100 varieties had been released in countries across the world.

IFIF trains feed millers on quality Collins Nnabuife - Abuja The International Feed Industry Federation (IFIF) has trained Nigerian feed millers on the implementation of Codex code of practice on good animal feed safety. Conducting the training which was the first in Africa, in Lagos, the trainer, Ms Angelia

South-West AFAN condemns cattle invasion of farmland The South-West All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN) has condemned deliberate and frequent invasion of farmland by Fulani herdsmen based in the south. South West Zone AFAN said this during its meeting held at High Chief Olufemi Olaifa’s palace in Ibadan on Wednesday. The invasion of Chief Olu Falae’s farmland and his subsequent kidnap by Fulani herdsmen was regarded as an ugly situation, unanimously agreeing that AFAN S/W zone, through the national executives from the zone, should carry their grievances to the national level in order to find lasting solution to the problem. AFAN also called on Southwestern state governors to be pro-active in preventing herdsmen from destroying farmland and losses to AFAN members in the states. State was elected the zonal chairman while Prince David Bamidele Ogundele also from Oyo State was elected as the Zonal General Secretary. The next meeting of the zone will come up at the venue which shall be announced very soon. Also, Mr Olumide Ayinla, Oyo State AFAN chairman, was elected the zonal chairman while Prince David Bamidele Ogundele, Oyo State AFAN Secretary, was also elected as the

well as trade and markets, consumer awareness and demand stimulation. Earlier in the remarks of Howarth Bouis, a Director with HarvestPlus, mineral and vitamin content should be included in crops so that people’s immune systems would not

Zonal General Secretary. Present at the meeting were High Chief Dr Olufemi Olaifa, AFAN National Deputy President II, who presided over the meeting; AFAN chairmen from Ondo, Ekit, Osun, Ogun and Lagos states.

Missaglia, said IFIF was out to help ensure high standards of health and welfare for animals and people by collaborating with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), the Codex Alimentarius Commission and other international bodies to help set international regulatory standards for the whole feed chain and to support fair trade. She said only by working together with all stakeholders in the feed and food chain, including governments, the private sector operators and non-government groups, could the 60 per cent demand for more food like animal proteins, poultry, fish and dairy products, for an estimated 9 billion people by 2050 be met safely and sustainably. Missaglia explained that IFIF also aimed to play a proactive role to promote sciencebased solutions and information sharing for feed manufacturers, consumers and regula-

Group tasks first ladies to promote agribusiness Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba -Lagos Wives of the president and governors have been tasked to take agriculture as parts of their pet projects to help motivate women and youths to go into agribusiness. The president of Uplifting Women Through Farming (UWTF), Mrs Afoma Adigwe, made the call while addressing journalists on the highlights of the deliberations at an international conference on African Agricultural Transformation in Dakar, Senegal, organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB). Mrs Adigwe stated that it was high time Nigeria acted on the deliberations on promoting, hence the decision to host the ‘First

Ladies Agric Summit’, which would be a wake-up call to wives of all African presidents, governors, chief executive officers and political officers, among others, on the need to promote farming. She added that “agriculture is the only viable alternative to oil and gas in the country and on the continent at large.” While noting that the non-governmental organisation, UWTF, in partnership with AfDB, was ready to take quick actions on the solutions to transform agriculture in Africa, Mrs Adigwe said rural women farmers should be encouraged and assisted with infrastructure, while funds should be made available to them.

tory authorities worldwide on a variety of issues that affect the supply of safe and affordable animal proteins and dairy products. She said: “IFIF promotes a balanced regulatory framework to support a fair global playing field, facilitate market access and support the competitiveness of the feed and livestock industries. Addressing the trainees, the permanent secretary, ministry of agriculture and rural development, Sonny Echono, said the training wouldn’t have come at a better time than now when food safety, global warming, growing population and farming with minimal environmental footprint have become issues of global concern. He said animal nutrition is the backbone of any successful livestock business since feeding constitutes over 70% of total production costs. Adding that optimum nutrition through safe animal feeds/additives in quality are the elements of optimum productivity and consequently, profit. “Both profits and safety of food products are the main concerns of farmers and other stakeholders in the industry. Feed safety is a major component in the Animal Husbandry recommendation of Nigeria’s vision 20:20 economic blueprint and also that of the livestock transformation agenda; because animal feed plays a significant role towards guaranteeing food security.” Also, the registrar and Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Dr Godwin Oyediji, giving reports on the state of Nigerian feed industry, said legislative framework for feed regulations is still very weak in Nigeria, saying until recently, there were no particular agency focusing directly on the feed industry. He added further that by 2003 till date, due to erratic and seasonality of supply of ingredients, the use of 0.25% premixes rather than concentrates to blend feed had been introduced in addition to finished feeds and concentrate.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08055001747 or 08054005323. It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Biafra: Give everybody sense of belonging

am really concerned with the manner in which the agitation for an independent homeland for the Igbo is taking. The current protests started after the arrest of Radio Biafra Director, Nnamdi Kanu, and it has been held in several cities across the South East and South South. While it is the right of a people to determine where to belong, we shouldn’t go about this in an uncivilised

manner. We have elected House of Assembly members, we also have National Assembly members; we should channel our resolve through them to the Federal Government of Nigeria first. We shouldn’t allow this current agitation to hurt our ambition to rule this country in the nearest future. Have we ever thought that an Igbo could have been selected to run as president in the place of

Still on stipends for unemployed youths WHEN President Muhammadu Buhari was campaigning, he actually promised that unemployed youths in the country would be given N5,000 monthly if he won the election. Now that he is president, some people have been using it to attack him, saying he made promises he knew he could not fulfill. Going by the fact that Nigeria is rich, Buhari felt more of the country’s wealth should be used to benefit the poor, but when he took over, he found out that the treasury had been tampered with. The falling price of oil is also helping matters. The truth be told; it is not possible to implement such policy at this point in time. We still need money to balance our budget, and we need to diversify into other economic sectors. The oil sector is not what it used to be, and this is where the country earns about 90 per cent of its foreign exchange from. President Buhari means well for the country; everything he said during the campaign can be implemented, but we need to be patient. There is this popular saying that Rome was not built in a day. It is not possible for Buhari to correct decades-old decay. It will definitely take time. I am, therefore, appealing to the opposition to criticise rightly. President Buhari has just been in office for six months and some are already criticis-

ing him for the deficiencies in the country. Everything takes time, and Buhari will deliver. •Dr Taju Alalade, Ilorin, Kwara State.

former President Goodluck Jonathan? The continued agitation will only make the Igbo presidency harder to achieve. Now, let us fast-forward to the future, if Biafra is ever to be realised, it will be only from the five South East states; the South South people will never join in the secession bid, despite the fact that Igbo people are more in states like Rivers and Delta. Now, can the South East survive alone? What becomes of Igbo people who are already established in other parts of the country? Will they sell their properties and return to the homeland, or will they become foreigners in their places of abode, thereby liable to paying immigrant taxes? Instead of the protests, I think we should have debates on the possibility of the realisation of Biafra; we should also not forget

that for one person who wants Biafra, several others are comfortable with being part of Nigeria. It is high time we looked at why people of other ethnicities view us with suspicion; is there anything we are doing wrong as a people? We need to ask ourselves the bitter truth. Having said this, people

from other ethnic groups should also realise that the civil war is over. There are some people in this country who just don’t want an Igbo presidency, and they have no reason for this. This is just part of what is fuelling the secession protests. I think to solve this problem, presidency should be

rotated among the ethnic groups in the country. We need to give everybody a sense of belonging. An Igbo presidency in the nearest future will definitely calm frayed nerves. •Justus Agada, justice_guards@ ymail.co.uk

Now that the nation is broke THIS will be the first time a seminar would be organised for ministers-designate. I want to commend President Muhammadu Buhari for this. This is a good opportunity for the president to share his vision for a new Nigeria with his team. I am particularly happy that the president has told the nominees that he doesn’t want large staff and convoys. It is so funny that political office holders surround

themselves with large retinue to political aides, with the majority of them doing nothing. It is so bad in this country that political aides also have aides. It is not uncommon to hear of titles like: Assistant to the Special Assistant to the President. As the president had said, the country is broke and we cannot afford to continue to waste money on political appointees. In developed countries, ministers have just a few

aides; in Nigeria, even commissioners have people who carried their bags. It is high time we changed our orientation. Public office holders are not ‘gods’, they are just lucky to have been chosen to serve the people. •Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

Attention, Lagos gov Shortly before the expiration of the tenure of former Lagos State governor, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, I called on the government to construct a pedestrian bridge at the Ojodu-Berger Expressway. Nothing was done on this, and I am calling on Mr Akinwumi Ambode to do something on this. During the early morning rush-hour, or in the evening, Lagosians, especially the aged, stay for many minutes by the side of the road, while waiting to cross the express. If the bridge is constructed, those who can’t cross the road will simply take to the bridge. It is even safer using the pedestrian bridge. I don’t want the government to think that this project will become a white elephant, as some people don’t like using the pedestrian bridge, but the truth is that the young and aged have no choice than to use the bridge. This road is so busy, as it is at the end of the LagosIbadan Expressway. As a responsive government, I believe something will be done as soon as possible. •Mobolaji Alaka, Ojodu, Lagos.

editorial

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Monitoring the bailout funds

HE present government under President Muhammadu Buhari came into office at a time when many states in the country were experiencing serious financial problems to such an extent that many of them could not pay the salaries of their workers for many months. The workers were becoming restive and the new government took a decision to offer the states loans through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), in addition to substantial sharing of funds accruing from dividends paid to the government. About 27 states were reported to have benefited from the bailout funds, with the expectation that the funds would be used to offset salary arrears in the respective states. While there were comments as to the propriety or otherwise of using loans with a repayable period of twenty years to pay workers salaries by the states, the overriding concern was the need to ensure that workers were paid until more structural steps would be taken to address the shortfalls being experienced by the states. Not many people could fault the Federal Governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s concern with prioritising the welfare and living conditions of workers in the different states with the expectation that the bailout funds would help the states to clear the backlog of salaries. It is therefore surprising that many months after the announcement of the offer of the bailout by the Federal Government, many states are still to pay their workers, while the agony of unpaid salaries continues to characterise life in such states. And this is not just with respect to salaries for new months, as workers in some states are still complaining about the non-payment of the backlog of salaries. Evidently the processes of the utilisation of the bailout funds have to be looked into in order to come to terms with how the states have expended the funds. The President of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Ayuba Wabba, has accused many state governors of diverting the bailout funds to other ends. Indeed, there are accusations that some state governments have deliberately kept the bailout funds in interest-bearing accounts in banks in order to generate some further funds instead of using the funds to quickly settle the salary arrears. And in all these, the state governments have been stingy with reactions and explanations, preferring to keep silent, leaving workers to continue to agitate for the payment of their salary arrears.

The only exception perhaps is the Kogi State government which has come out to state that it has not yet received the bailout funds from the CBN. Given that the Federal Government announced the release of the bailout funds to the states more than two months ago, it is surprising that Kogi State has not received its share since then. The CBN has to quickly come out to explain why this is so, especially since no other state has complained of not receiving the funds. We hope there is nothing untoward responsible for this delay. Furthermore, the CBN should be interested in how the funds already released to the states have been utilised given that it has the structure and wherewithal to monitor such utilisation. It would also be important that security and investigative agencies are involved to bring out the truth about the expenditure of the bailout funds. It would not be enough for the Federal Government to just release the bailout funds to the states and not be concerned about its utilisation. In any case, the reason the Federal Government intervened with the bailout was because of the negative effect of the persistent non-payment of workersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; salaries by the states on the national economy and we would think that the Federal Government would thus want to ensure that the objective of the bailout is met. Without advocating the Federal Government becoming a supervisor for state governments, it is still important to realise that the bailout is some sort of loan from the Federal Government to the state governments and it is not unusual for lenders to monitor how borrowings are utilised in order to ensure that borrowers keep to the borrowing terms. If the state governments were therefore given the bailout on the understanding that it would be used to offset salary arrears, it should be the concern of the Federal Government that it is utilised as planned. Fortunately this is a government that has promised transparency and accountability in the running of government such that it should also nudge the state governments along that line, especially in this instance where funds from the Federal Government are involved. It should be made clear to the state governments that in the spirit of the new positive change envisioned for the country, they have to be transparent and above board in their utilisation of the bailout funds and that all Nigerians would hold them accountable for such utilisation even as the investigative agencies would be fully monitoring the disbursement.

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opinion

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

N5,000 stipend: Emancipation or slavery?

“

IVE a man fish and he will be temporarily satisfied, teach him how to fish and he will be forever liberated” goes the maxim that my kinsmen hold in exaggerated esteem. Towards the end of 2014 and the early period of 2015, we got our ears full with promises and more promises from the presidential candidates. As the campaign heat intensified and the tussle for the highest national pedestal escalated, we became literally drowned in resonating ‘I wills’ as the presidential candidates mimicked the legendary gorilla, popularly called King Kong, beating their chests away in unwavering confidence. These explicit actions of self assertion, at some points, clogged our collective ear drums and to maintain some level of sanity, many of us fell into the dark clutches of selective deafness. However, it is interesting to point out that our grey matters remained expressly intact, as no form of amnesia was allowed to sneak in and corrupt the several files stored in the gargantuan memory cabinets holding the promises made by the 2015 national election aspirants. These promises were burnt onto our brains, engraved in our cardiac muscles and drilled into our skins like pores of the sebaceous glands. We kept these words to heart, though in solitude of the deepest parts of our hearts, we demystified several of them as empty words being thrown into the national atmospheric by people whose craftiness has been astonishingly discovered to surpass that of the mythical tortoise – our politicians. But, we never erased them from our hearts because in the future, these lies would be our only leverage. Among these myriads of white lies, wishful thinking and white elephants stood this preposterous edifice – N5000 stipend for the unemployed youth and my heart had remained broken since the day those words were uttered. A paltry N5000 I had thought was a slap across the faces of numerous unemployed Nigerian youths. I saw it as the zenith of colossal insult and an epical reduction of the nation’s future to miserable beggars. N5000 is barely about 25 dollars. How can a government, in a nation flowing with milk and honey, seek to alleviate poverty and upgrade the living standards of the most important segment of its population by planning to give out miserly

N5000 to the unemployed? N5000 wouldn’t adequately cater for a thousand poultry birds for a month not to talk of a full grown man that had been through the four walls of the univrsity classrooms! Wait a minute, how much was invested in getting that education in the first place? I was unequivocally disheartened by that declaration and when I sought to voice out my twinge, I was castigated and severely reprimanded by fellow countrymen since it is the quirk of truth to taste bitter. ‘Even if it is N5, we will take it’ they spate at me. They launched verbal missiles at me with words like ‘which government has thought of doing something like this in the last two decades?’ So, I tried in futility to see an ember of light in the dark, improvising tunnel of poverty and graver slavery that depicts the N5000 promise till I gave up. However, I decided to keep mute on the subject so as not to be labeled the official emissary of doom until today. Ironically, several oblivious Nigerians had put on their dancing shoes and christened the invisible handcuff of austerity as freedom for the unemployed. They had danced their spirits to coma as they envisaged some flattering hue on the gray scale portrait of the jobless Nigerian youth once Muhammadu Buhari emerges president. Harrowingly, I doubt if their bodies will be able to provide any form of stimuli to the most exciting of rhythms after the hope dashing declaration of the Nigerian Senate on Wednesday, November 4, 2015.

veracity with Vera Onana

veraonana@gmail.com 08054680688 Following the debate of a motion moved by Senator Akpan, asking the government to end the geometrically progressing rate of unemployment in the country, the Senate rejected the plan to effect the payment of N5000 as monthly stipend to unemployed youths. This declaration provoked the wagging of acidic tongues and gnashing of teeth in agony nationwide as youths came face to face with the fiends of miscarriage and could not stop the abortion of a baby that had been long awaited for. As lamentations diffuse into the national sky and elegies erupt from the four cardinals like molten magma, I think it would be wisdom to analyse our predicament in sober reflections. The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) explicitly stated that the figure for unemployment had grown from 7.5 per cent in the first quarter of 2015 to 8.2 per cent in the second quarter. The NBS records also revealed that the unemployed labour force now stands at 74 million Nigerian youths and with a projected population growth of about 200 million by 2020, 100 million Nigerians or more will be unemployed. These figures spell doom! As a matter of fact, they spill calamity. So what if the Senate approves the payment of N5000 today, we will still be swimming in murkier waters. This N5000 stipend will assuredly only drag us into deeper slavery. It is not our one way ticket to freedom and the earlier we realise that, the easier it will be to find our way out of this maze. The government will have us imprisoned with this stipend and we will only keep going back for more like Oliver Twist and who says we will ever get more? Like Esau, we would have sold our national rights for how much? Really, is it worth it? Don’t we deserve to eat the fattest of cows as country men? How much do our senators get for just screaming aye, nay, playing with their smart phones and hilariously for some others, sleeping? A wise woman once said this: “if I will have to swallow a frog, I should swallow one with eggs!” Approved or not, the N5000 stipend is not our messiah and until we demand to be taught how to set the bait and catch the fish, we will be flushed into the abyss by this tumultuous storm of unemployment.

Dasuki’s travails and the rule of law By Yunus Abdulsalam

IT is an indisputable fact that insecurity and corruption portend danger to the prosperity of any given nation. Every right thinking Nigerian, including this writer, must support the government’s drive towards removing the shackles of insecurity and corruption. However, as a minister in the temple of justice, it is imperative to state that flagrant violation of constitutional provisions which is the substratum of any egalitarian society poses the greatest challenge to the anti-insecurity and corruption wars. The crusade against these vices must be executed within the ambit of the law. To do otherwise will entrench the very antithesis of rule of law and fairness. The former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki is currently undergoing criminal trial before a Federal High Court in Abuja for offences that bears organic link with insecurity and corruption. The ex-NSA has pleaded not guilty to the counts as contained in the charge. It is important to refresh our collective memory as to the chain of events that ensued between the Department of State Service (DSS) and Dasuki which culminated into the arraignment of the latter. In July this year, many Nigerians felt aghast when the DSS explained why it raided the Abuja and Sokoto homes of Dasuki, less than 48 hours after handing over to the new NSA. The DSS said it launched the operation after obtaining “credible intelligence” linking Dasuki with alleged plans to commit treasonable felony against the Nigerian state. Based on the gravity of the allegation of ‘treasonable felony to undermine national security’ levelled at Dasuki, one would have expected that items like nuclear weapons, ballistic missiles and armoured tanks and the likes would be found in his home. It was, however, ridiculous to discover that items found in his home as a result of

the search were according to the DSS “seven high caliber rifles, (high assault weapons) several magazines and military related gears.” The former National Security Adviser, however, refuted the allegation and gave a contrary narrative of how he was unjustifiably marooned by the DSS officials. Indeed, it was a labyrinth of claims and counter claims. During the fiasco, the DSS issued a statement and assured Nigerians that it would not trample on the freedom of individuals as enshrined and guaranteed by the Nigerian constitution. The DSS assurances were belied by the confiscation of Dasuki’s international passport by the operatives of the DSS (during the conduct of the search) without court order. The law is abundantly clear that the DSS lacks the power to unilaterally withhold the travelling passport of any Nigerian citizen. The Supreme Court in the case of DG of SSS v Olisa Agbakoba (1995) 3 N.W.L.R (Pt 595) 314, held that due process must be followed before the seizure of the passport of a Nigerian citizen. The above is the first instance of the violation of Dasuki’s right by the DSS. The Nigerian constitution is predicated on the rule of law and, therefore, everything must

be done according to the law. Similarly, it also means individual or government activities should be conducted within the frame work of established rules and principles. The Supreme Court restated this in Igbe v Governor of Bendel State (1983) 1 S.C.N.L.R 73 at 91: “It is the duty of every government to comply with the provisions of the constitution and to preserve, protect and defend it. To act contrary to the provisions of the constitution will not, if properly brought to the notice of this court, be condoned but such an act will invite proper sanctions.” What this connotes is that state should be forbidden to take advantage over the helpless citizen. While interrogating the treasonable allegations against Dasuki by the DSS, there is a barrage of fundamental posers that can be raised upon a cursory look into the five counts charge that was premised on his arraignment: why was the charge bereft of any count bordering on treasonable felony? How come the “credible intelligence” of the DSS on Dasuki’s alleged plans to commit treasonable felony becomes meretricious and baseless to pass through a judicial scrutiny? Was the allegation a pure and deliberate subterfuge to stir public out-cry against Dasuki who under section 36 (5) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) is presumed innocent? Couldn’t this be a classical case of persecution? The answers lie in the future. It is important for the relevant authorities to know that many Nigerians are following with keen interest the trial of the former NSA. Therefore, anything short of justice and fairness with deference to the rule of law will not only be acceptable but also confirm the giant speculation that Dasuki is a victim of persecution. •Abdulsalam, a legal practitioner, sent this article via yunusabdulsalam7@gmail.com

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Femi Olukunle Coordinating Editor 08158610216

Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

he Obaship crisis rocking Yoruba Community in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) is showing no sign of abating. In fact, it got to a level that the traditional ruler of Yoruba in the territory, Oba (Dr) Olusegun Salau, warned those he accused of sowing seeds of discord among members of the community for selfish interests, to desist from such. He even threatened that henceforth, anybody caught in the act would be handed over to security agencies for appropriate sanction. The major contention is over who the authentic Oba of Yoruba in Abuja is. Salau had insisted that he remained the only recognised Oba and advised the contenders to embrace peace in the interest of the Yoruba race. Oba Salau recently summoned an emergency meeting with chiefs and elders of the Yoruba community at his Kado’s place in Life Camp to find solution to the crisis. He told them that the meeting was summoned to find a way of redeeming the image of the community which he noted had been badly damaged through incessant crises and indiscipline among residents. The Oba expressed dissatisfaction that the main reasons for the formation of the community were yet to be fully realised many years after the community was formed. ”During this period, it has been one form of crisis, mistrust, bickering, blackmail and all these have largely affected our progress and image as a community in FCT,” he told them. According to him, “going down memory lane, you will recall that the birth of Yoruba Community, FCT came into being following my installation as the Oba Yoruba of Abuja at an event which was widely publicised and which was attended by all prominent Yoruba sons and daughters residing in Abuja.” Oba Salau, who highlighted most of the steps taken earlier to ensure peace within the community as well as in other ethnic groups within the FCT, including the emergence of Six Area Councils’ chairmen with the appointment of an Oba as the chairman to coordinate the activities of the Yorubas in each Area Council who should report back to him, said that it was unfortunate that some members went ahead and sabotaged the efforts for selfish reasons. He told them: “It is time to put an end to all this nonsense. Our teeming brothers and sisters resident in the FCT are looking up to us for what will benefit them just as their neighbours are benefitting from their own tribal communities. In this new era of change, we cannot continue this way; it is unacceptable to me.” Oba Salau insisted that there was no leadership problem in Yoruba community in the FCT and said: “I am the only person so chosen by the Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa as the paramount traditional ruler and leader of Yoruba Community. I am quite aware of my enormous power “The fact that I allowed everybody to operate freely does not mean I am weak. Henceforth, I have resolved to put an end to this disgrace and embarrassments. My actions to some extend are to bring sanity and honour to the Yoruba community, FCT where it will earn us greater peace and progress,” he stated. Oba Salau, certainly, did not stop there as he announced the prohibition of prolif-

A modern king’s palace

A typical outlook of a king’s palace.

