11th November 2015 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,368

WEDNESDAY, 11 NOVEMBER, 2015

Reps receive petition against CCT boss —P12

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Buhari shakes federal civil service Nigerian Tribune

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Nigerian Tribune

—P4 •Sacks 18 perm secs, redeploys 18 others •Appoints 18 new ones •Swears in ministers today

PDP fielding Jonathan in 2015, a mistake —Dokpesi •Count me out of PDP rebranding —IBB —P6, 33

Fire fighter battling against the inferno that gutted Sara Foam Company at Kirikiri Industrial Estate, Apapa, Lagos, on Tuesday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Pro-Biafra protest grounds Rivers

NASS crises —P12

•Wike bans protests, rallies •Igbo group demands release of protesters

Leventis, IPAC pay glowing tribute to HID Awolowo —P16

APC senators reject committee positions —P33 Reps in scuffle at lobby No plan to sack Gbajabiamila —Chief Whip

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

PHOTOS: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

10 1. Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran, Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu and AP Leventis. 2. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (fourth right); Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu (fourth left); Mrs Olufunso Amosun (third right); Mrs Bola Awolowo (second left); Mrs Moji Tejuoso (third left) and others. 3. From left, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, Professor Ayode Ajomo and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu. 4. From left, Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu; Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Justice Idowu Owolabi Sonoiki. 5. From right, Labour Party chairman, AbdulKadir Abdulsalam; National Conscience

6. 7. 8. 9.

Party chairman, Tanko Yunusa; Secretary, Inter-party Advisory Council, Barrister Okoye Godson and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu. From right, wife of the Ogun State governor, Mrs Olufunso Amosun; Olori Abosede Sonariwo; Mrs Kemi Aderemi, Chief (Mrs) Abba Folawiyo and others. Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu with JCI Senator Tunde Anifowose Kelani, presidential candidate Action Alliance (AA). From left, Mr Tunji Olanrewaju, Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu; Reverend (Dr) Isaac Adeniyi; Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Mrs Oluseyi Olanrewaju. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu (middle) with members of Inter-party Advisory Council.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

news

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Buhari, OBJ meet again behind closed-doors Leon Usigbe - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari and a former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, on Tuesday, met again behind closeddoors in the president’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. State House correspondents were prevented from accessing the immediate vicinity of the venue of the meeting. It was not clear why the former president came to

President Muhammadu Buhari (left) and former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, at the Presidential Villa, in Abuja, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN.

Buhari shakes federal civil service

•Sacks 18 perm secs, redeploys 18 others •Appoints 18 new ones Leon Usigbe and Clement Idoko -Abuja

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, effected a major shake-up at the federal civil service, as he ordered 18 permanent secretaries to go on compulsory retirement, as part of his desire to prune down number of ministries and agencies. Although no official statement was obtained from the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Ekanem OyoIta, but a Presidency source said the mass retirement was with immediate effect. The development is coming barely 24 hours after the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was fired and replaced by the Assistant Commissioner of Police, Ibrahim Magu. Indications to this reported mass retirement of the permanent secretaries emerged on Tuesday, when Oyo-Ita was summoned to the Aso Rock Villa by the president, with her scheduled visit to the Federal Civil Commission on Tuesday, at 3.00 p.m. abruptly cancelled. Accompanied by some of the permanent secretaries, Oyo-Ita held a closed-door meeting with the president for several hours on the harmonisation of the ministries, agencies and departments of the new Federal Civil Service. Sources said President Buhari, ahead swearing-in of the ministers-designate today, sent the permanent secretaries packing, in order to effect his planned reforms and restructuring of the civil service and governance structure in the country, at the same time, reducing overhead cost. It was gathered that most of those affected were those

senior to the acting Head of Service. President Buhari, a couple of weeks ago, appointed OyoIta, who became permanent secretary barely two years ago, as the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation. The acting Head of Civil Service of the Federation was said to be number 25 in ranking as permanent secretary, prior to her present ap-

pointment. Those that were not affected by the massive shakeup were redeployed to other ministries by the president. The newly appointed permanent secretaries are Mrs Ayotunde Adesugba, Alhaji Mahmoud Isa-Dutse, Mr Taiwo Abidogun, Dr Bukar Hassan, Mrs Wakama Belema Asifieka, Mr Jalal Ahmad Arabi, Mr Sabiu

Zakari, Mrs Obiageli Phyllis Nwokedi and Mr Aminu Nabegu. Others are Mr Bamgbose Olukunle Oladele, Mr Alo Williams Nwankwo, Dr Shehu Ahmed, Mr Ogbonnaya Innocent Kalu, Mrs Nuratu Jimoh Batagarawa, Mr Christian Chinyeaka Ohaa, Mr Bassey Apbukanyung, Mr Louis Edozien and Dr Ugo Roy.

Police recover ammunition in commercial bus in Enugu As Boko Haram suicide bombers kill 3 Nigerian refugees in Cameroon THE Enugu State police command has recovered 80 rounds of live cartridges hidden inside a bag in a mass transit bus. A statement issued in Enugu by the command’s spokesman, Mr Ebere Amaraizu, said the cartridges were recovered by officers during a ‘stop and search’

Deposed Deji’s appearance causes stir in Akure Hakeem Gbadamosi -Akure THE appearance of the deposed Deji of Akure, Prince Adesina Adepoju, on Tuesday, caused stir in Akure, the Ondo State capital, as he appeared publicly in the town after five years of banishment. Adepoju’s appearance which caused some anxiety within the residents of the town was followed by his appearance before the High Court sitting at the capital city of the state, over a case instituted against the installation of the Oba Ogunlade Aladetoyinbo as the Deji of Akure. Adepoju, who was deposed and banished by the state government for desecrating the Deji stool, was received amid encomiums by his kinsmen, especially members of the Osupa ruling house, where he hails from. The deposed monarch had instituted a case before the court, claiming he was wrongly deposed by the state government and subsequently challenged the installation of Oba Aladetoyinbo as the Deji of Akure. Adepoju, who was seeking an order from the court to declare him as the Deji of Akure was dethroned on June 10, 2010, for allegedly assaulting one of his wives,

the late Mrs Bolanle Adepoju in the public and was banished to Owo within the state before he left the country for the United States of America. However, his removal paved way for the installation of late Oba Adebiyi Adesida in 2010, as the 46th Deji of Akure and his daughter was installed the Regent of the city after his death. Counsel for the deposed monarch, Mr Olalekan Ojo, argued that the deposed monarch had the right to the throne and wondered why a new monarch was installed. The chief judge of the state, Justice Olaseinde Kumuyi, who presided over the case, however, adjourned further hearing on the matter till December 8. However, there was apprehension in Akure over the rumour of the arrest of the deposed monarch, who was said to be quizzed by detectives from the state police command, Akure, after leaving the court. Adepoju, who left the court in a convoy, danced from the court to his family compound, located on Odo Ijoka Street, where he addressed his loyalists, who were mainly members of his family, assuring that he would return to the throne soon. All attempts to speak with the deposed Deji of Akure

was not successful, as some policemen who invaded the area whisked him away from the family compound. However, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) in the state, Mr Femi Joseph, denied the arrest of the deposed monarch, saying “the man has not committed any offence to warrant his arrest

by the police.” He said the presence of police officers on the street, especially around the residence of the deposed monarch was to ensure security of lives and property, adding that “the police have the right to prevent hoodlums from hijacking the situation to perpetrate dastardly act.”

Groups demand $100bn cleanup fund for Niger Delta Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt TWENTY years after the death by hanging of the late playwright and environmentalist, Kenule SaroWiwa and eight other Ogoni leaders, some groups are demanding for the sum of $100 billion for the clean-up of Ogoniland. Five groups, the Environmental Rights Action (ERA), Friends of the Earth International (FoEI), Social Action, Ogoni Solidarity Front (OSF) and the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP), made the demand at a joint press conference, held in Port Harcourt, in Tuesday, to mark the 20th anniversary of the death of Sari-Wiwa and his eight kinsmen. Speaking on behalf of others, Executive Director of ERA, Dr Godwin Ojo, said the social and environmental crisis and injustice ex-

see the president, but he had only recently led a delegation of Colombians to Buhari to share their experience in fighting insurgent in their country. Obasanjo arrived the Presidential Villa in a black Sport Utility Vehicle at about 11.45a.m. for the meeting scheduled for noon and was received by Villa protocols, who led him to the president’s office. The meeting lasted about an hour.

posed by the late Saro-Wiwa in the massively polluted region and Ogoniland in particular, were still ongoing. Ojo added that the people of Ogoniland were still suffering from the effects of the 50 years of the land, air and water pollution. Also in his solidarity address, Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist, Mr Femi Falana, SAN, said the spirits of the ‘Ogoni Martrys’ lived on, adding that the judicial murder of the nine Ogoni leaders had not stopped the agitation of the Ogoni people for equity and justice. “Although the Ogoni 4 and the Ogoni 9 were murdered by the Federal military government, the people of Ogoniland have since continued the struggle to end the ruthless exploitation of the people and the degradation of the oil producing communities in the Niger Delta.

exercise on the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. He said the officers had flagged down a mass transit bus, with registration number XD 472 NNE, headed for Enugu from Onitsha. Amaraizu said while the search was going on, one of the occupants of the bus suspected to be the owner of the ammunition discretly ran into the bush. He appealed to commuters, drivers and motor park owners to be wary of people, who posed as passengers in parks while carrying dangerous items. Amaraizu also called on members of the public to volunteer information that would lead to the arrest of individuals, who constituted security threat, especially during the Yuletide. Two female suicide bombers, suspected to be Boko Haram insurgents, have killed three Nigerians in a truck full of refugees in a town in Cameroon’s far north region, a local government source said. Military sources had said earlier that they suspected the bombers’ target was a nearby mosque in Fotokol. The first bomb went off during a security check and it was unclear if the second bomber had detonated her bomb or whether she had been killed first by Cameroonian forces. Boko Haram insurgents had waged a six-year campaign of violence, killing thousands of people and displacing many from their communities in north-eastern part of Nigeria. Neighbouring countries, including Cameroon, joined forces against the group in 2014, as its offensive spread beyond Nigeria’s borders.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

news Count me out of PDP rebranding —IBB 6

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

•Dispels presidential ambition rumours Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usighe -Abuja

ORMER military president, General Ibrahim Babangida, has turned town the invitation extended to him by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to attend its rebranding National Conference slated for tomorrow in Abuja, saying that he was no longer involved in partisan politics. This was contained in a statement personally signed by the former military president and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday. Babangida, in the statement, also dismissed the speculation making the round that one of the rationales for the PDP rebranding was to position him as its presidential candidate for 2019. The statement reads: “I wish to make some clarifications concerning the invitation extended to me on the scheduled PDP Rebranding Conference slated for Thursday, November 12, aimed at repositioning the party after its poor outing at the last elections. “While I welcome the invitation to the event as a mark of respect as one of the founding fathers, I want to be excused on the grounds that I have long bid bye to partisan politics. “Four years ago, at an elaborate event at the Transcorp Hilton Hotels, Abuja, I announced my retirement from partisan politics after my failed attempt to contest for the office of the president and having attained the gracious age of 70, in a society where life expectancy stands at a ridiculous 47 years. “In appreciating what Allah has done for me in life, seeing me through many challenges, stabilising me during periods of tribulations, and safeguarding me through the thick and thin of political risks, I did state at that event that journalists would not push me around again. “Attaining the age of 70 in 2011 was to me a great accomplishment for which I remain eternally grateful to Almighty Allah and my family who have shown tremendous support and encouragement throughout my political trajectory. Since 2011 till date, I have been playing my role as an

elder statesman and “consultant-in-chief” to political office seekers and other like-minds who want my input in their aspirations. “At 74, I feel a deep sense of fulfilment in my new role as non-partisan elder statesman and a patriot; available to all categories of persons without the burgeoning label of any

political party or affiliation. I have many friends and associates in the two dominant political parties; APC and PDP, and numerous other smaller political parties. “At this stage of my political journey, I want to be able to interact and socialise with them without being branded “anti-

party”. “It is on the score of this that I have elected to turn down this request to participate in the rebranding conference of the PDP in a partisan manner. My fulfilment in life is further bolstered by the emerging scenario that is evident in our present political reality. “First, the idea of a two-

party system which has always been my desire; and the stack reality that, incumbents can be defeated at various levels of election as a function of growing awareness and consciousness on the part of the electorate. These, to me, present interesting dimensions in our political evolution as a country grappling with so

Aregbesola commends Jonathan for signing female genital mutilation law Oluwole Ige - Osogbo FOR the very first time, Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State, on Tuesday, commended former President Goodluck Jonathan for prohibiting female genital mutilation in Nigeria. Aregbesola, who had been very critical of Jonathan’s administration, said the immediate past president deserved to be appreciated for making genital mutilation a crime in the country. He gave this commendation while speaking at a programme organised by the United Nations Fund for Population Activities (UNFPA) and Shericare Foundation (SCARF) at the opening of a high-level meeting on female genital

mutilation, in Osogbo. Aregbesola stated that if the former president had been alleged of not performing by majority of Nigerians, he must still be lauded for signing into law on May 5, 2015 the Female Genital Mutilation Laws. He held that it must not go unnoticed that it was under the administration of Jonathan that it became a crime for anybody to mutilate the genital organ of a female in the name of circumcision or any other guise. Describing the practice as bad, borne out of primitive idea of the effort to continually dominate females in the society which must be stopped by all well-meaning Nigerians, Aregbesola contended that

government at all levels must ensure that they work towards the eradication of the act which has no advantage whatsoever. He said, “If I have been saying that the former president has not done any good for the country like most people have been saying, I want to use this opportunity to commend the former president for just one good thing he has done on the female genital mutilation law. “Former President Goodluck Jonathan did one good thing against Female Genital Mutilation, which makes it a crime for anybody to mutilate the genital organ, there is a law signed by him on May 5, this year.

Pay N5,000 stipend as promised, Aisha Buhari tells APC Leon Usigbe - Abuja WIFE of the president, Mrs Aisha Buhari, has appealed to the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), not to renege on the campaign promise to pay N5,000 to 25 million unemployed Nigerians and giving school children one free meal a day.

According to a statement issued by Adebisi Olumide Ajayi, her Special Assistant on Media, in Abuja, on Tuesday, her plea is coming after the senators from the party voted against the Senate motion calling on the presidency to pay the N5,000 allowance. The statement quoted the wife of the president as

saying that the APC was a party of integrity and had assured Nigerians during the campaign that it would pay N5,000 monthly to each of the 25 million most vulnerable citizens. She urged Nigerians to be patient with the APC government as the change they have been yearning for had come to stay.

Earlier, the wife of governor and President of the Shericare Foundation (SCARF), Mrs Sherifat Aregbesola, in her welcome address, described female genital mutilation as primitive. Dignitaries at the event included the wife of the Oyo State governor, Mrs Florence Ajimobi; Ekiti State governor’s wife, Mrs Feyi Fayose; representative of the wife of the governor of Lagos, Imo and Ebonyi, Iyaloja of Osun, Alhaja Awawu Asindemade.

3-yr-old girl defiled in Nasarawa Ademola Adegbite - Lafia A 20-year-old man, Musa Abubakar, is currently cooling his heels at the Nasarawa State Criminal Investigation Department (NSCID) for allegedly defiling a three-year-old girl, in Toto Local Government Area of the state. Nigerian Tribune reliably gathered that the suspect lured the innocent girl into his room with N20 worth of biscuit and chewing gum, covering her mouth with cloth with a view to preventing her from alerting passers-by with her cry. Credible source told the

3 policemen, others injured as miscreants fight over handset in Ibadan By Tunde Ogunesan AT least, three policemen and several others were injured on Tuesday when suspected miscreants around Apata area in Ibadan unleashed terror on the area over sale of “faulty new” handset. Trouble started when one of the attackers was alleged to have bought a handset from an Igbo trader but discovered that it was not in good condition. But in an attempt to return the

handset, the trader refused to accept it, claiming that it was purchased in good condition. The refusal, according to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, provoked the buyer who then mobilised his group who were alleged to have been armed with dangerous weapons around the area to fight back. According to the witness “The buyer is a Yoruba man and an ‘agbero’ who got angry after discovering that the handset he

just bought was not good. The Igbo trader stood his ground that he would not accept the handset. Before now, there were an unreported enmity between the Igbo traders in the area and some suspected miscreants who collect ‘settlement’ from the traders and commercial drivers regularly. “The buyer left but returned with many touts who attacked the traders and chased them away. They also attacked other people while three police-

many challenges. “I have heard whispers from different political arenas that one of the rationales for the rebranding of PDP was to prepare me for future elections in 2019. How ridiculous? God’s willing; by 2019 I will be 78 years old. If I called it quit in 2011, why would PDP contemplate fielding a 78 years old man in a presidential election in a country that parades very vibrant men and women of lesser age? “I have no intention whatsoever to run for any office again in Nigeria. I will consistently pray to Almighty Allah to grant me good health and sound mind to watch my dearest beloved country grow from strength to strength during my lifetime and beyond. “While I wish PDP the best of luck in its desire to rebrand for future electoral challenges, I wish Nigeria and Nigerians the uncommon wisdom to manage our internal contradictions for the sustenance of national unity.”

men were injured.” The policemen, according to the eyewitness, were injured in their bid to broker peace between the warring factions. The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State Police Command, DSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the incident. He said the police command was aware of the trouble in the area, saying it was sparked by the illegal money some miscreants collected from commercial drivers.

Nigerian Tribune that the victim was bleeding and helpless after the defilement at the front of the suspect‘s residence before one of the passers-by notify her parents. It was learnt further that the incident, which happened around 10:20a.m.when the victim‘s father, had gone to Emir‘s palace to pay homage to the traditional ruler, later resulted into commotion, as irate youths in the community wanted to lynch the suspect. Investigation further revealed that immediate intervention of the police saved him, while the victim was rushed to the general hospital within the community for treatment. According to one of the eyewitnesses, “we have been monitoring him all this while, playing with children, especially little girls inside his room. God has exposed him with his ungodly action. If not for police, he would have been killed.” While confirming the report on phone in Lafia, the state capital, on Tuesday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ismaila Numan, said the suspect confessed to the crime and would be charged to court after the investigation.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Lagosmetro

Fire fighters at the scene of the fire incident at Sara Foam. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Again, foam firm in flames Olalekan Olabulo

HERE was serious confusion around the Kirikiri area of Apapa on Tuesday as Sara Foam Manufacturing Company went up in flames. Millions of naira worth of goods was destroyed in the fire incident, which raged for over three hours, before it was finally put out by fire fighters from the state fire service. Traffic congestion around the area delayed fire fighters, who arrived at the scene to meet the fire well alive with neighbouring companies and sympathisers trying to put it out. Heavy smoke covered a large part of the Apapa industrial community as the fire continued to spread from one section of the company to another. The Tuesday fire occurred barely three months after

millions of naira worth of goods were destroyed in another fire incident at the foam manufacturing company. A worker at the company, who simply identified himself as Innocent, described the Tuesday fire as the biggest of all the fire incidents at the company. It was gathered that fire, which started around 10 ‘o clock in the morning was first noticed in the engine room of the company’s production section. Efforts by workers to put out the fire failed as the fire continued to spread and grew bigger and very wild. The fire soon went over the rooftop and attracted area boys and fire fighters from neighbouring companies, who made frantic efforts to put out the fire. A large portion of the foam manufacturing company, including the production area and the ware-

house were completely destroyed in the fire. Rasak Fadipe, Director of the Lagos State Fire Service, while speaking on the incident, stated that three teams from three different

fire stations were deployed to battle the fire. Fadipe also added that his men met the fire well alive and had to deploy modern fire fighting equipment at their disposal in

the battle to put out the fire A worker in the area, Christopher, while speaking with Lagos Metro urged the Lagos State government to investigate the constant fire incidents at

the foam manufacturing company. He said, “Every year the company catches fire. Just about three months ago there was a fire incident in the same company.”

Insecurity, bad roads, power supply are our problems, •We need motor park, market, inner roads —Oba of Bariga Bola Badmus and Chukwuma Okparaocha FORTY members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday interacted with members of their constituencies in forums that are meant to draw the attention of the lawmakers to the pains and yearnings of members of their constituencies. It will be recalled that the leadership of the House led by the Speaker, Honorable Mudashiru Obasa, had last week announced that Tuesday, November 10, as a town hall meeting day where each

member of the House was expected to go back to his constituency and have a tete-a-tete with residents there with a view to moving such a community forward. Lagos Metro monitored the exercise in a number of constituencies where residents were seen engaging their various representatives in dialogues, criticisms and brainstorming sessions. A lot of residents from various constituencies raised similar problems which centered mainly on poor state of roads, poor drainage facilities, deteriorating security presence and poor

electricity supply, among others. Some of the constituency where such issues were clearly identified included Oshodi/Isolo 1, Alimosho 1, Agege 1, and Ifako-Ijaiye constituencies, among others. Residents also called for more of such forum, because according to them, these would help them to enhance more interfacing between the lawmakers and those who voted them into power. Meanwhile, traditional ruler of Bariga, Oba Gbolahan Timson, on Tuesday

lamented the poor state of inner roads in the area, but said the government needed to quickly make available a large car park to ensure that roads were made free for vehicular traffic. Oba Timson also tasked the government to ensure the establishment of markets for the area, even as he supported other requests made by his subjects who gathered at a Town Hall Constituency Meeting organised by a member of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rotimi Abiru, with a view to obtaining the views and contributions of

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Car dealer forges documents to dupe late friend

This waste dump is right at the only entrance to Jide Street at Church Bus Stop, Oworonsoki; this dump has been in this state for a while. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa

Policeman allegedly commits suicide after missing promotion exercise Olalekan Olabulo THE police in Lagos State have begun investigations into the circumstances surround the death of a police corporal, who allegedly committed suicide . The policeman simply identified as Agi Elias with the Force. No 386982 was on Tuesday morning found dead in his vehicle in front of one of the police barracks in the state. The death of the policeman might not be unconnected with his inability to appear before the Promotion Assessment Committee, after completing a promotional course.

Lagos Metro gathered that the 40-year-old police officer was delayed in traffic on his way from Badagry and missed the opportunity to appear before the committee. The lifeless body of Elias was around 8 o’clock on Monday discovered in his Volkswagen Passat with the Reg No 489 AY. The image maker in charge of the state police command, Joe Offor confirmed the death but could not confirm if the policeman actually committed suicide. Offor told the Lagos Metro that the homicide section of the State Criminal Investigations Department had

residents tell lawmakers the constituents to the 2016 budget preparations of the state. Other demands made by those in attendance at the parley among others were the completion of Palm-

groove/ Pedro Road, a less than 1km road which had been on since 2011, award of Kusa Road and other inner roads for construction and establishment of recreation centres.

taken over the investigations. Offor in a press statement to the Lagos Metro said,”The Lagos state police command wishes to confirm the story that a policeman was found dead in his V/W Passat Reg.No. 489 AY parked at the entrance gate of high barracks Ikeja

today 10th Nov 2015 by 0730hrs.” The Lagos police spokesperson also added that “The NCO CPL Agi Elias until his sudden death was attached to Safer High Way patrol Lagos but on Corporal to Sergeant promotion course in Police Training School (PTS) Ikeja.”

A 46-year-old man, Peter Akala, has been accused by the police of duping his late friend Obiora Samuel. It was gathered that the incident happened at 96 Adeshina Street, Ijeshatedo, where they both met and lived until Obiora’s death. It was gathered that Akala allegedly deceived and obtained four vehicles, two Toyota Camry cars, Toyota Sequoia and Sienna bus from his late friend, with the false pretence of assisting him to sell them. It was further gathered that Obiora consented to the arrangement as a way of assisting him and handed the vehicles to him without the original papers following an agreement that if he got a buyer, he would release the paper to him for the sale. However, few weeks after the transaction, Obiora died suddenly from an undisclosed ailment. After his demise, Akala allegedly cashed in on his death and forged the vehicle documents, sold them and escaped.

Economist attacks Ambode over traffic crisis, insecurity Chima Nwokoji AN international magazine ‘The Economist,’ based in London, has blamed the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for the worsening traffic and escalating crime in the city describing him as “less competent”, “weak” and “full of excuses.” Known for its hardhitting analyses on issues of global importance, the Economist in its just released November edition described Lagos as being “among the most notori-

ously congested places in the world.” The Economist magazine in its latest edition blamed Mr. Ambode for managing to roll back some of the successes scored by his predecessor, Babatunde

Fashola, in managing the ordinarily chaotic traffic in the metropolis. “Yet the gridlock that Lagosians have suffered in recent weeks is noteworthy even by the city’s horrendous standards,” the mag-

ONE person was on Tuesday killed and another one severely injured around Elero area Awoyaya in Lekki , during a clash between two unidentified

men . Three houses comprising a room each were also destroyed in a fire incident that accompanied the clash between the two men. Lagos Metro gathered that the two men had a serious misunderstanding

between them leading to fisticuffs. It was further gathered that one of them set his neighbour’s house on fire and the angry neighbour responded in like manner. Another house was engulfed in the fire and the

azine read in part. It further raised concern that rush hours have lengthened, and vehicles back up at unusual hours along the bridges linking the mainland with an island business district.

LAMATA launches Mile 12 to Ikorodu BRT extension THE Lagos State government will on Thursday, November 12, 2015 increase high capacity buses by 434 when the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) extension from Mile 12 to Ikorodu is flagged off for operation. The transport project

implemented by the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) includes widening of the road with two additional lanes and the placing of BRT lanes in the middle of the road. Lagos State governor,

Two men in fight of death, burn each other houses Olalekan Olabulo

Unknown to him, the late Obiora duly informed his wife of the transaction before he died and gave her the original documents of the vehicles. After the burial, the wife went to Akala to know whether he had sold any of the vehicles, he denied any transaction with her late husband who was his friend. The matter was reported at Ijeshatedo police division and Akala subsequently arrested and interrogated. During the interrogation, he allegedly opened up and revealed that he had sold the vehicles with forged documents and offered to refund the money which he failed to fulfill. He was charged before an Isolo Magistrate’s Court and the presiding magistrate, Mrs O.A. Adedayo, granted him bail in the sum of N1m with two sureties in like sum. He was remanded in prison custody pending when he will perfect his bail. The matter was adjourned till December 16, 2015.

three houses were completely destroyed before fire fighters could arrive at the scene. Not satisfied with the burning houses the warring men went for cutlasses and knives with which they stabbed each other,

leading to the death of one of them. The other was severely injured and had to be rushed to the hospital by operatives of the Lagos State Fire Service who arrived at the scene to put out the fire.

Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode will launch the BRT project on Thursday. No fewer than 400, 000 passengers would be carried daily by 434 high capacity air-conditioned buses that have been prepared to run the corridor from Ikorodu to CMS via Mile 12. According to LAMATA, the Mile 12 – Ikorodu project is a two-in-one project which includes the widening of the 13.5km road from four lanes to six lanes with the BRT lanes running in the middle and the provision of BRT infrastructure that would support the operation of the BRT system.

businessnews

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Grazing routes plan unfolding soon —FG By Femi Ibirogba

The Federal Government has disclosed that it will soon unfold a comprehensive policy and its implementation strategies to put an end to frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen across the country. This was disclosed by Director, Federal Department of Animal production and Husbandry Services, Federal ministry of Agriculture, Dr Ademola Raji, while representing the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Mr Sonny Echono, at a two-day first Meeting of the National Animal Production Development Committee at the Federal College of Animal Health and Production Technology, Ibadan, on Tuesday. Dr Raji said comprehensive grazing reserves that would involve the private sector operators would incorporate pastoralists in a way that would make them more productive, sustainable and environment-friendly. “The meeting is coming at a critical period when national security is threatened by heightened and frequent farmer-pastoralist conflicts, banditry and cattle rustling, resulting in the depletion of our national herd; when national and state governments are emphasising the development of grazing reserves and stock routes, as well as embracing ranching as a panacea for tackling the above scourges,” Raji said. He harped on adequate regulation and guidelines for commercialisation of livestock and allied products with the aim of attracting more structured investments to the sector from within and outside the country, saying the livestock industry could employ millions of Nigerians, alleviate poverty and become a big revenue earner to the government. President of the National Institute of Animal Science (NIAS), Professor I. Adu, urged state governments to separate departments of animal production and husbandry services from veterinary services departments to aggressively develop the production of livestock through clear policy directions. He commended the Federal Government for carving out a department for livestock production and husbandry services.

National Vice-President II of the All Farmers’ Association of Nigeria (AFAN), Dr Olufemi Olaifa, lamented lack of, or grossly inadequate support for farmers, urging the Oyo State government to avoid playing politics with agriculture. Director/Chief Executive Officer of the National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI), Professor C. Lakpini, advocated a demand-driven research approach in the livestock industry to encourage farmers to take up research products and technologies. He also affirmed the potential of the sector to create employment opportunities for youths, women and business-inclined individuals.

From left, Corporate Relations Director, Mr Sesan Sobowale; Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Mr Peter Ndegwa, both of Guinness Nigeria Plc; Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode; Special Adviser to the Governor on Overseas Affairs and Investment, Professor Ademola Abass and Supply Chain Director, Guinness Nigeria, Mr Cephas Afebuameh, during a visit to the governor by the Guinness Nigeria team at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja.

N4bn fine: Skye Bank faults CBN, notifies NSE Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba-

S lagos

kye Bank has faulted the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to make it pay a N4 billion fine for failing to render appropriate returns of N40 billion of some Federal Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to

the Treasury Single Account (TSA) as required. The bank, in a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Monday, explained that it had started discussions with CBN with a view to reviewing the penalty, noting that the bank had never concealed any information from the regulatory body. CBN had, on October 2,

held a management meeting with all banks Chief Executive Officers (CEOs), resolving that the CBN would debit the accounts of all banks for the deposits of FGN MDAs. The bank explained that the bank, on October 7, 2015, rendered returns on all remitted and unremitted amounts to the CBN, the daily returns of all

MDA funds in its custody, and those whose status under the TSA were not yet clear, noting that it continued to render all due returns daily. However, it noted that a significant portion of the money for which the penalty was applied was from organs that were not Federal Government agencies, such as NNPC Pension

Funds and National Assembly Legislative Aides account balances, whose money was erroneously transferred to the CBN but had been refunded. Skye Bank, however, assured that it was “a responsible and law-abiding financial institution that places premium on compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.”

