13th November 2015 by Nigerian Tribune

nigeria’s most informative newspaper no 16,370

friday, 13 november, 2015

Power reform: BPE staff on board of GENCOs, DISCOs compromised process —Senate —P44 •Says they received exotic SUVs as privileges

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

n150

Preparations in top gear for HID Awolowo's burial

•We are 100% ready —Ogun CP —P6 •Press centre ready •HID's biography for presentation Nov 18

Army warns Biafra agitators —P 36

•Says troops duty bound to intervene in any breakdown of law and order

"The Nigerian Army would like to send an unequivocal warning to all and sundry, more specifically to all those threatening and agitating for the dismemberment of the country, committing treasonable felony and arson, as well as wanton destruction of lives and property that once deployed, we shall apply the rule of engagement (ROE) to the letter."

Parents, 3 children die in Ibadan petrol explosion —P44

How I bent rule in appointing perm secs —Buhari —P4

Globacom's Head of Corporate Sales, Mr Kamaldeen Shonibare; Executive Director, Legal Services, Globacom, Mrs Gladys Talabi and Globacom's Brand Specialist, Nnemdi Bekwenye, at the formal launch of Twin Bash promo, held at Globacom's corporate headquarters, Mike Adenuga Towers, Lagos, on Wednesday. PHOTO: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Supreme court halts Saraki's trial at CCT —P6

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Friday, 13 November, 2015 PHOTOS: D’ TOYIN

CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

How I bent rules in appointing perm secs —Buhari •Warns against corruption, other vices Leon Usigbe -Abuja

P 1

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Thursday, said in keeping with the change mantra of his administration, the process for selection of permanent secretaries was a departure from the previous practice of administering written and oral examinations. Buhari disclosed this during the swearing-in of 18 newly-appointed federal permanent secretaries, while warning civil servants that his administration would not tolerate excesses, indifference, incompetence and corrupt practices. “Instead of administering written and oral examinations, a more rigorous selection process, entailing vigorous screening of candidates’ past records, potential and capacity for holding the office, integrity, honesty and sense of commitment was adopted. “I believe this new selection technique will have, hopefully, brought up to light some of the best, dedicated, patriotic and hardworking civil servants to hold this position of trust. It is my hope that your subsequent conduct and performance will not prove this administration wrong,” he said. Speaking moments after administering the oath of office on the permanent secretaries at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, he reminded them that the responsibilities bestowed on them were enormous, adding that the success or otherwise of the government would largely depend on their competence, ability and capacity to discharge their duties most effectively and efficiently. “I must, however, sound a

note of warning. It is within public domain that ministers, as chief executives of their ministries, as well as other government officials involved in policy formulation and implementation, often complain of the intolerable levels of incompetence, indifference or even suspected sabotage by some of the top echelon of the civil service. “Even where permanent secretaries, in some instances, are exempted from these accusations, they are still responsible and liable for failing to provide the required leadership, control and direction. “This administration will not condone any excesses, indifference, incompetence,

and corrupt practices in any form. Permanent secretaries are, therefore, advised to note these words of caution and disseminate them to all civil servants accordingly,” he said. He said his government was voted into power by popular mandate to implement clearly articulated programmes and policies to regenerate and re-invigorate the national economy. “This, at a time when the nation’s economy and revenue base are very low, will task the capability and capacity of any government. This is why you have been chosen and you should all regard your appointments as an emergency call to duty,” he added.

How I decimated Edo political godfathers —Oshiomhole Banji Aluko -Benin City ON a day he celebrated his last anniversary before he leaves office, Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, narrated how he wrested Edo State from the jaws of political godfathers, who arrogantly dismissed him when he joined the political fray in 2007. He said the godfathers he dethroned in the past determined who got what in the state and ran the state like their estate, saying “those who boasted to govern Nigeria for 50 years have been wiped out, at least, completely from Edo State.” At the town hall meeting held at Imaguero College, Benin City, the governor said he would not be moved by his critics for not establishing industries in the past seven years, because the responsibility of government was to, among

other things, provide an enabling environment for industrialisation to thrive. The governor said as his government winds up next year, he was prepared to leave behind a good financial condition for his successor, adding that his government would complete existing projects and would still initiate some new ones before the end of his tenure next year. He noted, however, that efforts would not be sparred to fully implement the Land Use Charge which, he said, was not targetted at the poor and the aged, but to develop the state by collecting from the rich. Speaking, the Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, said those protesting against the Land Use Charge were not doing so in the interest of residents of the state and the Benins, adding that they were unknown to the people.

Threat to Life: Court to hear Dasuki’s

suit against FG today Sunday Ejike - Abuja

5 1. Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran (second right), Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (left), Mr Bisi Olatawura (second left) and Reverend Joseph Ezekiel from Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo. 2. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (second right), Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu (second left), Mrs Sola Ibidapo Obe (left) and Mrs Yetunde Jagun. 3. Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (second right), Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu (second left), Mrs Yinka Samuel (left) and Mrs Kehinde Dina. 4. Members of Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries from Yaba, Lagos with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu. 5. Members of National Ife Descendant Students Association with Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu.

HEARING in the legal action instituted against the Federal Government by former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Mohammed Dasuki (retd) will begin today, before a Federal High Court in Abuja. The suit by Dasuki, who has been placed under house arrest in the last one week by operatives of the Department of the State Service (DSS), is seeking enforcement of his fundamental human rights to dignity and security of his life. Though the case was filed on Monday, hearing notice indicating that the matter

would be heard today, had been issued to parties in the matter by the court. Dasuki is asking the court for a mandatory order compelling the Federal Government and its agents, especially DSS operatives, to vacate his house located on 13, John Kadija Street, Asokoro with immediate effect. In the suit filed by his counsel, Ahmed Adeniyi Raji, Dasuki pleaded with the court to stop the siege laid on his house and to remove all impediments, human and non-human barricade said to have hindered the permission granted him since November 3, 2015 to travel abroad for medical

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

Friday, 13 November, 2015

news

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Preparations in top gear for HID Awolowo's burial

•Final touch to her resting place •Efunyela Hall wearing new look for lying-in-state From Yinka Olukoya and Tunde Ogunesan

reparations are in top gear to give the jewel of inestimable value of Papa Obafemi Awolowo a befitting burial, as all the centres that had been penciled down for the big event are already wearing ceremonial outfit. When Nigerian Tribune visited the Awolowo compound, Ikenne, Thursday afternoon, different groups of workers were seeing putting finishing touches to the areas scheduled to be used. From the Efunyela Hall, which had played host to prominent dignitaries across the globe since Saturday, September 19, when Mama HID breathed her last, to conveniences within the hall, the fountain in front of the main building, which is currently being suspended for a big stage for presentations, her final resting place-masoleum, press centre, to Sopolu library, the compound had, in recent days, been turned to a construction site. Bricklayers, electricians, plumbers, among others are working tirelessly to ensure they deliver to time. Members of the family, relations and well wishers who continually thronged the compound were also seen dotting the area, especially those trying to have roles to play during the programme and those yet to have their cut of "also ebi" for the burial.

Work at Mama's final resting abode, the mausoleum, where Papa was buried 28 years ago, is also nearing completion. The grave, which had white tiles pasted on its inner four wall sides, is almost ready to receive its guest. Workers on ground were also seen putting finishing touches to the cool

arena, in order to make the place ready before the commencement of the final funeral programme on Sunday. Meanwhile, Pastor Samson Laoye led a team of over 15 members of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministry (MFM) Headquarters, Lagos, to commiserate with the

Awolowo family, on behalf of the General Overseer of the church, Dr Daniel Kolawole Olukoya, on Thursday. Pastor Laoye said the church had been praying for the family for the success of the programme and had decided to come personally to deliver a tree of condolence on behalf of

the General Overseer to the family. The team then prayed for members of the family, the success of the outlined programmes and the family at large. Earlier, Reverend Joseph Ezekiel of Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne, led the daily morning services, urging the partici-

pants to praise God more in songs. In her response, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran, thanked the representatives of the church for deeming it fit to pay them a visit. She stated that the family would ever be grateful to God for the grace to always be identified with the Lord.

sure everybody that security will be provided for 100 per cent.” On problematic areas, Ali assured that the security agencies had taken into cognizance the peculiar security situation of the venue of the event and its adjourning communities. “Actually, we have taken care of the security condi-

tion of towns around here, including the gridlock along Lagos/Ibadan axis of the expressway. That has also been properly taken care of, including the security arrangement.” The team later made a joint inspection of parking lots around major venues of events in the community.

...We're 100% ready — Ogun CP From Yinka Olukoya and Tunde Ogunesan Going by the words of the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abdul Majid Ali, there is no need to worry about security arrangements for the final burial programmes of Chief (Mrs) Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, which commences on Sunday. In an interview with newsmen immediately after a security meeting, which had in attendance the AIG zone, Bala A. Hassan, Ali assured that the committee was 100 per cent ready for the burial programmes. The meeting also had in attendance the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Leye Oyebade; DC Operation, Lagos State command, DCP Johnson B.Kokumo; ZSC Operation, Bello Makwashi; Unit Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Sagamu, Abdulahi Lawal; Major-General Seni Shoboiki (retd), ACP Jude Azuka; zonal PRO zone 2, CSP Adebowale Lawal; ACP operation

NSCDC Ogun State; representative of vigilance group, Ikenne, commander TRACE Ogun State and other officers of other security agencies like sector commanders of Oyo and Ogun states. According to Ali, “we are here for a normal meeting, particularly to fine tune all the former meetings we

had and also to examine our level of preparedness for the event. I want to tell you that all the security agencies are prepared. We are prepared to receive the world, to ensure that the final burial ceremony of Chief Awolowo comes to a successful end. We have made all the necessary arrangements and I can as-

HID's biography for presentation Nov 18 ALL plans are now in place for the public presentation of the biography of Chief HID Awolowo, scheduled as part of activities for her burial programme. One of the ambitions of the chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Chief Awolowo, while alive, was to publish a biography detailing her full history of life. Therefore, in her honour, the invited public are, hereby, notified of the official presentation of the book, entitled: “In the Radiance of the Sage: The Life and Times of HID Awolowo,” on November 18. The presentation will be held at the Awolowo's resi-

dence, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, at 10.00 a.m. An excerpts from the book read: “Obafemi (Awolowo's) methodical, comprehensive and thoughtful planning and mobilisation of resources blended with Hannah's calculated, determined, meticulous and patient shaping and projection of social capital in the struggle for influence and prestige. “She also (had) a matchless capacity for recollection and detail, an intrinsic facility for identifying and understanding the social order of things and a unique aptitude for tracking loyalty and treachery. “Therefore, within the first five years of their mat-

rimony, it was already evident that theirs was a perfect harmony that blended. For a few months short of 50 years, they were to enjoy a mutuality that melded so well as to become storied...” The chief presenter on the occasion is a former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, while the book reviewer is Professor Adigun Agbaje, former Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan. The host governors are Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo; Dr Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti; Mr Rauf Aregbesola, Osun; Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo; Mr Akinwumi Ambode, Lagos; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa,

Assets declaration: Supreme Court halts Saraki's trial at CCT Sunday Ejike -Abuja The Supreme Court, on Friday, stayed the trial of the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, before the Code of Conduct Tribunal ( CCT) on a 13-count charge bordering on false assets declaration. By the decision of the apex court on Thursday, Saraki's trial in the charges slammed against him by the Federal Government would be put on hold pending the hearing and determination of his appeal before the apex court, challenging the legality of his trial at the CCT. At the resumed hearing of Saraki's application for stay of proceedings, prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, who had earlier objected to the application for stay of proceedings, made a Uturn, with an undertaken that the prosecution will not go ahead with the proceed-

ings at the tribunal, once the Supreme Court can grant accelerated hearing in the pending substantive appeal. Jacobs told the panel of five justices, headed by Justice John Afolabi Fabiyi, that nothing, on the side of the prosecution would be done to prejudice the apex court. To ensure speedy hearing of the substantive appeal, Jacobs informed the court that he would file his brief of argument against Saraki's substantive appeal by Monday and urged the court to compel the appellant to also file his own brief of argument within two days, so that an earlier date could be fixed for hearing of the substantive matter. The action of the prosecution overtook the earlier objection to Saraki's application, seeking a stay of the trial CCT.

In his argument against the application, Jacobs submitted that no court had the power to grant stay of proceedings, in view of the introduction of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act 2015. He specifically said section 306 of the Act had removed the discretional and inherent power of any court to grant stay of proceedings in criminal a matter. According to him, the motive of the legislature in enacting the Act was to put to an end to the usual delay suffered in the prosecution of criminal matters. Earlier, Saraki's counsel, Joseph Daudu, who led seven other senior advocates for Saraki, urged the apex court to stop the proceedings at the CCT pending the hearing of the substantive appeal. Daudu told the court that

the appellant was challenging the jurisdiction of the tribunal and the legality of his trial at the tribunal. Saraki claimed, among others, that the tribunal was not properly constituted with two members, instead of three as required by law and further submitted that the apex court should put the trial at the CCT on hold, pending the final determination of the main appeal. Justice Fabiyi, in a brief ruling, gave seven days each to both parties to file and exchange their briefs of argument and a date for hearing of substantive appeal would be communicated to parties. Fabiyi said in line with the undertaken of Jacobs, proceedings at the CCT should tarry awhile and said: “To this end, hearing at the CCT should be pended until the outcome of the substantive appeal brought before the

court by Saraki.” It will be recalled that the Court of Appeal, Abuja division, had dismissed Saraki's appeal challenging the legality of his trial at the tribunal on false assets declaration, saying the charge against the Senate President, was in order. A concurrent judgment of Justice Moore Adumein and Mohammed Mustapha, held that the tribunal was right in assuming jurisdiction in the matter and dismissed Saraki's claim that his trial was unlawful. They also dismissed another claim of Saraki that the tribunal did not form quorum of three membership, noting that although the constitution was silent on the quorum, but the interpretation act smoothly settled the matter with a provision that two members can sit in any tribunal matter.

Delta and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Edo, while the chief host is the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

Press Centre ready From Yinka Olukoya and Tunde Ogunesan A newly built press centre constructed to ease job process of journalists covering the final burial ceremony of the chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of Tribune titles, is ready for use. A visit to the centre by Nigerian Tribune revealed that work was 98 per cent completed. The last contractor was seen on Thursday afternoon, putting the two giant air conditioners into test before the outfit would be finally handed over to the media committee for the 11-day event. The glass fitted centre is to serve as media joint for the journalists covering the event, to ease the process of their job. Meanwhile, accredited process has begun. It was also gathered that over 200 journalists would be accredited for the event, while the exercise closes on Friday.

news

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Ilemobade: Absence of police witness stalls proceedings

Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

he trial of the two suspected killers of the former Vice Chancellor of the Federal Univer-

sity of Technology, Akure ( FUTA) ProfessorAlbert Ilemobade, was on Thursday, stalled at the Akure High Court, following the absence of the police wit-

ness in court The two suspects, Daniel Ita Effiom and Olayemi Bamitale, who were charged for conspiracy and murder of the former vice

chancellor, were ordered to be remanded in prison till November 20. Speaking during the proceeding, the lead counsel and Director of Public

Osun shuts NNPC, BoA, 3 other federal agencies over non-remittance of N219m tax Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

Osun State Internal Revenue Service (OSIRS), on Wednesday, shut down five Federal Government-owned establishments in the state

over non-remittance of taxes. The affected establishments were accused of owing a total sum of N219,895,711.84, due to Osun State. The details of the de-

Army panel on Ekiti, others elections yet to receive memorandum Muhammad Sabiu-Kaduna

The military panel investigating the alleged involvement of some of its personnel during the 2014/ 2015 governorship elections conducted in Ekiti, Osun, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom states is yet to receive any memorandum from the public. This was disclosed by the president of the panel, who is the General Officer Commanding (GOC), One Division, Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Adeniyi Oyebade, while briefing newsmen in Ka-

duna, on Thursday. He said the panel would not entertain any petition at the end of its sitting on November 20, According to him, the five-man panel which began sitting in Kaduna since Monday, had invited army commanders from Ekiti,Osun,Rivers and Akwa Ibom states. ‘A good number of men and officers of the Nigerian army appeared before the panel to explain their roles during the elections. “We have interrogated them so far, they cut across junior and senior officers.”

faulting agencies and the amount owed are given as follows Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Retail Mega Station, Osogbo, N27,948,355.30, covering 2008 till 2013; Bank of Agriculture, Osogbo, branch, N43,407,696.55, covering 2006 till 2013; National Centre for Technology Management, (NACETEM), Obafemi Awolowo University, IleIfe, N36,578,427.35, covering 2006 till 2013; African Regional Centre for Space Science Technology, OAU, Ile-Ife, with liability of N80,152,412.34 covering 2006 till 2011 and International School, OAU campus with liability of N31,808,820.30 covering 2006 till 2011. Some other defaulting Federal Government establishments have also been listed for sanction by the OSIRS as parts of its new revenue drive across the state.

Speaking on the development, the acting chairman/ Chief Executive Officer of OSIRS, Mr Dayo Oyebanji, who led the revenue team to the affected establishments, said the agency resorted to closure of the agencies, after securing court injunction to carry out the exercise in accordance with the dictate of the constitution.

Prosecution ,expressed disappointment over the lack of cooperation between the state police command and the Ogun State command. She explained that the two suspects were arrested in Ogun State but said the police witness from Ogun State failed to show up because of the gap in communication, saying the police officer from Ogun State, who was supposed to be one of the witness was not in court. She, however, pleaded with the court to fix another date for the hearing of the case. The presiding judge,

Justice William Olamide, frowned over the delay in the case and urged all the parties involved to speed up action in order to conclude the case on time. Justice Olamide, however, ordered the two suspects to remain in prison custody, while he adjourned the case till November, 20 for the next hearing. Speaking on the development, the state Police Public Relations Office (PPRO), Femi Joseph, said the absence of the police witness might be as result of communication gap between the command and Ogun State command.

Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Lagosmetro Cross section of the newly commissioned Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) during the commissioning of Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT Extension and launching of new BRT, on Thursday.

Bola Badmus

overnor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, has deployed 438 new BRT buses and extended Mile-12/Ikorodu lane.

Governor Ambode, speaking on Thursday at the commissioning of the Mile 12 Ikorodu BRT extension and formal flag off of the bus operation at Majidun, Ikorodu stated that the bus operation is a celebration of the delivery of world class

transport infrastructure that will bring comfort and convenience to commuters in the state as well as residents of Ikorodu and those who use the road to connect other parts of the state and beyond. About 438 buses were

Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, cutting the tape to commission the Mile 12-Ikorodu BRT Extension and launch of new Bus Rapid Transit, on Thursday. With him are the Osun state governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola (right); APC national leader, Senator Bola Tinubu (second right) and the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr Dayo Mobereola.

commissioned to go into business immediately at the event which was attended by dignitaries, including the National Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; House of

Police impound 105 motorcycles, arrest 98 Olalekan Olabulo The police in Lagos State has arrested 98 people and impounded about 105 motorcycles during different exercises to restore orderliness on Lagos roads. The arrested suspects were mostly commercial motorcyclists who allegedly flouted the state governments Traffic Law and traders who were selling in the middle of the roads. Lagos Metro gathered that the suspects were on Wednesday arrested by operatives of the Rapid Response Squad (RRS) and the Special Task Force on the Environment and other related offences, who were on surveillance patrols to Agege Motor Road, Costain, Orile Iganmu, Ikorodu Road and other parts of the state. A source at RRS told Lagos Metro that the operations on Lagos roads were part of the activities

of the state government “to promote safer Lagos and to restore orderliness on the roads.” The Joint Task Force team stressed that the operation would be a continuous exercise by the law enforcement agencies to ensure that road users fully comply with the State Traffic Laws and Regulations. The police team also said that preliminary investi-

gations have revealed that robbery and other nefarious activities on the highways were aided by the use of motorcycles. “This operation is an in -thing to bring sanity to our highways. It will in no small measures prevent in-traffic robbery and criminal attacks on motorists and commuters, which have become a menace to the metropolis,” the police said.

The police also stated that law enforcement agencies in the state will enforce the total restriction of motorcycles on all the unapproved routes and expressways in the state. The impounded motorcycles and their riders have been handed over to the Lagos State Task Force on Environment for necessary legal action.

Representatives member, Honourable Jimi Benson and Majority Leader, Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Sanai Agunbiade. Others are Secretary to the state Government, Tunji Bello; Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Shotobi; Commissioner for Transportation, Dayo Omoperuola and other cabinet members. The governor, while describing the project as a milestone in public transportation system in the state, said the BRT system was initiated as part of the strategies to modernise the public transport system as in other major city-states around the world. “It is intended to provide efficient service that will

encourage patronage by the middle class thereby reducing the number of private vehicles on our roads. Today, the BRT system has to a large extent lived up to that expectation. “The first BRT system was launched in March 2008 along the Mile 12– CMS corridor. This 22km BRT corridor has moved over 250 million passengers in the last seven years. “The extension being commissioned today is an improvement on the shortcomings noticed on the Mile 12 to CMS corridor. This upgraded system, known as the BRT classic with the BRT lanes running in the median will provide better service in all ramifications,” he said.

0811 695 4647

Banker steals customer’s deposit to finance wealth project A banker has been accused of using a customer’s deposit fund to finance a botched get-rich-quickly project. Remi Adebimpe, who allegedly confessed to the crime during interrogation, pleaded not guilty when arraigned. The police at the Lion Building Division, Campbell Street, arrested the 34-year-old staff of the bank for allegedly converting the sum of £14,000 deposited by a customer of the bank into his own purse. Adebimpe was said to have taken the money for personal use and escaped. Suleimon Azeez, 45, is the arrested accomplice. According to the police, the crime was perpetrated on June 9, during working hours at the Sterling Bank Plc, Ikoyi branch, Ikoyi, Lagos. The Police said the fraud was discovered when the customer notified the bank man-

RESIDENTS of Idasho Community comprising of 11 villages in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area, Lagos, have insisted that a police escort allegedly killed the Lekki Free Trade Zone Managing Director, Tajudeen Disu. While speaking on behalf of the leaders of the community on Thursday,

counsel to the villagers, Bamidele Ogundele said, “We are calling for coroner’s inquest to know the cause of Disu’s death. The government should tell the whole world the bullet that killed Disu whether it was a police bullet or from a dane gun. We are saying that the bullet was an accidental discharge from one of the escorts of Disu. The escort wanted to shoot a community leader, but something

happened and he accidentally shot Alhaji Disu.” It will be recalled that the late Disu was allegedly murdered by residents of the community during a protest by people of Okuniraye village against the taking over of their lands by some investors. Bamidele added that while the community was not against the development of the area, for a solution to the crisis, Lagos State govern-

ment should return the lands to the community if it would no longer be used for the public benefit such as building of schools. “If the state government cannot return the land, they should pay adequate compensation to the people. They should also make an apology to the community for violating their fundamental human rights,” he said. The community also

blamed officers of Mopol 49 for constantly oppressing the community and demanded that they be removed from the land most especially as the case is now in court. “Using impunity is not the solution to Ibeju-Lekki crisis but dialogue. The villagers can no longer farm, so how can they feed their families. They have not been resettled, yet some people

agement of the alleged fraud. The bank management immediately sacked Adebimpe and reported the matter to the police. Following the report, the DPO in-charge of Lion building division, Tanaruno Anthonia directed a team led by Inspector Elegbede Oluranti to track and arrest Adebimpe. After investigation, Adebimpe and his accomplice were arraigned before a Magistrates’ Court in Lagos on a two-count charge of felony and stealing. Police prosecutor, Ignatius Okeke told the court that during investigation, the accused confessed to stealing the money saying his accomplice Azeez lured him to a native doctor to spend the stolen money for the printing of dollars to become rich overnight which did not materialise. Chief Magistrate Mrs K.B Ayeye admitted the duo to bail in the sum of N200, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum.

LASTMA officials at Lagos Tollgate towing a twin container trailer, on Thursday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

No tout in Oshodi, only energetic youths —Lawmaker Chukwuma Okparaocha The lawmaker representing Oodi/Isolo I Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Sokunle Hakeem, has rejected the notion that Oshodi was full of jobless area boys who occupy

8-day-old baby sold for N920, 000 Olalekan Olabulo The police in Lagos State have arrested a 25-year-old member of a baby factory syndicate, who sold a-weekold baby for N920, 000. The arrested suspect, Nkechi Obi was arrested by the police in the Oshodi area of the state, after a tip off by her co-passengers in a bus, who were suspicious of her, raised the alarm. Nkechi had come to Lagos from Onitsha in Anambra State to give the baby to the buyer in Lagos, when she was arrested.

Police escort’s accidental discharge killed Disu — Community insists AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin

Nigerian Tribune

Edited By Lanre Adewole

Lanre Adewole

LASG deploys 438 new BRT buses, extends Mile-12/Ikorodu lane

Friday, 13 November, 2015

are taking over their land,” Bamidele said. He also urged the Lagos State government to set up a coroner inquest into the death of Disu, while also calling on the United Nations Human Rights Commission, African Union, ECOWAS, Human Rights Commission, President Muhammadu Buhari and other stakeholders to wade into the matter.

Nkechi was on Thursday afternoon paraded before newsmen by the state commissioner of police, Fatai Owoseni , who warned parents and guardians to be watchful. Lagos Metro gathered that the woman, who bought the baby and was expecting Nkechi, but on hearing of the arrest of Nkechi, switched off her mobile phone. It was further gathered that trouble started for Nkechi when she was asked by leader of the syndicate to take the baby to Lagos to give to the buyer. “I was in Imo State before I came down to Onitsha to learn a trade. A week after I started the work, my master told me that I would be going to Lagos. Immediately she told me, I rushed home to change my cloth but to my surprise I was given a baby to take to a woman and her phone number was also given to me. “When we got to Ore in Ondo State, the baby started crying profusely which drew the attention of the other passengers in the ve-

hicle and they told me to breast feed the baby, then I brought out the baby milk given to me and gave it to the baby. “When we got to Oshodi, the driver and my co-passengers called some of the policemen who were on patrol of the area and I was arrested immediately.” she stated. The Lagos police boss stated that the baby had been handed over to the Family Support Unit of the state police command for proper care, pending the time, when his parents will come for him. He also assured that other members of the syndicate as well as the buyer would be arrested.

themselves smoking Indian-hemp and indulging in other vices. Honourable Hakeem made this known early this week, while having a tetea-tete with members of his constituency at a stakeholders meeting held at the Oshodi-Isolo Government Secretariat, insisting that the constituency was replete with youth who were full of energy waiting to be tapped for fruitful purposes. “Here in Oshodi, we don’t have Omo Ita (street urchins), rather, we have youths who are full of energy waiting to be tapped and used for useful purposes. We are going to ensure that we empower them aright so that this energy can be used for fruitful ventures and purposes,” he said and assured the people of the constituency of youth and women empowerment and good governance, as well as the continuation of the prevalent peaceful co-existence of all residents. A number of residents, who spoke at the forum made demands for certain infrastructural amenities

which they said, were desperately needed in various

baba Area of Ikorodu, was accused of allegedly raping the girl in an empty room, whenever he visits the victim’s grandmother every Eid-el-kabir (Ileya festival), and thereafter, threatened to kill the girl should she report the case to anyone.

Luck however ran out on him during this year’s festival held in September, when the girl could not bear it anymore and summoned the courage to report the matter to her grandmother. Umaru, however, denied committing the offence

communities that make up the constituency.

