14th Septebmer 2015 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,326 MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER, 2015

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Banks lose 20,000 accounts to TSA —P10

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Makkah tragedy: 4 Gombe pilgrims missing, one from Kaduna affected

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STOCK MARKET: TOP 5 GAINERS

TOP 5 LOSERS

—P40

FULL REPORT ON PAGE 12

N1.4trn voted for federal roads in 16 years —Investigations

•East-West Road awarded in 2006 for N211bn •Ilorin-Ibadan Expressway - N45.7bn •Lagos-Ibadan Expressway - N167bn

—P4 Senate probes DSS over dismissal of 60 cadets •30 days to end training —P2

Key appointments:

Buhari has handicapped South —Adebanjo —P4

An Official of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), receiving some Nigerian internally displaced persons (IDPs) from Cameroon, in Maiduguri, Borno State, on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN.

Fight against corruption is for soul of Nigeria —P15 —Buhari

Many Chibok girls are now Boko Haram fighters —Rescued girl •Sustained air strikes forcing more terrorists to surrender –Army —P3

news Senate, Human Rights Commission to probe DSS 2

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Over dismissal of 60 cadets Taiwo Adisa -Abuja

HE Senate and the National Human Rights Commission are set to probe the Department of State Services (DSS) over alleged dehumanisation of some 60 cadet officers dismissed from the service last week. The affected cadets had, through their counsel, Clarence Yakubu Chambers, Lagos, petitioned the upper chamber and the Human Rights Commission, alleging inhuman acts against them before they were served letters of dismissal. The petitioners alleged

Lalong petitions EFCC over looted state fund Isaac Shobayo - Jos FOLLOWING the expiration of two weeks ultimatum given by the Plateau State governor, Mr Simon Bako Lalong, to those who looted the state treasury to return the money, the governor said the list of those behind the financial misdemeanors in the previous administration have been forwarded to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for investigation. Speaking with newsmen in Jos, the Plateau State governor, Lalong, who was worried by the delay of the EFCC to do justice to the petitions forwarded to the commission, said if nothing happened within the shortest possible time, he would remind the EFCC, adding that Plateau State needed the looted money to develop the state. “We have written to the EFCC and asked them to investigate, the delay now is from the EFCC, I am going to remind them. The commission had the gut to arrest some of us some years back, when there was no evidence, now that there are evidences why should they delay in arresting people,” he queried. The governor, who said he disagreed with the former president that there was a difference between stealing and corruption, said what his administration discovered when it took over was a case of stealing by the previous administration, adding that two months’ allocation belonging to the local government were diverted.

that some women among the cadets were taken to a hall, asked to strip naked and thoroughly searched before being given dismissal letters. They were undergoing training at the State Services Academy, Lagos and had about 30 days to the end of their 10-month training. The petitioners belonged to the Cadet Officers Basic Course 28 of 2014, codenamed COBC28/2014. The petition stated that the dismissed 60 officers were among the 420 graduate trainees who had been in the academy since Decem-

ber 2014, adding that most of them were doctors and para-medical graduates. According to the counsel, the officers were due for commissioning into the service as Senior Intelligence Officers (SIO) on October 26, 2015. Some of the women cadets were said to relate their experience to the counsel, who is demanding a probe by the Human Rights Community and the Senate. Letters of dismissal, dated September 4, 2015, which was handed over to the affected officers read: “I am directed to inform you that

the Director General, State Services (DGSS) has approved the termination of your appointment from the Service with immediate effect. "You are, however, required to hand over all government property in your possession, including your study guide/notebooks to the Director of Studies, State Services Academy (SSA), Lagos, and obtain appropriate clearance before your final exit, please.” It was signed by G.K. Mohammed on behalf of the Director-General of the State Services, Lawal Daura.

The counsel narrated the account of one of his clients thus: "On Wednesday, September 9, 2015 at exactly 1.00 p.m., a team from the National Headquarters of State Services Abuja came and about 60 of us were called out of the VIP Protection Practical and asked to march to the multi-purpose hall for further directives. "We were asked to present our original credentials for screening. "On Thursday, the following day, all the female cadets were asked to jog to the multi-purpose hall for physical screening. From there,

we were asked to move to tattoo ground. “On getting there, we were asked to remove our cloths completely for them to check if we have tattoo on our body. "One senior officer threatened us to open our private parts and raise our hands up for them to check for the tattoo. One Muslim lady refused to remove her pant saying it was against her religion. "After that, dismissal letters were given to us. We were asked to leave the academy immediately in the rain on Friday."

news Many Chibok girls now Boko Haram fighters —Rescued girl 3

James Bwala -Maiduguri

ANY among the abducted girls from Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, have turned into Boko Haram fighters, 21-year-old Tabitha Adamu, one of the women freed from the Boko Haram insurgents and handed over to the Borno State government, has said. Tabitha, who was pregnant for one of the commanders of the Boko Haramsect killed during the raid that bought her

Monday, 14 September, 2015

freedom told the Nigerian Tribune in an interview that she was not one of the abducted Chibok girls, but had mingled with them at various times in many camps of the Boko Haram before the raid that eventually led to her freedom. According to Tabitha, she was taken from Bayan Dutse, in Gwoza Local Government Area, when the insurgents invaded her village. “They killed my father and brother. They took me along with my mother but, at some point, we were separated. Since then, I never set my eyes on my mother.

When he (Abu Kabir, her Boko Haram husband), wanted to marry me, he gave the women who were taking care of us N5,000 as my bride price. “Before the marriage, I was asked to convert to Islam. I did so because many who refused were killed. They gave me a name

(Samira) I always answer the name, but I know my true name is my real name. When we were rescued, I told the soldiers that my name is Tabitha. They asked me if I am one of the wives of the Boko Haram and I told them my story. They felt for me and they treated me well.

NO fewer than 25 members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) were said to have been arrested by the police and other security operatives at various churches in Anambra State, on Sunday. The members were said to have trooped out to churches to thank God for the 16 years of existence of the movement. At Saint Charles Lwanga

Catholic Church, Okpoko, 18 of the members were reportedly arrested while others left in the church continued with the thanksgiving service. Speaking on the arrest, the Anambra North coordinator of MASSOB, Emmanuel Omenka, said “those arrested were my members and they were more than 18. “We are a non-violence body and have come to thank God for our existence for 16 years when the police, army and other security op-

Chris Agbambu -Abuja THE new strategies being employed by the military have started yielding positive results, with scores

eratives stormed the church and arrested some of us. “This anniversary is taking place all over the world and by the special grace of God, no amount of intimidation, arrest and detention will deter us from struggling to actualise a sovereign state of Biafra,” he stated further. Also at St Michael Catholic Church, Nnewi, the regional administrator for Nnewi South, Tony Nwodo, said “they came here and arrested three members.

PDP e-registration kicks off in Edo Banji Aluko -Benin City AFTER suffering hiccups, the nationwide e-registration of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) finally kicked off in Edo State, at the weekend. The e-registration had been scheduled to start in Edo, which was picked as a pilot state for the programme, on August 31, but it could not hold due to what was described as logistic challenges. The e-registration, however, kicked off in the Edo North senatorial district of the state on Friday and Saturday, with many party members turning out for the registration. At Ward 1 in Agenebode, Etsako East Local Government Area, party faithful, consisting mainly of elderly women and others, were seen filling the forms at the venue of the exercise located at the ward secretariat of the party. One of them, Mrs Josephine Alegho, described the exercise as a welcome development, saying that it would enable them to know the real members of the party. The firm handling the project, E-connect Technologies Limited, told journalists that although the project was de-

signed with instant issuance of the identity cards, the materials would be made available today. The director of operations of the firm, Mr Emmanuel Ndubuisi, said “the project itself is highly complicated and technical, because we have to do instant issuance. When you register their bio-metrics, you print their cards for them and you encode on the card instantly. “Due to logistics reasons, some of the equipment could not arrive on time. But we are taking custody of them in the next one or two days,” he stated.

Chairman of the e-registration committee, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, said the party was undergoing an all-inclusive process of rebranding itself, in order to conform with global best practice of political participation. Dokpesi, who spoke in Agenebode during the official kick-off of the exercise, explained that while not drifting from the ideals of the founding fathers, part of the objectives of the project was to return the party to its members, many of whom belonged to the younger generation.

Ezekwesili to deliver Foursquare Diamond Jubilee lecture A public lecture to mark the Diamond Jubilee anniversary of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria will hold at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, on Thursday. The lecture, with the topic: “The Role of the Church in Nation Building,” would be delivered by former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili. Chairman of the event is the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara.

give birth safely.” Tabitha told the Nigerian Tribune that she had completed her secondary education and earned a certificate in computer appreciation in Maiduguri before moving to join her parents in Gwoza at the peak of the Boko Haram insurgency.

Sustained air strikes forcing more terrorists to surrender –Army of terrorists surrendering to troops and many more willing to surrender. The new strategies employed included sustained offensive operations, pre-

MASSOB members decry arrests, mark 16th anniversary Suzy Oruya -Onitsha

“Many people asked me about the pregnancy in particular. I don't know the right answer to give, because I actually do not know what to do. It has happened, I don't know what the authorities would do about it, but I think it is too late to abort it. My prayer, however, is that I

General Overseer of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria, Reverend Felix Meduoye, will lead the District Overseers, Zonal Superintendents, pastors and members of the church to welcome dignitaries and invited guests from all walks of life. The lecture is second in the series of such events to mark the 60th anniversary of the Foursquare Gospel Church, which was established in Nigeria by the missionary, Reverend Harold Curtis and his wife in 1955.

“The police are hunting us for nothing and even in a place of worship, they still attack us as we mark 16 years of our existence.” At Awka, two were arrested according to the MASSOB former deputy director of Information, Chris Mocha. As of the time of filing this report, the arrest was said to be ongoing, while armoured vehicles belonging to security agencies were seen in various locations.

emptive air strikes by the Nigerian Air Force and routes blocking by ground troops, all geared towards constricting and snuffing out the Boko Haram terrorists. Director of Army Public Relations, Colonel S. K. Usman, on Sunday, said many of the terrorists that willingly surrendered painted images of mass panic and hysteria among their erstwhile colleagues, who were feeling the noose tightening on their necks with the relentless efforts of troops and renewed vigour in operations inspired by the personal leadership of the Chief of Army Staff. According to him, terrorists also seemed to have an

inkling of what happened to surrendered suspects as regards screening and deredicalisation of innocent ones among them. The Army spokesman added that the Nigerian Army, in conjunction with the Nigerian Air Force and other security agencies, would continue to devise and implement effective strategies to bring Boko Haram terrorism to a speedy end. “The Nigerian Army wishes to appreciate the great support and information it receives from well meaning citizens. More of these are required to help towards quicker obliteration of the Boko Haram scourge in our nation,” he said.

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Monday, 14 September, 2015

N1.4 trillion voted for federal roads in 16 years

Julius Berger returns to site, begins rehabilitation of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway By Sulaimon Olanrewaju

HE Federal Government has, in the last 16 years, allocated a total of N1.4 trillion to federal roads, Nigerian Tribune findings at the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Works have revealed. The allocation was made during the administrations of four former leaders of the country; General Abdulsalami Abubakar (1999), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo (1999-2007), Alhaji Umaru Yar’ Adua (2007-2010) and Dr Goodluck Jonathan (2010-2015). The money allocated during this period was meant for the construction of new roads, as well as the repair of bad ones. The amount represents allocation to the Federal Ministry of Works, as well as the agencies under it, notably, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA). Federal Government roads amount to 35,000 kilometres out of the 200,000-kilometre (17.5 per cent) of the road network in the country. A breakdown of the sum showed that N9,583,000,000 was voted for roads in 1999; N36,947,326,332 in 2000; N66,867,990,000 was allocated in 2001, while N70,002,773,000 was allocated in 2002. In 2003, N55,547,940,000 was voted for roads; N42,607,064,300 in 2004; N70,490,562,710 in 2005; N67,734,363,765 was allocated in 2006 and N716,126,211 was allocated in 2007. In 2008, N67,982,615,723 was allocated for roads; N198,618,000,000 in 2009;

N210,773,218,922 in 2010; N128,966,108,230 in 2011 and N133,000,000,000 in 2012. From federal budget, roads got N141,000,000,000 in 2013; N106,300,000,000 in 2014 and N11,200,000,000. Work has been ongoing on some of the roads for a long time.

Construction cum repair work on the Sagamu-Benin road has been ongoing since 1987, despite the billions of naira committed to it. Successive governments have voted huge sums of money to the road project yet it has not been completed. The contract for the EastWest road project was first awarded in 2006 for N211

billion by the administration of former President Obasanjo, but the cost has more than quadrupled over the years, with nearly all the money paid, but the road is yet to be completed. The construction of the Ilorin-Ibadan Expressroad started in 2001. The Federal Government divided the project into three sections;

the first section is from Ojoo in Ibadan to Irepo market in Oyo town. The second section links Oyo with Ogbomoso, while the third section starts from Ogbomoso and ends at the Gerin-Alimi roundabout in Ilorin. Each of the sections was awarded to different contractors. The first section was awarded to PW Con-

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko (right); Commissioner for Education, Jide Adejuyigbe (middle) and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Steve Awosika at the opening ceremony of a one-day training workshop organised by the state Ministry of Education for principals across the state, in Akure, at the weekend.

A frontline politician and leader of the pan-Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, said President Muhammadu Buhari has put the Southern part of the federation in a precarious condition by favouring the North in core federal appointments. Fielding questions from the Nigerian Tribune in Lagos, the octogenarian said it was ridiculous claims that the appointments were based on merit, wondering when the South became disadvantaged in

continues pg7

Buhari meets Hollande on defence, security, economic relations Clement Idoko - Abuja PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari will today, leave Abuja on a three-day official visit to France on the invitation of the French president, Francois Hollande. A statement conveying this by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Sunday, said President Buhari would embark

on the visit to France for talks with President Hollande on issues of bilateral cooperations. President Buhari will be accompanied on the visit by the National Security Adviser, Major-General Babagana Monguno (retd), Permanent Secretaries in the Federal Ministries of Defence, Finance, Agriculture, Foreign Affairs, Industry, Trade and Investment, as

well as the chief executives of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission and the Nigerian Export Promotion Council. As the composition of his entourage indicates, Adisina said Buhari’s talks in Paris with President Hollande and other senior French government officials would focus on the further strengthening and consolidation of ongoing bilateral

cooperation between Nigeria and France in the areas of defence, security, trade and investments. Apart from his scheduled meeting with President Hollande at the Elysee Palace Monday evening, President Buhari and his team will also confer with the French Minister of Defence, Mr Jean-Yves Le Drian, the French Minister of Finance and Public Ac-

Key appointments: Buhari has handicapped Southern Nigeria —Adebanjo Bola Badmus - Lagos

struction Company for N15 billion; second was awarded jointly to PW and Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) Limited, for about N15.2 billion, while the third was awarded to RCC for N15.7 billion. However, 14 years after the commencement of work on the road, it is yet to be completed. Work started on the BidaSacci-Nupeko-Pategi Federal Road in 2001 and it is yet to be completed in 2015. The reconstruction of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway at the cost of N167billion started in 2013 and was scheduled to be completed in 2017, but the section of the road handled by Julius Berger has been abandoned. The rehabilitation of the popular Long Bridge on the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway has begun, with the return of Julius Berger Nig. Plc to the site. A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) who visited the site on Sunday reported that crash barriers were used to demarcate the median in the Wawa Bus Stop

the scheme of things. “The appointments had generated much hoopla across the country because out of the 25 key functionaries appointed so far, the largest proportion went to the Northern part of the country,” he said. Adebanjo described the issue of merit raised as a criterion for the appointment as funny, because it bordered on the integrity of the APC members in the South. “What is funny in Buhari’s appointments is that they are now emphasising that the people were cho-

sen on merit. Is Buhari telling me that he has not got people of merit in the APC in the South? Since when did the North have more people of merit than people in the South?” Adebanjo also punctured the explanation of the authorities that the perceived lopsidedness would be addressed through other appointments to be made by the government. Adebanjo queried: “Can they be as important as the ones Buhari has done? The ones that are going to be shared are mostly constitutional; he can’t deprive each

state what it is entitled to. That is already stated in the constitution. So, the South has been handicapped ab initio.” On the ongoing war against corruption of the administration, Adebanjo said though he had no reason to doubt the integrity of the president, some of those surrounding him could not lay claim to such enviable virtue. “As for his integrity, nobody is questioning that, but the way he is performing now is questioning his integrity. For instance, when he talks of wiping out

corruption, I believe Buhari is an incorruptible man, but I don’t agree that those who are surrounding him are incorruptible. “This is because there is a saying, show me your friend and will I tell you who you are. Buhari is clean, but look at those people surrounding him; there is a question mark on them,” the Afenifere chieftain stated. Adebanjo equally spoke on other crucial national issues in the interview, excerpts of which can be found on pages 31, 32, 33 and 34.

counts, Mr Michel Sapin, the French Minister of Economy and Industry, Mr Emmanuel Macron and the French Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, Mr Laurent Fabius. The president will also visit the Headquarters of MEDEF, France’s largest federation of investors and employers, where he will participate in a France/ Nigeria Investment Forum with leading Nigerian and French entrepreneurs. The statement further indicated that President Buhari would confer with the Chief Executive Officers of leading French multinational companies, such as Total and Lafarge, on their current and future investments in Nigeria. The president’s other scheduled engagements in Paris include a meeting with African ambassadors to France and an interactive session with members of the Nigerian community. The presidential spokesperson said Buhari was due back in Abuja, on Wednesday, after conclusion of his visit to France.

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Monday, 14 September, 2015 Monday, 14 September, 2015

State/LG joint account, conduit pipe for govs —NULGE Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

he Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), has described the State, Local Government Joint Account as a conduit pipe for the state governors, to siphon money. Speaking on the protest rally organised by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), in support of the President Muhammadu Buhari war against corruption, the NULGE president, Ibrahim Khaleel, said the president must, therefore, probe the operators and managers of the joint account. Khaleel said that the governors have used the joint account as a conduit pipe for massive corruption, hence, he must take the battle against corruption to the grassroots if he meant business.

He stated that some state governors selfishly compromise the joint account and ensure that only peanuts are left for development of the local government areas. Khaleel regretted that development had eluded the 774 local councils in the country because of the massive fraud ongoing within the third tier of governance, which was spearheaded by the governors. He said that NULGE fully supported the move by the organised labour to ensure that the president stamped out corruption in the country because workers and the people at the local government are major stakeholders. Besides, the NULGE president said as far as the fight against corruption is concerned , local government as the case may be, are mostly at the receiving end. To this end, he said the

union will soon organise similar anti-corruption rally, which would be staged nationwide to draw government’s attention to the fraud within the sector. “Looking at the people gathered at the rally, we have our unique attire and almost half of the crowd gathered were from NULGE,” he said.

the frontline state governors, state emergency management agencies, first respondents and relevant authorities to alert the communities of risk, prepare safe locations for possible evacuation and adequate preparedness. But Governor Ortom, disclosed that the only lasting solution to perennial problem of flooding in the state would be to dredge River Benue, saying even the contract for dredging of the river had been awarded by the Federal Government, work was yet to commence on the project. Ortom, who also announced the plan to merge the state owned College of

Agriculture, Yandev, with Benue Sate University for proper funding and management, said his administration would accord priority attention to agriculture for sustainable food production in the country. He solicited for special support from TETFund in order to undertake research and development in agriculture in the state. He noted that currently, resources were thinly spread among the existing tertiary institutions in the state which could support the desire for quality research and development, particularly, in agriculture that is the strength of the state.