Obaship dispute rocks Yoruba community in FCT eration of Obaship titles in the FCT, saying that the action was in line with the authority conferred on him by the Ona Abaji and

chairman, Council of Traditional Rulers in FCT, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa. According to him, “Henceforth, there

Oba Olusegun Salau, the traditional leader of the Yoruba community in FCT

Contractors pull out of project sites over huge debts —Pg.22

What does new FCT minister have for residents? —Pg.22

is only one Obaship title in the whole of FCT, which is my own: the Oba of Yoruba Abuja, while the rest will be known and addressed as Chief of Yoruba in the respective villages as my representatives in all the satellite towns and villages and they are expected to report back to me the activities of the Yorubas in the council areas “Anybody or group of persons that move about parading themselves as leaders of Yoruba Community in Abuja, without my knowledge, for instance, the so-called Egbe Omo-Odua Yoruba in FCT, will henceforth be dealt with and treated as fraudsters.”

Crew 1. Christian Okeke chidiabujatribune@ yahoo.com 08030947856 2. Clement Idoko idokoajiga@yahoo. co.uk 08034412281 3. Kolawole Daniel kolawoledaniels@yahoo.co.uk 08030763782 4. Adetola Bademosi gloriaadetola@ gmail.com 08182214290 5. Collins Nnabuife chideraacollins@yahoo.com 08039521408 Abuja Xtra email & GSM: abujaxtra@ gmail.com 08054501406

abujaextra

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Contractors pull out of project sites over huge debts

Christian Okeke-Abuja ontractors handling various projects in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have pulled out of sites over non-payment of contract fees for certified works executed. In the FCT, Abuja Xtra gathered that there are some firms that have completed their jobs and handed over the projects in the past two years and are yet to be paid. It was gathered that the construction companies, individually and collectively, have so far sacked over 80 per cent of their workforce as execution of major projects has been grounded. In fact, it was noticed that the companies parked their

equipment off the sites while some have even sent their expatriates back to their respective countries President of Federation of Construction Industry (FOCI), Builder Solomon Ogunbusola, confirmed this to Abuja Xtra and said that by the development, “it means the facilities have been provided, the jobs are being enjoyed, but the government has not paid for them; I mean the persons who did the jobs are suffering for doing good jobs for government.” According to him, over N600 billion is being owed various contractors by the three tiers of government in the country on certified jobs done, out of which over

N300 billion is being owed by the Federal Government while the remaining tiers owe the rest. Ogunbusola disclosed that over 65, 000 construction staff had so far been retrenched by the various construction firms as none of them had been able to access any funds for over a year now despite receiving certifications on the works done. He lamented that the firms were being dragged into unnecessary overhead, with accumulating interests on monies borrowed from banks. Describing the condition being faced by the contractors as very pathetic, he said: “The truth must be said that our condi-

Construction workers of CCECC working on the standard guage rail network connecting Abuja to Kaduna.

What does new FCT minister have for residents? Christian Okeke-Abuja There are anxieties already over what the new regime in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) administration will bring for residents as a new minister resumes in the territory. Previous regimes came with diverse policies, including demolition of illegal structures, although the depth of implementation was not the same. Many residents believe that the tenure of Mallam Nasir el-Rufai undertook thorough demolition exercise and by so doing, forced tears down the cheeks of affected persons. Fearless and backed by the then president, el-Rufai discharged his tasks and pulled down structures of high calibre owned by prominent citizens, in the exercise which many termed controversial. Subsequent regimes, including those preceding it, were not however reputed for having recorded that kind of breakthrough in ridding the territory of illegal structures as el-Rufai’s government achieved. During the last administration headed by Senator Bala Mohammed, some completed estates were brought down alongside shanties adjudged to have violated the master plan. The tenure also introduced the nowrested park-and-pay policy that taxed residents as they parked on any of the more than 5,000 marked bays. The administration, under Mohammed, equally introduced entertainment fees that taxed customers who patronised eat-

eries and gardens. As a new minister resumes, residents were already asking questions as per what the priorities would be. Some of the residents told Abuja Xtra that they expected that the new administration in the territory would be as thorough as el-Rufai’s era and would not compromise standards. They said while they expected many property owners, who violated the master plan to get ready to face the demolition squad, it was equally their belief that those who violated environmental laws should brace up for the worst this time. A resident, Paul Nwangwu, said: “I don’t think anybody needs to be told that the wind of change must blow here and in such a manner that it would be seen as having blown.” According to him, “just as the country was preparing for the last election, a lot of people were seen rebuilding demolished structure. Others started putting up illegal structures. “Whereas, it was not as if the department of development control did not live up to its expectation, but I think this new regime is going to come up with measures that are going to be much-more stringent and may even consider pulling down illegal buildings when they are still in infancy stage, against the practice of only pullling down such properties when they are already completed “Let me quickly say this that the fact that no indigene of Abuja was appointed minister generated lots of anger, but the

fact that the new minister, just like his colleagues, is not going to appoint retinue of aides, also means that shedding of tears is imminent.”

tion is very pathetic; we are in a very bad shape.” As a way out, the FOCI president stressed the need for the present administration to give jobs it knew it had budgeted for and avoid frivolous award of contracts. According to him, there is the need to discontinue what he described a political award of contracts, urging President Muhammadu Buhari to terminate contracts awarded to firms without capacity to deliver. He said: “For over a year now, all the companies have not received anything from the government. Since August 2014, no capital fund has been received “We have made noise severally through the media and by way of even writing a letter to the President himself. We wrote a letter on 17 September 2015 to the new president because we believe that since our workers are also part of citizens of Nigeria and not that we are unaware of the difficulties we are facing in Nigeria, but if the government can salvage the civil servants from the states and the federal civil workers too by paying the backlog of salaries that were owed by the governors of the various states, he should not do as if he is not aware of other citizens of Nigeria who are in construction sector. “The banks are not helping matters on our issue. Most of us went to banks and borrowed money. The borrowed money is on interest and if you have not been paid for over a year, there is no way you can go back and borrow again when you have not repaid the one you borrowed before. So the interest rate is going on and this is not helping us in any way “Contractors should be paid for them to go and do their work and if there are contractors that have been given jobs, even if they are our members and you have seen that the capacity of those people will not be able to do the job, let the government terminate the jobs and give them to people who can deliver. There is no need for favoritism. All these political awards of contracts should stop.

Perennial water cuts worry residents Christian Okeke-Abuja Many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), especially those living in Kubwa, have expressed worry over cases of disruption of water supply constantly experienced in the satellite town. The development has become recurring decimal of sort and residents said the situation was becoming, not just an embarrassment, but a source of agony. For weeks, many parts of the satellite town were without water. That was after an official disruption of supply. Despite that, the entire town was, again, thrown into water scarcity after a major pipe-burst at Railway terminal at kilometre 19 at Dantata Estate was detected. The burst followed a familiar pattern where similar pipes had burst at Dutse Sokale and other points previously. A worrying phenomenon is the seeming incapacity of water board engineers to provide prompt and permanent solution to the perennial challenge. In many cases, if not all, the FCT administration had drafted in extra hands from construction firms to assist in fixing the problems. In fact, equipment of the firms had been

used in the exercise and residents had raised concerns that fixing the problems each time they occurred cost the administration much. The residents, who spoke with Abuja Xtra, wondered why right materials that could withstand the water pressure could not be considered at this time when the current population explosion in the town had put pressure on the existing water infrastructure. They alleged that it was a normal and much-more lucrative way of doing business for non-durable measures to be adopted in tackling such challenge by government officials. According to them, nothing stops relevant authorities from listing out permanent solutions and pressing for their adoption so as to put the issue of the pipeburst to rest. Be that as it may, the FCT Permanent Secretary, Obinna Chukwu, said the moment the burst was reported to him, he directed its immediate repair. He said the administration regretted the inconveniences the disruption in water supply caused the residents, but asked them to store enough water that could serve them for about five days which it took for water reticulation to resume.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

leadership &

management

with Sulaimon Olanrewaju

m:08055001708 e:lanresulaimon@yahoo.com t:@lanresulaimon

Quote Leadership

The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money

How leaders create their own luck

— Bernard Meltzer

By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

he general belief is that everybody needs an element of luck to move on in life. Consequently, many people are on the lookout for a lucky break on daily basis. They hope and pray for something to happen to turn the tide in their favour. But the best form of luck is that which is not dependent on external factors. To put one’s luck in an element beyond one’s control is to set oneself up for disillusionment. Continues on pg24

inside

26 business coach 25 Leaders’ forum 26 PAGE

The 60-second

PAGE

George Njenga, Distributed Power Leader, Sub-Sahara Africa, General Electric

PAGE

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

leadership&management Role of luck in leadership

leadership&management

BOOK

Continues from pg23

Great leaders also believe in luck but not the hocus pocus kind that is hinged on the benevolence of Mother Luck or some kind of extraneous forces. They believe in creating their own luck, forcing fortune to work in their favour rather than putting themselves at its mercy. How leaders create their own luck Leaders can create their own luck by taking some of the steps listed hereunder.

By Richard Branson Virgin Group founder Branson (Screw Business As Usual, 2011, etc.) reveals the methods that have helped him build his unconventional multibillion-dollar business empire. A prolific and outrageously successful promoter of himself and his myriad businesses, the author provides a rollicking romp through Virgin’s fun-loving, iconoclastic approach to building a business and reputation. Underneath the April Fool’s jokes (one of which earned Branson a cooling-off period in a London police station) and the deftness of the humor with which the author recounts his battles against much larger and well-established opponents (e.g., British Airways, Qantas and British Telephone) lies a much more brass-knuckled story. Beginning with Virgin Records, Branson has simply given customers a product and service they wanted—in that case, beanbag cushions and coffee in a record store. The author presents both a well-calibrated sense of the relationship between risk and opportunity and a commitment to excellence in service. Branson introduces us to many of the people who influenced his business methods—e.g., Freddie Laker, who pioneered cheap, no-frills trans-Atlantic passenger flights. Branson writes that Laker helped him outmaneuver British Airways and provided “another piece of guidance that would change my approach to business forever, and with it, the way we set about taking Virgin brand down hundreds of new and diverse global alleyways.” Laker also provided the essence of Branson’s public relations mantra when he told him, “get your arse out there. Be visible, take risks, get creative, make yourself heard and take the fight to them before they bring it to you.” Of course, the PR initiative wouldn’t mean much without the company’s brandwide commitment to excellence in service, highlighted by the examples of such startups as Virgin Hotels. Branson takes no prisoners when discussing recruitment, training and empowerment of his employees, as well as how leadership standards are set. Mostly entertaining autobiography beats out the usual business textbook approach.

See the need, take the lead Leaders create their own luck by being quick to meet a need when they see it. Leaders are primarily solution providers. Others look up to them for solutions when they run into a quandary. So, when leaders move to meet identified needs, they position themselves for a smile from fortune. Rudy Giuliani forced his name and face into the consciousness of the world by the actions he took in the wake of terrorists’ attacks on the World Trade Centre in New York on September 11, 2001. Prior to the attack, he had spent seven uneventful years as the city’s Mayor and was sliding into irrelevancy. But by deciding to step into the scene and coordinating the response of various departments, while also organizing the support of state and federal governments for the affected site, he changed his rating. His handling of the disaster became the defining moment of his public service career as it revived his sagging popularity among the city’s residents. Giuliani had arrived the scene a few minutes after the second plane crash and immediately took charge of the rescue operations which resulted in saving no fewer than 20,000 lives. Rather than leaving the people despondent, the Mayor gave them hope. He had said, as his response to the debilitating attack on the city, “Tomorrow, New York is going to be here. And we’re going to rebuild, and we’re going to be stronger than we were before... I want the people of New York to be an example to the rest of the country, and the rest of the world, that terrorism can’t stop us.” Giuliani, the initially lack-lustre city Mayor later to be known

as America’s mayor, made his own luck by seeing a need and taking the lead in addressing it.

Preparation According to Graham Bell, before anything else, preparation is the key to success. Those who are not prepared for success are hardly ever successful. Fortune does not only favour the bold, it also favours the prepared. Perhaps fortune prefers the prepared to the bold because it does not announce its arrival ahead of its appearance. Luck does not wait for those who are not ready for it; it joins itself with those who are prepared to receive it. So, it is only those who are discerning enough to get themselves ready that fortune smiles on. Those who wait till they are thirsty before starting the business of digging their wells usually die of thirst. To make their luck, leaders are usually in a perpetual state of preparation. Leaders prepare themselves mentally by daily increasing their wealth of knowledge. They know that no one can do more than he knows, so they keep on improving themselves to the extent that when luck smiles on them, it meets them fully ready.

on his laps without much efforts. He was the principal author of the United States of America’s Declaration of Independence. He was elected the country’s second Vice President and

became its third President. But according to him, the secret of his luck was his commitment to hard work. He said, “the harder I work, the luckier I get.” He was right. It was his handling

Risk taking Becoming successful without a willingness to take risks? Sounds like wanting omelet without cracking eggs. That’s almost impossible. To be lucky one has to take risks. Those who avoid taking risks limit their chances of having a different experience. Those who do not go,

do not get. To increase their chances of being lucky, leaders always take risks; they refrain from playing safe because of the realization that those who play safe consign themselves to mediocrity. Those who take risks are those who get out of their comfort zone, they move away from the known to the unknown because they know that while the known hardly produce any new thing, the unknown is brimming with new possibilities. One advantage of taking risks is that it frees one from the hold of average thinking and average living. It emboldens one to break boundaries. And what is getting lucky if not achieving what was hitherto considered impossible. An eye for opportunities The difference between the successful and those who are not successful usually boils down to how they handle opportunities. Nature is fair in one respect; it provides everyone their own fair share of opportunities. But the tragedy is that most people fail to appropriate the opportunities. Some miss their opportunities because they are unwilling to exert themselves but many miss their opportunities because they can’t identify them. Those who

business coach

record giant strides are those who define what they want and are always on the lookout for same. Leaders position themselves for luck by defining what they want; that is they have a goal, they have a focus and they latch on to opportunities at the right time. Helping others Another way of creating luck is by helping others. When Chief Olusegun Oshunkeye was the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Nestle Nigeria Plc, the board of GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc approached him to assist the company in securing a portion of land close to the Agbara Estate location of the company he was running. Without any form of hesitation, he agreed to assist and he eventually facilitated the acquisition of a portion of land by GlaxoSmithKline with which the company built its new factory. Not too long after this, Oshunkeye completed his tenure as the MD/CEO of Nestle. As soon as this was made public, the board of GlaxoSmithKline invited him to join the board. He eventually became the board chairman and this increased his scope of influence. Oshunkeye created his luck by offering to assist a company in its time of need.

THE 60-SECOND

Nick Imudia, Nokia Managing Director, West and Central Africa

Wale Onaolapo, MD/CEO Sovereign Trust Insurance

Tips for epic success

1. Have a clear goal You have to have a clear goal of what you want to accomplish. When Arnold was young and living overseas, he had a vision of coming to America and winning the Mr. Universe contest. No one around him could even fathom what that would be like, so needless to say he had a lot of naysayers try to kill his dream. But his goal was so vivid in his mind that he did not let that stop him from trying. And some years later, Arnold was standing on a stage far away from his homeland, being crowned Mr. Universe.

Set out time for thinking Leaders create their own luck by setting out time to think on daily basis. The focus of the thinking is generation of new ideas. It is ideas, not routine activities, that change the world. Those who have contributed the most to the changes the world has experienced are those who have devoted time to reflect on various issues. A situation constitutes a problem for as long as it takes to create time to think about finding a solution to it. Those who refuse to commit to hard thinking will be surrounded by unresolved problems. The smartest guy is not always the wisest but very often it is the one who has thought the most. The easiest way to beat competition is to outthink them. Those who outthink others are usually luckier than the rest. To boost their chances of being lucky, leaders must commit quality time to thinking with a view to generating ideas. Hard work Thomas Jefferson was a lucky man; everything seemed to fall

of the Declaration of Independence that recommended him for the post of Vice President. It was his hard work, carriage and commitment as Vice President that made it possible for him to become the President. Hence, the statement by Thomas Edison that opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. Those who hate hard work are unlikely to be lucky. Warren Buffet is one of the luckiest men on earth being richer than 99.99 per cent of the world’s population. But his secret is that he works harder than 99.99 per cent of the world’s inhabitants. At over 85 years of age, and despite having amassed humongous wealth, he still puts in more than 12 hours of work every day, which is more than what people less than half his age put in. Why won’t he be luckier than they are?

2. Think big YOU HAVE TO THINK BIG. There are enough people in this world doing meaningless things. We really don’t need anyone else to do that. What we need are people who have big goals and big dreams and are looking to do big things with their lives. Think big and create goals that see yourself living that incredible lifestyle. That’s the most fun way to live anyway!

Mrs Sola David Borha, MD, Stanbic IBTC

Segun Oloketuyi, MD/CEO, Wema Bank

3. Turn your liabilities into assets When Arnold was looking to become an actor, many people laughed in his face and said things like “You’re way to big!” or “They’ll never let you in Hollywood with that accent!”. But Arnold knew better than to listen to those dream killers. He knew what he wanted and he had already proven to himself that he could do anything. Shortly after that, he became the highest

paid movie star on the planet, and then decided to take his determination elsewhere, to politics. 4. Ignore the little man The little man is the dream killer. The person who is always telling you to think smaller and settle for what you’ve got. “Why can’t you just be grateful for what you’ve got?” they’ll bark at you. 5. Work your butt off If you think you are going to accomplish something great, and you don’t plan to put any serious work in, you’ve got another thing coming to you. The only real way to see success in your chosen field is to work hard. Sure, there is a lot more to it, but you simply cannot get around the idea of hard work. 6. Make the world a better place You’ve got talents and gifts that should be shared with the world! People just like you are working hard to achieve exactly what you want to achieve someday. So stop wasting time and get out there to make our world a better place. Seriously, we need you because this world is in trouble and we need sharp minds like yourself to add value in the best way you can. 7. Don’t be realistic Being realistic is the enemy of dreams. The whole point of dreaming is to think about what’s currently out of reach. This does not

mean that it will always be out of reach. You’ve got to start somewhere. Dreaming big and going after goals that are currently unrealistic is a great, thrilling way to live. If you are in it for the long haul, who knows just what you’ll accomplish? But the only way to know is to be a little unrealistic with your dreams and goals and then go after it with full throttle. 8. Don’t be afraid to fail Failing is a part of success. Yes, I know that is extremely cliché. I completely agree that the people who see no real progression are the ones who are too scared of failing to even try. Yes, you may fail, but what’s worse, failing or not knowing what would have happened for the rest of your life if you had taken that risk? 9. Model success There are already plenty of people in this world who have succeeded, and most likely have excelled at what it is that you want. Why reinvent the wheel? Model what successful and happy people have done to get where they are today and you will certainly shorten your success curve. 10. Believe in yourself Believe in yourself! I’m sure you’ve seen a million videos where Les Brown or Tony Robbins or Eric Thomas are barking those words at you, but it’s a pretty powerful statement coming from a 300 pound muscle man who is worth over $300 million.

tribunebusiness

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

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

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

Woe to you, O land, when your king is a child, and your princes feast in the morning! Ecclesiastes 10:16 (ESV) When serenaded by unflinching sycophancy, the insecure leader’s ego becomes larger than life. The direct corollary of an over-bloated ego is pride which makes the leader assume lordship over the very people he is expected to lead through service. For such leaders, the collective patrimony is treated like a personal possession. I shudder when I go through Nigerian cities and see huge billboards with ego-massaging captions and life-size pictures of the state governor wearing self-congratulatory sheepish grins for constructing roads and sinking boreholes. As if that was not ridiculous enough, political hangers-on spend lots of money congratulating the governor for these “achievements”! Pray, what was the governor elected to do in the first place if not to ensure the provision of infrastructure? When a citizen pays tax, he is seen as patriotic but when he starts asking questions about how the funds are used, he is suddenly branded an agent of the opposition! Maturity in leadership has little to do with age. It is a product of experience, exposure and a commitment to personal development through knowledge and requisite relational dynamics. A leader who neglects the wisdom inherent in these five platforms of growth remains stymied in perspective and stunted in growth. Such a leader is an unmitigated disaster on two feet! Such leadership thinks that the only way to guarantee its preservation in power is to keep the people mentally subjugated such that they never ask questions.