Electricity Consumer Forum protests proposed tariff hike Lanre Adewole A non-governmental organisation, Electricity Consumer Protection Forum on Thursday protested in Ikeja with a protest walk against proposed hike in electricity tariff. Members of the group, who walked from Ikeja roundabout to Lagos State House of Assembly and Government House, Alausa, carried placards with various inscriptions, demanding an end to what they termed obnoxious policies of the electricity distribution companies nationwide. The protest drew solidarity from most Nigerians standing throughout the long stretch of Obafemi Awolowo Road, Ikeja. The group, in a letter addressed to President Muhammadu Buhari, through Governor Akinwumi Ambode said their protest walk was aimed to draw the at-

tention of the president and the new Minister of Power, former governor of Lagos State; Babatunde Fasola to the pressing electricity needs of Nigerians. The coordinator of the group, Adeola Samuel-IIori, identified Nigerians’ electricity challenges as astronomical charges through estimated bills, and the non -provision of prepaid meters to electricity consumers as agreed in the privatisation MOU. The group, in their letter, also demanded the abolition of the N750 monthly service charges and the reacquisition of the whole national electricity infrastructure. Mr Samuel-IIori said their demand for the Federal Government to take-over the power infrastructure stemmed from the fact that no visible improvements have been experienced in the sector managed by the private sector.

35-yr-old man allegedly rapes landlady’s 15-yr-old grand daughter AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin A 35-year-old man, Yusuf Umaru, has been accused of raping his landlady’s 15-yearold grand daughter every Eidel-kabir (Ileya) celebration. The culprit, who resides at 14, Eketunde Street, in Ani-

when he was arraigned before an Ikorodu Magistrate court. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs. A.A. Oshiniyi, admitted the suspect to bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties and adjourned the case till December 3 for mention.

Friday, 13 November, 2015

businessnews

Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Panic grips seaport workers as APMT pencils in 500 for sack Tola AdenubiLagos

n v es t iga t io n s have revealed that anxiety has gripped many seaport workers over the fate of their jobs due to the lull in activities at the nation’s seaports. This is even as findings have revealed that Nigeria’s largest container handling facility, APM Terminals Apapa, is set to lay off about 500 workers. Revealing this to the Nigerian Tribune exclusively, an APMT staff who declined to have her name in print, said she heard that more than half of the APM Terminals workforce would be laid off to ensure the terminal operator balance its books. “Every day I come to work this days, I am not sure of resuming back to work the next day because it could be my last day in office. Nothing is happening at the seaports. Many of the vessels have stopped coming, they now prefer neighbouring ports. “What we hear in the offices is that some of us will be leaving. I was even told that about half of the entire workforce will be sacked. We are just about a thousand in numbers. I am really confused about the whole situation. “There are no jobs, yet the government will be formulating policies that will affect us that have jobs that we are doing. It is that pathetic,” she stated. When contacted on the telephone, the spokesman of APM Terminals, Augustine Fischer, said the terminal operator would not sack as many as rumoured. “The situation at the ports is very bad. The effects of global price of oil falling from $114 per barrel in the summer of 2014 to less than $50 a barrel in October 2015 have rippled throughout the Nigerian

economy, Africa’s largest. “Although we will be laying off, but I can assure you it won’t be up to that number. We won’t sack up to

500 workers. The sack will cut across the entire operations of APMT. No section will be targeted or focused on than the other.”

First Bank of Nigeria has identified well strengthened institutions as vital to the long time survival of both small and large scale businesses. At the International Sustainability Conference hosted by the FirstBank Sustainability Centre, in partnership with Lagos Business School, the Group Managing Director (GMD)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the bank, Bisi Onasanya, said the bank remained committed to the ideals of corporate citizenship and sustainable business practices.

reasons why the terminal operator was being forced to lay off some of its workers. Bunmi Pratt said: “With

cargo volumes down 30% compared with a year ago, and even after extensive cost-cutting measures taken throughout the terminal, we are unfortunately being forced to reduce our staffing in view of the business realities of the current economic environment.”

Stocks slip as NSE ASI sheds 0.74% KehindeAkinseinde-Jayeobalagos

Director, Public Affairs and Communication, Coca-Cola Nigeria Limited and Coordinator of the Nigerian Beverage Alliance, Mr Clem Ugorji; Corporate Social Responsibility and Sustainability Manager, Nigerian Breweries Plc, Mrs Emete Tonukari; Director-General, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr Lawrence Anukam; Director-General, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr Remi Ogunmefun and Procurement Manager, Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), Mr Anthony Otite, during the stakeholders forum on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy organised by NESREA and sponsored by the Nigerian Beverage Alliance in Lagos, recently.

FRC faults CBN’s position on Stanbic IBTC Chima Nwokoji-lagos

he Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria(FRCN) has faulted the position of the Central Bank of Nigeria on Stanbic IBTC’s financial reporting, stating that the bank does not have the competence nor the authority to evaluate the FRC Act, and the process of inspection of the Act. In a letter addressed to the Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria, Mr Godwin Emefiele and signed by the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, FRC, Mr Obazee, Jim Osayande, the council stated that the CBN mixed up the issues and ended up with very wrong and hasty conclusions. “The regulatory decision

of the FRC refers to a particular ‘purchase and Assignment of Banking Application software’ request made to NOTAP by Stanbic IBTC on July 3, 2013 which is another transaction other than the one your letter addressed,” the Council wrote to CBN. The FRC noted that in paragraph four of CBN’s earlier letter, the bank wrongly claimed that Stanbic IBTC actually obtained the necessary approval. It said that the Council even has a letter from the National Office for Technology Acquisition and Promotion (NOTAP) stating that the said request was not approved. FRC clarified that its decision was not about the tangible asset that the CBN letter addressed in paragraph

FirstBank identifies strong institutions as key to lasting businesses Chima Nwokoji-lagos

In a statement made available to the Nigerian Tribune, APM Terminals Head of Human Resources, Ms Bunmi Pratt, gave

He observed that with the bank’s position as a sustainability thought leader, “we established the FirstBank sustainability center in partnership with the Lagos Business School to serve as a specialised center that focuses on knowledge creation, knowledge dissemination and knowledge application of sustainability related issues, amongst other things.” The bank’s boss further stated that FirstBank would always strive to provide a unique value proposition that will drive higher levels of sustainability and business continuity. The conference, themed

‘Sustainability and Value Creation in Africa,’ is designed to stimulate sustainability principles as key components of business development and continuity. According to him, recent developments in the corporate world across borders point us to the need to continuously strengthen institutions to brace up for long term sustainability. “We require strong institutions not strong individuals, as they say. After all it is sustainable and value creating institutions that will outlast individuals as well as sustain succeeding generations,” he said.

5, but that the transfer/ reclassification of computer software in 2012 of N1,367,000,000 was not properly accounted for in the financial statement. “Where the amount was reclassified to was not disclosed. Note that an exact amount appears under the ‘Total’ column of the property and Equipment schedule, under transfers/ reclassification, which itself is incorrect since transfers/reclassification should end up with ‘NIL’ balance,” the FRC said. It explained further that the correction between these two disclosures, computer software and property and equipment, could not be established and that the loss on the disposal of this intangible asset was also not disclosed. Also, the Council observed that the inclusion of donation expense of N275 million, which is not a charitable donation under tax laws, and therefore does not qualify as a deductible expense would have led to an understatement of tax expense and current tax liability for the accounting period. It empphasized that this is as a result of tax authorities not being able to identify such expense because it is lumped up under “Others.” The use of judgment according to the FRC to capture donation under “Others” should have been disclosed by directors as part of the Accounting Policies of the entity. “These inconsistencies

and poor disclosures make the financial statements esoteric and incomprehensible even to financially literate users,” the Council stated. It further stated that the Council acted within the provisions of the FRC Act,2011 and inspectorate unit Guidelines/Regulations 2014 and that since the FRC is not a department of CBN or a reporting agency to CBN, “we do not owe the CBN any explanation in this respect.” It added that contrary to the position of CBN in its November 2, letter to the council, the FRC Act, 2011 and the Financial Statements of Stanbic IBTC are not and can never be in contention.

Market on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), on Thursday, closed negative as stocks slipped further on weak demands. The NSE All-Share index closed at 28,798.67 basis points, shedding a 0.74 per cent depreciation from the it recorded on Wednesday. Also market turnover closed negative as volume declined by 23.02 per cent against 31.54 per cent decline recorded at the close of Wednesday trading. Zenith Bank Plc, Nascon Allied Industries Plc and Guaranty Trust Bank Plc were the most active to boost market turnover with 46.7 million shares, with Zenith Bank and GTB being the lead to top market value list with N315.9 million and N319.04 million respectively. International Breweries Plc led the list of active stocks that recorded impressive volume spike at the end of the day session trading 209.498 shares worth N3.2 million in 14 deals. Fidson Healthcare Plc led 26 others on the Losers’ table, closing at N2.92 per share with a 4.89 per cent loss. While CAP Plc was the first of 13 other gainers after a five per cent gain to close at N40.95 kobo per share.

NESREA to begin enforcement of EPR policy, commends Nigerian beverage alliance The National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) has announced its determination to commence the enforcement of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) policy in the first quarter of 2016. This was disclosed recently by the agency’s Director-General, Dr Lawrence Anukam, at a two-day workshop with stakeholders organised in Lagos to further sensitize companies in the food and beverage sector, in particular, on the EPR operational guidelines released by the agency last year.

Dr Anukam said the EPR is “the extension of the responsibility of producers, and all entities involved in the product chain, to reduce the cradle-to-cradle impacts of a product and its packaging.” He stressed that the primary responsibility of EPRwas with the producer, who would make design and marketing decisions. He also noted that, as a concept and tool, the EPR had become a global best practice operated successfully in several developed and developing countries to deal with the environmental, social and economic challenges of packaging waste.

businessnews

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Marketers call for release of N413bn subsidy claim

ome accredited oil subsidy marketers, on Thursday, said the failure of Federal Government to release the approved N413 billion subsidy debt was disrupting their fuel importation schedule. The marketers made their feelings known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. They said thad they were concerned that the money had not been released one week after the approval was granted. The marketers alleged that the delay was affecting loading activities at depots and had led to the shutting down of some filling stations due to non-availability of petroleum products. “Government, through the Central Bank of Nigeria, has not released any subsidy claims as promised. “As I am talking to you we have been directed by the CBN to go and meet the Debt Management Office for clarification. “All our efforts to get the said money have been in vain and to start importing has been a serious problem. “There is no money to back up the cheques presented to the marketers. “We do not even know

the basis for the clarification of the cheques, but we are aware that there is no money in the account. “It is like giving the marketers cheques only to

discover that there was no money in the account. “Nothing like importing now because all marketers are angry because of the failed promised,” one of

the marketers al The market said; “If you go outside Lagos you know how much they are selling fuel per litre now, it is the last stock that we are sell-

From left, Managing Director, Venus Processing and Packaging Limited, Mr Ravi Hemnani; Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Sonny Echono; Chairman, 151 Products Limited, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa and Managing Director, Primlaks Nigeria Limited, Mr Anil Hemnani at the Sympli stand at the 2015 FOODBEXT WEST AFRICA Exhibition in Lagos

PRIMILAKS promotes ‘Made-in-Nigeria’ food at AgrikExpo PRIMLAKS Group, pioneers of Individually Quick Frozen (IQF) fruits and vegetables in Nigeria, has again demonstrated its steadfast support of agriculture in Nigeria by exhibiting its inno-

vative Sympli brand of convenience food at the 2015 FOODBEXT WEST AFRICA Exhibition in Lagos. Sympli is the registered brand name of a range of IQF foods produced by Ve-

nus Processing and Packaging Limited (VPPL), which is a part of the PRIMLAKS Group. The locally farmed, processed and packed Sympli products, which include

NNPC boss calls for total diversification of economy AS the country continues to suffer severe economy downturn due to the slide in the price of crude oil at the global market, the newly appointed Minister for State of Petroleum and Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ibe Kachikwu, has called for total diversification of the nation’s economy to enable it come out of the economic quagmire. The NNPC boss, who was

“We have not collected a single coin from the money. “If not the fact that some of the marketers are making some money from other products, how do you think we will be able to get anything for now? “We have been summoned by DPR for a meeting this morning to settle the crisis, we are only managing what we have in stock at present,” he said. NAN recalls that the Federal Government, had on Nov. 3, approved the sum of N413 billion to petroleum products marketers as the outstanding payment for subsidy claims.

Stanbic IBTC/ FRC face-off: Capital market operators seek regulatory synergy

Lagos International Trade Fair Akin Adewakun-Lagos

ing now. “It is unfortunate that the Department of Petroleum (DPR) is saying that we are hoarding the products, which is not the truth.

represented by the Acting MD of National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), a subsidiary

of NNPC, stated this at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair. He argued that huge earning or proceeds from oil and

gas sector would not last, while insisting that the only way out to bring the economy back to its feet would be to diversify the economy.

Deekay Group dazzles with Nexus products at trade fair Deekay Group (Nig.) Ltd, a leading importer of all types of finished goods into Nigeria, has stormed the on-going Lagos International Trade Fair with household products. The products, which have direct bearing on con-

sumers, include SIASHO which offers a complete kitchen appliance ranging at affordable prices, various range of Nexus home appliances products like Nexus inverters, stationeries, Nexus freezers, Nexus fridges, Nexus stabilizers, Nexus gas

From right, Chief Regulatory Officer, Mrs Edith Solaja; Chief Public Relations Officer, Mrs Christiana Obiazikwor; Public Relations Assistant, Linda Ike and Computer Analyst ll, Enuwa Agada, all of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) inspecting food products of Eleojo Foods Nigeria Limited while the Managing Director, Eleojo Foods Nigeria Limited, Mrs Eleojo Peter, watches during NAFDAC inspection of foods items at Lagos International Trade Fair on Wednesday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

cookers, tyres and Nexus dispensers.

StarTimes storms fair with free “Papilo Decoder” Leading digital TV service provider, StarTimes Nigeria, also stormed the fair with a jumbo deal for subscribers tagged “Papilo Decoder.” The special offer, available only at the trade fair, provided opportunity for Nigerians to recharge with a certain fee or any digital TV bouquet of their choice and get a StarTimes decoder for free. The lucky subscribers also got to personally meet and take selfies with superstar ex-footballer and StarTimes new ambassador, Kanu Nwankwo and a host of other top celebrities at the fair.

‘Yam Fries’, ‘Yam Cubes,’ Plantain ‘Dodo’ and Plantain Chips, are delivered in ready-to-cook state for frying, steaming or baking. Chairman of VPPL, Chief Christopher Tugbobo, said, “I am very happy to be a part of this venture because Sympli proves that Nigeria is capable of doing new things in agriculture that can help reduce our dependence on oil and gas.” Tugbobo, a one-time Head of the Division of Agricultural Research in the Federal Ministry of Economic Development and a retired Permanent Secretary, described Sympli as a 100 per cent Nigerian product, stressing, “Sympli is produced 100 per cent locally by Nigerians for Nigerians and this gives me hope as it creates much needed employment, helps reduce post-harvest losses and gives Nigerians a home grown brand in the frozen food segment that we can all be proud of.” Group Chairman of PRIMLAKS, Mr. H. K. Ram, explained that PRIMLAKS invested in Nigeria’s first IQF production facility in order to tap into the country’s vast agricultural potential, particularly in light of growing concerns on unemployment and dwindling foreign exchange reserves. He described Sympli as PRIMLAKS Group’s contribution to Nigeria’s drive for self-sufficiency in value added food production and creation of additional sources of foreign exchange, saying:

Some capital market operators on Thursday said that regulatory synergy among the different arms of financial markets and industry regulators was needed for economic growth and development. They said the Securities and Exchange Commission, Nigerian Stock Exchange, Central Bank of Nigeria and Financial Reporting Council (FRC) and other regulators should work together for economic development and sustainability. They spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos against the backdrop of Stanbic IBTC issue with FRC, leading to suspended registration of four of its directors. Mr Okechukwu Unegbu, former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), said that regulators needed to collaborate in the interest of the market and economy in general. Unegbu said that investors’ confidence should be paramount in regulations, adding that regulators should be mindful of things that would dampen confidence. He said that the media should not be awash with things that would affect investor confidence, noting that there were ways of disciplining erring companies without heating up the polity. Alhaji Rasheed Yussuf, the Managing Director, Trust Yield Investment Ltd., said that regulators should work together to avoid regulatory controversy. Yussuf said that regulatory controversy was not good for the market because ``it brings about cautious trading leading to drop in equities prices’’.

businessnews

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Marketers call for release of N413bn subsidy claim

the basis for the clarification of the cheques, but we are aware that there is no money in the account. “It is like giving the marketers cheques only to

discover that there was no money in the account. “Nothing like importing now because all marketers are angry because of the failed promised,” one of

the marketers al The market said; “If you go outside Lagos you know how much they are selling fuel per litre now, it is the last stock that we are sell-

vative Sympli brand of convenience food at the 2015 FOODBEXT WEST AFRICA Exhibition in Lagos. Sympli is the registered brand name of a range of IQF foods produced by Ve-

nus Processing and Packaging Limited (VPPL), which is a part of the PRIMLAKS Group. The locally farmed, processed and packed Sympli products, which include

Stanbic IBTC/ FRC face-off: Capital market operators seek regulatory synergy

Lagos International Trade Fair Akin Adewakun-Lagos

ing now. “It is unfortunate that the Department of Petroleum (DPR) is saying that we are hoarding the products, which is not the truth.

represented by the Acting MD of National Engineering and Technical Company (NETCO), a subsidiary

of NNPC, stated this at the ongoing Lagos International Trade Fair. He argued that huge earning or proceeds from oil and

gas sector would not last, while insisting that the only way out to bring the economy back to its feet would be to diversify the economy.

cookers, tyres and Nexus dispensers.

Friday, 13 November, 2015

tribunebusiness

1 Nigerian Tribune

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Citizens are not paying tax because… Mr Samuel Okewoye is the coordinator of Tax Justice and Governance Platform in collaboration with Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC). He speaks with VICTOR OGUNYINKA on the roles of the government and the community on taxing and what the organisation is about.

N the real sense, has tax payment been a problem in the country? Yes, it is a problem both on the side of the government and the community. The inability of citizens to pay tax as at when due, and rightly, makes the government unable to get the revenue that is needed to improve communities. And on the part of the government, the ones that have been collected have not reflected in the environment; they have not been providing the necessary things and that is why it is so difficult for both parties.

There is need for us to look inward to generate fund for sustainability and provision of social amenities.

According to law, who are those that are expected to pay tax? Anybody from 18 years and above that is fully engaged in one business or the other are expected to pay tax from the profit earned.

as at when due because they have not been seeing what they expected of the government. In fact, some of them are hostile to our research officers and almost mobbed them. It means the government really has to step up its attitude towards taxing and everything around it. The people are expecting to see better roads, power supply, good hospitals, schools and other social amenities.

How are these group of people supposed to pay tax? The government has put machinery into motion as to how taxes should be collected. For civil servants and monthly earners, tax is deducted from their salaries. For the communities, they pay direct tax and we have the board of internal revenue in charge of that. There is also the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) that takes care of the federal tax but we are particular about the state and community. What is the stake of your organisation on this? Tax Justice Platform is a non-governmental organisation which plays the role of intermediary between the government and the people. We also appeal to the people in the community that are of taxable age to see this as a civic responsibility and pay as at when due. At the same time, we are appealing to the government to let the community see values for the money they pay by providing the necessary amenities and needs of the community. Could you give us a highlight of who pays what to the federal, state and local governments? Under the federal, there are about eight groups that

You mentioned that you’re an NGO. Where exactly are you getting your support from? Yes, we run an NGO and I must say we are not in any

Okewoye are expected to pay their tax to the FIRS; the state has about 11 different categories and for the local government; you know they are the nearest to the community and the people, they have about 20 different avenues of collecting taxes and some of them include, shops and kiosks, tenement rates, on and off liquor license fees, marriage, birth and death registration fees, motor parks levies, market taxes and levies, excluding any market where state fi-

nance is involved, wrong parking lot charges, religious places establishment permit fees, among others. How far has your organisation gone in this crusade? We have done quite a number of community sensitisation and outreach creations for the people to know their rights, roles and responsibilities in all the three senatorial districts in the state. We have been to markets, public places,

motor parks and media houses. There has been the issue of multi taxation and artisans particularly have been complaining. What is your take on this? This has really been a thing of worry. We conducted a survey recently about what and why people are not paying taxes and the result isn’t very encouraging. People are not happy and are not even ready to pay

affiliation with a political group or another. We are just a group of passionate free-minded people willing to see their environment get better. We are in collaboration with the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy (CISLAC). They are present in the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory and this initiative cuts across the federation. The initiative is very timely at this time when oil revenue is experiencing a decline; there is need for us to look inward to generate fund for sustainability and provision of social amenities. Currently, we have a working relationship with the legislatives and the board of internal revenue in other to ensure that on the side of the government, things work out very well. We will also continue our sensitisation through radio programmes, talk shows, jingles and other media engagements and this way, the government will be accountable and transparent in the handling of tax payers’ money. It will interest you to know that our members cut across all walks of life; market men and women, religious leaders, trade unions, civil society organisations, community and faith-based organisations, landlord associations, youths and others.

Friday, 13 November, 2015

XACTLY 13 days from today, the body of the Matriarch of the Papa Obafemi Awolowo political dynasty, Mama H.I.D Awolowo will be conveyed to mother earth. Mama will be buried on this earth and sent to her eternal glory. She will, however, never be forgotten. Since the death of this great Mother In Israel was announced, Nigerians from all walks of life have been visiting Ikenne, in Ogun State (the home town of the Avatar Awo himself) to pay their condolences to the Awolowo family. Nigerians do not forget unique contributions of people to the progress and development of their country. When such people die, the people spontaneously rise up to pay their tributes and compliments. God will reward all Nigerians for the warm tributes they have paid to a woman who was described by her husband as “my precious jewel of inestimable value”. Papa Awolowo did not just mouth those words that fully convey the innermost and deep feelings of a man who knew his wife well and who knew how the woman had contributed to the stability of his house during the stormy and tempestuous moments of his political life. Papa Obafemi Awolowo was one of the founding fathers of the Nigerian nation. He with Papa Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Alhaji (Sir) Ahmadu Bello, Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, Dr. Herbert Macaulay (the wizard of Kirsten Hall), Chief H.O. Davies, and Alhaji Aminu Kano (the Talakawa revolutionary from Kano), had fought for the political freedom of the Nigerian people from the clutches of British colonialism. In fact, it was Awo, Azikiwe and Ahmadu Bello that had led delegations to London to sign, seal and deliver all the instruments of the Independence and freedom of Nigeria from the British colonial rule. In other words, they (Awo, Zik and Ahmadu Bello were the architects of modern Nigeria. They are all dead but their memories in Nigeria’s history will never be forgotten. Papa Obafemi Awolowo’s socio political life was exceptional. Virtually all the political parties in Nigeria during the Colonial times were opposed to Awo’s socio-political life. Aided by the British, all efforts were made to destroy Awo and his Action Group because of their militant attitude and strides against the Colonial subjugation of Nigeria. Shortly after the independence of Nigeria on October 1, 1960, the Action Group was thrown into a political crisis with attempts made to factionalise the party which at that time was the best organised political party in Nigeria. Rising from a Conference of the party in Jos in 1962, the Action Group returned from the conference to face the crisis that eventually led to the termination of democratic rule in Nigeria on 15th January, 1966. The Action Group did not survive the crisis. One of the greatest orators in Nigeria’s political history, the late Papa S.L. Akintola led a rebellious group within the Action Group at that time. It was called the Nigerian National Democratic Party (NNDP). In those years, nearly all the contributions of the Action Group led by Papa Awolowo in the West and Nigeria were grounded. Papa Obafemi Awolowo’s political life was combative. Awo did not hide his feelings that he wanted to politically lead the Nigerian nation. Despite the tribal differences that had characterized the Nigerian federation, Awo and his Action Group had launched movements all over Nigeria to win political power through the ballot box. The combative nature of the Action Group led by Awo was considered strange by politicians opposed to the Action Group particularly from the Northern States of Nigeria. In fact in the 1959 campaigns in Nigeria that preceded the 1960 independence of Nigeria, the Prince of Sokoto, Alhaji Ahmadu Bello who was the leader of the Conservative Northern Peoples’ Congress (NPC) and who had never been drawn to such Campaigns that Papa Awolowo and his Action Group had launched for the 1959 campaigns was forced to state in one of his outings “I will never pardon Awolowo for this”. He made the statement after he had cleaned up his face after one of such enormous campaigns only to discover the dirtiness of the handkerchief (something that has never been seen in the politics of Nigeria at that time). Awo and his lieutenants like the late Chief Joseph Serwuan Tarka, the leader of the politically militant Tivs of Benue State, the late Kashim Imam, the leader of the Bornu Youth Movement largely based in Bornu, Chief Samuel Goomsu Ikoku of Arochukwu in the East of Nigera and several others had gone into the 1959 electoral battle with the view of giving the people of Nigeria a progressive team that will attempt to give the independence of Nigeria a progressive leadership. Thus, the Awo Action Group had led a crack team of radical Nigerians to give a fight to feudalism and political reactionaries in Nigeria. The Action Group, the United Middle Belt Congress of Nigeria led by J.S. Tarka, the Bornu Youth Congress led by Ibrahim Imam, the Ilorin Talaka Parapo Alliance led by Alhaji Sule Maito and several other movements were all together in the 1959 struggle. Those were great political moments of Nigeria’s history that have remained not fully explained by researchers of Nigeria’s history. Thus between 1962 and 1965, Awo had been put behind bars

With

Ebenezer Babatope

0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE)

And Mama HID Awolowo died (1)

•Mama HID Awolowo

in the famous Treasonable Felony Trial where Papa and his Action Group leaders like Chief Anthony Enahoro, Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande, Chief Sebastian Umoren were all programmed into prison. An emergency was declared in the then Western Region of Nigeria. All these events led to the military coup of January 15, 1966 led by Nzeogwu. The military coup later created the Nigeria-Biafra war. The rest is history. The above situation led to the discovery by Nigerians of the positive attitudes of the woman, Mama H.I.D Awolowo that we celebrate today and who we are all set to give a unique burial on November 25, 2015. Mama H.I.D Awolowo was the wife of the leader of the progressive movement led by Papa Awolowo. Throughout the political life of Awo, his darling wife remained a stalwart behind him. The woman remained uncompromisable in her belief in the political struggles of her husband. When her husband was in prison, Mama Awolowo was there organising effective challenges to all the antics of her husband’s political opponents. The Oke-Ado private residence of the Awolowos in Ibadan became the beehive of the Action Group and its political allies. Mama H.I.D gave every support to these forces and never allowed the antics of the Anti Awo political forces to make any meaningful impact on the political strength of her husband. Mama H.I.D Awolowo was not on the frontline leadership of her husband’s party, the Action Group yet the woman remained for the whole period of her life with Awo one of the women political leaders of Nigeria that just can never be ignored. When she lost her first son, Uncle Segun Awolowo (during the imprisonment of her husband) to the cruel hands of death in a motor accident, Mama H.I.D Awolowo refused to have her political will and courage daunted. She led the political campaign in her husband’s party, the Action Group in all the elections that took place between 1962 and 1965. She was the pillar behind the sensational victory of the late

Alhaji Ganiyu Dawodu, the late Ojekunle Ferreira and other grassroot leaders of the Action Group in Lagos in the 1963 elections. Mama was the moving spirit of the activities of the United Progressive Grand Alliance (UPGA) led by the Action Group and the N.C.N.C then under the leadership of the late dynamic leader, Dr. Michael Okpara. Eastern Nigeria Broadcasting Service had its operating headquarters in the Oke-Ado residence of the Awolowo’s under the inspirational leadership of Mama H.I.D Awolowo. Mama was in a revolutionary class of her own those hard times. She paid her dues as a woman political leader of note and she paid the dues well. Mama H.I.D has gone! This great woman of our history is no more. We will continue to remember her and her husband. We will never allow her memory to die with time. Mama H.I.D was indeed a great Mother In Israel. May God continue to bless her memory. We will discuss next week, some events associated with Mama H.I.D Awolowo that have not been prominently discussed before. I knew Mama H.I.D Awolowo and I knew her well. I was a student during the turbulent days of politics of Nigeria’s first republic. I thank God that in my days at Ifaki Grammar School, Ifaki-Ekiti and Igbobi College, Yaba between 1964 and 1965, I was a young follower of Papa Awolowo’s politics. I was highly informed of events and I still do up till day. However, biological process of human development has now slowed me down. Mama H.I.D Awolowo’s death has now given me a new drive to push on until I get translated to higher duties with our Maker. And Mama H.I.D Awolowo died! EBINO TOPSY – 0805-500-1735 (SMS ONLY PLEASE) NEXT WEEK AND MAMA H.I.D AWOLOWO DIED (2) (BOOK YOUR COPY IN ADVANCE)

18 LETTERS TO THE

Friday, 13 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.