RB launches Mortein LED to eliminate malaria in Nigeria IN demonstration of its commitment to innovation and making life easier for consumers in Nigeria, RB Nigeria has launched Mortein Liquid Electric Device (LED). The product, launched in Port Harcourt, is in line with the company’s heritage of innovation in improving the health of resi-

dents in the geopolitical zone. Speaking at the product re-launch, which was attended by Mortein trade teams, sales agents and customers, the Marketing Director, RB West Africa, Mr Silivrili Oguzhan, said Mortein LED works with electricity and lasts up to 30 nights, killing 100%

mosquitoes. Mr Oguzhan, who was represented by the Brand Manager, Mortein, Ms Iku Ejiroghene, revealed that the re-launch of Mortein LED to South-South was informed by the need to provide a more convenient way for Nigerians to stem the high prevalence of ma-

Guinness Nigeria to partner Lagos on wealth creation Chima Nwokoji-lagos

Chief Executive Officer, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Peter Ndegwa, has expressed the company’s willingness to continue to partner with the Lagos State Government in its transformation drive, which supports business and wealth creation. Speaking during a visit to the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, Mr Ndegwa said the government’s drive to implement its development agenda had given Lagos residents renewed hope. He reiterated Guinness Nigeria’s gratitude to the Lagos State government for its leading role in the provision of critical infra-

structure and support for the manufacturing industry in the state. “Guinness Nigeria, with over 1, 500 employees, considers Lagos as its home and an important place for doing business, seeing that it is the host community of our headquarters and our largest brewery in Nigeria. We are proud of the partnership which we have forged with the government over the years, and we shall continue to run our business in a responsible manner that creates wealth for this great country,” Ndegwa said. As a corporate citizen, Ndegwa noted that Guinness Nigeria had always paid its taxes. But beyond that, the company was at the

forefront of driving responsible drinking behaviour in society, he said, as well as deepening sustainable environmental practices. “It is our desire to continue to empower many of the local communities from which we source our raw materials by increasing the proportion of our local input raw materials to 70 per cent,” he remarked. Welcoming the Guinness Nigeria team, Ambode acknowledged the company’s giant strides in the manufacturing and CSR sectors, and urged the company to continue to deliver innovative products in a manner that ultimately enhances the livelihoods of all members of the community.

laria in the country and Africa generally. “Malaria is responsible for 60 per cent of outpatient visits to health facilities, 30 percent of childhood deaths, 25 percent of deaths in children under one year and 11 percent of maternal deaths. This is unacceptable,” he said. He affirmed RB’s commitment to the elimination of malaria in the country while optimistic that effective collaboration and implementation of targeted initiatives could make this achievable. Mr Silivrili said: “Malaria can be eliminated in Nigeria, which is the reason RB Nigeria is taking the lead. We have made strategic partnerships with the National Malaria Elimination Programme (NMEP), the lead agency of the Federal Ministry of Health on the elimination of malaria and other relevant government bodies. Through these partnerships, we have reached over one million mums by engaging, sensitising and educating them through our Primary Health Centre

programmes.” He added that the company launched the Mortein Anti-malaria Campaign in 2012 to increase awareness of the negative impact which malaria cause on individuals, families and country as well as to sensitise the populace on the appropriate measures to combat malaria. Oguzhan assured that RB Nigeria would continue to upscale its commitment to assist many more Nigerians live healthier. “This philosophy informed the re-launch of Mortein LED which provides 30 nights of all-round continuous protection for a peaceful night sleep. The new Mortein LED, which comes in a skillet pack, is equally effective and will replace the old Mortein LED which takes the form of a blister pack’’, he disclosed. A major distributor of RB Nigeria products and Manager, Everyday Group of Companies, Mr. William Onyejele, welcomed the new Mortein LED as another testimonial of innovation for which RB is renowned.

businessnews

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Airport safety: FAAN gets approval to employ 720 more staff Shola Adekola-Lagos

HE Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) yesterday disclosed it has received the federal government’s permission to boost its workforce with additional 720 staff. The organization said the new intake will be mostly deployed in critical areas around the airside of the the airports runways in order to boost safety around the facilities across Nigeria. Speaking, the Managing Director of FAAN, Mr. Saleh Dunoma said as a result of increase in threat to airports and flight operations, the airports manage-

ment authority is putting appropriate measures and equipment in place to forestall further threat to aircraft operating in and out of the airports. Dunoma who spoke at the opening ceremony of three days workshop to mark the Murtala Muhammed Airport 2015 Safety Week, explained that FAAN placed premium on safety and urged participants to always plan ahead to avoid accidents. The guest speaker who is FAAN Director of Airport Operations, Captain Henry Omeogu, who also represented the MD said the safety week was to provide awareness to stakeholders

and travellers on the need to observe safety culture at the airport environment.

Omeogu frowned at the indiscriminate posting of untrained personnel by the

airport authority and airlines to the airside as these personnel are nothing but

hazards that may cause serious and regrettable accidents.

Nigerian aviation must transit to digital operations —NAMA boss MR Ibrahim Abdulsalam, Managing Director, Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), he said Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind in the global movement from manual to digital operations in the aviation industry. Abdulsalam said this in a statement signed by Mrs Olajumoke Adetona, acting General Manager, Public Affairs, NAMA, in Lagos on Tuesday. According to the statement, Abdulsalam ex-

pressed the view while declaring open a three-day workshop designed to educate stakeholders on the migration from manual to electronic Notice To Air Men (e-NOTAM). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the e-NOTAM is application software designed by NAMA to enhance the dissemination of aeronautical information electronically to airspace users. The statement quoted Abdulsalam as saying that

``aviation globally is moving away from manual to digital operations and Nigeria cannot afford to be left behind. ``The agency’s determination to provide safe, efficient and economic air navigation services has challenged us to deploy new technologies that would ease service provision, save time and reduce operational cost for the airlines and aviation agencies.’’ According to the state-

ment, Abdulsalam said he was confident that the deployment of e-NOTAM would make for ease of access to online real-time aeronautical information by doing away with paper work and bureaucracy. The statement said Abdulsalam also assured participants that NAMA was willing to make all necessary adjustments to accommodate customers’ feedback and complaints in areas of possible improvement.

Lagos International Trade Fair ... Lagos International Trade Fair ... LCCI canvasses financial support for non-oil sectors Akin Adewakun Adn Gbemi Solaja-Lagos

From left, Treasurer, Elder Felix Bamidele; President, Mr Victor Adenigbagbe and Vice-president, Chief Zacheaus Ojuolape all of Odua Cooperative Conglomerate Ltd, at a press briefing to announce the formation of Odua Cooperative Conglomerate Ltd in Ibadan on Monday.

Cooperative advocates strategy to alleviate poverty By Paul Omorogbe

The state governments of Ogun, Oyo, Osun, Ondo and Ekiti have been enjoined to use Odua Cooperative Conglomerate Limited as a platform to actualize fiscal policies aimed at alleviating poverty and creating employment for the teeming youth and populace in the South West. President of the newly formed Odua Cooperative Conglomerate Limited, Mr Victor Adenigbagbe,

said this at press briefing held on Monday in Ibadan to announce the amalgamation of five cooperative apexes namely: Cooperative Investment and Trust Society Limited, Cooperative Industries Limited, Cooperative Supply Association Limited, Cooperative Transport Limited and Rainbow Travels and Services Limited, into one body. According to him, “Representatives of these cooperative apexes signed a Memorandum of Under-

NSE: ASI depreciates by 0.64% Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeobalagos

The equities market at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) closed on a negative note on Tuesday, as NSE All-Share Index depreciated by 0.64 per cent to close at 28,981.12 basis points, compared with the 0.03 per cent depreciation recorded previously. Its Year-to-Date

returns stands at 16.38 per cent. Market capitalisation stood at N16.7 trillion at the end of trading, a depreciation of N130 billion from the N16.5 trillion of Monday trading. Market turnover closes negative as volume declined by 71.79 per cent against 12.78 per cent uptick recorded in the previous session.

standing to have one Board and Management under one umbrella named, ‘Odua Cooperative Conglomerate Limited.’ “Under this umbrella, the remaining apexes: Cooperative Press Limited, Association of Nigeria Cooperative Exporters Limited and Od’ua Cooperative Alliance Limited whose membership includes Lagos State Cooperative Federation Limited would also be absorbed after all formalities must have been concluded.” Adenigbagbe said the merger was necessary due to adverse economic realities that had left only the Cooperative Investment and Trust Society Limited and the Cooperative Industries Limited thriving. “With the exit of the defunct Cooperative Bank which operated as a central funding agency for members of these moribund apexes, businesses had been adversely affected. The fact is that our members are poor, hence cannot survive on unsubsidized loans.

Vice-President and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Chief Olawale Cole, has called on the nation’s financial institutions to support the non-oil sector, especially the small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enable the country to come out of the present economic doldrums, occasioned by over-reliance on oil. Speaking at the Bank of Industry Day at the fair, Chief Cole argued that the present economic doldrums the country finds itself would have been averted if concerted efforts had been made in the past by the previous governments to diversify the nation’s economy. According to him, the na-

tion should have envisaged the present state of the economy ten years earlier, since it was obvious that maintaining a mono-product economy would not be sustainable. While commending Bank of Industry’s management for identifying with the spirits of the fair by coming to interact with operators of SMEs at the Fair, Chief Olawale Cole expressed the commitments of the Chamber to always engage in activities that would positively impact the nation’s economy. Earlier at the Investment Conference, organised by the Chamber at Muson Centre, one of the three centres at the air, Cole had disclosed that response to this year’s edition of the fair had been encouraging, since it attracted numerous local and international companies from China,

Egypt, Japan, Ghana, India, European Union, Indonesia and Pakistan. He explained that the investment conference was aimed at drawing attention to investment opportunities in the non-oil sectors with a view to expanding the nonoil export net in line with the vision on diversification of the economy. “The much-needed development and diversification we crave for in Nigeria cannot be achieved without investments. Foreign Direct Investments into Nigeria has dwindled from $1.381billion in July 2014 to $723.49million as at July 2015. “In real terms, the non-oil sector contributed 90.20 per cent to the nation’s GDP, marginally higher from the figure recorded in Q1 of 2015(89.55%) and 89.24% recorded in second Quarter of 2014.”

Exhibitors decry low patronage at Freedom Park Some exhibitors at the creative arts section of the Lagos trade fair, located at the Freedom Park, on Tuesday lamented low patronage as the fair entered its fifth day. They made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews in Lagos. Mrs Onyinye Atuanya, the Managing Director of Vulpes Fulva Boutique, expressed disappointment with the general organisation of the fair. Atuanya said that she loved the venue arrangement as exhibitors of art and craft materials were not supposed to be at the Tafawa Balewa Square, the main venue.

She, however, said that poor publicity was affecting sales at the location. “ I have not sold to anyone who came purposely to the fair, but to the lovers and ardent customers of the park who came to unwind. “The opening event was equally not organised; people who have come to relax were the ones who participated. “Most of the exhibitors were not also around during the opening event on Friday. “I have to go and call people to come over to buy my stuffs from the relaxation centre of the park,’’ Atuanya said. Mrs Abisola Taiwo of

Studio of Mode, another exhibitor, said she was sad because she invested a lot in the fair, but had not been able to achieve much. She attributed the situation to the fact that freedom park was just being used the first time. “Business is too slow and I feel its the first time the freedom park will be used. “Am optimistic that next year will be better, but I hope the organisers will work on publicity,’’ Taiwo said. Mr Umoh Unwala, a marketing officer for Ruby and Jade Ltd, a flooring and accessories company, said he was supposed to have displayed more of his designs, but was not encouraged by the patronage.

12 news

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Again, Biafran agitators ‘take over’ Port Harcourt •Rivers govt dissociates self from protests •Nobody was injured—Police Dapo Falade - POrt Harcourt

IVERS State may have become the main attraction for the agitators for Biafran Republic, as protesters, in their hundreds, stormed some parts of the state, on Tuesday, in continuation of their call for secession. The latest protest in the state by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) was the second within three days in a row and the third, after the earlier one that paralysed activities in the state capital, last month. Several commuters were, last Sunday, left stranded, in Oyigbo Local Government Area of the state, as supporters of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) staged a protest march. Two protests took place at the Okobe community on East-West Road, Ahoada West Local Government Area and at the WKC Roundabout in Woji, on Saturday. However, unlike the two previous protests, which were peaceful, that of Tuesday turned violent, as the protesters were said to have disrupted economic activities on the Eleme and Aba Road, Port Harcourt axis of the state. The protesting youths were said to have smashed vehicles’ windscreens, pull down Nigerians flags and attacked those who refused to join them in solidarity for the Biafra Republic. Amid chants of “Free Nnamdi Kanu” (the detained director of Radio Biafra), the protesting youths, decked in Biafra insignias, were said to have trekked from Aba, Abia State to Port Harcourt through Oyigbo, as early as 6.30 a.m. and blocked all routes leading to the state capital. Eyewitness accounts have it that the youth were coming in from Oyigbo, but were confronted by anti-riot policemen already stationed at the popular Eleme junction. The police officers were said to have shot several tear gas cannisters to prevent the protesting youths from entering into the state capital. The protesters were, however, defiant, as they were able to pass through the thick smoke emanating from the tear gas cannisters to have their way. “It was something else on Tuesday. The protesters became violent at a point. They wanted to confront the

police who fired several tear gas cannisters at them. “But they were defiant as they forged ahead in their movement to Port Harcourt. I salute the professional way the police handled the matter. If not, there would have been casualties. “The police, after battling for hours to stop the protesters, had to surrender and escorted them as they were moving. “They were pulling down the Nigerian flag, throwing stones at banks’ offices and even beating up people who refused to chant the Biafra solidarity song,” an eyewit-

ness said. Another eyewitness account had it that three of the protesters sustained bullet wounds from sporadic gun shots fired into the air by the police to scare them away at the Eleme junction. According to the eyewitness, the three injured persons were later evacuated to Oyigbo, where they were said to be receiving treatment at undisclosed clinic. “At the Artillery junction, the police shot several tear gas cannisters to scare the defiant Biafra protesters, who marched through the police barricade and headed on.

“The police battled with the protesters for several minutes before they gave up and allowed the protesters to have their way,” he said. Expectedly, the protest paralysed economic activities in Port Harcourt, as commercial drivers withdrew their vehicles from the road, even as banks and shops hurriedly closed to avoid looting and vandalisation of properties. As at 3.50 p.m, the Biafran agitators marched peacefully through the popular Ikwerre Road to the state Government House, even as police officers were seen in

three police vans, escorting the protesters. The Rivers State police command, while confirming the protest, however, denied shooting or injuring any of the protesting Biafran youths. The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Ahmad Muhammad, who said this, disclosed that the police had been monitoring the situation, stressing that report at his disposal indicated that nobody was shot, let alone injured. Meanwhile, the Rivers State government has dissociated itself from the pro-

Hundreds of Biafran protesters, on Ikwerre Road, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Tuesday. PHOTO: DAPO FALADE

tests by Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), asking for the actualisation of the Biafran Republic. Taking an exemption to the protest, Governor Nyesom Wike, in a statement issued by his special assistant (media), Simeon Nwakaudu, said the state believed in one indivisible Nigeria.

Igbo Mandate Congress condemns Radio Biafra hate speeches

An Igbo social and cultural organisation, Igbo Mandate Congress (IMC) and the presumed founder of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Justice Eze Ozobu, on Tuesday, allegedly condemned the hate speeches against other ethnic nationalities in Nigeria, which characterised the face of Radio Biafra. This was as it also demanded for the immediate release of IPOB protesters arrested during the recent protest in the South-East and beyond. Making the condemnation during an emergency meeting of the coordinators of the IMC, in Onitsha, to evaluate the implication of the IPOB successful protest march in Onitsha, Asaba, Owerri and Yenagoa last Friday, the DirectorGeneral of Igbo Mandate Congress, Reverend Obinna Akukwe, described the hate speeches as contrary to the spirit of Biafra.

House of Reps gets petition against CCT chairman From Jacob Segun Olatunji and Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare AN Abuja-based group, Anti-Corruption Network, has submitted a petition alleging corruption against the chairman of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT), Mr Danladi Yakubu Umar, at the House of Representatives, on Tuesday. This is coming a few days after another group, called Mission for Peace and Development, filed a case at the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja, against Umar, over allegations of corruption, graft practices, financial impropriety and the abuse of office. The group, in two different petitions signed by its executive secretary, Mr Ajufo I. Ajufo, submitted to the House during its plenary, the group stated that it had discovered “startling facts and documents that reveal a

scandalous and outrageous level of corruption” in the CCT, which it described “as a vital judicial institution.” The petition was presented by the chairman, House Committee on Army, Honourable Shawulu Kwewum, on behalf of Anti-Corruption Network. Presenting the petition, Honourable Kwewum alleged that former Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, Mr Mohammed Adoke, had recommended that two persons were to be arrested and investigated for alleged corruption. The group further stated that there were six different cases of alleged misappropriation of public funds, award of fictitious contracts, disregard for due process and conversion of public funds for personal purposes against the CCT chairman. The petitions were supported by copies of payment

vouchers and schedule. In another five-page petition, the Anti- Corruption Network said Umar awarded a contract for the supply of a Toyota Prado Jeep in the sum of N15,273,000 without following due process for procurement. “The contract was awarded to one Maigoro Engineering Nigeria Limited. This company was an engi-

neering company and not into car dealership, but Mr Umar foisted the company on the CCT,” the group noted. According to the group, the former EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde, on June 24, 2014, submitted the report of an investigation to the office of the AttorneyGeneral (AG) with Ref. No.: EFCC/EC/ JUS/07/117. The group wondered why

the AG’s office later went silent on Umar and prosecuting only Abdullahi. The Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, who presided over the plenary session, directed that the petition be laid before the House and subsequently ruled that the House Committee on Public Petition should take charge for further legislative action.

Wike bans protests, rallies in Rivers Dapo Falade-Port Harcourt GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has announced a ban on all forms of street protests, rallies and demonstrations. He made the announcement in a broadcast to the people of the state on Tuesday evening, saying some groups had, within a space of two months, staged unauthorised protests in the state.

The decision was consequent upon a protest staged earlier in the day in some parts of the state by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who were agitating for the actualisation of the Republic of Biafra. Governor Wike said, while individuals and groups were free to exercise their freedom of expression, such must be peaceful and strictly within the bounds of the constitution.

He said the ban was after due consultation with the State security council, warning that any person or group who violated ban or acts in any manner prejudicial to the interest of peace and security would be arrested and prosecuted. “For the second time within a month individuals and groups purporting to represent the indigenous people of Biafra have held unauthorised protests on the streets in Port Harcourt.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

news IPAC, Leventis pay glowing tributes to HID 16

By Saheed Salawu

HIEF Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo epitomised the maxim that behind every successful man is a strong woman. The Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC) took this position when its officials emphasised the qualitative partnership HID offered her husband, Chief Obafemi Awolowo which, they said, in turn, brought progress and development to the country. The IPAC officials, made up of chairmen and other

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

executives of various political parties, spoke, on Tuesday, in Ikenne, Ogun State, when they were being received by Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Tokunbo Awolowo-Dosumu during a condolence visit to the Obafemi Awolowo family. The IPAC chairman, Chief Peter Ameh, said HID Awolowo’s contributions to the development of the country were recognised internationally. “She helped her husband to build the foundation for good governance. We are

here to appreciate all her contributions because we have benefited from them and generations yet unborn will benefit from them,” Chief Ameh, who is the National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), said. “It is this spirit of selfless service to the nation that we are asking the present crop of leaders to imbibe. They should take a leaf from that era of leadership of Chief Awolowo, when people were ready to give their life to the growth and development of this country. We must go

back to that era if we are willing to go forward,” he added. The National chairman of the Labour Party, Alhaji Abdulkadir Abdulsalam, who was part of the IPAC delegation, described Mama Awolowo as a great woman of unequalled virtues. “She was the greatest of all mothers that ever lived. Her contributions to Nigeria’s development politically, socially and economically were unparalleled and unquantifiable. “We appreciate her. We adore her. We commend her life. We thank God for a suc-

cessful lifetime,” Alhaji Abdulsalam said. Businessman and philanthropist, A. P. Leventis, was also, on Tuesday, in Ikenne to condole with the Awolowos. The leader of Leventis Group wrote in a condolence register opened for Mama Awolowo: “In fond remembrance of a wonderful lady, a great Nigerian and fine supporter of her exceptional husband, a close friend of our family. Mama was revered by all of us.” In their separate remarks while appreciating the IPAC officials for their visit, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu said the death of their mother should not mark the end of a golden era, but should serve as an inspiration to all and sundry, particularly the political class, for the rejuvenation of the country.

Taraba gov sure of victory on appeal Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji - Abuja

Manager, Purchasing, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publisher of Tribune titles, Mr Samuel Afolabi (right), representing the company’s Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, presenting a copy of the maiden edition of Tribune to the Oyo State Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Mr John Oyedokun Adewoye, during his courtesy visit to the Tribune House, Ibadan, on Tuesday. PHOTO: ALOLADE GANIYU

HID: Oyo NSCDC to participate fully in burial programmes Seeks closer ties with Tribune By Abiodun Awolaja THE Oyo State command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has condoled with the African Newspapers of Nigeria Plc, Publishers of the Tribune titles, over the death of its chairman, Chief HID Awolowo, indicating its readiness to participate fully in the activities marking her burial in the state. The new state commandant of the NSCDC, Mr John Adewoye, made this disclosure when he led a delegation of senior staff of the command including David Adigun (Assistant Commandant), Olatunji Saheed (Assistant Commandant) and the corps PRO, Mr Oluwole Olusegun, on a condolence cum familiarisation visit to the Tribune Headquarters, Imalefalafia, Ibadan, on Tuesday. The commandant, who described his visit to the Tribune headquarters as a homecoming and the Tribune, as the leading newspaper in Nigeria, lauded what he called the paper’s

consistency, passion for truth and balanced coverage, factors which he said had sustained it in the last 66 years. The commandant appealed for fairness in the case of misbehaving officers, saying that maligning the entire corps because of the behaviour of an unruly few could dampen the morale of its

officers and men. “Sometimes when we send our boys out, the intoxication of the uniform may come in at times. Out of every 12, there must be a Judas. But whenever we have that Judas, please, call on us and we shall intervene accordingly,” he said. Responding on behalf of the management, the Se-

nior Manager (Purchasing), Mr Samuel Afolabi, lauded the NSCDC boss for the condolence visit, saying “You have come at the right time, joining others in commiserating with us over the loss of Mama. “Mama was Tribune titles chairman for 64 years. We were all proud of her and even in death, we are still proud of her.”

Falae kidnap: Two other suspects arraigned Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure TWO suspects arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS), in Abuja, over the kidnap of the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Chief Olu Falae, were on Tuesday, arraigned before an Akure High Court. The two suspects, Abdulkadir Umar and Babawuro Kato, were brought to the court with five other suspects arrested by the men of the Ondo State Police Command. The Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) sought the approval of the court to withdraw the earlier charges

preferred against the suspects to be replaced with new ones at the resume hearing of the case on Tuesday. The charges preferred against the seven suspects read: “That you, Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed, Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday 21st September, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did give information for the purpose of kidnapping and abducting Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae.” “That the suspects and others now at large, “on or about

Monday 21st September, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division did aid the kidnapping and abduction of Chief Samuel Oluyemi Falae. “Abubakar Auta, Bello Jannu, Umaru Ibarahim, Masahudu Muhammed and Idris Lawal, Abdulkadir Umar, Babawo Kato and others now at large, on or about Monday 21st September, 2015 at Kajola/Eyinala Community in Akure Judicial Division kidnapped Chief Oluyemi Falae, the former Secretary to the Federation Government of Nigeria and did not release him until N5,000,000 ransom was paid.”

TARABA State governor, Darius Ishaku, whose election was voided by the state election tribunal last Saturday, has described himself as a victim of “bad taxi driver,” confident that he would regain his seat at the Court of Appeal. The Justice Musa Danladiled Taraba State Election Petition Tribunal sitting in Abuja, had instead declared All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Jumai Aisha Alhassan, winner of the April 11 governorship election after it held that the governor was not validly nominated by PDP as its candidate. Speaking to reporters after a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), at the party’s national secretariat on Tuesday, he said the tribunal’s judgment was a case of car driven by a bad driver. He said it was wrong for the tribunal to concede that he won the election, but was not validly nominated. He said: “I am not shaken; God is on His throne. I will defend the mandate Taraba people gave to me. I have confidence in judiciary, but there is corruption in the judiciary. Just like in every profession, there are bad eggs. “There are good drivers and there are bad drivers. It is unfortunate that this driver (of the tribunal) was a bad driver. That judgement was an accidental discharge,” he said.

Nigerian Tribune

Lasun urges entrepreneurs to make use of Legislative arm of govt Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel-Abuja THE Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun, on Tuesday, urged Nigerians, entrepreneurs and captains of industries to make effective use of the legislative arm of government in the various sectors of the nation’s economy. Honourable Lasun made the plea on Tuesday, when the management of the Chartered Institute of Commerce paid him a courtesy call in Abuja. According to him, “It is when legislative backing is given to all economic activities, public and private sectors that can institutionalise continuity in governance.” Deputy Speaker expressed concern over under-utilisation of the legislative arm of government, thereby making nullity of what they do in the course of carrying out their legislative businesses. Making reference to the scrapping of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SUREP), Deputy Speaker noted that the programme would not have been scrapped just like that if it had legislative backing.

Reps want review of Boko Haram victim support funds Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja The House of Representatives on Tuesday, urged President Muhammadu Buhari to reappraise the modalities for the disbursement of the Victims Support Fund to ensure probity, accountability and transparency. The House also directed that names and beneficiaries of the Victims Support Fund (VSF) donated by Federal Government and some individuals to assist victims of insurgency in some north-eastern states of Nigeria should be published in a website. The resolution was sequel to a motion entitled “need for transparency and accountability in the disbursement of the victims intervention fund” sponsored by Honourables Asabe Bashir and Kamale Usman.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

tribune cartoons

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

GIANT IN THE TROPIC OF AFRICA Lt. General

Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma

FUNOLOGY

(GCON) •Born on the 9th of December, 1938 in T a k u m , Taraba State (formally Gongola), Nigeria.

CHURCH BOY

•In 1959, Danjuma enrolled at the Nigerian College of Arts, Science and Technology in Zaria (Ahmadu Bello University) to study History. Later, he left the university to enrol with the Nigerian Army.

SEGELUULU

•He is a military icon, renowned philanthropist and multi-millionaire business tycoon. Danjuma had an illustrious career in the Nigerian army retiring as Chief of Army Staff. He was also Minister of Defence under ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo. He held top advisory position as Chairman of Presidential Advisory Councils. •Danjuma is the chairman of South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO). He is also the chairman and founder of the TY Danjuma Foundation.

There are 10 differences in the cartoons below. the differences should be marked in b

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18 LETTERS TO THE

Wednesday, 11 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.

Terrorism: Strengthen security at airports

HE bombing of a Russian airline which took off from Egypt should be a lesson for Nigeria. More should be done towards strengthening security in the nation’s airports. We are also waging war on terrorism, and these evil people could go to any lenght to wreak havoc. I think extra attention should be given to the baggage section. More sophisticated equipment that can screen baggages should also be procured, while security should also be tightened at the airports gener-

ally. We have experienced a number of stowaway breaching airport security in the past. If these stowaway were terrorists, we can only imagine what would have happened. We shouldn’t wait until we experience terrible acts in our aviation sector before we act. From history, we know that terrorist acts perpetrated in the aviation sector are usually terrible. The 1988 Lockerbie airline bombing claimed more than 200 lives, as well as the 2011 bombing of the World Trade Centre in

Ebola: Lessons after the virus FINALLY, Sierra Leone has been declared Ebolafree by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is good news for West Africa. At its peak, the virus killed over 11,000 people in five countries. Liberia had earlier been declared free of the virus a couple of months ago. However, despite this victory, the war against this dreaded virus is far from over. Some people are still being infected in Guinea, and until this nation is certified free, other countries in the region should not relax. It is high time we focused on hygiene. This is one of the ways through which we can beat diseases. Apart from this, African governments should invest in research and development. Until now, there was no medicine for the virus, and while our people were dying, there was little our governments could do. We were now at the mercy of Western nations for the survival of our infected people. If we cannot produce Western drugs, we could do with traditional herbs. I know if traditional medicine practitioners had been consulted during the height of the virus, a solution might have been found. It is, therefore, important that there is collaboration between African countries in the area of medicine. We can establish a joint emergency control centre, which would respond

to medical cases, like the Ebola virus. We should not rely on the West for everything, as doing so will only put us at their mercy. Yetunde Soares, Lagos.

New York, which claims over 3,000 lives. We don’t want Nigeria to experience such terrible acts as well. While there are real Boko Haram members in the country, there are many

who are just sympathetic to their cause. These people are even capable of carrying out lone wolf attacks. By lone wolf attacks, I mean attacks that are planned only by the per-

petrator. This is difficult to trace by security agencies as there are no terror cells to monitor. I hope the Nigerian security agents will now take the security at our airports

very seriously. In as much as the war against Boko Haram is yet to be won, then we cannot afford to relax security-wise. Fidelis Agbor, f_agbor@gmail.com

Hasten work on Lagos/Ibadan Expressway PERMIT me to use this opportunity to call on President Muhammadu Buhari not to forget the LagosIbadan Expressway, as it is in such a terrible state at the moment. Former President Goodluck Jonathan started the rehabilitation of the road, and we thought the plight of people who ply the road would come to an end as soon as possible until this new government came on board. The rate at which work is being done now is not encouraging at all. Nigerians, including people of the South West voted enmasse for President Buhari, and part of

the dividends of democracy is to have good facilities, including roads. I am, therefore, urging President Buhari, to as a matter of urgency, pay the companies so that work can

continue in earnest on the expressway. Apart from this road, there are other roads which the former government was working on before it was voted out of office. Work on all these

roads have been stopped, and it is hoped that this new government would order contractors back to site. •Tunde Adigun, Oluyole, Ibadan.