Why do leaders fail? Religion, ethnicity and politics and social pleasure appear to be veritable allies of despotic leadership. In Cameroon, there are arguably more drinking bars on a street than there are shops or any form of enterprise. And the bars are open twenty four hours a day! Alcohol is cheap and in abundant supply. The logic? Keep the people constantly inebriated so that they hardly are sober enough to ask questions! Little wonder the President could wake up one day and decide in one fell swoop to close down about 100 churches by a simple presidential fiat! Reminds one of the pre-revolution reign of Louis XIV who made the infamous declaration; “L’etat c’est moi et je suis l’etat” which translated means, “The state is me and I am the state”! No questions asked! In my undergraduate years, I was heavily involved in the entertainment world. I remember an incident that happened when the Drama group I led went to the University of Benin with what was then our flagship production. Playing to a full house, our presentation had barely gone halfway when I noticed that my lead actor was not only missing his lines but his improvisation was totally out of sync with the story being enacted. As he kept forgetting his lines, I tried prompting him from behind the curtains but he was off on his own tangent. I tried hard not to believe what I sensed could be the problem. I took a walk through the length and breadth of the curtain and bingo! I saw a half-filled 75cl bottle that looked like it contained water. I had seen my lead actor take a swig from it earlier and paid no attention because I thought it was water. I decided to take a closer look. What I saw sent

jitters through my spine. The bottle contained “ogogoro” (locally brewed gin) in its purest, undiluted form. How did I know? Apart from the smell, I put a little quantity in a smaller container and put a lighted match to it. It ignited like a petrol fire! I had to get on stage, paused the show, apologized to our audience, literally hauled the guy offstage and had to beg the permission of the audience to take his place. Fortunately, as the Director of the production, I had made it my duty to practically master the entire script. So I knew enough to save the day! it was one of the most embarrassing moments of my life and acting career. This episode is illustrative of people getting into positions of leadership without adequate preparation or capacity for responsibility. Power without a purpose bigger than the one who has it is dangerous to any group and ultimately to the leader himself. Most of the people that occupy positions of political leadership in Africa are simply opportunists who rode on the back of some godfathers or are beneficiaries of the pervasive corruption that makes election rigging a norm rather than the exception! The end result? Leaders who violated popular will to get to power and so hold no allegiance to the people they were “elected” to serve. Whenever a leader assumes the position of lord rather than servant, there is a role reversal, the result of which is a total disconnect from the led. This disconnect breeds discontent that has the potential of eventually erupting into a rebellion that soon metamorphoses into a revolution. The pattern is so predictable. Unfortunately, leaders in our part of the world never learn from history, no matter how recent!

Sit before you run About four years ago, I went to check on one of my cronies at his office in the beautiful City of Lagos. We spent about two hours—talking on the issue of vision as it affects the nation that we love so much, Nigeria! His office is on a storey building. After finishing our discourse on how to birth the Nigeria of our dreams, he accompanied me out of his office. Standing on the loggia leading to the staircase—on my way out of the premises where his office comfortably sits, I took a quick glance at countless people scampering in different directions, looking for what they would eat. When I saw them, I was enthused and stimulated with compassion, because it was obvious that most of them were just running without a clear sense of direction on how to become successful in life. The truth is: this is the painful photograph of most of us in Nigeria. Most of us are running before sitting—running without first planning, instead of sitting before running. Nearly every one of us is not living our lives strategically. Majority of us live the same way every year, but we are expecting different results. Take for instance; those who are truly making money in Nigeria do have a sense of direction. They do not leave the house when most people are leaving the house and they do not sleep when a good number of people are sleeping. They are awake and wakeful, meeting with relevant people, reading through relevant books and planning, when most people are still sleeping. And they are asleep when most people are running around aimlessly, searching helplessly for what is within their reach, but without them knowing. They know where they are going, who to relate to and what they are looking for in life. The easiest thing to do is to just wake up in the morning, running aimlessly as virtually everyone is doing. Sitting down to plan is very difficult, intricate and thorny. But when it comes to success, sitting down to plan should come before running. The poor run, but do not sit down to plan. The

rich also run, but sit down to think and plan before running. This is what makes a whole world of difference between the poor and the rich. The question is: when last did you take your time to sit down to count the cost before embarking on a journey, starting a relationship or a project? The major reason most people start projects without finishing them is because they never sit down to count the cost before they begin to run pointlessly. The relationship you are about to start with either that man or woman, have you taken a quality time to sit down to count the cost whether you’d be able to finish it or not? One of the reasons many marriages do not last beyond either a few months or years before collapsing is because those involved never sit down to count the cost before going into them. One of the reasons many people have entered into terrible business relationships is because they never did their homework very well. Let me tell you a true life story to buttress the point I am making today. I am so sure that it is going to add a great value to you. This is it: the “running of the bull” is the most famous event of the Fiesta of San Fermin in Pamplona, Spain. The idea is to move the bulls from their pen to the bullring, a distance of a half mile. A fence is constructed along the street from the pen to the ring and people are invited to provide incentive for the bulls to make the run. Every morning for a week they gather in front of the pen where the bulls are let loose. As the bulls come charging into the street, the people begin running for their lives. Since no man can outrun a bull, the key to survival is to avoid the bulls by ducking through cracks in the fence, leaping over the fence, or finding a cleft to press into. In 1995, two young American were visiting Pamplona with a friend. They got caught up in the spirit of the festival and decided to take part in the bull running. They figured it would provide an incredible adrenaline rush and give them

a good story to tell to their friends back home. The problem was, one of the young men slipped and fell during the running. As he struggled to get to his feet, an enormous bull impaled him on his massive horns. He was pronounced dead at a nearby hospital a few minutes later. Think about the greatest potential consequence of their choice. It was sudden, violent death. Now think about the greatest potential reward. It was a brief adrenaline rush and a good story to tell their friends. Does that sound like a good trade to you? This is what happens when you do not sit down to count the cost before you run. If what you could lose exceeds what you stand to gain, then it is a choice you need to turn and run away from! Take the man—who allows himself to be drawn into a romantic relationship with a coworker. He sneaks a kiss in the office or a phone call after hours or a rendezvous at a restaurant in another town. And all the while his wife is at home with their two kids. The man has no intention of leaving his wife; he is just out to have a little fun. But is the fun he is having worth the risk of destroying his family and his reputation? When you sit down to count the cost before you run, you’d be able weigh very carefully the potential consequences and potential rewards before making a decision. The reason we make bad decisions is because we do not sit down to count the cost before we run with the baton of ignorance. Lastly, an old Indian proverb says: “don’t ever test the depth of a river with both feet.” That is a first-class advice. Do not ever jump ‘feet first’ into a business deal, a job, a relationship, or any other life-altering arrangement unless you have done your homework. On the condition that you can learn to sit down to plan before you launch out to do anything, you’d save yourself from a lot of avoidable and preventable crisis. See you where great people are found!

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

brands& marketing

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Akin Adewakun

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

Claims, counter-claims as outdoor advertising sector bleeds Stories By Akin Adewakun - Lagos

or practitioners and other stakeholders in the nation’s outdoor advertising space, 2015 may not really be the best of times for this decades-old advertising trade. For instance, with the year gradually grinding to a halt, not a few are of the belief that outdoor advertising spend this year is far from meeting stakeholders’ expectations. And curiously, the situation may suffer a further dip, going by the nation’s inclement business weather, and the not-too-friendly legislations many claim have not really helped the course of business in that sector this year. Apart from year 2013 when advertising spend recorded a significant growth from N17.7 billion of the previous year (2012), to N23.3 billion that year, many believe that it would take some time before such feat is repeated in the sub-sector. And interestingly, it may be difficult to dismiss such pessimisms with the wave of the hand. For instance, according to the figures released at this year’s edition of the Outdoor Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria’s (OAAN) Poster Award, advertising spend in 2014 suffered a nose-dive, since the sector could only mop N20.05 billion in 2014, a significant drop of close to N3 billion loss. And, curiously, despite the high hopes of bumper harvest of stakeholders this year, especially with the frenzy in the nation’s political space in the first quarter of the year, a couple of factors might be standing in the way of practitioners and the expected gains. And more disturbing are the claims and counter-claims the sub-sector’s continuous haemorrhage in the past few months had elicited. Perhaps a major event in the last few weeks that seems to give a hint of the direction expenditures on the outdoor advertising space may take this year was the confirmation by the outdoor advertising practitioners themselves of the increasing number of vacant billboards in the nooks and crannies of Lagos metropolis. While calling for a downward review of tariffs on billboards in the state, the practitioners, under the aegis of the Outdoor Advertisers’ Association of Nigeria (OAAN), had, last month, at the conferment on the Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, the status of a patron of the association, insisted that such call had become imperative since members of the association were increasingly finding it difficult to be in business. According to the association’s new president, Mr Babatunde Adedoyin, due to the high tariffs being charged members by the state, over 70 per cent of the billboards that dot the landscape of the metropolis are presently vacant; since members do not have the wherewithal to meet such huge cost. Adedoyin stated that the high rates regime imposed on members during the tenure of former managing director of LASAA, Mr Makanjuola Alabi had since remained, even years after Makanjuola had left office, a development he believed, had made most advertisers abandon the medium by diverting funds to other advertising media, all because of high tariffs. The OAAN president also queried the ra-

Akinwunmi Ambode, Lagos State Governor and Patron, Outdoor Advertisers Association of Nigeria (OAAN) tionale behind the state government’s decision to compel members to pay a 50 per cent surcharge on vacant boards that are not even generating any form of revenue for their owners, due to the lull in business activities in that sector. “The state stands to enjoy increased revenue from OAAN, if the current high rates are reviewed downward so that most advertisers can be encouraged to return and patronise the medium again,” he stated. Brands & Marketing’s checks with LASAA and other relevant stakeholders revealed that there may be some ‘missing links’ in the story the association had reeled out to the state government. For instance, while it is true that outdoor advertising business is ‘bleeding’ and it is being shunned by brand owners today due to high tariffs, Brands & Marketing’s investigations, however, revealed that it would be difficult to heave the whole blame on the Lagos State Signage and Advertising Agency (LASAA), the agency saddled with the responsibility of regulating outdoor practice in the state.

A source at the agency, who would not want his name in print, explained that the situation in the outdoor advertising space would not have degenerated to that level if practitioners had really been forthcoming. “It is true that billboards are increasingly becoming vacant in the state. But what people do not realize is that apart from being a loss to the practitioners owning such boards, it is also a loss to the state since such practitioners would not be able to meet their financial obligations to the state. “No responsible government that wants to attract investments into its state would like that. Besides, if you look at the books today, you will discover that a huge debt is being owed the agency by practitioners. “In the past, the agency had tried to advise some of these practitioners to let go of some of these sites they were finding difficult getting clients for. The advice was based on the fact that so many clients were coming to inquire about such sites that the practitioners were saying were not profitable. If they had agreed to such advice, it would have saved

them the trouble of paying that fee on vacant billboards, which they accused us of charging. But since they would not let go, I don’t think it would make much sense to also review these charges on vacant billboards since we believe those boards are being retained because their owners find them profitable,” the source argued. While refuting the association’s claim, another source would rather describe the association as coming out with half truths. “What about the money made during the last general elections? If there is any sub-sector of the advertising practice that benefitted immensely during this period, it is the outdoor. Unless they are saying that those funds were mismanaged. “The period they are describing as a lull applies to every business and not that sub-sector alone,” added the source. But, Yemi Ajayi, a marketing communications practitioner, however, holds a contrary opinion regarding the state of outdoor advertising in the country. “I think the association’s claim is genuine because if we are seeing a huge percentage of billboards in the state not being patronised, we should be worried as stakeholders. It simply means the business is not as buoyant as it used to be, and that requires urgent attention. This is not the time to begin to heap blames, but rather, stakeholders need to really sit down and address the issue before the sub-sector bleeds to death,” he counselled. He believes the association is starting on a good note by going in for the state governor himself as its Patron. “This is an olive branch that might be rather difficult for the state to ignore,” he added. Interestingly, another positive side for the association, if well harnessed, is the determination and commitment of the new man at the helm of affairs of LASAA to run an open door policy. The new man at LASAA has said to whoever cares to listen that he is accessible to everybody. And while checks at the agency’s office revealed that some practitioners had been meeting with the new man with the aim of coming out with a solution on how to move the sub-sector forward and settle some outstanding debt, not a few believe that it would be of great benefit to both parties if other practitioners also toe such line by bringing forward their complaints with the aim of getting them solved, since it is in the best interest of all stakeholders to ensure that the outdoor advertising ‘goose’ that lay the golden eggs is not allowed to die.

Simba Group wins award at 2015 NAE Expo Simba Group, distributors of Luminous brand of inverters and power backup solutions, has recently been conferred the Nigeria Energy Award in the Commercial Category at the just concluded 2015 Nigeria Alternative Energy Award. The award ceremony, held recently in Abuja, was part of a three-day programme to mark the 5th edition of the Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo, aimed at promoting and recognising the commitment of Nigerians in the area of sustainability and energy efficiency. According to the organisers of the event, the initiative was designed to honour and

recognise companies of all sizes, government departments, schools, individuals and organisations who had demonstrated their commitment to the advancement of energy efficiency by implementing relevant and effective policies, projects and training, in the fields of Green Economy, Energy Efficiency, Urban planning, Communication, Ecology, Engineering, Policy, Clean technology, Lean process and ERPs. Speaking on this achievement, the Marketing Manager, Wandel International Nigeria Limited, a subsidiary of Simba Group of Companies, Mr Rajneesh Gupta,

expressed the company’s delight at being recognised for the efforts being made by both individuals and private organisations to the development of sustainable energy and power sector in Nigeria. Gupta noted that the Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo over the years had become a unique platform where companies, private organisations, government and other relevant stakeholders network, transfer knowledge and skills, and exhibit innovative product to potential partners, hence the key reason for Simba Groups’ strong participation in this year’s programme.

brands&marketing

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

IIDA: Rewarding acts of bravery from cradle Stories By Akin Adewakun - Lagos

espite their tender physique, their acts depict bravery, boldness and courage, with the speeches of the winners evoking emotions, showcasing brilliance and the true character of Nigeria’s leaders of tomorrow, a status recently conferred on them at the 8th edition of the Indomie Independence Day Awards for Heroes of Nigeria, held recently in Lagos. Their stories like fairy tales, sounds unbelievable, but they are real. The evident scars, corroborating facts, evidences from neighbours, security agencies and family members also attest to the genuineness of their

heroic deeds. All these wrapped together, elicited praises, commendations as well as compassion for these three children: Abbas Naifarya Ibrahim (13), Innocent Yamawo (5) and NajaNuhu (12), who emerged first, second and third and carted home the sum of N1,000,000, N750,000 and N500, 000 respectively from Indomie. An additional sum of N2,000,000 was also donated from other invited dignitaries who were also passionate about the cause. Reviewing their stories, these children, who emerged winners from the over 200 shortlisted entries gathered nationwide from the field exercise, carried out by a team

of professional researchers, demonstrated outstanding courage and bravery. In spite of their young nature and tender minds they acted spontaneously, yet not minding the inherent danger which such actions could stir up. They acted innocently to achieve a good cause with no idea/ knowledge of getting any reward in return. To further lend credibility and transparency to the selection process of the three heroic kids out of the lots of entries gathered from the field, the panel of Judges comprised of respectable individuals in the society, ranging from different walks of life, sat on the shortlisted stories and arbitrated them as winners. They also could not but extol the courageous instincts exhibited by these children. Interestingly, one of the questions agitating the minds of some present at the prize-presentation event held in Lagos recently, was: What is it that makes these children special? Is there some supernatural power behind their innocence? Is there a possession of some exceptional skills of some sort or some mysterious instincts at play? Of course not! It is their ability to summon courage and gather their inner strength to follow instruction given by their conscience. First place winner, Abbas Naifarya Ibrahim, a 13-year-old SSS2 student of the Federal Government Girls College, Kazaure, Jigawa State, emerged as the 2015 IIDA overall winner and was rewarded with N1,000,000 scholarship from Dufil Prima Foods, plus additional support of N500,000 & N250,000 from First Bank Nig. Plc and Senator Gbenga Ashafa respectively who came as invited guests. She was being celebrated for averting what could have been a disaster by calling the attention of the relevant authorities to a bag of explosives, carefully planted beside

a mosque by a lady pretending to want to urinate. Meanwhile, the bomb was set to explode during the Juma’at service (congregational prayer for Muslims) on Friday. Commenting on the award, Naifarya who was overwhelmed by emotions, said, “I feel extremely happy and very proud of myself. I thank Dufil Prima Foods for finding me worthy of this award. I intend to go to the American University of Nigeria, Yola to study medicine. I want to become a medical doctor so I can help people.” The first runner-up, Innocent Yamawo was rewarded for his bold attempt at saving his baby sister from an inferno which left him badly-injured. Though he only succeeded in bringing out the lifeless body of the sister, he was being celebrated for bringing the sister out of the inferno, unfortunately, it was the lifeless body as she was already dead as a result of excessive smoke. He was 5 years old at the time. Besides being awarded a scholarship grant worth N750,000 by Dufil Prima, N500,000 by First Bank Nig. Plc and additional N200,000 by Senator Gbenga Ashafa, a more touching and unexpected commitment was made by Dufil Prima, when the company announced its plans to go a step further by sponsoring a reconstructive surgery for Innocent. The 3rd place winner was 12-year-old Naja Nuhu, whose brave heroic and courage saved her family and led to the arrest of two armed robbers who invaded their house at midnight. The Group Managing Director, Dufil Prima Foods, Mr Deepak Singhal, had earlier reiterated the company’s commitment to positively impact the Nigerian child. He described the award as a clear demonstration of the company’s belief in the extraordinary qualities of the Nigerian child which must always be celebrated.

eTranzact, banks, partner on customer rewards scheme From right, 13-year-old Indomie Independence Day Awards (IIDA) first place winner from Kano State, Abbas Naifarya Ibrahim; seven-year-old second place winner from Abuja, Innocent Yamawo and third place winner, 12-year-old Naja Nuhu, at the Award presentation ceremony held recently in Lagos.

Provider of Mobile banking and payment services, eTranzact International Plc, in collaboration with its mobile banking partners, FCMB, Skye Bank, Heritage Bank, Union Bank, Unity Bank, Access Bank, Standard Chartered and Jaiz Bank, has announced the launch of a consumer promotion, designed to reward its loyal customers

New can packs, evidence of our continuous innovations – Chi Ltd The management of Chi Limited has described the company’s new can packs of Chivita 100%, Chivita Active and Chi Exotic, recently introduced into the nation’s market, as a reference point of how the brand has leveraged on innovation and consumer feedback to drive offerings that suit its consumers’ lifestyle. According to the company’s Managing Director, Deepanjan Roy, the new juice can pack which is targeted at hip, trendy and on-the-go consumers, is designed in a dynamic prismatic shape with an attractive cap that is well blended into the pack. He noted that the juice can pack which is coming with an affordable price, contains enough juice to satisfy individual consumption and offers competitive pricing as well as value for money. “Besides, its handy size allows consumers to take it along with them wherever they go and fits into the lifestyle of young upwardly mobile consumers,” he added. Besides possessing genuine consumer appeal, Roy, argued that the new offer-

ings had been enjoying tremendous support and patronage since their introductions into the nation’s drinks market. “Consumers have extolled the canp size for its elegance, convenience and shelf appeal. They particularly appreciate its advantages over aluminium can packaging, because it is easy to hold, pour from,

and is far more environment friendly. “With our range of high quality fruit juices like Chivita 100%, Chivita Active and Chi Exotic in the can pack, the story can only get more interesting for a brand that truly places premium on consumer needs and satisfaction,” Deepanjan stated.

Cormart re-launches Shine All Liquid Dish Wash By Shehu Bello - Lagos In its bid to ease household chores and positively impact on homes, Cormart Nigeria Limited has re-launched Shine All liquid dish wash in addition to its various products in that market segment. Consumer Business Head, Mr Satej Samb, described the re-launch as a unique product of two years of research, development and testing, formulated to meet specific usage pattern of consumers and other environmental factors like climate and water quality

in West Africa. “The product comes in an ergonomically designed bottle, which is easy to hold and use,” he added. As part of the company’s consistent efforts to deliver consumer satisfaction, Samb said plans are on to launch a series of exciting and innovative products catering to daily needs of consumers next year. Describing Nigeria’s economy as friendly, he said Cormart has invested heavily in building the state of the art manufacturing plants in Lagos and Ogun State.

and encourage more people to adopt mobile banking. Tagged: Cow, Turkey, Everything Goes Mobile Promo, will see thousands of customers of eTranzact-powered mobile banking applications win millions of items including live cows, turkeys, chickens, Cable TV Starter Packs, movie tickets, hampers and bags of rice. Speaking about the promotion, Group CEO, eTranzact International PLC, Mr Valentine Obi, noted that banking had changed not just the process of banking, but the very idea of what a bank should be. “Before we introduced the first mobile banking application in partnership with our banking partners in 2003, a bank was limited to a physical place, an edifice that created some form of security of money within. “Today, with mobile banking and other evolutions in technology, the idea of a digital bank has come to the fore, and every time we introduce a new feature, improve the user experience or take an otherwise offline feature of banking online through an eTranzact powered mobile banking application, we are helping the banks form new and maintain existing relationships with customers,” he stated. Group Head, Business development, Mr Adeyemi Adeyemo, noted that the choice of prizes reflects the company’s belief in the relevance of rewards to the consumers; since the rewards, he explained, were aimed at significantly benefitting its users at this yuletide season.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

infotech

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Bode Adewumi

m:08055001765 e:bodekafi@yahoo.com

How NITDA leveraged technology of Internet of Things at GITEX 2015

Internet of Things (IoT) is the future technology that is already trending, where machines will communicate seamlessly with each other. BODE ADEWUMI in this report chronicles Nigeria’s exploits at the just-concluded Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) 2015 in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), leveraged on the IoT technology to showcase the Nigerian brand.

igeria’s participation at the 35th GITEX Technology Week in Dubai, United Arab Emirates recently, underscores government’s desire to grab every opportunity to grow the country technologically, having missed basic technology revolutions in the past such as the Industrial and Agricultural revolutions. In a bid to catch up with global technology trend, the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), the government agency responsible for Information and Communications Technology (ICT) policy implementation and development, led the Nigerian delegation to this year’s GITEX, including technology companies and technology startups. Apart from wooing foreign investors to come and invest in Nigeria, NITDA used the occasion of GITEX 2015 to showcase Nigeria’s indigenous technologies that were developed by technology companies and startups, which seek to address peculiar challenges around Africa and beyond. GITEX, which is the leading Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, and held at the Dubai World Trade Centre, attracted more than 130,000 visitors from over 150 countries of the world, including more than 20,000 C-level executives and more than 3,600 exhibiting brands and over 62 participating countries, including Nigeria, which showcased her heritage and indigenous technology at the Nigerian Pavilion, that attracted lots of guest, including foreign investors. This year’s GITEX was held under the theme ‘The Internet Future of Everything’. Highlight was on how the IoT technology, which was described as disruptive technology that has the capacity to disrupt exiting technologies and to pave the way for the technology that will drive machine to machine communications, where machines that are driven by software applications, will do everything humanly possible. At GITEX 2015, the Director General of NITDA, Mr. Peter Jack called on foreign and local investors to invest in technology solutions developed by Nigerian

Some Nigerian officials and others at the Nigerian Pavillion during the just-concluded Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). technology startups, insisting that such investment, will not only boost national development, but will also guarantee fast return on investment. Jack, who spoke at the ‘Nigeria Day’ during the 35th GITEX Technology Week, encouraged international investors to embrace investment opportunities in Nigeria which abound in ICT. He explained that ICT’s contribution to Nigeria’s GDP has doubled in the last five years from 4.5 per cent to 10 per cent, with signs of contributing more to the Nigerian economy. Speaking at a panel session on smart city development, Jack told international audience that

One of the important features of the exhibition was that the startups were able to showcase locally developed software applications from Nigeria...