How Ogun is promoting welfare of the destitute

S far back as the 1970s, (WHO) recommended that psychiatry be firmly rooted in primary care in order to effectively reduce the treatment gap for mental health disorders. However, the number of lunatics and the destitute in Ogun State was highly intolerable such that it was unsafe for parents to leave their wards to go to school alone or to run errands outside their compounds, let alone leave them to cross the roads. The adults are equally unsafe because without vigilance one can be harassed or assaulted by lu-

Boko Haram: Appeal to US THE United States of America should know that it has a lot of interests in Nigeria, and it would be of no benefit to anyone if the insurgency overwhelms our military. After President Muhammadu Buhari’s visit to the US two months ago, he was unable to seal an arms deal for the military, and I know that Nigerians are not really happy about this. Some people are already calling for a closer relationship between our country and Russia. I hope the US will quickly do something about this. The fact that we have a new president is enough reason for the US to start afresh with us. We need the US’ military expertise in order to defeat the Boko Haram terrorists. Despite the ongoing military onslaught, we have still not been able to declare victory in this war. Everyday, people are still being killed by Boko Haram terrorists, and recently, they even posted a video online which showed their rocket-making expertise. This shows that the group is still very deadly. It could get to a stage it would be shooting rockets like Hamas in Palestine. I, therefore, hope the US will quickly come to our aid in the war against insurgency. •Yakub Aisha, ABU, Zaria, Kaduna.

natics or the destitute. An instance of this was a reported case of a youth corper who was raped by a lunatic in Abeokuta in 2009 and a man was also harassed and killed by a mad man in Kuto about the same time in 2009. It was also observed that some normal people started dressing and pretending to be mentally challenged to commit different crimes such as kidnapping, stealing, robbery, ritual killing etc. However, it is against this backdrop that the Senator Ibikunle-led administration’s rebuilding mission policy identified these, for what it is and committed itself to the rehabilitation and evacuation of destitutes. Sometimes in the year 2012, the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development rehabilitated 22 beggars , 20 vagrant lunatics and 10 destitute. The beggars and destitute were empowered and made to go through vocational training and skill acquisition pro-

grammes to enable them stand on their own and earn a living afterwards while the 20 vagrant lunatics were taken to the Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital in Aro, Abeokuta, for treatment. Also, later that year 72 vagrants were rescued and housed in a hostel in Abeokuta while 59 vagrants who were not citizens of Ogun were restored back to their various states of origin and 4 others were taken for treatment. In 2013, the state in the process of creating an enabling environment evacuated 28 destitute from the Rehabilitation centre, Owutu, Ikorodu, Lagos state and reunited them with their families. It is also worthy to note that another set of 231 peoples with unsound minds were evacuated from various parts of the state in year 2014; these include 60 vagrant lunatics who were reunited with their families after being rehabilitated and taken care of, 56 desti-

tute were also reunited with their families while others are still being taken care off. Without any form of limitation to the welfarism of the destitute and lunatics, the state government also took a giant step by helping vulnerable children who are out of school, the lost ones, those roaming the streets and hawking during school hours by reconciling the ‘lost but found ‘ children with their families, taking the homeless to children homes and the youths amongst them to Juvenile Remand Home. The state government through the state ministry of women affairs and social development also established a Child Protection Network Committee to reduce the cases of child trafficking, child labour and abuse in the state. It is not a gainsaying that all efforts and initiatives of government and incorporation of the mother ministry, ogun streets are now safer and more peaceful while

citizens can now sleep with their eyes closed based on the measures of security put in place by the government to protect lives and properties. Conclusively, all these efforts have facilitated the growth of investors, made

entrepreneurs to feel safer to have their own small businesses which automatically generate more employment opportunities and even attract more tourists. •Oyinkansola Ayoola, Ibara Housing, Abeokuta, Ogun State.

Fuel scarcity: Nigerians are still suffering DESPITE the fact that President Muhammadu Buhari has paid the oil marketers their fuel subsidy money, I am wondering why we still can’t get fuel to buy. Sometimes, I queue at the petrol station for several hours before I can get the product. With the coming of this new government, I was hoping that all our pains would come to an end, but Nigerians are still having it tough. I am happy that we now have ministers manning the ministries; I hope things will change as soon as pos-

sible. •Jabar Sadiq, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Skye Bank, what’s happening to our entitlements? I want to call on the managers of Skye Bank to look at the issue of the outstanding entitlements of retirees, with the hope of paying us promptly. Several meetings had been held between executives of retirees and the management of the bank, and the grey areas have been resolved as regard the payment of the outstanding entitlements. However, the cause of the long delay remains unknown. Without being emotional, most of us spent our productive years in the bank, and do not deserve the unfair treatment we are getting from our former employer. At this stage of our lives, we don’t need to be ‘beging’ our former employer for our entitlements, since we gave our service to the bank while we were still very active. It is our desire that this prayer of ours would be heard, and payment effected as soon as possible. We retirees, therefore, wish the bank greatness in business activities. •Biola Mafikuyomi, 26 Alesinloye Market, Ibadan, Oyo State.

editorial

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Lame’s laughable proposition

ECENTLY, a former Minister of Police Affairs and Bauchi State gubernatorial candidate on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr Ibrahim Yakubu Lame, was reported to have called for the ‘establishment of emergency powers’ for President Muhammadu Buhari over and above the provisions of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, in order for the president to be able to effectively fight corruption while ensuring speed and results. Going by the report, as far as Dr Lame was concerned, the processes and provisions of the 1999 Constitution are very slow and they are constituting a hindrance to the effective performance of President Buhari. For President Buhari therefore, to put Nigeria on the needed positive vista and usher in the necessary changes, it would be important to not burden him with the requirements of the constitution and allow him to operate outside of the constitution. The overall gain in the positive disposition of Nigeria and the citizens under the absolute rulership of ‘dictator’ Buhari would be more than enough to compensate for whatever dictatorial inconveniences that Nigerians would suffer. We are not aware whether Dr Lame recommended a return to democratic rule after the sanitisation rule of absolute power or there would be a continuation of the dictatorial rule even under a succeeding government after President Buhari. Ordinarily, this kind of self-serving proposition from somebody who has benefitted and served under democratic rule and is perhaps now feeling left out should not attract attention and response from any responsible quarter. This is because this same Dr Lame, while contesting the gubernatorial election in Bauchi State, did not make such a proposition part of his campaign and did not deem it fit to suggest the inclusion of the proposition in the national campaign of his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) if he was so enamored of the need to overlay the on-going democracy in Nigeria with dictatorship and totalitarianism. In any case, it is preposterous for anybody with even the smallest democratic inclination to canvass the subversion of democratic tenets through the assumption of emergency powers. The Nigerian Constitution already recognises that there could be circumstances warranting the use of emergency powers especially when the country is at war. But even under such circumstances, it is not entirely left to the President to proclaim emergency rule as such proclamation would cease to have effect unless supported by at least two-thirds of the members of the National Assembly. The implication of this position is that democracy pro-

vides for every situation and ensures that no rule of a single individual is entertained in order to make the people and their representatives the bastion of governance. We are therefore at a loss as to where Dr Lame is coming from and the kind of objective he wants to achieve with his proposition to the extent that he is not alluding to the provisions of the Constitution but wants to sidestep it in order to institute and establish unconstitutional rule. Perhaps it is important to let Dr Lame and those of his ilk know that Nigerians consciously and deliberately chose to have for themselves governance under democratic rule with the inherent awkwardness and labyrinthine ways associated with such rule. It is not as if Nigerians do not know that democracy is not about speed of action before they opted for it, such that it would be wrong to invoke the need for speed to want to steer the country along the dictatorial path which it soundly rejected for democracy. We know the way Nigerians struggle for the enthronement of democracy and it should be assumed that they would continue to struggle for the sustenance and consolidation of the democracy. In which case, Dr Lame should be prepared to take on the mass of the people of Nigeria who value democracy before he could make his proposition see the light of the day. In this regard, however, we would believe that he would not even have the support of President Buhari, for his proposition as the president, himself a retired army general, knows the limit of dictatorial rule before he chose to look for power under democratic governance. And he must have his plans to actualize his campaign promises to Nigerians, including waging a concrete battle against corruption, within the confines of democratic governance. President Buhari does not need the help and services of those who cry more than the bereaved like Dr Lame since they were not the ones who made up his mind for him to seek for power under democratic rule. And we believe that President Buhari appreciates the attachment of Nigerians to democratic practice and knows that there is no problem confronting the country that cannot be resolved within the ambit of democratic provisions. Indeed, it is only those who do not want to resolve any problem but are more desirous of advantageously placing themselves by manipulating issues and problems like Dr Lame who complain about the slowness and ineffectiveness of democratic rule and its provisions. Fortunately Nigerians know them for who and what they truly are and would therefore not give any laughable and selfserving proposition coming from them positive attention and consideration.

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founder: CHIEF OBAFEMI AWOLOWO

GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

Co-Founder/Chairman Chief (Dr) H.I.D Awolowo (CON)

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733

Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Edward Dickson

Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177

Controller (Business Development) Fola Oke Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

Snr. Manager (Advertisements) Kayode Titiloye Sales Manager Omotayo Lewis, Ph.D Consultant/Director Segun Olatunji, Ph.D

GOT NEWS?

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797 Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna. Ikeja Marketing Office. Block C, First Floor, Motorways centre, Opp., 7up Alausa, Ikeja.

Contact: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com or call:08055069471, 08116954630

opinion

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Kogi: Of agricultural and sustainable development By Isah Ismail

OAL Two of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals recently adopted by the UN General Assembly is to “end hunger, achieve food security and improve nutrition, and promote agriculture”. The SDGs, 17 in number, replace the Millennium Development Goals. The goals were agreed upon at the UN Summit in September 2015 and will become applicable from January 2016 with the expected deadline of 2030. In reviewing the SDGs, analysts have been quick to quip that expected commitment from sub-national leaders, which in Nigeria are state governors and local government authorities, which we didn’t see much of under the MDGs, remains the most critical success factor if the SDGs are to be truly sustainable. Leadership commitment to sustainable development comes in many forms. The impact, across sectors, is often visible and measurable in the transformation that it brings to bear in the lives of the people. Perhaps, there is nowhere that commitment in leadership has resulted in greater impact in development in recent time than the agricultural sector in Kogi State; a state best rated in North Central Nigeria for development in agriculture and the best in the production of cassava and also adjudged to have the most viable outlook for Staple Crop Processing Zone located in Alape, Kabba/ Bunu Local Government Area of the state. In December 2012, Kogi State governor, Capt. Idris Wada was involved in a car accident in which he sustained multiple fracture. He was admitted at a hospital in Abuja. In the midst of the excruciating pain from his fractured leg, Governor Wada was said to have requested for his mobile phone. Guess what he did. He sent an email to the then Minister for Agriculture, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina, reminding him of the readiness of the state to host the first Staple Crop Processing Zone sited in Alape, Kabba/ Bunu Local Government Area of the state. The groundbreaking ceremony of the project did went on successfully despite the governor’s indisposition at the time and the project is today the single most promising source of Internally-Generated Revenue for the state. Apart from being a hub for backward integration in the agricul-

tural value chain for farmers and other stakeholders in the state agric sector, the project has attracted interests from Dangote Group, BUA Group and Cargill, a US-based manufacturing company. There are indications that Kogi state could net up to N14billion in annual revenue from the project when fully operational. The state is also building on its comparative advantages in rice, fish and cashew nut production and processing. Governor Wada’s passion and commitment to the development of agriculture is genuine. At a recent media parley in the state, he spoke about his belief in the capacity of agriculture to turn the lives of the people around for the better, stressing that nearly every person can engage in one form of agriculture or the other irrespective of other worthy engagements of regular work demands. In different parts of the state, people are beginning to go back to the land; land clearing equipment worth billions of naira were procured for use by farmers at subsidized rate; 3500 fish farmers have been empowered; extension services have reached over 11,000 farmers across state; storage facilities have improved the pricing for cashew nuts and thus putting more money in the pocket of cashew growers and hundreds of rural communities have seen their economies greatly improve with 145,000 rural farmers so far validated by the government in partner-

ship with the Kogi Farmers Cluster Development Union and they now benefit from agricultural loans and grants under the Nigerian Agricultural Payment Initiative. At a ceremony to flag-off the disbursement of agric loans to farmers in the state, the state commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Zacchaeus Atte noted that the NAPI e-wallet system which was jointly executed by the Federal Government, the Kogi State Government and other stakeholders in the agricultural value chain in Nigeria has ensured that only genuine farmers benefit from agric loans in the state. Also speaking at the ceremony, President of the Kogi Cluster Farmers Development Union, Mr. Alfred Okeme, noted that the beneficiaries are expected to pay back the sum of N56,000 out of the N160,000 loans and grants given to individual farmers, adding that N104,000 is received as grant while N56,000 is given as loan to each farmer which will be paid back with 5 percent interest from proceeds accruing from produce buy-back from the farmers by the state government. He commended the Kogi State Government for the support given to the organisation through mobilisation of farmers, validation of farmers clusters and provision of agricultural inputs. Apart from putting food on the table of farmers who have benefited from several initiatives to promote agriculture and food production in the state, agriculture has been key in opening up Kogi for local and international investments in the last few years. Another way by which the Kogi State government has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the development of agriculture is the liberalisation of land allocation procedure for agriculture. Over 5,000 Certificates of Occupancy for agricultural projects have now been granted in the last few months that the automated signature regime in the Governor’s office came into operation. Rural development is one of the offshoots of the integrated agricultural development initiative of the Kogi state government. Several communities like Osarangada in the Central, Odu Ikaka in the East, and Ponyo in the Western senatorial district have all benefited from rural road projects in the course of land preparations for agriculture in the state. •Ismail sent this article via ismailunique@gmail.com

Diversifying the Nigerian economy By Umoru Abdulkadir Ileonikhena

The need for diversification of the nation’s economy has never been more imperative in this country than now, especially with the dwindling oil prices in the international market. Unless urgent steps are taken to diversify the nation’s economy, there is a great economic danger ahead of us. Just few months ago, many state governors were unable to pay workers’ salaries and meet other recurrent expenditure due to a sharp fall in oil revenue. A situation where states had to borrow to pay salaries is the worst case scenario of how bad an economy can be. As a way of preventing the re-occurrence of the embarrassing situation above, I propose the following ways through which the country’s economy can be diversified. Among these various ways is agriculture. Agriculture is one of the ways or means by which the government of any country that is serious about feeding its populace and raking in foreign exchange can use to improve the living standard of its people as well as generate revenue for infrastructures. Nigeria can improve her economy by showing interest in agriculture through formulation and implementation of good agricultural policies to turn around the economy. Agriculture if given the needed attention is capable of creating about 70 per cent of jobs for the unemployed youth. Unemployment today is one of the greatest challenges of this country and the Muhammadu Buhari-led change administration. Agriculture being a sector that requires a large labour force can help create employment for the large unemployed able-bodied men and women in the country. Government partnership with private investors in agriculture which stands at about N1.23 billion now can grow four fold to N4.9 billion between this year and 2019 , if

President Muhammadu Buhari administration’s agricultural policies do not threaten the investments already in the sector. Many foreign and local investors will invest more in this sector of the economy if the policies are right. The entertainment sector is also a very viable sector for diversification of our mono-economy. The Nollywood for instance employs a large chunk of unemployed Nigerians and also generates significant revenue for the government. The music industry as a component of the entertainment industry is also not left out in this, as the industry players had portrayed the nation’s positive image in good light both within and outside the country. Therefore, to fully utilise the potentials of this sector, there is need for government support through creation of the necessary enabling environment for the industry and players in the industry to thrive. The government must make and enforce laws to eradicate or reduce high level of piracy in this sector. This will help maximise the benefits in this sector to the country vis-à-vis our Gross Domestic Product (GDP). A manufacturing country stands the chance of ben-

efitting from devaluation of currency as it reduces the prices of the exporting country but a situation where you don’t export your goods to other countries, it can be very dangerous to the economy. The manufacturing sector is another very important sector that can rake in a lot of revenue for the government and provide jobs for the teeming unemployed youths in the country. Instead of depending on oil whose price is not determined by the country but the international market, it will be better to look inward into the manufacturing sector to fully maximize the benefits of that sector of our economy. There are however several challenges confronting this important sector of the economy ranging from multiple charges by government agencies to sourcing for foreign exchange from the parallel market. This has made raw materials more expensive and in turn hike production cost. The need for diversification of the nation’s economy has never been more imperative in this country than now, especially with the dwindling oil prices in the international market. Unless urgent steps are taken to diversify the nation’s economy, there is a great economic danger ahead of us. Basically, this sector is heavily dependent on energy. Power supply has been erratic and insufficient gas is bought with foreign exchange and this makes the prices of locally made goods high. Granting tax holiday and waiver to infant industries and provision of good roads network, electricity, healthcare facilities etc will help boost this sector and grow the nation’s economy. The less we depend on oil, the better for us as a nation. A situation where about 90 per cent of the country’s revenue comes from the oil sector portends great economic danger for the economy. •Ileonikhena lives in Iju-Ishaga, Lagos.

fridaytreat

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

MUSIC BUSINESS 101

Making valuable songs/music which transcends momentary trends/fads By Toyin Adeniji In the previous article on Music Business 101, I discussed about the importance of protecting and exploiting the artiste’s musical works or compositions. Most artistes/musicians invest massively in the promotion and marketing of their music while they ignore the need to do copyright protection and to register with COSON, the sole Collective Management Organisation (CMO) for musical works in the Nigerian music industry. Some are ignorant and unaware of this information; some are nonchalant about it because all they care about is the immediate financial gratification and fame they can get in the present from appearance and endorsement fees. While it is important for artistes/musicians to protect their music via copyright registration and to secure the exploitation of their copyright ‘rights’ by registering with a CMO; it is far more important to invest in creating musical works of value whose need for protection and potentials for exploitation will be worth the effort. The greatest and smartest investment a real estate developer can make is to acquire or develop properties in prime locations where there is foreseeable growth and appreciation in investment value in the future. The same principle is applicable to artistes/ musicians. The greatest investment any artiste/musician can make in his/her music career is in writing and publishing songs, whose value will stay and continue to grow and appreciate in relevance in the future, long after all songs based on seasonal/temporary fads or trends have ran out of relevance. It is imminent that the majority of the afro-hip hop songs that dominates the airwaves today will all be totally obsolete and irrelevant ten years down the line because they are all written and performed primarily in the spirit of the ever-evolving present social trends and not created on the enduring compositional principles of any specific musical genre. For those artistes/musicians who have

maintained adherence to principles of musical structures, lyrical integrity and compositional techniques in their music, their music stands a better chance of maintaining future growth, value appreciation and relevance beyond the moment. There is an unseen/hidden music business tragedy waiting to happen for the majority of Nigerian artistes/musicians who are busy now investing all their resources on songs whose publishing value resides only in the moment. What happens to the publishing value of their musical works when this moment expires or when the driving trends metamorphose? There are two distinct phases in the music career of artistes/musicians and the shelf life of their songs. The present phase where the artiste invests in their songs/music and earns immediate but limited returns from its commercial exploitation; and the future phase when the songs/music continue to earn royalties and financial returns for the artiste/musician over an unlimited period of time without any form of continued investment by the artiste in terms of marketing and promotion. Some of this generation of Nigerian artistes/musicians are busy living and running their music career in a fast disappearing moment. The relevance of their musical compositions and its publishing value are only valid in the moment while its trend or fad medium remains. This makes an already risky music business riskier for the future of these artistes and their music! For those artistes/musicians that are perceptive and aware of the historical trends in the Nigerian music industry, they will observe that the patterns of occurrences are cyclical in nature in the industry. The way some artistes/musicians in the past built their music around trends and vogues, while the few others built theirs on musical principles and genral structures that makes their music still relevant today is being re-enacted presently. For instance, for every hit song made in the 1980s and 90s that is still musically and socially relevant today, there were several songs created based on the popular trends of that era that did well also at that time, but has no relevance or appreciation in this time and age especially in terms of its compositional/ lyrical value. Trends are always changing with the dominant taste and direction of each generation as it evolves. Trends are

Legend Taste & Tell rocks Benin

Consumers had a spectacular night experience recently when the Legend Extra Stout Taste and Tell train berthed in Benin as popular music Act, May D headlined the array of entertainers. The ‘Ile Ijo’ crooner, who dished out hit songs from his repertoire, left fans screaming in jubilation. He did some of his hit songs like ‘Gat me high’ and his latest single ‘Aleyi A Bad’ to the admiration of the crowd. Prior to the outing, the Comfam Entertainment boss, had sent a message to his fans in the city via his twitter handle inviting them to come have fun that night. The music artiste, who was accorded a rousing welcome by the charged crowd kept them dancing and singing for a considerable period at the event. To add to the fun, an upcoming rap artiste, BMG was on hand to thrill the crowd that had trooped to Museum field, venue of the event. A medley of popular songs from prominent singers like Snoop Dogg, 50 Cent, Tu Pac and Eminem were all he needed to spur on the crowd to frenzied dance. Similarly, the Aihinomwen cultural troupe added a spark to the night fun with a performance of the Izobobo dance. The dance performed was specifically to extol the distinctive quality of Legend Extra Stout. According to the group leader, Natty Ehigiamusoe, Legend Extra Stout has

been a proud supporter and promoter of culture. He said his group was there to show solidarity to a brand that has always supported the culture of Benin people. Some of the fun seekers at the venue were impressed with the quality of entertainment on offer. Andrew Okorodion, a 400 level Theatre Arts student at the University of Benin, who said he accompanied his friend to the event admitted it was worth the time. “When my friend invited me to this event, I initially did not want to come but he persuaded me. I can tell you I don’t have any regret attending this event. I’m enjoying myself and having fun. I came here specifically to watch May D perform and I was quite impressed. It’s cool. I don’t think I would have preferred to be anywhere else”, he said. Apart from the musical entertainment, Legend Extra Stout gave outvaluable prizes to winners at the Taste and Tell challenge. The challenge involves participants tasting three different stout brands from three unmarked glasses to identify which one contains Legend Extra Stout. Three winners emerged from the challenge. The big winner for the night Augustine Daniels, a Production Manager with a table water firm went away with a generator while Ehigiamusoe Itohan, a business woman and Idugboe Samuel, a 400 level student of Theatre Arts from the University of Benin won a refrigerator and a television set respectively.

often relevant and limited in importance and meaning to its carrier generation. Social slangs that were once fashionable in an era may be looked upon as alien and out-of-style in a new generation. This therefore makes the culture of creativity that is primarily based on a social trend/fad of an era without the benefit of foresight into the future risky. The guiding principle of every artiste/musician who wants to make valuable songs is to create songs/music that meets today’s needs and sustains its relevance beyond tomorrow. Songwriting is both art and science that requires learning in order to gain mastery. There are principles that guide the art of songwriting which makes it worth the while for every artiste/musician in the business of making music to pursue some level of education or learning on how to become a songwriter. If any artiste/musician wants to have a genuine opportunity at a lasting career in the music business, he/ she must become a ‘complete package’ that must be skilled at writing songs, performing and playing an instrument at least. It is also important for every artiste/musician to own their own music publishing company and ownership of their song rights. It is alright to license or transfer the power of administration of the artiste’s song rights and catalogue to a commercial music publishing company for effective commercial exploitation for increased revenue. Mastering the principles of songwriting will give an artiste/musician the creative acumen and flexibility of being able to incorporate and interpret musical trends from a compositional perspective that will ensure the music’s immediate appreciation and its future relevance. In this case, the song’s publishing value will be valid for the present and the future. The value of a song is in its ability to command continuous airplay and usage over its lifetime based on the principles of musicality, application of relevant compositional techniques/structures and lyrical integrity. Ironically, some dead artistes/musicians still generate more royalty revenues from the use of their music than the cumulative efforts or earnings of some living artistes/musicians in an entire genre! It’s always about the song and its value.

Seyi Shay joins Wizkid, Tiwa Sawage as Pepsi ambassador On Tuesday, global beverage brand Pepsi announced on their instagram page that Seyi Shay will be joining their star studded line up of brand ambassadors in Nigeria, this makes her the face of one of the biggest beverage brands in the world. The announcement was made after Seyi Shay and Wizkid along with other celebrities and influencers engaged their fans on social media as they shared with each other the things they long throat for earlier this week, Seyi Shay got everybody talking when she told fans that her long throat wish was to become a Pepsi ambassador. Barely 24 hours later Pepsi revealed a photo of Seyi Shay signing her contract with the food and and beverage giants. Seyi Shay has dared to dream and lives for now through her music. She has inspired people to believe that their dreams can come true, from #thingsilongthroatfor

to them actually becoming a reality. The Island Records artist has put the icing on the cake for the build up for the release of her début solo album “Seyi or Shay”.

society

Friday, 13 November, 2015

...celebrating the people

Nigerian Tribune

For Booking, contact Alaba Igbaroola alabaadewale01@gmail.com 08155975474

@ 50th Birthday ceremony of Mrs Foluso Olajumoke Ogunjimi

The celebrant, being assisted by her husband, Retd Admiral Femi Ogunjimi and their children, Wale (left) and Dammy (right) to cut her 50th birthday cake.

From left, Mrs Yetunde Gomez, Mrs Olusola Adekola, Mrs Obasa Regina and Remi Oladeinde.

The celebrant, being assisted by her husband, Retd Admiral Femi Ogunjimi to cut her 50th birthday cake.

From left, Prophetess Juliana Aina Olatunyi, Comrade Sola Ogunsina and Chief Joseph Ibitayo Olatunji.

President, Naval Officers Wives Association(NOWA), Mrs Theresa Ibas, Mrs Shaawa Kashim, Mrs Funke Adebari and Mrs Victoria Ebhohimen.

From left, Mrs Dunni (Opelope Anointing), Mrs Dame Emmanuel Fasola, celebrant, former Special Adviser to former Lagos State Governor, Mrs Felicia Awofisayo and Mrs Regina Obasa. From left, Mrs Dupe Ogunleye, Mrs Jumoke Adesua and CEO, Great Insight Consult, Layo Teriba.