Advice to unemployed graduates IT is high time unemployed graduates look beyond white collar jobs, and focus on skills that would make them self-employed. I want to suggest small scale businesses like tailoring, barbing, dry cleaning, rentals, shoe making, carpentry, and many more.

These are businesses that will make them employers of labour, especially with the education they acquired. Nigeria is a country which gives more attention to paper certification; this is why our country is not developing. It is high time we moved away from

paper certification to real vocational skills. This will enable young people establish their businesses. For our country to develop, we need as many businesses as possible. At the moment, if we can get 10 million youths to set up businesses, and each employs just two people, do we know how many people would be employed by that? The government’s responsibility is to provide conducive environment for such businesses to thrive by making sure that there are facilities, like uninterrupted power supply, good roads, among others, while the banks should assist with the granting of loans for business startups and expansion. What we have at the moment is nothing to write home about; companies’ profits are being hit by the cost of diesel, which they use in powering their operations. Those in the agribusiness sector find it hard to transport their produce to the cities for sale due to bad roads. I am, therefore, calling on unemployed people not to rely much on white-collar jobs as they are getting fewer by the day. It is high time they looked inward for how to earn a living, thereby contributing to the nation’s economic growth. •Nelson Ekwale, Benin, Edo State.

editorial

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

NERC commissioners and severance package

HE House of Representatives on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 directed its Committee on Power to liaise with the presidency to stop the planned payment of N2.7 billion severance package to the outgoing commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) pending the conclusion of an investigation into the issue. The decision was sequel to the adoption of a motion by one of its members, Alhaji Mohammed Gololo who told his colleagues that under the arrangement, the chairman of the commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, would be paid N400 million while six other members would receive N380 million each. His contention was that the commissioners’ approval of such a payment to themselves violated the Electric Power Sector Reform Act and the regulations of the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission. According to Gololo, the money was approved, among other things, to cover an upfront payment of two years salaries to the outgoing commissioners because the Electric Power Sector Reform Act bars them from rendering any service in the power sector for a period of two years after leaving office. He maintained that since the payment was not authorised by the National Assembly, it was unlawful and unconstitutional. He said the entire process lacked transparency and was indefensible in the light of the problem of dwindling resources the country had been grappling with. An earlier newspaper story on the same humongous severance pay was reported to have prompted the presidency to demand an explanation from the NERC on the issue. The subsequent statement issued by the commission’s chairman denied the report which it described as a mischievous effort to tarnish the commission’s “hard-earned integrity” and destroy electricity regulation in Nigeria. He stated that the severance scheme was established by the pioneer commissioners in 2006 in line with the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act for commissioners alone, while the present commission enlarged the scope by extending it to all staff. The denial by the chairman of the commission notwithstanding, the House Committee on Power should carry out its investigation into the issue. The committee should critically examine the constitutionality of NERC commissioners establishing their own severance scheme. Should that not be the responsibility of the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC)? The committee should also look into the propriety of the commissioners being paid for their debarment from

any professional or consultancy work in the electricity sector for two years after the end of their tenure. Were the commissioners not aware of that condition before they accepted to serve? If the N2.7 billion story is wrong, what is the correct amount calculated to be paid to the commissioners as they take their exit next month. The Nigerian public has the right to know. Remuneration for political office holders has for long been a contentious issue and will so remain until sanity begins to prevail and public self service ceases to be subordinated to self service. The increases in the salaries and allowances of political office holders were predicated on the assumption that adequate remuneration will enhance commitment to duty and serve as a disincentive to corruption. The fact that has emerged is that the mouth-watering salaries and allowances being enjoyed by both elective and appointive officials have not brought about the expected improvement in performance and conduct. One major burden at the different levels of government in Nigeria today is the payment of severance allowance to political office holders at the end of their periods of service. While retired career officers who spent the most productive periods of their life in the public service are collapsing on pension queues before they could collect the mere pittance being provided by the lopsided system, political office holders who served for a few years are being disproportionately rewarded. Those who laboured for thirty or thirty-five years to sustain the system retire into penury while those who lived on it retire into affluence. We have in the past had cause to advise the government to rethink the issue of severance package for political office holders. It should not be a subject of argument that the government has not been able to achieve the objective of the gesture. This is why the Muhammadu Buhari administration has made the crusade against graft a cardinal programme. The expected commitment to the service of the nation which was the basis of the outlandish salaries and allowances is yet to be seen. The tiny minority whose lifestyles are being sustained with a substantial percentage of the country’s resources has not ceased diverting public funds into their private pockets. In its exploration of avenues to cut costs, the Buhari administration should see the severance package for political office holders as one of the undeserved benefits that should be removed from their long list of unmerited allowances. Its introduction was ill-thought-out. It should be stopped forthwith.

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opinion CCB/CCT: A look at Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies 20

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

By Eric Teniola

HE Code of Conduct Bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal are both military inventions. They are part of the military legacy imposed on this nation by four military regimes-Murtala Muhammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, Ibrahim Babangida and Abdusalami Abubakar. If you look at the 1966 constitution, there is no reference on such two bodies. The nearest reference on oath is in section 96 of the 1963 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. When the idea of the code of conduct was adopted in the Constitution Drafting Committee in 1975, Nigeria was following the footsteps of Tanzania and Zambia. For, apart from Tanzania and Zambia and of late Ghana, there are no other countries in the world where such bodies exist. In 1967, the Tanzania leadership code was part of the Arusha declaration during the tenure of Dr. Julius Kambarage Nyerere (1922-1999), the Mwalimu simply referred to as the ‘TEACHER’. Originating therefore as a resolution, the code of conduct was adopted at a party meeting and became incorporated into the constitution and rules of the party binding on party members who are within the definition of a “leader”. To rest its binding force on a party resolution would have made it unenforceable against leaders who are not party officials or whose officers are not dependent on party membership. “For this reason it was thought necessary to incorporate it into Constitution of the country. This was done by means of a constitutional amendment. However the constitutional provisions have a limited application to persons; they apply only to members of the National Assembly, operating as a condition of eligibility for election or appointment to, and membership of, the Assembly, subject however to certain exceptions and safeguards. For example, the consequences of breach of the Code are not self-operating. They entail an action in the High Court instituted by the Attorney-General. Only if the Court finds the allegation of breach established, does the sanction of disqualification or vacation of seat follow. The various regulations governing civil servants, coun-

cilors and officers of parastatal organizations were similarly amended to incorporate the code. Thus, the source of authority of the code differs for the various categories of leaders: for the M.Ps and ministers it is the Constitution, for public servants the appropriate regulations, and for party officials, the party resolution. The enforcement machinery is also different for each category of leaders.” In Zambia, on the other hand, the Constitution is the source of the authority of the Code for all categories of leaders. The Constitution establishes a Leadership Committee, and authorises it to draw up a Code in the form of regulations which are to have effect as if enacted in the Constitution. Compliance with the code is a condition for election, nomination, or appointment to offices specified therein, though the President may, if of the opinion that to do so would be necessary or desirable in the public interest, authorise the nomination or appointment of a person otherwise disqualified, on condition that he complies within three months. Breach of the Code by the holder of a specified office (other than the office of the President, judge of the Supreme Court, judge of the High Court, investigator-general, director of public prosecutions and auditor-general) operates to vacate the office, if it is established either on a written admission or by the decision of a tribunal established by the Constitution with a right of appeal to the Supreme Court. The tribunal consists of a chairman appointed by the Chief Justice and two other persons appointed by the President; the Chairman must be a judge or a person qualified to be a judge of the High Court. (The exemption of the President, Judge, etc. from the sanctions of the Code is because the Constitution provides other machinery for their removal from office). In both Tanzania and Zambia the Code applies only to

leaders, defined so as to cover wide categories of persons: ministers, M.Ps, all party officials, senior officials of organization affiliated to the party and of parastatals bodies and the universities, councilors and civil servants in high and middle cadres. The purpose of the Code is that a leader should not put himself in a position where his personal interest conflicts with his responsibility as a leader, or which enables him to exploit others. With certain exceptions, the Code therefore forbids a leader or his spouse to draw more than one salary, to employ workers in connection with any trade, business, profession or vocation, including the running of a hotel, boarding house or like establishment for gain or profit; to own a house let out on rent to others; to be shareholders or director in a privately-owned enterprise.” These were the prayers of the Sub-Committee on National Objectives and Public Accountability under Professor Ben Nwabueze in 1975. The committee also made provision for the Ombudsman. Then General Olusegun Obasanjo implanted the Code of Conduct bureau and the Code of Conduct Tribunal into the 1979 constitution but jettisoned the creation of Ombudsman. If one looks at the fifth schedule of the 1979 constitution from section 1 to section 21, they contain the recommendations of Professor Nwabueze. In 1980, President Shehu Shagari appointed Alhaji Isa Keita (1912-1994), the Waziri of Katsina as Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau but Alhaji Shagari did not appoint the members of the Code of Conduct tribunal, hence the non-functioning of the bureau. The question now is, are the punishment contained in the code of conduct too wide or too narrow? Should public servants of the middle and lower cadres be included? Is the restriction on the individual freedom of enterprise and of acquisition too severe? What is to be the reasonable balance between the need for individual initiative and the prevention of exploitation? Is the loss to the nation resulting from the exclusion of “leaders” from entrepreneurial initiative a reasonable price to pay for the prevention of exploitation? •Teniola, a former Director at the Presidency, lives in Lagos.

Still on CBN’s forex prohibition By Michael Odoh

them to withdraw from importation which is the source of their livelihood? In a society where the interest of the people are considered, it is expected that you give enough notice to affected persons so that they can be able to contribute as well as adjust in the case they consented to the policy. If actually wide consultations were made, why are tiles and textile (which are exempted recently from the prohibition list) included in the list? Do they actually know the volume of vitrified and ceramic tiles that are being imported into this country? Do they know that the existing tile company in Nigeria whose product has been franchised to few individuals is not enough? Why are Nigerians trying to make Nigeria a country with the signage of the rich getting richer while the poor are getting poorer? You believe in protecting local industries yet you do not patronise them. You claim to be protecting the textile industry yet the suits and brocades or “agbada” which you wear are not Nigerian-made. You prohibit these items only to increase the price of the local product so that an average person cannot afford it. You allow the average person to import at a higher rate while concession of cheaper rate is given to the rich to import the same product. Is the CBN aware that the five per cent concession rate given to hotel developers is an injustice to importers who pay 35 per cent or more to similar products? How can you

BARELY two months of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s pronouncement on its decision to stop issuing out forex on some imported items, one cannot comprehend the rationale behind such a decision but continue to search for the inexplicable power governing the policy. The restriction or prohibition of forex on some of the items included in the already prohibited lists implied that these goods have also been prohibited though the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, made businessmen to believe it is not so. How do you import a product when you cannot open a Form M? How do you open a Form M when you cannot get foreign exchange? How do you get foreign exchange when the bank or its subsidiaries are not ready to give you money on account of the new policy? Looking at the scenario, it appeared that the CBN Governor was out to frustrate many businessmen without a just cause. Recently, the CBN director of corporate communications, Mr Ibrahim Muaze, reported that wide consultations were made before arriving at the policy. According to him, “items were included in the list after thorough and exhaustive discussions at the highest policymaking body of the bank, with the strategic national interest of Nigeria.” It is not difficult to say that this statement or claim is misleading except if we are made to understand that the consultations are based on a selected privileged few. The businessmen are convinced that the opinions of some major stakeholders in the industry involved were not heard before arriving at a conclusion. The list shows no difference from the existing prohibited list of items by government except the inclusion of few items aimed at frustrating businessmen. How do you come to terms with a policy that does not forewarn a businessman so as to get ready for the change? How do you want the businessmen to react to the change of introducing and implementing a policy that compelled

allow the rich to import at five per cent based on the notion that hotels boost tourism and generate revenue to the government? These hotels have no place in the lives of an average Nigerian but satisfy the taste and comfort of the rich. It is time those in authorities realised that prohibition of these items is seen as a double edged sword. It may or may not protect the local industries. Experience has shown that prohibition of these items always leads to the boost of such products. For instance, prohibition of textiles and clothes (both used and new) made them to become “hot cake” and easiest means of making money. These items in spite of their prohibition continue to enter into the country through our seaports, airports and land borders. Those that are supposed to monitor the products, enrich themselves through such products. The price of vitrified and ceramic tiles has remained affordable to every Nigerian because the price of the imported ones has continued to set the limit to the locally produced ones. With this indirect prohibition of tiles by the CBN, the product will be scarce while the price will be increased. It is on the basis of the afore-mentioned that the CBN authorities should realise that prohibition of these items is not the best way to protect local industries. It is always a derision of the human intellect when we prohibit items so that an average citizen cannot import them yet allow the rich to import them through concession. If we must protect the local products, the following must be strictly observed: first, corruption must be reduced to the barest minimum. Alternatively, the government can prohibit these items and ensure that they are not found anywhere except those locally produced. In applying this, the government must ensure that local products are of good quality and standard, as well as affordable to the least person in the society. •Odoh wrote in from the Pan-Atlantic University, Epe, Lagos.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

features

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

Empty stalls, stranded consumers

•As Ekiti butchers, government continue standoff over tax

Closed entrance to the Ado Ekiti central abattoir

SAM NWAOKO reports the effects of the ongoing face off between the Ekiti State government and butchers in the state over unresolved tax issues.

he gates to the veterinary control post at Iworoko Road were locked. Just two people, a young girl and an elderly man that probably was her father were the only ones idling around in the compound behind the gates. However, the nearby abattoir, which is next door to the veterinary control post, was bereft of any humans. The nearest human activity at the abattoir was (and still is by press time) the policemen who stood guard outside the gates to the abattoir. The busy slaughter slabs were quiet. The tables were dry. There were neither splashes of water nor spilled blood. The usual sounds from matchette blows on huge bines were absent. The chirping insects and birds were the only voices. The humdrum, though confirmed by the little girl at the veterinary control post, left her confused. Asked if she knew it was as a result of a standoff between the Ekiti State government and the butchers who use the abattoir, her innocence played up. She said she didn’t know why the butchers didn’t come. “I haven’t seen them today. I also didn’t see anyone there yesterday. Workers have not also come to our compound,” she simply stated. We need to increase IGR—Govt The Ekiti State government had imposed a tax of N1, 000 to be paid by the butchers on each cow slaughtered at the abattoir. The

government explained that its action was as a result of the need to shore up its revenue generation. More importantly it said, the butchers use the facilities provided at the abattoir for their businesses without paying anything reasonable for the maintenance of such facilities. The state’s Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Mr. Michael Ayodele, who had addressed newsmen on the development, said the new tax regime was “aimed at providing better facilities

Apart from the new tax of N1,000 up from N300 per cow, the butchers also pay veterinary tax, inspection rate and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) levy.

at all abattoirs in the state.” The commissioner said “government held meetings with the butchers before the new tax was arrived at to generate more revenue and make the abattoirs more conducive to business for the users, as well as the health and general wellbeing of the people of the state who are the consumers of the products from the abattoir.” But the butchers were said to have disagreed with the new tax and had refused to pay. The government therefore swung into action. In a memo dated November 5, 2015 and signed by the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr. Kehinde Odebunmi, the government announced the closure of the abattoir and suspended operations there. In the memo entitled: “Notice of Suspension of Abattoir Operations”, the government didn’t give any reason for the suspension of operations at the abattoir. It read simply: “Abattoir operations at the Ado Central Abattoir are hereby suspended with immediate effect. Consequent upon this, no slaughtering of animals for sale to the public until further notice. Any butcher that goes against this order will face the wrought of the law.” Copies of the terse memo were pasted at the abattoir and were also made available to the Commissioner of Police, Ekiti State Command as well as the Commissioner for Environment in the state. The butchers reacted to the closure by

equally suspending operations and staging a street protest. They were of the opinion that the N1,000 per cow was “outrageous” and said they were okay with N500. They trooped out to protest not just the tax but the closure of the abattoir. They had earlier warmed themselves in resisting an announcement by the state government, over the radio, that all abattoirs would be shut down following the resistance of the butchers to pay the new tax, with a warning that any butcher caught operating illegal abattoirs is liable to a fine of N20,000. The angry butchers had even threatened that they would force the Ado Ekiti central abattoir open to carry out their businesses, against the order of government. The protest had been led by the chairman of the Butchers Association in Ado Ekiti Local Government Area, Alhaji Kareem Mustapha. They contended that “apart from the new tax of N1,000 up from N300 per cow, the butchers also pay veterinary tax, inspection rate and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) levy.” Mustapha said the new tax would raise the amount payable by each butcher to about N26,000 in a month, saying “this could kill our businesses.” According to Mustapha, they had met with Governor Fayose to ask him to reconsider the new tax and suggested N500 which he said the governor rejected. He claimed that “abattoirs in nearby states don’t pay as high Continues on pg22

features

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

DiamondXtra: Seven seasons of empowering

Nigerians •Customers recount tales of joy By Rotimi Ige

iamond Bank Plc recently concluded its seventh season of the DiamondXtra promo, where various Nigerians were empowered with millions of naira. Rotimi Ige reports on the testimonies of lucky customers about how the promo has been transforming lives for seven years. Diamond Bank Plc, one of the nation’s leading banks, with the conclusion of Season Seven of its customer loyalty reward scheme, DiamondXtra account, has further etched its way into the hearts and minds of its teeming customers, touching lives and bringing unrivalled joy and happiness. It has really been a story of good fortune for a lot of the beneficiaries of the promo. For Mr. Domino Osasere, a trader at the Ladipo spare parts market, life suddenly made much meaning to him when he was announced the winner of five hundred thousand naira (N500,000) from the bank’s DiamondXtra draw held at the market. He was all smiles just as he felt elated and momentarily lived in a state of unbelief till he received his prize. According to him, “When I got the call in the afternoon that I had won five hundred thousand naira (500,000), I did not believe it because I thought fraudsters were on the prowl again. What was there to believe especially in this era of scam and criminality? Who would give out a whooping sum of N500,000 without anything in return? It is indeed a case of customer loyalty reward. I am very glad.” It was no different for Mr. Ikechukwu Monye, also a trader in the market. He was simply overwhelmed by the sudden realisation that he had been empowered financially through DiamondXtra. His win was by no means the end of the laughter train as the winning streak cut through demographics and regions. Mr. Iwunze, a retail store owner in Borokiri New Market, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, is another addition to the winning train. Beaming with smiles, he was eager to narrate the genesis of his sudden fortune. “Initially, I refused to sign on to the DiamondXtra account when the officials from the bank came calling. But on second thought because of the strength of the pitch of a member of the team, I opted to give it a shot. Now I am reaping the rewards of providence and my actions,” he said.

When I got the call in the afternoon that I had won five hundred thousand naira (500,000), I did not believe it because I thought fraudsters were on the prowl again.

One of the beneficiaries (middle) being given a cheque by officials of the bank. There is no doubt that the scheme has been rewarding to both the customers and the bank as Mrs. Aishah Ahmad, Head, Retail Banking Directorate, Diamond Bank Plc, emphasised that the bank has touched the lives of over four thousand customers since the commencement of the loyal reward scheme. On the impact it has had on the fortunes of the bank so far, she revealed that as a result of the mass enthusiasm shown by individuals toward the scheme, the volume of customer savings with the bank keeps growing. In her words, “The volume of savings we

are having is growing in leaps and bounds. It has really influenced the customer base which has grown from N5 billion to N91 billion.” Adding his voice to this, Mr. David Otukpe, Product Manager, DiamondXtra, disclosed that on a monthly basis about 30,000 new DiamondXtra accounts are being opened. “Across the country 30,000 customers are joining us every month. The essence of what we are doing is hinged upon the fact that we want to attract more people into the banking system because we believe in savings.” Since the launch of the scheme targeted at

the mass market in 2008, it has witnessed 7 seasons of smiles, laughter and uplifting of lives. In the same period over N4 billion in cash prizes have been given out in the reward scheme, with a total sum of N600 million given away in cash rewards in the month of September alone. The rewards scheme was launched with the sole aim of dedicating a special account for individuals who want to gradually build up interest-yielding savings, a flexible and convenient access to money over the counter and across ATMs. In addition DiamondXtra is meant to reward customers for their loyalty through weekly, monthly and special draws. In each month, one lucky customer gets to walk away with the grand prize of ‘Salary 4 life’, which entails the payment of N100, 000 into the individual’s account over a period of 20 years. Other monthly prizes include the sums of N2.5million and N5million to be won by a customer each. Another interesting benefit of DiamondXtra account is a provision of free access to all of the bank’s electronic channels including: Diamond Online, Diamond Mobile and Diamond Dial. Further enriching the customer experience is an access to the DiamondXtra Visa Credit Card, which grants access to credit limits up to 75 per cent of the funds in a customer’s account, without encroaching into the savings of a customer. However, in order to qualify to reap from the benefits of the reward scheme, the caveat is a requirement of a minimum of N5000 opening savings balance. To buttress the fact that the promo effectively touches lives, are the various instances of couples jointly wining prizes. A case in point is Mr. Clement and Mrs. Rosaline Obi, couple operating a joint savings account with the bank in Ibadan who jointly won N2million.

The new tax regime will kill our businesses —Butchers’ association Continues from pg21

as N1,000,” and held that similar taxes charged in nearby states range between N150 and N300.” He said the butchers pleaded with Fayose to consider their proposal of N500 up from N300 hitherto paid. Mustapha said: “This new tax will kill our business and it will affect the masses because there will be no meat in the market. Can you imagine that if we are paying N1,000 per cow, the least our members will be paying each month is N26,000 and this is unacceptable? It is too much and it will affect what we sell to the public. We suggested N500 to the governor but he refused. Members of the public will bear the brunt, people will suffer and those that want to celebrate occasions will be affected. We urge the governor to accommodate N500 tax instead of the N1,000 because we believe N500 is reasonable and it

is the consumers that will suffer most.” Empty stalls The pang of this war is already being felt by the masses across the state. Consumers have been searching in vain for meat in markets around the state. In Ise-Ekiti, headquarters of Ise/Orun Local Government Area of the state, a lone cow was seen moping in its tethers at a popular meat shop in the town. Also, a meat stand at Dallimore Street in Ado Ekiti, usually known to be a beehive and often littered with bare bones by mid-morning, had no activity late Saturday morning. However, at Mojere Market in Adebayo area of Ado Ekiti at the weekend, Nigerian Tribune observed a lone butcher had meat to sell. The butcher, who wished to be anonymous, said “I had to slaughter the cow as it was dying as we arrived from the market in Bida (Niger State). As a young trader, I pleaded with the elders in

the trade to grant me the leave so that I won’t lose the investment.” He repeatedly asked: “I hope I’m safe?” He put the price of his commodity, a seeming hot cake amidst the controversy, at N1,200 per kilogramme. This cost didn’t seem to sit well with the early callers as many of the consumers left the meat. Some restaurants in the state capital are feeling the heat created by the controversy as they claim that they don’t have meat to sell. One of the operators said “since I cannot buy a cow I’ll have to pray for the issues to be resolved. My butcher is on strike.” others have resorted to goats. The manager of a popular restaurant at Adebayo however said the controversy had “not got to us.” She said “we kill our cows for meat and we still have stock, and we hope this doesn’t degenerate.” The state Commissioner for Information, Youth and Sports Development, Mr. Lanre

Ogunsuyi, expressed the hope that all the issues would be resolved soon “because the Ayò Fayose government is a government of the masses.” Ogunsuyi said however that he didn’t see the N1,000 tax per cow as too much, saying “facilities at public abattoirs had fallen into state of disrepair and we must do something not just to safeguard the health of the Ekiti citizenry, but also to raise revenue to be able to continually provide facilities and maintain them.” He said government would however not succumb to blackmail and intimidation that may be a ploy by some people, and explained that the new tax and other levies recently imposed in the state “were done in public interest and not intended to make life difficult for the citizens.” While the government and the butchers’ misunderstanding persists, meat consumers are hoping for a quick resolution.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

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

Ijero Day: celebration of unity By Wale Ojo Lanre

T was a grandiose celebration in Ijero, one of the historic towns in Yoruba History located in Ekiti State, South West Nigeria as the sons, daughters and prominent personalities from all walks of life converged on the town to celebrate the 19th Ijero Day on Saturday, October 10, 2015. Obviously, the Ijero Day celebration was an event which many sons and daughters of the Kingdom have been anxiously waiting for. To some of them it is not just the celebration, but a festival of unity and recognition of those who have contributed immensely to the advancement of the Kingdom both at home and abroad. The Owa Ajero of Ijero kingdom, Oba Adebayo Adewole decked in royal splendour was visibly happy watching and seeing his chiefs,subjects and invited personalities, all in colourful attire mingling and exuding excitement and consummating the festive aura of the day. Opening the glee of excitement was the spectacular cultural dance displayed by the female traditional dance group and the Orin masquerade. These two groups showcased thrilling and inviting dancing steps which are not only alluring, but irresistible to some of the guests who joined dancing. Oba Adewole in his welcome address congratulated the sons and daughters of Ijero kingdom for their commitment towards the development of the town and appealed to them to use their positions to improve and initiate development programmes for Ijero especially in the area of education, industrial growth and other spheres of human endeavours. “I seize this opportunity to appeal strongly to all our sons and daughters of Ijero to show and exhibit greater love and affection for our dear town, everyone of us must strive at all times to contribute his or her own quota towards the development of our town, we should realise that there is no place like home (ile labo isimi oko), it is our onerous duty to leave Ijero better than we met it, may the good Lord continue to prosper you. “This occasion also affords us the opportunity to raise funds for the general development of our town, as work progresses on the new palace projects; we need to intensify effort to complete the projects as early as possible” The monarchs who appealed to the state governments for the establishment of a university in the town said, “we have College off Health Science” but it will be good to have a university too, a university will also fast track development and bring more people to Ijero. “We also want the government to come to our aid in the area of infrastructural development and provision of basic amenities in the community” Also speaking the chairman, Ijero Day Planning Committee, Otunba Rotimi Omoboriowo, in his welcome address said “ today’s celebration is a wake-up call and a time to reflect on the development of our

Owa Ajero of Ijero kingdom, Oba Adebayo Adewole with Mr Sam Omoboriowo. town. As a direct descendant of Oduduwa, Ijero’s place in Yoruba land cannot be over emphasised. It is indeed one of the most prominent towns in Yourba land, before the partitioning of the old Ondo State, Ijero town belonged to the very few towns that paraded some of the best internal road networks, but the present situation is unfortunately nothing to cheer about, despite the fact that many Ijero son’s and daughters occupy prominent positions of authority in Nigeria. “Why and where have we derailed? Why are we lagging behind in development? Why is Ijero not attracting the necessary patronage and development it deserves from both government and private individuals? All these call for our urgent attention especially our leaders, elders’ politicians and all Ijero citizens both at home and abroad. Home is home and the onus of developing Ijero is on us, whether directly or indirectly no outsider will love Ijero more than us” Omoboriowo however appealed to the state governor Mr Ayodele Fayose to assist in the development of Ijero town. Some of the indigenes who spoke with TTM at the event including the National President Ijero Progressive Union, Prince Tolu Onisile and Otunba Niyi Babade, the chairman of the occasion, expressed optimism that Ijero community will soon begin to experience transformation and advancement as efforts are ongoing to stoke unity and economic advancement of the community. Babade, an international journalist who also served as the chairman of the day said, “the passion for the growth of Ijero community is great and I am sure we are all ready to contribute and use our influence to facilitate development to our com-

Cross section of high chiefs

Orin masquerade entertaining people munity Ijero is blessed we have great men and women among us and we are ready to serve our kingdom” The event also featured awards presentations to some dignitaries including Chief Toyin Ojo, Commissioner for Finance, Ekiti State, Mr Samuel Omoboriowo,

Chief Yetunde Babajide, Mr Anthony Niyi Babade, Princess Folake Oyewole, Mr Micheal Opeyemi Bamidele, Mr Olagbaju Oyewole and Pastor Gbenga Agbede, Chairman Road Transport Employers Association (RTEAN) Ekiti State among others.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

tribunetourism Oba Alapa showcases tourism treasures of Apa kingdom T HE Alapa of Apa kingdom, Oba Adekanmi Ilufemiloye Ajose, Possi lll has called on the Federal Government to take a tourism inventory of Nigeria for proper listing, documentation and conscious development for the benefit of the nation, the society and ordinary citizen. He pointed out that “If this can be done, I am sure the Federal Government will not wait a minute before adopting tourism as an alternative to oil. “The government will marvel at what it will uncover as numerous and wonderful tourism assets and treasures in each kingdom or towns. This can be utilised to draw and lure tourists who are big spenders to the country and improve our economy.” Oba Adekanmi who made this submission while playing host to some tourism journalists in his palace recently revealed: “The government has been depriving the nation of a potent source of revenue by neglecting the tourism sector and its potentialities in this country. “With tourism, Nigeria needs not to predicate its expenditure and budget on the price of the oil in the international market. Malaysia which produces oil like Nigeria has been able to grow its domestic tourism for international buyers. “My main reason of gathering you here today is not only for me to cry for installation of development, rather I am happy and elated to invite you here today for what I termed a tour of Apa town for development and visibility. I called the media meet in his palace to enable him showcase some tourism

of the town was accompanied by the journalists in his palace at the instance Bobajiroro of Apa kingdom Alhaji Rabiu Amusa, and Chief Yahya Idris took them to the relics of the first red block building ever erected and lived in by the first European settler in the area quoted Caroline Soresten-Gilmor University of Sterling, (Badagry 1784-1863. The Political and Lagoon side Community Commercial History of a Pre-Colonial era in South West Nigeria, 1995), “Hendrik Hertogh, finding himself threatened by the King of Dahomey, fled east, from his base at Jakin [Godomey]. First settling at Apa, the King of that place soon gave Hertogh an area of land on which to establish himself in trade. The area said to be a small farming hamlet until- that time, “flourished immediately as a commercial centre of both domestic and Atlantic trade, due notably to its advantageous position on the lagoon.” Pointing to the relics of a once upon a time red block building which has been raised to the foun-

Oba Adekanmi Ilufemiloye Ajose, Possi lll, at the site of the historical relics. asset which the town is blessed with. “Apa Kingdom is a paragon of tourism as the first town in Nigeria to have contact with the white. “My kingdom was lucky to have been the land where the first ever red block building was con-

structed by the European in this country and a Kingdom which hosted with enthusiasm the first batch of European traders whom a land was allocated.” Oba Ajose who conducted journalists on a tour

Ethiopian flies to Durban, third destination in South Africa ETHIOPIAN Airlines, the largest, fast growing and most profitable airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that it has finalised all the preparations to start flights to Durban, the 3rd destination in

Samsung for hospitality support programme at Akwaaba Bianca Ojukwu to spice up wedding segment By ’Wale Olapade

AMSUNG West-Africa, a leading Technology company in a bid to increase brand visibility especially amongst hoteliers and resort owners will be showcasing its Profes-

Mrs Bianca Ojukwu

sional Displays, Hotel TV ranges, Smart Signages and IT products at Akwaaba 2015. As sponsors of the Hospitality Day event, Samsung West-Africa will be sharing with hotel & resort managers how they can improve their guest experience. According to Mr Anu-Rotimi Agboola (Head, Samsung Enterprise Business Solution -SMART Signage & SMART Hospitality Displays) “our participation at Akwaaba is more about brand visibility and we will be giving gifts to the Top 5 Hotel Winners of the travellers top 100 Hotels in Lagos polls. However, these hotels must use hotel TVs not consumer TVs. The advantage of hotel TVs over consumer TVs is that they give better guest experience by allowing guests personalise their experience.” Other Guest Speakers are Mr Sanjo BamgboyeDirector, CurrentLinks Systems Ltd on “Facilitating Payment Innovation in Hospitality” and Mrs. Lilian Obinna-Igwe, Country Manager Travelstart Nigeria on “Online Booking in Africa and how it works.” There will also be panelists made up of top hotel GMs across Africa to deliberate on the issues raised. The Hospitality day at Akwaaba seeks to create a platform that would help provide knowledge about burning issues and raise hotel standards in Africa. The travellers top 100 hotels in Lagos Polls winners will also be announced and receive their certificate at the event. The Wine Tasting event follows immediately after from 2pm. Wine Tasting Event at the hospitality day

all parts of the world to network and market to over 50 Wine distributors from across Nigeria. It also offers wine distributors the opportunity to deal directly with wine producers eliminating the middle men. This event is open to all hotel and hospitality professionals. Hospitality Day holds on 24 November, 2015. Ambassador Bianca Ojukwu will be cutting the tape to declare the Wedding & Spa Show open and formerly opening the Akwaaba Travel Market. Other VIPs are also lined up to declare other Sessions open at the third day travel trade event. This comes as the organisers have stopped all registration of exhibitors as all spaces have been booked. The space used this year is the same used last year and will not accommodate new exhibitors. According to Rita-Ikechi Uko ”it is sad that we cannot accommodate more exhibitors this year but we hope that these exhibitors will book early next year.” The wedding show is sponsored by Dubai Tourism in partnership with Emirates and will feature over 10 countries showcasing amazing Wedding & Honeymoon destinations, Weekend Getaways and Spa Sanctuaries. There will also be a raffle where visitors can win free tickets to amazing destinations. It also feature guest presentation by Seyi Olusanya on “planning a destination Wedding”. The wedding show will hold on the November 22 from 2.00p.m. The International Air Transport Association

dation level by the weather, “You can see part of the building constructed by Hertogh. This is the site and remnant of the first ever house inhabited by a white man in this area, but we are going to excavate the remaining which is the foundation level and fence it and write the history for generation unborn and posterity.” The Oba also took the journalists to the site of what he claimed to be the first customary court in Nigeria. “This is the remaining part of the building of the first customary court in Nigeria. The first sitting ever was held in this town Apa. “We are going to protect this last stand of the building not only for this generation, but for generations yet unborn and particularly we are going to brand it for the usefulness of my people as tourism site.” Oba Adekanmi Ajose finally unveiled what he described as the “the first ever Staff of Office to be given to an Oba in Nigeria.”