NITDA has a mandate to develop ICT Park in Nigeria, and that as part of the mandate, it has engaged multi-stakeholder partnerships to drive the initiative. “The Abuja Technology Village, which used to be an initiative of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), and funded by the World Bank, has now been taken a new look because NITDA showed interest in it by relocating the GSM village and some computer companies that were initially based in other parts of Abuja, to the Abuja Technology Village, in a bid to drive the smart city initiative,” he said. One of the important features of the exhibition was that the startups were able to showcase locally developed software applications from Nigeria that could serve local and international needs of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) as well as big and corporate organisations. Special boots were provided for the startups inside the Nigeria Pavilion at GITEX, which attracted foreign investors to the Nigerian Pavilion, to make enquiries on business opportunities. Aside technology startups, NITDA also accommodated already established Nigerian companies in the Nigerian Pavilion, who also used the occasion to showcase the Nigerian brand. Vice President of Alibaba Group,

Mr. Sicheng Yu, who spoke on ‘The Future of Innovation and the Converging Forces of Change,’ said, “the world is currently experiencing a number of converging forces that will both rewrite the rules of business and redefine the world of innovation. Each of these driving forces has the potential of blindsiding us if we do not spend time crafting stories about the world to come.” He was of the view that the technology of IoT would in the future, help cars to communicate with other cars on the roads and help in decongesting traffic caused by vehicular movements. He said more innovations were on the way, and urged African countries to key into the innovation, by promoting big data, cloud computing and the internet. We are already experiencing increase in the demand for big data services across the globe but big data cannot work effectively, without cloud computing that is largely driven by the internet, Yu said. He promised that Alibaba Group would continue to use its platform to make system and applications work faster for small and medium enterprises (SMEs), in order to create business efficiency that will drive down cost of business. At the ‘Nigerian Day’, NITDA used the occasion to woo foreign investors into investing in the

country’s ICT sector, solid minerals and agricultural sectors. Other sectors include Oil & Gas, transport, manufacturing, textile, and garment and leather sectors, among others. Unveiling business opportunities in Nigeria, Jack told foreign investors, who gathered at the Nigerian Pavilion to celebrate the ‘Nigeria Day’, that business opportunities abound in Nigeria and encouraged them to take bold steps to invest in a country whose environ is conducive for business growth and continuity. According to him, “Nigeria is the top recipient of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Africa, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) rate that averaged more than 5 per cent over the last ten years. This followed the deliberate attempt by government to liberalise the business environment to accommodate the private sector as the engine of growth, while government remains the enabler. This is in addition to an attempt to diversify the Nigerian economy to accommodate critical non-oil sectors, with FDI as the major source.” Director, Overseas and Domestic Operations Department at NIPC, Ladi Katagum, welcomed the investors to the Nigeria Pavilion, while presenting them with business opportunities. “We provide the framework for investment in Nigeria, being the gateway of investment to Nigeria. We are also promoting targeted investment among Nigerian companies and helping them to identify investors in different sectors, before introducing them to Nigeria,” Katagum said. According to her, “one of the areas that government is boosting investment in Nigeria is by developing and putting the right infrastructure in place. Nigeria is still ranked very low in investment rating and government is doing everything possible to boost the rating. Chief Executive Officer of Teledom Group, Dr. Emmanuel Ekuwem, told the foreign investors of the need to invest in Nigeria, and assured them on quick return on investment, owing to the conducive business environment established by the Nigerian government. Among the 14 sponsored technology startups to this year’s GITEX exhibition in Dubai, is Hotbay, whose Founder is Owolabi Olatunji.

infotech Nigerian mobile internet users hit 97m mark 30

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Stories By Bode Adewumi

he number of mobile internet users on Nigeria’s telecoms networks has hit 97.21 million up from the 95.37 million recorded in August this year, according to figures released by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) last week in Abuja. The telecoms regulatory body made the disclosure in its Monthly Internet Subscriber Data for September. The data revealed that internet users on both Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) and Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, which are all mobile, increased by 1.84 million in September this year. The data showed that of the 97.21 million internet users in September, 97.06 million were on GSM networks, while 151,816 users were on CDMA networks. However, the CDMA operators lost 367 internet users, after recording 151,816 in September, against 152,183 in August this year. According to the figure, MTN has 41.84 million subscribers browsing the internet on its network, the highest among the telecoms operators. NCC explained that MTN recorded an increase of 423,448 internet subscribers in September, after recording 41.41 million in August. According to the data, Globacom has 21.89 million subscribers surfing the net on its network in September. About 20.77 million surfed the internet on the network in August. Airtel had 17.73 million internet users in September as against 17.49 million customers recorded in August. The data showed that internet users on the Airtel network increased by 235,941 in September this year. The NCC figure also revealed that Etisalat had 15.59 million customers who browsed the internet in September, against the 15.54 million users in August. The data showed that those browsing the net on Etisalat’s network rose by 57,061 in the month of September.

From left: Mr Justin Damsa, Director, Regulatory Affairs, Airtel Nigeria; Segun Ogunsanya, Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria and Lanre Ajayi, President, Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON) at the association’s 21st anniversary dinner in Lagos, recently. The NCC data also revealed that the CDMA operators, Multi-Links and Visafone, had a joint total of 151,816 internet users on their networks in September. It showed that the only two surviving CDMA networks in the country recorded a decrease of 367 internet subscribers in the month under review, from the 152,183

tomers from the August record of 260 users. The increase in the use of the internet in the month of September showed that more Nigerians were embracing data as the country moves towards achieving 30 per cent broadband penetration by 2018, as targeted in the country’s broadband plan.

Airtel bags Merit Award at ATCON’s 21st anniversary Airtel Nigeria, has been honoured with a Merit Award by the Association of Telecoms Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), as the body recently marked its 21st anniversary with a colourful event in Lagos. The National President of ATCON, Engineer Lanre Ajayi, noted that Airtel Nigeria deservedly earned the Merit Award because of its pioneering investment in the Nigeria’s mobile telecommunications industry. Sokoto State Governor and for-

LG Electronics introduces latest air-conditioner to Nigerians LG Electronics has announced the release of its latest Air Conditioner, the LG Champion II Inverter V Floor Standing Air Conditioner, which is uniquely designed for the Nigerian Market. Aimed at offering consumers ideal comfort, the LG Champion II Inverter V Floor Standing Air Conditioner offers uniform cooling as it comes with the 4D Cooling; the 4 directional auto swing function with electable horizontal and vertical swings blows cool air in multiple directions. As a result, every corner of the room is just as cool as the area in front of the air conditioner. There is also the dual cooling turbo fan which comes with two turbo fans that generate powerful cool winds for instant and uniform cooling. Commenting on this new product, General Manager, Air Con-

users they recorded in August this year. According to the data, Visafone has a decrease of 393 customers surfing the internet in September, with a total of 151,530 internet users, compared to the 151,923 users it had in the month of August. Multi-Links had 286 internet users in September, adding 26 cus-

ditioning and Energy Solutions, LG Electronics West Africa operations, Mr. Cholyong Park said: “Compact and Slim to suit any situation for space saving and proper in-corner installation, LG Champion II Inverter V Floor Standing Air Conditioner, is uniquely designed to delight consumers as well as offer them true comfort. Owing to the unique design of the air outlets and powerful fan speed, it offers faster cooling, dispersing cool air quickly to cool the room in just a few minutes.” High Electricity bill is an issue of great concern to many households; and this is another area where the LG Champion II Inverter V Floor Standing Air Conditioner demonstrates great edge over other conventional floor stand ACs as it offers quality energy savings as it comes with variable tonnage.

mer Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal presented the award to the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Segun Ogunsanya, who was represented by the company’s Director of Corporate Communications & CSR, Emeka Oparah. While speaking on the ATCON Merit Award, Mr, Ogunsanya dedicated the award to staff and customers of the company, noting that it served as an impetus for Airtel to continuously contribute towards building a robust telecommunication industry in Nigeria with its array of innovative solutions.

The Airtel team at the event led by Emeka Oparah comprised Director, Regulatory Affairs, Justin Damsa and Digital & Public Relations Manager, Erhumu Bayagbon. Other telecommunications firms, internet service providers and notable personalities such as ex-Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo; former Board Chairman, Airtel Nigeria, Oba Otudeko; ex-Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Earnest Ndukwe and other dignitaries were also bestowed with ATCON Merit Awards.

Nigerian Tribune

Smile launches 4G LTE mobile network in Benin Residents of Benin City in Edo State and environs now have within their reach the best in class 4G LTE Mobile Network as Smile Communications Nigeria Limited rolled out its unmatched broadband services in the Edo State capital. Indeed, for most people in Edo State the wait for reliable internet access is over as they can now enjoy the benefits of having a true 4G LTE mobile network within their reach. Alero Ladipo, Chief Marketing Officer of Smile Communications Nigeria Limited, expressed delight that Smile is now available in Benin; a city of immense historical and strategic importance. She assured residents of Benin City and environs of her company’s commitment to providing the best customer experience on the network. “Our main objective in Smile is to ensure our customers have a memorable experience while on the internet. A customer must enjoy the simplicity of the service. We adapt quickly and innovate constantly, passing on the benefits to our customers through quality, simplicity and reliability”. Ladipo further noted that Smile is renowned for innovative practices and has on a consistent basis provided high quality 4G LTE broadband Internet accesses that is quite affordable. To her, the launch in Benin gives practical expression to Smile’s transformative objective of using the best and most innovative technologies to provide its customers with high quality, easy to use and affordable communication services as well as enabling its customers to fully benefit from the Internet world. She explained that with this latest launch of Smile services, residents of Benin City would henceforth join other Nigerians in enjoying the most reliable and consistent online experience in Nigeria. Smile’s entry into Benin City follows its earlier launch of services in such cities as Ibadan, Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt.

NCC pledges continued support for tennis tournaments Impressed by the turnout and progress recorded so far in the maiden Tennis Tournament sponsored by the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), its Acting Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) Professor Umar Garba Danbatta said the Commission “will continue to sponsor this tournament”. He spoke at the National Stadium, Abuja, venue of the second Semi- final of the Tennis National Tournament last weekend. NCC, he said, will also review the prize money upward to ensure that as many teams are attracted from different parts of the country. A visibly excited Danbatta who went down memory lane said, he remembered with nostalgia the escapades of Nigeria’s Nduka Odizor, who reached the round of 16 in the

Wimbledon of 1983. To Danbatta, Odizor was easily one of the global Tennis greats at the time but sadly “Nigerian players have not made the desired impact in global Tennis circuits since then.” According to Danbatta, “We are witnesses to how tennis stars have brought fame and fortune to themselves and their nations, and we want to be identified to taking these talented players in Nigeria to the circuit”. He told the audience at the stadium including, President, Nigeria Tennis Federation, Mr. Sani Ndanusa, President, International Tennis Academy, Mr. Godwin Kienka among others that the main objective of the NCC sponsorship of the tournament is to raise the level of

Lawn Tennis, which is one of the most popular and lucrative sporting activity. “Part of our objective is to help in nurturing and exposing these talents through robust competition so as to help them perfect their skills. It is also promoting peace and friendship among the players as this has taken the game to various locations of the country where such competitions have not been held. So far, several matches have been played in Lagos, Port Harcourt, Asaba, Onitsha, Abeokuta, Kaduna, Abuja, and Enugu, with the finals scheduled for Lagos. Another objective of this tournament is so fruitfully engage the players, officials and the youth in some value-driven activities associated with this competition,” he said.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

property

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Gbemi Solaja

m:07065220616 e:gbemisolaja@gmail.com

Governor Amosun

Africities summit to empower LGs for urban development

onsidered as the region with the fastest rate of urbanisation in the world and with its rising incidence of poverty, the situation in sub-Saharan Africa deserves special attention, with a special focus on empowerment of local governments, to drive the needed change on the continent, the Secretary General, United Cities of Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA), Jean-Pierre Elong-Mbassi has said. Speaking at a press conference for the United Cities of Local Governments of Africa (UCLGA) to present the launch of the Africities 2015 Summit, to be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, Mbassi stressed the role of local governments in bringing about the needed change on the African continent, adding that every development and democracy was local or did not exist. Africities Summit will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, from 29 November, to 3 December, 2015. Held every three years, “the Africities Summit, now in its 7th edition, will create a platform to tackle issues affecting urban and economic development across the continent, with a sharp focus on collaborative partnerships, best practices, innovative and strategic thinking and solutions to the challenges of development and urbanisation,” according to UCLG. Africities Summit is a platform where African local authorities exchange ideas on how to improve development in their levels of government. It will bring together elected local and regional officials from all over the continent to identify policy

approaches that encourage sustainable development of African cities and local governments. With more than 5,000 participants expected from across Africa and the globe, and over 25 open sessions for stakeholders ranging from the World Bank, to slum dwellers, local and national government officials, heads of state, economists, city and financial planners and investors and stakeholders. The theme of the summit is entitled “Shaping the Future of Africa with the People: Africa’s Local Government Contribution to the Africa 2063 Vision.” According to UCLG, high on the agenda

at the summit would be the accelerating pace of urbanisation and migration, the urbanisation of poverty, and the disproportionate level of poverty and under development in Africa. Other topics to be explored will include: public transport, urban agriculture, informal trading, neighborhoods development, green buildings, parks and open spaces, and public safety in urban settings. Mbassi who decried that Nigeria had the worst local government management process, added that “Unless people are capacitated to own their own lives, to take part in the governance of their own lives, you cannot say that your country is liberated. This is

why decentralisation and empowering local people is so critical. We thought it was good to celebrate the coming up of local authorities as the expression of the voice of the local people. We thought it was important to overcome the division inherited by colonisation so we came together to say; we are going to stop it; we are going to participate at the local level to unite this continent and we are going to work towards the empowerment of local people to take control of their lives. This is how Africities was born.” “We need government system for cities to function properly and unless we get urban government to work, some problems will not be solved.

Ogun to establish dumpsites at Ado -Odo/Ota LGA In furtherance of its drive to make its environment filth-free, the Ogun State government has revealed its plan to establish two dumpsites at Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of the State. The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Bolaji Oyeleye made this known while inspecting the Kurata dumpsite which serves several wards in the Local Government Area. Oyeleye said that the major challenge with Kurata dumpsite was road accessibility, adding that since refuse trucks find the road so difficult to access the site, they look for alternative ways of getting rid of the waste thereby creating illegal dumpsites. He said: “We scheduled a visit to the dumpsite to examine the challenges of the site. And we saw for ourselves that

the major challenge was road accessibility to the place and you know, refuse trucks sometimes get stuck on the road when they want to drop off the waste they have packed all over the city. This has led to creation of illegal dumpsites because they are compelled to look for alternatives.” The commissioner said that government would develop two new dumpsites in the LGA as a way forward, noting that the road leading to the Kurata dumpsite would also be fixed for proper accessibility and utilization. “We are planning to establish two more dumpsites in the Ado-Odo/Ota LGA, which would be situated around Atan and Isorosi axis. The beauty of the Kurata dumpsite is its proximity to the city. It also has enormous capacity to take massive refuse. So, while we perfect the plans to

establish two other refuse dumpsites, we will work on the road leading to the latter and make it more accessible,” Oyeleye said. The Transition Chairman, Ado-Odo/ Ota LG, Alhaji Sadiq Idowu Ojumo while commenting on the fact that the Kurata dumpsite was not properly maintained said that fixing the damaged road was the way forward. “The dumpsite is the only one serving us and we realise that here is more of a cosmopolitan environment. We have a large population of people and even spill over from Lagos State, but unfortunately, this dumpsite is not being properly maintained and we have problem of inaccessibility. Once the road to the site is fixed, it will be properly used and the environment will be better,” he said.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

Ishaku

Alhassan

Taraba judgment: The morning after in Jalingo SYLVANUS VIASHIMA writes on the initial suspense that pervaded Taraba State following the judgment of the state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal nullifying the election of the incumbent governor.

HE morning of Saturday, November 7, 2015 was like any other day, except for the conspicuously empty streets. They were apparently deserted because of heavy security presence and anxiety in the air. In a way, almost everything was steady and stable until the Governorship Election Petitions Tribunal, sitting in Abuja on the case between Senator Aisha Alhassan of the All Progressives

Congress (APC) and incumbent Governor Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) nullified the election that brought him to office on May 29 this year. To avoid vacuum, the tribunal ordered that Aisha was the validly elected governor of the state. Immediately news about the judgment began trickle in, the general atmosphere and political climate changed dramatically.

The quiet streets erupted with wide excitement like a live volcano, with reactions coming from different people and sections of the state on the judgment. It was basically along the lines of the supporters of the two contending groups. The verdict was particularly greeted with mixed reactions as Aisha’s supporters in Unguwangadi, Magami, Kasuwan-Yelwa, Sabon-Gari and Nyamu Sala areas celebrat-

ed and savoured victory, while others criticised it harshly. Aisha’s supporters were seen on the streets chanting “Sai Mama,’’ Maman Taraba Oyoyo” to show their happiness over the verdict. Alhaji Ahmed Umar, a resident of Jalingo told Nigerian Tribune that the verdict was victory for democracy. A former senator representing Taraba Central, Alhaji Abubakar Tutare, said the ruling had restored confidence to the commonman about the Nigerian judicial system. What was most fascinating in the overall continues pg33

politics&policy

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Condemnation, commendation trail verdict continues pg32

development perhaps was the fact that for some moments and in certain circles, political barriers were collapsed, as people from the various parties seemed to have common view on the situation. For instance, the state PDP spokesperson, Napoleon Adamu called on his party leadership and candidate to accept defeat and team up to work for the good of the state. A stalwart of the APC, Shuaibu Usman described the ruling as “a slap on democratic values, as the APC primaries in the state was also nothing to write home about.” This notwithstanding, party loyalty generally played out prominently. While the members of the PDP continued to allege that the tribunal compromised and rendered a judgment that was “at best a show of judicial rascality and very high sense of impunity,” APC faithful maintained that the verdict, like others, was a clear indication that the era of impunity was over and justice was at last taking its course. According to Honourable Yusuf Malam, the ruling is a “clear answer to the prayers of the good people of Taraba State, who have been praying for an end to the PDP administration in the state. Dr Abdulmunini Vaki, who is the Director General of the Senator Alhassan Campaign group, urged the governor and PDP to learn to accept defeat. “It is most unfortunate that the ruling party could not organise a primary election to select their candidate and yet they are now crying foul. On his party, Governor Ishaku is yet to overcome his disbelief over the judgment of the tribunal. on his part expressed disappointment over the verdict. He claimed the tribunal left the issues before it to focus on matters that were strictly party affairs. He said he was confident that the appeal court would restore his mandate. In a related development, the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on media, Mr Sylvanus Giwa described the judgment as “judicial rascality and a wreck of democracy that will not stand anywhere in the world. He added: “The outcome is unacceptable, as the tribunal abandoned the prayer of the petitioner and went into pre-election matters that do not concern it.” The judgment is ruffled the feathers of other stakeholders, especially the commissioners-designate, whose supporters had hoped to gain one or two things once they were sworn in as substantive commissioners. There is equally pervasive uncertainty among more than 120 other political aides recently appointed by the governor. For these groups and other political allies of the governor, the judgment has farreaching implications for their political careers. Honourable John Ali, one of the aides to the governor, described the judgment as “nonsense and the height of impunity and judicial recklessness,” alleging that the tribunal must have been compromised. A similar disposition was exhibited by a number of other aides, including the Senior Special Assistant on Media to the governor, Mr Sylvanus Giwa, who alleged that APC supporters started their celebration a day before the judgment. Mr Hariman Bovoa, who is the national president of Mambilla Youth Progressive Association, similarly criticised the judgment, alleging bias of the tribunal against the governor. However, an elder statesman in the state, who craved anonymity, however, queried the allegation that the camp of the petitioner influenced the tribunal. He queried: “If as a sitting governor, Ishaku could not influ-

Secondus ence the tribunal to rule in his favour, how does his camp think someone who supposedly lost at the election would achieve that, bearing in mind that Darius has a powerful godfather?. If all the connections he has as a former minister in various ministries and now the incumbent governor could not make the tribunal do otherwise, it means the tribunal was actually determined to do the right thing, except Ishaku is not telling us the whole truth about his being highly connected during his campaign.” A PDP leader, who pleaded anonymity, did not differ on the argument of his APC counterpart. He assumed that people may have exaggerated the influence of the governor. Coupled with this is the fact that the PDP in the state is not having the best of times. Apart from losing some seats in the state House of Assembly through judgments of the tribunal, the party is battling with an internal crisis. An elder of the party, Alhaji Bubar Yero Mafindi alleged that the governor sidelined other party executive members and elders. He said the governor was only working with

Oyegun the state chairman the PDP. He was also accused of using harsh against the party’s national leadership when the zonal official of the party paid him a visit in Jalingo. But, the governor vehemently denied the allegation. There was no case of a major breakwon of law and order, but for reports late on Sunday that some persons were feared killed in Wukari. Meanwhile, the some leaders of the Southern Taraba Assembly, an umbrella of elders from Southern district of Taraba, who picked Ishaku as the consensus candidates in the last election, believed that an influential indigene of the state (names withheld), was being looked upon to moved swiftly towards redeeming the current situation, considering his awesome influence in the country. While the argument for and against the ruling continues, many observers are already situation the judgment in the context of its implications for the state. according to some analysts, by the judgment, Aisha might eventually become the first democratically elected female governor in Nigeria, as well as the

The governor has assured that his lawyers are competent, confident that they will win the case at the appeal court, just as the leadership of the APC is confident on the superior courts upholding the judgment.

first democratically elected Muslim governor of the state. The judgment, if it is upheld by Superior Courts in the land, means an end to the unbroken 16 years rule of Taraba, with the main casualties to include most of the present political appointees. The debate is gaining ground on the likely relationship between the executive arm of government and the legislature if the judgment is not overturned by suoperior courts. This is because the PDP overwhelmingly dominates the Assembly. In other words, while the APC will be calling the shots in Government House, the PDP will attempt to consolidate on its majority seats in the legislature. The issue forms the major concern of Mr Alex Bajur, a resident of Jalingo. According to him, “Even if Aisha wins at the superior courts and sworn in, she might find it hard to perform optimally, as the state House of Assembly could pose some challenges because the membership is skewed in faour of the PDP.” Sources, however showed that new alliances are being formed and new ties forged, even as efforts are already to put its house in order. For now, the governor has assured that his lawyers are competent, confident that they will win the case at the appeal court, just as the leadership of the APC is confident on the superior courts upholding the judgment. Meanwhile, some major streets of Jalingo have been adorned with billboards bearing welcome messages in anticipation of the arrival of Senator Aisha in the state capital. Yet, the division among the political class and the elite generally over the judgment is discernible in the avalanche of arguments for and against the judgment of the tribunal.