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Rotimi Ige rotimiige@yahoo.com 0811 695 4636 twitter: @rotifizzle twitter: @fridaytreat

fridaytreat Julius Agwu takes on the ‘devil’ for the soul of Nigerian entertainment Popular comedian, who also doubles as an actor and musician, Julius Agwu, has taken a stand to try to wrestle the ‘soul’ of the Nigerian entertainment industry from the clutches of satan. Agwu, who recently survived a brain surgery after many thought he would die has spoken out in recent times against the ills of the local entertainment industry which he said, thrives on mediocrity. In a recent interview with some journalists, Julius Agwu had stressed that he had spoken to a few friends of his, including Basket Mouth, Bovi and a few others to start a Christian Entertainers Outreach (CEO) which according to him, would stand to educate artistes and the public alike because devil was trying to steal the entertainment industry. He said, “When last did you see me do a show in Lagos. Nothing was working. My CDs, book etc were stagnant. Many said my career was over but

today, God has changed my story. Only a few stood by me. God is doing a new thing in my life and God is using my experience to change lives. The devil wants to steal our industry and we will not allow it. The devil was an entertainer in heaven before he was cast down after he messed up. So his primary target are we entertainers and we must be vigilant. How many more must die? Many are plagued on hospital beds on dialysis and chemotherapy while we watch. Something has to change”, he stressed. Agwu then hinted that the devil was largely responsible for the inability of entertainers to get married but were content with having children outside wedlock for fear of losing the female fan base. He also indicated his intention to start a full Christian club where alcohol would be barred and only Christian music would be played. He also took the opportunity to criticise the likes of D’banj, Don Jazzy, Basket mouth, Banky W, and a host of others, whom he accused of not giving him credit for his help on their blossoming career, stressing that it was the devil that ‘tied’ their mouths.

I won this brand new car for my 86 year old father — GUC winner

On Wednesday, the fourth of November, Benjamin Akuruka, a 300 level undergraduate of the Enugu State University of Science and Technology, told his 86 year old father, Pa Emmanuel Akuruka, that he would drive him home from a wedding ceremony which the octogenarian planned to attend on Saturday, November 7, in a brand new car which he would win in a competition. A very close relative of the Akurukas was the bride getting married that same Saturday and the only mode of transportation available to convey the family to the auspicious occasion was a commercial tricycle, popularly called keke. He then intimated his father of the Gulder Ultimate Chase event which was billed for the same Saturday that his cousin was getting married; as well as his resolve to win the brand new Hyundai Elantra grand prize up for grabs. Even though his father doubted the authenticity of the promo, he gave his son the nod to participate. On the eve of the Owerri edition of the Gulder Ultimate Chase, Benjamin took his mother, Mrs. Victoria Akuraka, to their compound and told her that a brand new car

would be parked there the following day. According to him, he vowed to replace the family car which had to be sold to offset certain financial obligations. On Saturday, November 7, Benjamin joined over 1000 other contestants who had assembled at the Dan Anyiam Stadium to participate in the Owerri leg of the Gulder Ultimate Chase. Despite lagging behind more than 500 contestants, he eventually won the competition and the gift of a brand new Hyundai Elantra car. After his feat, Benjamin was

driven in a convoy to the Presbyterian Church, Aladinma venue of the wedding ceremony of his cousin. This was to enable him fulfill his promise of driving home his father in a brand new car. Earlier calls to his parents had been unfruitful as they were specials guests and were seated on the high table and hence could not receive phone calls. A text message was sent to his mother, informing her of her son’s victory. She later confessed that she received a text message informing her that her son had won a brand new car, but

@ ‘Dexterity at 10’ white ball

Spectre sets new British box office record with £40m in first week The latest James Bond film, ‘Spectre’ has set a new British box office record, taking more than £40m in its first week. Globally, the film has grossed more than £52m, before its launch in the US last Friday. The film received a generally positive critical response, including a five-star review from the Guardian UK, and reports suggested it was expected to make its mark in US cinemas. Its British opening put it ahead of the previous record holder ‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’. But it has a long way to go to match the takings of the year’s biggest film so far, ‘Jurassic World’, which has grossed more than £1bn worldwide. The film’s £200m budget means that it is some way off turning a profit, with one report suggesting the bill for cars written off during filming alone was £24m. “We set the record for smashing up cars on ‘Spectre’,” Gary Powell, the film’s chief stunt coordinator, told the Mail on Sunday. “In Rome, we wrecked millions of pounds’ worth. They

she ignored it because she felt it could not be true. There was however uproar as the Gulder convoy drove into The Presbyterian Church as it coincided with the period the couple and invited guests were taking photographs. As Benjamin stepped out of the Gulder branded car Hyundai Elantra car, there was uproar of celebration as members of his community who recognized him deciphered that their ‘son’ had just won a brand new car. Even the bride who was initially vexed that her wedding ceremony was disrupted became joyous when she learnt her relative won the Gulder Ultimate Chase car. A weeping Benjamin then made his way to his father knelt and said: “Daddy, I brought the Gulder car to you. I told you I was going to do it and I’ve done it.” His father replied: “Thank you Jesus, my son said he was going to bring this car and take me home. Oh God, I came with keke,

were going into the Vatican at top speeds of 110mph. We shot one entire night for four seconds of film.” The Sam Mendes-directed ‘Spectre’ is the 24th instalment of the Bond franchise and Daniel Craig’s fourth outing in the title role. He has given mixed signals over whether he intends to continue as Bond, leading to speculation over who might replace him if he decides to stand down. In early October, he said he would rather “slash his wrists” than reprise the role. “No, not at the moment. Not at all. That’s fine. I’m over it at the moment. We’re done. All I want to do is move on,” he said, when asked in an open interview with Time Out magazine if he was considering another outing as Bond. But in an interview with the Mail on Sunday’s Event magazine just days earlier, he was more equivocal. “It’s getting harder. But such is life. I’ll keep going as long as I’m physically able. I’m contracted for one more – but I’m not going to make predictions,” he said.

now I’m going home with a brand new car. I am overwhelmed. I am happy.” In furtherance of the celebration, the Gulder brand team donated 10 crates of the alcoholic brand to the wedding celebrants. According to Benjamin, on their drive home, his parents directed him to switch off the car’s air-conditioning system and wind down the glass. His parents then sang and waved to on-lookers who celebrated with them on their way home. Speaking on what pushed him to win the brand new car, the Animal Science and Fishery Management undergraduate said: “We used to own a car, but we had to sell it because of financial issues. Since then, my dad has been going about with keke. When the Chase started, I vowed to win the car for my father. He needs a car because he is 86 years now.” Advising other consumers who are willing to participate in other editions, he said: “I’m a lucky man. Because it’s my first time of participating in the Chase and I won it.

Oko Ashewo (Taxi Driver) hits cinemas today A nollywood movie, Oko Ashewo (Taxi Driver) is set to hit the cinemas across the country today. The movie, from the stables of FilmOne Distribution in conjunction with some notable outfits tells a tale

From left, Favour Essang (Dexterity Plus CEO), Laf’up and Yinka Ayefele (MON)

about the sinister Lagos nightlife as seen from the eyes of a taxi driver, Adigun, olayed by AMVCA winner Femi Jacobs. Adigun is a 31 year old naive village mechanic coming to Lagos for the first time. His decision

Rita Dominic

comes following the sudden death of his father, a man he never truly knew… yet a man very popular in his village as the iconic Lagos taxi driver ‘Oko ashewo’. However, Adigun’s coming to Lagos is on the invitation of Taiwo, his father’s fellow taxi driver played by popular yoruba actor Odunlade Adekola; but Taiwo is dangerous and as shady as Lagos at night. Taxi Driver (Oko Ashewo) tells the story of how Adigun copes with dealing with the multitude of odd characters he comes across from Delia the queen prostitute, to Kakanfo the unseen vigilante, the notorious assassins ‘three wise men’, to the Godfather, Baba Mistura and many more interesting characters that ply their trade in Lagos at night.

Big Bolaji on the band stand

Ini Edo

Kemi Akindoju, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Rita Dominic Akpororo (right) with a guest

All the glitz from AFRIFF 2015 OC Ukejie and wife On Sunday, November 8, 2015, the 2015 edition of the African International Film Festival kicked off with its opening night. The opening night which held at the Genesis Deluxe Cinemas, The Palms Shopping Mall, Lekki, Lagos, was a star studded one Celebrities spotted at the event in-

clude Rita Dominic, Ini Edo, OC Ukeje, Lala ‘Kemi’ Akindoju, Uru Eke, Chioma Ude, Kiki Omeili, Deyemi Okanalwon, Funlola Aofiyebi-Raimi, Ramsey Nouah, Femi Jacobs, Blessing Effiong, Meg Otanwa, Ijeoma Agu, Seun Ajayi among others. The festival which will run through the week, kicked off with the Africa premiere of the movie ‘Mediterranea,’ a film by Jonas Carpignano. On Saturday, October 3, 2015, the

2015 edition of the AFRIFF Film Selection Soiree held in Lagos, Nigeria. At the soiree, organizers unveiled a total of selected 180 films, out of which 155 are in competition. Speaking on bringing it back to Lagos, founder Chioma Ude said; “It’s a different scene. It’s larger, so it will take more people. Calabar was fantastic, warm welcoming state, but I felt we have outgrown them for now.” Ude also spoke on the importance

of the film festival to the film industry; “It has helped Nollywood from inception. You have the South African government coming here and talking about co-production, co-distribution and co-financing. That’s huge. That’s one among many,” she said. The first edition of the film festival took place in 2010, in Port Harcourt. The 2011 edition held in Lagos, while the 2013 and 2014 edition held in Calabar.

Friday, 13 November, 2015 ’Wale Olapade 08161235359 wale11g3@gmail.com

travelpulse&m.i.c.e

Winner, Nmma, Tourism Reporter Of The Year

BA partners SME’s in Nigeria to grow business By ’Wale Olapade

Above from left, Mr Femi Adeniran, Head of Public Relations, Airtel Nigeria; Mrs Remi Abene, Project Ambassador, Climb With Remi; Honourable Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Mrs Debo Laditan both Volunteer Climbers.

Climb with Remi: 6 Nigerian women to explore Kilimanjaro to raise funds for IDPs By Seyi Gesinde

ith an estimated 3.3 million persons displaced by conflict in Nigeria, 70 per cent of whom are women are children, to alleviate their sufferings, six Nigerian women have decided to come together to reach the highest peak in Africa, by climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, with the aim of raising funds and creating awareness to the plight of the thousands of internally displaced women and children living in various IDP camps in Nigeria. This adventure tagged: “Climb with Remi, will have wife of Ogun State governor, Mrs Funsho Amosun, three-term member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, an entrepreneur, Mrs Joke Olanipekun, an IBM executive, Mrs Uzo Nwani and a legal practitioner, Debo Laditan, join the convener and project ambassador, Mrs Remi Abere, to embark on this selfless trip for six nights and seven days, beginning from November 28 to December 5, 2015. Abere, briefing the press about the journey to Tanzania, in Lagos at the weekend, said the brave women decision to embark on this expedition was a passionate and symbolic gesture to support the down trodden, as they

Sheraton Abuja Hotel unveils Sunday Jazz brunch Sheraton Abuja Hotel once again has come up with a compelling and affordable Sunday family package open to residents and visitors in Abuja. The Sheraton Abuja Sunday Jazz Brunch, a perfect combination of eclectic and tasty buffet meals prepared by world-class chefs will be enjoyed by guests in an elevated environment where live jazz music will be rolled out by Abuja’s best jazz artiste. The jazz brunch will feature specials like Live Juice Stations, a carving station with your favourite meat cravings, assorted brunch specials and a lot more enchanting offers. The New General Manager of the hotel-Irshad Nouman in his unveiling speech said that the jazz brunch is delicately prepared to meet the cravings of both local and the international community. “The Jazz Brunch is an eclectic intercontinental buffet package aptly prepared to meet the needs of our inhouse guests and walk-in guests without recourse to their countries of origin”, said Mr Irshad Nouman. According to Nouman, “A special price of N5, 500 will be charged to all our in-house guests while walk-in guests will be charged at N6, 500 per person. Children under the age of six will be entitled to free meals per paying adult, while those under 12 will be charged at half price. Two accompanying children are also allowed access to the swimming pool per adult.”

commence a campaign to get every Nigerian involved in catering to the needs of women and children who fall into the categories, especially as the Christmas and New Year holidays are fast approaching. “As Nigerian women and mothers, we believe there is no mountain too big for us to climb, if we set our minds to it. Mount Kilimanjaro is Africa’s tallest mountain and often referred to as Africa’s roof top, to us, the enormous size of this mountain is symbolic of the problem of internally displaced persons in Nigeria, so with each step we take on that mountain until we reach the peak, we are simply saying to Nigerians, that if six middle-aged women can conquer Africa’s tallest mountain, then it’s possible for 160 million Nigerians to pull together support for the upkeep and resettlement of the women and children in these camps,” Abere said. Also, Mrs Amosun, while describing the moment that inspired her to volunteer for this charity adventure, said “the horror of the abducted Chibok girls, the realisation that they could have been my girls, the thought of what they must be suffering right now, has inspired me further to assist those in similar predicaments, no matter the inconvenience.” “I am resolute to climb Mount Kilimanjaro to assist in raising funds towards alleviating the hardship, poverty and psychological trauma of women and children that have found themselves in IDP camps through no fault of their own,” Amosun said. Mr Femi Adeniran, the Public Relations Manager, who spoke on behalf of Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya, noted that the Telco remains committed towards bringing relief and giving hope to the underserved in the society hence the Telco’s deep interest in the plight of internally displaced persons across the country. “Through the ‘Climb with Remi’ intervention, Airtel Nigeria has joined these committed, compassionate and selfless women and mothers to sensitise more Nigerians on the need to give as well as extend love to underprivileged people including women and children who are victims of unfortunate social menace in our society. “By defying height and other unfavourable condition known with climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, these women have shown that as individuals or collective groups, we can overcome challenges when we unite,” Ogunsanya said. Abere and her partners, however, called on all well meaning Nigerians to donate clothes, beddings, toiletries, food, and other essential supplies to the women and children in these camps, whilst urging corporate organisations to support these women and children with their products. She said a dedicated website for the journey, www. climbwithremi.com, is being optimised to process local and international support.

Mega Carrier, British Airways has restated its commitment to growth of SME’s in Nigeria by announcing the relaunch of its On Business loyalty programme for growing Businesses. The event, which was very successful, with over 100 guests and business owners in attendance, took place at the Eko Hotels and Suites on Thursday, October 8, 2015. The On Business loyalty programme is designed to help growing businesses make the most of their travel budget, with the company’s employees accumulating points any time they travel, with the points earned, redeemable for valuable travel benefits at a later date. Speaking at the event, British Airways Regional Commercial Manager, West Africa, Mr Kola Olayinka, described On Business as a reward programme which allows company representatives to fly and attend meetings with clients when they need to, at an affordable rate and with opportunity to deeper savings and collection of valuable points to extend even deeper Travels. “At British Airways, we understand the needs of growing businesses and we constantly strive for innovative ways of ensuring that our customers enjoy maximum comfort and earn exclusive benefits and rewards. “The partnership between British Airways, Iberia and American Airlines allows On Business members to benefit from collecting and spending across all three airlines under one programme. With On Business providing these rewards to our customers, members will now be able to collect and spend their points across all three airlines, which mean access to more reward flights and upgrades, and Avios collecting for Executive Club and Iberia Plus members. The revitalised On Business will also meet better, the flying needs of this dynamic and growing sector. It will be simple to understand and easy to use, and as well improve the management of members’ travel costs, and reward their spending,” he said. Shedding more light on the reason for the initiative, Manager, Corporate Sales, British Airways Nigeria, Mrs Adetutu Otuyalo commenting on the incentive said that: “We came up with the On Business programme so that growing businesses no longer have to fret about the high costs of business travel. This programme allows company representatives to fly and attend meetings with clients if they need to.” Present at the event was the Deputy British High Commission; Mr Ray Kyles who put a government slant on the event said there is scope for more cooperation between the British and Nigerian governments to deepen intergovernmental cooperation on development of growing business. Kyles said at both the Nigerian end and the UK, the opportunities are enormous for more support and cooperation. Loyal British Airways customer and renowned Chief Executive Officer of a successful interior decorator company, Mrs Tolu Pinheiro also spoke about her experience using On Business, and lauded British Airways for their constantly refreshing their offerings and launching nnovative initiative for the Nigerian Market. “About four years ago, I won the On Business grant, which was a free ticket from British Airways to anywhere in the world. I decided to choose China for the purchase of things that I needed for my business. I am pleased to be a beneficiary of the On Business Initiative and I applaud British Airways for consistently thrilling its customers with fresh, innovative, and rewarding initiatives such as this,” she said.

From left, British Airways Regional Manager, Mr Kola Olayinka; British Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Ray Kyles and President, Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce, Mr Dapo Adelegan at the relaunch of British Airways on business programme in Lagos, recently.

Friday, 13 November, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

No regrets over my China trip —Jigawa gov The Jigawa State governor Muhammadu Abubakar in this interview condemned the opposition who are criticising his two weeks trip to China, describing the trip as being for the betterment of the state’s socioeconomic wellbeing. ADAMU AMADU brings excerpts:

OUR trip to China generated a lot of controversies with the opposition parties describing it as nothing but a sheer waste of public funds and that you were in China for your personal business. What’s your response to these claims? You said opposition parties. What are you expecting from opposition? You want them to praise us or say good things about our programmes and policies? The truth of the matter is myself and 19 others who are Jigawa policy makers and economic stakeholders took a trip to China in an effort to improve and uplift the social and economic lives of the people of the state. We were in China to see and new agricultural technology which we are going to introduce and inculcate in our farmers. This will open up the potentiality of the state to the world for any interesting investor to come to the state. My trip was not personal. It was purely on a mission to explore more ways of expanding and improving the social, economic and well-being of the Jigawa citizens. In a modern world one cannot survive or meet with global challenges in isolation. You must pursue and convince others to help you and join hands with you to develop the area you have comparative advantage, and indeed this is the rationale behind our trip to China. We also had an opportunity to sign a memorandum of understanding with international investors with aims of boosting business activities in the state. We have spoken with investors to invest in our agricultural sector and to introduce modern farming system to local farmers for the state to meet international standard on agriculture. These are parts of the gains of our trip. We will do our best for Jigawa by the grace of Allah. Why China of the countries in the world? You will remember vividly that I made it clear during my inaugural speech that supporting agriculture and its value chain will be one of the cardinal programmes of my government. This is because that is what will enhance the socio-economic conditions of our people. We went to China to identify and source cost-effective and modern technology for agricultural value chain development. We choose to visit China because of the Chinese policy for economic investment diversification which has emphasis on African countries. I kept talking of competitiveness in agriculture because our farmers today produce but end up losing their money or making little profit because they do not produce competitively. So, the mission is to see how best to enhance competitiveness through the use of technology so as to maximise production at lower cost. The state and its people of the state would benefit a lot from

Badaru

Today, we are receiving only N2 to N3 billion monthly due to the sharp drop in oil prices…we must go the extra mile to diversify and strengthen other sources of income, and by supporting agriculture and agroallied industries to empower our people. this trip. The trip was made for the state and its people because we know new innovations exist in the world and they need to be brought to the state for the benefit of our people. I traveled with almost 20 people who include farmers, business people, medical experts, official of state’s chamber of commerce and civil servants. My reason is to expose the state to the world and see for themselves the new modern technologies and techniques in the areas of agriculture and industrialisation in particular. We also wooed prospective investors to the state, especially with the current China policy for economic investment diversification which has emphasis on Africa. Among what the

people of Jigawa will benefit from this trip are modern technologies in agriculture where agricultural production is made in large quantity and at lower cost, to showcase livestock and hide and skin trade. We also used the opportunity inspect some modern medical facilities which government purchased directly from the producers at low prices. We also discussed with some Chinese medical universities and they agreed to admit our students to study there. When will the people state start to feel the benefits of the trip? Each of these projects has its own time line. For example, the plastic project will be commissioned by April 2016 and the

expansion will continue till the next 12 months. For the sugar factory and estate, we have done compensation survey and now we are doing out-growers analysis as well as water analysis to see which type will fit our soil for high yield and competitiveness.I believe that by the end of next year, we will start seeing sugarcane plantation and factory arrangements. On mango, they are waiting for us to give them land to mobilise to site as this is not a huge project. So between now and next one and half years we are hoping to achieve much of these projects. Since most of the farmers are financially handicapped, do you have any plans to build their financial capacity to meet with the planned industrialisation? We are all aware of the N1billion to N2 billion intervention loan set aside by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) for our farmers. So, we are deliberately delaying their accessing the loan until we identify the competitiveness of our farmers, their groups, crops potentiality and profitability. If we establish these, we can then distribute the loan to them. So, looking for funds to support the farmers is not a problem.Essentially, what we are doing is to make them competitive. For example, our dry season farmers spend N30, 000 to N40,000 on fuel each season. So, we committed some manufacturers to look into the possibility of moving from diesel to solar-powered water pump generator to minimise cost of production. Such are the little things we are considering. We are also committed to getting improved seeds that can provide high yield for our farmers. Going by your brief, can we say the state’s ministry of commerce and industry may take lion shares in 2016 budget? As I said, wooing investor to the state does not require money. What you need to do is to provide enabling environment for the businesses. Where we may probably invest money is in agriculture for the provision of fertiliser, modern farm implements, research and procurement of high breed seeds to our farmers. Why agriculture? As I said, this is the area where we have a lot of potential and comparative advantage. In the past years, Jigawa received between N6 to N8 billon as monthly allocation. But today, we are receiving only N2 to N3billion monthly due to the sharp drop in oil prices. And there is no hope of improvement in global oil market any time soon. Currently, Nigeria has over 19 million barrel of crude oil in the market looking for customers. So, in such a situation, we must go the extra mile to diversify and strengthen other sources of income, and by supporting agriculture and agro-allied industries to empower our people and also generate income for the sustenance of government for the discharge of our responsibilities.

politics&policy

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Nothing special about Buhari’s cabinet —Adekanmbi

Honourable Femi Adekanmbi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, speaks with ABIODUN AWOLAJA on President Muhammdu Buhari’s new cabinet, the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi, Bayelsa and Rivers states, the strides of the Olusegun Mimiko administration in the state and sundry issues. Excerpts:

he Muhammadu Buhari administration, which has been in office for six months now, has just unveiled its cabinet. What is your view? Personally, I have not seen anything special, because the expectation of Nigerians is that there will be exceptional ministers, in the sense that it took us about four or five months to assemble the set of individuals we now have as ministers. There is nothing special about them, except a few of them. Well, we are still watching. Let’s just keep our fingers crossed. We hope that, at the end of the day, Nigerians will smile, because the wellbeing of Nigerians matter most to us, irrespective of political party. If Buhari does not perform, it will affect all of us, not just All Progressives Congress (APC) members but all of us. So, we must ensure that the man performs. But I am surprised that six months into the administration, we have not really had any special thing. The economy is struggling, people are screaming, there is no money everywhere, there is no capital for investment, and people are complaining everywhere. The fuel price is getting high everyday: you even get N115 or N120 per litre in all the neighbouring states. Even the electricity that people were getting excited about is nothing to write home about now. So, I have not seen anything so special about this government for these six months. You seem to have grave doubts about the ability of the new ministers to transform the Nigerian econom. Why is this so? I cannot imagine when you just appoint somebody who did not perform, who embezzled money. What do you expect from such a person? What do you expect from such a cabinet? So, I have my fears. I have my fears in the sense that some of the new ministers have been tested and found wanting. I was expecting to see technocrats; I was expecting to see independent persons. Some of them are good, no doubt about that. But for somebody coming over to the Senate to come and say I have not received bribe in my life its funny. Let me tell you what will happen to Nigeria in the next one year. President Buhari means well for Nigeria; he wants to transform Nigeria. But the people around are actually far from that goal. I can see the ruling party, APC, scattering. Give it the next one or two years, that party will scatter. If you look at the cabinet, the majority are former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) members. So, the man is tactically positioning his old party members. Though I see Buhari performing, I see the PDP waxing stronger and stronger. How do you think the forthcoming elections in Rivers State, Kogi and Bayelsa states will play out and why? When you look at the judgment and politics in Rivers State, if that election takes place 10 times, I can assure you that PDP will win, because the people of the

Some of them are good, no doubt about that. But for somebody coming over to the Senate to come and say I have not received bribe in my life is funny.

state are mostly PDP. As per Kogi State, really, we had issues but they are being resolved, and with the candidate of the APC not better than ours, the people prefer Governor Idris Wada, and I can assure you that he will win that election. For Bayelsa State, you don’t need to dissipate energy; it is obvious that the state is for PDP. So, I can categorically tell you that the PDP will win in the three states. Don’t forget that there are so many transformations going on right now in the PDP. A whole number of steps are now being taken to reposition the party and ensure that the party moves forward. I can assure you that we are going to have a new PDP in the next few months. You will have a party that will be more people-oriented; grass-roots based and focused. How much of such grass-roots orientation and focus would you say has been evident in the performance of Governor Olusegun Mimiko in Ondo State? So far so good, with regard to the performance of the PDP governor of Ondo State, we are absolutely satisfied. We are excited with the performance of Governor Mimiko and we are delighted that, despite the dwindling revenue from the Federal Government, Governor Mimiko is still moving the state forward. Developmental projects are going on everywhere. As you can see, the state is in an enviable class. Even in the area of salaries, we are owing just for one month

and we have not jettisoned developmental projects. So, I can tell you, Adekanmbi we are really really moving forward. Very recently, a lot of mega schools were inaugurated. Look at the mega schools; they are first class. My first time in the mega school was when the one in Owo was commissioned. When I entered the school premises and saw all the facilities there, I marveled. These are things that we must commend him for. When you look at other sectors, there are a whole lot of transformations. In the health sector, you see state-ofthe-art facilities, and in terms of accessibility of services, you can hardly differentiate between the rich and the poor. Recently, we saw the inauguration of the new Akure shopping mall which many persons like to refer to as Shoprite. You also saw the Dome come to reality. It is now in use. That is the same Dome that some people had condemned, talking a lot of negative things but today we are happy. Take it or leave it, the man is performing and we in PDP are satisfied with him. The governor announced a number of appointments recently, but some people reportedly rejected them. Is all well with the party in the state? That is not true. A number of persons have been appointed and they welcomed their appointments. There were a few reactions, and it was not that those who did rejected the appointments. I am very sure that person you are talking about is the former chairman of the party, Hon

Alabi. Let me tell you why the governor appointed Hon. Alabi. He is an accountant, the governor said, “Look; we must improve on our IGR. Whom do we trust to bring some needed expertise? Honourable Alabi as a Chartered Accountant, sure can bring his experience to bare here.” And he was appointed as Senior Special Assistant on IGR. But Alabi said he had opened up a number of businesses for himself and needed this time to put his businesses right. At the recent stakeholders’ meeting that we held with the governor, Honourable Alabi stood up and apologised to Mr Governor, saying that the letter was not meant to embarrass him. He apologised to the party and the entire state. He restated that he still remained a commited and loyal party member. The other person we can mention is Honourable Ola Mafor. There were earlier issues but today, he is a special adviser to Mr Governor and things are moving on. We are moving our party forward; we are moving the state forward and the state is getting stronger and stronger. Are you suggesting perfect harmony among all key members of the party? Absolutely. We cannot be 100 per cent perfect, the governor cannot be 100 per cent perfect, and neither can we the members. But, on the whole, we are moving on together in harmony. We are strategising, things are working well for us. Any moment from now, there is going to be election, so there will be various meetings in all the units and wards. All our youths will be involved, all our elders will be involved, and everyone in Ondo State will be carried along. It is going to be a new dawn in Ondo State. I can assure you that in all the election that will be taking place in Ondo State, PDP will win all. Are you very sure of that? Absolutely. In Ondo today, PDP has the upper hand. Look at the South and Central Senatorial Districts. Who controls them? PDP. The North is between PDP and APC, it is about 50-50. So, in the aggregate, we have the upper hand. Another thing you also have to look at is whether the other party is really in harmony. Are they really working together? As of today, more than 50 persons are coming out to contest the governorship. Is that what you expect of a party? So, I can assure you, we will win all elections.

politics&policy

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Only Wada can ensure power shift in Kogi —Akanmode Chief Sola Akanmode is a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State. In this interview with YINKA OLADOYINBO, he speaks about the chances of the party in next Saturday’s governorship election, power rotation, among other issues.