(IATA), in line with their objective to bring connectivity in Africa has partnered with Akwaaba to organise the Aviation Day. The Aviation Day will hold on November 22, the second day of Akwaaba from 10am. Adefunke Adeyemi, IATA Regional Head for Member (Airline) and External Relations for Africa and the Middle East will be sharing a recent study at the Aviation Day. The event themed “National Carrier, Open Skies and Connectivity in Africa” will also feature other guest presentations, attendance is by registration. The event is open to only travel trade professionals. Travelstart Nigeria which would be exhibiting at Akwaaba for the first time, hopes to extend its reach across Africa. According to the Head of Communications for Travelstart Nigeria, Oluwakemi Ojo said, “We’re delighted to have the opportunity to participate in this year’s AKWAABA African Travel Market Expo, to build on our existing affiliations, acquire competitive advantage for Travelstart and stay up-todate with latest development in the travel industry. African Travel Market will be taking place from November 22 to 24, 2015 at the Eko Hotels & Suites Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. AFTM is listed by United Nations World Organisation (UNWTO), a partner event of African Travel Association (ATA), partner with International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the only member of International Tourism Trade Fairs Association (ITTFA) in West Africa.

South Africa in addition to Johannesburg and Cape Town, as of mid-December 2015. Durban is the second largest metropolitan city and the second most important manufacturing hub in South Africa. It is also one of the main tourism destinations in Africa because of the city’s warm subtropical climate and extensive beaches. Ethiopian Group Chief Executive Officer, Tewolde GebreMariam, said, “As a Pan-African airline working to bring Africa together and closer to the entire world, we are bullish on the prospects of continuous expansion of our reach in our home market Africa and beyond. “With continuous service to South Africa for over 22 years, this new and additional service will give passengers additional choice and flexibility by offering seamless and convenient connections through our main hub in Addis to more than 90 destinations in five continents. “I would like to take this opportunity to thank our fellow Star Alliance partner, South African Airways, Dube Trade Port, ACSA, KZN’s Economic and Tourism Development departments for their relentless support to make this new operation a reality.”

‘Kenya’s MICE brand, E-visa, free entering permit, key effort for preferred destination’ Africa needed a seamless border to scale up its global travel and tourism trend, in this interview with the Managing Director, Kenya Tourism Board, Mr Muriithi Ndegwa at recent Magical Kenya Travel Expo (MKTE) in Diani, Kwale County speaks with ’WALE OLAPADE on practical effort of KTB at positioning Kenya as a preferred destination among sundry issues. Excerpts: Activities at Magical Kenya Travel Expo Kenya Tourism Board (KTB) is actually interested in seeing that Kenya gets back to the growth projection in terms of increase in the tourists number coming to Kenya. To also ensure that Kenya remains as good brand and well known, that is our motive behind all the activities lined up for MKTE and specifically to bring in the hosted buyers to see for themselves that Kenya is open for business and also interact with our local trade. Obama as brand profile First and foremost, we started with the hosting of the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Kenya, we also hosted the president of the USA, Barrack Obama, they are parts of the major activities to raise the brand profile of Kenya as a destination and also to show that indeed Kenya is safe for business for the international community. Again, we brought the fifth edition of MKTE to the coastal part of Kenya for the first time because the coast is an area in Kenya that is having a little bit of challenge, so as to rebrand and showcase the region as a lovely place to visit. Pope’s visit The Pope will be visiting the Sub-Sahara part of Africa later this year and precisely to Kenya on November 25 to 27. It is important to state that the proposed visit of the Pope is a true endorsement of Kenya as a brand. The Africa Travel Association (ATA) will be having their 40th Annual General Congress in Kenya with over 500 visitors who comprise travel agents and tour operators marketing Africa in the USA, coming to meet with the local trade in Kenya. In December, Kenya will be hosting another major event, the World Trade Organisation (WTO) with about 7,000 delegates. Also, a participation at World Travel Market (WTM) in London (It ended on Thursday) with about 50 trades comprising hoteliers, travel agents and tour operators is another effort step in our campaign bid, while we shall be visiting Nigeria later in the year to further promote Kenya as a good destination. Developments We have been witnessing some good developments. For instance, Lufthansa German Airlines will commence back direct flight from Frankfurt to Nairobi as a result of our pro-activeness. Of course, this will further boost our tourism sector and increase the influx of our international arrival from Germany and neighbouring countries. We held a successful event in Dubai recently under the auspices of Wakanow.com, a Nigeria-based online travel operator with good link in Dubai as an avenue to explore the Middle East travel market. Building a MICE destination A couple of years ago, we believed that it is important for us to diversify our tourism offer having been known as a safari destination globally. One of the products that we identified is MICE which the government and the private sector have keyed into. Presently, Kenya was ranked second in Africa as far as MICE are concerned by the ICCA. For us to maintain the standard and sustain the good development, the government is not relenting on the expansion of our MICE facilities within the country.

Mr Muriithi Ndegwa The expansion of the MICE facilities will not be limited to Nairobi alone but involves Mombasa, Nakuru and Kisumu. This is a product that is growing and we shall not relent in investing in conference facilities by the government and the private sector to ensure that we have good MICE facilities to continue our leverage on the trend. Seamless border with Africans The motive behind this is we realised that joint marketing will help the three countries simply because if we look at Africa’s contribution to global tourism it is a peanut, imagine, 53 to 55 million visitors out of about 1.1 billion that is a drop in the ocean. This is the main reason why people are allowed freely between the three countries to travel even without international passport. With national identity cards or voters cards in the case of Uganda, people are allowed free entries into the countries without any difficulties. Return of Lufthansa Airlines to Kenya KTB initiated a discussion with Lufthansa on the need to come back to Kenya at the ITB held in Berlin in March this year. From what they told us, the airline stopped flying into Kenya about 14 years ago on the ground that they wanted to concentrate on business destinations and at that time, Kenya is more or less a leisure market. That prompted a trip to Germany in April to Lufthansa head office where we were able to analyse the great improvement with the expansion project at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, tourism growth in recent years and the ways Kenya is changing as a preferred destination in Africa with high level of security measure in place. After the meeting, they indicated that they would come back in 2016 and they later contacted us that they are coming back early 2015. E-visa The e-visa is a very positive development for it gives comfort to apply for your visa anywhere so far you have access to internet. It means it will help us to reach out to wider places. Following the implementation of the e-visa application for all the nationals visiting Kenya, the Ministry of Interior and Coordination of national government has since reviewed this process and decided that they will run both the e-visa platform and the manual platform concurrently, until further notice when the e-visa must have been fully harmonised. This is not to deprive those that do not understand English the right of getting their visas with ease as the e-visa is presently available only in English.

tribunebusiness

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

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

energy

anchor Tunde Dodondawa

m:08029370304 e:mrdodondawa@yahoo.com

NNPC boss’ plan for profitable global competitiveness

Dr Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu, GMD, NNPC

While National Oil Companies of other countries have been able to compete competitively and profitably with International Oil Companies (IOCs), the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has struggled for over 35 years to break even. However, the dream to have a national oil company that can compete with its counterparts all over the world may soon become a reality as Group Managing Director (GMD), NNPC, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, outlined his short and long term plans for the corporation at The Petroleum Club, Lagos at the weekend. OLATUNDE DODONDAWA, who was in attendance, brings the report.

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has been a subject of controversy for decades due to its modus operandi where it deducts ‘costs of operations’ from crude sales proceeds before remitting the balance to the Federation Accounts. The issues of corruption and lack of transparency in its account, as if it is not accountable to the nation, have dented its image as well. However, the Group Managing Director (GMD), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr Ibe Kachikwu, told stakeholders present at The Petroleum Club, Lagos, at the weekend that it is not going to be business as usual. He started by saying that he is working

towards making the corporation profitable and move away from declaring losses. To achieve this, he said, the corporation was targeting $20 billion investment inflow in 2016 in an attempt to become a profit making corporation. He argued that in driving and developing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, certain key areas of urgent, intervention have been identified which include running production acreages with transparent and profitable partnerships to bridge capacity and funding gaps; encourage investment inflow into to Nigeria’s oil and gas industry; engagement with local communities and driving regulation to develop the sector income via encouragement of the fast track PIB to clarify

direction and encourage long-term investment in the industry. Providing specifics on the intervention targets, Kachikwu stated that the NNPC was projecting the inflow of $20 billion in 2016 to enable the corporation fund major projects and improve its bottom line going forward. He described 2016 as a crucial year for the NNPC, as it is expected to transit from historic loss environment to profit making domain. In the area of engagement with host communities, Kachikwu said the years ahead NNPC as the senior partner in the various Joint Venture (JV) arrangements must take leadership in fostering a healthy and sym-

biotic host community engagement outlook which must focus in what he termed “What the communities want us to do for them and not what we want to do.” However, he also said the country may well be on the verge of a significant oil find in the lake Chad area in North East Nigeria based on analysis of recent seismic 3D data generated from the Chad Basin. In a presentation at the Petroleum Club, Lagos, titled: “Ongoing Reforms in the Oil Industry: Impact of NNPC Reforms on the Nigerian Economy,” Kachikwu said the corporation was injecting a lot of energy into the effort to ensure success in this regard. “There are signs from the latest 3D seismic studies that oil may be very close to being

energy

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

NNPC to raise $500mn to fix refineries Continues from pg26

found now in Lake Chad after very many years of trials. I think that this is very important. It is important both for the geographical balancing of oil production and it is also very crucial for the purpose of refinery placement in the North in terms of access to crude. I am optimistic that by the end of the year we should be able to announce something major on this,” he said. Commenting on the PIB, the NNPC GMD noted that to achieve quick passage of the bill, it was crucial to isolate the fiscal regime from the current draft and move quickly to work on other pressing aspects of the proposed oil reform legislation. He re-iterated that the corporation under his watch is rigorously executing “20 fixes” project which identified 20 critical issues that need to be addressed in order to re-position the 37 years old national oil corporation on the track of efficiency and profitability. The target included audit cost reduction, restructuring of corporate centre and staffing, renegotiation of existing contracts, including PSCs, streamlining subsidy management, boosting pipeline security, enhancing transparency and accountability, achieving zero tolerance for corruption, re-branding of NNPC and unbundling of PPMC. Other initiatives included unbundling of the Nigerian Gas Company, reduce contracting cycle, restructure refineries, improve information technology to drive business, embed staff and business performance management, restructure JV funding and reducing cash call, improving retail profitability, deploying and attracting focused investments, re-kitting NPDC, expanding crude marketing and generating power profitability. In a move to fix the refineries, he said the corporation would need to raise about $500 million to fix the refineries. He said the fund would be raised within the next seven months to one year. He said that the Port Harcourt refinery had been shut down currently, bringing the combined output from 1.9 per cent in the last few weeks to zero output. The NNPC had stated in its latest monthly report for September that: “Only Port Harcourt refinery produced 31,008million metric tonnes of petroleum products out of 35,648 MT (261,371.14 barrels) of crude processed at an average capacity utilization of 5.77 per cent.” Kachikwu, who described the poor refin-

ing capacity as worrying, said there were plans to restore the refineries and ensure that they contributed massively to the national fuel consumption. “Some people are sabotaging the efforts through pipeline vandalism, but we will block all the leakages and fix the problem,” he assured. Decrying the fuel scarcity in the country, Kachikwu said the corporation was speeding up the payment of the subsidy claims, adding that plans were also in the pipeline to review the subsidy system and bring down the amount of subsidy from about N20 per litre to about N5 per litre. According to him, “products distribution is key to NNPC, and we have therefore sent out about 5000 trucks to various locations across the country in the last two days.” Kachikwu, therefore, restated his commitment to turn around the NNPC to a worldclass company within the next six to 12 months and ensure that it works efficiently in a transparent and accountable manner. “We are out for transparency. We will be engaging the presidency of weekly basis, the governors monthly, and the National Assembly on monthly basis, while we continue to publish out reports monthly,” he said.

The NNPC boss, who agreed that these were trying times for the industry, said the problems were actually more serious than Nigerians thought, and charged them to work harder to begin to add value. He said the president was “deeply” worried about the prevailing situation in the industry and had given him the mandate to fix the problems, “and I will never do things that will compromise my integrity,” he stated. Kachikwu said his administration had recovered $420 million from the legacy crude swap contract, increased gas supply to power plants to about 231 million standard cubic feet per day (mbpd) and planned to hit 240 mbpd next year. “In 12 weeks at the NNPC, I have enhanced commercial value, increased productivity, increased profitability and improved governance at the corporation,” he stated. On the much-delayed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Kachikwu said the bill could not be passed in its current form, rather he will move to deal with the fiscal issues and move forward while other areas are sorted out. “Within 12 to 24 months, we want to build a competitive and stable investment regime that balances the needs of the nation and private investors. We will have zero toler-

E-commerce company floats online platform for oil & gas, industrial equipment An e-commerce company, Gibadi.com, has launched an online platform for easy and convenience shopping of various industrial, oil and gas equipment and tools for industries and domestic customers. The e company, which prides itself as a business-to-business (B2B) marketplace is specialising in various industrial and office supplies through the internet and catalogues with categories such as maintenance, repair and operational (MRO), safety supplies, janitorial, hand tools, electrical, lighting, plumbing, fasteners and laboratory supplies, among others. Speaking at the official lunch of the platform in Lagos recently, the Co-founder of Gibadi.com, Ola Ogunsemowo, said: “We

are thrilled to be the foremost agent for fast tracking the industrialization of Africa by simplifying supply chain for small and mid-sized companies across the continent through local availability of goods supplies.” “We are determined to eradicate downtime resulting from importation delays and supply chain complexities leading to lower productivity. We consider it a great privilege to be the major force behind simplifying such difficulties through technology to build the great Africa of our dreams,” he said. According to him, “as a specialty brand, Gibadi.com not only parades product specialists that would be supporting customers with pre-sale and after-sale expert advice, it will also be providing the convenience of

doorstep deliveries across Nigeria.” Ogunsemowo said the company has partnered with both international and local manufacturers as well as trusted sellers with more than 100, 000 industrial and office supplies. Company’s Head of Media and Marketing, George Amaefule, said: “We are delighted to provide the most convenient personal shopping experience to business owners. Nigerians are already used to shopping for personal goods online. With Gibadi, this same seamless online shopping experience has been extended to the industrial buyers. African businesses can now buy work tools, industrial spares, personal protective equipment, electrical cables, office supplies among others and have it delivered to their doorsteps.”

ance for undue hike of project costs. The Joint Venture partners should go back to the table grill your numbers and be sure before you come to me,” he said. Targets 3mbpd crude oil production by 2016 Kachikwu also said the Corporation was targeting crude oil production capacity of 3 million barrels per day (mbpd) in 2016. Kachikwu said his target was to ensure that Nigeria’s crude oil production capacity hits 3 million barrels per day by the end of 2016, from the current production level of about 2.5 million barrels per day. He he had been inundated with requests for allocation of Low Pour Fuel Oil (LPFO) and other products from the refineries but insisted that the time of allocation of products to people by the NNPC is over. “People come to my office to ask for allocation of LPFO but I tell them that the period of product allocation is over. That is clearly not my job. Nigerians must begin to add value to get results and income. My period, no matter how short, will not be characterised by favouritism. “I like people to get rich but people should get rich based on ideas they bring to the table and not based on allocation paper given to them by government,” he said. Kachikwu stated that there would be no space for armchair and brief-case businessmen in the present NNPC. According to him, the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), the upstream arm of the NNPC has increased its crude oil production capacity by 20,000 barrels per day since he took over 11 weeks ago as the Group Managing Director, NNPC. Kachikwu stated that NPDC currently produces 220,000 barrels per day, which is expected to increase to 240,000 barrels per day by the end of this year. According to him, his target was that by the end of 2016, NPDC would hit a production capacity of 350,000 barrels per day. Kachikwu noted that NNPC will cut internal costs by 30 per cent by end of 2016 and also encourage the international oil companies (IOCs) to cut internal cost by 30 per cent, stressing that “2016 is my make or mar year.”

energy

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Experts warn against consumption of inferior lubricants Stories By Olatunde Dodondawa and Agency Reports

Experts in the lubricants subsector of the Nigerian oil and gas sector have warned Nigerians against consumption of inferior lubricants because of the quantum of damage it will do on machineries. Speaking at a media chat heralding the forthcoming 2nd Nigerian Lubricants Summit 2015 in Lagos, the principal partner, Lubeservices Associates, Kayode Sote, stated that: “It is imperative for Nigerians to be aware of the quality of lubricants that are used in their cars and machinery”. Sote, who is the technical consultant to the Nigerian Lubricants Summit, explained the need to draw attention to the nation’s lubricant quality and the challenges the industry has witnessed. He

mentioned that a vast number of Nigerians usually use improper roadside lubricants that do not go through testing, which sometimes affects their equipment or vehicles. Speaking on the summit, he explained that this is the second edition of the Nigerian Lubricants Summit, and it is an avenue to inform and educate stakeholders on the quality of lubricants in the Nigerian market and to promote the marketing potential of lubes manufactured locally. “The imperatives of the technical and commercial challenges of the Nigerian lubricants market informed the need to organize this year’s Conference and Exhibition on lubricants quality, its sustainability, compliance and enforcement in line with the research and development in base oils, additive technology and techno - economic dynamics of engine designs in gen-

Austin Avuru to speak at WAPIC Austin Avuru, Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Petroleum Development Company, has been confirmed as a speaker in the forthcoming West African Power Industry Convention (WAPIC). Seplat is an indigenous oil and gas company, currently driving an increased commercialisation and monetisation of its natural gas resource as an attractive long-term opportunity. Speakers at the event include Dr

Godknows Igali, Solomon Asamoah, Akin Akinfemiwa, Jibril Aku and a host of others. WAPIC is taking place at the Eko Hotel in Lagos from 24-25 November 2015. The 12th annual convention has over 70 exhibitors poised to make the program a success. The event will also provide a two-day conference focussing on power in West Africa, metering and Africa power finance and investment.

eral,” he said. Also speaking at the press conference, the Managing Director, Lubcon Limited, Taiye Williams, said there was the need to sanitize the Nigerian lubricant sector for growth in the oil and gas industry. “For us at Lubcon, we have invested a lot on testing lubricants in laboratories to ensure that the quality we are preaching is what Nigerians get,” he said. He revealed that the summit has been endorsed by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR). It is a 3-Day event, which includes an International conference, exhibition and stakeholder’s dinner. “It is expected to have key players outside the country and in the Nigerian Lubricants Industry including participants from the Standards Organization of Nigeria, Department of Petroleum Resources, Major Oil Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Lubricants Producers Association of Nigeria (LUPAN), Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Members of the Press and more,” Williams noted. Also present at the press conference was the Managing Director of CMC Connect Burson-Marsteller, Communication Consultant to the summit, Yomi Badejo-Okunsanya, who explained that the summit, at its maiden edition last year, expertly examined the issues of market opportunities and challenges.

OPEC’s October oil output drops by 12mbpd The Organisation of Petroleum Countries (OPEC) oil output fell in October from the previous month with top producers such as Saudi Arabia and Iraq leading countries with lower supplies to the market, a Reuters’ survey has confirmed.

Tonye Cole, MD, Sahara Group

Sahara Group joins UN, SDGF, others for sustainability report launch Sahara Group, a leading African Energy and Infrastructure conglomerate, will on November 10, 2015 in New York, join other stakeholders for the launch of the Sustainable Development Goals Fund (SDG-F) new report, “Business and the United Nations: Working together towards the Sustainable Development Goals: A framework for Action”. The UN estimates indicate that achieving the SDGs will require $3.3-$4.5 trillion a year. Sahara’s Co-Founder and Executive Director, Tonye Cole, SDG-F Director, Paloma Duran and other speakers are expected to give insight into the report which provides a roadmap on how the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development can be effectively driven through collaboration between the private sector and other stakeholders. A collection of company case

examples and perspectives from Sahara Group, Microsoft, BBVA Microfinance Foundation, EBRO Foods and H&M, among others, formed part of the SDG-F report which is expected to serve as a manual for regional and global multi-stakeholder cooperation. Cole, a member of the SDG-F’s Private Sector Advisory Group, said the report offers “a strategic and pragmatic direction for more coordinated private sector partnership with other stakeholders across the globe.” The report, according to him, also reinforces good governance, transparency and best practice as principles that must guide alliances involving businesses, governments and non-governmental organisations to achieve meaningful and sustainable development. Cole said Sahara was passionate about its involvement with

the SDG-F, adding that the company’s experience with various governments and partners in countries where it operates indicate that effective collaborations often produce bespoke solutions that can be replicated. “We have seen our intervention projects which are coordinated by Sahara Foundation transform lives and businesses and hope that our contribution to the report will inspire a new wave of private sector led partnerships that will promote inclusive economic growth, poverty eradication, capacity building, food security and access to potable water, especially in Africa,” Cole stated. Sahara Group reiterates its commitment to providing financial and advisory support to accelerate efforts geared towards realising the sustainable development goals by 2030.

The drops are not indicative of deliberate supply cuts to prop up prices, sources in the survey said, and the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is still pumping close to a record high as major producers focus on defending market share. Specifically, the organisation’s supply fell in October to 31.64 million barrels per day (bpd) from a revised 31.76 million in September based on shipping data and information from sources at oil companies, OPEC and consultants, although the figures did not include October 31 supplies. Even so, OPEC has boosted production by almost 1.5 million bpd since the November 2014 switch to defending market share. Despite the decline this month, output is not far below July’s 31.88 million bpd, the highest since Reuters records began in 1997. The OPEC increase has added to ample supplies, which have helped cut prices by more than half from June 2014 to below $50 a barrel. Still, with reductions in capital spending by oil companies expected to curb future supply, analysts see signs that OPEC’s strategy will deliver. “Clearly, OPEC’s long-game strategy is working,” said Harry Tchilinguirian, global head of commodity strategy at BNP Paribas. “In the end, OPEC’s strategy is creating the conditions for higher

prices for longer in a couple of years’ time.” The biggest supply drop in October has come from Saudi Arabia, which trimmed output due to reduced use of crude in domestic power plants and refineries, sources in the survey said, despite higher exports. “Supply to the market is down,” said a source who tracks Saudi output. “Exports are up but this has been more than offset by lower refinery runs due to maintenance and lower direct burn.” Direct burn, the use of crude in Saudi power plants, usually drops in cooler months due to reduced air-conditioning needs. Maintenance was being carried out at the Saudi Yasref refinery, reducing crude consumption. Saudi output, at 10.10 million bpd, remains not far below the record high of 10.56 million bpd it pumped in June. Exports from Iraq’s main outlet, its southern terminals, were higher for much of October, reaching a record 3.1 million bpd in the first 27 days of the month, but have slowed since as poor weather delayed cargoes, shipping data showed. Shipments from Iraq’s north by the Kurdistan Regional Government via Ceyhan in Turkey have edged lower, while those by Iraq’s State Oil Marketing Organisation have fallen to zero from about 20,000 bpd in September, the survey found.

tribunebusiness

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Odu’a Investment: The return to profitability By SULAIMON OLANREWAJU

du’a Investment Company Limited, the conglomerate owned by five of the six states in the country’s South West zone, suffered a series of misfortunes leading to the winding down of some of its subsidiaries and eventually culminating in the reduction of its profitability. Consequently, for over a period of six years, the company could not pay dividends to its owner states. But the era of failing to meet owners’ expectations seems to have been consigned to the dustbin of history as the company recently at its 33rd Annual General Meeting (AGM) paid dividends to the owner states. At the AGM which was held at Cocoa House, Ibadan, chairman of the company’s board of directors, Chief Isaac Akintade, said the company recorded a revenue of N4.29 billion in 2014. The chairman noted that the five per cent slide compared with 2013 earnings of N4.51bn notwithstanding, the conglomerate’s performance was thrilling despite the country’s hostile business environment. According to him, the company’s Profit Before Tax in the year under review, N759million, represents a 53 per cent increase over the 2013 figure of N95m. Similarly, its Earning Per Share (EPS) rose by 98 per cent from N0.72 in 2013 to N1.43 in the year under review. Given the stride recorded by the conglomerate over the last one year, the board approved a dividend of N150 million, representing N26.1kobo per share, to the shareholders. With that each of the owner states got a dividend of N30million. The chairman said, “The company was not doing well in the past. We declared dividends last about six years ago. We are now in a better shape as shown in the 2014 financial year and that is a good thing for us. We can assure you that in 2015, we will declare more dividends. “We are now partnering with a company in Turkey, our directors just came back from the trip. They will partner with us on agro-allied to plant arable crops like tomato to shore up our revenue in the area of agriculture.” While giving a breakdown of the financials of the conglomerate and the performances of the subsidiaries at the meeting attended by all the directors as well as the Secretary to the State Government from each of the owner states, the Group Managing Director/CEO of Odu’a Investment Company Limited, Mr. Adewale Raji, said, “the payment of dividend is a commitment that we vow to maintain considering that we have not paid dividend in the past six years”. Speaking on the performance of the holding company, the Group Managing Director/CEO, Mr. Adewale Raji said, “the revenue rose six per cent from N1.90bn

Chief Isaac Akintade, Chairman, Odu’a Investment

Mr Adewale Raji, GMD, Odu’a Investment

to N2.02bn and Profit Before Tax increased 63 per cent to N615m compared to N378m for year 2013″. He added that the EPS for the holding company increased 57 per cent to N0.94 from N0.60 while other financial ratios demonstrated improved performance fundamentals. Raji reported that the property development projects being undertaken by the conglomerate were reviewed and the best available options were selected for each. On the hospitality business, the GMD said “the business continued to be challenged by obsolete facilities and staff competition”. He added that various options aimed at repositioning the hotels for maximum returns and enhanced profitability were being explored. On the future outlook of the conglomerate, he said the management had rolled out a five-year strategic plan “that posits to grow the Group’s revenue by 340 per cent from N4.5bn to N20bn between 2015 and 2019 with a baseline of 15 per cent Profit Before Tax.” Odua’s return to profitability commenced following Raji’s assumption of office as the organization’s chief executive. At the outset, he had expressed concern that despite the assets at the disposal of the conglomerate, it was running at a loss. He expressed dismay that a group which could boast of an asset base worth over N80billion could only manage to generate a little over N1billion. He also lamented the failure of the group to pay dividends to its owners. As he put it, “In all these years, no dividend was paid to

that will be the pride of the South West. We also identified that core to achieving the five-year plan will be the active engagement of our people by emphasising professionalism and best practices as well as retention and attraction of best in class talent.” Expatiating further on this, he said, “Our plan is to have a 250 per cent growth in five years. We hope to achieve this by getting involved in some level of manufacturing but this must be aligned with expectations and demands in the economy. We do believe that agro-allied processing offers opportunities and we are beginning to explore what kind of farm output we can be involved in with respect to supporting production and at the same time getting involved in conversion and processing. We are looking at different products. “I give you something like cassava. Today, cassava is converted to garri; that is the only way we preserve it. But garri is a low value-adding side of the business. From the economic point of view, the richer we get, the more we move away from garri. So, it is not sustainable to say, ‘I am going to set up a garri factory.’ If you look at the value chain of cassava, we have glucose, we have flour and we have ethanol, which is used in alcoholic beverages. If we study all of these and we have clarity in our minds that it is sustainable, we will go into it. With that, we will try and promote increased productivity of cassava because we know that at the end of the day, unless the raw material is readily available those of us who are processing will have a problem.” On other efforts meant to bring

shareholders which is an aberration in a business enterprise by my own background.” But realizing that he was brought in to change the tide for the organization, not to lament the situation, Raji invited KPMG Advisory Services to facilitate a brainstorming session for top management staff of the holding company as well as the managing directors of all its subsidiaries. At the end of the exercise, the conglomerate came up with a five-year (2015-2019) strategic plan which includes growing the business from N4.5b to N20billion with an underlining 15 per cent profit before tax. According to the GMD in an interview with the Nigerian Tribune, “It is the vision of the management and board to reposition Odu’a to create an enduring value

The management must continue to come up with new ideas on increasing capacity and revenue generation as well as ensuring prudent management of resources.

the vision to reality, Raji said, “We have successfully created a 50/50 Joint Venture with a Malaga based Spanish Company and registered it as WestlinkTodoconstruccion Ltd to market highly discernible and innovative building material finishes in Nigeria. Product range includes but is not limited to wall and floor ceramic and porcelain tiles, marble and terrazzo, wash room sanitary wares, taps, showers, closets, PVC doors and windows, bullet proof glass and doors etc. There is a proviso in the agreement for local manufacture to commence in Year 5 or on attainment of a specified Euro turnover. Two showrooms for display and marketing of the products are underway at Western House, Broad Street and Philips House, Ojota, Lagos with plans to extend to the owner state capitals.” Apart from the efforts put in place by the management to revive the conglomerate being right, what seems to have worked for the return of the group to profitability is prudent management of resources. This is evident from the fact that though the group’s earning for 2014 was five per cent less than that of 2013, profit before tax (PBT) for 2014 was 57 per cent higher than that of 2013. While PBT for 2013 was N95m, that of 2014 was N795m. However, for the feat of making the conglomerate profitable again not to be a flash in the pan, the management must continue to come up with new ideas on increasing capacity and revenue generation as well as ensuring prudent management of resources. These would ensure the sustenance of the profitability already earned.

politics&policy

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

Of Senate committee postings and drama over poverty alleviation Group Politics Editor, Taiwo Adisa reviews the drama on the Senate floor over the fulfillment of the electoral promise of the All Progressives Congress(APC) in respect of the planned N5,000 monthly stipend to the jobless as well as the composition of Standing Committees unveiled by Senate President Bukola Saraki.