Governor of Benue State, Dr Samuel Ortom, has said that the only lasting solution to persistent flooding and its catastrophic effect in the state, is the dredging of River Benue. Ortom, however, said proactive measures have been taken to mitigate the impact of flooding, including sensitisation of the coastline communities to move out of the volatile areas. He spoke during the weekend when he paid a visit on the Executive Secretary of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Professor Suleiman Bogoro, in Abuja. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had alerted the state governments and communities along River Benue of possible flood following information from Cameroonian authorities of plan to release excess water from Lagdo dam. Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani Sidi, who issued the warning said the Cameroonian authorities in Garuoa, have said that between now and November, there would be routine release of water from the Lagdo Dam, due to excessive amount of water currently contained in the dam. According to him, the authorities have also warned that “all those living around the dam and along River Benue in Garoua up to Nigeria’s side, should be at alert and be ready for evacuation in case of possible flooding.” He, therefore, called on

Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, at the weekend, said secondary schools in the state would be paid running grants this week, even as he gave insight into how the state intends to improve on its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR). Governor Mimiko, who made the promise while addressing principals of secondary schools from the 18 council areas of the state during a training workshop

Oyo govt to commence agricultural revolution scheme By Tolu Olamiriki Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, has disclosed that the current administration in the state is fully determined to embark on agricultural revolution programme that would be first of its kind in Nigeria. He said the programme, which would incorporate all existing farmers, interested youths, women and agro-investors, is designed for the development of various agricultural enterprises along the whole chain. The governor stated this while declaring open the fourth joint annual meeting of the Nigeria Institute of Animal Science Association of Nigeria, at the International Conference Centre, University of

governments as the case may be, are mostly at the receiving end. “A lot had been said about corruption at the local government but we are the people involved in the local government. If we are talking about the funds appropriated from the federation account to the local governments in the

country, go and investigate the 36 local govt joint accounts in all the states. You will find out that only peanuts go to the local government and that is why we are calling on this current government to probe the 774 local governments in Nigeria and the operators and managers of this joint accounts.”

Ondo schools ’ll get running grants this week —Mimiko

Dredging of River Benue, lasting solution to flooding —Ortom Clement Idoko - Abuja

“If we are not committed in this fight against corruption, we would not have mobilised to this extent. We are seriously behind the decision of NLC to fight and stamp out corruption completely from our land and we feel we are major stakeholders as far as the fight against corruption is concerned because local

Ibadan. The governor, who was represented by the acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Gabriel Kehinde, noted that major problem facing livestock industry in Nigeria, is the inability to grow at the rate faster enough to cope with public demand. He charged them to examine the various challenges facing livestock in Nigeria and provide solutions to assist policy makers for the gain of the general public. He added further that there is the need for Nigeria to be self-sufficient in livestock production, especially in cattle and turkey.

organised for the principals by the state Ministry of Education, with the theme “Effective service delivery in the school system”, said the state government was going into new areas to jerk up the IGR. The governor, who commended the patriotism of the secondary school principals as manifested in the services they rendered to their students, assured them that a minimum of one-term running grant would be paid to schools across the state within the next one week. He said: “I can assure you that between today, Monday and Friday, minimum of one-term running grant will be paid. Arrangements will be made on how to pay the subsequent ones.”

Mimiko said that his government had provided a world-class training institute at Ilara Mokin, for training and re-training of workers in the state. While identifying education and health sectors as critical to national development, Governor Mimiko promised to continue to provide more incentives for the principals.

Reiterating government’s determination to continue to prioritise the welfare of teachers, Governor Mimiko also stressed the need for government to implement the Land Use Charge to increase its IGR. According to the governor, there were still large pool that needed to be administered in the income tax generation.

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Monday, 14 September, 2015

N2trn fraud: No going back on Lamorde probe —Senate Gives 7-day ultimatum From Lanre Adewole and Ayodele Adesanmi

HE alleged diversion of over N2 trillion by the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission ( EFCC), Ibrahim Lamorde, would be pursued by the Senate to a logical conclusion, in order to find out the true position. The money was reported to be the worth of seized funds and assets from investigated corrupt politicians by Ibrahim Lamorde, the chairman of the anti-graft agency. Chairman, Senate ad hoc Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Dino Melaye, explained at the weekend, during an interview with newsmen, that there was nothing wrong with the probe, assuring that the committee would pursue the probe of anti-graft agency to its logical conclusion. In spite of the alleged procedural error in the way the petition was submitted, Melaye believed that there was nothing wrong with the probe of the EFCC, insisting that there was a way petition could be submitted, adding that this was stated clearly in Senate’s standing rules and the one upon which Lamorde was being probed by the relevant Senate committee was routed through one of the provisions of the rules. It will be recalled that Chief Executive Officer of Public Alert Security Systems, George Uboh, had petitioned the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, accusing Lamorde of diverting recovered stolen items amounting to N2 trillion. However, acting upon the petition the committee, held a public hearing weeks back, where Uboh made submissions on the allegations, but some senators of the All Progressives Congress (APC), under the group name of Senate Unity Forum and the PDP senators, through a statement issued by the Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio, kicked against the probe exercise, saying it violated the procedures of the Senate. Specifically the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume ( APC Borno South) addressed the newsmen and declared that “I think there were some procedural lapses there, but I don’t want to believe it was deliberate, because there is no way you can cut corners or use the institution of the

Senate to settle personal scores; it doesn’t work that way. “Afterall, whatever decision you take has to be considered on the floor of the Senate and it has to be passed. So, even if it is a committee’s recommendation, after the committee works, the report has to be presented in plenary and a simple majority will have to agree with its content before the report becomes acceptable.

“As you must have observed, I am not used to talking about these issues, because the end justifies the means. So, if you go and make noise all over, you should know all that noise will have to be accepted by the majority of the Senate before it becomes anything. So even if the committee does the work and the Senate rejects it, that is the end of the report. So, why make an issue out of this?”

Meanwhile, a group of Civil Society Organisations, under the umbrella of Anti-Corruption Coalition (ACC) has given the chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Lamorde, a seven-day ultimatum, to appear before the Senate to defend himself against series of corruption allegations levelled against him or resign. The body, in a statement

at the weekend and signed by its protem national coordinator, Comrade Mohammed Saliu, expressed shock that more than two weeks after Lamorde was summoned to appear before a Senate public hearing panel probing the allegations, he had neither shown up or defended himself. According to the statement, “it has been two weeks now since the nation was greeted with series of

Cross section of graduating students, during the induction ceremony into the medical and dental profession, at Paul Hendrickse Lecture Theatre, College of Medicine, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, last week Thursday. PHOTO: YEMI FUNSO-OKE

weighty allegations of fraud against the EFCC chairman, Mr Lamorde as contained in a petition submitted to the Senate by a whistle-blower, Mr Uboh. “It will be recalled that on Wednesday, August 26, the Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, held a public hearing on the allegations of fraud against Lamorde, but he snubbed the panel. “Two weeks after, Mr Lamorde is yet to appear before the Senate Committee or offer the Nigerian public whose taxes are being used to pay his salary and fund the agency, any explanation or defence. We found this strange, abnormal and ridiculous. “Is Mr Lamorde saying that the allegations that he shared properties recovered from former Inspector General of Police, Tafa Balogun and ex-governor of Bayelsa State , Diepreye Alamieyeseigha among his brothers and other relations, apart from diversion of billions of naira not grave enough to defend? Even when the name of his brother, Usman Lamorde was mentioned as a beneficiary of the senseless relooting of our commonwealth under the guise of fighting corruption?,” the group asked.

EFCC declares NATFORCE DG wanted, over N1.1m alleged fraud Taiwo Adisa - Abuja THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has declared the Director-General (DG) of the National Task Force to Combat Illegal Importation of Goods, Small Arms, Ammunitions and Light Weapon (NATFORCE), Chief Osita Okereke wanted. The commission had, last week, posted the DG’s name among its list of wanted persons published on its website. The publication read in part: “The public is, hereby, notified that Chief Osita Emmanuel Okereke, DG, National Taskforce to Combat Illegal Importation of Goods, Small Arms, Ammunitions and Light Weapon ( NATFORCE), whose photograph appears above, is wanted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) in a case of criminal conspiracy and impersonation. “Okereke, who was arrested with several incriminating items, including bullet proof vests, has jumped bail. Dark complexioned Oker-

eke is 50 years old and hails from Ideato Local Government Area of Imo State. His last known address is No 8, Tunde Ogbeha Street, Apo, Durumi, Abuja.” The DG has been having a running battle with the EFCC since 2013, when he was arraigned for allegedly being in possession of incriminating items, impersonation, forgery and criminal conspiracy to obtain the sum of N1,450,000 for employment into National Task Force. The DG had been slammed with a six-count charge bordering on impersonation, forgery and obtaining by false pretence in November 2013 and dragged before Justice J. Y. Tukur of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Apo, Abuja. He was remanded in Kuje Prison and granted bail in December, same year. The EFCC had alleged that the DG and Nwogu forged a document of the Federal Government entitled “Restricted, Federal Government of Nigeria, National Task Force” and

falsely held public offices as DG and Director, FCT Command of National Task Force, through which they were said to have obtained money from sales of employment forms. One of the charges by the commission read: “That you Osita Okereke and Ishmael Chinyere Nwogu, sometime in March, 2010 in Abuja,

within the judicial Division of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory knowingly had in your possession a forged document titled ‘RESTRICTED, FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, NATIONAL TASK FORCE” with intent to defraud, fraudulently used same as genuine to induce the public to believe that your or-

ganization is an agency of the Federal Government of Nigeria and consequently remitted the aggregate sum of N1,145,000.00 to you through FirstBank account number 3066173170 and thereby, committed an offence and punishable under section 368 of the Penal Code Act Cap 532 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria.”

Remove federal pensioners from Pencom scheme, NUP tells FG By Taiwo Olanrewaju THE Federal Contributory Pension Retirees Sector of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has decried the pension concepts of Pencom, even as it urged the Federal Government to exclude pensioners who have spent 20 years before the take-off of Pencom from the scheme. According to a communiqué jointly signed by the chairman and secretary of the sector, Elder S.A. Kojusola and Mr Idowu Ogunjinrin, respectively, the retrieved pensioners should be allowed to join the old scheme,

while Pencom should follow the formula for calculation of pension and gratuity in respect of retirement, as recorded on page 90 of the New Pension Act 2014. The National NUP/FECOPER meeting, held in Ibadan, Oyo State, on September 9, noted that Pencom was likely operating under secrecy, as pensioners did not have access to it, in spite of having custody of their money and livelihood. The sector, therefore, urged the government to equate payment of the new pensioners with the old, to justify the social security that the pen-

sion was supposed to address, while the government should ask its agency to be more open to the pensioners it was serving. It wanted the government to note that its members were wrongly placed on the scheme, thus making Pencom unable to fulfil its obligation of payment of lump sum and pension within three months of retirement to retirees. It also noted that Pencom had refused till date to disclose the template it used to calculate pensioners’ entitlements, adding that this was a gross violation of the retirees’ rights.

news

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Aregbesola paying N20bn out of N35bn bailout fund to contractor —PDP PDP will be out with more shameful manupulations —Aregbesola’s aide Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

SUN State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday, accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of paying N20 billion from the N35 billion bailout fund he got to a road contractor, despite owing the state workers about nine months outstanding salaries. In a statement issued by the party’s director of media and strategy, Prince Diran Odeyemi, the party accused Aregbesola of misplacing his priority, by paying the company handling the Osogbo Ring Road project when civil servants in the state were wallowing in abject poverty due to unpaid salaries. According to the statement, “we have it on good authority that the pay-

ment was effected last week Thursday and we have noticed that the contractor has returned to site with its men and equipment within 24 hours as requested by the governor.” It read in part: “The N35 billion bailout is lodged in two banks. While the funds in one of the banks remained fixed as we earlier stated, the part lodged in the other bank had been

recalled to pay this company with very strong links to a presidency figure. “Much as we believe the road project is ideal, we wonder why an inflated road contract awarded at N1 billion per kilometre has suddenly become the priority of Governor Aregbesola at this particular period of nine months unpaid salaries if not because of some under current deals to siphon

funds and shortchange the people of Osun State. “This perhaps is the reason the governor said he would only pay half of March salary for workers at a meeting he held with them last week,” the PDP said. Reacting, Osun State government, on Sunday, asked Nigerians to watch out for series of distortions, misinformation and outright lies as part of the strategies of

the PDP and its allies to distract Rauf Aregbesola’s government in the aftermath of the receipt of the bailout funds. The Bureau of Communication and Strategy in the Office of the Governor said on Sunday that the PDP and its allies are irrevocably committed to a shameful assignment of manipulating the minds of the people through a litany of lies and

Ogun PDP boss berates Okupe over comments on party CHAIRMAN of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun State, Chief Bayo Dayo, has berated former Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to former President Goodluck Jonathan, Dr Doyin Okupe, over a statement credited to him in online media that the party may soon die if nothing was done to overhaul it. Okupe was credited to have said: “The PDP must reform lest it dies, God forbids, a painful and insidious death.” Chief Dayo, in a press statement made available to Nigerian Tribune, said the statement credited to Dr Okupe was unfortunate, noting that on the contrary, it was the damage done to the party that had caused its present situation, adding that the former adviser had not contributed anything to the development of the party even in his local government, because he was politically dead. “Okupe is a chamelion who is finding a suitable place he could get funds and appointments. He has not done anything in his local government and we have instances of what he had done to injure the party. PDP is not dead, the party cannot die and will surely bounce back. It is a national party and will never become a regional party,” he said.

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola (middle), discussing with the Consultant to Nigerian Statistical Association, Professor Peter Osanaye (right). With them is the national president, Nigerian Statistical Association (NSA), Dr Muhammed Tumala, during a dinner, organised by the state government, at the Government House, Osogbo, at the weekend.

My resort to loans due to Amaechi’s recklessness —Wike Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt GOVERNOR Nyesom Wike of Rivers State has said the financial recklessness of his predecessor, Mr Rotimi Amaechi, made him (Wike) to resort to obtaining loans to execute projects in the state. The governor said this in response to allegation credited to the state chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) that he was taking loans to bribe some judges in order to influence the outcome of the petition

before the tribunal. Wike, speaking through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Sir Opunabo Inko-Taria, on Sunday, said if Amaechi had been prudent with the resources of the state, there would not have been need for the loans. He said every loan taken by the Rivers State government under the leadership Wike “is clearly defined with workable repayment plan, tied to specific projects which are verifiable facts in the public domain.” Inko-Tariah said the gov-

ernor inherited an empty treasure allegedly “festered by huge pecuniary liabilities, such as backlog of salaries, pensions, fees for students on scholarships and other burning issues, including abandoned projects. “His (Amaechi) financial recklessness occasioned the resort to loans. Amaechi, in one of his valedictory speeches, admitted that the state is broke and he is bequeathing an empty treasury to Governor Wike. “Therefore, there is nothing wrong with the governor going for loans. The issue is

N1.4 trillion voted for federal roads in 16 years continued from pg4

area in the construction zone. The barricaded median was laid with sand, cement and pipes to connect some underground drainage channels. There was also stack of New Jersey Barriers stock piled at both the Wawa and Opic Plaza bus stop areas on the Lagos-bound carriageway.

Julius Berger earth-moving equipment, trucks and heaps of laterite, soil base and crushed stones were also on ground at the Wawa Bus Stop on the Lagosbound carriageway. A site engineer who declined to be named, said the firm had been gradually moving its equipment back to site since September 1. The engineer said the firm had begun traffic diversions

to rehabilitate the popular Long Bridge which terminates around Wawa Bus Stop area. He appealed to motorists to be patient in the new week, as the diversions would cause gridlock from Monday. The Federal Ministry of Works engineer representative on the project, Mr Kayode Ibrahim, declined comment, but confirmed that work had begun on the site.

not whether loans are taken, but the judicious application of such loans is what should be in issue.” The media adviser to the governor also alleges that APC was “paranoid by the fact that Governor Wike is performing creditably, to the admiration and satisfaction of the people. “Again, should Governor Wike want another loan, it will not be done surreptitiously because the state House of Assembly must give its official approval. “And before that is done, the request shall be deliberated upon on the floor of the House. APC in Rivers State is frightened by the intimidating successes of Governor Wike within 100 days in office and will stop at nothing to denigrate his achievements. “What he has achieved in 100 days is what Amaechi could not achieve in eight years. Although, the governor has not made his intention on the loan known, there is nothing wrong should he request for another loan, after all, countries, organisations and persons go for loans.”

concoctions as they embark on their fruitless journey to pull down the government. The statement, signed by the Bureau’s Director, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, said the latest of the PDP’s falsehood was the allegation that the government of Aregbesola had paid a sum of N20 billion to a construction company, Slava Yeditepe, the construction company handling the Oba Adesoji Aderemi Second By-Pass Road out of the N34.988 billion received as bailout funds. “Nothing could be more ridiculous as an allegation! First, Governor Aregbesola commenced the construction of the Adesoji Aderemi Road in July 2013 at the total cost of N14.5billion and this was publicly announced. “What then would be the reason for the payment of N20 billion to the contractor in 2015? “Secondly, the PDP has shot itself in the foot and punctured its own lies of last week, when it accused Aregbesola of fixing the bailout funds in a deposit account for interests to accrue. If its claim of fixing the N34.988 billion in a deposit account was true, how then was the governor able to pay N20 billion to Slava Yeditepe? This stands logical. This does not show some good thinking on the part of the PDP and its allies in the destabilisation plot.” The Bureau said in the last one week, the PDP had initiated spurious allegations bordering on the bailout funds, adding that there can be no other reason behind this other than mischief. “There can be no other rationale behind these spurious allegations and those they still plan to make other than a determined effort to incite workers against the government. “The PDP, last week accused Aregbesola of fixing the N34.988 billion bailout funds in a fixed deposit account. Contrary to confirmations from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), PDP also said that the state had received the bailout funds two weeks prior last week. It was apparent that this was a calculated attempt to set workers against the government. “If not outright mischief; how could the PDP accuse Aregbesola of having collected the funds two weeks before, when in actual fact, the CBN, just three days before then, confirmed its release of the funds to the states and this was widely reported.”

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Lagosmetro Traders docked over stolen goods AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin A 50-year-old trader, Okechukwu Ezeudu and a businessman, Chukwuma Ibeanu, 34, were docked before an Igbosere Magistrate’s Court over alleged diversion and receiving of goods worth N5.3million. Both men reside at 27 Ogeretedo Street, Aluminium Village, Dopemu and 24 Akinwemi Strret, Paiko Idimu, a suburb of Lagos respectively. It was gathered that the first defendant, who is an employee to one Samuel Onwushalu, stole 3,741 length of Aluminium pipe valued N5,382,000, from his employer. It was also gathered that to first defendant and others at large sold the stolen goods to the second defendant, Chukwuma Ibeanu. The defendants are facing a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, stealing and receiving of stolen property preferred against them by the police. The prosecutor Inspector Stephen Molo, informed the court that the duo and others still at large committed the alleged offences between May 2014 and July 2015. He said that the incident took place at 27 Ogeretedo Street and 27 Salako Street, Aluminium Village Dopemu Agege area of Lagos. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges against them. Consequently, the presiding Magistrate, Owumi Martins granted them bail in the sum of N500,000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Lagos State government on Sunday insisted that the ban it placed on trailers and long vehicles from plying the metropolis between the hours of 6am and 9pm remains, just as it clarified that only petrol tankers and long vehicles used in conveying passengers were ex-

Edited By Lanre Adewole 0811 695 4647

Wife dupes in-law

blame govt, Ojuelegba Bridge Tola Adenubi

n amalgamation of truck operators under the aegis of the Joint Council of Seaport Truckers (JCOST) has blamed the bent state of the Ojuelegba Bridge for the recent fall of a container from the back of one of their trucks in Ojuelegba, Lagos recently. JCOST is an amalgamation of the Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO), Road Transport Employers Asso-

ciation of Nigeria (RTEAN), Truck Terminal Users Association (TTUA) and the Association of Maritime Truck Owners (AMATO). Rising from a joint meeting over the weekend, a senior member of JCOST who also doubles as the Chairman of AMATO, Chief Remi Ogungbemi said that the container that fell at Ojuelegba Bridge recently was due to the bent and tilted state of the bridge. According to him, “Government is part of the factors responsible for falling

of trucks on the highway because the roads infrastructure in this country is very bad. “Government has failed to play its own role by providing suitable roads for our trucks to move and therefore should not lay the entire blame on the truck drivers alone.” He added that the recent container that fell at Ojuelegba could be as a result of the state of the bridge because according to him, the bridge is tilted and could have caused the falling of

the container. Ogungbemi also blamed lack of adequate and necessary loading equipment on the part of terminal operators for the accidents that have plagued the nation’s highway in recent weeks. “The terminal operators too have not being doing enough in the area of providing necessary equipment to make sure that the trucks are well loaded and to even certify trucks suitable for carrying certain weight of goods. “The coalition of truck op-

Bidemi Olowofela erators within the state representing other truck operators across the nation has resolved in our meeting that we are not fighting government because the government is our government. “But as a result of the policy that the state government has decided to start implementing as regards the restrictions on movement of trucks within the state, we have decided to withdraw our services until when the environment is conducive for us to operate,” Ogungbemi stated.