34 politicscommentary

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Kogi guber race: Who will tame the shrew? By Rashidi Idoko

T is a well-known fact that Prince Abubakar Audu, candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kogi State, loves the klieglights. Nothing advertises this better than his sartorial opulence. A fan, in a recent adulation, remarked that the edge of his well ironed embroidery could easily slice off the finger of any child who toys with it. After the manipulated primary of the APC which gave birth to his candidature, he went on a voyage of fancy to Europe strictly for the purpose of political chicanery. But, luxury and vanity are not his only passions; the man also loves controversy and, some would say, contrived and convoluted confusion in equal measures. Little wonder then that he would go ahead to give an infamous order to his ground troops to, as he puts it, ‘kill’ anyone who tries to rig the governorship election. Audu found a good occasion to issue the order during the flag off of his campaign rally in Kabba. He alleged that PDP was already training thugs for the election and charged his boys ‘not to spare.’ Granted, the whole civilised world is against electoral malfeasance in any form, that order in itself, to neutral observers, smacks of desperation and an insatiable appetite for power for destructive ends. Power sought and grabbed by all means ends up being misapplied and injudiciously dispensed. The point must therefore be made early that this piece is not an advocacy for rigging, thuggery and other political malpractices. Such acts are inimical to the democratic process and constitute a drawback to the society. But, two wrongs don’t make a right. Audu’s order is condemnable. Recall that in the build up to the 2015 general election, when the APC raised the alarm that a PDP governor in one of the South-West states was expressing death wish on General Muhammadu Buhari, then candidate of the APC, the governor was serially vitiated by all, including his party and the Presidency then under Dr Goodluck Jonathan. Those who know Audu very well admit he is a formidable opponent with remarkable capacity for rough tackles. During his earlier excursion to power as governor, he had ingeniously displayed such antics. Mutual distrust among all ethnic groups was the order of the season. The nasty experience of citizen Alifa Daniel, a reporter of The Guardian newspaper who was bathed with acid while pursuing a story on the street of Lokoja has continued to define the Audu years in power. Till date, people look back to the terror of that period in measured breath. Yet, candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who is also the incumbent governor, has never hidden his hatred for violence. Since 2012, Wada has spared nothing to sanitise the political space of endemic violence and redirect the energy of the youths to productive ends. From time to time, the aviator re-echoes the words of former President Goodluck Jonathan that his political ambition is not worth splitting the blood of any Kog-

Audu ite. In spite of his desire for a second term, Wada has remained an apostle for non-violence in politics and public life. He reminds one of the cherished legacies of patriots like the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Nnamidi Azikiwe and Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim. As much as he loved power for genuine service to the nation, the great apostle of ‘politics without bitterness’ during the Second Republic, the late Waziri Ibrahim, preached against hate campaigns, inciting remarks and other lowly conducts which could lead to social cataclysm and truncate political freedom. It is either Prince Audu chose to ignore those edifying words of the political sage or he is led by an inordinate ambition to toy with precipitating a political cauldron in a peaceful state. Whatever may have turbocharged his request for vi-

olence, Audu must be reminded that power belongs to God, as his Igalla forefathers would say ‘Ojo aujoned’Onu’. Prince Audu must act as a harbinger of hope, peace ambassador and a role model to the good people of Kogi State rather than triggering an unfathomable recrudescence of violence on the altar of personal ambition and his quest for political power. If indeed his purpose is to serve the people, he should appreciate and recognise the power of the people to make their choices and preferences through the ballot. In sane climes, the man who has been in the governorship contest since 1992 should have taken a deserved rest. He is also having issues with the anti-corruption agencies over the massive N11 billion fraud charges preferred against him while

In sane climes, the man who has been in the governorship contest since 1992 should have taken a deserved rest.

in office. It is curious that the APC-led government which rode to power on the crest of anti- corruption and good governance is controverting its avowed anticorruption stance so early in the day. The good people of Kogi State know the man, Prince Audu; they know his antecedents and combustible nature. The issues that he needs to address as he mounts the podium in the weeks ahead are the N11 billion fraud allegation against him for which he is in court, his lopsided distribution of social amenities and infrastructure during his days in power and the open disregard and disrespect for the civil servants. Can the leopard truly change its spots? Raising the political temperature of the state at this time is the least the people desire as they cherish the peace, tranquility and the convivial atmosphere in the state under the current Governor Idris Wada. As a politically neutral citizen of the state, the popular view that has formed from my interactions with the people is that they do not want an ‘emperor’ but a listening and humble leader without the toga of exaggerated importance and arrogance. Prince Abubakar Audu will do well to sheath his sword. •Idoko is an Abuja based indigene of Kogi State.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

tribunelaw

For enquiries, Lanre Adewole - 0811 695 4647 olanreade@yahoo.com

Saraki and the CCT jamboree

Some weeks back when the trial of Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki started with flair and drama, many believed that it was soon going to become a jamboree based on the initial merry go round. But few people imagined it will lead to the defense team calling the bluff of the tribunal; an action that has caused confusion in the camp of legal practitioners as they find it difficult to reach a consensus on the issue. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE reports.

ROM the period that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), dragged the former Governor of Kwara state and Nigeria’s Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki before the Code of Conduct tribunal sitting in Abuja, on a 13-count charge bordering on allegations of false declaration of assets, incidents trailing the high profile matter has been bordering on the bizarre; from the large number of almost 30 defense lawyers, to the large entourage of escorts, majorly senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, who do not hesitate to close down the Senate just to show solidarity to one of their own and the various attempts to stop the trial through applications to courts of higher jurisdictions. His arraignment on September 18, 2015, was one that was full of intrigues as the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs (SAN), had to apply his professional dexterity and experience to ensure Saraki enters the dock and takes his pleas, despite the valiant effort of the defense team to prevent this. Immediately after his arraignment, efforts to stall the trial commenced as he told the tribunal that he needed time to study the charge as he was seeing it for the first time. On October 21, 2015, the Justice Danladi Umar led tribunal had to adjourn till November 5, 2015, to enable the appellate court give a ruling on Saraki’s application that the higher court stop his trial, an effort that failed at the Court of Appeal and this prompted him to go the Supreme court. But at the resumed hearing of the matter last Thursday, the trial took on the plot of a fresh episode of a Nollywood soap opera as his 26 lawyers comprising three Senior Advocates of Nigeria – Messrs Saka Issau, Ahmed Raji and Mahmud Magaji and 23 juniors, staged a walk out and thwarted the scheduled continuation of proceedings after the prosecution already showed that its witnesses were in court. This is to express their displeasure at the ruling of the tribunal which held that trial must commence in the matter in spite of their appeal to the Supreme Court against the jurisdiction of the tribunal. Magaji, who announced that he would withdraw from the case, described the ruling as “judicial rascality,” on the grounds of the tribunal’s alleged refusal to wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on the appeal Saraki had filed in the case. “I hereby submit that in the circumstance of your ruling, I will avoid to be part of what I call judicial rascality,” Magaji said before leaving the courtroom. As Magaji stepped out, Raji also picked up the microphone and said that the ruling of the two-member tribunal partly anchored on section 305 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015 was wrong. “The section 305 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act which you based your ruling on talks of when you are making reference to a higher court. There is nothing like that here. Be that as it may, on behalf of all the defense counsel, we find it most impossible

Act 2015, which he said allowed the tribunal or court to conduct trial but postpone its judgment or sentence as the case may be till when the issue of law referred to the higher court was determined, maintaining that the ACJ Act was enacted to ensure expeditious determination of criminal cases. The walkout has consequently become an issue of legal debate with lawyers standing on different sides of the divide and their reactions make it difficult for anyone to decide the stand of the law.

Saraki for us to sit down here and participate in the proceedings in respect of which there is a stay of proceedings before the higher court. We thank your lordship and we shall be asking your lordship to allow us to withdraw our appearance.” The development forced the Justice Danladi Umar-led tribunal to adjourn the trial till November 19, 2015 to enable Saraki to engage new lawyers that would defend him in the case after the tribunal chairman declared that the action of the defense lawyers “smacks of disrespect to the tribunal.” A two-to-one split decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja had on October 30 dismissed Saraki’s appeal against the competence of the tribunal and the charges against him comprising 13 counts of false declaration of assets while he was the Kwara State governor in 2003. While dismissing the defense team’s request for further adjournment on Thursday, the chairman of the tribunal, in a ruling, held that Section 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice (ACJ) Act had prohibited the tribunal from entertaining application for stay of proceedings, regardless of whether it was filed

before the trial court or a higher court. “It is an obvious fact that where a counsel wants to stay proceedings pending before a lower court, he/she promptly rushes to a higher court to stay the proceedings before the lower court. That is the same with what has happened in this case,” he said. He also cited the provisions of Section 305 of the ACJ

It is an obvious fact that where a counsel wants to stay proceedings pending before a lower court, he/she promptly rushes to a higher court to stay the proceedings before the lower court. That is the same with what has happened in this case

SERAP calls for lawyers probe The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) immediately after the walkout on Thursday called on the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to “urgently investigate the conduct of lawyers to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, for walking out on the CCT after the tribunal refused their application for stay of proceedings. According to SERAP, “It is the role of Sakari’s lawyers to serve their client’s best interest but in doing so they should not act in a manner that would put the administration of justice and the society’s confidence in the judicial system and the fight against corruption at risk. “Walking out on the Code of Conduct Tribunal for simply and correctly applying section 305(e) of the newly enacted Administration of Criminal Justice Act is disrespectful. It offends the basic rule that lawyers should act with integrity and professionalism, maintaining his or her overarching responsibility to ensure civil conduct. SERAP believes that a lawyer’s duty to the court is a fundamental obligation that defines a lawyer’s role within the adversarial system. Lawyers should at all time, act to promote the rule of law and the public’s confidence in the administration of justice and not to be seen to undermine it or facilitate an infringement of the law. “If at all Saraki’s lawyers are dissatisfied with the ruling of the Tribunal there are laid down processes that they should have followed to demonstrate their role as officers in the temple of justice rather than granting media interviews and literally abusing the Tribunal. We urge the NBA to urgently investigate what exactly happened and to punish any professional misconduct that may have occurred.” NBA to commence probe After series of calls for the body to take a stand, The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Friday said it would investigate the action of the senior counsel who represented the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday. The NBA General Secretary, Afam Osigwe, stated that the association would undertake the investigation to ascertain facts of what transpired at the tribunal before taking a position. “We got different accounts in the media and would need the correct details to allow Continues pg36

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Saraki and the CCT jamboree Continued from pg35

the NBA to react from an informed position. From the accounts we got through the media some said the lawyers walked out while others said they withdrew. “So, due to the inconsistent choice of words, we cannot speak on the matter until we get the full and accurate details,’’ he said. We didn’t walk out on tribunal As the walkout becomes a major issue, the legal team of Senator Bukola Saraki publicly denied that they staged a walkout on the CCT to protest tribunal’s unwillingness to adjourn trial. Speaking on behalf of the defense team, Ahmed Raji (SAN), in a statement claimed that they only sought permission to leave the tribunal pending determination of issues at the Supreme Court, adding that the tribunal chairman granted the request. He further denied that he used the word “judicial rascality”, explaining that he had utmost respect for the tribunal. “It is therefore not true that I walked out on the Code of Conduct Tribunal or described the tribunal’s actions as “judicial rascality” as widely reported. This press release is made for record purpose,” he said. Lawyers speak

Though some lawyers saw nothing wrong in the walkout, many that spoke with Tribune Law condemned the “walkout” by the senior counsels calling it a “disgrace to the bar’’ and blaming the judge for not taking appropriate action to charge them for contempt. To them, the walkout was unethical and political. A lawyer Nnanna Oketa was quoted to say, “The truth is that what transpired at the Code of Conduct Tribunal is to say the least degrading of our profession; it was terrible and should not be associated with lawyers. “Lawyers are expected to conduct themselves appropriately with the highest level of decorum when they are in court. That is not how we are trained and we hope that does not happen again. The truth is that, if your prayer is not granted by the court, there is a window of appeal if you are not comfortable with the ruling of the court “What they have done is a violation of Section 30 of the Rules for Professional Conduct for Legal Practitioners 2007 as amended. With due respect to the learned seniors, they should know that notice of appeal does not constitute a stay in the hearing of a trial before a court,” he said. Shuaib Alaran “It was wrong for them to have walked

out. It was disrespect to the tribunal, and to the profession itself. The lawyers can be reported to the Disciplinary Committee of the NBA for professional misconduct. They may be derobed if found guilty. By Section 305 and 306 of the Administration of Criminal Justice, Act, 2015, the CCT has the discretion to either stay proceedings or continue with its proceedings if an appeal is pending before the Court of Appeal or the Supreme Court. So, the CCT was right to have chosen to continue its proceedings in the circumstances of this case, and the way out was not to stage a walk-out.” Dave Ajetomobi (former Chairman, Ikeja NBA) It is unprofessional for them to walk out on the court without permission. Petition could be sent to Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of NBA (LPDC) to discipline such lawyers. Barrister Osuagwu Ugochukwu Their conduct is against the Rules of Professional Conduct that you must show respect to Courts and Judges as Lawyers. I expect them to be sanctioned but then who will sanction them when they are the so called SANs? I learnt the leader of the team of Saraki is even the Chairman of Legal

Practitioners Disciplinary Committee of NBA. What a shame. Barrister Taoheed Asundemade It is allowed in law for Saraki’s lawyers to walk out after withdrawing their appearance for a particular client. This is not strange to the judge or lawyers; it is only strange to the massed. What happened was that they needed an adjournment and did not want the matter to go on. The court was not going to give an adjournment, so they used the next available trick in law. They knew the trial could not proceed in their absence in the interest of fair hearing and they got the desired result. Saraki knew about the plan, they wouldn’t do that without a prior plan. Barrister Ikechukwu Ikeji A lawyer has a right to withdraw his services and appearance in a case. They merely may have exercised that right. Many lawyers have expressed their views and the more popular belief is that the Senior Advocates and their team erred and the fallout of the fallout for now is still unpredictable. The only thing that is sure is that this is just the beginning of a more explosive drama.

Taraba governorship election petition tribunal verdict: Lawyers react By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

ince the election petition tribunals started sitting across the country few months back, there had been various shocking verdicts. But the one that seems to be ground shaking is the ruling given by the Taraba state Election Petitions Tribunal on Saturday. The Tribunal sitting in Abuja nullified the election of the state Governor, Darius Ishaku of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and declared the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Alhaja Aisha Alhassan, (popularly known as Mama Taraba on social media), who is also a Minister designate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the winner of April 11, 2015 gubernatorial election. Alhassan who in April was initially thought to be the winner by many as she had an early lead, contested her loss at the tribunal and after all arguments, the tribunal Chairman, Justice Musa Abubakar, had on October 7 reserved judgment indefinitely after hearing the final submissions of the counsels. In his judgment, Justice Abubakar held that Ishaku of the PDP was not qualified to contest for the April 11 governorship election because he was not properly nominated to contest on the platform of the party. The tribunal added that the inability of the PDP to conduct primary for Taraba State governorship election in line with Section 177 of Nigeria’s Constitution by conducting the December 11, 2014 primary in Abuja instead of Jalingo without giving explanation to the Independent National Electoral Commission has nullified their candidacy in the election. The tribunal further held that all votes cast to the governor on April 11 were wasted and declared Alhassan, who scored the next highest votes, winner of the election and ordered INEC to immediately withdraw the certificate of return issued to the governor and issue a fresh one to Alhassan. Though the tribunal dismissed the allegations by Alhassan and her party, the APC, that the April 11 election was marred by over-voting ýas the number of votes recorded during the election was more than the number of voters accredited by card reader. The tribunal held that mere reliance on accreditation using card reader was not sufficient to prove over-voting. The tribunal had earlier dismissed the four notices of preliminary objections filed by the respondents which challenged the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the locus standi of the petitioners to file the petition. The next step in the matter is an application at the Appeal Court to contest the judgment of the tribunal and later the Supreme Court since records reflect a trend that indicates that none of the parties in election petitions are satisfied until all options are explored and the PDP candidate has

vowed that the matter is far from concluded. Governor Darius Ishaku has promised to appeal the verdict because of his strong belief that the Court of Appeal would reverse the judgment and give him back his victory. The verdict is however being trailed by mixed reactions even among lawyers. While APC and Mama Taraba’s supporters are celebrating, describing the verdict of the tribunal as a victory for democracy, there are strong criticisms in the Governor’s camp. A former Senator representing Taraba Central Senatorial District stated that the ruling has given hope and confidence to the common man about the judicial system while the PDP Public Relations Officer in the state, Napoleon Adamu, stated that people in the state should accept the verdict and cooperate with the winner. But Gibeon Kataps, former Secretary to the Taraba State Government, said Ishaku remains the Governor until the determination of the case at the Court of Appeal while Hariman Bovoa, the National President of Mambilla Youth Progressive Association, described the tribunal verdict as biased. Also, the PDP described the verdict as “another evidence of executive interference” in the judiciary, adding that the reason given by the tribunal for arriving at what it termed a bizarre decision exposed contradictions and double standards inherent in most tribunal rulings while the Senior Special Adviser on Media to the Taraba state Government described the verdict as a rape on democracy and judicial rascality. Lawyers have also reacted to the judgment; with majority expressing the view that since the PDP contravened the constitution, the tribunal took the right decision. Though Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has a contrary view and pointed out that there are a lot of loopholes that could be explored at the Appeal Court. Barrister Shuaib Alaran I have not had the opportunity of reading the tribunal’s judgment in full, but from the media reports, I think I will disagree with the consequential order of the tribunal that since the sitting Governor was not validly nominated by his party, the candidate who scored the second highest votes becomes the winner of the election. To my mind, I think the appropriate order of the tribunal should have been the one calling for a fresh election with the exclusion of the PDP. My reliance is on Section 140(2) and (3). By virtue of those provisions, where the tribunal finds that a candidate who won in an election was not validly nominated by his party, the proper order is to direct the INEC to conduct a fresh election. The tribunal will only declare the person with the second highest votes winner, where it is established that the winner did not actually score the highest number of votes in

Aisha Alhassan the election. It could however be argued anyway that since the sitting Governor did not participate in the election in the eyes of the law consequent upon his invalid nomination, he wouldn’t have been seen to have scored the highest number of votes in the election that he did not contest and therefore the proper order will be to declare the second highest scorer the winner. This is the beauty of interpretation in the legal profession. At any rate, we have to wait to hear from the higher courts for their own interpretation. Barrister Taoheed Asudemade In law, you cannot place something on nothing. And if he is not legally nominated, his candidacy is not valid. The law will not recognize him as taking part in the election. He was not a candidate. So the first runner up will be declared winner. Barrister Dave Ajetomobi A person not validly nominated cannot stand in election; that means he was technically not in that election. It is fundamental. It means in the eyes of the law, he was not a candidate in that election. As such, his votes did not count because he was not a candidate. Barrister Ugochukwu Osuagwu If the ground for the annulment is that he was not validly nominated, it should be a pre election matter which the election tribunal has no jurisdiction over. The judgment must be wrong if that is the reason. But then he has a right of appeal and he remains Governor if he files an appeal.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

features

Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 081 118 450 48

Egoism is bane of Africa’s traditional institutions —Oba Akinruntan

Oba (Dr) Frederick Obateru Akinruntan is the paramount ruler and prescribed authority of Ugboland in Ondo State. He is also the chairman of the Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee. An oil magnate, he was declared in March 2014 by the Forbes magazine as the second richest king in Africa and the richest in Nigeria. While celebrating his sixth coronation anniversary, he tells a group of journalists about the journey so far. KEHINDE OYETIMI presents excerpts.

large percentage of the public largely recognise you as a billionaire oil magnate but today you have transformed to a first class traditional ruler. How has the transition been from the corporate world to the throne? The transition was not very easy. There were many challenges. I learnt very early in life that life itself is the summary of challenges. From birth to the grave, man is faced with many shades of challenges but God has been standing by me. It has also been a call to service. I won’t say that I left the corporate world entirely because I am still very relevant but I will say that I have trained very capable hands both locally and internationally. These are senior managers who are doing significantly well. I must equally add that the call to the throne of my forefathers is one that can be summarised as a call to duty. It is not

It is not enough to say that a person loves his country, ethnic stock or community; there must be a clear willingness to make sacrifices. It is about service; it is about selflessness.

enough to say that a person loves his country, ethnic stock or community; there must be a clear willingness to make sacrifices. It is about service; it is about selflessness. This realisation has been a guiding philosophy for me all through. I am glad that if there is anything that I will be remembered for, it is that I contributed positively to the development of mankind. This month marks your sixth year on the throne as a monarch. In your estimation, what have you been able to achieve as regards the areas under your traditional supervision? When I came in, Ugbo was in disarray. There was disunity among our people; there was also unrest. Many of our people were unhappy because of the situation back at home. It was quite sad and that became a major challenge for me. There were about six or seven associations that were pitched

one against the other. This disunity affected development in a significant way and it became difficult for the kingdom to find itself placed properly in the comity of its peers. Ugbo was also cut off. Then, I decided to take a serious look at the way things were and to place them side by side with the way things should be. I connected Ugbo to other communities. I prioritised peace. I realise that without peace, progress and development would be difficult to accomplish. I initiated the process of reconciling the various warring associations. Remarkably, that initiative worked. Today, there is peace and progress has been on a steady increase. I must also mention that I looked into the set-up of the chiefs. I was not really satisfied with what I saw. I didn’t like their public comportment. I had to re-orientate them. This included their mode of dressing and Continues on pg38

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‘What my present status

took from me’ Continues from pg37

their general outlook to life. Today, they are the better for it. They really appreciate all these, especially the realisation that a civilised monarch had come for their good. I have said it on several platforms that I am number one monarch in Yoruba land. My people are number one. People played a lot of politics with this because of our terrain. At a time in the history of my people, it was difficult for the outside world to access this place. People could only come here by boat. Those days, people travelled for two days before getting here from Lagos. But today, we thank the present governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko for helping us in opening this area. Personally, after ascending the throne, I introduced medical services here. We have a mobile boat clinic which moves around the riverine area taking care of our people. I also have a foundation that caters to other needs of our people. It is a known fact that our people here are largely involved in fishery. That, of course, is environmentally conditioned. I decided to get speed boats for them to help them improve on their trade. Also, I have a foundation which takes care of scholarship for our people here. This goes from primary to secondary straight to the university. In fact, I went as far as sponsoring any of our indigenes who show interest in pursuing PhD in any academic endeavor. Quarterly, we gather our young ones and

ask them to produce their academic qualifications. I do this to secure lucrative jobs for them. I had to change their mode of thinking. I am fighting inferiority complex here. I must tell you that I am winning the war. How much has changed in your lifestyle since you became a monarch? The throne has changed my life in many significant ways. I used to dance to hip-hop but I can’t do that anymore because of my status as a monarch. I used to dance to Sunny Ade’s music and even Ebenezer Obey’s music. I did that a lot in the public. But I can’t do that today. I miss dancing. Also, since I became a monarch, I can’t eat freely with my friends. I used to stop to purchase roasted plantain and groundnut by the roadside. Then, I was able to select the roasted plantain that appealed to me. Even though I am forced to send my aides, they usually do not purchase what appeals to me.