Saraki

HE Senate treated Nigerians to a double header on November 4. Perhaps knowing its plenary for the next day would be suspended, the senators ensured that last Wednesday was loaded. First at plenary, the rivalry between the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) played out loudly when the Senators politicized a motion meant to draw attention to the growing unemployment situation in the country. The drama that played out reminded many of the similar scenarios during the confirmation process of ministers, especially in respect of the former Governor of Rivers state, Chief Rotimi Amaechi. To provide some anti-climax to the drama of the day, Senate President Bukola Saraki unveiled the names of chairmen and vice chairmen of Senate’s Standing Committees; taking the committees from 56 to 65. The announcement of the committees appeared like pouring cold water into a raging fire as all senators simply retired home to digest the implication of their placements. Saraki, in announcing the increment in the number of committees, also ensured that 40 Standing Committees went to his party, the APC, while 25 went to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). He also ensured that 13 Grade ‘A’ Committees went to his erstwhile archrivals, in the Senate Unity Forum (SUF)

headed by Senator Ahmad Lawan. Some of the newly created committees included Customs, Excise and Tariff; Diaspora and Civil Society; Drugs and Narcotics; Ecology and Climate Change; Education (Basic and Secondary); Information and National Orientation; ICT and Cybercrime; Human Rights and Legal Matters; Public Procurement; Primary Health Care and Communicable Diseases; Committee on Tertiary Institutions and TETFUND; Committee on Education (Basic and Secondary) as well as Committee on Poverty Alleviation and Social Welfare. One unmistakable development was the missing name of immediate past Senate President, David Mark on the list of Com-

Lawan mittee Chairmen. It was however understood that Mark voluntarily opted out of the Chairmanship positions perhaps, as an elder statesman in the chamber. To ensure his ‘enemies’ in the Senate are placated and possibly deflate the “Axis of Evil” in the chamber, Saraki named the leader of SUF, Senator Ahmad Lawan as Chairman, Committee on Defence. He also named the group’s spokesman, Senator Kabir Marafa as Chairman Committee on National Identity and National Population. Other leaders of SUF named into strategic committees include, Senator George Akume as Chairman Committee on Army; Barnabas Gemade (Housing); Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Women Affairs); Abdullahi Adamu

The latest statistics as released by the Bureau reveals that economically active population, or working age comprising Nigerian within the age range of 15 to 64, is now 103.5 million, increasing from 102.8 million in the last quarter of 2015.

(Agriculture); Babajide Omoworare (Rules and Business); Bayero Nafada (Inter-Parliamentary Affairs); Abu Ibrahim (Police Affairs); Ajayi Borofice (Science and Technology); Gbenga Ashafa (Land Transport) and Isiaka Adeleke (Capital Market). In recognition of Senate Standing Order 3(2iv), the Senate also ensured geopolitical balance in the distribution of the Committees with the South West having 11 Chairmanship positions, North West (11); South East (10); South-South (10); North-Central (12) and North-East also got 11 Committee Chairmanship positions. The North-Central would have a total of 13 Committee Chairmanships if the position of Senate President as Chairman of Selection Committee is added. Saraki however gave the strategic Committee on Appropriation to his ally, Senator Danjuma Goje. Another member of Saraki’s inner core in his Like Minds Senators (group), Senator Shaaba Lafiagi, got the Committee on National Security and Intelligence, while another of his ally, Senator Andy Uba also got the committee on Public Accounts. Three Senators, including Hope Uzodinma (Aviation), Robert Borofice (Science and Technology) and Gill Nnaji (Communications) retained their committees from the 7th Senate. Senators remained largely quiet following the announcement of the Committee standings but feelers revealed a mixed bag. While some are believed to be happy at the composition, others believed that the rule on Ranking was largely sidelined while members of the Like Minds allowed to cherry pick choice committees. The days to come would showcase whether a large number of Senators were really happy with the committee postings. Before the committee positions were announced, senators of the APC and PDP had haggled and argued on the floor that same day. It was another day of politics and drama as the opposing parties harassed themselves over perceived failure in fulfilling electoral promises. It all started with a scheduled motion moved by Senator Bassey Akpan (PDP, Akwa-Ibom) who drew attention to the worsening employment situation in the country. The motion, titled, “Urgent Need to curb Soaring rate of unemployment in Nigeria,” asked the government to end the growing rate of unemployment, which according the senator, has been escalating since the Second Quarter of 2015. He said that records made available by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) indicated that unemployment statistics has grown from 7.5 per cent in the first Quarter to 8.2 per cent in the second quarter. After running through the prayers in the motion, drama started as Senate Minority Whip, Senator Phillip Aduda raised an additional prayer calling on the federal government to immediately commence the paycontinues pg32

politics&policy

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Why states are in financial mess —Ex-Senator Adetunmbi

Senator Olubunmi Adetunmbi, a member of the 7th Senate, who represented Ekiti North, caused a stir when in a historic motion in 2011, drew attention to the financial distress of most of the 36 states of the country. In this interview with AYODELE ADESANMI, the senator recalls issues relating to the financial distress in the states and insists that the federal government also has a big role to play in resolving the crisis. He speaks on other national issues. Excerpts:

OU once raised a motion in the Senate to call attention to the financial distress in most states of the federation. How do you see the trend leading to the bailout extended to states recently and the implications for development? In November 2011, the warning of a looming danger of bankruptcy in states was sounded when the Senate in a unanimous resolution asked the federal government and states to reconsider the revenue sharing formula and reduce excessive recurrent spending. That warning was unheeded and some states even engaged in a fruitless effort to prove their innocence and cried foul on the Senate and the mover of that prophetic motion. The backlog of unpaid salaries to civil servants in 23 states could no longer be hidden and this revealed the insolvency of many states. One doesn’t need to be ball gazing to know that bankruptcy looms on the horizon for states, in view of falling oil price and poor internally generated revenue culture in most states. However, the problem of states is beyond cash depletion. The cash flow crisis in states is suggestive of a prolonged inability of state governments to address the structural imbalances in their annual budgets. Like the federal government, many states have no medium or long- term economic plans that can form the basis for annual budget. Consequently this can lead to inefficient spending both in recurrent and capital budgets. Most of the capital investments are in non-revenue assets that stimulate economic activities therefore tying down state funds without a substantial current cash returns. These include unviable airports, football stadia, state capital beautification, palatial government houses, dualization of roads to nowhere and governors’ lodges in Abuja. In your assessment, would you say the recent bail out extended to states was in order? Loan repayment delays, additional bridging loans and the recent bailout by federal government including the conversion of bank loans into long term bonds or repayment of debts by the federal government as a temporary relief are short term solutions, which do nothing to solve the state’s underlying structural imbalance between revenue and spending. Initially to address the fundamental budget problem, states must develop a long-term, realistic plan to correct its chronic structural budget imbalance. Any short or long term borrowing, including bonds and bailout to address the states’ deficit without dealing with structural fiscal imbalance would further increase an already high debt burden of states. Expectedly there should have been more strategic conditions for bailout. It is conventional that when any entity, be it a corporation, sovereign nation, province, state or local government area, for whatever reason, spends itself into insolvency and seek bailout from external sources, it might have to surrender part of its freedom to make fiscal decisions. Greece had to deal with condi-

gregate terms, be supportive of the national economic management efforts of the federal government. For states to consciously assume this new role, they will require differential technical assistance and capacity building in economic policy initiation and or reform. Currently, the narrative of federal-state relations is largely driven by politics rather than economics, by resource sharing rather than resource generation. There is urgent need to change this model and begin to view and evaluate states performance in terms of their contributions to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) revenues, aggregate consumption, employment, productivity and other socio-economic characteristics. Currently there are no official data on state GDP and how they contribute to the national GDP. This obviously call for official disaggregation of all national social and economic statistics by states including FCT and local government for ease of spatial and comparative analysis. With the disaggregation of data in place, the states performance become more measurable and will shift from being centers of monthly revenue distribution and expenditure into new centers of growth and sub-national economic management where governors preside.

Adetunmbi

Fundamentally, there is a knowledge gap in the country; we seem to be breeding an illiterate population which makes investment in education to be crucial to the kind of transformation that Nigeria is looking for. tionality during its request for Euro bailout. Nigeria and many other developing countries had to deal with International Monetary Fund (IMF) conditionality during the debt crisis of the 1980s and 90s. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) bailout to distressed banks led to dissolution of boards, retrenchment of executive management and substantial or outright loss of equity stake in some of the affected banks. In the same manner, states should have been made to accept federal monitors from the CBN until they are back to sound financial health and bail out monies refunded. Other more stringent conditions should have included budget cuts to reduce unnecessary recurrent expenditure. To my mind the federal government should have used this bailout to negotiate and persuade states on a new deal in collaborative management of national economic framework with states. The scope of this could include the terms and condi-

tions for the coordination of fiscal policies between states and federal government and management of sovereign national savings. Included in this new deal should have been vertical and lateral consolidation of federal and state budgets and debts through a stronger linkage between the Budget & Debt Management Offices of the Federation and those of states. So, what is the way out for the states in view of this situation? Initially, the Nigerian economy is made up of the aggregate of economies of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). However by extension of this logic, the sum of economic growth recorded in states will account for the collective growth in the national economy. Therefore, there must be a policy shift that supports governors to develop a new mindset that sound economic management in states will in ag-

But, we run a federal system of government. How do you think this model can be practised in terms of economic relations between the federal government and the states? The time has come to expand the scope of federal-state economic relations from revenue sharing to include broader political economy, job and fiscal issues to building consensus on national economic policy management. The federal government must recognise that it needs states to develop and implement its policies while states must acknowledge the significance of federal actions in the realization of enabling and conducive business climate in states. Gone are the days when we had a dormant National Economic Council (NEC); President Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo should be commended for reviving NEC and bringing the states back to the table to discuss the economy. Within the framework of National Economic Council, the Joint Planning Board and other FG-States coordinating platforms, the much-expected synergy can be achieved between the two critical tiers of government. I think there is a pressing need for the establishment of an advisory and analytical desk in the Presidency to deal with economic and fiscal policy coordination between federal and state governments. Correspondingly, states should strengthen their Abuja liaison offices to carry out more strategic roles such as economic, political and intergovernmental fiscal functions beyond the current VIP logistics and protocol functions, airport pickups etc as they currently do. How do you define the challenge before the states presently? The states face three tasks which present continues pg32

politics&policy

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

‘National minimum wage should be abolished’ ic sense. But if they borrow to build white elephant projects that do not add any value to the economy other than massage the ego of the governor, that is what we must discourage the governors from doing. Currently, the demand side of the good governance is very weak. Citizens, elite of the states, the technocrats, members of the business community and the civil society ought to rise to their responsibilities and bring governors to the table and ask them questions on the economic justification of what they are doing. It is important that we cannot allow the state government and the Federal Government to do what they like without any effort by this society to demand for accountability and the logic of their economic decisions.

continued from pg31

significant and debilitating obstacles to their economic revitalisation. First is that they all must regain fiscal sanity by ensuring that revenue matches expenditure. There must be massive cut in cost of governance and focus more on essential public services, particularly in public schools and primary health care delivery. Most states need to ramp up their internal revenue drive, achieve right balance between recurrent and capital budgets and seek to achieve value for money, avoid contract inflation and institute effective price monitoring and public procurement policies. Secondly states must of necessity rightsize their public service; this could mean all or a combination of shedding jobs, outsourcing, cutting pay, trimming benefits and other creative ideas. There are models for managing labour unions during such drastic reforms to ensure collaborative rather than antagonistic labour relations. Singapore did it and interested states can draw from that experience. In most states, public service to population ration is as low as 0.2 per cent to the highest of three per cent in Zamfara and Bayelsa respectively. Yet, the public service consumed 60-120 per cent of total revenue in some states. Using IGR as a proxy for worker productivity, some states are not generating enough to pay the minimum wage of N18, 000 per month. The highest is in Lagos with about half a million Naira and you have states with figures as low as N6, 000 of IGR per worker. The national minimum wage should be abolished and states left to negotiate workers wages. Thirdly, there must be a radical review of the business model for public corporations and revenue-earning parastatals. States must consider options ranging from concessioning cum outsourcing to full commercialisation and privatisation and if necessary, outright dissolution of unviable government entities. The era of subvention to non performing parastatals should be over. States should also provide sector specific enabling infrastructure, attract investors and tourists thereby facilitating creation of jobs through the private sector. Looking at the scenarios do, you think states brought the financial crisis upon themselves, in view of their borrowing to fund unproductive projects in some cases? Fundamentally, l do not think government should do business; therefore, their investments in commercial business ventures may not necessarily be the way out. The states need to create infrastructure and the enabling environment that will allow private investment to thrive in their states. Fundamentally, there is a knowledge gap in the country; we seem to be breeding an illiterate population which makes investment in education to be crucial to the kind of transformation that Nigeria is looking for. Without an enlightened citizenry, we will not have the workforce that businesses require, and we cannot produce entrepreneurs that would become employers of labour in the future. Beside education, there is need for investment in infrastructure like roads that will enable free movement of goods and services in the states. Findings have revealed that most of the states have indulged in projects that don’t really have strong economic values like building government houses, stadium where there is no thriving sporting activities. These are the kind of projects that state government should get out off and concentrate more

Adetunmbi on developing economic assets that have capacities to increase the revenue earnings potentials of the states and therefore take them out of revenue crisis that is bedeviling the states presently. However taking loan in itself is not a problem, but the application of the loan and the projects being financed with it, that is the question we need to ask. Having fiscal deficit means that what you need to do exceed your means in financial terms. The issue of state borrowing and the size of the borrowing should be assessed in the context of what is done with the money. For example Cross River State is embarking on a super highway that will link the North East with SouthSouth zones of the country. That is a huge economic asset and when a state borrows to finance that kind of asset, it makes econom-

So, how do we get back on the road to development and how relevant are Development Plans to the situation? One of the greatest tragedies of our economic history is the abandonment of development plans. It was dropped in 1986 under the so-called liberalisation policy for open market that does not have foundation in the development context of Nigeria. When l was in the Senate, l actually called for Nigeria to return to a development plan-based budgeting system. L belief with the new administration, it will return to the culture of five yearly plans for the critical sectors of agriculture, health, infrastructure and education. The development plans should become the basis for the application of annual budget resources that are generated from taxation or oil and this same culture is recommended for states. The people that live in the states demand for services in the states and local governments; that is where jobs are to be created, therefore the enabling environment we looking for is actually a state issue. Also, the prosperity and economic revolution that Nigerians want can only happen in states when the economic management focus of the federal government shift to states and it become the engine rooms of growth. Until states become the centre of economic management and transparent public finance, Nigeria will continue to search for development. The future

APC and the opposition parties continued from pg30

ment of N5, 000 stipends to unemployed youths during electioneering campaigns. Aduda said it was high time the government started fulfilling its election promises by commencing the payment of N5.000 stipends to unemployed youths. Aduda said: “The federal government should immediately commence the payment of the N5, 000 monthly stipends it promised during the pre-election campaign.” The prayer was seconded by the Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio. Sensing danger and political gerrymandering in the additional prayer to the motion, Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare immediately objected to the motion. He raised Order 53(6) to attempt to nullify the additional prayer but the chamber immediately got polarized. The Senators jeered at one another as commotion reigned in the chamber for some 22 minutes. Order 53(6) reads: “It shall be out of order to attempt to reconsider any specific question upon which the senate has come to conclusion during the current session except upon a substantive motion for rescission.” But the point of Order only led to a pro-

longed bickering among the senators of the APC and the PDP. While Senators of the PDP accused the APC of trying to jettison the election promise, their APC counterparts simply accused PDP lawmakers of mischief. After about 22 minutes of arguments and counter arguments, senate President Bukola Saraki intervened and brought some calm. Saraki then asked Aduda to repeat his additional prayer, which the latter did and when Saraki put the question, the voice vote clearly went along party lines. Senators of the APC voted “Nay” against Aduda’s prayer while the PDP senators voted “Aye”. Saraki however ruled in favour of the APC Senators. An indication that the senators had rejected the payment of N5, 000 stipends to unemployed Nigerians contrary to the promise of President Muhammadu Buhari on the campaign train. Not to be outdone in the game of mischief, APC senators immediately concocted another prayer through Omoworare, who said:”I want to move that the immediate past government be made to account for every penny spent on SURE-P and other poverty alleviation programmes, and I so move, Mr. President.” The PDP senators showed their disdain

of a prosperous Nigeria revolves around transformation of governance in states and ensuring it becomes agents of development, and the state governor of states should see themselves as responsible for the prosperity of the people they govern. To achieve these, we must have a roadmap at all levels of government. Can we blame the current crisis in the states on leadership? Leadership would always be an issue of public concern in any human society but beyond leadership, we also have a plethora of problems that revolves around knowledge, experience, and values. The combination of these problems has translated into decline of performance in government, whether at the federal, state or the local government level. There is a huge decline of quality of public service and it is not something that took place in one year; it is an accumulation of years of impunity, corruption and irresponsible public leadership, which has almost become a culture until the emergence of President Buhari; whose image and transparent integrity is capable of changing public behaviour. Presently, the people are beginning to come back to the old tradition of self-regulation such that the ambience of the country as exemplified by its leadership is no longer permissive of the culture of business as usual. This in my opinion is the single most significant opportunity that Buhari presidency brings to the table. At present, the Federal Government is waging war against corruption. Do you think it is on the right path? This government has 48 months to spend in office but, it has only spent less than six months. I think we should give the government the opportunity to prove itself. The reputation of Mr President, his widely acknowledged integrity itself is a game changer. I will give the government more time to prove its commitment to fighting corruption. So far so good, l have no reason to doubt that President Buhari would make good his promise to clean this country of corruption once and for all

for the additional prayer and simply let it go. Thus when Saraki put the question only the APC lawmakers shouted ‘Aye’ and they carried the day. In the original motion, Akpan had observed that the latest Nigeria’s unemployment figures adding that reports from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that unemployment rate has increased to 8.2 percent in the second quarter of 2015 from 7.5 percent in the first quarter of the year 2015 . He said that the figure was 6.4 percent in the last quarter of 2014. He further said: “The latest statistics as released by the Bureau reveals that economically active population, or working age comprising Nigerian within the age range of 15 to 64, is now 103.5 million, increasing from 102.8 million in the last quarter of 2015, while the unemployed labour force now stands at 74 million Nigerian youths. This is truly a calamity.” Outside the Senate chamber, political actors echoed the developments further. The opposition PDP said in a statement that the rejection of the N5, 000 stipends to unemployed Nigerians by APC Senators was a clear indication that the APC simply deceived the Nigerian voters with campaign promises.

news

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

NASS crises: APC senators reject Senate committee positions ...Lawmakers in scuffle at NASS lobby Jacob Segun Olatunji And Kolawole Daniel, Taiwo Adisa And Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja

HE last may not have been heard of the crisis rocking the National House of Assembly and the House of Representatives as Senators loyal to the Senator Ahmad Lawan-led Senate Unity Forum (SUF) on Tuesday declared as illegal the composition of Standing Committees of the Senate by Senate President Bukola Saraki. Spokespersons of the SUF, including Senators Kabir Marafa (Public Relations officer) and Suleiman Hunkuyi (Secretary) challenged the announcement of the standing Committees made by Saraki on the floor of the Senate, last week. Marafa, who was the first to raise points of Order at the Tuesday sitting said that the committees as composed by Saraki were illegal, adding that the Senate President should apologise to Nigerians for breaching the constitution. He also demanded immediate cancelation of the Committees to enable the chamber constitute committees properly. The SUF worked against the emergence of Saraki as Senate President in line with the position of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). Hunkuyi, who also joined Marafa to raise points of orders and negate the composition of Senate Standing Committees, said that the exercise was an exercise in futility. According to the two lawmakers, the leadership of the Senate erred by not seeking the approval of the entire senators before announcing the Committees. Trouble started when Marafa raised a point of order and cited Constitutional provisions to back his claim. The Zamfara Senator had immediately after the adoption of votes and proceedings of last Wednesday raised his point of order and alleged that tyranny was taking over the Senate. He said that it was wrong for the Senate President to have announced the committees when the selection committee was not properly constituted. After the prolonged presentations, Senate President Bukola Saraki told Marafa he had noted the observations and would refer the matter to the Selection Committee. He however ruled Hunkuyi out of Order, as according to him, he had ruled on the matter while responding to

Marafa. In a swift reaction, Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi, said that the committees were approved during the adoption of votes and proceedings. He stated that no lawmaker had the power to declare any proceeding in the chamber null and void. Meanwhile, two lawmakers loyal to the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara and the House Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila engaged themselves in hot arguments leading to exchange of blows at the lobby of the National Assembly, on Tuesday The two members, Herman Hembe (APC Benue

...No plan to sack Gbajabiamila —Chief Whip

and Chairman FCT Committee) and Magaji Aliyu (APC Jigawa and a Femi Gbajabiamila loyalist) believed to be in argument over issues relating to the composition and inauguration of the House standing Committees by Speaker Dogara were said to have been quickly separated by other lawmakers. Nigerian Tribune gathered that Hembe and Aliyu belong to the APC but while Hembe is in Speaker Yakubu Dogara’s camp, Aliyu is a staunch supporter of Gbajabiamila. According to an eyewitness account, the sudden appearance of the Deputy Speaker, Honourable Yussuf Lasun at scene saved the situation that could have degenerated to a free-

for-all between the warring groups. “We have to forget our differences please and work in unity for the overall interest of our people,” the Deputy Speaker reportedly said. It was learnt that hardly had the Deputy Speaker left the scene than the argument resumed and the warring lawmakers nearly engaged in physical combat. However, the Deputy Speaker was said to have resurfaced again to take them to the Hearing Room for the enlarged APC caucus meeting before the plenary. Also, Chief Whip of the House, Honourable Alhassan Ado-Doguwa has disclosed that the there

was no crack in the body of House leadership and that no plan to sack Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila as House Majority Leader. While speaking with journalists after an APC Caucus meeting, he said “I want to tell you on behalf of the leadership, that the leadership has no crack as far as am concern. As I am talking to you, Honourable Dogara and the leader of the House are in the same room, the office of the Speaker discussing, trying to see how we can move ahead. “Femi as leader is also on status-quo, we have maintained status-quo for now, and Femi is our leader in the House of Representatives.

From left, State Manager, Globacom, Ogun 2, Ijebu Ode, Mr Akin Adeniyi; Glo ambassador and popular musician, Hadiza Blell a.k.a Di’Ja; a fan, Mrs Sola Adekoya and a Globacom ambassador , John Okafor popularly known as Mr Ibu, at the Ijebu Ode edition of the Glo Laffta Fest on Sunday.

PDP fielding Jonathan in 2015 a mistake —Raymond Dokpesi Leon Usigbe And Jacob Segun Olatunji-Abuja

CHAIRMAN of the national conference committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, on Tuesday, admitted that the party was wrong to have fielded former President Goodluck Jonathan as its presidential candidate in the 2015 election. Keen to regain the confidence of the people, the party also apologised to Nigerians for failing to meet their expectations in its 16 years in power. This came as it kick-started series of initiatives to bring it back to reckoning, having lost power to the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the last general election. Part of the initiatives is the national conference holding in Abuja tomorrow, which would involve its founding

fathers to analyse its mistakes and move forward. During a press conference in Abuja, Dokpesi noted the strides achieved by the party during the period. “Now you ask us what we are apologising for. You must have seen Ekweremadu’s report, it was very explicit. “The report acknowledged the fact that the party made a lot of giant strides during the last 16 years and also there was no internal democracy. There was impunity within the party and there was no level playing ground for members of the party. Zoning principles of the party were abandoned and a gamut of all other issues, which will come out during the conference. “For all these and the people who have been offended, for people whose toes were stepped upon, we tender unreserved

apology.” Stating its vision of a re-invigorated, re-engineered and re-structured PDP, he said as fallout of the matters arising from the last general elections, it has become necessary to bring together the different stakeholders of the party to critically review its current state of affairs and proffer solutions that will allow the party move forward and return to power. He said: “The PDP is aware that there were errors made along the way. We admit that at certain times in our past, mistakes have been made; we did not meet the expectations of Nigerians but the past is exactly what it is. “While we should not forget the past and its errors, we must look forward and begin to show true leadership within and outside our party.

“For every and any mistake we have made, I therefore say, we tender our unreserved apologies.” Dokpesi, when asked if the party would have won if he had picked another candidate for presidency, said it was wrong for the party to have abandoned zoning in preference for the former president. Dokpesi said the party ought to have allowed the northern part of the country to complete its term when former President Umaru Yar’Adua died in 2010. “The party in 2010 and 2011, made the first round of mistake of not allowing the North to complete its term. “That was when the party gave a special favour for the then president who came to compete the term of Yar’Adua to be allowed one term to finish,” he said.