Members of Concerned Human Right at a rally at Ikeja bus stop to sensitise Lagosians on the use of pedestrian bridges.

Fraudster nabbed impersonating Customs boss AyomideOwonibiOdekanyin

This sign post reading ‘No dumping’ goes unheeded as people still dump refuse inside the gutter located in front of Bamako Estatae, Ojudu. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa

empted. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Oluseyi Whenu, said this in a statement issued through the Assistant Director, Public Relations Department of the Ministry, Mr Sina Thorpe, stating that this was in accordance with Section 2 of Road Traffic Law 2012.

According to him, while Section 2 of the Traffic Law restricts movement of trailers and long vehicles, only petrol tankers and long vehicles used in conveying passengers are allowed to travel within the metropolis between the stipulated time. “Vehicle with more than one real axle or six tyres are hereby restricted between

the hours of 6am and 9pm with the exemption of the following in accordance with Section 2 and 38 of the Road Traffic Law 2012. “These exemptions are tour bus/passenger buses, fire service trucks, rescue and recovery trucks, patrol trucks, perishable farm products trucks, refuse collection trucks, cement mixer

trucks, tractors and refrigerated trucks,” he said. Whenu said the clarification became necessary following the controversy generated by the enforcement of the law, after a fatal accident involving a container laden trailer claimed three lives in the state a fortnight ago. The permanent secretary

said the state government remained committed to the protection of lives and properties of residents irrespective of social, cultural or economic classification. He, therefore, solicited for the compliance, cooperation, support and understanding of all and sundry as regards the renewed enforcement of the law.

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Container accident: Truck operators

Daytime ban: Govt exempts petrol tankers, passenger trailers Bola Badmus -Lagos

A 26- year-old man, Alao Christian Akojime, has been arrested by the police for impersonating a deputy comptroller general of Customs. Akojime, who was on Friday arraigned before a Lagos State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Igbosere pleaded not guilty to the offence. Akojime was docked before Magistrate F. F George, on a four-count charge ranging from conspiracy, obtaining by false pretence to impersonation preferred against him by the police. The prosecutor, Inspector Haruna Ibrahim, told the court that the defendant and others still at large committed the alleged offences on August 12, 2015 at about 9am in Lagos. He alleged that Akojime obtained the sum of N33,300 from one Samuel Eze with the pretence of helping him get recruited into the Nigerian Customs Service. The prosecutor also alleged that the defendant was arrested for impersonating the Customs Comptroller, by advertising and auctioning cars for sale. Ibrahim, further told the court that the defendant had obtained money from unsuspecting people under the disguise that he

was Peter Akande, a Deputy Comptroller General of Customs by advertising and selling forms for re-

cruitment in to the Nigeria Customs Service. The magistrate granted the defendant bail in the

sum of N50,000, with two sureties in like. She adjourned the matter till October 2, for mention.

A 35-year-old woman, Maryann Ifeoma, was on Friday arraigned before an Ebute-Metta Magistrate’s Court over an alleged theft of N569,400 meant to purchase a power bike. The defendant residing at 2 Basiyi/Adeomo Street off Ayetoro, Aguda Surulere is facing two count charge of stealing. It was gathered that the complainant and the defendant are in-laws. Chidiebere Nwoye saw a power bike on the defendant’s Whatsapp display picture and asked her how he could get it which she told him that she could help him purchase it since she travels out of the country. Maryann, however, failed to purchase the bike and

RISKY VENTURE: Beggars line up along a railway line in Agege. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa

Neighbourhood Watch alleges cover-up in boat accidents Olalekan Olabulo The Neighbourhood Watch in Lagos State has begun investigations into some of the past boat accidents in Egan area of the state. This move, apart from being a follow up to the investigation of the Sunday boat mishap in Isuti area, where more than 34 people were rescued by local diverts, is also to prevent future loss of lives on the Egan waterway. The Area Commander

in Charge of the Area ‘A’ Command of the organization, Olusegun Oshinfade, confirmed the investigation of the past boat mishap accidents in Egan to Lagos Metro. The Neighbourhood Watch boss also added that the paramilitary outfit would ensure that the boat operators in the area comply with safety measures. He also stated that more lives would have been lost in the last accident, if the boats had collided in the middle of

the river. “If not for the fact that one of the victims of the accident called us, nobody would have heard anything. They would just have covered the accident” Oshinfade said. He also added that “even after we got there, people were still cautious to tell us that something happened there, but we eventually confirmed that an accident occurred.” The Neighbourhood Watch boss also accused the boat operators in the area of

under-declaring the number of passengers on their boats, especially when an accident occurs. “Apart from the 17 adults on each boat, they usually have children and whenever an accident happens, they only refer to the adult figure only,” the Neighbourhood watch boss said. Oshinfade added that “We are working with the leadership of the boat operators to ensure that they comply with the waterway safety measures.“

also refund the money. The defendant, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to her. The presiding magistrate, Mr. N A Layeni admitted her to bail in the sum of N50,000.00 with two sureties in the like sum and adjourned the matter till October 27, 2015.

LASRRA rallies residents on residency registration Chukwuma Okparaocha The Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) has reiterated the need for residents of the state to participate in the on-going Residents Registration Exercise in order to build an accurate data base for the state. Addressing members of the public recently at Isolo Road, in Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) at an enlightenment programme organised by the agency, the Head of the Public Relations Department, Mr. Babatunde Adele, charged the residents to register at any LASRRA office in their respective local governments and LCDAs . He stated that the requirements for registration included proof of residency, as well as proof of identity, stressing that registration was open to all residents irrespective of their age, nationality or state of origin. Responding to a question by a resident of the area, Mr. Kabiru Ekunsunmi on whether a resident who had registered before could re-register, Adele urged residents who had already participated in the exercise not to re-register. LASRRA was officially launched on 11 September, 2013 and commenced the distribution of the permanent residency cards on 9 December, 2014.

businessnews

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Banks lose 20,000 accounts to TSA No going back on tomorrow’s deadline —FG From Chima Nwokoji and

Gbola Subair

n estimated 20, 000 bank accounts hitherto operated by the Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (FMDAs) in commercial banks across the country, are expected to be officially closed tomorrow. This is in obedience to the Federal Government’s(FG’s) September 15 deadline for such accounts to cease to

Inflation rate increases to 9.3% —NBS Gbola Subair -Abuja

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures inflation, edged higher to 9.3% (year-on-year) from 9.2% in July, the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) has revealed. NBS, in the report released on Sunday in Abuja, said the marginal increase was as a result of slower increases in alcoholic beverages, tobacco and kola; health, transport; and recreation and culture divisions. On a month-on-month basis, the bureau said the pace of increases of food prices as reflected by the Food Sub-index had slowed, contributing to the relatively slower pace of increases reflected on the year-on-year rates between July and August. In the report, the Food Sub-index rose by 10.1% (yearon-year) in August, slightly higher from 10.0% in July. “While increases were observed in major groups within the index: Bread and Cereals, Meats and Fish, the index was weighted upon by a slower increase in the Fruit, Vegetables, and Potatoes, Yams and Other Tubers groups. The advances recorded by the “All Items less Farm Produce” or Core sub- index increased at a faster pace in August relative to July. Of the COICOP divisions that contribute to the core sub-index, the largest pressures were recorded in the housing water, electricity, gas and other fuels; education, restaurants and hotels; and miscellaneous goods and services divisions. The pace of increases slowed in the health, transportation, and recreation and culture divisions,” the NBS said in the report. On a month-on-month basis, the pace of the increase in the headline index eased for the third consecutive month, increasing by 0.6% in August and marginally lower from 0.7% in July.

exist, in a move to enforce the Treasury Single Account (TSA) directive. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in its second quarter 2015 report, estimated that the agencies had about N1.24 trillion in about 20, 000 accounts with different commercial banks. The report indicated that less than 10 per cent of banking industry’s N13 trillion total deposits are public sector funds. But reports from the affected banks had it that the CBN report was based on the returns’ renditions by banks which had substantially under-reported public sector proportion of their deposits in order to head-off the impact of the apex bank’s dual Cash Reserve Requirement (CRR) policy which was

then heavily skewed against public sector deposits. However, going by confirmations from top executives of banks that control huge public sector deposits, government agencies are correctly said to be holding about N2.6 trillion in 20 banks contrary to the initial estimate of N1.24 trillion reported in CBN’s second quarter 2015 report. Findings show that Deposit Money Banks are jittery due mainly to the fact that if government decides to implement the policy strictly, there will be serious liquidity crisis in the top six banks as the public sector deposits control about 70 per cent of total money market liquidity. There is however breathing space for the banks as the

directive is basically on Federal Government accounts not most state governments that are reluctant to toe the FG line. Meanwhile, as the September 15 deadline date handed over to Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the government remit revenue to the Treasury Single Account (TSA) expires tomorrow, the Federal Government has insisted that there will be no going back on the directive. The Accountant-General of the Federation, Alhaji Ahmed Idris, in a press release, reassured all MDAs, as well as the general public that the deadline for the closure of all accounts of Federal Government MDAs with the commercials banks is realistic, achievable and

will not be shifted forward. He said the press statement was to correct speculations making the rounds in some quarters that the deadline might not be feasible. According to him, the implementation guidelines have been developed and would soon be made available to all interested parties and the general public, adding that the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, in line with its statutory mandate and directives by Mr President on the TSA, would continue to provide all necessary information and technical support to all MDAs, banks and the general public to ensure a smooth, seamless and transparent implementation of the TSA/e-eollection policy.

Nigerian Tribune

Over 500 exhibitors, 300,000 visitors for Ibadan 2015 mega trade fair By Tunde Ogunesan OVER 500 exhibitors and 300,000 quality visitors from all over the South West geopolitical zone are expected to participate in the 2015 Ibadan mega trade fair in Ibadan later in the year. This was disclosed on Tuesday by the president of the mega trade fair, Mr Delight Owoyemi, during the press conference at the permanent trade fair complex (Expoyo), Samonda, Ibadan, recently. According to Owoyemi, the 13-day trade fair would commence on Tuesday, December 1 till Sunday, December 13, 2015, at the Obafemi Awolowo Stadium, Ibadan, between 8.00 am and 11.00 pm throughput the duration. Owoyemi informed that the “commercial event is aimed at bringing together 500 exhibitors, direct and indirect, from both public and private sectors of the economy and attract over 300,000 quality visitors from all over the South West geopolitical zone.” He added that part of the objectives of Ibadan 2015 mega trade fair is to expose and promote the vast investment/business opportunities.

‘FG won’t stop seafarers development programme’ Gbola Subair -Abuja

From left, Head of Policy and Public Affairs, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Michael Onuoha; Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Johnson Bamidele Olawumi and Corporate Relations Director, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Mr Sesan Sobowale, during a courtesy visit to the NYSC headquarters in Abuja, on Friday.

PenCom attributes low monthly pension to lump sum withdrawal National Pension Commission (PenCom) has cautioned retirees to be wary of withdrawing huge fund from their Retirement Benefits Accounts balance so that they can have robust monthly pension, adding that it was the major reason many retirees received little pension monthly. Head, Research & Corporate Strategy, PenCom, Mr Farouk Aminu, stated this at the 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the National Association of Insurance and Pension Correspondents (NAIPCO) in Lagos. Aminu noted that many retirees had burnt their fingers with such decisions, adding that the quest to withdraw

fabulous amounts at retirement and leaving little in the account was responsible for the little monthly pension some retirees received. “People should take less lump sum unless they need it. If they do not need it, they should not take it. It is important people really understand this. The more lump sum you take, the less money you leave in your Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) and the lower your pension. People take much of their money and blow it and expect the little they left to perform wonders. People should leave a lot of money behind so that they can have huge pension,” he said. He called on retirees to take

less lump-sum payout if they did not have need for much financial needs, stressing that less lump-sum would help them keep more money in their accounts. Meanwhile, PenCom said RSA holders could withdraw between N1.5 million and N50 million from their savings for payment of equity contributions in procuring first-time residential mortgages. The commission, which stated this in recently released guidelines on withdrawals from RSA towards Equity Participation for Payment of Residential Mortgage, noted that the tenor of the mortgage loan would be for a minimum of five years and maximum of

20 years. PenCom said the interest rate on the mortgage loan would be at a fixed rate for its whole duration. While calling for input into the draft, the commission urged the public to send all enquiries and clarifications to its Director-General. “The National Pension Commission (PenCom) is pleased to issue the Draft Guidelines on Withdrawals from RSA for Residential Mortgage. These Guidelines aim to allow contributors to access a portion of their Retirement Savings Accounts, for payment of equity contributions in procuring firsttime residential mortgages,” it said.

The Nigeria Seafarers Development Programme (NSDP) initiated by the Nigeria Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) in 2009 will not be abrogated by the Federal Government. President, Hope Arewa Development Initiative (HADI), Mallam Mohammed Suleiman, disclosed this at a press conference held at Royal Tropical Hotel on current reorganization in NIMASA. He stated that no administration would want to thwart this laudable programme initiated by Former DG of NIMASA Dr Shamsudeen Dosunmu in 2008/2009, which he said sought to bridge the gap in the age of seafarers across the country. According to him, over 2,500 out of the projected 5000 seafarers had so far been trained at both degree levels and high professional standards in various countries like Romania, Philippines, and United Kingdom,United States of America, India Egypt and other countries.

businessnews

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Contaminated aviation fuel: NCAA begins

registration of marketers Shola Adekola -Lagos

he Consumer Protection Council has summoned the management of First City Monument Bank Plc (FCMB) for an investigation into an allegation by the Bauchi State Government, accusing the bank of charging N1.86 billion excess interest on its account. A statement by the CPC on Sunday said the Bauchi State government sent the petition to the council after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) declined further adjudication on the case through a letter dated July 15, 2015 to the petitioner, asking it to “seek alternative means of redress as the case is hereby deemed closed.” The statement, signed by the Head, Media, CPC, Mr Abiodun Obimuyiwa, said the CPC waded into the lingering disagreement between the bank and its consumer with a letter, dated August 20, 2015, requesting the bank to respond to the allegations contained in the complaint within seven days. The council said, as of the time of issuing a statement on the allegation, the bank had not responded to the letter. The statement said: “The state government had alleged that the bank, without any prior information, charged 21 per cent interest rate per annum on two loans of N10 billion and N3 billion, which the bank granted it on

January 22, 2009 and June 15 2011 respectively both at the rate of 13 per cent interest per annum, and that this has resulted in excess interest charges on its account, amounting to the sum of N1,864,188,594.78 as at February 2014. “The Council’s letter also

stated that the state government further alleged that a review of its account with the bank showed inconsistencies in the application of interest rate with the rate going up as high as 54.46 per cent in some cases.” The CPC said, in its letter to FCMB that “these alle-

‘Insurance is not unnecessary cost’ Gbemi Solaja - Lagos The Managing Director, Combined All Risks Insurance Brokers (CARIB) Nigeria Limited, Mr Omotayo Ajani, has expressed dissatisfaction over the level of insurance penetration and acceptance in the country. Speaking recently in Lagos, the CARIB boss rued that most Nigerians saw insurance as unnecessary cost and as such refused to embrace it despite its huge benefits He lamented that insurance penetration rate in the country was a meager 0.5 per cent, regretting that the telecommunications industry which was less than 20 years had recorded as high as 60 per cent penetration rate. “Most of the risks that are inherent, either credit risk or other form of risks around businesses are very insurable. So, the fear that a loan beneficiary (businessman) might be unable

gations are very weighty because they suggest unscrupulous exploitation of the customer contrary to the Consumer Protection Council Act Cap. C25 Laws of the Federation 2004 and other enactments for the protection of consumers.” Meanwhile, in a notice of

investigation, dated September 3, 2015, the Council has required officers or representatives of the bank “with sufficient knowledge of the facts surrounding the alleged violations to attend and testify before the Council on the 17th of September 2015.”

Cassava: World Bank boosts mechanised farming in Kogi Kogi State FADAMA Project Coordinator, Paul Ogunmola, informed that Kogi State as the largest producer of cassava in Nigeria had been selected for participation in the FADAMA III AF due to “prompt payment of counterpart fund, government willingness to buy into FADAM projects, as well as

to meet his loan obligations granted to his business by banks, could be mitigated by a lot of insurance decisions.” While calling for a change in the attitude of people towards insurance, he charged relevant stakeholders on the need to increase insurance awareness across the country, even as he urged Nigerians to do their insurance businesses through brokers. He therefore called on Nigerians to adopt insurance as a major risk management tool, not only in their business endeavours, but also in general life activities. He said: “I advise Nigerians to adopt insurance cover in the conduct of their day to day business activities. Businesses are exposed to various forms of risks which can only be mitigated through insurance and I think its high time Nigerians took up insurance especially businessmen and for us to see insurance as a major cardinal for business growth, sur-

vival and expansion. “Currently, insurance is seen as something that is not mandatory or important. There is the need for increased awareness.”

general cooperation of beneficiaries.” Under the arrangement, FADAMA III AF, in conjunction with the state government, provides tractors and allied equipment for the clearing, preparation and ridging of farmlands that would be used for planting of cassava. About 5,000 hectares of land would be covered under the ongoing project that would end in 2017. Selected service providers are already assisting farmers in various areas on a 5050 cost sharing ratio. The project has not only boosted

mechanised farming, it has also provided improved cassava cuttings whose yields are several times higher than those the farmers were used to. For example, the coordinator informed that over 30 metric tonnes were harvested from one hectare of land early last month at Oghale, Kogi State. This was against the 10 to 12 metric tonnes farmers were harvesting from one hectare in the past. He further stated that the project had introduced the “novelty” of looking for off-takers.

PMA to partner SON on industry standards AyomideOwonibi-Odekanyin - Lagos The Paint Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (PMA) has reinstated the need for a level playing ground for paint manufacturers in Nigeria. Speaking at the press briefing to herald the association’s bi-annual Raw Material and Paints exhibition, Mr Rotimi Aluko, Chairman, PMA, noted that there was the need to protect local manufacturers from the influx of foreign paints coming into the country. “With the ECOWAS tariff, more products are coming into the country, which might make many of our

Bank customers’ enrolment now 20m, says NIBSS Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

From left, Director, Market Development, Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Mr Matthew Iranloye; Zonal Controller, Lagos, Mr George Enyenkpon and Head, United Nations Office for Projects and Services, Mr Pius Otuno, during a seminar on accessing international markets through the United Nations Development Group - UN Office for project services at the Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, on Thursday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

The World Bank, under FADAMA III Additional Financing, has moved in to assist cassava farmers in Kogi State in the areas of land clearing and preparation, which have been the major challenges facing cassava farmers. Disclosing this at an interactive session in Lokoja, the

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local manufacturers be at a disadvantage. “We as an association have had talks with the government with a view of ensuring that both international and local players get a level playing field to showcase their products,” he said. Speaking on the choice of the guest speaker for the association’s annual coating show, Aluko noted that Dr Joseph Ikemefuna Odumodu, Director General of the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), has been chosen because of the synergy between SON PMA He also stated that one of the objectives of the association is to ensure that quality products are produced and

sold to users, adding that the consumers should get value for their money. He noted that the show will attract exhibitors from different parts of the world, explaining that United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, South Africa, India, Korea, Middle East, China, Turkey, Singapore and Nigeria would be part of the show. He added that the show will be open to all manufacturers of paints, inks and allied products, architects, builders, real estate developers, chemical vendors/ dealers, painters/applicators, and students who wish to take up careers in the paint industry.

Latest figures from the Nigeria Inter Bank Settlement System Plc (NIBSS) have shown that over 20 million customers have been enrolled by the various banks in the ongoing Bank Verification Number (BVN) exercise. This milestone is coming even as NIBSS, in its quest to ensuring the success of the exercise begun collaboration with telecoms firms to create a platform through which bank customers can confirm their. registration status. Already, NIBSS has collaborated with one of the country’s telecoms service providers, Etisalat to roll out the BVN Query Service. The service, which was unveiled at the NIBSS headquarters recently, is designed to help the banking Nigerian public Query their BVN on-the-go via their mobile phones. According to a statement yesterday from NIBSS, the initiative is coming on the heels of the extended deadline for the BVN registration which ends on October 31 nationwide.