In March 2014, Forbes estimated your net worth as US$300 million. You were ranked as the second richest king in Africa behind Mohammed VI of Morocco and the richest in Nigeria. With all this, you are adjudged as quite humble. How did you achieve this? From a very tender age, my father taught me to respect elders. He hated disrespect. He would beat us up if he saw any traces of it. Such attitude, therefore, became part of me. My father was very accommodating. He

never discriminated. The Bible repeatedly emphasises that all human acquisitions in life are vanity. The only thing that continues to be remembered after death has taken one away can only be found in the fond memories that people have. I don’t regard myself as bigger than any other person. All I have today came from God. I believe that being philanthropic is encouraged by God. I am a Christian. The word of God states clearly that whosoever gives will be given and whoever withholds that which should not be held will not be blessed. Such illustrations abound in the Bible. This also holds true in other religions. All that are written in the Bible are true and real. I love to help people. Different areas in Nigeria pose different challenges and lack. What do you want the Federal Government to do for the communities under you? We need a higher institution with a federal status here in Ilaje. We also want polytechnics that are well equipped. These, I believe, will help to grow the educational wellbeing of my people. We have many health centres here but we need a well equipped hospital here. Where do you see your kingdom ten years from now? What are your projections? I am confident that we would have made more significant progress. We are reaching out to fellow indigenes of this place to come and

settle down here and also invest. It is important. I lived in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, for over 50 years but Ilaje Ugbo is my home. I am proud. I have invested so much here and I am still doing so. My palace is one of the best palaces in the world today. I have re-defined monarchy in terms of wealth and majesty. As chairman of the Yoruba Obas Conflict Resolution Committee, how much successes have you recorded and what are the challenges? There is harmony among Yoruba obas (kings) now. Unlike what used to obtain, you don’t read about Yoruba monarchs quarreling on the pages of the newspapers anymore. There is no segregation among us. We have become very orderly in dealings among us. I came to realise that egoism has been the bane of Africa’s traditional institutions. We are addressing this significantly well among us. It has been observed that you move around with a huge convoy. Why is this so? Since I am number one monarch in the South West, my convoy must be special. I am a unique monarch. I have about 250 communities under my traditional supervision. These communities have heads. Interestingly, they like to travel with me wherever I go. Here in your palace, you have many aides. How much do you spend in the maintenance of your palace aides? I have about 100 security men who run different shifts. I have other aides. I spend millions of naira in maintaining my palace. How do you relax? I ensure that I rest for two hours each day. I exercise every morning before talking to anybody. Often, I sit for about ten hours attending to people. There are times that I forget to eat.

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Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Scheming to influence posting won’t be tolerated any longer —Customs boss Adelowo Oladipo-Minna

OMPTROLLERGeneral of the Nigeria Customs Service, Colonel Hammed Ali (retd) has stated that he will not tolerate any scheming by officers and men of the service to influence their postings to lucrative beats across the country. He stated this in Minna the headquarters of Niger, Kwara and Kogi Area command of the service on Monday, while addressing personnel of the service, during his familiarisation visit to the area command. Ali stated further that the Nigeria Customs Service had stopped posting of personnel backed by senior officers and others who encouraged such personnel for selfish reasons, depending on such duty posts. “I will not tolerate anybody coming for his postings. If your godfather or godmother comes to influence me for postings, you are on your way out of the service. “No more godfather in the posting of the Nigeria Customs Service personnel, I urge you all to desist from such act capable of bringing the service to disrepute. “The customs know where you can put in your best in any part of the country , so we will post you there instead of where you will be loyal to

somebody to the detriment of the service,’’ Ali said. He also expressed dissatisfaction at a situation whereby personnel of the

service were loyal to senior officers or individuals who influenced their postings, thereby causing shortfall in the revenue generation

target of the service. He explained further that such attitude was detrimental to good service delivery in the customs

Former Senate leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba (right); former secretary to Cross River State Government, Chief Johnson Ebokpo (middle) and other APC officials, during his visit to APC secretariat in Calabar, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Ndoma-Egba, ex-Senate leader, joins APC Anthony Ubong-Calabar

AFTER several months of speculations, former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, has formally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ndoma Egba, who represented Cross River Central in the seventh Senate, was until

now a chieftain and founding member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State. He had two months ago, announced his resignation from the PDP, citing impunity and arrogance in the PDP as reasons for his resignation. Speaking at the APC secretariat in Calabar, on Monday,

the former Senate Leader said: “I came to reciprocate the various courtesy calls paid to me by the chapter chairmen of the APC from the ward level to the national organ of the party and to tell you that I want to formally join the APC family . “For a long time, it was said that Cross River State was a one party state. For a long

Appeal Court dismisses case against Ondo PDP lawmaker Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

COURT of Appeal sitting in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on Monday, upheld the victory of the House of Representatives member representing Okitipupa/ Irele Federal constituency, Honourable Mike Omogbehin. Omogbehin, who was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the March 28, 2015 election was dragged before the court by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Victor Akinmoyero, alleging irregularities in the election. The court led by Justice Muheed Owoaade, on Monday, dismissed the appeal filed by Akinmoyero on the ground that the petitioner failed to tender credible documentary evidence and lack of merit. The Appeal Court upheld the decision of the lower court which also dismissed the initial petitions filed by the APC candidate. Justice Owoaade held that

as Federal Government’s revenue was being diverted into private coffers to satisfy personnel and their godfathers.

the appellant Akinmoyero failed to call enough witness to prove his allegation of over voting, saying that the petitioner only relied on hearsay. The appellate court also stated that the APC candidate dumped unreliable documents before the court and presented unreliable evidences in his appeal.

The three-man panel, however, upheld the decision of the tribunal and pronounced that the PDP lawmaker, Prince Omogbehin was duly elected while the APC candidate was fined N30,000. Reacting to the judgement, counsel to Omogbehin, Mr Remi Olatubora, described the decision of the court as a true reflection of the law

while the APC counsel, Dr Tunji Abayomi faulted the decision of the judges on the verdict. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Omogbehin expressed satisfaction over the decision of the court, saying the victory would enable him to concentrate and to give quality representation to the people of his constituency.

time it was, but it is no longer tenable today, because from the action of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who created a large pool of IDPs (Internally Displaced Politicians) who still have political life in them and must continue in politics. So the IDPs must find a platform to carry on with their politics. “As we continue consultations with you I want to assure you that we are aware the party has a constitution and we must be bound by it. We want to come to the party with values of integrity, fair competition and a level playing ground. “ We want to come when we come to join you offer the people of Cross River State a choice since a one party state is no longer tenable. Our desire is to be able to give the people of the state a choice because politics is about choices and we can no longer continue with this mantra of one party state.”

Olopoenia kicks against Folarin’s membership of PDP national conference committee By Nurudeen Alimi

INITIATOR of the Reformed Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Oyo State, Alhaji Adebisi Olopoenia, has kicked against the inclusion of the party’s standard-bearer in the last governorship election in the state, Senator Teslim Folarin as member of the party’s national conference committee. The committee, which was inaugurated at the party’s secretariat at Wadata Pla-

za, Abuja, on Friday, was chaired by Chief Raymond Dokpesi. The 53-man committee is saddled with the responsibility to rebrand and refocus the party for the 2019 general elections. Part of the obligations of the committee included organisation of stakeholders conference with participants from the six geopolitical zones of the country. Olopoenia, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday, however,

noted that the inclusion of Senator Folarin would not bring fortune to the party as far as Oyo State is concerned. “I still don’t understand the rationale behind the selection of Senator Folarin as member of this said committee. If we truly want to rebrand PDP in Oyo State, there is the need for the leadership of the party to look inwards to pick another representative from Oyo State.

Senator Teslim Folarin. We recall he contested the governorship election in April and he came fourth and that alone showed that his relevance is on the lower side.” When contacted, the former Senate Leader said: “Everybody has the right to his or her personal opinion, As far as I am concerned, this is an individual opinion, So I don’t have any objection to the opinion of an individual.”

Delta partners DFID to boost agricultural sector Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba

DEPARTMENT for International Development (DFID) is set to partner with the Delta State government in the area of agricultural development. At a meeting held with the officials of the DFID in Asaba, on Monday, Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, stated that the agricultural sector was a sure way of boosting the state’s internally generated revenue, as well as create job opportunities for the teeming youths in the state. According to him, “The Delta State government believes strongly that agriculture is the right way to go to create wealth and jobs for our people, as well as bring about development to the state because our first duty to our people is wealth creation and that can be achieved through agriculture.” Governor Okowa said the development of agro-based industries would go a long way in aiding the processing of farm produce, adding that production of produce alone would not be enough to fully develop the agricultural sector.

‘Give peace a chance to attract investors’ Alphonsus Agborh-Asaba

DELTA State governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa has pleaded with the people of Delta to give peace a chance in order to attract investors into the state, noting that security of lives and property are key elements to win investors’ confidence. The Governor, who spoke when Elders and Leaders of Delta South Senatorial District paid him a solidarity cum ‘thank you’ visit at the Government House, Asaba, on Monday, expressed joy that the Gas City project in the state was ongoing as a result of the prevailing peace in the area, even as the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) assured that the project would see the light of the day. The Governor noted that given the dwindling revenue from oil, it was important to boost investors’ confidence to enable them to come to the state to shore up its revenue base. He added that a highpowered committee which comprised his deputy Mr Kingsley Otuaro as chairman, would organise a security summit in the nearest future.

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Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Nasarawa lawmakers relocate venue of sitting over insecurity

Ekiti traders demand facilities at new locations •As govt calls for calm

Ademola Adegbite-Lafia

Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

Traders displaced at the demolished Oja Oba Market in Ado Ekiti have demanded provision and upgrade of facilities at the new locations in Awedele and Agric Olope areas where they were moved to by the state government. In June 2015, the state government had instructed the traders to move from the Oja Oba that was demolished on Saturday, to the new locations, but the traders lamented that some of them were stranded in the new locations because they could get neither shops nor spaces, after the demolition. The traders, who spoke through the Iyaloja of Ado Ekiti, Chief Waye Osho, complained about lack of spaces, security and good road networks among others at the Agic Olope market built by the government of Dr Kayode Fayemi, and pleaded with the government to urgently do something about the new locations. However, Commissioner for Information, Mr Lanre Ogunsuyi, while reacting to the development, said the current discomfort at the new locations were “normal” and would soon be overcome. According to Ogunsuyi, “changes naturally have their own inconvenience and we urge the traders to bear with the government.” Ogunsuyi said “it is practically impossible for government to be putting all the facilities needed at the new markets, while also thinking of how to build the demolished market to modern structures, in view of the parlous economic status of the state.”

Governor Ayodele Fayose at Awedele market, Ado Ekiti, serving himself a delicacy, Asun, after a visit to traders, who relocated from the demolished Oja Oba as well as inspection of level of work done on Awedele road dualisation, on Monday.

NJC must probe Taraba tribunal judgment, Fayose insists Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

overnor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has called on the National Judicial Council (NJC) to probe the Taraba State governorship election tribunal judgment that sacked Governor Darius Ishaku of the state. Governor Fayose, who described the judgment as ‘judicial rascality’ in a statement on Monday, said “such conspiracy displayed in Taraba State must not be allowed to go unquestioned.” In the statement by his assistant on Public Communications and New Media, Mr Lere Olayinka, Fayose said, “from the Taraba State judgment and others involv-

ing the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it appeared there were different laws being applied to similar cases by the election tribunal.” The governor said, “even when a judge has to exercise his discretion in a matter before him, such discretion must be exercised judicially and judiciously.” He said: “Instead of calling for Fayose’s head that they can never get, the judiciary must in the interest of democracy and rule of law purge itself of cash and carry judges that are daily giving tainted and contradictory judgments.” The governor, who said even though parties to the case have the option of appeal up to the Supreme Court, added that those who truncated democracy in Nigeria

Members of the public who have suffered brutality and victimisation in the hands of the police would soon heave a sigh of relief as the Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase has approved the setting up of a Complaint Response Unit (CRU). The operations of the squad which will be launched on Friday by the IGP, will promptly investigate cases of police professional misconduct in the cause of their duty. Briefing the media on the objective of the unit

PDP,” Fayose wondered “why the commission did not raise any objection to Governor Ishaku’s participation in the election, when his name was submitted as PDP candidate, only for the commission to now cook up report against the PDP at the tribunal. “There are serving governors and senators in this country, who took part in the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential primary election. After failing to pick the APC presidential ticket, their names surfaced as gubernatorial and senatorial candidates of APC in their respective states. Can INEC tell Nigerians when it took part in the process that produced those senators and governors as APC candidates?,” he queried.

Okere-Urhobo crisis: Group urges IGP to ignore petitions against DPO Jacob Segun OlatunjiAbuja

A Rights Group under the umbrella of Warri Urban Security Network (WUSN) in Delta State, at the week-

end, urged the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr Solomon Arase to ignore the various fictitious petitions being written against

IGP sets up unit to urgently address police brutality Chris Agbambu-Abuja

through military coup must not be allowed to truncate democracy again through manipulation of a section of the judiciary and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). He said: “There are no gods in the judiciary and if Ghana, a smaller country could suspend 22 judges over bribery allegation and probed 12 others, the NJC must not play ostrich to these judgments being delivered by tribunal judges. “Those judges, who gave the Taraba State judgment, which is totally against the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the one in Yobe State must be investigated by the NJC.” While also accusing INEC of allegedly “being part of the conspiracy against the

in Abuja, on Monday, the officer in charge, CSP Abayomi, said that the effort is aimed at winning public trust and confidence as police forces all over the world are becoming more open to the citizens and the public, which they serve through being more accountable He lamented that most victims of brutality in the hands of the police shy away from reporting such cases, for fear of reprisal but assured that the new unit will be a different ball game According to him, “in embracing the advantages provided by modern day

technology as being used by other police forces across the world, IGP Solomon Arase has approved the establishment of a community oriented complaint management system to be known as (CRU) for the Nigerian Police”. The new unit, Shogunle disclosed would be composed of detectives from all over the federation, investigators, Provost departments, while every police station will have an officer from CRU attached to it to treat injustices meted out to Nigerians by the police and report back to force headquarters within 24 hours.

the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of the ‘B’ Division, Warri, of the State Police Command, CSP Anietie Eyoh calling for his removal for no reason. The state coordinator and secretary, Nnamdi Ukaegwu and Frank Ogbalor, respectively in a statement made available to Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, urged the Police boss to discountenance with such petitions against the person of the DPO, saying the DPO actually deserves recognition from the police high command, “for his gallant performances since assumption of office.” The Group declared that the allegations against him were “concocted by some mischievous individuals who had tried but could not penetrate him to do their bidding in oppressing

some perceived opponents in the community, so as to gain undue advantage.” The body, which is a security awareness stakeholder group, comprising both indigenes and nonindigenes, cutting across various professional bodies, businessmen, artisans, market men and women, traders, students and landlords told the police boss that the refusal of the DPO to connive with some people interested in the chieftancy tussle in Okere-Urhobo community prompted the people to be calling for his removal. According the group, “on assumption of duty in the area, our DPO has brought a new lease of life to the people in terms of effective policing that has guaranteed safety of lives and property irrespective of ethnic, religious or political bias.”

THE Nasarawa State House of Assembly adhoc committee, investigating the alleged irregularities in the just concluded 2015/2016 admission of the Nasarawa State University, Keffi, on Monday, has relocated to Lafia from Keffi over the security threat on the lives of its members. Its Chairman, Honourable Daniel Ogazi, representing the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Kokona East constituency, told newsmen in Lafia, the state capital, when the Registrar, Alhaji Dalhatu Mamman led other top echelons of the institution before the committee. According to him, “we decided to change the sitting venue from Keffi to this Assembly complex because since we commenced our investigation, I was attacked by armed men and my car was snatched and even threat messages have been sent to the phones of the members of this committee.

Police ex-officers want stoppage of pension payment by PENCOM Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

THE retired Police officers in Kogi State on Monday pleaded with the Federal Government to remove the disbursement of their pension from the Pension Commission (PENCOM) because of the difficulties being faced before they could access their money. The people lamented that they had been made to face unbearable conditions since PENCOM started the payment of their pension and therefore appealed to the Federal Government and relevant authorities to immediately remove their pension payment away from PENCOM. The spokesperson of the people, Alexander Yusuf, told newsmen in Lokoja, the state capital that they were being shortchanged in the payment of their pension, regretting the unbearable burden of the Contributory Pension Scheme. According to him, the members of the group decided to cry out for help because of the indiscriminate reduction in their pension in recent time.

news Okorocha to meet with South-East govs

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

As MASSOB grounds Aba From Joe Nwachukwu and Celestine Ihejirika

o v e rnor Okorocha of Imo State and chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum will meet with other governors in the South-East, the leadership of Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, and other stakeholders in the geo-political zone to talk and agree on how to check the activities of proBiafra groups in the area. The meeting is expected to take place this weekend in Owerri, the Imo State capital. Already the governor has begun to make all the necessary contacts to ensure that all those expected to be at the meeting, would be in attendance. Okorocha had earlier, while taking exception to the pro-Biafra violent protests in some of the SouthEast states and few other neighbouring states, dissociated the governors and leaders in the South-East states from the MASSOB protest, describing the whole exercise as embarrassing, disturbing, counter-productive and to a large extent, distracting. According to him, the proBiafra protests could not be in the interest of the SouthEast people, but were only sending wrong signals to the rest of Nigerians; adding that it has become increasingly necessary for the governors in the zone, Ohaneze leaders and other stakeholders in the area to meet, to call a spade, a spade. It is also expected that at the end of the Owerri meeting, the governors and other leaders will take a common position and will also invite the leaders of the pro-Biafra groups for a meeting, to let them know the socio-economic and political implications of their activities, including their demand for sovereignty in a united Nigeria. Meanwhile, the governor had also met with the security chiefs in the state on how to ensure that the pro-Biafra protests across the South-East states at the moment won’t be experienced in Imo State. The governor has also been meeting with certain categories of the citizenry in the state that may have the temptation of joining the pro-Biafra protest to let them know the futility of such action. Following pro Biafra protests, commercial activities in the city of Aba have been grounded, in spite of the show of strength of the combined team of security agencies in the state. This was contrary to

claims by Abia State government that the state and the city of Aba in particular, had been peaceful in the face of the call by Move-

ment for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) for protest against the continued detention of the Director of

Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu. Abia State government had issued a statement through the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Godwin

Adindu, in which it lauded Aba residents for resisting the call to partake in the protests, saying that the state was calm and peaceful.

Women protesting at Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Idi-Ayunre, Ibadan, on Monday. Photo: Alolade Ganiyu

CRIN workers protest half naked, insist on director’s removal By Tunde Ogunesan The lingering industrial crisis rocking the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Idi-Ayunre, in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, took another dimension on Monday morning as hundreds of workers right in front of the entrance of the institute again, protested against the institute’s executive director, Professor Malachy Akoroda’s alleged mal-administration. The women, who were half naked, wearing only bras and underwear skirts, were joined by their male counterparts, chanting antimanagement songs. The presence of heavy security, mounted by police officers from the state command, rather than deter them, strengthened them the more in their agitation. The semi-nude posture of the women drew more attention to the community and passers bye who were stunned by the various colours of the bras, naked tummies and reflections of butts, while some people could not look at them twice. The workers also barricaded the main entrance of the institute with loads of sand and logs of wood hangers where they inscribed various inscriptions, which reflected their mood. Some of the inscriptions on their placards read: “Federal Government come to our aid before Akoroda kills us,” “CRIN workers don’t want CRIN dead,” “Akoroda introduced divide and misrule,” “Akoroda full

of injustice, staff promotion becomes bargain,” “Akoroda must go,” “Akoroda is gone,” among others. They were also supported by some community leaders and youths who shared their feelings and joined them in their demands. The protesting workers, whose ego was triggered by the arrival of the police armed with a pay loader to remove the barricades, also accused the Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, of conniving with the institute’s director to suppress their demands for their right. But in a paper jointly signed by Chief Yekeen

Ogunyode, the Baale of Odo Ona nla, and Comrade Solomon Adebiyi read: “We, the entire workers of the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan and members of the host communities decried and condemned in entirety, the decision of the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, to use brutal force to suppress and repress the ongoing legitimate agitation of CRIN workers against the years of despotic and draconian rule of Professor Malachy O. Akoroda, the executive director of the institute.” But the Area commander of Idi Ayunre Police com-

mand, who led officers to the scene of the protest, said they were at the scene to maintain peace and order, “we are aware of their agitation, but it is our duty to ensure their protest did not turn violent.” Oyo PPRO, Adekunle Ajisebutu said the Commissioner of Police had on November 6 held a meeting with the warring factions in order to find a lasting peace to the lingering crisis. “While appealing to the warring parties to turn their swords into plowshares, the Police boss warned them against indulging in any acts capable of causing breach of peace.”