ASED on the situation on ground in Kogi State, do you think the PDP has a good chance in the coming election? Our chances are very bright. Number one, we have a good candidate. Secondly, we have a party with a very good structure. Thirdly, we can see that most of the people in PDP are very well mobilised for the election. The issues are very clear. When you juxtapose the candidate of the main rival party with our own governor, the difference is very clear. Both of them have been on this way before. They have track records and the people of Kogi are very sophisticated and can make a choice between Abubakar Audu and Idris Wada. We are running on the achievements of Wada. We are running on his ability to guarantee a great measure of peace and stability. We are running on his ability to ensure that payment of salaries of civil servants at the state level is as good as may be any other one in the country today. We are running on the fact that, in spite of the limited resources, he has been able to embark on some wellthought-out programmes like the Kogi house in Lagos, the bye-pass in Lokoja, the township road, the embankment of the river Niger. More importantly, he has been able to open up Kogi to a lot of investors all over the world. In today’s economy, you cannot just focus on the resources that are within the state, or the resources coming from the federal government to develop the state. He has been able to sign a lot of MoU with investors in agriculture, in cement manufacturing, in sugar, in tourism and so on. Usually in the first term, there are teething problems. Now, he knows the rope and is just good for him to have a second term so that he can consolidate on his achievements.

Is the PDP not threatened by the possibility of the APC using the federal might in this election? The issue is not about federal might. We have done it before. There are areas where you can do that. The local people can take their destiny in their own hands. It is the people who are going to vote in this election. Today, elections are won by mobilising the people and presenting the issues before them. The people in Abuja are not coming to the state to vote and all the security agencies will be there. I believe they will do what they are expected to do. It is true there is federal might, but the issue in Kogi today is about who is best placed to govern us. Don’t you think the dwindling federal allocation is affecting the infrastructural development of the state and that this can affect the performance of your party in the election? It is not just Kogi State. It is affecting the Federal Government and also all other states. We heard the president saying the other time that the country is broke. These things are there; they are not new. If you study the present situation very

Akanmode well, you can always predict the future. The moment the United States stopped buying our oil, the moment India stopped being the major buyer of our oil, the moment there are other sources of energy apart from oil, then you know we are in trouble. Our economy is a mono culture and since this administration came on board, all road projects and other development projects like the railway have been grounded. It is understandable that the new administration will need a very little time to sort things out. But the reality is that even after sorting things out,

the resources will not be there to undertake road construction and other things in the magnitude that was done by President Goodluck Jonathan. That is the truth. Everybody is groaning under an economy that is very tight. You are a protagonist of power shift in the state. You fought for it seriously in 2011and you’re zone was compensated with the deputy governorship slot. What is your plan against the next election in case the people of Kogi East renege on their

It will affect us but positively because people will know that some people are playing bad politics. But we are good to win. We have the people behind us and that is what is needed to win an election.

promise over power shift? The appointment of a deputy governor was no compensation. It is geopolitical and it has to be spread according to the available geopolitical zones. If it didn’t come from the Western senatorial zone, it would have come from the Central. It is not contested for. We are talking about the governorship of the state. All the major stakeholders in the PDP have agreed that power is going to rotate from the East to either the West or the Central. It is on and we have gotten to that point where no more excuses can be given and our people are ready. That is why we are resolute on Captain Wada winning this election. Let him have a second term and the former governor, Ibrahim Idris said that the people in the East felt the Idah axis has done it, Ankpa axis has done it, Dekina has done and he said let us apply wisdom. He is saying we should let him do his second term and there will be nobody to tell us any other story again. But many people believe that the non-release of the bailout fund to Kogi State by the President is one of the political moves aimed at crippling the PDP and giving it a bad name before the workers. Let us leave the president out of this because there is a national economic council headed by the vice president and they discuss things about the economy. All the state governors met and agreed to recommend to the president a bailout programme in three stages. First, their commitments to commercial banks, salaries and all those who have long term financial matters like bond. Then every state government made their presentations. Kogi made its own and the state did more homework than most other states and captured what was being owed in the 21 local government areas, what the state government was owing in terms of salary was only N4.9 billion but the 21 local governments were owing about N45 billion and it was approved and announced. So, the embarrassment should be that of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) or whoever is in charge. Of course, unfortunately people are now reading politics into it. It should not be politicised; it is not a gift. It is a loan and Wada in his own wisdom said everybody that is entitled to get a relief must be captured because it is a major move to give that kind of loan at nine per cent interest rate for a period of 20 years. You won’t get that money again, so it is a big relief for the state government. In financial management, there is what is called time value of money. N40 billion today is like N100 billion in the next 20 years. So, our people need to benefit from it and it is going to be counter-productive to make politics out of it because the people now know that they are being selected for punishment because there is an election along the line. I don’t think that is a good spirit. Don’t you think the situation can affect the performance of the party in the election? It will affect us but positively because people will know that some people are playing bad politics. But we are good to win. We have the people behind us and that is what is needed to win an election.

politics&policy

HIS week has been very significant in the relatively short life of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. After over five months of apparent lethargy, things revved up a gear in the Presidential Villa, Abuja,beginning with the swearing in of the new chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) ProfessorMahmoodYakubu and five federal electoral commissioners. Recall the months of controversy that followed the appointment of MrsAminaZakari as acting chairman of the commission and how the president was impervious to demands to remove her. Following the commission’s inauguration was the sacking of the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, the firing of no less than 17 federal permanent secretaries, the appointment of 18 new ones and then, the inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) that also seemed to take eternity. Tuesday’s appointment, deployment of the permanent secretaries and Wednesday’s swearing in of ministers mean that both the political and bureaucratic heads of the ministries are resuming together and are new to their environments. This can hardly augur well for their smooth takeoff. That notwithstanding, this week’s developments all play within Buhari’s resolve to take slow but measured steps to realign the country on the path of order, prosperity and security. He has been reticent and that had left the country to largely rely on his body language to function. Now, he is inching out of his shell, letting out his piece of mind on many critical issues, consequently giving a clearer

Friday, 13 November, 2015

inside

aso rock WITH LEON USIGBE

08078891838 leonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk

Buhari: Picking up pace at last s idea of the direction of his government. At a time the opposition is accusing him of micro-managing the judiciary to return favorable judgments for his party at key election tribunals, he held nothing back on Monday to inform the world that he would neither interfere with the responsibilities of independent national institutions nor tolerate outside influences on them. For him, the change his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) promised must be all-embracing and therefore, things could not be done in the old way. “I hereby acknowledge and pledge to respect the independence of the commission, and this government will not interfere with its operations. For your part, you should not allow yourselves to be unduly influenced or subject yourself to the control of outside forces. You must respect the law and we will hold you bound by the oath which you have just taken,” he admonished the new INEC bosses. There is no better person to have lectured INEC on the flaws that have been a major part of the nation’s electoral process having perceived himself, for over a decade, as a victim of such mechanism. He therefore

took the opportunity of the reconstitution of Buhari extended his treatment of Lamthe commission to drum home the need for orde to 17 permanent secretaries of federal reforms in the electoral system. But of note ministries the following day. He summoned was his interest in the abuses engendered them to his office, told them to go home and by State Independent Electoral Commis- thereafter appointed 18 new ones. He sub08078891838 sions (SIEC) which are no more than willauthorised the deployment of 36 WITH LEON sequentlyleonusigbe@ yahoo. co.uk ing tools in the hands of state governors to of them to various ministries and in doing appropriate local government councils to that, merged some ministries as some of themselves. The president is worried that all the permanent secretaries’ designations incouncils seats contested are often declared dicated that they have combined combined in favour of the ruling party in total disre- portfolios. gard to the wishes of the electorate. He now The Aso Chamber of the Presidential Villa wants to work with state governments to barely accommodated all those who came to change this. witness the swearing in of ministers, despite And after months of accusation of fraud- the fact that each of the minister-designate ulent financial practices against Lamorde, had been restricted to just two guests for the president acted at last on Monday, the ceremony. The interest in the occasion kicking him out as the head of the foremost was huge and as the compere, Garba Shehu, anti-graft agency. The former EFCC boss perhaps rightly observed, Wednesday was a was in the Presidential Villa that morning, day the whole world had waited for. Buhari where he was apparently told to go clear his finally has his administration in place. desk and depart for a premature terminal He may not have hit the ground running leave. Even before he had the opportunity but now that his ministers have resumed, to complete the task of picking his personal Nigerians will be hoping that he will run as effects, a replacement in the form of Mus- fast as his strength can carry him. Conscious tafa Magu, was already running the com- of this, he has ordered the ministers to work mission’s things in Lamorde’s former of- speedily towards satisfying the yearning of fice. the people.

aso rock

Fuel subsidy as an albatross KOLAWOLE DANIEL writes on the issue of fuel subsidy removal that has resonated in the House of Representatives. PERHAPS, no issue tends to elicit much public curiosity in the land than fuel subsidy. It evokes a mixture of anguish and provocation among Nigerians because of the socio-economic implications, such that it has become a sort of an albatross for each successive federal administration. When the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan announced a partial removal of fuel subsidy, the country was thrown into a rash of public protests that threatened the national economy. The protest tagged Occupy Nigeria was staged by a coalition of Civil Society Organisations 24 hours after the president announced the decision on January 1, 2012. Following the rising tension created by the subsidy removal, the 7th Assembly of House of Representatives held a special session, calling on Federal Government to halt its decision on the issue. The motion to that effect was moved by Honourable Tajudeen Yusuf and other lawmakers. More than three years after, to be precise, on July 13, 2015, incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, through a statement by Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Mallam Garba Shehu, promised that the administration would handle the issue of fuel subsidy with care. Buhari, according to Shehu, spoke after receiving briefing from the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and other agencies in the oil sector. He quoted the president as saying that, “I have received many

Dogara literature on the need to remove subsidies, but much of it has no depth. When you touch the price of petroleum products, that has the effect of triggering price rises on transportation, food and rents. That is for those who earn salaries, but there are many who are jobless and will be affected by it”. However, the Speaker of the House, Honourable Yakubu Dogara on the same day offer his input if need be for the Federal Government to remove fuel subsidy. He said: “I have had this discussion on so many platforms but as a legislature, I can tell you there is something about subsidy removal that we are not looking at. Drama in the House The House was engulfed in a drama of

sort, when members of the ruling All Progressives Congress, (APC) and the main opposition party Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) engaged themselves in a near shouting match over a motion on “alleged plan to remove fuel subsidy” by the Federal Government sponsored by Honourable Albert Abiodun-Adeogun. The PDP member from Osun State in his motion had called on the government to exercise restraint in the removal of fuel subsidy. The motion equally called for caution in the removal of subsidy and advocated the introduction of a less restrictive and stringent conditions for the setting up of refineries, just as he called on the government to fast track the repairs of the refineries to enhance local produc-

tion of petroleum products. Honourable Adeogun maintained that the “subsidy on petroleum products was introduced in Nigeria as a palliative measure to ease the sufferings of Nigerians whose livelihood are largely dependent on the use of petroleum products.” Perhaps, he did not know he was only trying to fish in what appeared troubled waters, as the issue of fuel subsidy has become an apparent national albatross.. Before he could conclude his presentation of the motion and the prayers, his colleagues from the APC began to shout him down, ostensibly to kill the motion. But APC lawmakers in the House termed the motion, “speculative motion” A member, Honourable Herman Hembe,, while opposing the motion, noted that the mover failed to produce facts to support the motion as to Buhari led government plan to remove fuel subsidy. The House Leader, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila, on his part said: “This motion has no evidence at all. Mr President has repeatedly told the nation that there is no plan to remove fuel subsidy. As a matter of fact, only yesterday (Wednesday), the Federal Government paid out huge sums of money as subsidy claims to fuel marketers. I don’t see how a government that is paying for subsidy could be said to have plans to remove subsidy.” Speaking in defence of the motion, Minority Leader, Honourable Leo Ogor stated that there was “nothing speculative about a motion that has not even been heard. Let the member be allowed to move his motion. That is the spirit of fair hearing.” However, without further delay, Honourable Adeogun moved to withdraw the motion, and the request was granted by the Speaker.

Friday, 13 November, 2015 With Yemisi Aofolaju yemiaofolaju@yahoo.com 08055001741

thekitchen Yoghurt Yoghurt is said to be a 2,000-year-old food, hence its health benefits cannot be disputed. As it undergoes fermentation, hundreds of millions of probiotic organisms that serve as reinforcements to the battalions of beneficial bacteria to the body are produced. Yoghurt helps boost immune system and helps provide protection against cancer. Efforts should be made to drink at least one cup of this calcium and protein-rich drink a day. You can start your day with yoghurt topped with blueberries, walnuts and honey among others. Always opt for plain low-fat yoghurt as a perfect base for creamy salad dressings and dips. An added advantage of this drink is its ability to be made into smoothie. Just blend one cup low-fat yoghurt, one cup fresh or frozen blueberries, one cup carrot juice, and one cup fresh baby spinach for a nutrient-rich blast.

Blueberries As blueberries are said to contain more antioxidants than any other fruit, they can help prevent cancer, diabetes, and age-related memory. Studies show that blueberries, which are rich in fibre and vitamins A and C, also boost cardiovascular health. Aim for one cup fresh blueberries a day, or half cup if frozen or dried. Blueberries maintain most of their power in dried, frozen, or jam form.

Foods you should eat everyday Walnuts

Walnuts are richer in hearthealthy omega-3s than salmon, loaded with more anti-inflammatory polyphenols than red wine, and packing half as much muscle-building protein as chicken. A serving of walnuts -- about one ounce, or seven nuts -- is good anytime, but especially as a post-workout recovery snack.

Walnuts substitutes are almonds, peanuts and hazelnuts. It can be eaten by sprinkling on top of salads; chop and add to pancake batter; spoon peanut butter into curries; grind and mix with olive oil to make a marinade for grilled fish or chicken.

Black beans All beans are good for your heart, but none can boost your brain power like black beans.This is because they’re full of anthocyanins, antioxidant compounds that have been shown to improve brain function. A daily half cup serving provides eight grammes of protein and 7.5 grammes of fibre. It is also low in calories and free of saturated fat.

Did you know It sounds awkward, but do you know that adding some lumps of charcoal in a sour soup can make it regain 70 per cent of its original taste?

DO-It-Yourself

Coconut candy By Olaide Fadare Ingredients • 1 fresh coconut with juice • 200g icing sugar • Water Method • Break the coconut,making sure you collect the coconut juice from it. • Remove the coconut from shell and grate • Use smaller openings on grater. • Make sure you grate along the coconut rather than across it to have long thin coconut pieces rather than a mass of grated coconut. • Pour coconut juice into pot • Add the icing sugar and stir • Add tiny coconut pieces and stir • Add water to the same level as coconut pieces

• Cover pot and set to boil at high heat • Once it starts boiling, stir continuously till evaporates water • Reduce heat to minimal level, continue stirring • You will notice that the content sticks together. • That is the sugar caramelising • Keep stirring till coconut pieces start turning slightly brown • Turn off heat and scoop hot coconut candy into a flat plate and leave to cool down • Once cold, you can serve as dessert or eat it as a snack Notes • You can store it in the freezer for up to a month • It is supposed to be a very sweet snack that is why sugar is added, but feel free to reduce sugar content • The caramel from sugar can be tough to clean when it has cooled down. • Clean pot when still hot

Oat One other healthy food that should be for breakfast is oats. They are packed with soluble fibre, which lowers the risk of heart disease. Oats are loaded with carbs, but the release of those sugars is slowed by the fibre, and because oats also contain 10 grammes of protein per half cup serving, they deliver steady, muscle-friendly energy. Oats can be served with ground flaxseed on cereals, salads, and yoghurt .

Friday, 13 November, 2015

heartcopy (Continued from previous publication) Dear Taiwo, ike I stated earlier, I resolved not to remarry after leaving my husband because I still loved him, I also did not want any distraction from men. I wanted time to make success training of children. This however did not mean that I didn’t have admirers, I had men who would have done anything to marry me and give me the best out of life, but I refused. My husband in turn under the pretext that I was the one who left our marriage and home refused to be a part of my children’s training. I didn’t miss his contribution because I had a good job which was a plus. About 20 years after I left, of course we were all advanced in years, my husband learnt that he was not the father of the set of twins. By this time, his mother who wanted male children at all cost had died. This revelation rocked the boat of his home and marriage and contributed to his sickness and early death. After he found out about his wife’s deceit, he came back to me asking that I return to him. I would have gone back to him, but on a second thought, I realised that he wouldn’t have come back to me if what happened had not happened, as all the while, he did not even communicate with his children talk less of knowing how they were faring. I promised to render all the help I could during the time he was ill coupled with the fact that his wife left him on the sick bed and went away with his property. Unfortunately, he did not survive the illness. After his burial, his family members needed his wife to perform the widow-

Does he really love me? Dear Taiwo, My boyfriend and I have been dating since we were in secondary school. Now, we are in the university. I love him so much and I think he loves me too. However, his attitude these days is giving me cause to worry and I suspect he is dating someone else. This is because, lately, he doesn’t allow me to look at his phone. And anytime I raised this issue with him all he would say that I would only hurt myself by looking at his phone. This is not making me happy. Do you think he has a lover? Please, help me. Anupo. Dear Anupo, No matter how much you love your boyfriend, I think he is entitled to his privacy. I also don’t think it is too neat or healthy for you to go through his phone. It is his personal belonging; even if he is your husband. Some men don’t mind and vice versa, but once he says his phone is a no go area please don’t make a fuss over it. It is also healthy for you to purge your mind of thoughts like these. You cannot conclude that he is cheating on you or he has a lover just because he says you cannot look into his phone. He could say that to put you off. Purge your mind off this and don’t destroy your relationship.

hood rites which would involve staying in his home town for 40 days and some other things. I was called upon, but I refused to be a part of this. Apart from the fact that I have left him for over 20 years, those who came to meet me didn’t even try to find out why I left their kinsman or ask after my daughters, since I left my husband. I told them I had done my bit and that which I felt was extremely important; I took care of him on sick bed, paid his hospital bills and made sure he had a befitting burial, something his kinsmen were unable to do.

share a

burden WM

ith onica Taiwo

08055001724 (sms only) monicataiwo@yahoo.com

Monica Taiwo monicataiwo@yahoo.com 08055001724 (sms only) @taiwomonica

This was what started the trouble between my daughter and I. She wanted me to perform the widowhood rites. Her siblings live overseas and they supported me. She has always been her father’s daughter and never objective when it has to do with her father’, in fact, she even accused me of having a hand in her father’s death because I refused to go back to him when his wife left. Because she is the only one in the country, automatically, I expected that she should be of help to me when I needed her most, but she is never there. I have to beg her to help me get my medication and things I need for my comfort. Of course, they are all married, I live alone in my house and have enough money to take care of myself; in fact, I have a business which gives me enough capital, but I really cannot fathom why my daughter treats me with disdain and insolence. Few weeks before I decided to write you, I was ill, I called her up to take me to the hospital, my daughter had the audacity to tell me to get help from my tenants and she cannot make it. I had no choice but to ask one of my tenants to take me. I was on hospital admission for nine days; she didn’t come to see me. It was as if she wanted me to die. I have made up my mind to live with her as a stranger, if that is what she wants, but my mind wouldn’t allow me do that. I cannot think of why she chose to treat me this way. Her siblings try to make me feel happy and forget whatever she is doing to me, but can I forget? What can I do and how do I improve our relationship? Moyinoluwa.

She is carrying my baby, but I don’t love her! Dear Taiwo, I dated a lady for few months and now she is pregnant for me. My problem; however is that I don’t really love her and I don’t think she loves me too, but she has refused to have an abortion for reasons best known to her. I have a steady girlfriend and she also has a serious relationship. We only wanted to play around and she got pregnant. She insisted on marrying me because she said she does not want to have children for different men. I don’t love her and I don’t want to leave my steady girlfriend. Please, what should I do? Kizito. Dear Kizito, I am of the opinion that you should have thought of your love for your steady girlfriend before cheating on her. Every unrighteousness is a sin and you should be ready to face the consequences. You started it and you should be able to finish whatever comes out of it. I also will not support an abortion for any reason. I don’t know the arrangement you intend to make with this woman, but you must be responsible for your child, even while in the womb. I give you kudos for not denying the pregnancy. Please, have an open mind about the whole issue. Who knows, God’s ways are not our ways and He has a reason for everything. Seek God’s face in prayers; ask for His leading, it is well with you.

33 hersay

Friday, 13 November, 2015 continued from last week

Later in this column, I will give you my opinions about making your little girl dress appropriately. This also should be emphasised when it comes to going on a date. Chastity belts are no longer readily available, but clothes that cover the interesting parts are available. Make sure they are covered when she walks out the door. The interesting parts may not stay covered for long, but you can see to it that they start out that way. Teach your daughter that she doesn’t have to give it up to be popular. I have watched little girls on various talk shows say that if they don’t have sex then they won’t be popular. Your little girl wants to be popular more than anything in the world, but you have to teach her that it is okay to say no. Teach your daughter not to tease. That is different from flirting. Teach her the difference between being flirty to attract wanted attention and teasing that will result in unwanted attention. To the parents of boys Some little girls are gold diggers. They may only want your son for what he can buy them or where he will take them or what dating him might mean to their popularity. This really only applies if you are rich or really good-looking or a football or other sports star. But if you are the parent of a boy like this, give him the headsup. By the way, this works both ways. There are plenty of boys who only want to date a girl because of her looks, popularity or money. Superficiality is not gender specific. Girls like to be treated like girls. Teach your son to hold the door for women of all ages. Teach him to be polite. Teach him not to fart in front of girls. Teach him to be nice to them. Teach him to listen to them even when he couldn’t care less about what they are talking about. Teach him to talk to them with respect and to treat them with respect. Girls are the best thing in the world and will love you forever if you will treat them well. “Teach your boy loyalty and honesty. If he is dating Heather exclusively, then it isn’t okay to date other girls when Heather doesn’t know about it. If he wants to date other girls, which I think is an excellent idea at a young age, then he should be man enough to tell Heather that he

Parenting The host of Straight Talk!

With Olufunke Adetuberu

08023242389

cryonmenow@yahoo.com

Your relationship with your kids (2) wants to date others. Boys like to drink. As teenagers they don’t know how to have one or two bottle of beer. They typically drink until they get drunk. Teenage boys don’t always make good decisions, especially when they are full of testosterone and beer. Put them on a date and now they have an adoring, sometimes encouraging audience. At that point, they are 10 feet tall and bulletproof. Talk to your son about drinking, driving and dating. These three activities don’t go together. Tell him if he combines these three, you will have him by the rest of his life will be like someone who never have a good success. Let him know that he will grow old and look like people that have to become a shame to their family, those who get drunk and their children are ashamed of them. Teenagers and love All teenagers think they are in love—usually about a hundred times before they actually have a clue what love is. You and I both know this but they don’t. They actually believe they are in love and that it’s the real thing. Don’t belittle them for having these feelings. Just understand that it’s normal and help guide them through this roller coaster of undeveloped emotions and out-ofcontrol hormones. They will get their hearts broken. You did, too. You were devastated and couldn’t eat or sleep. You may have forgotten it by now, but it happened. You lived through it and they will, too. Let them

cry it out and talk for hours on the phone with their friends and be slightly stupid. it’s all they’ve got .Some rules about dating: Know who your kid is dating. No excuses. Embarrass him if you must, but know who your kid is dating. No one touches your child in anger. According to statistics it is believed that 25 to 40 percent of all teens either are or have been in an abusive relationship. Does that number shock you? It should. Teach your kid not to touch another in anger or to allow herself to be touched in anger. Abuse doesn’t stop. Abusers don’t change. Teach this to your child. Talk to your kid about who she is dating. According to the world Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, one in three teens experiences an abusive relationship and 40 percent of teen girls know someone who has been hit or beaten by someone she is dating. Fewer than 25 percent of teens talk about dating abuse with their parents. “Synchronize your watches. “But, Daddy, my watch says it’s midnight right now!” won’t fly if it’s fifteen minutes after midnight. “I had to stop and get gas, Mom, and didn’t realise it was twelve-thirty” is a lie. Enforce curfews. Ten o’clock on a school night. Midnight at most on weekends. Remember that nothing good goes on after midnight. Being late for a curfew must have consequences. Establish what the rules are in advance and then enforce them. If your daughter’s date doesn’t respect your rules, then he can date someone else’s daughter. Encourage double dates. While kids have a tendency to get in trouble in packs, there are certain things kids are less likely to do when there are witnesses around. If you are a single parent who is dating, model good dating behaviour for your child. No closed doors. I am amazed when parents tell me about their kids having dates over and how the couple goes into their kid’s bedroom, shuts the door and studies or listens to music. Are you kidding me? The only subject they are studying is anatomy. They are bumping uglies in there! No closed doors—ever! To be continued

I believe in beauty of womanhood —Omotunde Ayankoya Mrs Omotunde Ayankoya, a trained accountant turned Cosmetician is the Managing Director of WOL MOT Investment Nigeria, producer of OAPMATE products. In this interview with MODUPE GEORGE and IDOWU FAJI she speaks on her love for Chemistry and how it led her into becoming an entrepreneur.

Yes, I do, both men and women in Lagos and Sagamu, they are doing well. Those I trained in Ibadan have tried using my labels, containers and names, because of this, I had to stop training at some point. I have discovered that most of these young people are not ready to do things the right way. Why, how? Cosmetic production is not something you learn today and you go to the market the following day. It is something that you try on yourself first to see the effectiveness after training. Also, you want to set the product aside to see if there would be chemical reactions. However, for these young people, once they start producing, they want to hit the market instantly to make money, it’s never going to work like that. I now invite those who want to train to come and work with me for some time to see their interest, passion and the seriousness in them before training.

rom Accountancy to becoming an entrepreneur, can we share in the story? Actually, I studied Accountancy; I earned an HND from The Polytechnic, Ibadan in 1990. I love Chemistry, but my parents especially my brothers wanted me to be an Accountant so I can manage the family business. After graduating as an accountant, I never worked for anyone and I have never applied for jobs since I graduated. However, because of my love for Chemistry I joined my brother, Chief Bode Mustapha in his plastic production company and I worked with him for some years. After leaving him, I started my own plastic production company in 1994, but due to electricity problem in the country, I decided to go into the production of cosmetics. ….But why cosmetics? I believe so much in the beauty of womanhood. I believe the beauty of every woman starts from her head. If you see any woman who doesn’t look attractive, there is nothing such a woman introduces to you that will appeal to you. The very first things you notice about a woman is her hair and skin. I felt I could do something to improve the cosmetics world. Hence, I went for trainings in Lagos. In 2005, I started fully; I got my products approved by NAFDAC. I first started with two products and today the company produces about eight products at 10. How many products have you been able to come up with? I now produce about eight products, ranging from hair food, relaxer, weave-oil, shampoo, conditioner among others.

How frequent do you go into production? We produce just twice in a week, because we can’t produce and package the products the same day if one is really given to excellence. Who can train as a cosmetician? I do not train trainees with less than Secondary School Leaving Certificate. I train people who go after quality. I wouldn’t want to train someone who would want to settle for producing under the house.

refilling them with fake products. This single act of pirates is really affecting the business negatively, but we are trying to curb this.

How will you rate the effectiveness of these products? Our distributors and users are really commending us inspite of challenges.