Airlines owe Lagos airport immigration command $1.170m Shola Adekola -Lagos

Airlines operating at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, are said to be indebted to the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), Airport Command, to the tune of $1.170 million in the last eight months. Also, the command said it has during the same period received 3,102 Nigerians who were deported from various countries of the world for immigration offences. Declaring this at the weekend in Lagos, the Comptroller of Immigration, Lagos airport Command, Mrs. Chizoba Dibi lamented the Impact of the huge indebtedness of the airlines on the operations of the command, saying that all efforts to recover the debts had proved abortive. Over 30 commercial airlines operate in and out of MMIA daily besides many private aircraft that operate into and out of the terminal daily. She recalled that the former Minister of Interior, Mr. Aba Moro in two letters with the reference numbers: IMM/ MMA/167A/XLVIII dated February 19, 2013 and ABJ/ HQ/OPS/2029/53 dated April 26, 2013 had conveyed approval of the command to withdraw passenger clearance from the then highest debtor of carrier liability to serve as deterrent to other airlines.

business

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

DAILY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) FOR FRIDAY, 11 SEPTEMBER, 2015

Monday, 14 September, 2015

14 news

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Ooni stool: Aspirant warns against politics, money factors

NE of the princes eyeing the Ooni stool in Ile-Ife, Prince Adetunji Aderin has appealed to kingmakers in the ancient city not to allow politics and pecuniary factors stand against the choice of a right candidate for the stool. Aderin, who is a grandson and direct bloodline of Aderin Ologbenla in an interview with newsmen, argued that it would be wrong to disallow his lineage, the Giesi ruling house from benefiting from its ancestral heritage saying by right, the ruling house should be allowed to ascend the throne. On why he chose to contest for the stool, Prince Aderin, a graduate of Economics at the University of Ado-Ekiti and an associate member of the Association of Business Executives, United Kingdom, said apart from being his right by reason of birth, he felt compelled to offer himself to help in the further development of his hometown. Prince Aderin argued that as the great grandson of a warrior king, it would be a disservice to the legacy of his ancestor, Aderin Ologbenla, who reigned from 1880 to 1893 as the last Ooni of Ife from the Giesi ruling house, if his household is invaded by those he described as impostors. According to the rotational procedure, which require each ruling house in a particular order to produce the candidate for the Ooni, the Giesi ruling house was meant to be next in line but according to Prince Aderin, he was denied his rightful place in history and the Ogboru family who ideally should have come up after Giesi family, ended up producing the Ooni Olubuse II, whose father had reigned from 1894 to 1910 after Aderin Ologbenla. The rotational cycle from Aderin Ologbenla 18801893 (Giesi ruling house) to Adelekan Olubuse I 18941910 (Ogboru ruling house) to Ademiluyi Ajagun 1910-

1930 (Lafogido ruling house) to Adesoji Aderemi 1930-1980 (Osinkola ruling house) should ideally have been Giesi again in 1980 but was given to Ogboru ruling house, thereby denying the Giesi ruling house the chance to produce an Ooni since 1893, when Aderin Ologbenla passed on. He said, “It would be sheer injustice for anyone outside the Giesi ruling house to be

the next Ooni of Ife and the king makers are fully aware of this, despite the attempt of some to suggest otherwise, the throne of the Ooni of Ife is not such to be politicised or monetised as the Giesi ruling house has been shunned for too long and the time is ripe for the ruling house of Giesi to take what is rightfully their place.” According to him, as the grandson and direct blood-

line of Aderin Ologbenla, he sees himself as the true heir to the throne because any other candidate within the Giesi ruling house would be at best a cousin, an extended family member or someone within the compound. The aspirant said he sees the role of King as one of great sacrifice and service to the people of Ife but to the Yoruba people at large and is willing to take

Children going to farm at Giri, Abuja, on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN

... Lafogido ruling house faults 1977 gazette •Demands stakeholders’ meeting By Laolu Harolds FOLLOWING the commencement of the selection process of the new Ooni of Ife, one of the ruling houses in the town- the Lafogido Ruling House, has faulted the Chieftaincy Declaration of 1976 by the Justice Ademola Commission, claiming it erred in its conclusion on many issues regarding the true royal families. The said declaration, which was a review of the 1957 declaration, was gazetted in 1977 by the government of the old Oyo State. In a statement issued by the ruling house, and signed

by its Head, the Sooko Walomo of Ile-Ife, Prince Adeleke Adewoyin, and six other princes from the ruling house, they faulted the gazette’s position on the history of the kings that ruled Ile-Ife from the time of Ooni Lajamisan, and the sequence of rotation, insisting that the ruling house has been marginalised in all the chieftaincy reviews since 1957. According to the ruling house, the modern rotational kingship system in Ile-Ife was established during the reign of Ooni Lajemisan, who it claimed had had two children of Lajodogun and

Lafogido. However, they claimed that the Lajodogun Ruling House was further split into three at the instance of his children of Ogbooru, Osinkola, and Princess Moropo whose son, Giesi, stands for; and that despite Lafogido’s eight children, it remained a single family tree. The family insisted that Giesi, as a maternal grandchild of Ogbooru, who it claimed was enthroned after her father, Ooni Ogboru, was banished to Ife-Odan following his prolonged reign, and cannot be recognised as a ruling house.

Ogboru ruling house presents Adefarakan to Ife kingmakers Oluwole Ige - Osogbo AS the battle to fill the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife heats up, the Ogboru Ruling House of Ile-Ife has presented a United Kingdom (UK) based oil magnate, Prince Adeagbo Adefarakan, to the Ife kingmakers as the sole candidate of the family. Adefarakan made this disclosure during a telephone

up that sacrifice. Prince Aderin is a leading businessman, based in London and sits on the board of several companies in the United Kingdom and in Nigeria. He singlehandedly funded cultural and heritage projects to promote Yoruba culture in the United Kingdom and is also a campaigner for youth empowerment and development.

interview with newsmen in Osogbo, Osun State capital, on Sunday. According to him, the leaders of the ruling house in a letter of recommendation sent to the Ife kingmakers, last Wednesday, recommended Adefarakan as the only candidate of the house to be considered for selection as the next Ooni. The oil and gas magnate,

who is a great grandson of the late Ooni Olubuse 1, explained that some other contestants within the family also indicated their interests in the position but the leaders of the family unanimously presented him as the only candidate of the family. Adefarakan averred that, “The Ogboru Ruling House has finally presented me to Ife kingmakers as the sole

candidate of the family for consideration as the next Ooni. “The letter of recommendation, in which I was presented to the kingmakers was signed by the Head of Ogboru Ruling House, Prince Adenekan Olubuse; Loogun of the House, Prince Alade Adefioye; Secretary, Prince Pade Adelekan and Prince Adegbemiga Adefarakan.”

They added that the death of about six Oonidesignates, before their enthronement, after Ogbooru’s banishment had informed the consideration of Giesi, whose mother had rejected the throne, being a woman. The statement reads in part: “Tracing the genealogy, a descendant of Ogbooru from Lajodogun Ruling House, Ooni Adelekan Olubuse, reigned from 1894 to 1910, and Adekola, who was appointed as his successive-designate was also from Lajodogun but he died before enthronement. His death paved way for Ooni Ademiluyi Ajagun Lawarikan from Lafogido ruling House who reigned from 1910 to 1930. “Ooni Aderemi, who ruled from 1930 to 1980, also hailed from Osinkola in Lajodogun and was succeeded by Olubuse II, who was also from Ogbooru of Lajodogun Ruling House. It is on record that candidates from Giesi family who contested against Sijuwade were denied based on the fact that they are from the same ruling house.”

Nigeria @ 55: Over 2,000 students to participate in reading festival in FCT Clement Idoko - Abuja OVER 2, 000 students from different schools across the country will converge in Abuja, on October 1 to participate in the Independence Reading Festival (IRF), as part of initiatives to promote reading culture among the Nigerian youth. The fiesta is organised by a non-governmental organisation, Explorers Book Club, to mark Nigeria’s 55th Independence Anniversary. National Co-ordinator of the organisation, Mr Hero Udenyi, in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, decried the poor reading culture among the Nigerian youth as manifested in poor performances of candidates in public examinations in recent times. Udenyi, said October 1, was deliberately chosen by the Local Organising Committee of the Independence Reading Festival, to further accentuate the relevance of independence to “our national life.”

Ekiti bans grass cutting by pupils during school hours Sam Nwaoko - Ado-Ekiti THE Ekiti State government has prohibited the cutting of grass by students and pupils, during work hours, as primary and secondary schools in Ekiti State resume for the 2015/2016 academic session, today. The state government in a release on Sunday said, “The state government has banned cutting of grasses by pupils in public schools during lesson periods.” The statement said the directive came from the office of the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Mr Jide Egunjobi, and added that “academic work is expected to commence on resumption day.” It quoted Egunjobi as explaining that “There shall however be no cutting of grasses except during break time or after school hours.” The statement added that public schools have also been directed to engage in either arable or livestock agriculture while staging of inter-house sport competitions must not extend beyond the first term of the session.

15 news

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Corruption war is for the soul of Nigeria —Buhari Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has restated that the ongoing war against corruption is not just for virtue and righteousness, but also for the soul of the country. This was as he said the dreaded Boko Haram insurgents no longer had the strength of occupying the North-East geo-political zone or any other part of the country. The president made this known while speaking at

the second plenary meeting of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), held at the Catholic Pastoral Centre, Igwurita, near Port Harcourt, on Sunday. The meeting was attended by Rivers State governor, Chief Nyesom Wike; Prelate of the Methodist Church of Nigeria, Dr Samuel Uche and the Archbishop of the Province of Niger Delta (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Ignatius Kattey, among others. Buhari, represented

by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said “Our fight against corruption is not just a moral battle of virtue and righteousness in our land, but it is a fight for the soul and substance of our nation. “Corruption in our country is endemic that it constitutes a parallel system. It is the primary reason for poor policies, wastages and bare-faced theft of public resources. “It is the main reason why a potentially prosperous country struggle to feed itself and provide jobs

for millions of its people. “Hundreds of thousands of infant and maternal mortality statistics, hundreds of thousands of deaths from communicable diseases are traceable to the greed and corruption of a few,” he said. President Buhari said two-third of Nigerians live in extreme poverty, saying the country must take paradigm thinking about the economy. “We must reason, plan and budget with the understanding that two-third of Nigerians are poor.

From left, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo; President, Catholic Bishop of Nigeria, Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama and the Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, during the Catholic Bishop Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Sunday.

Rivers community threatens to shut down flow stations as CP calls for meeting Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

ELDERS and youths of Rumuekpe Community in Rivers State have issued a seven-day ultimatum to the management of Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and also threatened to shut down all oil facilities operated by AGIP, should the two companies fail to honour a meeting called by the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Musa Kimo, on Wednesday. The community also frowned at the alleged neglect and turn down of a meeting brokered by the police commissioner, scheduled to take place in his office, last Thursday. The people of the community, last Monday, staged a peaceful protest along the East-West Road over alleged incessant neglect and marginalisation, abandonments and denials by SPDC, AGIP and Total of the host community. Speaking on the alleged insensitivity to the community, President, South-South

Youths Leader, Daniel Nelson, said the community lacked potable water, good road, hospital, modern schools, adding that the villagers were dying daily of environmental pollutions. He said the four major oil companies operating in Rumuekpe, including

SPDC, AGIP, NPRI, Total and Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), had failed to employ any of the youth in the community in their firms. He said the elders, chiefs and youths arrived at the decision to shut down the station, last Thursday, if the companies failed to attend

the proposed meeting with the Rivers police boss. “The CP, Musa Kimo, has decided to write to the companies and personally invite them again to a meeting in his office, this Wednesday, to broker peace between the aggrieved communities and the firms,” he said.

Ogun lawmakers charged to promote good governance By Gbenga Olumide

MEMBERS of the Ogun State House of Assembly have been charged to rededicate themselves to the promotion of good governance through the initiation of relevant legislations that will impact positively on the people of their constituencies. The Speaker, Honourable Suraju Ishola Adekunbi, gave the charge while declaring open two-day training for members of the state legislature at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta. Adekunbi said that the

essence of the training was to equip the newly elected lawmakers with basic skills required to legislate for good governance and quality service delivery. He added that this would help them clarify their roles and responsibilities. Honourable Adekunbi noted that as an arm of government, the assemblymen were expected to adopt relevant legislative process to promote overall development of their constituents, pointing out that the success of the ongoing “Rebuilding Mission” of the state government depend-

ed on the people-oriented legislation put in place by the lawmakers. Adekunbi charged his colleagues to always promote peace and continue to adopt conflict resolution mechanisms in all their dealings. Earlier in her welcome address, the Resident Representative of Konrad Adenauer Stifting (KAS), the partnering organising agency for the training, Mrs Hildegard BehnendtKigozi, said that the training would equip the legislators to function effectively in their parliamentary proceedings and processes.

They must be helped, first to survive and, then, fully participate in the economy of the nation. “Consequently, we must create tenets for the very poor and vulnerable, while ensuring that social spending also resurrects investments in the economy. We must invest substantially in relevant education; teachers training and vocational and entrepreneurial training. “The country is today experiencing its worst economic situation in decades. A terrible combination of waste, corruption and severe down turn in all earnings have drastically reduced our esteemed resources,” he said. Buhari, however, assured that the military was now using vigilance and local intelligence to make it impossible for fighters of Boko Haram to regroup in the North-East or any other part of the country. “On security, we are on course to militarily rout Boko Haram and make them incapable of taking over any territory. “Suicide bombings on some parts of the NorthEast are desperate acts of terrorists to create a sense that they are still in play. But, with vigilance and local intelligence, we will make these cowardly acts practically impossible. “We must, however, now turn our attention to the enormous task of de-radicalisation and reorientation of the young people who had been led to believe in the rhetoric of Boko Haram. “Part of the task that we have is in deconstructing the hopeless socioeconomic circumstances that made young men and women rebel against their own society when they cannot see a future for themselves,” he said. Earlier in his opening address, President of CBCN, Most Rev. Ignatius Kaigama, expressed hope that, with a new administration in power, Nigeria’s wasted opportunities must be recovered. Kaigama, who is also the Archbishop of Jos, said, “As a Church, we continue to pray and preach that Nigerians should be altruistic and patriotic, rather than being selfish and narcissistic. “The tendency to promote, defend, and protect narrow personal, regional and religious interests have been responsible for our unstable national journey of one step forward and many steps backward.”

FCT commissioner seeks cooperation from communities Chris Agbambu - Abuja

COMMISSIONER of Police for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wilson Inalegwu, has urged communities in Abuja to partner with the command in its renewed crime fighting strategy. He said the command would continue to operate an open door policy that will include the participation of FCT residents in its fight against crime. Inalegwu spoke at the weekend when he visited Galadimawa community to inaugurate its newly built police outpost, which was initiated by the Officerin-Charge of Galadima, DSP Uket Ofem, with the support of well-meaning members of the community. The building of the project was supervised by the Lugbe Divisional Police Officer, CSP Oyanwenda Ekoh. Earlier in his remarks, the District Head of Galadimawa, Alhaji Musa Barde, expressed appreciation to the Commissioner of Police for setting an indelible record of being the first Commissioner of Police to visit the community.

Ekiti generates N46m revenue from forestry Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

THE Ekiti State government has said it has generated N46,024,195.00 from forestry out of a revenue target of N77million projected for the sector in the 2015 fiscal year. The Commissioner for Environment, Chief Bisi Kolawole, who made this known in Ado Ekiti, a government statement said, “expressed satisfaction with government’s performance in the sector.” Kolawole, it said, “noted the usual considerable increase in activities in the forestry sector during the dry seasons,” and “expressed confidence that more revenue would be generated from the sector before the end of the year.” The commissioner attributed the improved performance in the sector to efforts of the Governor Ayodele Fayose-led administration to instil discipline in activities of all stakeholders in the sector. According to him, the state government has succeeded in curbing the activities of illegal operators in the sector.

Monday, 14 September, 2015 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

(1) From left, Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Labour Matters, Alhaji Hassan Gobir; Kwara State Head of Service, Hajia Zahra Omar, Chief of Staff, Government House, Alhaji Yusuf Abdulwahab; Chairman, Trade Union Congress, Kwara State, Kola Olumo and the Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Yekeen Agunbiade, during the presentation of letter in support of President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti corruption crusade, at Government House, Ilorin. (2) From left, Managing Director/CEO, Osun State Investment Company Limited, Mr Bola Oyebamiji; Director-General, National Automotive Council, Mr Aminu Jalal; Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola; former Special Adviser to Osun Sttae Governor on Federal Matters, Idiat Babalola; former Commissioner for Lands and Physical Planning, Mr Muyiwa Ige and Divisional Head, Large Enterprises, Bank of Industry, Mr Joseph Babatunde, during the inauguration of Bola Ige Mechatronics Institute in Esa Oke, Osun State, on Thursday. (3) Mines and Steel Permanent Secretary, Mallam Baba Umar Faruk, with a raw material in hand, listening to the sole administrator, Mr Isah Onobere. (4) Mallam Baba Umar Faruk, Permanent Secretary, Mines and Steel (second right), admiring some

spare parts made in the Ajaokuta Steel Engineering Works complex, during his visit to the complex. (5) Professor Taoheed Adeoja, Pro-Chancellor and chairman of Governing Council of Federal University, Dutse, Jigawa State (right), receiving a gift from Professor M. A. Akanji, Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology (FUT), Minna, supported by Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali, Pro-Chancellor and chairman of governing council, FUT, Minna and Mrs J. N. Ibe of the Federal Ministry of Education, during a send off for Professor Adedoja, a former member of governing council of FUT Minna, in Minna, recently. (6) The celebrant, Chief Gabriel Onipede (middle), cutting his 70th birthday cake and assisted by his children, at a ceremony held at his residence, Oke-Parde, Ibadan. (7) The groom, Mr John Oluwaseyi Olefin, with his wife, former Miss Victoria Oluwakemi Ajimo, during their traditional wedding held in Lagos, recently. (8) Mrs Olawunmi Ogunsan (left) with Joke Asubiaro at the commissioning of 10th remembrance of Florence Titilayo Asubiaro Foundation, held at Asubiaro’s residence, College Crescent area, Ibadan. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

For bookings, contact ’Laolu Afolabi on 08116954645 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

INSIDE LAGOS

Monday, 14 September, 2015

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1. From left, Youth Sports Foundation of Nigeria (YSFON) Coach, Ifeoluwa Idowu; Airtel Rising Stars (ARS) Season 5 player, Oyekola Michael; Coach Rob Ernest from PSV Holland and ARS 5 player, Emmanuel Favour, during the opening ceremony of the ongoing Airtel Rising Stars football Clinic at Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Wednesday. 2. From left, Country Health & Safety Manager, Lafarge Africa Plc., Mr Tukur Lawal; Managing Director, Concrete, Aggregates & Readymix, Lafarge Africa Plc., Loren Zanin, receiving the award for Best Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) Practice in the Manufacturing from the publisher of HSE Book, Dr Bamisaye Oluwagbemi, at the Nigeria Safety Award for Excellence Hall of Fame 2015, held in Lagos on Friday. 3. MD, Airtel Nigeria, Mr Segun Ogunsanya and Tuface Idibia (middle) presenting a cheque of 500,000 and trophy to the winners of AIRTEL RISING STARS, Port Harcourt Zone boys, during the Airtel Rising Stars Season 5 U-17 Football tournament held at Yaba Tech, Sport Complex Lagos,on Saturday. 4. National President, National Association of Nigeria Traditional Medicine Practitioners (NANTMP), His Royal Highness Omoh Oleabhiele; Director, Drug Evaluation and Research, Mrs Titilope Owolabi and Director,

ALABA IGBAROOLA: 08155975474

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Port Inspection, Maureen Ebigbeyi both of National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), at a conference organised by NAFDAC to mark the 13th African Traditional Medicine Day at NECA House, on Monday. 5. From left, Vice-President, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club and Chairman, 120 years Anniversary Planning Committee, Prince Gbenga Lufadeju; one of the participant, Fathia Malik, receiving her certificate and gift pack from General Manager, PR Africa International, Mr Utche Okuosah; another participant, Master Mathew Osagie, holding his certificate and the Captain, Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Mr Olumide Odusuga, during, closing ceremony of the one-month Lagos Lawn Tennis Training/ Clinic for membersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; kids organised in collaboration with PR Africa International at Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan, on Sunday. 6. From left, Registrar NIMN, Mr Sidney Ogodo, Council member/Chairman, Programmes and Events committee, Mr Sola Kolawole and President/Chairman of Council, NIMN, Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, during the announcement of annual marketing conference and annual general meeting of the institute, on Monday.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 14 September, 2015

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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.