Ijebu Ode agog for Glo Laffta Fest

GLOBACOM, last Sunday extended its comedy show, Glo Laffta Fest to Ijebu Ode, Ogun State. Enthusiastic attendees, who thronged the venue of the event, De Prime event centre, expressed appreciation to Globacom for bringing the entertainment show to the city, barely two months after staging its music concert, Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce in Ijebu-Ode. They described the show as a memorable stressreliever which provided them an evening of fun, dance and laughter. Prior to the commencement of the event, the organisers screened the last episode of Glo-sponsored Dance with Peter to the delight of the audience. They applauded enthusiastically in admiration of the intricate dance steps of the contestants in the show which turned out to be the tonic they needed to cheer the comedians on parade for the day. Comedians like D Don, Still Ringing, Bash, Acapella and Seyi Law treated subscribers to sublime entertainment and rib-cracking jokes. DJ Top punctuated the performances with popular beats from his wheelof-steel, while Ijebu-based up and coming artistes made a good show by whetting the appetite of the audience as a prelude to the main performances of the evening. The anchor of the show, ace comedian, Bovi, was in his best as he introduced the comedians, one after the other whilst engaging the audience in hilarious jives. Legendary comedian, Sunday Omobolanle popularly known as Papy Luwe and Nollywood comedy act, Bolaji Amusan known as Mr Latin performed a drama skit on the ills of highhandedness by house owners on their tenants. Supreme Mavin’s music diva, Hadiza Blell popularly called Di’Ja’s appearance on stage threw the audience into frenzy as the audience joined her, chorusing the lyrics of her songs. Fuji artiste, Saheed Osupa took the show several notches higher with the full complement of his band to serenade the highly-elated audience. Osupa played the solidarity card as he belted out his popular songs with his sonorous voice which rang into the night, finally drawing the curtains on the six-hourlong show.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

inside

Femi Olukunle Co-ordinating Editor 08065167178

nigerdelta How we’ll stamp out illegal oil bunkering in Delta-Navy Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri

IFFED by the unrepentant stance of saboteurs of the nation’s oil sector, the Nigerian Navy has vowed to thoroughly investigate and bring to book sponsors of crimes relating to illegal oil bunkering, illegal oil refinery and other forms of criminality and economic sabotage being perpetrated in the creeks of Delta State. Commander of NNS DELTA, Warri Naval Base, Commodore Raimi Muhammed, made this vow in Warri at the weekend after returning from a raid at Kantu Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State. Kantu, an Ijaw creek, has, in the last few months, become the hub of illegal oil bunkering and massive illegal local refinery camps where several tons of crude oil were either siphoned and locally refined for local oil marketers or ferried to thieving vessels in the high seas. Several destructions have been carried out at Kantu by men of the naval force as a way of discouraging or stamping out the economic sabotage, but perpetrators have refused to throw in the towel. Undaunted by this stance, Commodore Muhammed led his crack team to Kantu

Polluted water along Kantu village Island, his first to the area after resuming duties, to carry out further raids and destructions of illegal oil refinery camps. In line with the rule of engagement in such a raid, the naval operatives swooped

Crude oil stored in a trench at Kantu illegal refinery camp

on the never-ending network of illegal refineries bringing to destruction 3×3000 llitres of substances suspected to be diesel, 12×8 storage pits harbouring about 100 metric tons as well as an iron tank measuring 1×5000 and containing 1×2000 litres of suspected to be diesel. In essence, according to Conmodore Muhammed, a total of 1, 265 metric tons of crude oil and 11 metric tons of locally refined diesel were destroyed in the process. Speaking on the operation and the determination of his men to press harder and, perhaps, inch closer to sponsors of the economic saboteurs, Commodore Muhammed told journalists: “We are actually on the trail of illegal oil activity, and we know exactly where they are; we are doing our best as much as possible anywhere we discover them.”

Itsekiri insists on derivation principle in DESOPADEC employ Ebenezer Adurokiya - Warri ITSEKIRI, under the aegis of Itsekiri Joint Action Group (IJAG), has insisted that the principle of derivation must be strictly followed as regards employments into the Delta State Oil Producing Area Development Commission (DESOPADEC). The group stated this over the weekend in Warri, Delta State, sequel to the peaceful protest held last week against alleged marginalisation of the ethnic group as regards job placements and other issues in the commission. Co-ordinator and secretary of the group, Comrades Prince O. H Tuoyo and Gift Iwere Odobiken respectively, noted that until their demands were met, peace might elude the commission.

The demands of the Itsekiri, according to them, include: a biometric data capture of all itsekiris employed in the commission till date be carried out to ascertain the true figures of Itsekiri staff, more of Itsekiris be employed to reflect the 29 per cent oil production quantum and that the overseas scholarship scheme for NYSC and PhD students be re-activated. Other demands include the revamping of the empowerment scheme for Itsekiri

women and physically-challenged persons and compulsory headship of security of the commission, like in every other place, by a native of the place who should be an Itsekiri. The group, while decrying police brutality against its members during the last protest, also requested that persons living with physical disabilities who possess the required qualifications be employed into the commission.

When Total equipped 64 —pg35 Rivers indigenes

He approximated the quantity of crude oil destroyed in the raid to about 240 metric tons or about eight trucks. Explaining how the perpetrators of the economic sabotage go about their chosen illegal business line, Commodore Muhammed said the oil bunkerers usually got the crude oil from pipelines they had damaged or from well-heads similar to what was discovered at Ugbodede community in Warri South Local Government Area of the state a forthright ago. “What happened in the last operation we went for was that we traced the well-head to the place they were actually stealing crude oil from and we shall get in touch with the corresponding international oil companies (IOCs) to effect and block it,” he noted. He said his men, during patrols, would continue to check back at places earlier raided. Commodore Muhammed warned that the big players in the business, those behind the illegal activities, would be brought down soon, as according to him, “enough evidence against them is on set and that they will be fished out wherever they are”.

CREW

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

35 insidenigerdelta

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

When Total equipped 64 Rivers indigenes Dapo Falade and Uduaksbasi Patrick - Port Harcourt

IL giant, Total E&P Nigeria (TEPNG) Limited, has been consistent in delivering on its Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) ethics, as it has been positively touching the life of the people in its host communities, especially in Rivers State. It was, therefore, not a departure from the norm when the oil company recently put a smile on the faces of about 64 indigenes in the Egi clan in Ogba/Egbema/Ndomi Local Government Area who were inducted into a workshop and technical trainning centre at Bori in the Khana Local Government Area for the acquisition of different vocational skills. The vocational centre was part of the effort at checking youth restiveness in the Niger Delta as it was aimed at taking unemployed and vulnerable youths off the streets and away from crimes by engaging them in trainings that can equip them for future sustainable livelihood and development. The skills acquisition programme was actually initiated by TEPNG in 2002 and it has trained about 3,973 people drawn from both Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states. The latest effort at equipping the youth for the future was held at Bori, even amid an unfriendly weather as the rain threatened to disrupt the programme that fateful day. Speaking at the induction programme, Total’s Executive General Manager (EGM), Port Harcourt Administration, Mr Joseph Ajilore, said the beneficiaries would be trained in various fields of human endeavours. Represented at the event by the Deputy General Manager (DGM), Sustainable Development, Mr Cyprian Ojum, the head of the Port Harcourt Administration highlighted the training skills acquisition to include machining, auto mechanic, electri-

Egi indigenes inducted into workshop and technical training at Bori cal and electronics, welding and fabrication, carpentry and woodworks, refrigeration and air conditioning as well as computer engineering. According to Ajilore, the training programme would be on a full-time basis and would last up to about nine months after which the trainees would be prepared and presented for certificated examination of the London City and Guilds and Trade Test. “As part of the training package, relevant starter pack is provided for one workshop rent paid for the ordinary trainees. During the training session, monthly stipends would be paid to them to enable to enable them concentrate on the programme”, he said. He further disclosed that the incentives

were designed to cushion financial constraints and enable beneficiaries to get started on their own after graduation, adding that products of the skills acquisition programme were employed at the OML58 Upgrade project in Obagi. Also speaking at the event, the Centre Manager, Workshop and Technical Training Centre, Mr Armstrong Amorro, said he was fulfilled that the journey had started and called on other corporate groups to emulate Total in curbing youth restiveness by investing in human development, as the oil company was doing. “The best capital to development is human. When you develop a man, you have developed a community. When you build a town hall, chances are that it would not be

Bayelsa communities appreciate Dickson over project execution Austin Ebipade - Yenagoa SEQUEL to achievements in all nooks and crannies, political leaders, elders, youths and women in all communities of the state, particularly Gbarain/Ekpetiama community, has said that Bayelsa is safe in the hands of Governor Seriake Dickson and that they have resolved to thank and support him in the continuation of the Restoration Government. The people itemised the governor’s strides for which they were expressing their happiness to include: the completion of the school of midwifery, Ekpetiama; revamping of the school of nursing technology, Tombia; completion and expansion of the Tombia/Amassoma road; re-construction of internal roads in Gbarain communities; rural electrification; scholarship to our sons and daughters and soft loans through the Izon-Ibe Micr-finance Bank, amongst others. The people of the community, including the traditional stools, political leaders, women and youths, eulogize the governor for appointing sons and daughters into political office in his cabinet, adding that the gesture had given them a sense of belonging in government and governance. The people did not hide their desire to return him to office, as they rolled out drums, dancing and eulogizing Dickson style of government, while the youths, men

and the women dressed in uniforms that carried messages such as ‘100% votes for Dickson/Jonah Re-election’, ‘No Vacancy in Creek Haven’, ‘Bayelsa is safe in Dickson’s Hands’. Leading the support/thank you rally in Gbarain/Ekpetiama communities, Mrs Ebiowou Kuku Obiyai, representing the area in the state Assembly, said the people had never had it good from successive administrations, even as he noted that past governments turned deaf ears to their cries for lack of institutions in their clan, adding that but all was redressed by Governor Dickson to ensure that democratic dividends did not elude the communities in the clan. The lawmaker averred that kidnapping had dropped until now that the opposition party (APC) came into the political race. Aside this, he said that the governor was a good manager of resources because workers’ salaries were paid till date, compared to other states where civil servants were owed five to eight months salaries. Continuing, she also thanked Governor Dickson for the modalities put in place that made it possible for government to provide relief and support to aged persons through the payment of monthly welfare stipends just as the communities hold firm to the governor’s promises that as he returns in 2016, more projects would come to the

communities. Obiyai advised the community youths to reciprocate the governor’s gesture by being peaceful and law-abiding, ensure government properties in their domain were protected and contribute to the political transition by using their Permanent Voter Cards (PVC) to thank the governor on the day of election. Ebiekure Eradiri from Ekpetiama community said since the inception of the Dickson government, the state had witnessed security, good roads, scholarships, agrirevolution and the Izon-ebe Micro-finance Bank which are tangible proof of development. Continuing, Ebiekure noted that the Izon-ebe Micro-finance Bank would stimulate the economy by creating grants and soft loans to grow small and medium scale enterprises in the state, stressing that the people of Gbarain/Ekpetiama were gratified that the governor had been morally upright and prudent in managing the state resources and that their support would spur him to do more for the communities. Another respondent, Tari Dadiowei, said that the communities of Obunagha, Okolobiri, Okotiama, Ogboloma, Asambiri and Koroama would remain grateful to Governor Dickson for the preference accorded their communities in his development agenda, a feat that he said no other government had ever achieved.

too long before wear and tear. But the man you develop will single-handedly build a toilet and a town hall for the community. So for our trainees, I encouraged you to take advantage of this unique opportunity. I see you as privileged persons, even as you may think that, it is your right. But the Egi clan is far bigger than the number we have here. So it is a privilege that you are here”, he said. The Rivers State Sustainable Development Agency (RSSDA), an agency in partnership with Total in the training programme, assured that the beneficiaries would be well-trained and made strong entrepreneurs. “They would be encouraged never to take the opportunity for granted, but make use of the opportunity given to them”, the RSSDA General Manager, Business Development and Job Creation, Mrs Blessing Daniel Kalio, said, adding that “although it is your right, are you going to distinguish yourself or are you going to go back as you came to Egi land. Everybody has an equal opportunity, but what you do with it is what distinguishes you. You are here representing Egi, do not act in a manner that will not represent your people properly. Speaking on behalf of the others, one of the beneficiaries said he and his colleagues were peculiar when compared with those who had undergone the process in the past. “Total has pushed us to learn what we ought to learn and by the grace of God, we have be chosen to learn this. We are happy and we will not disappoint Total. We have seen the environment we are and we know there would be challenges. But we know that with Total, we do not have any reason to fear or worry. We also believe that learning would not be a problem to us but we want you to support us financially”, he said. Another beneficiary, who spoke with InsideNigerDelta, Oku Rejoice, said she was from Obite community in Egi land and that she was at the centre to learn ITC. She said she was given a form to fill and that was how she was selected, thanking Total for the opportunity. Moses John from Ede community and who would be learning electrical installation said he got the information through his family, saying that he counted himself to be a lucky man, while thanking Total for giving him the opportunity. In the same vein, Chukwuma Oriji, another beneficiary of the Total skills acquisitions programme said he would be going for electrical installation, assuring that he would not disappoint the oil company and the Egi clan.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Edited by: ‘Gbenga Opadotun olojaekuro@gmail.com 08037149731

NULGE advocates reform of LG administration

he Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) has called for the reform of local government administration to make it more functional, democratic and independent in the country. The President of the

union, Mr Ibrahim Khaleel, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. Khaleel said that if the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari wanted to make positive impact and create a better country for the citizenry, “there is need to overhaul local gov-

… As S/East NULGE calls on FG to fix Enugu-Onitsha highway The South-East Zone of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE) has urged the Federal Government to commence immediate intervention on the EnuguOnitsha express way. The call was made in a communiqué signed by eight executive members of the NULGE after the union’s meeting in Awka. The union expressed dismay over the deplorable state of the road and other federal roads in the zone, noting that they had become impassable and were inflicting hardship on the people. It urged the governors of the zone to jointly mobilise funds with a view to rehabilitate the road. “Although, these are federal roads, the states thereafter could ask for a refund from the Federal Government,” the union advised.

It further appealed to the national leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and NULGE to intervene in the alleged hardship being experienced by some workers in Imo. It expressed dismay over the hardship being experienced by the Health and Agricultural staff in the local government system of Imo due to non-payment of their salaries for over six months. “The zone also frowned at the recent policy of Imo State government on concessioning of Government Hospitals, Health Centres and Maternities, which has a monumental negative effect on the affected health staff,” it added. However, the union commended President Muhammadu Buhari on the proactive steps so far taken to address the problem of corruption in the country.

ernment administration.” He said Nigerians were demanding for a more functional, democratically structured and a more guarantee local government administration that would assuage their feelings and make government more accessible. “We want a local government that will serve the purpose of its existence, bridge the gap of governance and give the rural people a new lease of life. “We believe strongly that for Nigeria to be stable, grow, developed and for its diverse interests to be addressed, you must have a well articulate system of local government,” he said. Khaleel said that the religious crisis that seemed to have ravaged the country and tearing Nigeria apart could be addressed if the country was structured through a viable and functional local government. According to him, whatever religion each community belong, they will be allowed to operate in the way and manner that will best suite the interest of the community in the local government. The NULGE president said that the creation of more local government area in the country became necessary because of its diverse nature. “I just came back from Japan and I had the opportunity to visit one local government called Shimane, I

saw what the local government was able to do by impacting on the lives of the people,” he said. He said that the local government provided a well articulate social security policy for the rural dwellers, adding that the government must do all within its power to provide a well functional local government. Meanwhile, Mr Khaleel has also canvassed for a stronger financial autonomy for local government administration, to strengthen its activities. He said that the union was working to ensure that the constitutional reform of the local government administration was formulated and updated. The NULGE president explained that the reform prompted the need to engage the Federal Government to ensure a democratic government that would address the yearnings of local government area in Nigeria. “The survival of local government as a system lies in today’s round table exercise. “We need to produce a rich policy document that will engage government and other interested parties in making local governments stronger in our country. “It is high time we come up with a positive approach towards contributing to the success of local government area in Nigeria. We believe that this is the right time to

Ganduje promises support for councils Kola Oyelere - Kano

KANO State governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has assured that his administration would continue to give local government areas 10 per cent of its accrued revenue to augment their dwindling allocation from the Federation Account. He made the pledge during the monthly disbursement meeting to the 44 local government areas of the state at Africa House, Government House, Kano. Ganduje, however directed the local government areas to ensure that revenues payable to the state government from them were remitted duly to assist the government in the execution of life changing projects across the state. The governor also enjoined them to follow due process in the execution of their man-

date to avoid bickering and ensure that the people got what was due to them. He assured that all on – going state/local government joint projects would be completed in phases for efficient execution. On the 2016 fiscal year, Governor Ganduje charged the councils to ensure realis-

tic budgets that would entail important public commitments In his remarks, the Accountant-General, Dr. Danjuma Mahmud, told the gathering that owing to declining oil revenue, all the tiers of government got less than what they got before, adding that for the month

of October, all local government areas in the state got a little over N4 billion. On his part, the Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Murtala Sule Garo, stressed the need for the councils to be judicious and transparent in the management of their meagre resources.

strategise and bring out a policy they will build the local government. “It is our mission to ensure that our long time struggle and aspiration will make local government stronger, more viable, more disciplined and

President Muhammadu Buhari

Council poll: APC inaugurates reconciliatory committees Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, inaugurated three reconciliatory committees ahead of the January 2016 local government election in the state. The committees, one for each of the three senatorial districts, were tasked with the responsibility of reconciling members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), especially chairmanship aspirants. Inaugurating the committees in Sokoto, the governor said that the gesture was with a view to reaching a consensus among the aspirants. Tambuwal explained that the committees were inau-

LG boss assures residents of development The chairman of Ifo Local Government Area of Ogun State Dr. Lukman Kiadese, has promised to ensure that residents of the council area lived a meaningful life. The chairman disclosed this during the visit of the House Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs led by Honourable Samuel Sonuga to the council secretariat, Ifo. According to a press re-

lease signed by Prince. Tola Oshunlaja, the Director of information in the Local Government, Dr. Kiadese reiterated that his administration had rehabilitated the hitherto damaged portion of Orile Ifo/Abekoko road, to ease the sufferings and congestion experienced on the roads by commuters and motorists. According to him, his administration had also rehabilitated Olomu/Osoba road

to alleviate the hardship of the people. In addition, the council chief said that priority attention was been given to the evacuation and clearing of refuse in and around the council area on a regular basis to ensure that the people lived in a congenial atmosphere, thereby promoting healthy living. In order to ward off diseases, regular sanitation ex-

more democratic,” Khaleel said. In his remarks, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, said that local governments should be allowed to use their funds to run activities at the grassroots.

ercises are carried out in the markets and abattoir on every Thursday of the week. Dr. Kiadese also informed the committee that within the limit of resources available to the council, the administration embarked on complete renovation and rehabilitation of African Primary School, Oke-Aro, so that school children could learn under a conducive environment.

gurated to avoid rancour and division among supporters of the party at the local levels. The Governor, however, warned against imposition of candidates, saying the wish of the people must be considered and respected by the party. Tambuwal thanked the leadership of APC in the state for ensuring peace and harmony in the party. He also thanked the people of the state for their support and understanding, assuring them that his government would not relent in its efforts to reposition the state and make it among the best. Earlier, chairman of the party, Alhaji Usman Danmadamin-Isa, said the decision to set up the committees was informed by the need to ensure peace and harmony in the party. He said the Sokoto Central Senatorial Committee would be chaired by Alhaji Muhammadu Dingyadi, while Ambassador Abubakar Shehu Wurno and Alhaji Chiso Dattijo would chair that of Sokoto-South and Sokoto-East senatorial districts, respectively.

37 news

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Buhari’s job performance rating rose to 80% in October —Survey By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

survey has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari’s job rating rose to 80 per cent in the month of October 2015, a two-point increase from the September’s 78 per cent aggregate and a 10-point increase from June’s 70 per cent aggregate, when his first job performance was appraised. Findings indicated that the increase in the president’s job performance is mostly centered on the perceived ‘improved electricity supply’ and ‘improved security’ across the country amongst other reasons. The survey, conducted nationwide by the NOI Polls Limited, a country specific polling service in West Africa, involved telephone interviews of a random nationwide sample with 1,000 respondents randomly selected among phone-owning Nigerians aged 18 years and above, representing the six geopolitical zones in the country. Conversely, most respondents who disapproved his job performance claimed that ‘there hasn’t been any realistic change in governance’ (61 per cent) among other reasons.

NOI, which conduct periodic opinion polls and studies on various socioeconomic and political issues in Nigeria, stated that, “with a sample of this size, we can say with 95 per cent confidence that the results

obtained are statistically precise and within a range of plus or minus three per cent ratio. This rating is the second highest approval rating since NOI Polls started its governance poll in

2007 where late President Yar’Adua attained an approval rating of 82 per cent. The overall increase in his job performance in October 2015 is mostly seen across the three geopolitical zones; the North-

West (92 per cent), SouthEast (71 per cent) and South-West (84 per cent) with the South-East zone (14-points) for the first time recording the largest increase in the number of respondents who approved

FG docks former gov, Suswam, commissioner for money laundering Sunday Ejike - Abuja THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), on Tuesday, docked former Benue State governor, Gabriel Suswam, for allegedly mismanaging over N3.1 billion belonging to the state when he was governor. Suswam was arraigned alongside his Finance Commissioner, Omodachi Okolobia, on a nine-count charge of money laundering. The former governor and his Commissioner of Finance, who were escorted into court by officials of the EFCC, both pleaded not guilty to the charges when read out to them. Prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, then prayed the court for a short adjournment to commence the trial of the accused persons. Jacobs told the court that

he had been served with the bail application of the accused persons and added that he would not oppose to the application, as they (accused persons) had been on administrative bail of the EFCC and had consistently abided by the terms of the administrative bail. According to him, it would not be morally right to oppose the bail application, but urged the trial judge, Justice Ahmed Ramat Mohammed, to admit them to bail on conditions that would make them appear in court to face their trial. Moving the bail application formally, defence counsel, prayed the court to grant the accused persons bail on liberal conditions. He specifically asked the court to grant Suswam bail on self recognition, saying there was no history of a former governor, who had run out of the country in the

course of trial. Jacobs countered the submission and asked the court not to create a bad precedence of granting Suswam bail without condition. In his ruling, Justice Mohammed admitted Suswam and his commissioner of finance to bail in the sum of N100 million each and one surety each. The judge said the surety must be a director on grade level 12 and above, in the employment of the federal, state or local government and that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means. Alternatively, the sureties should be persons conferred with national honours of the country and that the two accused persons should submit their international passports to the registrar of the court. The court adjourned till December 8 and 9, 2015 to commence trial of the ac-

cused persons. Count one of the charge read: “That you, Gabriel Suswam and Omodachi Okolobia, while being Benue State governor and Commissioner of Finance of Benue State, respectively, between 8th and 30th October, 2014, in Abuja, took possession of $15.8 miilion from Abubakar Umar of Fanffash Resources World-wide Limited, a Bureau de Change dealer, which sum you knew to be proceeds of unlawful activity to wit: theft of N3.1 billion, which form part of the sum of N9.4 billion realised from the sale of shares owned by Benue State government and Benue Investment and Property Company Limited and you, thereby, committed an offence contrary to Section 15 ( 2) ( d) of the Money Laundering (Prohibition) Act, 2011 as amended in 2012 and punishable under Section 15(3) of the same Act.”

We have no power to reinstate you, Ekiti Assembly tells Omirin Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti THE Ekiti State House of Assembly has turned down a request by a former speaker of the House, Dr Adewale Omirin, for the reversal of his impeachment. Omirin had written a letter to the current assembly requesting that his impeachment by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House be reversed and that the records of Mr Dele Olugbemi, who succeeded him, be obliterated. In the letter dated October 19, 2015, entitled: “Reversion of Unconstitutional Impeachment” and addressed to the Speaker, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, he urged the Assembly “to right the wrong” which he said was done to him. However, in a reply, the assembly, in a letter dated November 9, said the request that the tenure served by Dele Olugbemi also be obliterated “are purely constitutional matters, which go beyond the purview of what the House could handle.” Oluwawole, who read the assembly’s reply while ad-

dressing newsmen, said Omirin had in a suit No FHC/CS/1823/14 at the Federal High Court, Lagos, challenged the impeachment before it was later dismissed upon withdrawal. Oluwawole maintained that the fact that the impeachment had been challenged in court constituted a serious impediment to the House to accede to the request, in spite of their “interest to do justice in the matter.” He said: “Sir, why we will not comment on the constitutionality of the impeachment or otherwise, one

point remains sacrosanct that there was an impeachment exercise against you on November 20, 2014, upon which you instituted the matter referred to above. “It must be borne in mind that whether your impeachment was legal or not is for the court of law to decide, but we, with due respect to your person, are helpless in the circumstances. “Against this backdrop, the present House of Assembly is not empowered by either the constitution or the case Law to obliterate the records of Honour-

able Dele Olugbemi as the Speaker between November 20, 2014 and June 5, 2015. “As a respected colleague, we may, however, consider a pardon of the reasons that warranted your impeachment, but not for a pseudo re-instatement of a period you never acted in that capacity.” Omirin, who confirmed that he wrote the letter, said he did so for the current assembly to make right the wrongs of the past and not because he was pleading for pardon. He said: “The legislative arm is put in place to

make laws for peace, order and good government in pursuant to Section 4(7) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended and if an institution that is supposed to make laws seems to be violating the laws, the effect will be disorderliness, hence the action taken on November 20, 2014 should be reverted and all records bearing Honourable Dele Olubemi be obliterated.” He said he was sure he would get justice in the court of law, even if the Assembly turned down his request.

Corrupt personnel will get 10-year maximum sentence —Customs boss THE Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Colonel Hameed Ali (retd), on Tuesday warned that any Customs officer caught involved in corrupt practice, would serve the maximum 10-year jail term prescribed by law. Ali gave the warning in Sokoto when he addressed Customs officers of Sokoto/Zamfara/ Kebbi Area Command. “The minimum jail term

for corrupt officers is five years, but I will make sure that any officer found to be corrupt gets the maximum jail term of 10 years. “This is to serve as a deterrent to any officer who finds himself in the Customs to make money and not to earn money . “I am not saying that there are no good, incorruptible officers in the service, but

there are few bad eggs who are giving the service a bad name, ‘’ Ali said. The CGC also cautioned the officials against indiscipline and living above their means. “Our work ethics must change to be in tune with the change mantra as championed by President Muhammadu Buhari,’’ he said. Ali advised the Customs

personnel to make integrity, honesty and transparency their watchwords. ‘’You should all do this to minimize the chances of getting into trouble, except those who are criminally minded.’’ The CGC explained that the task before him was to reform the service, raise revenue, and improve the welfare of personnel.

the president’s job performance. According to the poll, the president further achieved an average (three) rating in terms of his performance in security, education, healthcare, infrastructure, conflict resolution, agriculture and food security, while he performed poorly in job creation. Also, the larger proportion (62 per cent) of Nigerians surveyed reported that electricity supply to their households has improved over the past one month and this represents a seven-point decrease when compared to September 2015. In addition, 17 per cent of Nigerians experienced no difference at all in electricity supply, while 21 per cent claimed that electricity supply to their households has worsened within the past one month. The results represent the fifth approval rating for President Buhari’s job performance and the 10th in the 2015 monthly series of governance polls, conducted by NOIPolls to gauge the opinions and perceptions of Nigerians regarding the approval rating of the president, and the current state of electricity supply in the country. Respondents to the poll were asked four specific questions that sought to assess the opinion of Nigerians on the performance of President Buhari over the past one month. Findings revealed that 80 per cent (46 per cent + 34 per cent) of adult Nigerians interviewed approved of the president’s job performance. On the contrary, seven per cent (5 per cent + 2 per cent) disapproved of his performance, while 13 per cent remained neutral as they neither approved nor disapproved. More analysis on the president’s performance by geo-political zones indicated that the NorthWest zone (92 per cent: 57 per cent + 35 per cent) and North-East zone (87 per cent: 48 per cent + 39 per cent) had the highest percentage of respondents who approved of the president’s job performance. On the other hand, the South-South zone (17 per cent: 13 per cent + 4 per cent) and South-East zone (13 per cent: 8 per cent + 5 per cent) had the largest proportion of respondents who disapproved of the president’s job performance. Respondents were further asked to state their reasons for either approving or disapproving the president’s performance.