Go ahead and probe Suswam, court orders judicial commission Johnson Babajide - Makurdi Benue State High court, sitting in Makurdi, has vacated an order restraining the Judicial Commission of Inquiry and Administrative Commission of Inquiry from probing former governor, Dr Gabriel Suswam. Justice Adam Onum, who delivered judgment on the case filed by the former governor, ordered that the commission resume sitting with immediate effect. The state Chief Judge, Justice Iorhem Hwande, had on October 12 ordered a stay of proceedings on the commission following the former governor’s pending suit. In his judgment, Onum stated that the commission had the right to issue letter

of summon on individuals, but agreed with the applicant that the commission is not vested with the power to issue warrant of arrest on anyone. The former governor had dragged Governor Samuel Ortom and the commission to court by way of exparte application, asking the court to disband and set aside the Administrative Commission of Inquiry and the Judicial Commission of Inquiry. In his suit, Suswam had insisted that the commission was incapable of exercising judicial powers and lacked constitutional powers to investigate or adjudicate upon the issues submitted to it for inquiry, adding that the commission was set up to witch hunt

and smear his public name and destroy his legacy. He deposed in the application that he ran a transparent administration and rendered periodic account of his stewardship to the state throughout his eight years in office, argued that the resources of the state were judiciously used and the impact was visible all over the state. The former governor therefore prayed the court to grant his application to quash the commission. While reacting to the judgment, Governor Ortom commended judiciary and submitted that the probe panel was not intended to witch hunt anybody but to ascertain how monies accrued to the state were expended.

Wike swears in 20 LG caretaker committee chairmen Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has admonished the newly sworn in 20 local government caretaker committee chairmen in the state to focus on the improvement of security and enhancement of environmental sanitation. According to a statement issued by his special assistant on media, Mr Simeon Nwakaudu, the governor gave the admonition during the swearing-in of the council chairmen at the Government House, on Monday. Governor Wike, in the statement, said he would not hesitate to sack any caretaker committee chairman who failed to improve security and enhance environmental sanitation in their respective councils. “The carataker chairmen have two basic functions, namely: security and environmental sanitation. You are not expected to embark on construction work within these three months. Improve security in your localities,” he said.

Eneji, former Cross River deputy governor, dies Dr Walter Eneji, former Deputy Governor of Cross River is dead. Mr Christian Ita, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River, who confirmed the death of Eneji, said his family members had informed the government. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the deceased, served under former Governor Donald Duke from February 2003 to May 2007 after the impeachment of the then deputy governor, late Chief John Okpa. The late Eneji was reported to have died in his sleep while recuperating from a prolonged sickness. The deceased contested the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship primaries ahead of the 2007 election, but lost to the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Liyel Imoke. His death is coming on the hills of the preparation for the burial of yet another deputy governor, Dr Matthias Ofoboche, who died three weeks ago. Late Ofoboche was deputy governor to late Chief Clement Isong in 1979. The CPS to Governor Ayade expressed regret that Eneji’s death came at the time the state was planning for Ofoboche’s burial.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015 42 news Ajimobi Civil society groups protest over Edo land use law to deliver Banji Aluko-Benin City

ommercial activities in parts of Benin metropolis were grounded on Monday, following a protest embarked upon by collation of civil society groups in Edo State under the aegis of Joint Action Force (JAF). The protesters were protesting the implementation

of the Land Use Charge Law that was signed into law in November, 2012, and some other policies of the Edo State government they described as anti-people. They first gathered at the Human Rights House located at Ikpoba Slope, from where they marched through Akpakpava Road and to the Edo State House

of Assembly at the Oba’s Square. They were received by the lawmaker representing Oredo West, Chris Okaeben, who assured them that the House would look into the law once again so as to avoid confrontation between the people and the government. At the Edo Government House, the protesters re-

fused to allow the Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Patrick Obahiagbon, addressed them, insisting that only Governor Oshiomhole should address them. Leaders of civil society groups, who spoke during the protest included Mr Kola Edokpaye, Mr Jude Obasami, Mr Abraham Oviawe and Mr Olu Mar-

tins. The protest was simultaneously held along with that of sacked members of the Edo Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES), who demanded that they be reinstated, confirmed and absorbed into the state civil service. President of the sacked casual workers, Victor Idonije, said it was unfair to lay them off after seven productive years, adding that life has been hell to them since they were sacked. He further stated that YES constituted 80 per cent of the workforce in the civil service and that assurances by government to regularise and confirm their appointment were never fulfilled. He said, 15 per cent of the sacked members were both husband and wives, 10 per cent of them were nursing mothers, while five per cent were pregnant women.

Niger gov receives report on selection of new Emir of Borgu Chief Imam of Ibadanland, Sheikh Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyy Abubakri Agbotomokekere (left), presenting staff of office to the new Babasale Musulumi of Ibadanland, Alhaji Abdul-Lateef Oyedoyin Oyelade, at the Central Mosque, Oja’ba, Ibadan, on Sunday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

Ambode working hard to build on noble legacies —Lagos APC Bola Badmus-Lagos

LAGOS State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has said that the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, is working very hard to not only build on the noble legacies he met but also add greater values to leadership in line with the progressive tradition in Lagos for the past 16 years. The party said this in a statement issued by its publicity secretary, Mr Joe Igbokwe, just as it warned those it described as faceless groups and enemies of the state to stop painting the governor in bad light and giving the impression in the social media that he was slow in dealing with the problems facing the state. The party said contrary to what it described as “syndicated attacks,” the governor was working very hard to sustain and surpass the noble legacies he met, which had made Lagos occupy leadership position among states in the federation since the advent of the current democratic dispensation. The party said the governor was responding to the upsurge of crimes in recent times by not only increasing the capacity of the security

agencies but also extending the mop up of criminals in various parts of the state. The APC said it was of note that the Governor Ambode had ordered the purchase of more helicopters to increase air surveillance that was critical in combating crimes in Lagos, adding that his efforts were yielding fruits with recent security rout of criminals in various dark spots of the state. The party, while assuring that things would get better in the coming days, noted that the governor on

the issue of traffic was mindful of the deliberate abuse of his directive that traffic rules be relaxed to wear human face. “He is aware that his directive that motorists be given less punitive punishments are being abused by both motorists and enforcers to create situations of traffic chaos in the state. “He is aware that road users are abusing his magnanimity and is currently working on strict enforcement of traffic rules while ensuring that the human face he gave to traffic man-

agement is still in place. “The governor is sanitising the traffic control agency to ensure a return to sanity on Lagos roads and his efforts are gradually yielding fruits. “Traffic hold ups has always been a reoccurring decimal in Lagos even in the 60s and 70sand we remember that at a time during Governor Fashola’s era, he had cause to post pictures of traffic situations in the past and the comments of leaders then just to prove that the problem did not start today.

Police arrest 46-yr-old pastor over alleged rape Ademola Adegbite-Lafia

A 46-year-old pastor, names withheld, has been arrested by the Nasarawa State Police command, for allegedly raping a 15year -old girl, at Mararaba, Karu Local Government Area of the state. Parading the suspect, alongside eight other criminals at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Lafia, the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Sani Mohammed, said the acclaimed pastor lured the victim into his room under the false pretence that he wanted

to cast out demons from her. Mohammed, who said that all the suspects would face prosecution, explained further that the incident happened at One Man Village, around 6:00 p.m, on that fateful day. According to him, “On November 4, 2015, at about 1800 hours, one Martins Agbara Ijwo of One Man Village, in Karu Local Government Area, reported at the Police Station there that on November 3, 2015 ,at 1245 hours, one Pastor behind Alikima Mararaba, lured his daughter into his house under the false pre-

tence that he will pray for her to cast out demons from their family and thereby forcefully had carnal knowledge of her. “He further threatened to kill her if she spoke to any other person about the incident. Exhibits recovered from him were bottles of anointing oil and bed sheet”, he added. On other suspects, the police boss said four persons were arrested in connection with criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and extortion with over N750,000 cash and four others for armed robbery.

Adelowo Oladipo-Minna

Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, on Monday, received the report on the selection of the new Emir of Borgu in Borgu Local Government of the state, by the Kingmakers of Borgu Emirate Council. The report was presented to the governor by the Wazrin Borgu, Alhaji Abdullahi Nuhu Sa’ad, at the Government House, Minna. “Your Excellency, I am pleased to forward to you the result of the selection of the kingmakers in respect of the Emir of Borgu,” he said. Governor Bello in his reaction ,while receiving the report, thanked the kingmakers and prayed for Allah’s guidance for whoever emerges as the new emir. The brief presentation ceremony had the Secretary to the State Government(SSG), Alhaji Shehu Umar Danyaya and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,. Alhaji Mohammed Rijau, in attendance. In another development, the chairman of Niger State Council of Traditional Rulers and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, was also at the Government House, on Monday. His visit may not be unconnected with the submission of the nominated prince as successor to the throne of Mai Borgu.

convocation lecture at UI tomorrow

Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, will tomorrow, deliver the convocation lecture, of the University of Ibadan, as part of activities to mark the 67th Foundation Day of the university. This was contained in the university’s bulletin issued on Monday, in Ibadan, by the registrar, Mr Olujimi Olukoya. According to the bulletin tagged `Special release,’ the lecture will hold at the Trenchard Hall of the university. The title of the lecture is: ``Prospects and challenges of good governance in a developing economy.’’ The Foundation Day ceremony which commenced on November 9, would end on November 17. Other activities lined up for the ceremony include: admission to first degrees and award of diplomas and certificates in 13 faculties. Honorary degrees would also be conferred on Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar 11, the Sultan of Sokoto and Chancellor of the University, Professor Ayo Banjo, a former vice chancellor of the university between 1984 and 1991.

Brief Burial Former president of Ijesa Union, Ibadan chapter, Chief Francis Agboola Ayeni, is dead. He died at the age of 93 years. According to a statement issued by the secretary of the union, Edward Ogunjobi, there will be a commendation service for the deceased on Thursday, at St. Paul’s Anglican Church, Yemetu, Ibadan, Oyo State, by 10. oo am while Christian-wake keep will take place same day by 5 00pm, at his residence, Ayeni Estate, Yemetu, Ibadan. The remains of Ayeni will be interred on Friday, after a funeral service at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church, Omofe, Ilesa by 11.00 am, Osun State .

Chief Francis Ayeni

communitynews Iwo gets new monarch as residents jubilate over installation

oluwole ige-osogbo

he ancient city of Iwo stood still on Monday, when the Oluwo-elect, Prince Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi entered triumphantly into the town for the installation process. Major streets in the city, witnessed heavy traffic jam as the convoy of the Oluwo snaked through Ori-Eru, Odo-Ori, IleOmosan and Ojaba axis of the city where people lined up to welcome the new monarch. The installation ceremony followed the approval of the appointment of the new monarch by the Osun State government after the completion of due process by the kingmakers. The Oluwo-elect in a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) raised his clutched fists to acknowledge cheers from people after about three hours drive to get to the palace was turbaned by League of Imam and Alfas led by Sheik Imran Adio. The turbaning ceremony was followed by the symbolic traditional decoration of the monarch with “Akoko” leaf by the Oosa of Iwo Kingdom, Chief Bello Orobimpe. Traditional gunshots rented the air by Iwo traditionalists heralding the reign of the new Oluwo of Iwo thus signalling the completion of first phase of the monarch’s tradi-

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

tional rites. The Oluwo-elect after the turbaning ceremony was led by traditionalists and chiefs to the “Ile

Onto” to continue further installation rites before the crowning of Prince Abdul-rasheed Adewale Akanbi.

pening in Iwo was another indication of the commitment of the Governor Rauf Aregbesola-led administration to one of its

Executive Secretary, Ilesa West Local Government Area of Osun State, Alhaji Issa Azeez (left), presenting a cheque to one of the beneficiaries, Mrs Fadare Monisola (right), during the presentation of relief materials to victims of Atakumosa Market inferno in Ilesa. With them are, Majority Leader, Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Timothy Owoeye (second left) and Chief Adedeji Ogbara, on Thursday.

six-point integral plans of promotion of communal peace and progress. Adeoti said: “I salute the courage and understanding of all, this day is historic in the sense that Iwo in about three years ago was without a king, but we are happy that this day, a new king has come. “We need the cooperation of all and sundry, I call on everybody to join hands with the new monarch in the task to build the town. Iwo can not afford to stand still, we must strive as we enter a new era to develop our land. Dignitaries at the installation ceremony included, the Asiwaju of Iwoland and former Commissioner for Justice, Mr Gbadegesin Adedeji, former Commissioner for Agriculture, old Oyo State, Alhaji Bola Asafa, the Ekerin Oluwo, Chief Ganiyu Aremu, former Special Adviser to Governor Aregbesola on Health, Dr. Rafiu Isamotu, among others.

Ilaje communities express displeasure over abandoned projects in reverine areas Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

People of coastal communities in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State have expressed displeasure over the abandonment of uncompleted projects in the area by the federal and state agencies. The people of the commu-

nities who frowned at the development alleged that the Niger Delta Development Commission, Ondo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission and some other Niger Delta institutions of insensitivity to the plight of the people living in the riverine com-

Aregbesola presents N31m to victims of inferno in Ilesa Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola has presented cheques of N31 million to victims of a fire outbreak that engulfed Atakumosa Market, Ilesa. The market was caught by fire about two months ago, leaving shops and goods worth millions of naira destroyed. Presenting cheques to some of the victims running to hundreds last Thursday, the state governor said the relief package was aimed at cushioning the effect of the inferno on the victims and the economy. Represented by the Chairman, Ilesa West Local Government Area of the state, Alhaji Azeez Adesiji, the governor said the market would be rebuilt to meet international standard. According to him, the relief package was offered to victims due to the concern of his administration

Speaking after the installation ceremony, Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, stated that the recent hap-

to the plight of the citizenry and in line with its commitment to see to the peoples’ welfare. He said: “In spite of the economic situation in Osun State, we still consider it necessary to support the traders who were victims of the inferno. “This government will continue to do everything possible to make lives meaningful to the people, no matter the distraction.” The leader of the state House of Assembly, Honourable Timothy Owoeye, who represents Ilesa East Constituency commended the governor for showing concern to the welfare of the people in spite of the economic situation. He also hinted that efforts are now in top gear to begin the reconstruction of the market, calling for the support of traders to make it a reality. “We know that no

amount of relief package can mitigate your loss, because, while some of you are petty traders, who trade with meagre amount, some trade with huge amount. “However, this financial relief is to show that the present government shares in your pain and will do everything possible to cushion its effects,” Owoeye said.

munities across the local government. Some residents, who spoke at a one-day Multistakeholders Policy Dialogue organised by a non- government organisation, Lite-Africa, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development and the Ondo State government said many uncompleted projects across the communities had been abandoned by the agencies responsible for the development of the area. They lamented that all the agencies never factored the need of the people in the various communities before embarking on such projects. A resident, Asemudara Taiwo, noted that some of the projects executed by these agencies in those communities were executed with substandard materials and they cannot stand test of time.

Speaking at the forum, the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, emphasised the need for assessment to be carried out in the communities before any project could be executed in such communities. Mimiko called for a synergy between the agencies and the state government to ensure proper monitoring and execution of the projects embarked upon by these agencies in the Niger Delta region. Mimiko, who was represented by the Commissioner for Environment, Sola Ebiseni, said the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget in the state will always be ready to oversee the projects if co-opted in the execution of projects across the riverine areas. He said: “ The project policy of the state now is that the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget will now be the clearing house

Security: FCT police partner with residents The Commissioner of Police, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, Mr Wilson Inalegwu, has called on residents to partner with the police for effective policing of the territory. Inalegwu made the call at a meeting with other security agencies and stakeholders in Abuja. “We want you to partner with us wherever you are in the territory, see whatever happens in your environment as your business.

“We appreciate the contributions you all are making to secure the FCT and we encourage you to do more,” he said. The commissioner urged residents to show interest in activities of people around them to forestall any security lapses. “There is a need for cooperation among us irrespective of the differences in our religions,” he added. He restated that the command was committed to pro-

tect life and property of every resident of the territory. “On our part, we as a security agency, we are going to do our best to protect life and property,” he said. The commissioner stated that the meeting was part of the ongoing joint operation in the territory. Contributing, a representative of the Guards Brigade, Major Oludele Oyegoke, stressed the need for residents to be active to have a more secure territory.

of project by development partners. “So, when any agency of development come to the state to execute projects it will go to the ministry and there it will know the projects that are already in place, so that there would not be a case of duplication and also know what project will be relevant to the communities.” Speaking, the Executive Director of Lite-Africa, Mr Joel Bisina, said the Multistakeholders’ Policy Dialogue was designed to discuss issues affecting the Niger Delta region development which include, consideration of the citizen’s Report Card Assessment carried out in 24 communities in the four states of Cross River, Delta, Edo and Ondo. He said the aim was to build and create synergy between the agencies and to bring visibility to the people’s voice on issues of accountability, transparency and sustainable development by relevant government institutions and development partners. At the end of the dialogue, the stakeholders resolved, among other resolutions, that “there should be improved feedback mechanism among the agencies of government, development partners and communities to strengthen transparency, accountability in order to enhance quality service delivery.”

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

Britain, Russia fly more citizens home from Egypt MORE Russian and British tourists were due to leave the Egyptian resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh on Monday as investigators continued to work toward a conclusion about what caused an October 31 air disaster that killed 224 people. At least a dozen flights were scheduled to depart on Monday afternoon from the Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport to Moscow and various airports in Britain, VOA said. Britain’s embassy in Cairo has been careful to label the departures not as evacuations but as tourists going home at the end of their trips. Still, the Foreign Office is advising against “all but essential travel by air” to or from the Red Sea destination because of the “significant possibility” that the Russian Metrojet crash was caused by an explosive device. The tragedy prompted some European air carriers to curb or cut flights to the longtime tourism magnet at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula. British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said by the end of Sunday, 5,000 British citizens were to have left the Red Sea destination.

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

Myanmar’s ruling party concedes defeat as Suu Kyi heads for landslide

YANMAR’S ruling party conceded defeat on Monday in a general election as the opposition led by democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi appeared on course for a landslide victory that could ensure it forms the next government. “We lost,” Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) acting chairman Htay Oo told Reuters a day after the Southeast Asian country’s first free nationwide election in a quarter of a century. By late afternoon on Monday, vendors outside the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Yangon were selling red T-shirts with Suu Kyi’s face and the words “We won.” The election commission announced constituencyby-constituency results from Sunday’s poll. Of the

: Leader of Myanmar’s National League for Democracy party, Aung San Suu Kyi, delivers a speech with party patron, Tin Oo from a balcony of her party’s headquarters in Yangon, Myanmar, on Monday. PHOTO: AP. first 28 parliamentary seats declared, 25 were won by Suu Kyi’s party. The keenly watched vote was Myanmar’s first general election since its longruling military ceded power to President Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government in 2011, ushering in a period of reform and opening

up to foreign investment. The NLD said its own tally of results posted at polling stations around the country showed it was on track to win more than 70 per cent of the seats being contested in parliament, above the two-thirds threshold it needs to form Myanmar’s first democratically elected

government since the early 1960s. “They must accept the results, even though they don’t want to,” NLD spokesman Win Htein told Reuters, adding that in the highly populated central region the Nobel peace laureate’s party looked set to take more than 90 percent of seats.

Riot at Australian detention camp after refugee’s death A riot has erupted at a controversial offshore refugeedetention facility in Australia following the death of an asylum seeker, Al Jazeera reported. Immigration officers and refugees confirmed on Monday a standoff between detainees and officers at the detention camp on Christmas Island, located more than 2,000km northwest of Perth in the Indian Ocean, after a Kurdish Iranian refugee died there. Fazel Chegeni, in his 30s, was reportedly found at the bottom of a cliff. “On Saturday morning, the department was advised of the escape of an illegal maritime arrival from Christmas Island Immigration Detention Centre (CI IDC) by service provider staff.

Jordanian kills 2 Americans, 1 South African at police training site A Jordanian police officer gunned down two Americans and a South African before local forces shot the attacker Monday at a training center outside of Amman. According to VOA sources, security said the assailant also wounded two American trainers and four Jordanians at the Jordan International Police Training Centre.

A senior U.S. official confirms the Americans killed

were part of State Department police training pro-

U.S. special operations forces watch a multinational military exercise during a training programme held in 2013 at Zarqa, Jordan. PHOTO: AP.

gramme. A Jordanian government spokesmen says an investigation is underway to determine the “motives behind the crime.” U.S. Central Command tells VOA that all American military personnel in Jordan are accounted for. The deceased worked as contractors with Jordan’s

Public Security Department, Mohammad Momani said. The U.S. and Jordanian governments signed an agreement in 2003 establishing the facility to train tens of thousands of police officers from neighboring Iraq. The effort later included training Palestinian security forces.

otherNEWS

Republican candidate Carson pushes back on veracity questions Ben Carson

REPUBLICAN presidential candidate Ben Carson on Sunday pushed back against media reports questioning his veracity, even as rival Donald Trump asserted Carson needed to explain a number of things he has said regarding recollections about West Point and his youth. Carson, a favorite of conservative

activists, is neck-and-neck with Trump at the top of Republican primary polls a year before the November 2016 presidential election. But last week Carson, according to Reuters faced media stories that he had misrepresented details surrounding a scholarship offer to the Army’s prestigious U.S. Mili-

tary Academy at West Point, New York, as well as other tales from his youth in inner-city Detroit and college life. Carson told ABC’s “This Week” news show on Sunday that the West Point website uses the word “scholarship,” so that he was not wrong to use this word in the past

when describing overtures from military officials who told him when he was young that they could get him a “full scholarship” to the academy. He said he was flattered by the suggestions but had already decided to go to college and medical school.