The lure of migrating to Europe

ITH the wave of Middle Eastern migrants , particularly Syrians, heading to Europe, these are definitely not the best of times for Nigerian migrants. Since time immemorial, Nigerians have been travelling; our people are nomadic in nature, and that is why we can be found in almost every corner of the world. It is so bad that Nigerians do everything humanly possible to migrate, and it should surprise no one that some even pass

through the Sahara desert, crossing into North Africa before making the dangerous trip by boat across the Meditterreanean sea into Europe. However, there is the need for would-be migrants to know that everything is also not rosy in Europe. In the United Kingdom for example, the government has been tightening the immigration loopholes, with tougher laws targetting businesses that employ illegal migrants. The influx of Syrians and other Arab refugees into

Still on the issue of part-time legislature ONLY a few of Nigerian politicians have jobs; majority of them are full-time politicians, and in a country like Nigeria, they are a drain on the nation’s resources. Former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Mallam Lamido Sanusi Lamido, once revealed that the National Assembly takes about 80 per cent of the nation’s budget. How do we expect to develop this way? Politics shouldn’t be a full-time profession or business. I particularly want to focus on our legislators, both at the state and federal levels. They sit only about twice or thrice a week, and that should leave them with enough to go back to their daily jobs. Politicians should not be earning more than civil servants if we truly want to save for our future generation. As things are, we are expending all our monies on our politicians, and it will get us to nowhere. I want Nigerian youths to rise up and demand a change. Politics is not a get-rich-quick route. When politicians are paid like the civil servants, most of those who are in it for the money will withdraw, while those who truly want to serve the people will stay. I am, therefore, using this opportunity to call on

Nigerian youths to champion this cause. •Yetunde Soares, Lagos. yetty_soares@gmail. com

Europe is also not helping matters. When these people finally get settled, they will need to start work. Most of them will take any job, and these are the jobs

Nigerians and other economic migrants have been doing. This then leaves Nigerian migrants without jobs. Europe is moving into another phase where-

by immigrants are not welcomed. Already, many right wing activists are doing everything to stop migrants from settling in their countries, including

attacking foreigners. Nigerian youths should learn from all these before deciding to leave the country. •Aisha Yakub, Kaduna.

Youths should learn to use the library AT a time when Nigerian youths are always idle, it is important that they know that reading is one of the ways through which they can beat boredom, as well as gain knowledge. With the technology era, reading books is no longer fashionable, particularly to youths, but any youth who wants to develop himself mentally must not be far from the library. A library contains collections of information materials of both printed (books) and non-printed (E-format) that are stored and organised in a classified order for the use of the client or public. It is also

referred to as the Peoples University, most especially public libraries, which are set up and widely open for the use and benefit of the public. The library is an abode of knowledge which houses every human discipline. Consulting and patronising the library by an individual makes him/her a professional in every discipline or his choice of career without attending an institution and it helps in enhancing self confidence. Consulting the library helps an individual to know his/her right without the help of a lawyer, know the economic situation of

the country, discover his/ her talent to become a successful entrepreneur, to become a first aid doctor, to know about his/her society and so on. The purpose of the library is unlimited to humanity because it also serves as a recreation centre. Consulting the library makes an individual a genius in the

society. Therefore, Nigerian youths can know a lot about everything if only they can fall in love with the library. •Olatunji Olanrewaju Ajisafe, Federal Polytechnic, Offa.

Bayelsa: Grassroots relevance ‘ll determine who wears crown HAVING taken a critical observation of the issues and persons in the forthcoming governorship election in Bayelsa State,

pointing out the centrality of grassroots appeal in the race, becomes imperative. The crucial nature of the approaching contest in the country’s political configuration, also makes the issue of the grassroots a focal point. Bayelsa is state, which the two leading parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) can not afford to toy with for the sake of sympathy or political patronage. What the APC needs at this time, particularly given the strength of the PDP in the South-South region, is to present a candidate with a popular appeal. Without sounding unfair to others, who had indicated interest in succeeding the incumbent governor, Mr. Timi Alaibe fits the bill in this respect. He comes to the race prepared unlike others. Having nursed this ambition for an appreciable length of time, no other person could be said to be more ready for the job than Alaibe, whose blueprint for the state, remains the most feasible. Interestingly, the APC’s aspiration of producing the next governor of the state, would be made easier if Alaibe is given the party ticket. •Prosper Igenewari, Abuja.

editorial

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Latecomer civil servants

HE Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, recently paid an early morning surprise visit to the state secretariat during which he apprehended more than 30 civil servants who arrived late for work, and he directed that a disciplinary committee be set up to impose on them appropriate sanctions. On sighting the governor, several others scampered about to avoid being apprehended. Some of the civil servants who were apprehended prostrated or knelt down in appeal to the governor, who later forgave them but warned that he will continue to pay surprise visits to government offices and schools to catch latecomers who will not be spared henceforth. Earlier, the Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, on his first official day in office locked out civil servants that had yet to resume for work at 8.10 a.m. The governor, who resumed work at about 7.45 a.m, met an almost empty secretariat complex and directed the Head of Service, Mrs. Mary-Theresa Ikwen, to shut the gate. He also directed that henceforth, the gates to all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should be shut by 8.10 a.m daily to curb lateness. The governor later ordered that the gate be reopened at about 8.40a.m. He subsequently warned all heads of MDAs to live up to their responsibilities by ensuring that civil servants work in line with the prescribed civil service rules. At first sight, it appears the concern about the behaviour of civil servants by state governors is informed by the current pressure on government finances, which has made it difficult for states to pay salaries. Indeed, some states have begun to restructure their civil service to reduce cost of governance. This is only partly true. Concern about the state of the civil service has been a recurring one. At the national level, a study of the federal civil service conducted by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in 2001, showed that the civil service was aging; 60 per cent of the service personnel was made of officers who were 40 years old and above. Unskilled staff comprised 70 per cent of the entire workforce (officers on Grade Levels 01 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 06). Only 1.7 per cent of the workforce was made up of officers in the strategic thinking Directorate Cadre (GLs. 15 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 17). About 60 per cent of Federal Government spending was deployed to servicing the federal bureaucracy. The study further showed that there was low morale among the higher levels of the service, resulting from non-professional human resource management practice, including a highly centralised, hierarchical and rule-driven system, which stifles individual

initiative and muffles corporate accountability. Furthermore, the MDAs had neither Mission and Vision Statements, nor clear corporate and individual schedules of duties. They were underresourced and lacking the capacity to appropriate technological changes to modernise. Decision making had also degenerated to a routine response to addressing urgent problems rather than a structured initiative involving painstaking analysis, consultation and monitored control. The procurement system was equally fundamentally flawed, as it was not transparent. Thus, the federal government outlined a three-phased reform programme in the Vision 20:2020 document that was to end in 2015. Indeed, since the return to democratic rule, efforts have been made to reform the services at both national and state levels. Many states have adopted the Integrated Personnel and Payroll Information System (IPPIS) to eliminate ghost workers and this has saved the governments some billions of naira. They have also introduced promotion, examination and performance measurement to return merits into the system. However, some of the reform measures had been resisted by the civil servants and their unions. In the wake of the drama in Ekiti, the stateâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Head of Service, Dr Olugbenga Faseluka, remarked that several warnings, interface and memos have been issued on the need for civil servants to shun lateness and absenteeism. This is a clear example that resistance to reform needs to be addressed. The civil service is very central to government performance. It is the prime agency for implementing public policy. As such, it is the main facilitator of solutions to a variety of problems that governments must tackle in an age of globalisation, such as technological change, shifting demographics and environmental threat. In spite of the series of reforms, the civil service in Nigeria is considered to be too large, inefficient and very corrupt. The poor state of service delivery is largely attributable to the poor state of the service. However, dramatic approach to address the problems that bedevil the civil service such as governors apprehending late comers, may not be appropriate and certainly not sufficient. Governments across the country must ensure that their civil service systems function as effectively and efficiently as they should. This requires not just the introduction of new ideas and improving the competencies of civil servants through constant training, but also the enforcement of laws and rules relating to discipline and performance without preferential treatments.

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opinion

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Buhari’s forgotten promise Lasisi Olagunju

Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

T was beautiful listening to the inaugural speech of President Muhammadu Buhari on May 29, 2015. He would fight corruption and all its manifestations. It was good music hearing him declare in particular that governors would no longer be allowed to steal Local Government funds. Our president said: “Elsewhere, relations between Abuja and the states have to be clarified if we are to serve the country better. Constitutionally, there are limits to powers of each of the three tiers of government but that should not mean the Federal Government should fold its arms and close its eyes to what is going on in the state and local governments, not least the operations of the Local Government Joint Account. While the Federal Government can not interfere in the details of its operations, it will ensure that the gross corruption at the local level is checked. As far as the constitution allows me, I will try to ensure that there is responsible and accountable governance at all levels of government in the country. For I will not have kept my own trust with the Nigerian people if I allow others abuse theirs under my watch.” That was the beautiful thing the president promised in May. But is it still beautiful that four months after that solemn pledge, this president has not done anything in practical terms to wean the purse of the third tier of government from the light fingers of chief executives of the states? How does he feel that between the governors and local government funds, it is still business as usual? If the president finds it difficult tracking the previous months’ allocations to the councils from the Federation Account, can he just start now with the latest disbursements for the month of July 2015 shared last month? Although the 36 states got N235.928billion, the almighty governors would still not see anything wrong in cornering the bulk of the N179.675billion that went to the 774 local governments. Or how many of the local governments got the actual amount allocated to them? If I were President Buhari, I would ask questions and demand answers. If I were Buhari, I would refuse to be slave to governors (whatever their political base and electoral clout) and do the needful on local government funds. I would ask questions on why local governments whose allocations are in excess of N100million could not pay salaries that are less than N40million. If I found out that their governors were the reason for their poverty, I would follow it up by getting the poor councils’ funds deducted from the thieving state government’s accounts and let the law deal with the thieves. Yes, the constitution orders the creation of state/local governments accounts, but does the constitution say the joint account should be used as avenue to bleed the councils to death? If I were President Buhari, I would carry my reforms further by demanding to know why all governors want their men in all local governments as chairmen. I would even ask why state

governors never liked holding local government elections and why the few that have done so ensured they won all all the time. It was quite exciting listening to the President’s inaugural speech. The president would fight corruption. But I did not hear him call for explanations from the governors on how they amassed commercial loans in billions before making the Debt Management Office to convert the multi billion naira debts to bonds for us, our children and grandchildren to amortize in year 2034. If I were the president I would have asked questions from the men of today before I load their liabilities on the men and women of the future. The president does not belong to anybody but it would appear the almighty governors have won the fight already. They own this president. They appear in clear control of Buhari who has promised to fight corruption. Or how would you explain governors consistently tackling the Federal Government over state funds trapped in federal coffers but see a right in their spending monies that legitimately belong to the tier of government beneath them without a whimper of protest from our president? Someone said the governors are spending the money because local governments are cesspools of corruption. They say the little that trickle there ultimately end up in private pockets of the little gods running and ruining lives at the grass roots. I should agree that characters like the governors are replicated in the local governments. But didn’t we promise to fight corruption in our inaugural speech on May 29? Why can’t we just let the public property get to the custodian first, then let the law protect the property from becoming part of the private wealth of thieving politicians and those they trust? And if thieves break into the public till and, as usual, steal the commonwealth, shouldn’t the president as an elder know what to do to catch and shame the thieves? But in case the thieves are smarter than the law, our elders have ways they catch thieves. Sheila Wee of Singapore told this story on ‘How to catch a thief.’ Our president should find it valuable: One morning, there was a bubbling of commotion from each of the small houses in a village. “Have you seen my gold bracelet?” “My grandmother’s ring is gone!”

“My money’s been stolen!” The angry villagers crowded in the square complaining and lamenting their stolen treasures. Everyone clamoured to see the village chief. Eventually, the head of the village called for order. He examined each villager in turn and solemnly asked them to line up. He announced: “This village is so isolated that we have had no sign of outsiders for months. Furthermore, all the valuables were stolen from secret places within each house that only an insider who has entered each home and observed the daily lives of our people could know where they were hidden. I regret to conclude that the thief is one of us.” A wave of surprise flowed through the crowd. “Chief, how do you plan to root out the thief? I have lost over 90 gold coins!” exclaimed one of the village men. “Be patient my friend, we will find out in due course.” The village chief then carried out a roll call to make sure that all the villagers were accounted for. The chief then brought out a palm-sized statue of an ancient god. Over the head of the statue, he sprinkled soot ( black powder) from an old fire. He showed it to the villagers and instructed: “Each villager is to go inside my home. They are to squeeze this statue with all their might. If they are innocent, the statue will remain silent. If the person is guilty, the statue will scream a deafening cry.” The people were skeptical about black magic and surprised that the level-headed village chief would suggest such a foolish act, but desperate to have their valuables returned, they agreed. One by one, the villagers silently entered the house to squeeze the little statue. Everyone outside listened, waiting for an earsplitting shriek, but none came. When the last person had entered, squeezed the statue and emerged without so much as a peep, the square burst into an angry racket. The chief was calm and again called for order. He invited all the villagers to stand in a large circle and hold out their hands in front of them. As he made his way round the circle, he spoke, “The statue was squeezed, but it did not make a sound. This is because statues do not and cannot scream or shriek. “People who are innocent, have nothing to lose by squeezing an inanimate object. But the guilty are wary and careful. They don’t want to get caught. So the guilty party did not squeeze the statue for fear that it would scream. But in doing so, he gave himself away for he is the only person in this village circle who has clean hands. And that is you my friend.” The chief’s friend, the man who had complained about the loss of his 90 gold coins looked down at his clean hands in horror, then up at the wise chief. He had no choice but to confess to being the thief. The chief in this story caught his friend. President Buhari promised to catch thieves. He must catch the big ones stealing from local governments without minding whether they are of his APP-CPC- APC, ACN or PDP. He should check the palms!

INEC and Buhari’s emergent appointments By Salami Adebisi

IT has been repeated in recent times that the problem with President Muhammadu Buhari’s appointment of Mrs Amina Zakari, in breach of the constitution he swore to uphold, to head the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), has nothing to do with her qualifications but rather the moral burden of having his ‘sister in-law’ presiding over elections in which himself or his party would be participating, in the future, against others. Whereas it was not a problem for ex-President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint her to conduct elections - allegedly as a nominee of Mallam Nasir el Rufai with whom Mrs Zakari had worked at the Federal Capital Territory – however, Jonathan would have had a similar problem if he had appointed a brother, sister, friend, an in-law or party member from the South-South Zone, because Nigerians would have reacted with similar rejection. At any rate, Mrs Zakari tried unsuccessfully and unconvincingly to mitigate this concern, with a weak denial of her family relation with the president which has since been clearly defined by Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, a story that has remained unchallenged, even by the president himself. Alhaji Yakassai informed Nigerians that Mrs Amina Zakari’s father, the late Emir of Kazaure married President Buhari’s elder sister, and that President Buhari started his childhood in the late Emir’s house. He further revealed that, the mother of Amina Zakari was either the first or second wife of the Emir. Also, he informed that Buhari stayed with the Emir for some time in Kazaure declaring that he knew all these because the late emir, was his friend of many years, having worked with him as his Perma-

nent Secretary before becoming an emir. All these issues bothering on law, morality and personal integrity of Buhari are already being discussed by Nigerians but have now been worsened by the president’s recent patterns of appointments, particularly in utter negation of the political support he received from the South West Zone during the last elections. Emerging from the recent patterns of the president’s appointments, as I see it, is the tendency to cherry-pick important appointments for his kith and kin, while reserving arduous tasks and positions for zones such as the South West. The people of the South West are not a race any individual or group can take for a ride; we have seen clearly the master-slave import of the three appointments given so far to the South West, wherein one of the appointees has to take responsibilities for combating a resilient Boko Haram, the other is burdened with explaining the mistakes or failures of government and its agents, while the third is to become the face of wider tax collections, to generate more revenues mainly from Southern Nigeria, such as the proposed 10% increase of VAT, wherein Lagos State that generates the highest gets far less in final proportion to what is shared when the shares of states in the north that contribute far less are aggregated. Given these touchy appointments, a vast majority of our people have come to the conclusion that the South West has received nothing but errands, headaches and heartaches for its support for “change.” To worsen this fear, it has been revealed that party leaders, particularly South West leaders of the APC are ‘not involved’ or are only ‘marginally involved or consulted’ regarding appointments. ‘Marginal’ involvement in this sense being a mild and diplomatic expression

for being ‘bypassed,’ or even worse ‘ignored’, otherwise how could it be explained that Amina Zakari could be made an ‘acting chairman’ in violation of sections 154, 155 and 157 of the constitution where a renowned professor of law is a sitting Vice President? This tragedy has been tamely ignored by most civil rights activists who ought to have spoken out while this country is being led on the path of unconstitutionality. Is this because they are expecting appointments and have decided to maintain a loud silence? Frankly, the task of election supervision does not require loyalists, it requires a neutral, independent-minded, detached, fair and professionally inclined umpire. For the South West it will be an excuse for another “Wetie” in the making. The president ought to look outside his zone like President Jonathan did in appointing an INEC chairman; not only from outside his South-South zone but the entire southern Nigeria. Even President Buhari’s military colleagues didn’t do what he is doing now as General Ibrahim Babangida appointed Professor Humphrey Nwosu from the South East; General Abubakar Abdulsalami also appointed Justice Akpata from the South-South. This is a matter of serious concern for people in the South West who are now wondering if the confiscation and control of INEC is not a final nail in the coffin that will terminate their right to choose its leaders in future elections, as we did in 2015. This right to freely choose is the most valued and unfettered right in a democracy. Dr. Adebisi, of the South West Study Group,sent this piece from Ibadan.

Monday, 14 September, 2015

tribune

business

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor Sulaimon Olanrewaju

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

As CBN, JP Morgan differ over Nigeria’s economy

to repay the face value on the maturity date. These bonds are usually in the country’s own currency, in Nigeria’s case, in naira.

CBN governor, Godwin Emefiele Chima Nwokoji - Lagos

P Morgan recently announced that Nigeria will be phased out of the Emerging Market Government Bond Index (GBI-EM) series over the next two months. According to the bank, lack of transparency and lack of a fully functional two-way foreign exchange (FX) market has led to uncertainty and some challenges for investors buying and selling in naira. Thus, Africa‘s biggest economy would be partially excluded from the index by September end and full exit will occur in October. Nigeria’s current weighting in the $200 billion index is 1.50 per cent. In a swift reaction, the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF), the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Debt Management Office (DMO) disagreed with J.P. Morgan, saying that Nigeria had taken appropriate measures to improve the market. “We would like to strongly disagree with the premise and conclusions upon which the decision rests,” a joint press statement by the FMF, DMO and CBN read in part. This reaction from the highest monetary policy decision making authority in Nigeria

quickly throws up some issues which both economic and non-economic analysts have critically analysed. The truth remains that both the CBN and the United States-based lender have their mandates to protect and deliver. But, just like a popular idiom observes, “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers.” The Nigerian economy and its agents may suffer depending on how this matter is handled. The questions that the clash of two giant elephants from Nigeria and America bring to the front burner are: whose mandate should Nigeria be more concerned about? Who or what is JP Morgan? Who or what took Nigeria to JP Morgan? Analysts from investment banking, corporate finance, public policy and economics have tried to provide insights. Who is JP Morgan and what is its mandate? JP Morgan, being an American multinational banking and financial services holding company, is the largest bank in the United States, and the world’s fifth largest bank by assets, with total assets of US$2.6 trillion.