38 CHANGE OF NAME . I formerly Miss Adekoya Ronke Hope now MRS ODE RONKE HOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, former Mr. Ake John Ndidi now Mr. EDO JOHN ENDURANCE. All former documents remain valid. Guaranty Trust Bank and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, former Miss Osadipe Aramide Bidemi now MRS. ALBERT ARAMIDE BIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Egunjobi Ibraheem now EGUNJOBI IBRAHIM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr Adeleke Saka Adeyemi now MR ADELEKE STEPHEN ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Sunday Uroy now MRS OSONDU OROMA PEACE. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

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I, formerly Miss Adesanya Oluwatoyin Dorcas now MRS. OLUWATOYIN SONUGA DORCAS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Attah Edet Eyo now edet Eyo. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Rotimi Lawal Esther Funmilayo A. now MRS. APANISHILE ESTHER FUNMILAYO A. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Kujore Olayinka Samuel now MR. SOBANDE KARIMU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., Sagamu Branch and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Henry Aifuohmokhan now MR. HENRY Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;DAHOR OJIEMHEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Atolagbe Nimota Abiodun now AZEEZ ABIODUN NIMOTA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Foluke Latifat Akindele now MRS. FOLUKE LATIFAT OYEBADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Michael Ikechukwu now MEKWUNYE EMEKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Uzezi Amawhe Rita now MRS. ALUKO RITA UZEZI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oluwole Sesan Samson now MICHEAL OLUWOLE SESAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ojelade Afolake Sadiat now MRS. ADELEKE ANIMOT SADIAT All former AFOLAKE. documents remain valid. The Polytechnic, Ibadan, NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Alawode Oluwaseun Adijat now MRS. OYELESO OLUWASEUN All former ADIJAT. documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ofere Mercy bolanle now MRS. AJAYI MERCY BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Sulaimon Adisa Idowu now MR. JINAD OLAMILEKAN HAMED. All former documents remain valid. United Bank for Africa and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fabelurin Odunayo Oluwakemi now MRS. OLUYEMI ODUNAYO OLUWAKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Lasisi Salami Adewale am the same person bearing AZEEZ SALAM ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olaitan Oreoluwa now KONGI OREOLUWA JELILAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ajayi Oluwakunmi Oluwatoyin now OLABIYI BAMIDELE. All former documents remain valid. Liteforex and Fidelity Bank Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Sokoya Olugbenga Olusegun now OLUWAKOYA OLUGBENGA OLUSEGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Rasheed Ganiyat Biodun now MISS OLANIYAN GANIYAT All former BIODUN. documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oluremi Alice Oluponmile now MRS. OGUNSOLA ALICE OLUPONMILE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State TESCOM and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Alolade Sunday now AKINDELE ANTHONY ABIOLA SUNDAY All former ALOLADE. documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Elizabeth Mitaire Ebor now MRS. ELIZABETH MITAIRE OLAJIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Victoria Michael Okon now MRS. VICTORIA IKOABASI SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Lawal Temitope now MRS. ADEDOKUN TEMITOPE ADIJAT. All former documents remain valid. U.B.A. Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Akingbohungbe Margaret Abosede now ADEGBENRO MARGARET All former ABOSEDE. documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Femi Florence Ayeni now MRS. FEMI FLORENCE AFOLABI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Soetan Surajat Adunola now MRS. OLASHABI SURAJAT ADUNOLA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, GT Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adegbola Funmilayo Elizabeth now MRS. OLADIPUPO FUNMILAYO ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeleke Oluremi Modupe now MRS. BABATUNDE OLUREMI MODUPE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olajide Adetomi Elizabeth now MRS. OLANIRAN ELIZABETH ADETOMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Egla Bappayo and Alice Ezekiel now EGLA ALICE EZEKIEL BAPPAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Solomon Victoria Yetunde now MRS. SHITTU VICTORIA YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omoruyi Josephine Oluwafunmilayo now MRS. AMOLE JOSEPHINE OLUWAFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fadakinte Roseline Abimbola now MRS. EMOABINO ROSELINE ABIMBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Coker Adeola Elizabeth am the same person bearing Coker Temitope Dorcas. Now I wish to be known and addressed as COKER ADEOLA ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. GTBank, First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Akabuogu Ndidiamaka Immaculata now MRS. NNOLI NDIDIAMAKA IMMACULATA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Sanusi Hadijat Ajoke now MRS. ABULRASHEED HADIJAT AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Universal Basic Education Board Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Azeez Saheed Olalekan now MR. ADESOKAN SAHEED ALABI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Asolo Titilayo Odunayo now ADESINA TITILAYO ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Access Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Abejide Adeola Abosede now MRS. OJEMUYIDE ADEOLA ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, Oyo State Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN) and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Muritala Aminu now Mr. David AMINU OLATUNDE OLANREWAJU. All former documents remain valid. Awe First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omolewa Folashade Elizabeth now MRS. OLATUNBOSUN FOLASHADE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Fakunle Simeon Gbenga now MR. ADEBISI ADENIYI OLUGBENGA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adam Jamiu Ayiki now OLALEKAN AYIKI JAMIU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

I, Mrs. Fola Akugue-Idehen am the same person as Folake Akugue-Idehen, Folake Oladimeji AKugue-Idehen and Fola Oladimeji-Idehen. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MRS. FOLA AKUGUE - IDEHEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunlade Bola Suliat now MRS. KAREEM BOLA SULIAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. I, formerly Miss Sobodu Wuraola Abidemi now MRS. OWOMOYELA WURAOLA ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Afolabi Opeyemi Jumoke now MRS. AFOLABIOLAYEMI JUMOKE TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Akinsuroju Adedoyin now MR. OLUSOTE ADEDOYIN. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

I, Codjo Zanmenou Daniel am the same person as VALLA DANIEL and CODJO ZANMENOU DANIEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Abdulazeez Rashidat Oluwadamilola now MRS. ABDULSALAM RASHIDAT OLUWADAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Simeon Foluke Esther now MRS. IBILOYE FOLUKE ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Vivian Ayodele Anthony now MRS. VIVIAN AYODELE ADETIMEHIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ini-Obong Sunday Idomo now INI-OBONG SUNDAY WILLIAMS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinola Titilayo Racheal now MRS. ADEDEJI TITILAYO AKINOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Salimon Folasade wish to confirm that I am the same person bearing OLUSOJI BUKOLA AJIKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly known as Najeem Isilamia Arinpe, wish to confirm that I am the same person bearing IBRAHIM ISILAMIA KIKELOM. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Rufai Anuoluwapo Janet now MRS. ERINFOLAMI ANUOLUWAPO JANET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Ishola Omolara Omobola now OJOBE OMOLARA OMOBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Orimolade Kehinde Omolara now MRS. MARY KEHINDE OMOLARA ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Isiaka Luck Nwagbara now OLADIPUPO IZAQ BALOGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adesida Adedolapo Adeewura now ADEWUYI ADEDOLAPO ADEEWURA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Lucy Chima Yusuf now LUCY OGECHI CHIMA. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oluwaduyilemi Olayode Joseph now MATTHEW AKINLABI OLUSEYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Biola Gbadamosi Oyeniran now MR. GANIYU KOLAWOLE OYENIRAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oseloka Obianuju Salamatu now Anyakora Obianuju Salatu. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Adenike Idowu now MRS. EHINMISAN ADENIKE IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Iraoya Funmilayo Esther now MRS. OKUSANYA FUNMILAYO ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olaosebikan Tajudeen Ajao now OLAOSEBIKAN TAJUDEEN RAUF. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeosun Bukola Folashade now MRS. AKINBODE BUKOLA FOLASHADE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adegboyega Saheed Adeyemi now ADEGBOYE SAHEED ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Olasanmi Olorunkemi Bose, am the same person as Olasanmi Kemi Abosede. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as OLASANMI OLORUNKEMI ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. University of Ibadan, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Kafila Abdulrahim now MRS. JAMIU KAFILA ABOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Mr. Biliaminu Folarin am the same person as Mr. Biliaminu Oyerinde. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MR. BILIAMINU OYERINDE. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank, Wema Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oguntayo Adesola M. now OJEWALE ADESOLA MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Awoniyi Musifat and Awoniyi Musifat Olawumi now MRS. OLADEJO MUSIFAT OLAWUMI. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adekeye Adewumi Elizabeth now MRS. AYODELE ADEWUMI ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Gbadamosi Olasijibomi Aminat now ADEBAYO BADMUS OLASIJIBOMI AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Adesanmi Matilder Olutoyin now MRS. ADETIPE OLUTOYIN OLUREMI. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Dele Omolere Lase Daniel am the same person as Lase Dele Daniel and Dele All Omolere. former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., UBA and general public take note.

I, Idowu Folasade Temilade am the same person as Oloko Folasade Temilade. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as IDOWU FOLASADE TEMILADE. All former documents remain valid. College of Health Sciences and Technology, Ijero Ekiti and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fagbemi Caroline Olubunmi Ajiboye now MRS. ADEWOLA CAROLINE OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Fadureni Ronke Helen Akindele now MRS. ROTIMI RONKE HELEN. All former documents remain valid. Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ilesanmi Oluwadara Ajoke now MRS. OGUNYEMI OLUWADARA AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Bala Dauda now wish to be known and addressed as LAYI WASA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mutalib Ayinde Abiodun now MATHEW AYINDE ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Wasiu Kubura Asabi now MRS. ADEDOKUN KUBRAT ASABI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adedamola Bilikis Moradeyo now MRS. OGUNDAIRO BILIKIS MORADEYO. All former documents remain valid. Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeleye Kuburat Tunrayo now MRS ADEEKO KUBURAT TUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Yusuf Arogundade now AJISEFINI YUSUF ISAQ. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ayinde Olusola Christiana now MRS. OLONADE OLUSOLA CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Gabriel Adedapo Ebiyinka Akinlawon now ADEYINKA GABRIEL AKINLAWON ADEDAPO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kolawole Folasade Adesewa now MRS. OLA FOLASADE ADESEWA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Onilede Christianah Layo now MRS. OLUWOLE CHRISTIANAH LAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Shoyemi Olusola Olukoya now MR. SHOYEMI OLUKOYA OLUSOLA REMI. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank, First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Jimoh Abass Abiodun am the same person bearing Mustapha Abass Abiodun now wish to be called MUSTAPHA ABASS ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeniji Temitope Victoria now MRS. SALAKO VICTORIA TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State SUBEB and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Atahiru Usman now HAYATU USMAN SHEHU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ashibo Mary Okoko now MISS OBOYI MARY UREM-ANU. All former documents remain valid. St. Louis Secondary School, Mokola, Ibadan and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Badmosi Dele Olaoluwa now AYODELE GBOLAHAN. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Nafiu Ayinla now MR. NAFIU ADEKUNLE KAREEM. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ige Temitope Tochukwu Oluwatoyin now MRS. ADENIYI TEMITOPE OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Enemuo Emanuel Chiwendu now ENEMUO EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Saheed Hakeem Olorunwa now SAHEED HAKEEM OLUWASUEN. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinnagbe Kemi Wemimo now MRS. AKINNAGBE-PETER OLUKEMI OLUWEMIMO. All former documents remain valid. Ondo East Local Government and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Arayela Funmilola Ronke now MRS. ADEDOKUN FUNMILOLA RONKE. All former documents remain valid. Ife East Local Government, OkeOgbo, Osun State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ojuade Olawumi Fatimot now MRS. OLUFEMI OLAWUMI FATIMOT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Asisi Mojeed Ayobami am the person bearing Azeez Mojeed Ayobami now wish to be known and addressed as AZEEZ MOJEED AYOBAMI. All former documents remain valid. GTB, EcoBank and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Joshua Jimoh now MR. MOSES OLANREWAJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Issa Latifat Temitope now MRS. IBRAHIM LATIFAT TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. EKSU, EACOED and general public take note.

I, Folawiyo Yusuf Suleyman am the same person bearing Folawiyo Bola Suleyman and Bola Folawiyo Suleyman. Now wish to be called FOLAWIYO YUSUF SULEYMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adoyi Michael Mary now MRS. MARY GABRIEL AMEH. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Atilola Magret Temitope now MRS. OLAOYE MAGRET TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State TESCOM and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olaogun Oyinlola Oluwaseun now MRS. FOYEWA OYINLOLA OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Ajetumobi Daramola now ADESOGAN SILAS OLORUNJUWON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Onyema Paulicap Emeka now ROMANUS PAULICAP EMEKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeniyi Bukola Motunrayo now MRS. OLAYIDE BUKOLA MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Sunday Bunmi now EBUNOLUWA BUNMI OPADOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Okewole Maryam Olajumoke now MISS OWOLABI MARYAM OLAJUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oluwole Omolola Funmilayo now MRS. OWOLABI OMOLOLA FUNMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olaleye Sekinat Bolaji now SEKINAT BOLAJI ABEYEFO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Abiodun Junior now ESHO IBRAHIM ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Oluwatade Opemipo Kanyinsola now MRS. BALOGUN OPEMIPO KANYINSOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adegboyega Olubunmi Deborah now MRS. OGUNGBAYI OLUBUNMI DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr. Adeyanju Akinkunmi now MR. MUFUTAU SURAJ AKINKUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bilikisu Omonike Bello now MRS. ADEBAYO BILIKISU OMONIKE ATOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Johnson Temitope Tolulope now MRS. OYELEDUN TEMITOPE TOLULOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oyewale Magaret Olubunmi now MRS. OKEOLA MAGARET OLUBUNMI. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Teaching Service Commission and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Salisu Sakirat Oyindamola now MRS. OLAJIDE SAKIRAT OYINDAMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Joe O. Ogor now JOSAPHAT OGBONNA OGOR. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fadina Abisola Omotunde now MRS. BALOGUN ABISOLA OMOTUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Kamorudeen Opeyemi now MRS. ADELEKE OPEYEMI ANIKE. All former documents remain valid. FCMB Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Momodu Adebanke now MRS. ASEKHAMEN RITA MULIKAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Okwudili Ariji now JOSEPH INNOCENT OKWUDILI. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Bunmi Jimoh now FOLARANMI SAMSON OLUWAFEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Emily Ebere now EGBO EMILY EBERE. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Odeleye Ekundayo Jacob now CHRISTOPHER EKUNDAYO ADELEKE JACOB. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Amoyedo Olabisi Rita now MRS. OLANUSI OLABISI RITA. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Moromoke Bakare now MRS. MONSURAT MOROMOKE BELLO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ayoade Oluwaseyi Ayodele now MRS. ADEYEMO OLUWASEYI AYODELE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Abosede Ogunbode now MRS. OYEBODE ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Lawal Tajudeen Oladotun now LAWAL TIMOTHY OLADOTUN. All former documents remain valid. WEMA Bank and General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Grace Titilade Ogundele now MRS GRACE TITILADE OLUWADELE. All former documents remain valid. RCCG and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Lawal, Omowumi Simiat now MRS. AGBOOLA, OMOWUMI SIMIAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Aderonmu Yetunde Atinuke now MRS. ADELAKUN YETUNDE ATINUKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adebayo Belawu now BALOGUN OLALEYE OLUFEMI. All former documents remain valid. Guaranty Trust Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. David Afolabi Ajayi now MR. ABDULAZEEZ AFOLABI AJAYI. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Owodunni Basirat Abiodun now MRS. AGBALAYA BASHEERAT ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, WAEC and general public take note.

I, formerly Taiwo Ajiboye now BALOGUN OLALEYE OLUFEMI. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

news

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Dickson, Sylva, others sign peace accord Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

ew weeks to the governorship election, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva and governorship candidates

of other political parties, agreed to non-violence poll, as they signed to promote peace in the December 5 election. At the Creek Motel, Yenagoa, the exercise was witnessed by the national chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.essot Mahmud Yakubu, rep-

Bayelsa PDM gov candidate promises N25,000 minimum wage By Victor Ogunyinka

The Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM) governorship candidate in the December 5 governorship election in Bayelsa State, Moses Siasia, has promised to increase the minimum wage to N25, 000 if he emerged as the governor election. Siaisa said this during the flag off of his campaign in Yenogoa, the state capital,.on Tuesday, The 35-year-old businessman said that having achieved so much in business, employing over 400 young Nigerian professionals with 70 Bayelsa people on his payroll; he was poised to turnaround the fortune of the state.

“My administration will diversify the state’s economy through agriculture and tourism to make Bayelsa State an economic hub in the South-South geopolitical zone. I will increase workers’ minimum wage from N18,000 to N25,000, while there would be prompt payment of gratuity to pensioners. “In achieving these two points agenda, we would also address the key strategic sectors like quality health care delivery by ensuring that the health sector earned the trust and respect of the people. We will partner with the Federal Government and other relevant stakeholders in the improvement of electricity.”

resented by Amina Zakari, the state Commissioner of Police, Nasiri Oki, State Director of Department of State Security, Ade Oluseso and the State INEC boss, Baritor Kpagih, traditional rulers and other stakeholders. Yakubu, said the commission had closely monitored and followed the activities of the parties, candidates and supporters pursuant to the mandate of the commission, but noted that their activities must promote peace in the state. He, however, reiterated the need to give peace a chance. On the significance of the accord, Yakubu said, “This peace pact is not the idea of INEC or the United Nations Development Programme(,UNDP), but the good people of Bayelsa State as co-party and INEC is only the facilitator. “We are not unmindful of the fact that the success of this Peace Accord, however ,depends on the zeal and commitment of the signatories to see it work. We admonish the candidates to live up to their commitment and obligations to ensure its respect and enforcement.”

42 kogi/bayelsa2015

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Osinbajo, Oshiomhole, Bello storm Kogi for Audu •APC’s anti-graft war a ruse —Wada Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

ice President Yemi Osinbajo, Edo State governor, Adams Os-

hiomhole and his Niger State counterpart, Abubakar Bello, on Tuesday, joined the campaign train of the governorship candidate of the All Progres-

Bayelsa non-indigenes drum up support for Dickson Austin Ebipade-Yenagoa

FEW weeks to the Bayelsa State governorship election, non-indigenes residing in the oil and gas rich state forgo economic benefits, as they left their business to re-affirm their support for the Seriake Dickson- led restoration government to continue in office for a second term to consolidate on the laudable basic socio-economic development of the state. Speaking at a rally in Yenagoa, Messer John Kucheti, Tony Madu, Kamal Adelakun and Ferdinand Ozim, who are Senior Special Assistants in government and leaders of the Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and the South-South communities, said that under the restoration government, non-indigenes have enjoyed security of lives and property. The acceptance of Governor Dickson was overwhelming, as the non-indigenes in their hundreds sang pro-Dickson songs such as “Dickson our lives, business and property had been secured under your leadership”, No government since the creation

of the state has integrated us in governance like the Dickson-led government. They also said that the resolve to back Dickson for second term was not farfetched, as the governor appointed four non-indigenes to serve as Senior Special Assistants in the restoration government. The director, Media and Publicity of the Dickson Campaign Organisation, code named “Bayelsa Restoration Campaign Organisation” Jonathan Obuebite, said the governor had vowed to do more during his second term to deliver the best of security to ensure they access soft loans, secured lives and property and conducive business climate devoid of molestation

sives Congress (APC), in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, urging the people of the state to vote for change in the state. Speaking at the zonal governorship rally of the party at the Local Government Authority Primary School, Inuzumi, Okene, Okene Local Government Area of the state, Osinbajo said only APC could bring about the needed development in the state. This is coming just as the state governor, Idris Wada, accused APC under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari of being selective and insincere in his fight against corruption, describing the current administration’s anti-graft war as nothing but a ruse. A statement signed by Governor Wada’s Chief Communications Manager,, Phrank Shaibu, said that the allegation was based on the vice president’s open support for the return bid of Prince Audu, who is standing trial for allegedly siphoning of Kogi

State funds to the tune of N11billion The vice president, however, has assured Nigerians that the current administration at the national level, was poised to develop the country, in spite of numerous challenges. Osinbajo pointed out that Nigeria is a country of great potentials that concerted efforts must be made to restore its lost glory, urging the citizens to support the current administration in its detemined efforts to put the country on sound economic pedestal. The vice president further commended the people of Kogi State for voting President Miuhammadu Buhari and other APC candidates during the last general election, urging them

to sustain the tempo. He, therefore, stressed the need for the people to massively vote for APC in the forthcoming governorship poll, maintaining that a vote for APC is a vote for positive development. In the same vein, the Niger State governor called on the people of the state to vote for rapid progress by voting for APC in the November 21 governorship poll. However, reacting to the event, Shaibu alleged that Buhari and the APC had continued to shield Audu from prosecution in spite of his trial by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), thereby frustrating the commission’s effort at recovering the fund.

APC distances self from Kogi bailout funds issue Bola Badmus-Lagos

THE All Progressives Congress (APC), on Tuesday, described as cheap blackmail the decision by the Kogi State government

and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum, to blame political interference for the delay in releasing bailout funds for the state.

US warns against violence Christian Okeke-Abuja

THE United States Government, on Tuesday, called on all Nigerians to refrain from advocating, fomenting or condoning violence before, during or after the Kogi and Bayelsa elections. The United States government said this in a statement from its embassy in Abuja, on Tuesday. In the statement, the United States noted that political parties, elected leaders and candidates for office have a special obligation to uphold democratic precepts. “The United States remains committed to working with Nigeria to strengthening its democratic institutions in the years to come,” the statement said. The statement went further to note that, “The Nigerian Constitution itself states it that it is the duty of every citizen to respect the dignity of other citizens and the rights and legitimate interests of citizens to live in unity and harmony.”

From left, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief John Oyegun; Kogi State governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu; Vice President Yemi Osinbajo and the Niger State governor, Abubakar Bello, during Prince Audu’s governorship rally in Okene, Kogi State, on Tuesday. PHOTO: NAN

Go home after voting, CP tells Kogi electorate The Commissioner of Police in Kogi State, Mr Emmanuel Ojukwu, has urged the electorate to cast their votes and stay away from the polling units in the November 21 governorship election. Ojukwu made the appeal at a workshop organised by the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), on Tuesday. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that the refresher training

was for NOA chief mobilisation field officers from the 21 local government areas of the state. He said there was no reason whatsoever for voters to remain at the polling units after casting their votes. ``We are not closing our eyes to the issues of rising insecurity in the state and that is why we want to block every likely avenue for any crisis. ``The police are fully prepared and committed to ensure peaceful conduct of the election and safety of

He said, “ it was paradoxical, that a government which is prosecuting an individual through the nation’s anti-graft agency is on the converse assisting the same individual through its political party to become a state governor, a status which will automatically suspend or terminate a trial of alleged looting of public treasury involving over N11 billion He also alleged that the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC disregarded the advice of the EFCC, urging the party not to field Audu as its candidate for the election, wondering if that is the best that the nation can get from a party that rode to power on a supposed anticorruption credentials.

lives and property. ``We have identified hot spots, areas that are prone to election violence and we are up to the task. ``Our expectations are the expectations of the people of Kogi State which are free, fair, credible and peaceful election,’’ he said. The commissioner said the duties of the police was to ensure a level playing ground for all political parties and their respective candidates. Ojukwu warned politicians and their support-

ers to shun any form of violence that could disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election. He noted that any crises precipitated by electoral crises in Kogi State could impact negatively on nine other states with which it shared border. ``No fewer than 20 states pass through Kogi State to get to their various destinations. ``Movement will not be totally restricted because of the motorists that are transiting the state to their destinations,’’ he said.

The APC said this in a statement issued by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, declaring that the party had no business with the release or otherwise of the bailout funds to Kogi State. The party, while washing off its hands, said the accusation was in line with the new-found propensity of the PDP to blame everyone but itself for the woes that had befallen the party in recent times. “If the opposition party is not accusing the APC of colluding with the judiciary over the election petition cases, it is accusing the ruling party of colluding with the Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN )over bailout funds. This is sickening,” it said. APC said the Kogi State government should go and sort itself out with the CBN, if indeed, it wanted to get the bailout funds. The party, however, disclose that its investigations had revealed that the Kogi State government had not been able to justify the over N50billion it was asking for as bailout funds, saying that it was curious that the chunk of the funds which the state was asking for, over N40billion, was for the payment of the salaries of local government workers. “Our investigations have revealed that Kogi State government has not been able to justify the over N50 billion it is asking for as bailout funds. It is curious that the chunk of the funds which the state is asking for, over N40 billion, is for the payment of the salaries of local government workers.

Interview

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Why I wrote a book on my life, lessons from Awo... — Akinfenwa Senator Mojisoluwa Akinfenwa, the national chairman of Alliance for Democracy (AD), who, will, tomorrow, launch his book entitled “Footprints Since 1931: The Story Of A Nigerian Teacher And Politician,” speaks with SEYI GESINDE on why he wrote the book, how Awo inspired him as a young politician, legacies for today’s youths and leaders, among other issues. Excerpts:

HAT motivated you to write a book? I decided to write the book, “Foot Prints Since 1931: The Story of A Nigerian Teacher And Politician” because I want to leave something for posterity. It is not just an ordinary book containing what I heard or was told, but a book containing what I passed through, experienced and saw, especially, as an educationist. I spent most of my life developing human resources by a way of education. I was a teacher for a long time, being a teacher by profession. I am not a professional politician. I love teaching and I devoted my life to it and by so doing, I’ve assisted so many people who ordinarily wouldn’t have seen the four corners of a secondary school, but today rose to be great leaders of this country in religion, legal profession, in education, in business and so on. I feel that I should write this book to give inspiration to this generation and generations coming. I’ve spent over 60 years in the politics of this country and I have shown a great measure of consistency. I belong to the old school of Awo political philosophy and I have not deviated since then. This I want people to learn from. What are the salient issues or past events mentioned in the book? I wrote about my life history, my background educationally, from primary to University College, Ibadan, now University of Ibadan, I wrote about my life in the teaching profession, as principal of two grammar schools that had produced great people in this country today, we have SANs, engineers, doctors, and religious leaders among them. I elaborately spoke about my involvement in politics right from my youthful days since 1953. I belong to the Action Group (AG), even before I got married, as young as that, I became the divisional leader of Ijesa North Division and the party, AG provided a vehicle for divisional leaders all over the country and I was one of them. So, I believe in the AG and suffered for AG. I was victimised, I had to run away from my place of work to take refuge in Owo, under Papa Ajasin for over one year. I escaped death twice because of the period we were passing through then, it was dark days. That will show you how

Awolowo might not rule this country, but he is ruling indirectly through his philosophies.

serious that occassion was. All these events are spoken about in the book What are the lessons from these past experiences you think today’s politicians can learn from? When this generation, present day politicians, read the book, they will be able to discern what is good to follow as educated people, they will see what causes crisis and how it can be managed. This is what we learnt from Papa Awolowo, who never at one time say because he wants to be in power, he will align himself with people who are opposed to his political philosophies. That was why he was jailed, all these are in the book, so that they will know that today, Awolowo might not rule this country, but he is ruling indirectly through his philosophies, because everybody, especially we people in the South West, we will want to say that we are Awolowo’s children and it was because of his consistency and principles. These I elaborated in this book for this generation and those yet unborn. Why is Awo’s progressive politics different from today’s practice? Awolowo came to serve the people. All the policies of Awo are mass-oriented. Education, health and road building, all centred on the masses, so the masses believed in him and they followed him. But today, that has changed, you see people who call themselves leaders are directly serving themselves. They don’t believe in selfless service. Look, all through Awolowo’s era, or those who were his immediate lieutenants, you won’t see them positioning their children to replace them, they believe in democracy, the rule of law, but today, it is not so, everybody is looking for what he would gain from politics and that is the reason we now talk of corruption. What we are seeing today is heart breaking, they are talking of billions, trillions of naira embezelled, which Buhari has said he wants to probe. I hope the probe will be done fairly and would not make it as a tool to witch-hunt or make it restrictive, because it is terrible. What will you like to be remembered for? I don’t believe in money, money can’t buy me. Money couldn’t buy Awolowo, Bola Ige, Ajasin, Onabanjo, because they centred their lives on the development of the people, which is what I live for. Sardauna of Sokoto, Tafawa Balewa, Zik of Africa didn’t use their positions to cheat the public and build empires. They may build political empires for themselves but they didn’t build financial empires for themselves. I believe in these people but single out Papa Awolowo because he was my direct leader. Job in the Bible was the wealthiest in the Far East, they say he loved and shunned evil and God loves him because he did not use his position to cheat, that is exactly what I believe in and will like to be remember for.

Kano govt faces financial burden, to dissolve board of Internal Revenue Kola Oyelere - Kano

ANO State governor, Dr Abdullahi Umar Ganduje has lamented that his government is paying over N3.6 billion as salary to civil servants out of the N4.2 billion federal allocation, informing the need for the administration to dissolve the Board of Internal Revenue, and to employ a consultant to manage the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Ganduje also disclosed that the balance of N400 million after payment of salary was insufficient to cater for huge financial problems the state is facing. The governor stated further that with the new IGR to be established, “I must get alert of money going out and coming in. ‘We have consulted some international organisations like DFID SPARK, we are going to have an executive chairman, who is independent, we have a Director of Assessment, Director of Collection, Planning and Research and Statistics, Personal Income Tax, Directors of ITC. “We are going to monitor account, anything paid into this account, I will get alert, anything removed, I will also get alert. That is the new system and the government will get Director of Audit, so that the account will be audited from time to time.” This was just as he said that “we will look for competent consultants with track records, with evidence from other states like Lagos to manage our revenue for us.” It will be recalled that aside from the dwindling economic situation the state is currently battling with, there are huge liabilities of over N300 billion inherited from the government of Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso administration, a financial burden hindering the execution of projects in the state. Speaking with pressmen and labour unions, on Tuesday, Dr Ganduje, however, noted that “our salary is up to N3.6 billion, but subtract it from N4.2 billion federal allocation, so see the little difference. The only option that can bailout the state from this financial predicament is Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) which many people did not like to hear, but what any economist will like to hear. “This is an issue of expenditure and income, no income, no expenditure. We have come a long way, and as you all know Kano is a mega city, a mega city

is not only a city where you exaggerate the number of people, a mega city is where things are working, where there is water, electricity, healthcare is working,

where road networking is functional, where transport system is talking, where the security is talking and we want to make Kano city a functioning city.’’

Lawmakers must resist bribe from MDAs —Buhari By Nurudeen Alimi SENATOR representating Oyo North Senatorial District in the upper chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari, has said for the legislature to effectively discharge its duties, every lawmaker must try as much as possible to resist bribe from Federal Government’s ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Buhari, stated this while featuring on an interview programme on Africa Independent Television (AIT) on Tuesday. He said this became imperative as this would allow various committees set up by the upper and lower legislative chambers of the National Assembly to monitor activities of MDAs without

fear or favour. The former House of Representatives member noted that when Senate committee and House of Representatives committee members refuse to take bribe from MDAs, their oversight function would be adequately and effectively carried out. He, however, suggested that the legislature should be adequately funded in order for lawmakers, most especially standing committees, not be tempted to collect bribe from MDAs and other relevant agencies. Senator Buhari further advised various committees in the National Assembly to be prudent in their spendings, as this would go a long way in averting wastage of government resources.

My expulsion from Oyo APC is null and void —Ex-lawmaker By Tunde Ogunesan FORMER majority leader in the seventh Oyo State Assembly, Honourable Oyediran Oyeniyi Akande has described his purported expulsion from the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as illegal, null and void, saying that he remained an authentic member of the party. Speaking with journalists over his purported expulsion, Oyediran noted that he was neither informed nor served with any letter of expulsion from the party as portrayed in the report. The former majority leader said the allegation of indiscipline, anti-party activities and abuse of privilege levelled against him, was a ruse. He added that he had been a progressive all his political career, having been one of the founding members of the then Alliance for Democracy (AD) in Oluyole Local Government Area, which later metamorphosed into the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigerian (ACN) and now the APC, adding that he never engaged in any anti-party activities in his entire political life. “I’ve been working assiduously for this party with my money, strength and other things at my disposal and my

efforts before and during the last general election, I really contributed to the success our party recorded in Oluyole Local Government and Oyo State in general.”

Pa Thomas Akiibinu Ojo dies at 92 PA Thomas Akiibinu Ojo is dead. He was aged 92. Burial arrangements for the Baba Ijo of Ebenezer African Church, Aborerin, Eruwa, will commence with a Christian wake on Friday, November 13, at Akiibinu’s house, OkeOla, Aborerin Eruwa, Oyo State, at 5.00 p.m. On Saturday, November 14, there will be a burial service at Ebenezer African Church, Aborerin, Eruwa, at 9.00 a.m; while reception will follow at Ibarapa Polytechnic, Oke-Ola, Eruwa. Announcer: Dr and Mrs Moses O. Akiibinu for the family.