French strike hits IS oil facility in Syria THE French army on Sunday bombed an oil supply centre held by the Islamic State group in eastern Syria, Defence Minister JeanYves Le Drian announced on Monday. “We intervened in Syria... yesterday evening with a strike on an oil supply cen-

tre near Deir Ezzor on the border between Iraq and Syria,” Le Drian told journalists on the sidelines of a forum on African peace and security in Dakar, Senegal. According to AFP, it was France’s third wave of strikes in Syria since President Francois Hollande decided

in September to join the campaign there against IS. The two previous waves targeted training camps for foreign jihadists who were suspected of preparing attacks in France. Hollande on Thursday said operations would be expanded to include “all

those sites from which terrorists could threaten our territory.” The president also said France would deploy its nuclear-powered aircraft carrier the flagship of the French navy to boost operations against IS in Syria and Iraq.

France’s rockets on Syrian airspace. PHOTO: AFP.

foreig naffairs

Rwanda says Burundi leaders killing own people RWANDA’S president has accused Burundi’s leaders of killing their own people as human-rights activists accuse security forces of killing 11 people over the weekend, Al Jazeera reported. Paul Kagame’s comments could cause tensions between the neighbouring countries to rise. He made them after Burundi’s president, Pierre Nkurunziza, repeatedly accused Rwanda of precipitating violence and instability in Burundi. “Are these leaders or what who kill their own people from morning to evening, dump them on the street and in streams and then stand up and start accusing Rwanda?” Kagame said in a speech that was released on Sunday. Activists said about 200 people have been killed in Burundi since April when Nkurunziza announced his intention to seek a third term, which his critics said was unconstitutional.

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Iran, Israel violence on agenda for Obama-Netanyahu talks President Barack Obama meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, on Monday. PHOTO: AP.

NITED States President Barack Obama hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for talks on Monday as the Israeli leader makes his first visit to Washington since the United States and five other world powers signed a nuclear deal with Iran. Netanyahu was among the most vocal critics of the July agreement, saying it would not slow Iran’s work toward a nuclear weapon and would put Israel in danger, VOA said. He highlighted his con-

cerns in an address to the Republican-controlled U.S. Congress in March during a trip where he did not meet with Obama. The White House said the Iranian deal will be among the regional security issues that Obama and Netanyahu will discuss in the meeting that will also be attended by U.S. Vice President Joe Biden. Hours before he left Israel, Netanyahu said the talks would focus on “strengthening the security” of Israel. He said Israel’s security is something the U.S. has al-

ways been committed to, with the goal of maintaining Israel’s comparative military advantage in the face of a changing Middle East. Israel already receives more than $3 billion a year in U.S. military aid, and officials say Netanyahu hopes

to get that raised to $4 billion to $5 billion annually. The current 10-year arrangement expires in 2017. “I believe that this meeting is important in order to clarify the continuation of American aid to Israel in the coming decade,” Netanyahu said. U.S. officials say a new defense deal will not be finalized during the ObamaNetanyahu meeting, their first since October 2014, but that an agreement is being crafted. “We do believe it’s very important,” said Ben Rhodes, Obama’s deputy national security adviser, “that in an uncertain security environment, we are signaling our long-term commitment to Israel and its security and are designing a package that

Climate change could add 100 million poor by 2030 —World Bank

Cameron ‘deadly serious’ about need for EU reform

in the absence of further action by developed nations to curb rising temperatures. In a report released on Sunday, the bank called for “rapid, inclusive and climate smart development, together with emission reduc-

DAVID Cameron has said he is “deadly serious” about securing European Union reforms and said that if his renegotiations failed “we will have to ask ourselves - ‘is this organisation for us?’” The prime minister told the CBI conference the issue was not whether the UK could survive outside the EU but whether it would be more successful.

David Cameron

He added that “the status quo isn’t good enough for Britain”. The PM is to set out his reform proposals in detail on Tuesday. David Cameron has said the UK needs to negotiate a “better deal” from its membership of the EU and will hold an in-out referendum on the issue by the end of 2017 - although he has not said when

the vote will be held. This is a key week for David Cameron’s talks with the EU’s other 27 leaders. He told the CBI that he wanted to take on the “duff arguments” - such as one side saying that the UK could not survive outside the EU and the other side saying they would be able to thrive by following the Norway example. In a speech that was briefly

is tailored to the threats and challenges that Israel will be facing over the course of the next decade.” Obama and Netanyahu also are expected to discuss the fresh wave of IsraeliPalestinian violence that began two months ago at a Jerusalem holy site and spread across Israel and into the West Bank and Gaza Strip. U.S. officials said Obama and Netanyahu will discuss steps to prevent further confrontation between the Mideast parties in the absence of a peace agreement. They said that while Obama remains committed to a two-state solution between Israelis and Palestinians, he does not believe it is possible before he leaves office in early 2017.

THE World Bank is warning that global warming will push 100 million more people into poverty across the globe in the next 15 years,

interrupted by two hecklers holding up banners saying “CBI = Voice of Brussels,” Mr Cameron said he had “no emotional attachment” to the institutions of the EU. The hecklers later said they were from a group called Students for Britain, an offshoot of the Vote Leave campaign, which argues the UK would be better off outside the EU.

otherNEWS

tions” aimed at protecting the world’s most vulnerable inhabitants. The report, entitled “Shockwaves: Managing the Impacts of Climate Change on Poverty,” according to VOA, comes ahead of a global summit on climate change that opens November 30 in Paris. It also follows last week’s United Nations warning that voluntary carbon emission cutting pledges from industrialized nations go nowhere near far enough to prevent a looming crisis. Current recommendations call for global measures aimed at limiting temperature increases to 2 degrees Celsius in this century.

Afghan president condemns beheadings

Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani

AFGHAN President Ashraf Ghani has condemned the beheading of a group of civilians by Islamic State militants in a southern region, scene of recent deadly clashes between rival Taliban factions. Local police in Zabul province reported Sunday that IS

fighters brutally murdered seven people, including three women, in the Khake-e-Afghan district. President Ghani said in a statement Monday he “condemns in the strongest terms the beheading of civilians, especially women and a child…

and considers that atrocious act a sign of desperation and defeat of the enemies of the people of Afghanistan.” Afghan officials say the IS militants kidnapped the victims, members of Shi’ite Hazara ethnic group, more than a month ago from the

neighboring Ghazni province. The president said in the statement that he will hold “an extraordinary security meeting” Monday to seek ways for tracking down and punishing the perpetrators of this atrocious crime.”

Uganda begins election campaign amid call for ‘level playing field’ CANDIDATES running in Uganda’s February presidential election officially began their campaigning Monday, while Human Rights Watch called on the government to ensure a “level playing field” for everyone. Uganda’s Electoral Commission approved a list of eight candidates, including President Yoweri Museveni’s bid for a

fifth term and opposition leader Kizza Besigye’s fourth attempt to knock the president from power, VOA said. Human Rights Watch issued a statement late on Sunday saying police brutality, obstruction of media and a lack of accountability for past election abuses have undermined the process of free and fair elections in Uganda.

“The campaign period is a critical opportunity to avoid the repression, violence, police brutality, and recriminations of past campaigns, said HRW Senior Africa Researcher Maria Burnett. “All Ugandans should be able to attend rallies, listen to all candidates in person or on the radio, and express their views without reluctance or

fear.” The group has previously urged Ugandan authorities to stop obstructing peaceful political gatherings, especially with the use of teargas. Its latest statement said Museveni’s long tenure in office and tight control of the government “raise serious challenges for fair campaigns and elections.”

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

30 yrs on, Buhari propels Eaglets to another World Cup triumph By Ganiyu Salman

HIRTY years ago, a group of young Nigerians then known as the Eaglets left the shores of Nigeria for China, unnoticed for the maiden FIFA U-16 World Championship organised by the world soccer governing body, FIFA. On August 11, 1985 to be precise, the Eaglets handled by Sebastine Brodericks were crowned champions of the world following their 2-0 victory over West Germany in the final. The team captained by Nduka Ugbade came back to a heroic reception in Lagos from the then Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari. Following the victory in China, the team became famous and renamed the Golden Eaglets by Buhari. The victory of the Eaglets perhaps put the name of Nigeria on the world map in football for the first time. How time flies? 30 years on, another set of young Nigerians in the early hours of Monday in Chile, stunned the world again with a 2-0 victory over the Les Aiglonnets of Mali to claim the biennial championship later renamed the FIFA U-17 World Cup. Interestingly, the victory of the Eaglets handled by ex-international, Emmanuel Amuneke, for a record fifth time, came under the government of Buhari, who came into office in May this year. After the 1985 victory, Nigeria also won in 1993 in Japan with a 2-1 victory over Ghana’s Black Starlets; cliched the 2007 edition in South Korea with a 3-0 victory over Spain via penalties; while the Eaglets won the 2013 edition in the United Arab Emirates with a 3-0 victory over baby El Tri of Mexico. Nigeria indeed won the Chile 2015 in grand style. Aside from becoming the most successful nation at the cadet World Cup with five victories, Nigeria also equalled the record of Brazil as the second nation to have won the tournament back-to-back having won the UAE 2013 edition.

It was a night of glory for the Golden Eaglets at the Estadio Sausalito, Vina Del Mar as Nigeria went on to also claim individual awards. Victor Osimhen clinched home the adidas Golden Boot with 10 goals. He also became the first player to score 10 goals in a single tournament ever since the competition started in 1985. Osimhen’s strike in the 4-2 win over Mexico in the semi-final, equalled the long standing record of nine goals in a single tournament jointly held by Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly who were top scorers at Trinidad & Tobago 2001 and Mexico 2011 respectively. Osimhen, a product of Ultimate Strikers of Lagos prior to Chile 2015 had remained the Eaglets’ marksman with 41 goals in both international and domestic 73 matches. Aside from his goal scoring prowess which aided Nigeria’s victory, Osimhen also claimed the adidas Silver Ball as the second Most Valuable Player of the tournament. Osimhen also became the third Nigerian to claim the adidas Golden Boot award after Wilson Oruma (six goals) in 1993 and Chrisantus Macaulay who scored seven goals at Korea 2007. Also, Nigeria’s captain, Kelechi Nwakali emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament following his aweinspiring performance as rated by the FIFA Technical Study Group. Interestingly, he succeeds compatriot, Kelechi Iheanacho who won the adidas Golden Ball at the UAE 2013. Nwakali, also clinched the adidas Bronze Boot after scoring three goals at Chile 2015 with three assists above others who equally finished with three goals. Unarguably, the almost two-year camping helped the team to attain excellence at the global stage. Analysts also believe that one of factors which aided Nigeria’s victory in Chile was the appointment of Amuneke as the head of the technical crew.

The Golden Eaglets players during the final against Mali.

Amuneke was a member of the Manu Garba-led technical crew which won the last tournament in UAE, while the tutelage coupled with the experience he gained at UAE 2013 no doubt helped him to assemble another World Cup winning squad. Though, the Eaglets failed to fly at the African U-17 Championship held early this year in Niger Republic as they even failed to win a bronze medal after losing 1-3 t o the youngsters from Guinea, they grabbed the World Cup ticket as the fourth best team on the continent. Save for the understanding of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) led by Amaju Pinnick, Amuneke would have been dropped for another coach to lead the team to the World Cup in Chile. After a seemingly unimpressive performance at Niger 2015 African Junior Nations Cup, Amuneke and his men reshuffled the squad where eight new lads were brought in to beef up the team, which eventually paid off. The Eaglets first participated in a 4-Nation invitational tournament in Suwon, Korea where it placed third. The tourney enabled the Eaglets to feel the firepower of two of their World C u p opponents before the C h i l e 2 0 1 5 proper. The Eaglets defeated A Selecao of Brazil 2-1 at the tourney while they lost 2-3 to Croatia. Also, the Amuneke lads went on a training tour of Argentina where they defeated the Argentine team 2-1 and Racing Club of Buenos Aires

Osimhen, Goal king of the tournament.

3-1. With the victory of the Eaglets in Chile, observers however, believe that the authorities while celebrating must think of how the success of the team can manifest in the national senior teams such as U-20, U-23 and the Super Eagles in no time.

tribunesport

Tuesday, 10 November, 2015

Adidas Golden Ball award means so much to me —Nwakali

HERE was a touching moment after the FIFA U-17 World Cup final as the winning captain, Kelechi Nwakali left the pitch. A screaming fan caught the eye of the Nigeria skipper from the stands directly next to the tunnel. Looking up to the youngster, the No 10, fresh from claiming the adidas Golden Ball as the most outstanding player at Chile 2015 as well as lifting the trophy itself, waved. It was clear there was one thing the young Chilean wanted. Without hesitation Nwakali rolled the armband down his arm and threw it towards the fan. It was caught by another supporter and passed to him. The scream of delight from the youngster put a huge grin on all those who witnessed the act of kindness. It was a small episode on a heady night for the humble captain, and displayed a softer side to the character of the ASJ Academy midfielder who had otherwise been a brutal enforcer and instigator of attacks throughout the tournament. He shone so brightly with his performances, as well as his three goals and three assists that he ended up with the award for best player of the tournament. “I thank God for the opportunity to win this award,” Nwakali exclusively told FIFA.com after the final. “It means so much.” The midfielder was quick to place the effort of his team-mates at the forefront of the conversation, making sure to praise their hard work and diligence throughout their time in Chile. “Right from the game against the USA, when we arrived in Chile, our aim was to defend the trophy,” Nwakali said. “We believed the only way we could do this was hard work. We approached each game with hard work and seriousness. Any team that came to Chile

worked for it.” That ethos saw Nigeria motor to the final, topping their group and flying past Australia and Brazil in the Round of 16 and quarter-final respectively before a titanic clash against Mexico. “They are a strong side,” Nwakali said of El Tri. “We believed that when it came to U-17 level, they have been there and done it already. Even though we came from behind, we knew we had to work hard, that is our philosophy.” Those continuing references to diligence and industry were selected carefully by Nwakali, aware as the mouthpiece of the

Victor Osimhen (left) and Kelechi Nwakali proudly display their awards at Chile 2015. team that he needed to set an example. Leading by example on the pitch in that rematch of the 2013 U-17 World Cup finale

with a stunning goal from a free-kick, he helped set up an all-African final, for only the second time in the tournament’s history.

FIFA U-17 World Cup:

Ambode congratulates Eaglets Bola Badmus- Lagos LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has congratulated the Golden Eaglets on their feat at the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. The Eaglets, in the early hours of Monday, defeated Mali 2-0 in a pulsating final to emerge winners for a record fifth time. Ambode said on Monday, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary (CPS), Mr Habib Aruna, that the resilience of the Eaglets to go all the way to defend their title which they won in the UAE two years ago was typical of the Nigerian spirit in the face of any daunting challenge. “This is another eloquent testimony to the fact that Nigeria is a great country with enormous potential and we can achieve anything and everything if we

are united and determined towards a course or a target. “In the opening minutes of the final match when the Nigerian team lost a penalty, they did not lose their heads, but remained focused on the task. Even

when they went two goals ahead, they didn’t allow complacency to set in. This is commendable and inspiring and I can only hope that it signals the beginning of the return to the glory days of Nigerian football,” he said.

player,” he said. “To play in a World Cup final and win the trophy is amazing. Not just winning it, but defending it.”

Amosun’s wife wants support for Eaglets By Doyin Adeoye

dia), Simeon Nwakaudu, expressed happiness that the young footballers and their handlers made the nation proud during the competition. He applauded the professionalism displayed by the players, most of them would become world stars in no distant time. Wike added that his administration will continue to promote sports as a platform for empowering youths in line with the state’s New Rivers Development Blueprint.

WIFE of the Governor of Ogun State, Mrs Olufunso Amosun, has congratulated the Golden Eaglets on winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup for a record fifth-time. Mrs Amosun, who was excited by the Eaglets’ victory, however, adivised the authorities to assist the promising youths to realise their dreams. “Today, Nigeria celebrates as she emerges winner of the U-17 World Cup in Chile. As we celebrate, let us all remember to continue nurturing and investing in our youths, the future generation. “Let’s assist them to explore the full potential of their capabilities, as is with the case of Akpan Udoh, previously a member of Mrs Amosun’s UPLIFT

“This is a profound and unique instance of history repeating itself on a positive note, especially when it is recalled that in 30 years, Nigeria has now won the Cup five times. In the process,

winning it back-to-back and throwing up all time highest goal scorer in Victor Osimhen thus earning the bragging rights as the best age grade football nation in the world,” he said.

... Wike too RIVERS State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has congratulated Nigerians over the victory of the Golden Eaglets at the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup. He also congratulated the technical crew and players of the Golden Eaglets on winning the trophy through hardwork, display of soccer artistry and show of patriotism during the World Cup in Chile. Wike in a statement by his Special Assistant (Me-

That armband was tight on Nwakali’s arm as he led his side out in Vina Del Mar. “Playing in the final is the dream of every young

football team that was sponsored to Italy for a football training camp in 2013,”she said. Mrs Amosun hailed the qualities of the Nigerian team saying “the players combined speed, skills and brains together to demonstrate to the whole world that they are not push-overs.” She charged he players not to rest on their oars, adding that “their victory should mark the beginning of greater achievements to come their ways as a team and as individuals.” Udoh, Golden Eaglets’ number one goalkeeper, was one of the 22 young players of the UPLIFT Football Team, sponsored on a training tour of Udinese FC in Italy by Mrs Amosun in 2013.

Ahmed praises Eaglets Biola Azeez-Ilorin GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has congratulated the Golden Eaglets on their victory at Chile 2015.

Ahmed made this known in a congratulatory message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, on Monday.

Ahmed noted that the Eaglets’ success premised on unity of purpose, desire and resolve to succeed without submitting to the divisive tendencies of ethno-religious bigotry.

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An armed robber who often consults with a fetish tortoise before going out for robbery operations is currently moaning his fate, blaming the tortoise for "not talking" before he was nabbed by the police. If the criminal knew what the tortoise was capable of doing, going by its antics in traditional folklore stories he would have chosen even a dog instead as his spiritual guide.

The Golden Eaglets celebrating their victory in Chile.

FIFA U-17 World Cup:

World Cup qualifier:

Second half changes won it for Nigeria —Amuneke

OACH Emmanuel Amuneke has revealed that changes made in the second half produced the two goals which enabled Nigeria to beat Mali 2-0 and win a fifth U-17 World Cup in Chile. The former Barcelona player said his players were trying to avoid making mistakes in the first half, but ended up losing balls which was corrected in the second half. “We wanted to make no mistakes but we lost the ball many times in the midfield in the first half. But I don’t want to complain because they are all kids. We changed some things in the second half and made some substitutions. That brought us more safety in our game,” Amuneke said. “We are thankful for everything. We wanted to bring the players to their dreams and we did it. Thanks for the support. We feel like we are at home. We have worked very hard for this success and we hope to continue. The players will go home now but their journey is not over yet. “Personally I’m really

happy. I have football in my blood, as a player and as a coach. This is what I want to pass to my players.“ Mali U-17 coach, Baye Ba said he is proud of his team's achievement at Chile 2015. “It is the first time Mali will play in the final. If you believe that you can win a game, then you are sad when you lose. Nevertheless we can be very proud. Not many teams reached the second place. "It was a tough match. Nigeria were well-placed and we often acted very unorganised. We didn’t pay attention twice and conceded two goals. It is how it is. One

team wins because the other team makes mistakes. “Our goal is to have a se-

nior team who can win. We will continue our work. Everything is installed in our

...As Buhari lauds Eaglets Leon Usigbe -Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has on behalf of the Federal Government and millions of "very happy and proud Nigerians," congratulated the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria on their victory over Mali in the final of the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. He applauded the exemplary zeal, determination,

commitment, hard work, patriotism and soccer artistry which the youthful Golden Eaglets put on display throughout the tournament to win the championship for a record fifth time. According to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) in Abuja on Monday, the president noted with

Adenuga hails victorious team SPORTS philanthropist and Chairman of Globacom, Dr Mike Adenuga Jr (GCON) has congratulated the Golden Eaglets, President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria on the victory of the team at the just-concluded FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. He said the young lads have done exceptionally well to bring honour to their fatherland.

youth programmes so that we will reach another final in the future,” he said.

"It was indeed an unlimited performance by our dear Golden Eaglets. I congratulate them on emerging world champions. Once again, they have done exceptionally well to bring honour to Nigeria and Africa. We are proud of them," Adenuga said. He stated that Globacom, the major sponsor of Nigerian national football teams, would continue to

contribute to the development of football which has always been the greatest unifying factor in the country. “We congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on the moral and financial support that propelled the boys to global success," Adenuga added.

delight that the Golden Eaglets not only won the coveted U-17 FIFA World Cup, but they are also bringing home highly-valued individual awards such as the Golden Boot won by Victor Osimhen for being the tournament's highest goal scorer and the Golden Ball, won by the team captain, Kelechi Nwakali for being the best player. It expressed the president's belief that by their triumph in Chile, the Golden Eaglets have shown the world that the indomitable Nigerian spirit is alive and waxing stronger. "For the President, the Golden Eaglets' latest victory on the global stage is an affirmation of the significant progress Nigeria is now making towards positively redefining and rediscovering its potential for greatness in the comity of nations," the statement added.

Eagles must respect Swaziland —Oboabona

AHEAD of the Super Eagles crucial 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Swaziland, Nigeria defender Godfrey Oboabona says they will not underrate Isihlangu Somnikati. The three-time African champions are set to face Swaziland on Friday, as they target to reach Russia 2018. According to the Swazi Observer, the Rizespor centre back in Turkey admits that the Southern African country is not a big footballing nation, but they deserve respect. “Swaziland are not a big footballing nation, but that does not mean we don’t have to respect them,” said Oboabona. “They will be looking to beat us and make a name for themselves and that is the reason we must approach the game with caution. “We can’t afford to miss out on the World Cup after our failure to qualify for the last Africa Cup of Nations.” The report further revealed that Sunday Oliseh and his team are expected to touch down in Swaziland on Thursday for the match. The match is scheduled to hold at Somhlolo Stadium with the return leg set for Tuesday, November 17 in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

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