The lender delivers strategic advice and solutions, including capital raising, risk management and trade finance to corporations, institutions and governments. Serving the world’s largest institutional investors, JP Morgan says it supports the investment cycle with market-leading research, analytics, and execution and investor services. “With over 170 years of experience and knowledge solving the complexities of significant wealth, we offer investments, liquidity and credit management, and tax and estate planning,” the bank boasted in its website. In summary, JP Morgan’s mandate is to serve the worlds institutional investors and help build economies and communities. In this regard, Nigeria may have approached the lender so as to be an investment partner in building Africa’s largest economy in Gross Domestic Product terms. It’s bond index, which tracks around US$183.8 billion to US$200 assets under management serves as a shop where bonds of nations are displayed for investors/buyers. In a lay man’s understanding, the bond is a debt instrument issued by a government, with a promise to pay periodic interest and

CBN and clash of mandates, who blinks first? The CBN Act of 2007 of the Federal Republic of Nigeria charges the bank with the overall control and administration of the monetary and financial sector policies of the Federal Government. The objects of the CBN are as follows: ensure monetary and price stability; issue legal tender currency in Nigeria; maintain external reserves to safeguard the international value of the legal tender currency; promote a sound financial system in Nigeria; and act as banker and provide economic and financial advice to the Federal Government. In an attempt to “ensure monetary and price stability and promote a sound financial system in Nigeria,” the apex bank has taken steps which it considers appropriate to keep its mandate. But because in the era of globalisation, no economy can exist without interacting with outsiders, whose actions and inaction affect policy decisions, it has to worry about global players like JP Morgan. Most economists argue that the global lender has standards set, based on certain models over the years and such models cannot be altered because of a single country. They believe that what Nigeria should do now is taking it as it is, rely on other global fund managers and ultimately diversify the economy away from oil. That way, the economy will no longer depend on a commodity which price is dictated in the international community. The apex bank has tried to show it has taken the country’s fate the way it is since ‘Mr Morgan’ will not reverse the decision until after one year depending on whether Nigeria satisfies its conditions or not. While JP Morgan is bent on serving the world’s institutional investors and helping them build their economies and investments, CBN says doing what the former requires at this time will lead to massive depreciation of the naira and more hardship for Nigerians. As if acting the umpire, a Nigeria-based investment banking and research company, Afrinvest West Africa, said in a note to investors: “We believe JP Morgan has its criteria for countries enlisted in its indices and also has the right to delist any country that falls short of its listing requirements. “Nevertheless, we are also of the opinion that the apex bank has its exclusive right to ensure it achieves its primary responsibility of maintaining internal and external price stability. While we observed a knee-jerk reaction in the Nigerian capital market since the announcement, we expect this to stabilise in the medium to long term, as we await policy direction from the Buhari-led administration.” continues pg22

tribunebusiness

Monday, 14 September, 2015

JP Morgan will remove Nigerian debt from its main indices by the end of October, raising fears of a fire sale of government securities. However, many foreign investors have already abandoned the country. Bankers estimate that overseas holdings of local currency debt have fallen to approximately $3 billion, from $11 billion in 2013. It’s not that investors aren’t hungry for Nigeria’s hefty yields, which are among the highest in the JP Morgan index, but many are growing increasingly worried about the CBN’s management of foreign exchange reserves. In June, CBN banned the import of some 40 products – from rice to wheelbarrows – in an effort to prevent currency from leaving Nigerian shores. The restrictions have settled the naira into a tight band between N198 and N199 to the dollar.

continued from pg21

Part of the reasons CBN took the measures it took recently was revealed by the Director, Financial Markets Department, CBN, Mr Emmanuel Ukeje, who said most of the people being branded Foreign Investors (FIs), who JP Morgan referred to when it announced the removal of Nigeria from its Government Bond Index for Emerging Markets (GBI-EM), were mere traders. Calling the bluff On those who want to exit, the director said: “The apex bank has advised Deposit Money Banks to actually allow them to go because there are people who are also willing to come in. The fundamentals of the Nigerian economy are very, very good and people are willing to come into Nigeria and invest.” He further said that JP Morgan was just a fraction of investors that are in Nigeria and that a lot of them had gone out before the 2015 election, because they never thought Nigeria would have a successful election. Ukeje said the CBN had been in contact with Deposit Money Banks and that initial panic which greeted the news had died downed after they sat back and analyzed the market. He said there was calm in the market and everything was returning to normalcy. Corroborating the fact that there are alternative investors and indexes to JP Morgan, Afrinvest observed that the “financial market sentiment is still likely to continue to feel the impact of this news flow as the domestic investor sentiments will seem to be the new major force driving the Nigerian fixed income market while the equities market may still continue to enjoy a mix of foreign and domestic sentiments as Nigerian equities still remains in the MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital Index) for frontier markets.” It added that with a weight of 1.5 per cent (out of US$183.8bn) in the index, the US$2.8 billion worth of foreign holdings of Nigerian government bonds expected to exit the market, is significantly lower than a total of US$8 billion that exited in September 2014. “We have seen some buying interest at the secondary market in spite of the auction of JP Morgan to remove the country’s bond from its index,” a trader said. The initial reaction to the JP Morgan move led to an increase in yields across the board on Nigerian local debt, but later moderated after regulators introduced a new spread to stem volatility. Voices from abroad Responding to JP Morgan’s decision, Mr Jurgen Hecker, a France-based financial expert and media trainer, said: “It has happened.” He expressed surprise at the early timing of this move, but said he was not surprised at the reasoning behind it. Hecker, in an e- mail to the Nigerian Tribune, expressed worry that three months into his term, President Buhari had not appointed a full cabinet, and especially, a finance minister. He believed that if the naira was devalued, credible finance minister appointed and rapid measures to diversify the economy and fight corruption announced, investors would be demanding Nigerian bonds again. “This is a real worry for international investors. Expectations that the naira should already have been devalued are another reason,” he stated. From the Economist’s intelligence unit, the United Kingdom-based magazine wrote that “The decision to remove Nigeria from the index of local-currency government bonds is a blow to its fledgling capital markets, which have benefited from large inflows of foreign monies in recent years. More generally, the expulsion of Nigeria from a major emerging-market index is a

Nigerian Tribune

President Buhari

CBN vs JP Morgan: A clash of mandates on Nigerian economy blow to the country’s reputation in the international capital markets and a setback to its ambition to achieve greater integration into the global financial markets.” Major impacts Is there any way this will affect a Nigerian on the street looking for daily bread? Some analysts explained that though there is no direct impact of JP Morgan’s decision at the moment on low income earners, there is always a long-term effect of anything that happens to the naira on household income and expenditure. “If the naira is reduced in value, it means a loaf of bread you buy at N100 will now cost you N250 to N300, that is one side of the argument,” some analysts have noted in simple terms. Also, for the fact that listing the bond is a way of looking for borrowers or buyers of government bonds, another impact is that when the government gets the money it needs, it can finance a lot of activities in the economy. Essentially, the government borrows to enable higher spending without having to increase taxes. Experts have explained that when tax revenues are less than predicted, borrowing means the government can meet a temporary shortfall by borrowing, rather than having to immediately cut back on spending. Like an overdraft facility, the government borrowing gives the government more flexibility and means they can maintain wages and spending commitments without having to keep cutting spending. Also, the government may invest in public sector investments lie roads, health care among others for the benefit of citizens. This investment can give a return on the investment which helps to boost productive capacity and increase economic growth. In this case, the government is acting like a

firm who takes out a loan to finance investment but where there is revenue shortfall like Nigeria is experiencing now, life becomes difficult, experts explain. “This move by JP Morgan will oblige many fund managers to sell Nigerian bonds, as they can only invest in securities included in the index,” Hecker explained. The Francebased financial expert reiterated that it would put additional pressure on the naira, and the government would do well to react decisively this time. “But now it will probably have to devalue by more than it would have had it acted earlier. It is a pity that it has come to this, and now it’s going to be more difficult than before to regain investors’ confidence. There is a lesson here for the future. “What President Buhari needs to do is now even clearer: devalue the naira, appoint a credible finance minister, and announce credible and rapid measures to diversify the economy and fight corruption. If all of this is swift and credible, investors will be demanding Nigerian bonds again,” Hecker, who was in Nigeria two weeks ago to honour an invitation by Sterling Bank, advised. According to Afrinvest, private sector investments would reduce due to high borrowing cost and this removal would further pressure the external reserves as these funds, which have been gradually exiting since 2014, would be expected to leave the financial system; although the effect might not be noticeable on interbank FX rate given the CBN’s managed peg of N199.00/UD$1. “A further impact is expected to be felt as the exit of foreign investors is expected to increase government’s dependence on domestic investors, thereby narrowing the pool of funds in the bonds market. Ultimately, this may increase the risks of government borrowing crowding out private sector investment due to higher borrowing cost.”

Countries within and without the JP Morgan index According the Financial Derivatives Company (FDC) of Nigeria Limited, India and China are also excluded from the index gauge due to the capital controls that limit access to a majority of foreign investors. Russian bonds are also going to be removed from emerging markets indexes but will remain in other J.P. Morgan indexes that don‘t require a maximum credit rating. Malaysia, Pakistan and Ukraine have been taken off the MSCI index as a result of capital restrictions. Nigeria was, in 2013, listed among the 18 emerging market economies, who were part of the GBI-EM Broad index. It became the second country in Africa, after South Africa, to join Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Thailand, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Turkey. Background In October 2012, Nigeria was included in the JP Morgan Emerging Market Government Bond Index (GBI-EM). The GBI-EM indices consist of regularly traded liquid fixed-rate domestic currency government bonds. Nigeria was expected to have a 0.59 per cent weight of the $170 billion of assets under management of the index. At the time Nigerian bonds were offering yields of up to 16 per cent compared to the GBI-EM Index yield of 5.8 per cent. Bond Yield is the amount of return an investor will realize on a bond. When inflation expectations rise, interest rates rise, bond yields rise and bond prices fall. The CBN, in December 2014, reduced the Net Open Position (NOP) of Deposit Money Banks (DMB) to 0 per cent from 1 per cent of shareholders fund, before revising it up to 0.1 percent in January 2015. These measures reduced foreign exchange and bond trading making it difficult for foreign investors to replicate the gauge or predict how the market operated. Naira daily trading volumes fell to just $20-$30 million compared to $300- $500million six months before. Nigerian bonds became the worst performers after Russia, with dollar investors losing 16 per cent. Then, Nigeria was placed on the negative index watch in January 2015. In June 2015, Nigeria was given a six-month deadline to restore (dollar) liquidity, taking into account the arrival of a new administration before finally deciding earlier last week to exclude Nigerian bonds from the index. A circular released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in response to JP Morgan‘s announcement suggests that Nigeria‘s removal from the index may not be unrelated to the forex system adopted by the CBNwhich JP Morgan disagrees with. Despite the relative stability in the exchange rate, JP Morgan believes this current forex system has been less than adequate in resolving the challenges of liquidity and transparency in the forex market.

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 14 September, 2015

+ entrepreneurship Printivo’s founder to speak at Lagos event

anchor Ruth Olurounbi

m:0811 695 4637 e:ruth.olurounbi@tribuneonlineng.com t:@Olurounbi

What 30 startups at DEMO Africa may likely hear from Dangote

Cherie Blair Foundation

calls for female entrepreneurship mentors By Ruth Olurounbi

F you are a mentor working in the female entrepreneurship space, there may be a place for you at the Cherie Blair Foundation, as it is calling for mentors to join its mentoring programme set up for female entrepreneurs in emerging economies. According to a report by Disrupt Africa, the foundation is inviting applications from individuals wishing to work with a woman entrepreneur for one year, helping the entrepreneur achieve her goals and build her confidence and skills. The foundation says it matches women in developing and emerging countries with male and female mentors around the world. “Using our online platform, they spend 12 months working one-on-one to achieve key business goals. Participants build their business skills and digital literacy through our trainings, and become part of a global commu-

nity of committed, ambitious entrepreneurs who are invested in each other’s success,” it said. The foundation’s mentoring programme, which opens twice a year and seeks to get mentors willing to help female entrepreneurs develop their confidence and skills, seeks to help eliminate barriers such as lack of access to business skills, technology, networks and finance female entrepreneurs are held back by, using an innovative solution that combines mentoring with technology to offer cross-border support to women entrepreneurs, it says. “The selection requirements ensure you’re able to thrive in the programme with the key to success being commitment. We have participants with varied experience, so chances are we’ll have a match for you. Our online application takes 20 minutes to complete and helps us find you a mentee or mentor who is a great fit,” the foundation said. Interested mentors seeking to join up are required to be a professional or entrepreneur with at least seven years of relevant experience, able to commit for one year and able to meet online with a mentee for at least two hours a month. “You’ll be part of a vibrant, online community of 3,000 mentees and mentors around the world. Mentors receive training and have access to events, a resource centre and a learning and networking forum,” the Cherie Blair Foundation said. The deadline for application closes on October 12.

+ entrepreneurship What 30 startups at DEMO Africa may likely hear from Dangote

By Ruth Olurounbi AFRICA’S richest man and Chairman, Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, will be inspiring 30 startups pitching at the DEMO Africa event in Lagos, later this month. Dangote will be joined by Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Communication and Technology, Dr Tunji Olaopa, Kuramo Capital Managing Director, Mobolaji Adeoye, and MEST founder Jorn Lyseggen. Already, several people are excited by the prospects of Dangote Group chairman coming to give an address at the DEMO Africa event, and frankly, some of us are going there mainly because of the man. With a net worth of $21.6 billion, according to Forbes, earned through hard works, passion and foresight, choosing Dangote was no brainer. As the event draws close I decided to preempt Africa’s richest man on what he might tell the 30 startups eagerly to soak in gems of advice from him. Here you go… See and maximise opportunities This is one of the qualities that have made Dangote a successful business man in Africa. He possesses a knack for seeing opportunities beyond what others could see.In July 2012, for instance, he approached the Nigerian Ports Authority with the idea of leasing an abandoned piece of land at the Apapa Port, which was welcomed and approved. He later went to build facilities for his flour company there.In May 2013, announced to the world that would build a $9 billion oil refinery and petrochemical complex in Nigeria. When completed, it will be Nigeria’s first and Africa’s largest petroleum refinery. Already, the refinery has been receiving support from across the world. The United States Trade and

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Development Agency (USTDA) was among those who supported Aliko’s project with a $1 billion grant. Recall that at World Economic Forum on Africa held in Cape Town, South Africa in 2013,Dangote was said to have raised $4.5 billion to build the refinery, securing loans from a consortium of banks.Some have said with that singular move, if all goes according to plan, Dangote stands a great chance of becoming the richest man in the world. Passion A lot of business moguls have said that entrepreneurs need passion to pursue their vision in order to make it a reality. And that passion has served as catalyst to becoming the man Dangote is today. Being a person who had always had an eye for business even at a young age, he passionately pursued his ideas vigorously, becoming more than just an entrepreneur. “I can remember when I was in primary school, I would go and buy cartons of sweets and I would start selling them just to make money. I was so interested in business, even at that time,” he said of how he started off. Invest in your environment Dangote believes that taking your wealth outside the shores of the country wouldn’t help the country’s economy, therefore, he charged entrepreneurs to invest in their country, saying, “let me tell you this and I want to really emphasise it. Nothing is going to help Nigeria like Nigerians bringing back their money. If you give me $5 billion today, I will invest everything here in Nigeria. Let us put our heads together and work.” Be accessible “I am someone who doesn’t switch off my phone. My phone is on 24

hours. My day is not really very structured because of several issues. The demand of my time is really extremely high; especially in Nigeria you have a lot of ceremonies, and unnecessary ones,” Dangote said at a lecture at the Lagos Business School. Don’t waste time When attending business meetings or conferences in other countries, he said he could not afford to waste time. He explained that “sometimes I go all the way from here (Nigeria) to China, and spend only five hours in China and come back. That’s why I don’t take my private jet to China because the pilots need hours to rest, and the hours that they need, which is nine hours, I don’t have. So I have to take Emirates.” Have a routine and invest in your health Dangote said he starts his work days around 5 a.m., being the most productive for him, in his own admission. He also said he tries to fit in time to exercise most mornings, which helps him prevent stress. “Exercise is better than any medicine I can take. Exercise and sleep,” he said during the lecture. He is an ardent jogger. Relax, let go of stress and worries At one time, Dangote said he had trained himself not to let stress or worry affect his sleep, recommending that other entrepreneurs train themselves in this. “Even if someone had to tell me I would die tomorrow, I would still sleep. On how he relaxes, he said, “my only enjoyment is to sit around and talk with my friends, and exercise. I like to exercise, and if people are doing weddings or whatever I like to show up for 10-20 minutes and then I go.”

Printivo’s Founder, Oluyomi Ojo speaks at the first Lagos 99U local event

Book of the week: Clueless about selling? This one is for you. Lavery calls it “a great introduction of how to structure sales calls or presentations to ensure prospects are engaged enough to buy in,” and recommends it especially to those would-be founders who are coming from non-sales backgrounds. —Inc.com

PRINTIVO’S Co-Founder, Oluyomi Ojo will be joining two other speakers – Seun Agbelusi, brand storyteller and creative strategist, and Osagie Alonge; editor-in-chief of Pulse NG, to speak at 99U’s annual event which showcases entrepreneurs, freelancers, and artists blazing the trail, on Friday. 99U is a consulting service, which hosts an annual conference organized by Behance. The Friday event is the first Nigerian 99U Local event in Lagos. Techcabal.com reported that the event which seeks to showcase makers, entrepreneurs, freelancers, and artists blazing the trail, will also have the aforementioned share their creative process. “The event will consist of three curated talks that share road-tested advice on making ideas happen, followed by a casual networking and cocktails hour. It’s going to be insightful and intimate—a chance to learn from creative minds in this community,” the organisers said

DEMO Africa picks another sponsorship from MIT By Ruth Olurounbi

NTREPRENEURSHIP+ has learned that that MIT’s Legatum Centre for Development and Entrepreneurship has joined the mounting league of sponsors of the much anticipated DEMO Africa conference coming up later this month in Lagos, Nigeria. The Legatum Center for Development and Entrepreneurship, founded at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2007 through a multi-million dollar gift from Legatum

Group, a global investment firm, administers programs and convenes events that promote and shape discourse on bottom-up development, Entrepreneurship+ learnt from the Center’s website. According to it, the Centre also administers a competitive fellowship program for incoming and current MIT students, from across all academic and professional disciplines, who have demonstrated the potential and commitment to create innovative and inclusive enterprises in low-income countries.

As reported by Distrupt-Africa, the centre’s $5,000 sponsorship aims to further its mission of catalyzing entrepreneurship for broad-based prosperity in low-income countries. Already, some big wits across African economic sectors have been confirmed speaker at the event. They include:Aliko Dangote, Jorn Lyseggen, founder of Ghana’s Meltwater Entrrepreneurial School of Technology (MEST), Tomi Davies, president of the African Business Angels Network (ABAN), and iROKO TV chief executive officer (CEO) Jason Njoku.

Application for Safaricom Foundation’s $470,000 innovation fund closes Oct 1 ON October 1, 2015 applications for the Corporate Social Investment arm of Safaricom Limited, Safaricom Foundation’s $470,000 fund for mobile technology innovator will close, the foundation has said.

Innovations are expected to leverage on mobile technology, benefit public interest, be scalable, and be in line with Safaricom Foundation’s strategic pillars which include health, education, economic empowerment, arts and culture, water, environment

and disaster relief, Techcabal reported last week. Successful innovators will be incubated at Strathmore University’s iLab for three months. Once this is completed, five participants will be chosen for the final phase of the program- which will be to identify

ways of scaling the ideas. “Our overall aim is to enable transformational innovation for young developers who may not have access to the technical support they need to bring their ideas to life. We believe mobile technology can

be used to address some of the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges. It is transformative and can enable us put relevant, impactful services in the hands of underserved communities,” Joseph Ogutu, Chairman, Safaricom Foundation said.