What is your cutting edge as there are many people in this line of business? The cutting edge is the quality products we give out. Before NAFDAC can approve a product, it must have passed through a lot of tests. I try all the products on my daughter, who is now a lawyer and ever since she started growing her hair, she has never used any other product. She is my testimony.

What are the challenges of the business? The major challenge is with those who pirate our products by buying empty containers from hair dressers and thus

You have been into this for 10 years, is there any way you are impacting knowledge on the upcoming generation?

What does it cost to take to take off? As a starter, with just hundred thousand you are good to go. For a starter, I will advise that he or she starts with just one product to test the market and see how it fares. It is not good to start with four, five or six products at the same time; it is always better to go one step at a time. By the time the customers’ trust is built and the sales point has increased, then he or she can expand. What advice do you have for the teeming jobless youths? I will advise that they go for training immediately after coming out of school. In fact, schools now take their students on vocational trainings. There are many places with technical incubation centres scattered all over Nigeria. I will also like to say that white collar jobs are not meant for everybody. I have never done any white collar job. I passed out very beautifully in accounting which is really helping me now. I do my accounting myself, I do my costing and taxation by myself because I have the basic knowledge.

Friday, 13 November, 2015

news

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Army warns Biafra agitators

HE Nigerian Army on Thursday warned pro-Biafran protesters and those threatening the unity of the country to desist or it might be forced to come hard on them. The Army, in a signal from its Rule of Engagement (RoE) for internal insecurity operations, signed by the acting Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, declared that the armed forces was empowered by the constitution to suppress insurrection of civil disobedience. “The Nigerian Army would like to send an unequivocal warning to all and sundry, more specifically to all those threatening and agitating for the dismemberment of the country, committing treasonable felony and arson, as well as wanton destruction of lives and property, that once deployed, we shall apply the rule of engagement (RoE) to the letter. “It is however hoped that such circumstances would not arise that we should be deployed on such operations, let nobody make any mistake, within the ambit of the law, we shall apply the RoE to the fullest,” he said. The Rule of Engagement according to Colonel Usman sets out the circumstances and limitations under which force may be applied to achieve military objectives in furtherance of government policy within operation MESA and Internal Security Operation. “In the ROE, once deployed on any IS operation, it is the duty of an officer or soldier to ensure the enforcement of law and order in conjunction with other security agencies. Troops are duty bound to intervene in any situation to avoid a breakdown in peace, stability or law and order of an area where they are deployed. It is inexcusable for troops to stand aside and watch the security situation deteriorate leading to loss of lives or damage to property without intervening. Such intervention should, however, be based strictly on sound judgement and within the ambit of the code of conduct for IS Operations while exhibiting good professional ethics. “For the avoidance of doubt, the ROE for Operation MESA and other IS Operations are as follows: a. Principle of minimum force and proportionality must be applied at all times. b. Whenever operational situation permits, every reasonable effort shall be made to control the situation through measures short of using force, including personal contact

and negotiations. c. The use of lethal force shall only be resorted to if all other means to control the situation have failed or in case of unexpected attack or suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack during which a delay could lead to loss of life or serious injury to personnel. d. Any force applied must be limited in its intensity and duration; it must also be commensurate with the level of threat posed. e. Force shall be used only when absolutely necessary to achieve an immediate aim.

f. The decision to open fire shall be made only on orders and under the control of onscene commander, unless there is insufficient time to obtain such order. Fire can however be opened if the life of a soldier, any law abiding member of the public and/ or property of which it is our duty to protect is in grave danger. g. Fire must be aimed and controlled. Indiscriminate firing is not permitted. h. Fire may be opened to forcefully stop any vehicle that fails to stop at a checkpoint or road block when ordered to stop for

search. i. Automatic fire will only be opened as a last resort. j. Avoid collateral damage. k. After fire has ceased, render medical assistance and record details of incident both in writing and using audio/visual equipment whether or not casualty has been recorded. l. Whenever in doubt, seek clarification from higher headquarters. “Therefore, the Nigerian Army would like to send an unequivocal warning to all and sundry, more specifically to all those threatening and agitating

for the dismemberment of the country, committing treasonable felony and arson, as well as wanton destruction of lives and properties that once deployed, we shall apply the ROE to the letter. It is however hoped that such circumstances would not arise that we should be deployed on such operations, because let nobody make any mistake, within the ambit of the law, we shall apply the ROE to the fullest. “The public is hereby informed that officers and soldiers have been warned

From left, Pan African Christian Police Association Conference (PACPAC) conference coordinator, AIG Michael Daniel; representative of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade and the representative of the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Joseph O. Obayemi, during the opening ceremony of the 2015 conference, at the Redemption Camp, Ogun State, last Monday.

Discharge your duties with fear of God, IGP, Adeboye charge police officers By Adewale Oshodi THE Inspector-General of Police, Mr Solomon Arase, has charged police officers in the country to discharge their duties with the fear of God, saying it is only by doing so that the country could have a more favourable security situation. Mr Arase gave this charge during the opening ceremony of this year’s Pan African Christian Police Association Conference (PACPAC), at the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Redemption Camp, Ogun State last Monday, November 9, 2015. Represented by the Oyo State Police Commissioner, Mr Leye Oyebade, the Inspector-General said police are the watchmen of the society, “noting that in order to succeed in spite of the challenges we are faced with, then we must put God

first in our dealings. “As God’s watchmen, we must impact the police community positively, and to do this, we must walk in unity with God,” Mr Arase said. In his exhortation, the General Overseer of RCCG, Pastor Enoch Adejare Adeboye, described police officers’ work as a mandate from God, saying it is important they allow God to lead them in everything they do. “Your task is enormous; it is the assignment God has

given to you, and you must discharge it with divine instruction in order to be a success. “But once you make your ways right in the Lord, you will do your work with His fear in your mind,” Pastor Adeboye, who was represented by Pastor Joseph O. Obayemi, said. While also speaking, the National Coordinator of the Christian Police Fellowship of Nigeria (CPFN), AIG James Caulcrick, said the theme of this year’s

conference,Christian Police as God’s Watchman was “apt for this season in the face of the current challenges in the African region and the world at large. “It needs no emphasis that we are in perilous times and it behoves us as Christian police officers to stand in the gap,” AIG Caulcrick said. The one-week conference, which had as its theme, ‘The Police as God’s Watchman,’ had in attendance police officers from Burundi, Ethiopia and Kenya.

SDP congress commences tomorrow THE ward, local government and state congresses of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in Oyo state will commence tomorrow. While the ward congress will hold on Saturday, local government congress holds on November 28 and state congress is billed for December 15.

This was contained in a release jointly signed by the state chairman of the party, Honourable Sunday Adelaja and chairman, Organising Committee, Honourable Wasiu Adeleke. The upcoming congresses are being held in line with the party’s resolution at its National Executive

Committee (NEC) meeting on October 30. Adelaja, praying for a successful conduct of the congresses, urged Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity to join the party, as well as register their names in their wards,in line with the rules and regulations of the party.

Nigerian Tribune

not to take sides in any conflict and if found wanting would face the consequences of their actions. Any officer or soldier found aiding or abetting any act of arson, vandalism or unprofessional conduct, would be severely dealt with according to the extant laws.” Also, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase has ordered State Commands of the force to ensure that citizens embarking on rallies and other peaceful demonstrations are provided adequate security in line with the standard operational practice of the Force. This came as he raised concerns to what he described as several false posts on Facebook and other social media, accusing Police of shooting, maiming and even killing members of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who have taken their protests to streets, markets and other public places in some eastern states of Nigeria. The IG, in a statement signed by the force’s spokesperson, Olabisi Kolawole, noted that despite provocation, the Police have maintained and managed the situation with high sense of responsibility and professionalism. He maintained that the Force was conscious of the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly and association amongst others as enshrined in Chapter Four of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended), and cannot afford to maim or kill citizens exercising these rights. “The Inspector-General of Police therefore called on all law abiding citizens to disregard the allegations by these groups, describing their allegations as false and calculated attempt to attract undue attention and sympathy,” the statement noted. It said “Even though the Nigeria Police appreciates the freedom and rights of citizens under the Constitution, the groups are strongly advised to respect the rights and freedom of others while exercising theirs. “The IGP, while calling on leadership of Ohanaeze to wade into these superfluous protests, to save the lawabiding and innocent citizens in the affected states from the hardship being melted out by the groups,reminded those embarking on violent protests/assemblies that such actions are criminalised by law, and anybody arrested will be treated as such under the appropriate legislations.”

news Fashola made me a proud grandfather —Tinubu

Bola Badmus - Lagos

A T I O N A L Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, says he has no doubt that former governor of Lagos State, Mr Raji Fashola, will excel in his new ministerial assignment. Referring to the minister as his political product, Tinubu recalled how he was antagonised over the choice of Fashola as his successor. Tinubu was speaking at the commissioning and launch of the Mile 12-Ikorodu Road widening and Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) operation. “We conquered the enemy when they said it was impossible through Raji Fashola,” he said. “You saw what happened when he was made minister yesterday. Lagos took the front seat. I am now a proud grandfather and I have no doubt he will succeed in that assignment. “Leadership is about how many people you are able to bring up, build up and develop. I have done my

Friday, 13 November, 2015

bit.” He also commended Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of the state, whom he said was “sought out” to

lead the state. The APC leader described the governor as “very creative” and commended him for his con-

SOME Nigerians have urged the new Minister of Technology, Mr Adebayo Shittu, to leverage on the efforts of his predecessor, Dr Omobola Johnson. The stakeholders in the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector made the call in different interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lagos. Mr Lanre Ajayi, the President, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), urged Shittu to lead the sector better than he met it. Ajayi said that the best way for him to achieve that was to look at existing plans, especially the Broadband Plan and ensure its expedited implementation. “There are certain milestones that have been set in the plan, he should ensure that those milestones are

Ministerial nominee for the state, James Ocholi, was yesterday assigned the portfolio of junior minister in the newly-reconfigured Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. The ministry, until now, was known as Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

Buhari’s cabinet, well thought-out —Osun APC

Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

THE All Progressives Congress (APC), Osun State chapter, on Thursday, described the newly constituted cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari as a well thought out team that would drive the change agenda of the Federal Government. In a statement signed by its Director of Publicity, Research and Strategy, Mr Kunle Oyatomi, the party said the outcome of the exercise demonstrated the depth of thinking that went into it and the expert sorting of the portfolios to individuals which is unique in the Nigerian political experience since 1999. According to APC, “President Buhari has redeemed himself from the rash critics of those who had wanted him to move with the speed of lightening in a situation that requires deliberate thinking

imaginations. “We are in the front row now and we will ensure that Nigeria is turned around and succeeds be-

Nigerians set agenda for Communication minister met. “In the end, the goal of the broadband plan, which is to attain 30 per cent penetration by 2018, will be achieved. “There are a couple of challenges the operators

and sorting before embarking on the race to reposition Nigeria and get appropriate people to steer its course into a prosperous future.” The statement reads in part: “it was almost impossible for any critic to fault the president on the distribution of portfolios to his ministers. Even the worst of critics in the PDP will not attempt to do it because what Buhari has done is to put people with track records in positions where they have innate capacity to excel.”

are facing, we expect that he will address those issues and ensure that the right operating environment is created for the operators,’’ he said. Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, President, National As-

sociation of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), said the new minister should harness all human and material resources to ensure that the sector was brought to the fore.

Clement Idoko - Abuja THE newly appointed Minister of State for Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, has pledged to make a change in the aviation sector in pursuance of President Muhammadu Buhari’s change agenda. The minister, while addressing the management

staff yesterday, reiterated President Buhari’s commitment to moving the nation’s economy forward. He said considering the unique nature of the Aviation industry, it would be a huge disaster if his expectations from the industry were not achieved.

The minister said that his tenure would have zero tolerance for errors and corruption, adding that he was ready to take constructive ideas and initiative from everyone around him. He added that there would be no protocol or bottleneck working with him.

I’ll strive to be best minister in Buhari’s cabinet —Onu THE newly sworn-in Minister of Science and Technology, Dr Ogbonnaya Onu, said on Wednesday in Abuja that he would strive to be the best minister in President Mu-

He is to assist Dr Chris Ngige, a former Governor of Anambra State and until the end of the seventh session of the Senate, senator representing Anambra South. Ocholi, one of the early followers of Buhari, was governorship candidate of the erstwhile Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), in Kogi State during the 2011 election, even as Buhari used the same platform to launch his presidential bid same year. He also contested the August 2015 primaries of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, against the eventual winner, Prince Abubakar Audu, a two time governor of the state. Against the backdrop of this longstanding and otherwise robust relationship with Buhari, it was presumed that Ocholi would be assigned one of the more challenging ministerial briefs.

hammadu Buhari’s cabinet. Onu, who spoke on Wednesday night at a reception organised in his honour by Concerned Ebonyi State Indigenes, pledged that he would work assiduously to emerge as the best minister the country ever produced. “One assurance that I will always give you and I have said it repeatedly, is that as your son, I will never do something that you will be ashamed of. “It is better for me to leave politics than for me to do something for my own selfish interest that will make you to be ashamed of your son. “I will continue to act in a way that Nigerians will know that Ebonyi State is

truly the Salt of the Nation. “I want to assure you that I will make sure that I be the best minister Nigeria ever had,” he stated. The former governor of old Abia stressed that no nation had ever attained greatness without science and technology. “I want you to go home with these words: no nation from the beginning of time has ever become great without embracing science and technology. “The U.S. is the greatest power in the world; the largest economy, the strongest military and the U.S. has the highest diplomatic potential that she has used in the maintenance of peace all over the world.”

friends and supporters that he would continue to see himself as an indigene of Oyo State and not a section of the Pacesetter’s State. “I want to assure anyone who has known me as a man who has passion for service that I won’t disappoint them. “I see myself as an Oyo

Earlier, the outgoing permanent secretary of the ministry, Hajiya Binta Bello, who led the management and staff of the ministry to welcome the minister, pledged the cooperation and support of the management and staff of the ministry to the minister.

We’re not here to waste FG’s resources —Water minister Adetola Bademosi - Abuja We are not here to waste Federal Government’s resources, the newly appointed Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, has said on Thursday. He said the ministry, at the course of discharging its duties, would ensure that the cycle of project execution is duly followed. The minister, accompanied by the newly appointed Permanent Secretary, Mrs Rabi Jimeta, stated this in Abuja on his assumption of office.

Niger Delta Affairs ministers call for teamwork Collings Nnabuife - Abuja THE Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru and the Minister of State in the ministry, Professor Claudius Omoleye Daramola, have assumed office with a call on staff to work as a team. The ministers, who arrived the premises of the ministry at the Federal

Secretariat on Wednesday, were ushered to their offices by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs Wakama Beleme. The permanent secretary, who also assumed office the same day, presented hand-over notes to the ministers who immediately held a meeting with the directors of the ministry. During the meeting, Us-

I’m representing Oyo, not Oke-Ogun in Buhari’s cabinet —Shittu MINISTER of Communications, Adebayo Shittu, has pledged to use himself as a rallying force to foster development in Oyo State as a whole. Speaking on Wednesday night in Abuja, at a dinner organised in his honour, the former Attorney General of Oyo State assured his

yond your imagination,” he said. On his part, Ambode reassured the people of Lagos that he would address the issue of traffic congestion and improve road networks in the state. He also pledged his government’s commitment to the infrastructural renewal and development of the state. “Today’s commissioning is a milestone in public transportation system in the state,” he said.

Aviation minister pledges major reforms

APC has nothing for our people —Kogi PDP BARELY twenty-four hours after the inauguration of the new federal executive council by President Muhammadu Buhari, the leadership of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Kogi State chapter, has faulted the portfolio allocated to the state.

tributions toward making Lagos a model city. Tinubu expressed optimism that Nigeria would succeed beyond people’s

State person, not OkeOgun. I want to be seen as a representative of all part of Oyo State, not Oke-Ogun. “I am a minister representing Oyo State. I shouldn’t reduce myself to representing Oke-Ogun. My position as minister should be seen as chief servant for Oyo State.”

Earlier in his remarks, former Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Dibu Ojerinde, had expressed satisfaction over Shittu’s appointment which he described as “a victory for all of us in Oyo State, a victory for all of us in Oke-Ogun.”

ani called for openness and team work from the staff in order to achieve the desired goals of developing the Niger Delta region, and by extension, the whole nation. “Each person complements the work of the other. Even when there is reason for offence, let us talk together. I appreciate team work and that is how I work all my life,” he said. In the same vein, the Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs, Professor Daramola, compared the expected relationship between the staff of the ministry and the ministers to the functioning of human body, where what happens to one part, affects the other.

news

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce, Laffta Fest plan grand arrival in Ayingba, Enugu

HE spiralling excitement continues this weekend for Globacom subscribers as the twin shows, Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce and Glo Laffta Fest arrive Ayingba and Enugu. Glo Slide ‘n’ Bounce will be held at the stadium of the Kogi State University today, while Laffta Fest will take place at Golden Royale Hotel, Enugu, on Sunday. The musical concert, Slide ‘n’ Bounce, will feature top rated artistes and Glo ambassadors, including M.I, Bez and Burna Boy, with special appearances by oth-

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Otaigbe Efe E. now MRS. AKINWOYE EFE EHIME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adediran Dorcas Funmilayo now MRS. AKANDE DORCAS FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Salako Ajibike Jumoke now MRS. AYANYEMI ESTHER JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ikugbayigbe Yinka Mary now MRS. BALOGUN YINKA MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Benjamin Chukwunyere Nwonwu now REVD. BENJAMIN C H U W K U Y E R E OYEDIKACHI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olaseni Taiwo Mary now MRS. ONAKANMI AANUOLUWAPO DORCAS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ndubueze Ebere Blessing now MRS. OKALI EBERE BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Agha Josephine Ijeoma now MRS. ADESANMI JOSEPHINE IJEOMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olabiyi Abimbola Hannah now MRS. ADEBIMPE ABIMBOLA HANNAH. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nig. Ltd, First Registrars Nig. and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Adeyanju Abdulateef Atanda am the same person bearing Abdulateef Abdulazeez. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as MR. ABDULATEEF ABDULAZEEZ ADEYANJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

er Glo ambassadors. On the other hand, Glo Laffta Fest will feature Nigeria’s funniest comedians including Basket Mouth, Gordons, Buchi, Funny Bone, I Go Save, D Don, Senator, Acapella and two musical artistes, Bez and Wiz Kid. According to a statement by Globacom, both shows, having been to 22 locations, will tour seven additional locations, including Awka, Owerri, Markudi, Yenogoa, Aba and Nsukka, to give Globacom valued subscribers in those locations an opportunity to witness the wave-making

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunfowokan-Badejo Jenet Oluwaseun now MRS. MAKINDE JANET OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Nathaniel Olurotimi Abiona Jeje now MR. JEJE NOAH. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

musical concert and comedy show. The statement added that Globacom subscribers who wish to attend the Laffta Fest show should use up to N3, 000 worth of airtime before the show and send ‘LOL ENUGU’ to 33001. Similarly, Globacom subscribers wishing to attend Slide & Bounce are advised to use up to N2, 000 worth of airtime before the show and send ‘YES AYINGBA to 30018.” Glo Laffta Fest and Glo Slide & Bounce were launched by Globacom to delight and reward millions of subscribers on its network across the country.

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 13 November, 2015 CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Banjo Adejoke Sakirat now BADEJO ADEJOKE SAKIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Omoniyi Adenike Pratt Ifeoluwa, am the same person as Feyisetan Pratt Ifeoluwa. Now I wish to be known and addressed as OMONIYI ADENIKE PRATT IFEOLUWA. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank, GTBank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, AYODELE OMOYELE AKINYELE EBENEZER, am the same person as AYODELE OMOYELE and AYODELE AKINYELE EBENEZER. All former documents remain valid. UBA, Union Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Ayoola Damilola Basirat now GBADEBO DAMILOLA BASIRAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olalere Bukola Abidemi now MRS FAKAYODE BUKOLA ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Agba Emmanuel Ushie now ADIE FRANCIS AKPANKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Alegbeleye Selinah Anike now MRS OYEWOLE SELINAH ANIKE. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs Omotosho Folashade Mary now MRS KOWE FOLASHADE ADEOSE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Daramola Josephine Moyin now AKRAN JOSEPHINE MOYIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Basil Esene Agbonbhase now BASIL GODSLOVE AGBONBHASE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Abosede Ajoke Akinlabi now MRS MODINAT ABOSEDE AJOKE LAWAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Abdulsalam Sarat Oluwadamilola now MISS SALAM SARAT OLANIKE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, EMMANUEL ONUKWUBE am the same person bearing EMMANUEL PETER. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Bello Modinat Abidemi now MRS OLASUPO MODINAT ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Somrat Adeola Raheem now MRS SOMRAT ADEOLA ABDULSALAMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Omolola Oyinlola Ajala now MRS OMOLOLA OYINLOLA OLUKOYA. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ebhohimen Philomina now MRS PHILOMINA ENELAMA. All former documents remain valid. Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Dedeke Aderoju Oyinade now MRS DAVID OYINADE ADEROJU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oladipo Oladunni Odunola now MRS ADEKALE OLADUNNI ODUNOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs Odewumi Oluwatoyin Olawanle now MRS JOHNSON OLUWATOYIN ABOLA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Sola Collins now KUTEYI OLUSOLA COLLINS JAMES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Rasaki Aliyu now AHAMAD ABDULRASAQ AMOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Emiri Anwuri Joy now MRS EDIGBUE ANWURI EMIRI JOY. All former documents remain valid. Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Attah Edet Eyo now EDET NEYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Sunday Ogbemudia Victor, am the same person as Mr David Victor Ogbemudia. Now I wish to be known and addressed as SUNDAY OGBEMUDIA VICTOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CORRECTION OF NAME AND DATE OF BIRTH

I, formerly Mrs Tijani Akanni Romoke born on October 1, 1959 now MRS TIJANI FATIMOH ROMOKE, born on October 1, 1948. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Sanusi Musodiq Ayinde am the same person as Abdulrasheed Musodiq Ayinde. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Godspower Kate Jemima now OKUNEYE KATE JEMIMA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Odetunde Bolarinwa Ibukun Ibidun now OYEDIRAN IBUKUN IBIDUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Ojo Kamilu Olawale now MR. AZEEZ KAMILU OLAWALE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Morufu Adekola now YEKEENI BABATUNDE MORUFU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Oni Adeola Grace now MRS. OGUNDIPE ADEOLA GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Popoola Abubakar Abdlrasheed now POPOOLA ADENIYI ABDULRASHEED. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Cecilia Adenike Adenimosun now MRS. ADEMOLA CECILIA ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Prince Adejare Larry Adewale now MR. AGBONJINMI LAWRENCE ADEWALE. All former documents remain valid. Central Bank, First Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Gbadebo Olaide Aminat now MRS. ADEGBITE OLAIDE AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Agbebi Oluwafunke Grace now ORABIYI OLUWAFUNKE GRACE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

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

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Baruwa Olabisi Aminat now MRS. OLADIPUPO OLABISI AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Awodeji Olubukola Jumoke now MRS. OLAKUNLE OLUBUKOLA JUMOKE. All former documents remain valid. IBNLGEA, Oyo SUBEB and general public take note.

I, formerly Adegoke Monsuru Olanrewaju now ABUDULRASHEED MONSURU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Moshobaleje Olusesan Oludeji now ADEYEMO SESAN DEJI. All former documents remain valid. Zenith Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Eje Peter Hero now EJE AGBO PETER. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Imina Elesomi Cecilia now MRS ERHUKEYA ELESOMI CECILIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Akande Desola Omotanbaje am the same person bearing AKANDE DESOLA VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Odiase Celestina now MRS. OGBEBOR CELESTINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Akinlade Motunrayo Kikelomo now KOLAPO MUJIDAT KIKELOMO. All former documents remain valid. TESCOM, Oyo State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Rabiu Olabimpe Sakirat now MRS. JIMOH OLABIMPE SAKIRAT. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