Pa Akiibinu Ojo

44 communitynews

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

Kwara govt directs LGs to provide dumpsites The Kwara State government has directed the 16 local government areas in the state to provide dumpsites for proper refuse disposal. The Special Adviser on Environment, Alhaji Man-

Benue gov’s wife, CEFTER organise training for food vendors johnson babajide-makurdi

WIFE of Benue State governor, Mrs Eunice Ortom, has said that unhygienic environment and unsafe food consumption in the rural communities are the causes of illness for people in the state. Mrs Ortom made this known while declaring open a training on Food and Hygiene Safety in Makurdi, the state capital, on Monday. Ortom, who initiated the training, said about 100 food sellers across the 23 local government areas of the state would be trained by the Centre for Food Technology and Research (CEFTER) of the Benue State University in December this year. She stressed that people were being contracted of different kinds of diseases on daily basis through eating of unhygienic food. Mrs Ortom, in a release signed by her media adviser, Mr Shimaondo Ajikwa, noted that the programme was to complement Governor Samuel Ortom administration’s interest in agriculture-driven industrialist policy. According to her, “there is a projection that food production and processing will be increased thus necessitating the training of food sellers in the aspect of hygiene and safety. “It is time for Benue State to take the lead in food hygiene and safety to control diseases that led many people into untimely death.” While advocating the training of one member in every household, Mrs Ortom appealed to public food vendors, including caterers and cooks in boarding schools to enlist in the training to acquire more knowledge that will upgrade their trade and businesses.

zuma Kawu, told newsmen in Ilorin that creation of dumpsites in the communities would help to rid the state of filth. He spoke following reports that refuse has taken over most parts of the metropolis. Kawu said the state government had already intervened by providing 20 refuse trucks to clear the streets of heaps of waste. “Government has deployed 20 trucks to clear the refuse, while those at dumpsites will be evacuated very soon.’’ He stressed the need for the communities to be adequately sensitised against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and burning of waste. According to him, refuse burning pollute the air and cause health problems for the people. Kawu said the environmental cleanliness should be a joint responsibility of both the government and the people. The governor’s adviser urged residents to be disciplined and cooperate with relevant agencies to

ensure a clean environment. He warned against open defecation by the people and advised landlords to

provide toilets in their houses. On the building of filling stations in residential areas, Kawu called on the

town planning authority and other relevant agencies to check the practice. “Layouts should be cre-

ated for filling stations like industrial layouts. “Filling stations should not be located in residential areas,” he said.

Newly installed Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, atop vehicle acknowledging cheers from the people of Iwo, during his turbaning/ installation, at Oluwo Palace, Iwo, Osun State, on Monday. PHOTO: OLUWOLE IGE

Security: Ogun police warn land grabbers, Indian hemp smokers olalekan olabulo-lagos

he Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in charge of Onipaanu Police Station, Lagos, Mr Baba Maiyaki, has warned land grabbers in the area to desist from using the police as a way of settling scores with their perceived enemies. He said that the police will no longer be used by land grabbers to foment

trouble. Maiyaki also decried the rampant India hemp smoking among youths in the area and warned the people to desist from seeking the bail of suspects arrested for smoking hemp. The police officer gave the warning at a town hall meeting organised by police at Sango Area Command, with Community Development Associations (CDAs) in Ogun State, to chart a course

on how to effectively tackle crimes and other vices in their communities. The meeting was attended by over 200 CDAs, 50 traditional rulers, representatives of the Nigerian Navy, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ogun State Vigilante Services, among others. Residents of different communities, who com-

House of Reps deputy speaker congratulates new Oluwo abiodun jimoh-benin city

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yussuff Sulaimon Lasun, has congratulated the new Oluwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, who is from Gbaase ruling house of Iwo, Osun State, for his installation as the new Oluwo of Iwo. Hon Lasun, in a release signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Wole Oladimeji, said the announcement by the state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola,

confirmed the selection of Prince Akanbi as the new Oluwo of Iwo, adding that he believes the Oba Akanbi would utilise his position to accelerate more development projects in Iwo. Lasun also commended the Osun State government and the people of Iwo for the successful completion of the selection and installation processes. “The National Assembly will continue to assiduously respect the institutions of traditional rulers in Nigeria and accord

them with deserving recognition compatible with our democracy and traditions,” he said. He, however, called on the Iwo Traditional Council of Chiefs, sons and daughters of Iwo across religious, political and occupational divides to support him for a successful tenure. I wish the new royal father a peaceful and successful tenure. I pray that his regime will bring more fortunes, prosperity and enable all his subjects a good and healthy livelihood.

mended the police for the initiative in Sango Area Command, bared their minds on the security challenges in their communities and urged the police to step up actions where necessary. The convener of the meeting, the Area Commander in charge of Sango Area Command, Mr Adegoke Fayoade, while speaking, highlighted the importance of relationship between security operatives and the communities. The police boss described the meeting as a away to foster community policing as part of the moves by the Inspector General of Police to effectively protect the life and property of Nigerians. Fayoade urged residents to always furnish the police with necessary information with a promise that their identities would not be divulged. He also assured the residents that the police had noted the security challenges in their communities and promised to take necessary steps. Fayoade also ordered all Divisional Police Officers (DPOs) under his command to reel out

their telephone numbers to the residents to foster good relationship with them. Baale Esuyago, while speaking at the meeting commended the police for their quick response to distress calls, but decried the high rate of cultism in his area and urged the police and other security operatives to ensure that such menace are wiped off in their communities. A resident, who identified herself as Mrs Akinsanya, decried the extortion of liquor sellers by policemen who invade their shops and arrest them at will. Another resident, Alhaja Onatade, while commending the police at Onipanu Divisional Police Station, charged them to double their effort by tackling the menace of area boys who terrorised residents of Onibukun, Iju and Idedo communities. A resident of Itele community, who also identified himself as Oyesanya, commended the DPO in charge of Itele Divisional Police Station, Mr Gbenga Megbope and urged the area commander to provide additional patrol van for effective operations.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

foreig naffairs with seyi gesinde

08116954632 foreignnewseditor@gmail.com

France proposes UN resolution to halt Burundi violence

RANCE presented a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council aimed at toughening the international response to an outbreak of violence in Burundi, but the foreign minister rejected the move and announced “the country was calm”. The measure threatens targeted sanctions against

Burundian leaders who incite attacks or hamper efforts to end the crisis that followed protests over President Pierre Nkurunziza’s election for a third term.

“The escalating violence in Burundi has reached a very worrying stage, maybe a tipping point,” French Deputy Ambassador Alexis Lamek told reporters on Monday.

“We must face the reality: If we let the tensions escalate without doing anything, the whole country could explode,” he warned. Al Jazeera reported that

Police fire tear gas at anti-govt crowd in Congo POLICE fired tear gas at hundreds of people armed with sticks and shovels protesting the arrest of several youth leaders in Congo’s second largest city of Lubumbashi on Tuesday, a Reuters witness said. The crowd shouted abuse at dozens of police officers gathered near the headquarters of UNAFEC (National Union of Federations of Congo), one of several parties expelled from the ruling coalition after voicing concern that President Joseph Kabila is seeking to cling to power beyond the end of his mandate in 2016. Around 15 youth members of UNAFEC were arrested on Monday, including leader Kabulo Shimbe Zasou, party president Gabriel Kyungu wa Kumwamza said. Some of the protesters in the mining city hurled rocks and the officers fled the scene shortly before midday, firing tear gas behind them.

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi

Burundi Crisis Chart

Burundi has been rocked by violence since Nkurunziza launched the controversial bid to prolong his term in office in April, with more than 210,000 people fleeing the country. At least 240 people have been killed since then, “with bodies dumped on the streets on an almost nightly basis”, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Raad al-Hussein told the council on Monday. Burundi’s civil war from 1993 to 2006 left about 300,000 people dead as rebels from the majority Hutu people clashed with an army dominated by the minority Tutsis. On Monday, two people were killed and a policeman wounded in gun

battles in Bujumbura, just days after a UN employee was among nine people killed at a bar by armed men in police uniform. France’s draft calls on the government and all sides to “reject any kind of violence” and condemned the killings, torture, arbitrary arrests and other rights violations in Burundi. The UN Security Council could vote on the draft in the coming days. At an emergency meeting called by France, Burundi’s Foreign Minister Alain Aime Nyamitwe said the “country was calm” except in some areas of Burundi’s capital, Bujumbura, where “small groups of criminals are active”.

Chad declares state of emergency in Boko Haram-hit region CHAD has declared a state of emergency in the Lake Chad region after a series of raids and suicide bombings there by militant Islamist group Boko Haram, the government said on

Chadian President Idriss Deby

Monday. Chad was instrumental in forcing Boko Haram to cede territory earlier this year, undermining its sixyear campaign to carve out a Nigerian caliphate. But guerrillas have since ramped up attacks in remote border areas around Lake Chad, killing at least three people in a Chadian village on Sunday and three Nigerian refugees in northern Cameroon on Monday. According to Reuters, Chad’s Communications Minister Hassan Sylla Bakari said the order, effective immediately, would grant authorities new powers to search and

monitor residents in the region. There has not been a state of emergency in Chad, one of Africa’s military heavyweights, since a

series of rebellions in the 2000s springing from its volatile east. Neighbouring Niger also has a state of emergency in its border region of Diffa.

A top U.N. official said last month that an 8,700 regional task force will begin joint raids against Boko Haram when the rainy season ends soon.

Obama loses latest immigration battle PRESIDENT Barack Obama’s executive action to shield millions of undocumented immigrants from deportation has suffered a legal setback with an appeal to the Supreme Court now the administration’s only option. The 2-1 decision by the 5th United States Circuit Court of Appeals in New

Orleans to uphold a May injunction deals a blow to Obama’s plan, opposed by Republicans and challenged by 26 states, Reuters said. The states, all led by Republican governors, said the federal government exceeded its authority in demanding whole categories of immigrants be protected.

The Obama administration has said it is within its rights to ask the Department of Homeland Security to use discretion before deporting nonviolent migrants with U.S. family ties. The case has become the focal point of the Democratic president’s efforts to change U.S. immigration policy.

otherNEWS

Myanmar’s Suu Kyi vows to call shots after election landslide MYANMAR democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi made it clear on Tuesday that she was ready to defy the powerful military’s attempts to clip her wings, as fresh results from Sunday’s historic election showed her party heading for a resounding win. As vote tallies trickled in, Suu

Kyi’s long-oppressed National League for Democracy (NLD) looked set to take control of most regional assemblies as well as forming the central government, a triumph that will reshape the political landscape. Under the constitution drawn up by Myanmar’s former junta,

Reuters said Suu Kyi is barred by the constitution from taking the presidency because her children are foreign nationals, a clause few doubt was inserted specifically to rule her out. But in two interviews on Tuesday, the Nobel peace laureate said that, whoever was appointed president

Cameron sets out EU reform goals DAVID Cameron has outlined his four goals for reforming the United Kingdom’s membership of the European Union (EU), including restrictions on benefits for people coming to the UK, the BBC reported. He said Britain faced a “huge decision” in the in/out referendum

promised before the end of 2017. But he said he was confident of getting what he wanted from reform talks. Anti-EU campaigners say the talks are a “gimmick” - and the European Commission said the UK’s benefits proposals could break free movement laws.

by the newly elected houses of parliament, she would call the shots. She told the BBC that she would be “making all the decisions as the leader of the winning party” and Channel News Asia that the next president would have “no authority”. David Cameron

Mr Cameron formally set out his demands in a letter to the president of the European Council Donald Tusk saying four objectives lie at the heart of the UK’s renegotiations: Protection of the single market for Britain and other non-euro countries.

Boosting competitiveness by setting a target for the reduction of the “burden” of red tape. Exempting Britain from “evercloser union” and bolstering national parliaments. Restricting EU migrants’ access to in-work benefits such as tax credits.

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Help Eaglets to blossom — Tee & Tife Oil boss By Tunde Ogunesan SPORTS philanthropist and boss of Tee & Tife Oil, Mr Toyin Sodipo, has urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), to guide the victorious Golden Eaglets players in managing their careers. This he noted would help

Members of the Golden Eaglets in joyous mood after their victory at Chile 2015. Saliu Gbadamosi - Abuja

RIUMPHANT Nigeria U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets, will arrive in the country’s capital city, Abuja today, officials have an-

...‘Give them national honours’ Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

THE House of Representatives on Tuesday asked the Federal Government to honour the victorious Golden Eaglets and their coaching crew with the national honours after winning the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup held in Chile. The House also commended President Muhammadu Buhari for supporting the football stars during the tournament. The House equally resolved to host the winner of the U-17 World Cup at a special session in the chamber upon their arrival. The House resolution was sequel to a motion sponsored by Honourable Henry Nwawuba entitled “need to congratulate the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria on their victory at the justconcluded U-17 world football tournament in Chile”. While supporting the motion, Honourable Johnson Agbonayinman maintained that the Golden Eaglets have shown that Nigeria will be the best nation if the interest of the country is put first above political or ethnic interests.

nounced. Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets won a fifth FIFA U-17 World Cup in the early hours of Monday when they defeated Les Aignonnets of Mali 2-0 in an all-African final in Vena Del Mar, Chile. “The latest Golden Eaglets will land in Abuja between 2 and 3pm on Wednesday (today). They will be

the youngsters to blossom into world-class professional players in the near future, especially before signing for any European clubs. “These boys are the toast of major clubs in Europe and we must offer advice that will protect their future. Football agents and scouts are desper-

Victorious Eaglets arrive in Abuja today on Emirates from Dubai,” an official informed. The victorious team and its officials have already commenced the long journey back to Nigeria and will be connecting the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) via an Emirates Airline even as they hope to be warmly received by President Muhammadu Buhari.

Nigeria had earlier won the U-17 World Cup in 1985, 1993, 2007 and 2013, but this is the first time it had won the tournament outside Asia. Skipper Kelechi Nwakali was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, while striker Victor Osimhen was goal king of Chile 2015 after scoring a record-breaking feat of 10 goals.

Buhari hails world scrabble king, Jighere PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated Wellington Jighere, the Nigerian who has emerged world scrabble champion, the first ever from Africa. Jighere, 36, defeated Lewis Mackay of Cambridge, England, by 448 points to 426 to win the championship which was competed for by 450 players from round the world. Buhari in a telephone call to Jighere who was in Perth, Australia said: “I called to rejoice with

you over your performance. You have done the country proud, and we are very happy. Please, pass my congratulations to other members of Team Nigeria.” According to a statement issued by Femi Adesina, Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity), in Abuja, Jighere was delighted at the phone call from Mr President, and pledged to bring more laurels to his fatherland. The five other Nigerian representatives finished in the top

50 scrabble players in the world bracket.

Jighere

ate to sign them but we must advise them so as to not jeopardise their future. We would like to see these boys form the bulk of the Super Eagles at the 2022 World Cup. “In the past, we have seen some of our youngsters sign slave contracts due to lack of proper counselling and we need to guard against such trend this time round,” Sodipo said. While congratulating the Eaglets on their record-breaking performance by winning the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, Sodipo said he is not surprised by the impeccable performance of the Emmanuel Amuneketutored team at the global stage. “Right from the time I watched the team play during their qualifying series, I knew that this is a world-class team. I knew many Nigerians did not expect them to do well (at Chile 2015) having failed to win the African cadet championship but against all odds, they did well when it matters most,” he said. Sodipo appealed to the Federal Government to honour the record breaking squad. “The President is very lucky to have witnessed two cadet World Cup titles during his reign. We were the first winners of the cadet World Cup when it was introduced in China in 1985, when Muhammadu Buhari was the Head of State and 30 years on, we repeated the feat a few months after his return as a civilian president. I think the boys deserve an enviable appreciation.” He also called on the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to retain the teams’ chief coach, Emmanuel Amuneke. “We should allow him to continue this role. You don’t change a winning coach. Amuneke should be retained to search and groom the next golden Eaglets squad. He must not be put under any pressure. Youth team coaches are rare. We need to start preparing for the next World Cup in 2017,” he said.

54th FirstBank Lagos Amateur Golf Open tees off THE 54th edition of the most competitive and prestigious amateur golf championships in West Africa, the FirstBank Lagos Open Golf Championship will tee on Friday November 13 and end on Sunday, November 15, 2015. According to Folake Ani-Mumuney, FirstBank Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, the championship will hold at the prominent Ikoyi Club 1938- Golf Section. The first day of the championship, Friday, will begin with practice

round and end with an interactive session on golf simulation game. The championship will continue on Saturday with first round of competition and professional coaching clinic/beat the pro challenge. The day’s event also includes the interactive session on golf simulation game which is available all day. On the final day, Sunday, the guest players will first take the center stage to be followed by the final rounds of competition among title contenders. Other events slated for the final

day include professional coaching clinic and interactive session on golf simulation game which is available all day. The championships will end with banquet dinner and award ceremony at the Ikoyi Club 1938 Golf Section Upper Terrace. Ani-Mumuney said golf is a passion and the number one aspirational sport in Nigeria and the world at large. Adding that, “Golf cuts across age, gender, differing ability barriers and allows enjoyment in a fun and

healthy competitive recreational environment’’. She revealed that the annual FirstBank Lagos Amateur Open Golf Championship has enhanced the brand of the bank, as a major driver of golf sponsorships. “For the 54th edition, we aim to involve strategic partners to enhance the value and content of the championship for increased innovative engagements, more fun offline, and digital experience for golfers and non-golfers alike,” Said Ani-Mumuney.

tribunesport Siasia names 26 for Morocco camping

HEAD coach of Nigeria’s U-23 national team, Samson Siasia has picked 26 home-based professionals for the pre-Africa U-23 Cup of Nations training camp in Morocco. The 26 players were selected from the 35 earlier invited to camp. The list is dominated by the 2015 All-Africa Games

Wednesday, 11 November, 2015

bronze-medal winning group, including goalkeeper Emmanuel Daniel, defender Segun Oduduwa and mid-fielders Oghenekaro Etebo, Kingsley Sokari and Daniel Etor, while old reliables like Christian Pyagbara, Mustapha Abdullahi and Austine Oladapo failed to make the cut. Siasia also picked new

faces Anaezemba Nzube, Prince Aggrey, Stanley Dimgba, Kufre Ebong and Bature Yaro for the trip. The selected players and coaching crew are expected to depart for Morocco where they will be joined by some overseas- based professionals. The Dream Team VI will face Egypt, Algeria and

Mali in group B at the Africa U-23 Cup of Nations scheduled to hold in Senegal from November 28 to December 12. The full list: Emmanuel Daniel, Yusuf Mohammed, Emmanuel Iwu, Segun Oduduwa, Sincere Seth, Erhun Obanor, Daniel Etor, Oghenekaro Etebo, Godwin Aguda, Usman

Mohammed, Ndifreke Effiong, Chukwuebuka Iroha, Stanley Dimgba, Kingsley Sokari, Godspower Effiong, Prince Aggrey, Bature Yaro, Zaharadeen Bello, Amaefule Chizoba, Seun Olulayo, Tiongoli Tonbara, Kufre Ebong, Abubakar Aliyu, Anaezemba Nzube, Daniel Emmanson and Adebayo Ajadi.

Abuja Elite basketball championship holds Nov. 14 THE Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) in collaboration with Alpha Plus Mega Concepts has concluded arrangements to hold an elite basketball championship for schools in the FCT between November 14 and 23 in two phases. The competition which will hold among 15 elite schools within the FCT to begin with, will see the first phase dunk off November 14 to 16 while the second phase holds between November 21 and 23. The championship powered by US-based Alpha Plus Mega Concepts and sanctioned by the NBBF is aimed at talents discovery tailored towards bridging the gap among talent, education and good health. The NBBF president, Tijjani Umar stated at a press briefing in Abuja, to herald the classics that the federation is supporting the initiative because it wants to build on its recent successes in age grade tournaments so as to build a lasting basketball dynasty in Nigeria and Africa to dominate the continent. Tijjani said with the continuous and sustained effort from the National Sports Commission (NSC), the federation was already reaping gains in the development of the game at the age-grade level. He said plans are already on the ground to work with secondary schools across the country to nurture and bring talents to the national stage - hence the support for the initiative put together by the USbased company interested in working with secondary school students with the sole purpose of discovering and nurturing of future basketball stars. According to the NBBF boss, the best place to invest in basketball in Nigeria is in secondary schools.

The sponsor of the 7th Elizabeth Adesola Akinjide Memorial Golf tournament, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) presenting trophy to the winner of the tournament, Bello Adesina which was held last weekend at the Tiger Golf Club, Ibadan. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN.

Adesina wins 7th Elizabeth Akinjide memorial golf By Ahmed Pele

R Adesina Bello last Saturday claimed the 7th Elizabeth Adesola Akinjide Memorial Golf tournament held at the Tiger Golf Club, Ibadan. The tournament recorded a large turn out with golfers from different clubs across the country present at the two-day tourney. Adesina, a member of Tiger Golf Club (TGC), joins the likes of Yusuf Abdulahi, Shehu Aruna Olayinka, Kassim Audu, A. Odeyaji, Sulaiman Babangida and Godwin Idoko to win the tourney with 77 Gross and 70 Net. Adesina, who is also a member of Ibadan Golf Club, while speaking with Tribunesport attributed his victory to hard work. He said, he has been training hard ahead of Tiger Open scheduled for December, but he was suprised to win the Akinjide tournament.

He said “This is my first time of winning this tournament and I am so happy. In fact, despite my narrow loss at the Ogbomoso Next Open and I believe this is a consolation. “I know this victory has already prepared me for the forthcoming Tiger Open which I am very optimistic of winning. I know I can do better this year because I lost two years ago by twoshot but I’m battle-ready for the Open,” he said. In his address, the patron of the club who doubles as the General Officer Commanding 2 Division Nigerian Army, Major General L.C. Ilo, disclosed that over the years, golfing in Nigeria has grown in leaps and bounds through innovations and sponsorship like the tournament being sponsored by the Akinjide family. He said “Golf tournaments have continued to attract large patronage from far and kudos to the Akinjide family for choosing TGC

and they have been adding to the patronage of the golf contributions towards the growth of the game in general and for their unwavering support for the TGC in particular”. Also, the sponsor of the tourney, Chief Richard Akinjide (SAN) said he’s always happy to sponsor and remember his late wife through golf tourney owing to her commitment to the game of golf. “During her lifetime, she

was always by my side anytime I was off to the golf course and when she departed, I believe this is the best way to remember and honour her. I’m using this medium to call on the retired Lieutenant General, Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau to witness the 8th edition of this tournament,” Akinjide said, just as he lauded the Local Organising Committee (LOC) led by Mr Gabriel Eneware for organising a hitch-free tourney.

Payne turns first woman to win Emirates Melbourne Cup PRINCE of Penzance has galloped into racing history with a stunning upset victory in the 2015 Emirates Melbourne Cup. Michelle Payne became the first ever woman jockey to win the prestigious AUD6.2million race aboard the Darren Weir trained gelding. The rank outsider Prince of Penzance saw off the late challenge of Max Dynamite from Ireland who finished second, while David Hayes trained Criterion finished third. Barry Brown, Emirates’ Divisional vice president for Australasia, presented the Emirates Melbourne Cup to the winning connections of the six-year old Prince of Penzance. “Once again, this leading international race has lived up to all expectations with a remarkable victory and another historic first for the race. We’re incredibly proud to celebrate our 12th year as the title sponsor of the Emirates Melbourne Cup and this year has produced another memorable finish” said Brown. “This is a significant partnership for Emirates – one which allows us to connect with horse racing fans not just in Australia, but globally. This year we’re also pleased to celebrate our 19th year in partnership with the Victorian Racing Club; a partnership which forms part of our extensive global portfolio of sponsorships and partnerships with the sport of horse-racing.” “In addition to witnessing this exhilarating race, we’ve enjoyed the opportunity of putting a spotlight on one of our global destinations.”

TREM Football Academy holds clinic in Lagos THE Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM) Football Academy (TFA), will be organising a one-day free football clinic for secondary school students between the ages of 11 and 15 years in Lagos State. According to the co-ordinator of TREM Football Academy, Reverend Dennis Kenkwo, the event is scheduled to hold on Friday, November 13 at the National Institute for Sports (NIS),

National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos. No fewer than 1,000 participants are expeced to attend the clinic comprising over 20 seasoned football coaches and 20 secondary schools for boys and girls in Lagos State. Each of the participating 20 schools in Lagos State are expected to come with about 25 students. The participating students will be exposed to vari-

ous techniques and basic football skills by seasoned coaches and ex-internationals. The whole idea of the TREM Football Academy (TFA) is primarily to sharpen the raw skills of the football loving boys and girls, thereby improving on their abilities to perform better and be able to outwit opposing teams psychologically on the field during tournaments.

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2016 Olympics:

Mikel arrives CHELSEA midfielder, Mikel Obi and Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho have joined the Super Eagles training camp in Abuja ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier against the Sihlangu of Swaziland. Mikel arrived in Abuja early Tuesday morning on board a British Airways flight. “I hope to win (against Swaziland) and I have been doing this from the first day,” the Chelsea star said on arrival. However, Iheanacho, who featured for the Flying Eagles at the FIFA U-20 World Cup held this year in New Zealand, is honouring his first Super Eagles call-up. Recalled Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins is due in the training camp by afternoon, officials disclosed.

AFN promises gold medallist $50,000 By Ahmed Pele

HE Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has released entry standard for athletes intending to represent Nigeria at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. AFN also revealed monetary incentives for athletes who achieve the federation’s entry standard, the highest being $50,000 for any Team Nigeria track and field athlete who wins a gold medal at Rio 2016. According to a statement signed by the AFN’s Head of Communication and Media, Olukayode Thomas, athletes who intend to compete in the men and women’s 100m must run 10.09secs and 11.10secs. For the 200m, the men must run 20.20secs and the women, 22.50secs. In the 400m, the entry standard is 45.20secs for men and 50.90secs for women. For athletes intending to compete in the men’s 800m, the entry standard is 1.45.30secs and 2.00.00secs for women. The men 110 hurdles standard is 13.35secs and women’s 100m hurdles is 12.85secs. Intending athletes in the men and women’s 400m hurdles must run 48.95secs and 54.93secs respectively, while the men’s high jump standard is 2.31 meters and women, 1.98meters. Men long jumpers must jump 8.20meters and women, 6.90meters. Thomas revealed that the entry standard must be achieved between January 1 and June 30, 2016. The AFN, according to Thomas, will pay athletes who meet this standard $2000. Athletes who make it to the finals at Rio Olympics will get $2500 as bonus, bronze medallist $10,000 while silver medallist will get $30,000 as $50,000 awaits each gold medallist.

Nigeria’s Ese Brume, the reigning Commonwealth champion.

Swaziland is difficult to play —Oliseh Says Emenike is replaceable Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja SUPER Eagles head coach, Sunday Oliseh, on Tuesday, declared that Nigeria’s opponent in Friday’s 2018 World Cup qualifier, Swaziland, was a difficult team to tackle. This is even as the former Super Eagles skipper stated that though retired striker, Emmanuel Emenike did his best for the country, he was replaceable any day. Fielding questions from sports journalists on Tuesday evening shortly after the Eagles’ training, Oliseh stated that for Swaziland to have shocked Guinea to set up a date with the Eagles meant that the side was no pushover, hence needed to be taken seriously by his men. Oliseh said the Eagles would try their best in Friday’s qualifier, adding that there was every reason to respect their opponents. “We will try to give it the best that we can. They are a difficult team. They are the team that shocked Guinea and it is not going to be easy playing them, especially playing them on an artificial pitch at their home. “We know what is waiting for us. We’ve had our wake up call with Tanzania. But the boys are in high spirits and I am very optimistic. “We always have a reason to entertain any fear against any opponent because if we don’t respect them, we get kicked out. It

One Nasiru Bello sentenced to seven years imprisonment in Lagos, for stealing arms claimed that he stole an AK 47 rifle from a drunk policeman at about 3a.m. Perhaps, if Nasiru had played the role of a good Samaritan, he could still land in trouble because he will have to explain to the police what he was doing in the streets at such an ungodly hour.

is a World Cup qualifier; we have to respect them and take them as very worthy opponent,” he stated. Speaking on players, including Obafemi Martins, Shehu Abdullahi and Ogeyin Onazi, yet to report in camp, Oliseh declared that he was not losing any sleep over this, informing that the ongoing Lufthansa strike action was responsible for their late arrival. “They will meet up. The players are not here because of flight problem. I don’t know if you have heard of Lufthansa’s strike problem. Musa just flew in and he walked to the training. I am not really worried about that. I think that we had a very good training tour in Belgium,” Oliseh said. Asked if he was going to miss the 2013 African Nations Cup (AFCON) highest goalscorer, Emenike, Oliseh emphatically stated that he was not going to miss the former Fenerbahce striker. According to Oliseh, “Emenike served Nigeria well and I think he took a lot of thought before he decided to retire. We wish him all the best. But as I told you right from the beginning, nobody is irreplaceable, only Nigeria is irreplaceable. “I think we had great players, in fact, greatest players Africa ever seen, Nigeria produced them. They retired and Nigeria did not die. But we should thank him for what he did for Nigeria.”

Zamalek hails Amuneke on Eaglets victory By Tunde Ogunesan ZAMALEK FC of Egypt has congratulated one of its former players, Emmanuel Amuneke on winning the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup as head coach of Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets. The club, on its twitter handle zamalekSC @ ZSC official wrote “congratulations to our former legend Amunike for winning FIFA

U-17 World Cup with @NGSEagles as a manager.” Amuneke’s picture in his days with the club was also used as illustration. The former Super Eagles winger played for the Egyptian side between 1991 and 1994, featuring in 71 matches with 26 goals to his credit before joining Spanish side, Sporting CP in 1994. He also won several honours with the Egyptian side.

Meanwhile, no sooner that Zamalek congratulated Amuneke on its twitter handle that some of his fans started protesting against the word “former legend” as stated in the message. While some argued that there cannot be a former legend, some want Zamalek to re-address the issue, but some even claimed that the club never meant to undermine him.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. Telephone: 08165728976; 08073598322. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 11/11/2015.