Monday, 14 September, 2015

moneymarket

anchor Chima Nwokoji

m:08032637535 e:chimatitus@yahoo.com

US$2.8bn worth foreign holdings of govt bonds to exit

From left: Representative of the Regional Director, South East 1 region, Skye Bank Plc., Nkemdilim Anerobi; Enugu Zonal Coordinator, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Eke Michael; Head, Retail Banking Group, Skye Bank, Nkolika Okoli and Senior Manager, National Lottery Regulatory Commission, Nwafor Ramsay, at the bank’s “Reach for the Skye”reward draw in Onitsha, AnambraState, recently. By Chima Nwokoji

HERE are strong indications that at least 1.5 per cent weight on Nigeria’s JP Morgan index out of US$183.8billion, US$2. 8billion worth of Foreign holdings of Nigerian government bonds is expected to exit the market following Nigeria’s phased removal from US lenders index. However, analysts said this is significantly lower than a total of US$8.0billion that exited the market in September 2014. “We imagine that the mild reaction that greeted the JP Morgan’s announcement suggests that the risk had already been priced as most risk averse foreign investors may have already exited the market before now. “It also suggests that the level of domestic institutional investors’ participation in the market is higher than commonly acknowledged,” investment bankers at Afrin-

Government Securities Auction Date

9/2/2015

Security Type

NTB

Tenor

Auction No

03-09-2015-91 Day

Auction

Primary Market

Maturity Date

12/3/2015

Total Subscription

18202.5

Total Successful

17850.15

Range Bid

9.0000 - 14.0000

Successful Bid Rates 9.0000 - 10.0000 Description

Issue

Rate

True Yield

10.2557

Amount Offered (mn)

17850.15

vest West Africa Limited said in a note to investors. Nevertheless, analysts expect borrowing cost of government to rise at the next auction as subscription level may likely reduce whilst investors will seek additional premium to compensate for the increased risk perception and liquidity. Following JP Morgan’s announcement of the removal of Nigerian bonds from its GBI EM indices, the bonds market resumed trading bearish on Wednesday but sentiment swung bullish towards market close due to strong demand from domestic institutional investors. The bullish sentiment was sustained on Thursday, especially at the short end

of the curve. Average yield on bonds declined 42bps W-o-W on Friday. The Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) bonds market commenced last week on a bearish note as sell-offs observed in some short to mid-term tenors (FEB 2020, JAN 2022, MAR 2024) and the 20-Year benchmark JUL 2034 instrument pushed yields up 7bps on average. Sentiment stayed the same on Tuesday as investors continue to price in macroeconomic risks. A major development however occurred on Tuesday which appears to have swung sentiment. Nigeria was placed on the negative index watch in January 2015. In June 2015, Ni-

geria was given a six-month deadline to restore liquidity, taking into account the arrival of a new administration before finally deciding earlier last week to exclude Nigerian bonds from the index. A circular released by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) in response to JP Morgan‘s announcement suggests that Nigeria‘s removal from the index may not be unrelated to the forex system adopted by the CBN- which JP Morgan disagrees with. Despite the relative stability in the exchange rate, JP Morgan believes the apex bank’s current foreign exchange rules has been less than adequate in resolving the challenges of liquidity and transparency in the forex market.

CBN Exchange Rates as at 7/30/2015 Currency US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI

Buying(NGN) 196 301.7812 219.4416 200.6347 1.6186 0.3137 274.1845 30.7326

Central(NGN) 196.5 302.5511 220.0014 201.1465 1.6228 0.3237 274.8839 30.8115

Selling(NGN) 197 303.3209 220.5612 201.6583 1.6269 0.3337 275.5834 30.8903

RIYAL DANISH KRONA

52.2346 29.4038

52.3679 29.4788

52.5011 29.5538

SDR

275.184

275.886

276.588

CBN Bills Date of Auction Security Type

5/15/2003 5/15/2003 CBN Certificate

2/25/2002 2/25/2002 CBN Certificate

11/26/2001 11/26/2001 CBN Certificate

9/24/2001 9/24/2001 CBN Certificate

Tenor Maturing On

91 11/13/2003

180 2/20/2003

180 11/21/2002

180 9/19/2002

Amount Offered (N mn) Subscriptions (N mn)

82227 37767

15000 4161

5000 2740

1155 1155

17019

4161

2740

20.5

19.5

20.5

19.5

Tot. Successful (N mn) Net Sales (N mn) Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate True Yield Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate True Yield

Nigerian Tribune

weeklyreview Money market review Money market rates - Open Buy Back (OBB) and Overnight (O/N) - rates closed on Monday at lower levels than they did at the close of the previous week. OBB declined 417 basis points bps to 10.0 per cent and O/N reduced 467bps to 10.6 per cent on Monday, relative to penultimate Friday’s close. This was on the back of the Cash Requirement Reserve (CRR) credit done last week which resulted in a higher liquidity opening balance, N167.1 billion on Monday. The apex bank, however, conducted an Open Market Operation (OMO) auction on Tuesday, which mopped up N91.4 billion from the banking system, although this action was off settled. This happened as the expected Federation Accounts Allocation Commission (FAAC) monthly budgetary allocation of N240.0 billion was made on the same day, bringing market rates down to 9.4 per cent (OBB) and 9.8 per cent (O/N). On Wednesday, another OMO auction worth N70.0 billion was floated, which was oversubscribed to the tune of N96.4 billion; nonetheless, OBB and O/N rates continued their decline to 6.7 per cent and 7.2 per cent respectively, a signal that there was still high level of liquidity in the system. Dealers at Afrinvest West Africa Limited said the trend continued for Thursday and Friday; OBB declined 958bps week to date (WTD) to 4.6 per cent while O/N dropped 942bps to 5.3 per centWTD. Average rates on Treasury Bills declined 3bps W-o-W to 13.3 per cent, which is also traceable to the high level of liquidity in the banking system. No Treasury-Bill instruments matured last week. Foreign exchange market review/outlook The naira traded flat at N199.10/US$1.00 week on week (W-o-W) at the interbank foreign exchange (FX) market. The amount of dollars sold remain reasonably below level of demand despite sale of the greenback by oil companies. The Apex bank continued to intervene at N197.00/US$1.00 in the interbank market, hence W-o-W performance remained stable in the segment. Despite low activity level in the interbank and Bureau De Change ( BDC) segment, given the recent foreign exchange policies, dealers at Afrinvest said they observed some level of improvement in FX rate in the parallel market last week. Parallel market rate opened the week at N243.00/US1.00 on Monday and appreciated 7.4 per cent WTD after closing at N225.00/US$1.00 on Friday. “We believe the seeming improvement is linked to the excess supply in the parallel market as commercial banks halt acceptance of dollar deposit into domiciliary accounts due to too much cash in their vaults. In a related development, Nigeria’s external reserves rose 7.9 per cent in July to US$31.3 billion, according to the CBN. This is expected given CBN’s increased efforts to reduce speculative attacks on the local unit. Nonetheless, benchmark Crude Oil price (Brent) declined 3.8 per cent W-o-W and 17.3 per cent monthto-date MTD to US$52.57 amidst global oil glut. For the time being, CBN reiterated its stance to maintain the managed floating FX rate regime while seemingly adopting a ‘wait and see strategy’ to determine the next move. “In the week ahead, we expect FX rates to remain stable at the interbank/BDC segment while pressure at the parallel market may soften as activity in that segment of the market further moderate,” analysts at Afrinvest stated. Bond Market Review/Outlook Activity pattern in the bond market last week was very similar to that of week before last. Average yields on bond instruments opened the week at 15 per cent and rose 2bps W-o-W. Dealers said marginal swings were recorded on yields across tenor during the week. However, yields on non-benchmark instruments trended 6bps upwards W-o-W on account of moderate selloffs during the week while yields on benchmark instruments declined 1bp W-o-W. Generally, investors’ sentiment in the bond market improved as the Total Bond Market Index (as measured by FMDQ) advanced 0.3 per cent WTD and closed at 1,122.80 points. Hence, YTD return strengthened to 6.4 per cent.

moneymarket

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Liquidity balance, N56.6bn worth T-Bills to keep rates at flat

Chairman, Fidelity Bank Plc, Christopher Eze; the Managing Director, Nnamdi Okonkwo, female longest serving employee of the bank, Chijioke Ogochukwu; Executive Director, Shared Services and the male longest serving employee of the bank, Peter Maison, at the unveiling of the bank’s new brand logo identity in Lagos. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Banks shun CBN’s OMO action, lay off staff As govt’s single account order takes toll Stories by Chima Nwokoji

ITH the full implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) which is already reducing the volume of cash (bank liquidity) in the banking system, Nigerian lenders last week shunned Open Market Operation (OMO) auctions floated by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) last week, even as they have commenced laying off some of their staff. “The OMO auctions floated by the CBN this week made no sale. With the full implementation of the TSA which may constrain bank liquidity, it appears that the reduced participation in the OMO auction may be linked to the drive to fulfil financial obligations,” one dealer

said. CBN had declined to sell its short-dated Treasury bills to commercial lenders who were asking for higher returns in the last two weeks. Similarly, investigations by Nigerian Tribune reveal that Nigerian commercial banks, can no longer afford to keep their full staff strength as ministries and agencies of government have commenced withdrawal of their deposits, in compliance with federal government’s directive. Confirming the sack, a message from one of the highly rated new generation banks sent messages to the media which read in part: “good day our media friend. Please disregard any report of mass disengagement of staff by (our) bank. There is no iota of truth in that report.”

While further investigation on this is still on, a source who in a top management staff of one of the first generation banks told Nigerian Tribune on condition of anonymity that only a few days ago, his bank laid off one thousand staff nationwide, adding that the mostly affected in the downsizing exercise were desk officers. The source told our correspondent that, closure of government accounts with commercial banks had left the

days. So, I’m proud of the young people who managed to come here today and for Sterling Bank for convincing them to come. This is because young people need this opportunity. Even if it is just to come and network or sell zobo (a local drink).” Also, speaking with journalists at the event, the Group Head, Strategy & Corporate Communications, Sterling Bank, Mr. ShinaAtilola, said the lender was encouraged by the huge turnout of young people for the programme. He said although the bank was expecting 3,000 participants, about 4,000 persons came for the event.

but what we have done is to lay off more of the desk officers,” the source said. He explained that laying off those who go out to look for deposits will worsen the situation, and affect survival of the bank , so the bank too safer option of letting desk officers go. Another source told our correspondent that about 1,500 staff of a new generation bank were also laid off a few days ago for the same reasons.

ACCA slashes fees for Nigerian students on naira depreciation IN recognition of the impact of the naira depreciation on the affordability of its fees for Nigerian students, Global accounting body, Association of Certified Chartered Accountants (ACCA) has announced 60 percent reduction in reg-

Sterling Bank’s ‘Get Ready for work’ initiative praised INSPIRATIONAL speaker and Managing Partner, Red Media, Africa, ChudeJideonwo, has commended Sterling Bank for its “Get Ready for Work” initiative. Speaking on the sidelines of the “Get Ready for Work” event in Lagos last Friday, he said that the lender deserved praise for being able to get an impressive number of youths to register and turn up for the programme. He said, “I think the initiative is an amazing thing. I’m proud of Sterling Bank for getting this many young people in this place. Young people usually complain of being tired of attending conferences and seminars these

banks with no other option than to reduce its work force. He expressed concerns, that TSA policy, although designed to ensure accountability and transparency, it was equally going to ground a lot of the commercial banks, the sector being the highest employer of labour in Nigeria. “As I speak with you now, about one thousand of our staff are already on their way out, because we can no longer accommodate them,

AS the maturity of Treasury Bills worth N56.6billion hits the financial market this week, there are expectations that when added to balance from last week, money market rates will remain within single digit bands. “We anticipate key money market rates (OBB/ON) to remain within single digit bands next ( this) week as the financial market expects credit - through the maturity of T-Bills worth 56.6billion -to hit the system,” one dealer said. However, yields on Nigerian bonds are seen stable at the next debt auction on September 16 after central bank declined to sell its short-dated Treasury bills to commercial lenders who were asking for higher returns in the last two weeks. Nigeria plans to raise about N70 billion ($351.76 million) in bonds with maturities of 5 years and 20 years on September 16. But dealers said yields may not be far from the last auction given government reluctance to borrow at higher returns. The 2020 bond was sold at 15.41 percent while the 2034 paper fetched 15.19 percent at the last auction.

Atilola said that the initiative now in its third year, was the lender’s way of giving back to the society and equipping the youths with the right skills to succeed in their jobs. He explained that the theme, “Mind The Gap” was chosen as a representation of the consideration youth must give to their life journey. He said, “Get Ready For Work is a mix of fun, career counselling and entertainment. This season - in an environment that’s relaxing, our goal is to help participants bridge the gap between their present and their future. The theme is an apt representation of

istration fees for Nigerian students. The reductions also include 50 percent reduction in first year subscription, and 50 percent reduction in exemption fees. ACCA Director, Market Transformation, Kevin Kernan, disclosed this while addressing a press conference at the sidelines of the launch of ACCA Strategic Pricing Initiative for Nigeria. Kernan said that the reduction in fees was in response to comments from stakeholders in the wake of the impact of the naira depreciation on the affordability of ACCA fees for Nigerian students. Meanwhile, naira weakened by 1.13 percent against the dollar on the parallel market last week Monday amid rising demand for hard currencies. The local currency was trading at N223 to the dollar on the parallel market, down from N220.50 to the

dollar on Friday. “The market is experiencing strong demand for the dollar from some individuals and businesses stocking for school resumption,” one trader said. Nigeria’s naira had traded as low as N240 to the dollar after the central bank listed some 41 items that could not be imported at the official exchange rate. It strengthened after the bank increased the supply of dollars to bureaux de change, where importers were buying their dollars. Kernan said, “ACCA has historically has operated a single pricing strategy for all its customers around the globe. But in Nigeria, after a lot of research and consultation with stakeholders, from today, we are making some new prices for Nigerian students exclusively. We recognise that affordability have been an issue for many Nigerian students, particularly with the exchange rate variations in recent times.

“So we are reducing the initial registration fee by 60 percent. We are reducing the first year subscription fee for new students by 50 percent. Also many students claim exemptions from our exams, so we are reducing exemption fees for them by 50 percent. These represents significant reduction in prices students, parents or their employers have to pay in order to start their journey towards ACCA qualification.” He explained that in order to avail themselves of these new prices, the student must be resident in Nigeria; adding that the global accounting body consider this good news for all stakeholders in the Nigerian community. The new pricing applies to students applying for the foundation and main ACCA examination qualifications but it does not apply to members or affiliates. The focus is on the student population.

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

capitalmarket Market capitalisation appreciates by 0.54% stories Olatunde Dodondawa-Lagos

The market capitalization appreciated by 0.54 per cent after one week of trading while the NSE All-Share Index appreciated by 0.60 per cent to close on Friday at N10.204 trillion and 29,689.08 basis points respectively. Similarly, all the indices rose during last week with the exception of the following indices: NSE Main-Board Index, NSE Oil/ Gas Index and NSE Pension Index which declined by 0.48 per cent, 4.22 per cent and 0.35 per cent respectively. A total of 32 equities appreciated in price during last week trading when compared to 57 equities of the preceding week. Moreover, 37 equities depreciated in price, higher than 20 equities that depreciated in price during the preceding week, while 121 equities remained unchanged, higher than 113 equities recorded in the preceding week. A turnover of 1.408 billion shares worth

N13.508 billion in 19,950 deals exchanged hands in five days of trading by investors on the floor of The Exchange in contrast to a total of 2.440 billion shares valued at N21.071 billion that exchanged hands the preceding week in 22,736 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart

with 1.158 billion shares valued at N8.632 billion traded in 11,999 deals; thus contributing 82.24 per cent and 63.98 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Conglomerates Industry followed with a turnover of 87.035 million shares worth N474.658 million in 946 deals. The third place was

Guinness Overseas to increase stakes in Guinness Nigeria GUINNESS Nigeria Plc has notified The Nigerian Stock Exchange (The NSE) that Diageo Plc, acting through its wholly owned subsidiary Guinness Overseas Limited (Guinness Overseas), has approached the Board of Directors of the Company with an intention to make an offer to increase Diageo’s equity stake in the Company from 54.3 per cent up to a maximum of 70 per cent and to maintain the company’s listing on The NSE. According to a statement by Guinness Nigeria, if Diageo decides to proceed with the proposed transaction, it is intended that, subject to regulatory approval, Guinness Overseas will launch a partial tender offer at a price not higher than NGN 175 per share in cash, giving all shareholders the opportunity to elect to sell some or all of their shares in the Company. At the maximum offer price, the proposed offer would represent a premium of 36 per cent to the 30-day volume weighted average share price and 40 per cent to the Company’s closing share price on 8 September 2015. “Guinness Overseas may also seek to acquire shares in the market at a price not higher than the offer price of NGN 175 per share. Diageo would encourage those shareholders that wish to divest their holdings in Guinness Nigeria to make contact with Stanbic-IBTC Stockbrokers Limited. “Please note that today’s announcement is of Guinness Overseas’ intention and does not constitute the announcement of an offer itself and creates no obligation on Guinness Overseas or Diageo to make an offer. Accordingly, we wish to advise Guinness Nigeria’s shareholders that there can be no certainty that any offer will be made, nor as to the price or terms of any offer that may be made. Further developments will be communicated to shareholders in due course.

NSE CEO, Oscar Onyema

occupied by the ICT Industry with 49.822 million shares worth N28.897 million in 50 deals. Trading in the Top Three Equities were: United Bank for Africa Plc.; Zenith International Bank Plc and Diamond Bank Plc (measured by volume) accounted for 588.314 million shares worth N4.667 billion in 4,235 deals, contributing 41.77 per cent and 34.55 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. At the close of trading on Friday, Transnational Express led the top 10 gainers by gaining N0.25 to close at N1.32 prom N1.07; Guinness Nigeria Plc gained 24.10 to close at N152.19; Okomu Oil gained N3.37 to close at N27.12; Evans Medical appreciated by N0.08 to close at N0.72; Costain W.A appreciated by N0.07 to close at N0.64; Ikeja Hotels gained N0.36 to close at N3.79; CutixPlc gained N0.15 to close at N1.70; Smart Products gained N0.08 to close at 0.98; P.Z Industries gained N2.02 to close at N27.30 while Associate Bus Company Plc gained N0.04 to close at N0.57 per share. On the losers’ table, Caverton Offshore Support lost N0.64 to close N2.94; Vono Products lost N0.16 to close at N0.90; ConoilPlc lost N4.27 to close at 25.78; Cadbury Plc lost N2.79 to close at N23.00; E-transact lost N 0.23 to close at N2.11; TransCorp Hotels lost N0.76 to close at N7.10; Van Leer Containers lost N1.11 to close at N10.37; UAC lost N3.32 to close at N31.68; UACN property lost N0.78 to close at N7.46 while Learn Africa Plc lost N0.07 to close at N0.88 per share. Also traded last week were 1,526 units of Exchange Traded Products (ETPs) valued at N695,885.40 million executed in 17 deals compared with a total of 11,357 units valued at N5.868 million transacted the previous week in 24 deals. A total of 3,675 units of Federal Government Bonds valued at N3.611 million were traded in eight deals compared with a total of 3,489 units valued at N3.674 million transacted the previous week in eight deals.

GTB, other announce 6 finalists for $10,000 prize GUARANTY Trust Bank in conjunction with ‘She Leads Africa,’ a non-governmental organisation has announced the top six finalists for the 2015 ‘She Leads Africa’ Entrepreneur Showcase holding at Oriental Hotel on September 26, 2015. Now in its 2nd edition, the initiative, which is sponsored by GTBank, is geared towards shining a spotlight on women who are driving Africa’s growth through leadership, commerce and innovation by providing a veritable platform for young female entrepreneurs to grow their businesses across Africa and compete for US$10,000 in cash prizes, direct access to investors and international media exposure. This year, applications were received from over 400 startups in 20 countries before 6 finalists (i.e. Beauty Rev NG, Heat Free Hair, Heels In the Kitchen,

InstaHealth, Kamokini and Omolata) were selected to pitch their businesses to a panel of leading business personalities including Segun Agbaje, Managing Director of GTBankplc; Tunde Folawiyo, Managing Director of Folawiyo Group; Huda Al Lawati, Abraaj Capital Midle East and North Africa Chief Investment Officer; AchaLeke, Director, Mckinsey& Company; Mo Abudu, Founder of Ebony Life TV. According to Yasmin Belo-Osagie, cofounder of SLA, “We are very excited about the judging panel for this year’s She Leads Africa Entrepreneur Showcase. “The panel is made up of established and well-respected individuals from the consulting, media and finance sectors. Each judge’s professional insight and experience will play an important role in deciding the winners

of this year’s Entrepreneur Showcase. Commenting on the development, SegunAgbaje, Managing Director/CEO of GTBank said “empowering SMEs across Africa remains pivotal to the sustenance of growth and development in emerging economies across the world. “It is for this reason that using our SME MarketHub platform, we have strategically targeted this sector to provide opportunities and create value for all our customers.” He further stated that “SME businesses listed on the GTBank SME MarketHub can take advantage of the ‘She Hive,’a one week training program sponsored by the SME MarketHub of the Bank to train small business owners on capacity building, business ethics and global best practices. The bank noted in a statement that tickets for the pitch competition are available on the SME MarketHub.