I, formerly Okunola Segun Abolaji now IDOWU BOLAJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunrinde Omolade Juliana now MRS. WILLIAMS OMOLADE JULIANA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Kareem Olawale Sikiru now MR. AKINYEMI MUSA TUNDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Romoke Idayat Nureni now MRS. MUDASHIRU IDAYATU ELLA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Bakare Aishat Iyabo now MRS. KAREEM AISHAT IYABO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, Samuel Onowotejiri Donireri am the same person as JABEZ BENARD ORIGBE. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as SAMUEL ONOWOTEJIRI DONIRERI. All former documents remain valid. CHEVRON Nigeria Limited and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ojeaga Francisca am the same person as Miss Hamzat Bukola now MRS. MOSHOOD BUKOLA FRANCISCA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Aderibigbe Rebecca now MRS. ADELANI REBECCA. All former documents remain valid. Wema Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Habila Yakub now IBRAHIM YAKUB. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ebunlomo Oyewole now MRS. EBUNLOMO FOLORUNSO SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ogunlana Dupe Aminat now MRS. AKANO DUPE AMINAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Muideeen Oladejo now MR ALIU MUIDEEN. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Uchechi Christiana Ezebuiro now MRS. CHRISTIANA UCHECHI FALODUN. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olapade Latifat Omolara now MRS. OLADIMEJI LATIFAT OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Abdul Raman Useini now ABDUL RAMAN USMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Raheem Kolapo Olajide now RAHEEM KOLAPO USMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oguntuase Florence Abosede now MRS. AKHIDENOR FLORENCE ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. FRIN and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Osaseri Patience Lucky now MRS. OLADIMEJI PATIENCE LUCKY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Amore Ayoyinka Oyindamola now MRS AYODEJI AYOYINKA OYINDAMOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Fowora Funmike Olabisi now MRS. ADEJUMO FUNMIKE OLABISI. All former documents remain valid. Guaranty Trust Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Odeniran Victoria Bolanle now MRS. OYEKUNLE VICTORIA BOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Alabi Bolanle Deborah now MRS. OLADEJI BOLANLE DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olatunbosun Temilola Omolara now MRS. ADEBAYO TEMILOLA OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Michael Grace Enobong now ANTHONY GRACE ENOBONG. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Nwaoha Oluchi Vivien now MRS. OKEREKE OLUCHI VIVIEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Salisu Modupe Adesola now MRS. OGUNMADEJI MODUPE ADESOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Anyakora Obianuju Salamatu now OSELOKA OBIANUJU SALAMATU. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Nwakwe Louis Sunday now MR. LOUIS OKORIE EMEKA. All former documents remain valid. Sterling Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Famojuro Ayodeji Adebola now MRS. OLORUNTELE AYODEJI ADEBOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adeyemo Mutiyat Elizabeth now MRS. OYENIYI ELIZABETH ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Okubanjo Oluwatosin now ALABI EMMANUEL OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Quadri Fausat Oluwabusola now MRS. NOFIU FAUSAT OLUWABUSOLA. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Thikan Nice Enaikpor now GODWIN PEREWARI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Daniel Sarah Etim am the same person bearing DANIEL SARAH EKATTE. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Mumini Ramota Olayinka am the same person as Oluwadare Elizabeth Olayinka. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MRS ADENIRAN RAMOTA OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank, Osun State College of Education, Ilesa (OSSCOED) and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adewoyin Rachael Yetunde now MRS. AYOOLA RACHAEL YETUNDE. All former documents remain valid. OAUTHC, Ile-Ife and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ibrahim Oluwatoyin Motunrayo now MRS. OLUYOMBO O L U W A T O Y I N MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Bello Azeezat Damilola now MRS. ADEPOJU AZEEZAT DAMILOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adedeji Suliyat Abiola now DAIRO SULIYAT ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adesokan Anifat Adeola now MRS. BADMUS ANIFAT ADEOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Olatunde Racheal Oluwapemi now MRS. OLANIYI RACHEAL OLUWAPEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Chinwe Ojor now MRS. CHINWE OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid. Diamond Bank, First Bank Plc., Eco Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Popoola Ayodele now MR. SAKA OLALEKAN. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Elesan Kasali Lateef now SALAWU LATEEF IDOWU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Abdul Waheed Abiola now ABDUL AZEEZ ABDUL WAHID ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Lateef Imran Olanrewaju now LATEEF MURAINA LANRE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Akingbade Sanmi Patrick now AKINGBADE SANMI K. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 13 November, 2015 CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adegoke Nafisat Temitope now MRS. ISIAKA NAFISAT TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Hakeem Olawale Alliu am the same person as Hakeem O. Alli, Alliu Olawale Hakeem and Hakeem Olawale Alli. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as HAKEEM OLAWALE ALLIU. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Edeh Elizabeth Veronica now MRS. IKPHERUA ELIZABETH VERONICA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Eniafe-Ajisafe Lilian Oluwafunmilayo now MRS. ABIDOYE LILIAN OLUWAFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Ojo Funke Adedayo now MRS. OLASENI FUNKE ADEDAYO. All former documents remain valid. SUBEB, Ibadan North West Local Government and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. AbdulganiyiImoyemi Christiana Ifeoma now MRS. ABDULGANIYI IFEOMA RASHEEDAT. All former documents remain valid. NIPOST, WOLEX Poly, First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Alimi Ayodele Samuel now ADEBIMPE AYODELE SAMUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Adeagbo Motunrayo Sherifat now BABALOLA MOTUNRAYO SHERIFAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Woleola Kafayat Tinuola now MRS. YUSUF KAFAYAT TINUOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Jelili Ojelade now JELILI AREMU EMIOLA. All former documents remain valid. WEMA Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Isola Rafiatu Toyin now MRS. OWOAKE RUFIAT ISHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Raheem Rasaq Babatunde am the same person as Raheem Rasaq Soji. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as RAHEEM RASAQ BABATUNDE. All former documents remain valid. GT Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Beatrice Bosede Baruwa now BEATRICE BOSEDE PADD. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Immigration and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Bolaji Adebimpe Taiwo now IDOWU ISLAMIAT ADENIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Samuel Funmi Adeiye Olugbade now AJIBADE AKINSANMI SAMUEL OLUGBADE. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Lasisi Kamoru now MR. ADELEKE KAMORU AYOBAMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Wojuola Bolaji Jacob now MR. BOLAJI BISAYO WOJUOLA. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Tijani Gabriel Adedayo now STEPHEN GABRIEL ADEDAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunjobi Sarah Folake now MRS. ALLI SARAH FOLAKE. All former documents remain valid. Oyo TESCOM, Kajola LGA and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Dauda Tijani Tunde now MR. DAUDA GAFAR. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Jimoh Monsurat Tunrayo am the same person as Jimoh Monsurat Tunrayo and Adedokun Monirat. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as JIMOH MONSURAT TUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogholaje Patience Sarah now MRS. BOJOR PATIENCE IYONYETAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Alao Olufunmilola Abidemi now MRS. EKUNDAYO OLU F U N M I LOL A ABIDEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adebisi Tawakalit Romoke now MRS. RASHEED TAWAKALIT ROMOKE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Awoyinfa Aderonke Oluwafunmilayo now MRS. ADEGBUYI ADERONKE OLUWAFUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adegoke Adeola Jemilat now MRS. OGUNDIMU ADEOLA ADEGOKE J. All former documents remain valid. Ibadan North East Local Government and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adebiyi Medinat Oluwatosin now MRS. OLUGUNNA MEDINAT OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Biya Olu Peters now MRS. BIYA STELLA OYETAKIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Taye Ajao now ADEBAYO MUIDEEN AKANJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Idowu Olufunmilayo Morolayo now MRS. OYEKAN OLU F U N M I L AYO MOROLAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Eze Kelechi now AKUBUOGO PETER. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Balogun Fatimoh Ajoke now MRS. AKINDELE FATIMOH AJOKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adebayo Temitope Victoria now MRS. ODUMADE TEMITOPE VICTORIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Funmilola Elizabeth Oyediran now MRS. OLUWAFUNMILOLA ELIZABETH ALAO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Elejofi Damilola Oluwabukola now ELEJOFIPOPOOLA DAMILOLA OLUWABUKOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adewoye Rukayat Adeola now MRS. ADEWOYE MODINAT TOYIN. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adisa Adenike Oyebisi now MRS. NZUTA ADENIKE OYEBISI. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Ministry of Information and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Hamsat Idayat Olaniyi now MRS. OLAJIDE IDAYAT OLAITAN. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Ministry of Water Resource and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Olaosebikan Bolanle Eunice now MISS BOLANLE EUNICE JEGEDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly BiboBere Iyelagha now MRS. BIBOERE FAITH DECK PERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Mosudi Abiodun Akeem am the same person as Ajekunle Abiodun Akeem. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AJEKUNLE ABIODUN AKEEM. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., Union Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Ngozi Ugocha now NGOZI BOSOMOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ganiyat Odunola Yusuf now MRS. GANIYAT ODUNOLA TIJANI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Adewoye Sodiq Abidemi now SODIQ ADESINA AYANTOYE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Solomon Dode now OLEH RITA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Charles Akinmulewo Jose now AKIN SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Miss Edenedo Chojake Charity, now MRS. ETA CHARITY. All former documents remain valid. Ecobank and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ojo Kolade Oladimeji am the same person bearing Ojo Oluwapelumi Kolade. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OJO KOLADE OLADIMEJI. All former documents remain valid. Osun State College of Technology, Esa-Oke, Osun State and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adekunle Oluwatoyin Adetoro now MRS. MORAKINYO OLUWATOYIN ADETORO. All former documents remain valid. ARCSSTE-E, OAU, IleIfe and general public take note.

I, Agwa Victoria am the same person as Obatavwe Eduviere. Victoria All documents remain valid. FirstBank and general public take note.

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

I, formerly Miss Olaitan Victoria Ololade now MRS. OJOBARO VICTORIA OLOLADE. All former documents remain valid. The Federal Polytechnic Ilaro and general public take note.

I, formerly Amuofo Morris Arodovwe now Mariere Morris Arodovwe. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Omaye Timeyin, am the same person as LAJU STEPHEN ALAGBA. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Victoria Brossy now MRS. VICTORIA PINAWEI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akintayo Titilayo Oluwafunmike now MRS. BAMIDELE TITILAYO OLUWAFUNMIKE. All former documents remain valid. Federal Ministry of Information and general public take note.

I, Rachael Emomegwonor Gordon, am the same person as Rachael Emomegwonor Gordon Odjede and Rachael Emomegwonor Odjede. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Falana Amidu Kolawole am the same person as Amusa Amidu Kolawole. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as FALANA AMIDU KOLAWOLE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinwale Mojirayo Abiola now MRS. OLAPADE MOJIRAYO ABIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Abimbola Oke Henry am the same person as Henry Banjo Abimbola. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ABIMBOLA OKE HENRY. All former documents remain valid. WEMA Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, Hamzat Luqman Olatunji am the same person as Awolola Luqman Olatunji. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as AWOLOLA LUQMAN OLATUNJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omope Olubunmi Mojisola now MRS. ADEYEMO OLUBUNMI MOJISOLA. All former documents remain valid. Osun State College of Education, Ilesa, Stanbic IBTC Bank, SUBEB Osun and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ikem Ferdinand Chinenye now IKEM DAVID CHINENYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Esther Akpobiepe now MRS. ESTHER EMUWAWON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Osiowhemu German Dolly, am the same person as Osiowhemu Dolly Deborah, Ekpese Dolly and Osiowhemu Dolly. All documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Narebor Friday now EBIMOBOWEI ENAREBOR. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CORRECTION OF NAME

I, wrongly known as Amado Aghogho Jacob, now DJORHOGBA AGHOGHO JACOB. All documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, general public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Lydia Oritsetimieyin Emiko, now MRS LYDIA ORITSETIMIEYIN EMIKO OFOLUWAFO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Aladhe Efeavoka Vincent Ebah, am the same person as Aladhe Efeavoka Vincent, Ebah Efeavoka Vincent, Vincent Ebah Aladhe. All documents remain valid. Banks, general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Philomena Aigbona Erhunmwunse now MRS. PHILOMENA AIGBONA IMADONMWINYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Arimhigbe Endurance now ALINMHIGBE PRECIOUS AKOHAMEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Aminu Abdulsalam now Bello Najamudeen. All former documents remain valid. First Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Eboibi Joy now AMAGADA JOY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

41 CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ohiemi Goodluck Jona now MOHAMMED JIBRIN. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Friday Joseph now TIMOTHY LUKA. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Muhammed Idris Kabiru now MOHAMMED IDA KABIRU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank, Stanbic IBTC Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ogunwale Olakunle Ajani now OGUNWALE OLUKUNLE AJANI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Omololu Adetola Adekemi now MRS. EKEH ADETOLA ADEKEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr. Raymond Subomi Badmus now MR. RAHMAN AFOLABI ASEKUN. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Immigration Service, America Embassy, First Bank Nig. Plc, Skye Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Faloye Abosede Rhoda now MRS. OKE (Nee Faloye) Abosede Rhoda. All former documents remain valid. Osun State Hospital Management Board (OSSHMB) and general public take note.

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Master Ayoyimika Paul Adeoluwa K. Ogunjunse now MASTER AYOYIMIKA PAUL ADEOLUWA K. EMMANUEL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Friday, 13 November, 2015 CONFIRMATION OF NAME I, Shadiat Ogundiya now wish to be known and addressed as MRS SHADIAT FOLASHADE SULAYMAN OGUNTADE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note. CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Omoloye Tinuke Olaide now MRS. OBIDIPE MORENIKE OLABISI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Ojeyemi Adewale Oluwafemi am the same person as Ojeyemi Adewale Olufemi. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OJEYEMI ADEWALE OLUWAFEMI. All former documents remain valid. OSPOLY, Iree and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Oni Samuel Babatunde Olaleye am the same person as Oni Babatunde Samuel, Oni Babatunde Olaleye and Oni Samuel Babatunde. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ONI SAMUEL BABATUNDE OLALEYE. All former documents remain valid. OSPOLY, Iree and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Zannu Hannah Dayo now MRS JOSU HANNAH DAYO. All former documents remain valid. Ogun State Ministry of Health and general public take note.

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

I, formerly Akubue Adaora Cynthia now OKEKE CYNTHIA ADAORA. All former documents remain valid. Kogi State University and general public take note.

I, Oke Olufemi Segun James am the same person as Oke Olufemi James, Olusegun Oke James. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as OKE OLUFEMI SEGUN JAMES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Augustine Endurance now YUSUF ENDURANCE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Otugene Ojoma Mark now AKOR GODWIN JUDE. All former documents remain valid. general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Lola Dalah . now MRS LOLA IDRIS DAUDA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Emmanuel Otache now OTACHE FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ademoh Suleiman now ADAMU SULEIMAN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Nwachukwu Nwanyieze Patricia now MRS NNALI NWANYIEZE PATRICIA ( Nee Nwachukwu). All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Adeyemi Mary Odunayo now OLOSUNDE OKIKIOLA ODUNAYO MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Shittu Abisoye Morufat now MRS. SOBANDE ABISOYE MORUFAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr Esu Uduak Asukwo now MR UDUAKOBONG ASUKWO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Akintola Tosin Olaide now MRS OLAITAN TOSIN OLAIDE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Falade Labake Magret now MRS ADEDAYO LABAKE MAGRET. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Aribo Omowale now IGOLI OLUSOLA ESTROME. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Yeiyah Ebi now ALFRED SAMSON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Benjamin Omoetan now EHINMEKA SUNDAY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Seiwei Romario G. now SEIWEI GBOROGHA DESTINY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Ferodoye Iseoluwa now MAFO ADE BENSON. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oseyemi Abimbola Akinmola now MRS. OSEYEMI ABIMBOLA OPOKITI. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ojelade Inumidun now OJELADE KEHINDE SEYI. All former documents remain valid. Financial Institutions and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeyemi Kemi Ifeyemi now MRS. ADIGUN KEMI IFEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Obadare Ololade now MRS. FAGBEMIRO OLOLADE OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adiatu Rebecca Adeshola now MRS. OWA REBECCA ADESHOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Grace Iyetunde Ifariwontan now MRS GRACE IYETUNDE EJIKO. All former documents remain valid. General public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Omowole Esrome Santo Temisan now OMOWOLE SANTO TEMISAN. All former documents remain valid. UBA Bank Plc., Okitipupa Branch and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Graet Francis am the same person as Timiminiwel Joshua. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as GRAET FRANCIS. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Abdulganeey Muhammad Ghazali now ABDULGANEEY DARE AIGHAZALI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Grace Ikeoluwa Agboola now MRS. GRACE IKEOLUWA AYODEJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Rolake Badirat Babalola now MRS. ROLAKE BADIRAT BABAWALE. All former documents remain valid. Best Technology, Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adesina Margret Oluwaseyi now MRS. OMOTOSHO MARGRET OLUWASEYI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oyedele Saidat Adesola now MRS. ADEYEMO SAIDAT ADESOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Wojuola Folasade Funmilayo now ALEEM FOLASADE FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Sogelola Yejide Olulani now MS ALEBIOSU YEJIDE OLULANI. All former documents remain valid. Osun State University, University of Ibadan and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ademoloye Foluke now MRS. AKINOLA FOLUKE RACHEAL. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Ajijola Blessing now MRS. OLATOYE BLESSING. All former documents remain valid. UBA Plc and general public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ganiyat Olufunke Adesina now GANIYAT OLUFUNKE FASASI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Agbelekale Rukayat Tope now MRS. AMOO RUKAYAT TOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly MISS AKINTEWE TALE HELEN now MRS. CONTEH TALE HELEN. All former documents remain valid general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Animasaun Rofiat Odunayo now MRS. OLATUNDE ROFIAT ODUNAYO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Ogunwole Omolara Ibidun now MRS. FASOGBON OMOLARA IBIDUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, Bebenimibo Izougha Elisha am the same person as IZOUGHA ELISHA,ELISHA BEBENIMIBO. All documents bearing the names remain valid. Banks and General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Adebisi Ademola now MR. OLASUPO OLASUNKANMI. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank, Wema Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Okolobawei Royal am the same person as Juel Aboy. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as TUWEKE BRIGHT. All former documents remain valid. Banks and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oriowo Ebunoluwa Oluwatosin now MRS. ADEBOYEJO E B U N O L U W A OLUWATOSIN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mrs. Mustapha Toyin Yemi now MRS. ADEGBOLA TOYIN YEMISI. All former documents remain valid. BCOS and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Awogbade Iyabo Nike now KAREEM IYABO NIKE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note. CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Michael Tuesday now MICHAEL TUESDAY STEVE. All former documents remain valid. Management of Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, Educational Authority, Law Enforcement Agencies and general public please take note.

I, formerly Idris Olaadua Kamorudeen now IDRIS AYODEJI KAMORUDEEN. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Joseph Elisha now YAKUBU ABOI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Anjorin Abimbola Oluwaseun now MRS. ADENIYI ABIMBOLA OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Adedeji Gbemiga am the same person as Akinroyeje Gbenga. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as ADEDEJI GBEMIGA. All former documents remain valid. Eco Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Esan Adejoke Esther now MRS. ADEJOKE ESTHER OKEDOKUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mogbeyi Rofina now KARINADE ROFINA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Oteri Ikirere now JOHN EZEBIRI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Clara Temilola Eniola now MRS. CLARA TEMILOLA ADEBOYE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oyetoyi Morayo Felicia now MRS. AJIMUDA MORAYO FELICIA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kalejaye Olayinka Abisola now MRS. ADEWANDE OLAYINKA ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Kehinde Oladipo Oluwabunmi now MRS KEHINDE OGUNLEYE OLUWABUNMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I Mr Demo Aduragbemi am the same person as Demo Gbemi and Ibikunle Gbemi Adura. Henceforth, I wish to be known and addressed as MR. DEMO ADURAGBEMI. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Apejoye Dorcas now MRS. ADELODI DORCAS OLUWATOLA. All former documents remain valid. Ondo State Civil Service Commission, Ondo State Accountant Generalâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Office and general public take note.

I, formerly Sulaiman Bolanle Khadijat now OLULAJA BOLANLE KHADIJAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Akinsuyi Funmilayo now MRS. AKINMAMEJI FUNMILAYO. All former documents remain valid. Union Bank, First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adele Shakirat Adejoke now MRS. SHAKIRAT ADEJOKE ADELE-MUFUTAUDEEN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Olakunbi Samuel Oyeniyi now OYELAMI SAMUEL OYENIYI. All former documents remain valid. GTB, UBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajayi Beatrice Adeyemi now MRS. AKHIGBE BEATRICE ADEYEMI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Alli Akinyesi Emmanuel now ALLI AKINYESI BABA-OGUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Umebuali Patience Chinyere now MRS. UMEZURUIKE PATIENCE CHINYERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

THIS BOX IS FOR SALE

news

Friday, 13 November, 2015

PDP's confab condemns APC's impunity

•PDP caucus in NASS the best —Secondus • Hold the APC-led FG accountable, Ekweremadu charges PDP faithful Leon Usigbe and Jacob Segun Olatunji -Abuja PEOPLES Democratic Party (PDP) leaders across the country rose from their one-day national conference in Abuja, on Thursday, condemning what they described as descent into authoritarianism by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government. The conference noted the diminishing quality of governance under “the increasingly fascist APC regime” and resolved that PDP, at all levels, shall continue to ensure credible, robust and issue-based opposition, while promoting harmonious relationship among all people and ensuring that citizens’ confidence in democracy did not wane. A communique issued at the end of the meeting, signed by the national secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo, condemned, in strongest terms, “the growing authoritarianism of the APC-led Federal Government, which has been characterised by gross violation of human rights, constitutional infractions, invasion of a governor’s lodge and private homes, deliberate interference and instigation of crisis in the legislature, arm-twisting of the judiciary, undermining of democratic institutions, like Independent National Electoral Commisssion (INEC), nepotism in appointments, abuse of power and clampdown on opposition elements.” It called on the international community to note the growing impunity, abuse of power, constitution infractions, violation of human rights, selective war against corruption, clampdown on the opposition, divisiveness and overall high-handedness; tendencies that pose great threat to our democracy and unity as a nation. The conference resolved to denounce “the prevailing selective application in the fight against corruption, targeted at opposition elements and perceived opponents of the regime, while APC members with corruption charges are being rewarded with ministerial positions and other juicy appointments, as well as APC tickets in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.” The communique noted the sudden decline in the economy and quality of life of Nigerians, occasioned by what it said was the lack of direction of the APC gov-

ernment, in addition to the growing tension and rancour in the polity as direct consequences of the divisive tendencies of the present administration. Conscious of the imperative of a quick PDP rebound, the conference called for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the PDP post-election review committee report, especially those relating to zoning, internal democracy, e-registration and the restructuring of the party at all levels, with a view to giving the party back to the rightful owners - the people. The leadership of the PDP, on Thursday, also expressed delight at the conduct of its lawmakers in both chambers of the National Assem-

bly, saying that they had made the party proud since the inception of the eighth National Assembly. The acting national chairman of the party, Prince Uche Secondus, hailed the party's NASS caucus for its steadfastness in protecting the party's interest in both chambers, with regards to issue of leadership. Prince Secondus, who was referring to events of Wednesday in the Senate, during which the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu of the PDP presided over the plenary for the first time, said that had made history that it was fully in charge, despite being the opposition minority. He insisted on the probe and subsequent prosecu-

tion of those involved in the alleged Treasury Single Account (TSA) scam uncovered recently. The Senate had asked the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Ministry of Finance to suspend the TSA, to allow for investigation into allegations that N25 billion was collected by REMITTA to facilitate the process. Deputy Senate President Ekweremadu, on Thursday, charged members of the PDP to hold the APC-led Federal Government accountable on its campaign promises. He lamented that the nation was already drifting under the APC-led Federal Government. Ekweremadu recalled that

even during military rule, the PDP founding fathers, under the aegis of the G34, “looked tyranny in the face and demanded a return to democratic rule,” which eventually came into being despite all odds. According to him, “looking at the way our country is being run by the APCled Federal Government today; it is safe to say that we are back in the trenches for democracy because credible and responsible opposition is an essential, indeed indispensable component of thriving democracy and good governance.” On his part, governor of Ondo State and chairman of the PDP Governors Dorum, Olusegun Mimiko,

told President Muhammadu Buhari that development could only come through a minimum degree of consensus among members of the country. Also, speaking, the acting chairman of the Board of Trustees of the party, Dr Halliru Bello, said he was appalled that the PDP was apologising for its governance for the past 16 years, noting that the party did not have nothing to apologise for. Some of the governors at the conference were Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia); Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta); Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Emmanuel Udom (Akwa Ibom); Idris Wada (Kogi); Darius Ishaku (Taraba).

Nyame didn't make statement under duress —EFCC Sunday Ejike - Abuja

trial of a former Taraba governor, Jolly Nyame, who is being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), for allegedly stealing N1.64 billion of the state funds during his tenure as governor, between 1999 and 2007, continued on Thursday, before an Abuja High Court sitting in Gudu, Abuja. A prosecution witness, Ishaq Salihu, an operative of EFCC, told the trial judge, Justice Adebukola Banjoko, that the statement of the accused person was volun-

tarily obtained. Salihu, from the chambers of Rotimi Jacobs, one of the investigators who took the statement of the accused sometime in July 2007, while answering questions during cross-examination by the defence, Sikiru Adewoye, representing Lateef Fagbemi, said the accused's statement was voluntarily rendered and obtained in a professional manner. According to him, the antigraft agency, as a law enforcement body, had great respect for professionalism and would not do anything to either undermine peo-

ple’s right or the rule of law. Salihu’s testimony brings to a close the prosecution’s case in respect of the trial-within-trial, setting the stage for the defence to present their witnesses.

Justice Banjoko adjourned the case to November 18, for Nyame’s counsel to present their witnesses. The judge further ruled that the defence should be prepared to conclude their

defence on the next adjourned date. Nyame is facing a 41-count charge bordering on criminal misappropriation of state funds when he was governor of the state.

OBJ bags TASUED’s honorary doctorate degree in Political Science AS part of its 10th anniversary and 2015 convocation ceremony, the Tai Solarin University of Education (TASUED), Ijagun, will confer honourary doctorate degree in Political Science on former Nigerian President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Making this known during a courtesy visit by the mem-

bers of the university’s governing council and management to Chief Obasanjo at his Presidential Hilltop, Abeokuta residence on Sunday, was the Vice Chancellor of TASUED, Professor Oluyemisi Oluremi Obilade, who remarked that the award “is a thank you gesture to the former president,

under whose tenure the university was licensed on November 28, 2005.” Professor Obilade informed that the award of the honorary doctorate degree in Political Science to Chief Obasanjo was a unanimous decision of the TASUED’s governing council.

Reps threaten NNPC, PPMC over crude oil swap probe The House of Representatives, on Thursday, threatened to wield the big stick on Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Pipelines and Product Marketing Company (PPMC) and the Crude Oil Division, if it failed to present official documents, as required for its planned probe on crude oil swap deals from 2005 till date. Chairman of the probe panel set up by House leadership, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, while addressing newsmen on the committee's frustration, maintained that Section 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, empowers the House to expose corruption and at the same time, look into government agencies’ books. To this end, the panel declared that: “We want to use this medium to send a message to the Minister of Petroleum and the Minister of State for Petroleum that the most talked about change has not been ef-

fected in the NNPC; rot is still there, because what we have witnessed in the last few days is a clear case of irresponsible behaviour for those who should have the figures and facts to aide this investigation, we are talking of billions of naira lost.” While expressing the committee's frustration, he said “we are having difficulties

with the NNPC, the Crude Oil Division and the PPMC and you are all aware pursuant to section 88 and 89, we have been empowered to expose corruption and at the same time, be able to straighten the books.” Speaking further, he said “but as it appears, the NNPC is trying to subvert our investigation, we have writ-

ten them a letter, just like every other agency; those ones have responded, the NNPC has not responded, the crude division and the PPMC and we wrote a remainder, they only responded passively on Tuesday saying that they need more time. “We want to make it abundantly clear that the eighth

assembly would insist on protecting the rights of Nigerians,” he stated. “If by 12 noon on Wednesday, we don't get a submission from them, the full weight of the law, as enshrined in the constitution, will apply, even if it means making them to appear here and that we will not joke about.”

Rivers not a Biafran state —Elders' Council Dapo Falade -Port Harcourt The Rivers Elders and Leaders Council (RELEC), a group of prominent indigenes of Rivers State, has absolved the state of any complicity in the spate of agitations for the realisation of the Republic of Biafra. It will be recalled that the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) had, on Tuesday, held a protest rally in many parts of the state, seeking for the recognition of the Biafra Republic.

However, RELEC, in a statement signed by Chief Albert Horsfall and Lawrence Ibiayemie, its chairman and secretary, respectively and made available on Thursday, said the Biafran issue was aimed at destabilising the existing peace in the state. Members of the council further described the alleged incursion of youths from neighbouring states as “unwelcome and unwholesome political rascality.” This was as the group also declared its support for the

state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, in banning all forms of unauthorised public protest, rally and demonstration in the state. RELEC said it was disturbed that some political elements resorted to bring in truckloads of demonstrators from neighbouring states to Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, in their quest to disrupt peace in the state. Meanwhile, there has been heavy security presence within the Port Harcourt metropolis since Tuesday,

when the pro-Biafran protesters invaded several parts of the state. The development was in consonance with the banning by the state governor, Chief Nyesom Wike, of all forms of unauthorised public rallies, protests and demonstrations. The governor had, also, on Tuesday evening, warned that the protesters should not dare the ability of its administration to checkmate whichever individual or group that may seek to contravene the ban.

Friday, 13 November, 2015 43 news Suswam: ‘How N18.7bn was paid into unknown account in Benue’ By Kunle Oderemi

he Justice Elizabeth Kpojime Commission of Inquiry, which resumed sitting at the Makurdi High Court on Thursday, heard that the Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, paid N18.7 billion meant for primary school teachers’ salaries into an unknown account with First Bank in Makurdi. Testifying before the

commission, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau, Mr Emmanuel Ikpe, who could not give a satisfactory explanation as to the owner of the bank account, appealed to the commission to invite the former Special Adviser of the Bureau, during the period under investigation, Mr Solomon Wombo and the then, Permanent Secretary, Mr. Asen Sambe, to give the required clarifications.

He alleged that N1.8 billion monthly salaries of primary school teachers owed between October 2013 and June 2014, was lodged in the fixed deposit account number 1017993231 with First Bank. Ikpe claimed that the Bureau made payments between January and May, 2015 to the tune of N18.7billion into the unknown account at First Bank, Makurdi, alleging that officials of the bank

refused to give the Bureau details of the account when the Director of Finance and Administration approached them. When the commission demanded to know who from the Bureau made the payment of N4.6 billion in May and N5 billion in June last year, among others, Ikpe said the then accountant, Mr. Isaiah Ipevnor, and the then Permanent Secretary, Mr. Sambe who was the accounting officer,

the payment processes as major reasons. The governor alleged that some dubious and corrupt officials hijacked

the project to enrich themselves and their cronies, while stating that officials inflated the fees from N270 million in 2012 when he

assumed office to N500 million in 2015, pointing out that the resources of the state could not carry the burden.

Kogi refunds WAEC fees to verified students Yinka Oladoyinbo-Lokoja

The Kogi State government, on Thursday, commenced the refund of the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) fees paid by students of public schools in the state following the verification of the money gulped by the gesture. The peesentation of cheques for the refund to the eligible students commenced with the students of St Augustine College, Kabba. The current administration of Governor Idris Wada, had continued with the annual bulk payment for the final school certificate examination of students in post-primary schools in the state. Government noted that the policy had brought considerable relief to parents, just as it had promoted equitable access to education and had equally enhanced human capital development in the state. However, the state government suspended the payment of the WAEC fees, citing corruption in

Nigeria records 161 deaths per 10,000 vehicles —FRSC boss Clement Idoko-Abuja

THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), has disclosed that about 6,000 deaths are recorded annually from road crashes nationwide. Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of FRSC, Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, made this known on Thursday, in Abuja, during a news conference as part of programmes lined for the commemoration of 2015 Africa Road Safety Day and World Day of Remembrance of Road Traffic Victims. Oyeyemi, who lamented the high rate of road crashes in the country, said Nigeria records 161 deaths per 10,000 vehicles, a trend he described as unacceptable. Some of the causes of road crashes identified by the corps are speeding, overloading, drunk driving and lane indiscipline,

among others. He said: “The Day of Remembrance for the victims of road traffic crashes offers us opportunity for increased public awareness on the challenges which road traffic crashes places on the communities to take necessary steps that can promote major public health and development initiatives that

can assist the victims. “The day is also in line with the United Nations Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2020, which aims at reversing the current trend of 161 deaths per 10,000 vehicles to a level that can place Nigeria among the league of global 20 safest countries in the world by 2020,” hesaid.

were in the best position to explain. On why the sum of N3.4 million was being paid monthly by the Bureau to a contractor, Ameh Technology, Ikpe alleged that the Bureau had entered a contractual agreement with the company for the supply and maintenance of generating plants in the 23 local government areas of the state. He, however, stated that since he became the Permanent Secretary, the money had not been paid to the contractor and the Bureau was thinking of terminating the contract so that if any local government needed such service, it should request for it. When the commission chairman also demanded to know why Ashitech, Ashifood and Akpo Integrated Limited were being paid between N40 and N45 million monthly, the Permanent Secretary requested for time to enable him search the records and furnish the commission with details. Chairman of the commission, Justice Kpojime, adjourned the sitting to enable Ikpe to continue with his testimony today and

saturday, 14 november, 2015

Thursday next week and to enable him tender some documents requested.

Society holds NEC meeting The Nurudeen Society of Nigeria, an Islamic and non-profit making organisation, has held its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, at its Kano State branch of the society. In a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by its national secretary, Alhaji Yusuf Shitu Ayilara, the society expressed its condolence to the Muslim Ummah globally, over the unfortunate incident that occurred during the 2015 holy pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia and prayed for the repose of the pilgrims who lost their lives and prayed that Allah granted the victims’ families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. The society also commended the efforts of Amirul-Hajj, the Emir of Kano, Mallam Sanusi Lamido for his outstanding leadership role during the Hajj period, even as it pledged its unwavering support to President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts at tackling the menace of corruption head-on in the country.

n150

entertainment

feature

Ekiti assembly declares Fayose ‘leader of opposition in Nigeria’ Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

The Ekiti State House of Assembly, on Thursday, declared the state governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, as the leader of opposition in Nigeria. At a special sitting to mark the governor’s 55th birthday, the Assembly, apart from moving a vote of confidence on his government, also said the governor had remained “a courageous leader.” In a motion by its Majority Leader, Mr. Olatunji Akinyele, representing Oye constituency II, and seconded by Chief Gboyega Aribisogan of Ikole I, the Assembly said Fayose had remained a “lone voice in opposition in the country.” The Assembly said “he’s not only been articulate, erudite, consistent and courageous, he has been the lone voice of opposition in the country.” At the special sitting pre-

sided over by the speaker, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, the Assembly said it noted that the governor had remained the only consistent opposition voice against what they described as “dictatorial tendency of the Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government”, in arriving at its decision. Meanwhile, the member, representing Ekiti South Federal Constituency of Ekiti State in the House of Representatives, Pastor Segun Adekola, has sent a message of congratulation to Governor Ayo Fayose of Ekiti State, on his forthcoming 55th birthday, saying the governor‘s wisdom gets better with age. While speaking ahead of the governor’s birthday, which comes up in two days, Adekola said the governor at his age is blessed with good wisdom, which he said ,has been helping him in the course of dealing with the people as well as administering the state.

I don’t bite more than I can chew

—Rose Odika

Doctor cut my wife’s intestine, used towel When a man to block it, bereaved is quiet, it husband weeps, doesn’t mean demands justice women affairs

he’s a fool

—Dr (Mrs) Alaba, UI don

Governance requires divine wisdom —Oyo Speaker

politics newsfeature

How gamblers consult lunatics, spiritualists for winning numbers Book your copy today

news

Friday, 13 November, 2015

Power reform: BPE staff on board of GENCOs, DISCOs compromised process —Senate

•Says they received exotic SUVs as privileges •I didn’t receive any gift –BPE boss Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi -Abuja

HE Senate ad hoc committee on power, on Thursday, alleged that some of the staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) were compromising their offices by receiving exotic jeeps as privileges from power generation and distribution companies. The Senate committee, probing the privatisation of power assets of the nation, said on Thursday that some members of staff of the BPE were serving as board members in some of the GENCOs and DISCOs and received various gratifications going by the pieces of information at its disposal. The committee chairman, Senator Abubakar Kyari, who stated this while addressing stakeholders at the public hearing, said the development was capable of hampering the success of the companies. “I have the protection of the Senate to say what we have gathered. There are some staff of the Bureau of Public Enterprises that are board members of generation companies and distribution companies who were given Prado and Land Cruiser Jeeps,” he said. He also added that the alleged gratifications would also affect the said staff of BPE from effectively discharging their duties of protecting the interest of the Federal Government, which still retains 40 per cent equity in the firms. A member of the committee, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, said the alleged compromise of the BPE staff had affected the necessary coordination between the power firms and the power ministry. Abdullahi, who is also the Senate spokesman, informed that the BPE, which should be negotiating for the country on the boards of the power firms, should be technically and morally responsible to the country, but lamented that “with the action of the staff, it seems that the BPE is shortchanging the country.” The Director-General of BPE, Mr Benjamin Dikki, however, insisted that his agency had not and would never be compromised in its responsibility of ensuring a perfect process of privatisation. He denied ever collecting gratification in any form in the course of discharging his responsibilities, but asked the Senate to direct further investigation on the alleged car gifts to the af-

fected firms. “We are there (on the board of GENCOs and DISCOs) to protect Nigeria’s interest. Whatever the companies are paying or have given to their board members as privileges should be referred to the respective companies. “Whether the privileges are right or not, I don’t know. I take exception that we have shortchanged

the government. We balanced the interest of government and investors because what we are looking for is investment. We need to create an enabling environment for the business to thrive,” he said. A former Minister of Power, Alhaji Bello Suleiman, who also spoke at the public hearing, urged the Federal Government to investigate the privatisation processes

carried out by the BPE in the power sector. Suleiman, who was also the former Managing Director of the defunct National Electric Power Authority, was one of the resource persons at the two-day public hearing. “With all due respect, there is an urgent need for independent scrutiny of the privatisation exercise in the power sector. The

perception is that it has not been transparent, a committee of experts should do it,” he said.. “The experts should examine whether the companies are capable to financially and technically take the country to the level of the 40,000 megawatts. If we do nothing now to ensure that they are the right persons, at the end of the day, we may fail,” he added.

Suleiman also advocated the use of the concentrated solar technology, which he described as a viable means of increasing power generation. "We should look at our power needs rather than adopting a fire brigade approach. We have tried Gas and it has failed us. The world is going to a new technology called Solar Technology, "

The house, where the incident happened. On the right is the surviving child.

Parents, 3 children die in Ibadan petrol explosion By Tunde Ogunesan IT was a dark Wednesday for the family of Mr and Mrs Adisa of No 26A, Agala Success School, Babanla, Ibadan, as five members of the family were killed in an explosion. Nigerian Tribune learnt that Mr Adisa, a proprietor of Ifeolu Nursery and

Primary School, Oremeji, Ibadan, was re-fuelling the family’s power generating set when his wife approached him, holding a candle light. The candle light, it was gathered, caused explosion, which ravaged the family house, leaving the parents

and three children dead. It was only Boluwatife, who was sent on an errand to buy MTN recharge card, that was left unhurt. Sources further informed that Boluwatife could not believe herself on her return, seeing crowd gathered in front of their house.

Mrs Adisa and three children died immediately, while Mr Adisa died at the emergency unit of the University College Hospital (UCH), on Thursday morning. One of the late children of the family, sources informed Nigerian Tribune,

was preparing for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) next batch. Mr Adisa, who was due to move to his personal house by December, his wife and children were buried in five different graves around Babanla area on Thursday evening.

Alleged money laundering: We received over 5 petitions against Ohakim —Witness A prosecution witness has told Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, that the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), received over five petitions against former Imo State governor, Ohakim Ikedia, who was arraigned on Wednesday, July 8, on a three-count charge bordering on money laundering. Ohakim is alleged to have made a cash payment of $2,290,000 for a piece of

land at Plot No. 1098 Cadastral Zone A04, Asokoro District, otherwise known as No.60, Kwame Nkurumah Street, Asokoro, Abuja. While answering a question by the defence counsel, Awa Kalu, prosecution witness, Ishaya Dauda, said the commission received over five petitions against the accused person. Dauda, a Senior Detective Superintendent with the EFCC, also told the

court that some of the petitions against the accused person were received from Alliance of Redemption and Destiny Organisation; Aggrieved Imo State Citizens; Citizens for Imo Economic Security and 27 people (who are all signatories to a petition) from each of the 27 local governments in the state. When asked by the defence counsel if he made any effort to confirm whether or not the groups

were registered, Dauda said there was no need to do that. Dauda further told the court that while answering a question by the defence counsel, that all the petitions were investigated. However, when the defence counsel asked for copies of the petitions in court, the prosecution witness told the court that the petitions were in the commission’s files. However, the prosecution counsel, Festus Keya-

mo, raised an objection to the request, saying that the defence counsel had failed to do the proper thing as required by law. In his ruling, Justice Ademola said the prosecution was right in his submission, adding that "if you (the defence counsel) needed them, as you do need them, you would have asked the prosecution to give you." The case was adjourned to December 7 for continuation of trial.

communitynews

Oyo gov urges fish sellers to act according to unionâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rules

YO State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has urged members of Oyo State Fish Sellers Association (OSFSA) to conform with the laid down rules and regulations of the union, adding that the state government is doing its best to address the imbalance in the frozen fish business. The governor, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Mr Kolawole Rasak, made the declaration, on Wednesday, during the presentation of awards to stakeholders and certificate for the completion of THE seminar to members,

at Mapo Hall, Ibadan. Rasak added that the ministry has held series of meetings with the cold room operators in its effort to control the fluctuations of price of frozen fish in the market. Also speaking, the acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Mr Joseph Akinlabi, said it will do a lot of good to members of the association and the people of the state in general, if they make their environment clean. In her remarks, the chairperson of the association, Alhaja Afusat Yusuf, thanked the state government for their immediate response to their plights,

Fayose seeks understanding of Ekiti communities Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

GOVERNOR Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has pleaded for understanding and more support from people of the various communities in the state. Governor Fayose, who made the call at the weekend, said despite the challenges his government was facing, he would uplift the standard of living of the masses. Fayose stated this in separate messages sent to the people of four communities celebrating their annual days in Irepodun/ Ifelodun, Moba and Gbonyin Local Government areas of the state. The Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, who stood in for the governor in Iyin-Ekiti, Otun-Ekiti, Ijan-Ekiti and Ode-Ekiti, said the governor asked him to ask the people for more understanding and support in the face of dwindling revenue from

monthly federal allocation. Oluwawole, who described the representatives of the different constituencies as hard-working people who bore the love of their people at heart, explained that much as governor Fayose appeared handicapped by the increasingly paltry allocation coming to the state, he remained resolute to provide all that he had promised the people during his campaigns. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The governor asked me to express his gratitude to you. He wishes you the grace to witness many more of the day. And he said I should tell you to continue to understand and support his administration. He said he wanted you to be witness to the manner in which the current government is being run, so that posterity will judge all of us. That is why he is laying bare the finances of the state from time to time.

especially the incessant increase in price of frozen fish. She added that the awards were given to the stakeholders in the fish business for their immense contribution. She said members who had participated in the seminar organised by the association were also presented with certificates.

Ilaro set to celebrate Oronna festival THE Oronna-Ilaro Festival 2015 begins tomorrow with a road show round the town of Ilaro and other Yewa communities. The weeklong festival starting from tomorrow will culminate in a grand finale on Saturday, November 21, at Asade Agunloye Pavilion, Empire Field, Ilaro with Senator Ibikunle Amosun, the governor of Ogun State as special guest of honour. According to the Chairman, Planning Committee, Chief Kayode Odunaro, the over two decades annual cultural festival, which was endorsed as a tourism festival by Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) in 2012 is celebrated in honour of the legendary warrior, Oronna as a unifying development platform to display the cultural practices of Ilaro and Yewa people. Some of the activities highlighted for this yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s edition are tributes to Oronna and other deities, Sisi Ilaro cultural beauty pageant, a three-day medical checkup, homage to the Olu of Ilaro and paramount ruler of Yewaland, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle by over 70 clubs and societies, among others.

Security: Oyo CP charges Mokola PCRC on community policing OYO State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade, has charged members of Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), Mokola Division, not to relent in their effort in collaborating with police for effective community policing in the area. The commissioner gave the charge, on Thursday, during the launching and laying foundation of a multi-million naira building project and patrol vehicle provided by PCRC Mokola Division at the police headquarters, Mokola, Ibadan. Mr Oyebade, who was

represented by the Area Commander, Iyaganku, ACP Abubakar Bature, said that efforts of PCRC in community policing cannot be overlooked, adding that interaction with members of the community has bridged the gap between the police personnel and the community. While speaking, the chairman on the occasion, Elder Omonayajo Davies, said the PCRC Mokola Division had been working tirelessly with the police personnel morally and financially to reduce criminal activities in their division.

Davies, however, said that PCRC has deemed it fit to provide an additional patrol vehicle to the division in order to boost adequate and effective patrol in their jurisdiction. In his remarks, the PCRC chairman, Mokola Division, said the launching was based on the approval they got from the office of the Commissioner of Police to construct an ultramodern hall wchich will cost about N15 million. Awards of recognition were given to notable persons in the community for their contributions to the development of the area.

Friday, 13 November, 2015

occasions

featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0801 184 5048

Baruch Christian magazine launched

new quarterly Christian magazine, ‘Baruch’ has been launched at a wellattended ceremony. Date was October 31, 2015 and venue was the conference hall of Space FM, Liberty Road, Ibadan. Publisher of the magazine, Pastor John Mabunmi, senior pastor of Restoration Chapel, Ajengbe Street, Oke Ado, Ibadan, in his welcome address, revealed that the name BARUCH means blessed. “This vision is pivoted on the scriptures and the meaning of Baruch is blessed from Jeremiah 32:12-14 and 36:4-6. The vision of this organisation is to become the most reliable and trusted source of unbiased Christian news to the global church,” he said at the launch while appreciating all those who contributed one way or the other in making the first issue of the magazine a success. Mr Yinka Agboola, Publisher of Parrot Extra magazine, was the reviewer of the magazine while Reverend Afolayan dedicated it. Pastor Ayo Afolayan, Pastor Kanye and Rev A. A. Afolayan also got a mention as being instrumental to the success of the magazine.

1. Front cover of the magazine 2. Pastor Mabunmi (left) and some guests at the launching. 3. From left, Mrs Adebukola Mabunmi, Pastor Mabunmi, Pastor Ayo Afolayan, Reverend A.A. Afolayan, Mrs Afolayan and little Temilolu Afolayan. 4. Some guests at the ceremony

Tiles donated to church to mark 10th anniversary of Pa Bolade’s exit By Taiwo Olanrewaju Wednesday, September 30, 2015 marked the 10th year anniversary of the passing on of Pa Joseph Abolade Olaniyi. His children, family members, friends and associates thus, gathered at Methodist Church, Bodija Circuit, Agbowo Express, Ibadan where the deceased worshipped during his life time, for a befitting commemoration on Sunday, October 4. Pa Olaniyi’s children, aside preparing sumptuous delicacies to host guests, also did the tiling of

the church. In his sermon, Very Reverend Simeon Oluwole Onaleke, who spoke on the theme, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” said he was not surprised that the children took it upon themselves to tile the church as they were simply trailing their father’s footsteps. Onaleke, who noted that life was a paradox, wondered why a child should be born with a hole in his heart; and said life’s challenges were to exercise the supremacy of God’s will over mankind, even as he urged Christians to trust God.

1. From left, Mrs Kikelomo Olaniyi; Mrs Sarah Olaniyi; Sir Christopher O. Bolade and his wife, Lady Funmilayo, from right (back row), Dr Matthew Bolade; Pa Akinbola Olaniyi and Mrs Taiwo Olaniyi. 2. From right, Mrs Abigail Fabusuyi; Sir Christopher Bolade, Lady Funmilayo Bolade; Mr Isaac Bolade; Mr Timothy Abolade; Mrs Funke Bolade and Mr Olukola Bolade, during the thanksgiving. 3. Very Reverend Simeon Oluwole Onaleke dedicating the tiling of the church done by the family of the deceased. 4. Members of the Abolade Olaniyi family and the clergy at the entrance of the church.

tribunesport

Friday, 13 November, 2015 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

World Cup qualifier:

Ado, Okoromi, Yusuf shine at Wuraola Ojo golf tourney Gonji Ado of IBB Golf Club, James Okoromi of Ilorin Golf Club and Grace Yusuf of Ado Ekiti Golf Club were victorious at the just-concluded 12th Wuraola Ojo Memorial annual Golf tournament held at the Smokin Hills Golf Resort, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State. Ado, a humble golf course manager playing handicap 12 beat the past winner of the tournament and former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola also a handicap 12 player to the first place with a gross of 43 as the latter finished with a gross of 41. The ‘iron’ lady of the Ado Ekiti Golf Club, Yusuf playing handicap 14 triumphed in the women’s category with a gross of 33, while Obadina H. of Shagamu golf club playing handicap 11 and Ikoyi Club’s Iyiola Ronke a handicap 14 finished second and third with a count back (CB) gross of 31 and gross 31 respectively. Another lady that flexed her muscles in the category

was Tina Micha of the Jos Golf Club who went home with three prizes, winning the women’s Best Gross, Longest Drive and Nearest to the pin ( hole 13). Also in the professional category. Okoromi of the Ilorin Old Club posted a gross of 73 to emerge winner, as Adeokuta-based golfer, Lateef Lasisi followed with 75 gross while Paul Patrick of Shagamu golf club came third with a gross of 76. As usual non of the golfers made the Hole-inone to win the coveted prize of Toyota Fortuna staked by the sponsors, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL). Mrs Taiwo Ade Ojo won the most publicised prized of the Amiable Woman’s Award which was meant to extol the virtue and vision of the deceased.

We are 100% ready for Swaziland —Musa Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

APTAIN of the Super Eagles, Ahmed Musa has said that he and his team-mates are batte-ready for today’s 2018 World Cup qualifer against the Sihlangu Semnikati of Swaziland. Speaking ahead of the team’s departure on Thursday, the CSKA Moscow forward stated that the Eagles knew the challenge ahead of them and will go for nothing but outright victory in Lobamba. “We are 100 per cent ready for the match. We all know the importance

Ahmed Musa, Super Eagles’ captain.

of playing at the World Cup and as such we are taking the match serious,” he said, adding that, “by the grace of God, we are going to Swaziland to win.” Musa also expressed his readiness to lead the Super Eagles again against Swaziland as he enjoys a cordial atmosphere in the camp. “With the support of all the players, I can lead team as captain,” the former Kano Pillars star said. Musa, it will be recalled, was named Nigeria captain by coach Sunday Oliseh last month before the team’s friendly against DR Congo in Belgium, from retired national goalkeeper, Vincent Enyeama.

As Glo charges Eagles on victory GLOBACOM has urged the Super Eagles to work assiduously towards defeating Sihlangu Semnikati of Swaziland to brighten their chances of clinching the 2018 World Cup ticket. Both sides clash today at

the Somholo National Stadium, Lobamba in a World Cup qualifier. In a press statement issued on Thursday in Lagos, Globacom charged the Super Eagles to be prepared for a tough encounter

as there are no minnows in African football again. It stated that the Swaziland team will be battleready, having recently trashed Djibouti 8-1 in the preliminary round. “It is going to be a cru-

Victorious Eaglets need a vision —Ejidike Nigeria’s Pillar of Sports, Chief Donatus Agu Ejidike has appealed to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to give the victorious Golden Eaglets a sense of direction that would assist them to become successful in their career.

Golden Eaglets’ striker, Victor Osimhen dazzles during the game against Brazil at the just-ended Chile 2015.

Ejidike while commending the Eaglets for winning the just-ended FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, for a record fifth time, described the victory as manifestation of change and turn-around in the round leather game in Nigeria.

Maiden GCI quadrangular hockey tourney begins By Nurudeen Alimi THE maiden edition of the Government College Ibadan quadrangular hockey tournament has kicked off at the school’s hockey pitch. According to the school’s hockey coach, Yemi Siyanbola, the tournament will

be rounded off tomorrow. The participating schools are St. James High School (Osun State), Eletu Odibo High School (Lagos State), Fazil-Omar High School (Lagos State) and host Government College Ibadan (Oyo State). The tournament sponsor, Engineer Folarin Olujem-

bola, while speaking with Tribunesport said the objective of sponsoring the tournament was to promote hockey and as well discover players who can be groomed to represent the country in the near future. He further stated that hockey is not as popular as other sports in the country

hence the need to popularise it. “Hockey has not been enjoying the desired attention being enjoyed by other sports particularly football and that is the main reason I decided to come up with the idea of sponsoring what I will call this mini-hockey tournament.

In a statement issued by his aide, Prince Olayioye Ajide, he praised the players for their sense of patriotism and commitment which earned Nigeria the first place in the U-17 age grade football. “I want to state clearly that all that we need to do is to keep the boys, programme them and give them a vision that will prepare them for future challenges in higher age-grade football,” he said. Ejidike, who is also the president of Karate Federation of Nigeria however, urged the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to keep the boys together to form the next national U-20 team, the Flying Eagles.

cial encounter in which the Eagles must emerge victorious to advance to the league stage,” the statement added. Globacom commended the rebuilding process so far undertaken by the Sunday Oliseh-led technical crew with the aim of not only getting the players in shape, but also assembling the best eleven capable of making Nigeria proud. While advising the technical crew to go for the fittest and focused players who can withstand the pressure associated with away matches of this magnitude, the telecommunication company urged the entire team to give their best and ensure that they emerge victorious in the encounter to make the second leg in Port Harcourt less cumbersome. “The Super Eagles should make Nigerians happy and complement the victories of the Golden Eaglets in Dubai and Falconets in South Africa by going for victory in Swaziland,” the statement concluded.

SIDELINES

Friday, 13 november, 2015

no 16,369

n150

A youth corps member involved in the pension scam trial reportedly collected N23 million as his own share of the loot. If indeed the youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow then what will the youth, represented by this corps member do when they get into leadership position? How much will he ‘collect’ when he assumes a leadership position?

World Cup qualifier

Swaziland coach goes spiritual for Eagles H ead coach of Swaziland senior national team, Harris Bulunga is hoping for some divine intervention as he leads Sihlangu Semnikati against the star-studded Super Eagles team in today’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier. Bulunga who spoke with Brila FM on Wednesday posited that his side is working and praying hard for the game billed for the Somholo National Stadium. “God is my strength. We always pray, we are a Christian country, we pray a lot even myself as an individual, I gather my strength with prayer, and we always call on divine intervention,” Bulunga said. He declared that the whole Swaziland are eager to see the Nigerian stars in their country today. “This is the first time Nigeria will be in our country and everyone is excited about the match. The general public, the government politicians even the players themselves, they are motivated and looking forward to testing themselves against these well known players they use to watch on television. “So the nation is in prayer, of course that at least in the two legs we will manage to win one of the matches. It’s going to be a tough match, but we believe that we can give a good showing,” Bulunga said. He assured that his wards are battle-ready for the match. “As you have seen all 22 players participated in today’s’ train-

ing, you witnessed the high spirit in our camp for this match,” the coach told Swazi Observer on Wednesday.

“We are doing final touch-ups here and there and we hope the players won’t pick late injuries before match day.”

Speaking about the response from the players, Bulunga added that his men are responding well to his methods.

Iheanacho (right) takes on a Brazilian opponent at the last FIFA U-20 World Cup in New Zealand.

Iheanacho awaits senior debut today Manchester City starlet, Kelechi Iheanacho has said that he is eager to make a bright start with Nigeria’s senior national team, the Super Eagles. Iheanacho is among the players who were on the trip to Swaziland and he could be making his debut in today’s 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Sihlangu Semnikati. Iheanacho told reporters in Abuja that he is confident of replicating his impressive club form in the national team, as he is ready for the big stage regardless of the fact that he is one of the youngest players in camp. “I am happy to be with the (Super Eagles) and the players who are based in Europe. “I play with experienced players at Manchester City so there will be no shyness and I will not feel that I am playing alongside players that are more experienced than me. “I am full of confidence and I am sure I can add something to this team,” he said. Iheanacho who has scored twice in all competitions for City this season has starred for the Golden Eaglets, Flying Eagles and now set for the ultimate.

FIFA drops Platini, clears 5 for presidency poll World football governing body, FIFA on Thursday in Berlin confirmed five candidates to run for its presidency on Feb. 26, after its electoral committee named them as official candidates. The committee named the can-

didates to include Prince Ali AlHussein of Jordan, Asian confederation chief Sheikh Salman Al Khalifa of Bahrain and former FIFA official Jerome Champagne of France. The rest are UEFA Secretary General Gianni Infantino of Switzerland and South African Tokyo Sexwale. Trinidadian ex-footballer David Nakhid was however not included on the list, in spite of him saying he had submitted his candidacy. Also, FIFA said Liberia’s Musa

Bility had failed to pass an integrity check and it dropped him. A report from the committee disclosed that UEFA president, Michel Platini has also submitted a bid. The committee said he could become a sixth candidate, after the end of his 90-day provisional ban. It said the situation could also change if FIFA’s appeal committee or the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) overturned the ban imposed by the FIFA ethics committee. Platini was banned in connection with a “disloyal payment” he

received from the also suspended FIFA president, Joseph Blatter. The report disclosed that Bility was not admitted in view of the content of the integrity check report relating to him. It did not go into details because of personality rights, but said Bility has the right to appeal the decision before CAS. The committee also said Nakhid was not accepted by FIFA because he provided the backing of a member-federation which was already supporting another candidate.

We will protect Eaglets from dubious agents —NFF

Platini

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has stated that the business of youth transfer henceforth will come strictly through its table. Nigeria has suffered the unfortunate fate of losing scores of young prospects to dodgy football intermediaries and regressive contracts with clubs all over the world.

Speaking with www.footballlive.ng, the first vice-president of the NFF, Barrister Seyi Akinwunmi maintains that the Golden Eaglets who won the just-ended FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile in the early hours of Monday, are ‘national assets’ who will be protected from exploitative intermediaries. ”They do not belong to any agents

or clubs because nobody will come to them; for this value they have now, if they did not play for Nigeria. We are determined that as from now on any agents who wants our young boys and girls, must do so on proper terms that will benefit their career and Nigeria will not be shortchanged anymore,” Akinwunmi said.

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 13/11/2015.