Monday, 18 September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

labour

Employment generation: NDE commissions model skills acquisition centre Soji-Eze Fagbemi- Abuja

S part of the plans of President Muhammadu Buhari-led government to create mass employment opportunities for the unemployed Nigerians, the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) has commissioned a model skills acquisition centre at Onipanu, Surulere Local Government Area of Oyo State. The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity, Dr Clement Illoh, and the Director-General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, led other Federal Government functionaries to Onipanu, where hundreds of trainees, community leaders and traditional rulers gathered in appreciation of the NDE’s gesture to build them a befitting model centre. The permanent secretary also acknowledged the participation of the community and the location of the centre. Dr Illoh said the government, through the NDE, had recorded yet another memorable stride in the quest to reduce unemployment to tolerable levels in Nigeria. He said the NDE was formally putting into use the model skills acquisition centre in Onipanu “as a practical demonstration of its commitment to employment creation, poverty reduction and wealth creation.” Dr Illoh pointed out that the challenge of mass unemployment is an issue with very heavy socio-economic consequences in the country today. To this end, he said every effort to deal with the scourge of unemployment must not only be supported by the government but all well-meaning Nigerians. Addressing the trainees and community leaders who gathered to witness the commissioning, Dr Illoh said: “I am proud to inform you that this Model Skills Acquisition Centre we are commissioning today is wholly conceptualised, constructed, and equipped and to be run by the NDE. The journey to this memorable occasion commenced sometime in 2008, when the directorate initiated the idea of establishing skills acquisition centres to be owned and run by it.” The principle behind the idea, according to him, is to depart from the traditional apprenticeship method which the directorate began its skills acquisition programme with in 1987. Under the new initiative, the NDE set out to take control of all critical ingredients in the skills acquisition process; and Dr Illoh said similar centres were completed and commissioned late last year in Bwari Area Council of the Federal Character Territory, Abuja and Araromi in Asa Local Government Area of Kwara State. The NDE now has 74 functional skills centres across the country. Apart from the centres, he said, 9,027 persons are currently undergoing vocational skills training in all the functional centres and other training outlets in the informal sector under master craftsmen and women nationwide. “Besides, 29,684 artisans and techni-

The gracious and passionate commitment of the Federal Government towards ensuring that the Nigerian youths have better opportunities for self-employment through provision of modern training facilities for skills centres made it possible for us in the NDE to be proud owners of skills centres across the nation.

Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, Director-General, NDE cians have been trained under this initiative by the NDE and most of them have become gainfully employed and are contributing meaningfully to the growth and development of Nigeria,” he said. One important difference is that while other skills acquisition centres estalished and run by the NDE are only designed to deliver training to unskilled and unemployed persons, the facility at the Onipanu centre is to deliver both vocational and agricultural skills. Dr. Illoh said: “We may recall that one of the cardinal principles of the present administration is job creation. You will agree with me that skills acquisition is a critical ingredient in the chain of job and wealth creation. “The programmes of the NDE in recent years have been re-engineered to complement the micro-economic policies of the Federal Government. Let me say unequivocally at this point that what we are witness-

ing here keys into the plans of the Federal Government to create mass employment opportunities for Nigerians. It is pertinent to state at this juncture that the modest effort of the NDE as seen here today is a wakeup call to other tiers of government in the fight against youth unemployment and promotion of social security.” The centre offered skills training in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), welding and fabrication, GSM repairs, electrical installation, hairdressing, fashion design, catering and event management. The centre also has capacity to provide training for about 300 students at a given point in time. Dr Illoh said the government alone could not solve all the problems of unemployment and called on non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations, faithbased organisations and individuals to follow the footsteps of the NDE. He pointed out that one other objective

behind the establishment of the centre is to serve as a model to all other stakeholders in the job creation sector, adding that if such facilities exist in every local government across the country, “we will be more than half way out of the cycle of unemployment and poverty.” In his speech, the Director-General, NDE Mallam Mohammed, said the “gracious and passionate commitment of the Federal Government towards ensuring that the Nigerian youths have better opportunities for self-employment through provision of modern training facilities for skills centres made it possible for us in the NDE to be proud owners of skills centres across the nation.” Mallam Mohammed pointed out that the issue of youth employment had been of grave concern to the government of President Buhari, adding that in recent time, the President had stated clearly his determination to empower youths through articulated employment creation initiatives geared towards sustainable socio-economic development as well as social security. He commended and thanked the stakeholders who partnered and collaborated with the NDE. And to the trainees who have already commenced training, he said the Federal Government had given them the golden opportunity to turn their lives around. The training centre is equipped with modern tools and equipment for technical vocations; it has boarding facilities to provide residential and integrated skills training facilities. Mallam Mohammed assured that the NDE would sustain and improve on the initiative because its mandate strategically adopts training as a veritable tool for empowering youths with marketable skills and addressing the skills miss-match.

Nigerian Tribune Monday, 18 September, 2015 30 labour Anti-corruption protest rally: Inside details of NLC/TUC letter to Buhari Stories by Soji-Eze Fagbemi -Abuja

HE organised labour, under the leadership of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), organised a nationwide protest rally in support of the President Muhammadu Buhari war against corruption. The rally took place in all the states of the federation with their state councils leading workers and affiliate unions, while the first NLC President, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu at 74 years old, the current President of the congress, Comrade Ayuba Wabba, the TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama, led other labour leaders and workers in the rally at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. In Abuja, the rally started at the Fountain Park by Transcorp Hilton, opposite Millenium Park Abuja, from where the workers walked to the EFCC office at Wuse 2, the National Assembly and finally to the Presidency, the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. At the presidency, a letter expressing labour’s concerns and prayers was delivered to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), David Babachir, for President Buhari. The letter, dated September 10, 2015 was entitled: “National Day of Action against Corruption and for Good Governance,” and signed by both Comrades Wabba and Kaigama.\ The letter read: “Nigerian workers and their allies in the civil society chose today as a day of action nationwide to express their deep-seated feelings about the state of the country as it relates to the struggle against the bane of corruption, and the monumental cost of governance in our current democratic dispensation. “On the issue of corruption, the labour movement and its allies in the civil society and other marginalised and oppressed people of Nigeria share wholeheartedly the determination of your government to fight the scourge and to defeat it so that our country can for once be able to actualise its potentials as agreat nation. “As you have stated in some of your recent statements, Mr President, it is because of corruption that our nation cannot provide jobs for its teeming millions of unemployed peo-

ple; it is because of corruption that our educational and health institutions are in a state of disrepair; it is also largely due to corruption that some state are not able to honour their obligation of paying salaries and pension as at when due, to cite just a few cases. “In support of your effort and determination to ‘stop corruption before coruuption kills our dear country,’ we wish to call on

you to ensure that all funds identified to have been stolen from the common treasury are traced and recovered to the last kobo, and those found guilty should be prosecuted. “We support and call for the establishment of Special Anti-corruption Courts to try corruption cases in the country. Realizing that those who have looted our treasury have become adept at using the loop-

TUC President, Comrade Bobboi Kaigama

holes in the procedure of regular court to delay and in several cases subvert the course of justice, it is our firm belief that the enactment of special anti-graft court akin to the electoral tribunals complete with time-frames within which cases once started are to be concluded will give a renew impetus to the fight against corrupt. “For this to become a reality, the Executive and

the National Assembly must work together the necessary laws for an enduring fight to defeat this national malaise. That all public officers, elected and appointed should declared their assets publicly upon assumption of office. “There is also an urgent need to review and strenghten our anti-corruption legislations. This will for instance remove such loopholes as witnessed in

Comrade Ayuba Wabba

Atiku Kigo, and other cases where the punishment for a crime of conspiracy, breach of trust and embezzlement of N32.8 Billion Police Pension Fund was a mere 2 years sentence or N750, 000 fine which promptly paid. “In this regard, we urged the Prof. Itse Sagay Presidential Advisory Committee on Corruption to comb all our anti-graft legislations and make the appropriate recommendations for their tightening for effective fight against corruption. “The anti-graft agencies should, as a matter of urgency extend their search light to the other two tiers of government, especially the state and local government joint accounts. “In order to reduce the high cost of governance all allowances and sundary payment, being paid to political and public office holders not in accordance with RMAFC circular should be abolished forthwith. “Anti-corruption agencies should also focus attention on private sector corruption which also exists massively, especially illicit financial flow, tax avoidance and evasion and transfer pricing manipulation activities by many businessmen in Nigeria.”

G20 caught in weak economic, jobs recovery spiral —ILO A weak economic recovery continues to weigh heavily on G20 labour markets, while persistent lack of decent jobs is in turn hurting the recovery,” the Director-General, International Labour Organisation (ILO), Guy Ryder, has said. The ILO director-general, who took part in the G20 Labour and Employment Ministers meeting and their joint meeting with G20 Finance Ministers in Ankara, said. The joint agency report prepared for the G20

meetings also warned that the current pattern of slow economic growth and insufficient job creation in G20 countries reflects a self-reinforcing cycle of weak wage and income growth, leading to deficits in aggregate demand, low business confidence and investment and insufficient labour market recovery. The ILO, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and World Bank Group (WBG) report, en-

titled: ‘G20 labour markets 2015: Strengthening the link between growth and employment,’ shows that growth among G20 economies has averaged 3.2 per cent over the last three years compared to 4.1 per cent from 2000 to 2007. The G20 unemployment rate – which rose from 5.1 to 6.0 per cent between 2007 and 2009 – remained elevated at 5.8 per cent in 2014. This has resulted in an estimated shortfall of 50 million jobs across the

G20 compared to the start of the crisis. Wage growth has suffered a significant slowdown, which, combined with the jobs gap, has led to a decline in the labour share of national income and rising inequality in most G20 economies. “A weak economic recovery continues to weigh heavily on G20 labour markets, while the persistent lack of decent jobs is in turn hurting the recovery,” Ryder said. “The joint employment

ILO DG calls for durable solution to migrant, refugee crisis “Stopgap measures to halt the flows of migrants only scratch the surface of the problem. We need to go deeper into the root causes that force people to put their lives in danger in order to find work and security in foreign lands,” said ILO Director-General, Guy Ryder. The ILO director-general said the recent loss of lives in the Mediterranean Sea was yet another reminder of the human impact of unresolved conflicts and development failures worldwide. The seeming global pa-

ralysis in the face of this ongoing human tragedy is deeply disturbing, he said. Ryder stated that a durable solution to this ongoing crisis must include several elements; National and global action to create more and better jobs in countries of origin; Greater action on the establishment of regular migration channels that meet real labour market needs and facilitate family reunion. He said the elements must also include an improved oversight of the recruitment

of migrants to prevent human trafficking and migrant smuggling; and shared commitment to meet humanitarian assistance to those in need and distress. Accrding to him, developing effective responses calls for the engagement and participation of business and labour leaders along with other stakeholders in designing national responses that stimulate growth and create jobs while preserving social and labour protection. He said the process also

calls for balanced dialogue on how to ensure migration systems can be fair and respectful of human rights, and this can only come with cooperation between the affected regions. He said: “Where conflicts prove stubborn, it should be possible to extend solidarity with refugees and with countries receiving large inflows to enable them to enjoy basic human dignity and support their engagement in productive activities wherever possible.”

and finance ministers’ meeting can be of enormous service to G20 leaders by integrating policy initiatives that work on both the demand and supply side of labour markets, thus helping to get back on track for the G20’s 2 per cent growth ambition and making that growth more inclusive,” he added. According to the report, the main reason for slow and disappointing job creation is not a decline in the employment intensity of economic growth but rather that economic growth itself is too weak to create sufficient jobs. The employment challenge is not only related to the quantity, but also to the quality of jobs. In many G20 countries with available data, most of the jobs created between 2009 and 2014 were part-time. Since part-time jobs generally offer lower average earnings, lower levels of job security and weaker social protection coverage, this type of job creation provides less support than full-time work to household consumption and aggregate demand.

Monday, 14 September, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

Buhari has handicapped Southern Nigeria —Ayo Adebanjo Chief Ayo Adebanjo, a chieftain of the Yoruba organisation, Afenifere, is known for his bluntness. In this interview with BOLA BADMUS, he speaks on the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, federal appointments, assets declaration by the president, 2014 national conference report, among other national issues. Excerpts:

This is a man, who on the mandate of the people, now knows that there are more qualified people in his own part of the country than in the South. I mean he insults us, he is more or less saying that there are more qualified Northerners than Southerners, since when?

E would want you to assess the administration of Buhari in 100 days in office. What has been the impact of the government?

Adebanjo There is no assessment about the government so far. According to them, they have said they have not promised anybody any programme within 100 days. Well, we know he has appointed some people into govern-

ment; he has not constituted his cabinet. But, the few people we have seen appointed so far seem to us that the exercise is lopsided, very much loaded towards the North, which is unlike the promise Buhari made

that he would be president to all. That is all we can see. Others would want to criticise him that he has not performed and that he has not done anything. I am not in that mood. I am in the mood of wait and see, because I am one of those who didn’t support his election and I don’t want it to appear as if well, it is a question of a grape that sours. My pride is that all the criticisms levelled against him for his dictatorial tendencies: being against the rule of law; his chauvinism and all that, he should prove me wrong. I don’t want to be in a position to say I told you so. I am very serious about it that well, I want him to disappoint me that all that I said about him was wrong because that is what will pay the country. I don’t want to be praised. I want him to say, ‘Oh yes, I have changed, I’m no more a dictator, and I’m no more anti-rule of law. I’m not a chauvinist. I’m not biased against the South, and all that. But it appears that his action so far, particularly the appointments he made within 100 days are very much lopsided, and I don’t know what he could do to rectify the situation even though his spokesperson and so many others are saying that there are still some more appointments coming. What is funny in the first of his appointments is that they are now emphasising that the people were chosen on merit. That is funny. Is Buhari telling me that he has not got people of merit in the APC in the South? Since when did the North have more people of merit than people in the South? It doesn’t make it at all. I am only pointing out some continues on pg32

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of what people are talking about, but I wish he could find a way of ameliorating those ‘garbage,’ because I don’t know how far he could rectify the lopsidedness because they are key positions. But, he said there are more appointments to be made by the administration. Can they be as important as the ones he has done? The ones that are going to be shared out are mostly constitutional; he can’t deprive us the number of the position each state is entitled to. That is already stated in the constitution. So, the South had been handicapped ab initio. Therefore, I don’t know how he could do it; that is my view. But, I still want to give him a long rope. It is early in his term, he has only done three months; he has not done a year; he has four years. So, let us wait and see. I pray that he will do enough to convince people he means well. So far, the position is worrisome. During the pre-election campaign, the promoters of the candidacy of Buhari said he had changed. Are you insisting that the man has not changed; that he is still the old self? My statement is loaded. I said all the things we accused him of, I want him to prove me wrong and as you said, what his supporters were saying then was that he had changed. I have not seen evidence of change. When they stated before the election that he had changed, I posed the question, what is the evidence of change? He killed people under a law that was not in existence. That was then. What has he done to show that he has changed that he is not a man of violence, when before the 2011 election, he said blood would flow and during the last election, he said the baboons would suffer? I am only going by what I see and if you remember the criticisms we levelled against him then were supported by photographs and quotations from him. Based on these photographs and quotations, his campaigners said it was a campaign of hate. All that we did at that time was to provide evidence of the allegations we were making against him and his campaigners said he never said so and all that, and they said it was a campaign of hate. Here we are! This is a man, who on the mandate of the people, now knows that there are more qualified people in his own part of the country than in the South. I mean he insults us, he is more or less saying that there are more qualified Northerners than Southerners, since when? You see, those who were behind his campaigns, maybe don’t know what is on ground. What is on ground? The appointment, we are saying, is lopsided. They couldn’t defend that it is not lopsided. They now say it is only those who are on merit that he can work with, ah! He won the election all over the country. He now says he has not got people who are qualified, who he could trust in the South. And we now said the man is tribal jingoist; they said no. What has that shown? I mean those of us, who were in Nigeria, during the elections, we had talked about his qualifications and all that. Those of us who knew about the First Republic knew that from the word go, it was because of the backwardness of the North that the question of Federal Character was stated in the Constitution. They knew that if you were going by qualification, North would not be so qualified. So in some cases, they had to lower the qualifications and standards to put people in office so as to sat-

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Why I warned South-West against voting for him

Adebanjo isfy those positions. But suddenly, that position has changed when Buhari came in. He has more people that are qualified and that he can trust in his area at that proportion? It is worrisome. You said you are still watching the administration. I am still watching. For how long are you going to watch, given the trend of events? What do you think could be the implication for the Southern part of the country? Well, I like to be optimistic. What you are asking me is to try to be pessimistic. I still want him to change because the consequences of him not changing won’t be good. If he continues with the question of this imbalance in the distribution of offices in the federation, and in an heterogeneous society, it won’t be a comfortable phenomenon. I don’t want to raise any alarm but I just try to put it that, if he does not change and he continues to appoint people from only a section of the country at the expense of the other, it is a serious thing, because even omitting a region like the South- East doesn’t give

comfort. Under the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan, the South-West complained of marginalisation. As much as what we are witnessing today? Is that what you mean? How would you compare the two scenarios? Even when they were crying, the cry was just to stigmatise Jonathan. It was not as bad as they were saying it because, when Jonathan was trying to balance the thing by appointing a Yoruba woman from SouthWest as the Speaker of House of Representatives, it was the leader of the APC that torpedoed the idea. It was he who rallied his members to join the rebels in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to put in Honourable Aminu Tambuwal. Was he not conscious of Mrs Akande- Adeola being a Yoruba woman? That would have been the 4th position in the country. He schemed out a Yoruba woman and gave the position to the North. As much as possible, Jonathan still tried to rectify it and chose a Yoruba man as Chief of Staff, and so on. And even if you accused Jonathan of marginalising

Spokespersons of the Arewa North, including Junaid Muhammed said after all, they were sidelined during Jonathan’s administration. Is he not saying that Buhari is deliberately sidelining the South to pay back? Is that the change we are asking for?

the Yoruba, is that an excuse for Buhari to repeat what Jonathan did? Admitting that Jonathan sidelined the Yoruba and you are saying no, that is not good. Instead of you to do better now, you are doing worse. I want to give him some time before I begin to enumerate why I believe he has not changed. I pray he will change because the appointments he has made and the statements emanating from the North to justify the lopsidedness are worrying. Spokespersons of the Arewa North, including Junaid Muhammed said after all, they were sidelined during Jonathan’s administration. Is he not saying that Buhari is deliberately sidelining the South to pay back? Is that the change we are asking for? If you refer to my interview before the elections, particularly the one in Vanguard, I said the greatest mistake the Yoruba must not make is to vote for Buhari because I said that the Northerners had made up their minds that this is our turn and when we have it, we have it for keep. I didn’t just make the statement. I quoted Ango Abdullahi, a former Vice Chancellor of the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria. It is on record. I was trying to say well, these people don’t mean well. My opponents then said I am living in the past; things have changed; that this is a democratic dispensation, especially when you said the man is not democratic. You were aware too that when we talked about the lopsidedness of the appointments, the APC members said they were not consulted. I didn’t say it, it was in the newspapers, although they we’re not courageous enough to name themselves. The newspapers said chieftains of the APC, who didn’t want their names in the papers, said they were not consulted. But, the APC national chairman, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said the party was marginally involved in the previous exercise and assured that henceforth, the APC would be fully involved. Now, if you read the interview I gave to the source, this is why I accused the press of not doing their job. You know you are the watchdog of the society. It is you, who should be bringing all those things out now. You shouldn’t be asking those of us, who made the allegations. You should be asking them that, when those who opposed you then said this, this is what you said. Now, when your man did what he did, you were their partially, where are we? Is that the change we are calling for? We are calling for a change of what Jonathan did wrongly. And I still maintain that the change we wanted is the change of the constitution. You see, many people don’t understand why? Our constitution makes the president the most powerful man in the whole world, go and check. That is why we are anxious about the change of the constitution, particularly because it was not in place when we were given Independence. It was the military that changed it in 1966 after a coup. That is why Afenifere and the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO) were shouting for restructuring. It was the Army that restructured Nigeria. This is an important thing you people must note. continues on pg33

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Monday, 14 September, 2015

The danger of dumping confab report continued from pg32

There are signals that the Presidency is not favourably disposed to implementing the 2014 national conference recommendations. Do you think this is good for the country, given the core challenges facing the Nigerian project? My dear, it is left for you to draw the inference. Don’t forget that Jonathan even didn’t buy the idea of the Confab ab initio. It was the pressure mounted on him that compelled him to agree to convoke it. I remember when Afenifere met him, he said members of a family can sit down to solve their problems. The Confab had no other thing other than a peaceful method to solve our problems, get that definition and keep it seriously. We are talking of Confab; it is the peaceful means for those of us who want the country united in a peaceful manner. That was why we demanded the Confab. We knew there is a lot of injustice in the constitution as made by the Army. Don’t forget that the document is produced by the Army; it is not produced by the people of Nigeria. So, all those who are speaking against the Confab are oblivious of the origin of the constitution. Many people will remember that the late Chief Rotimi Williams, said our constitution is a fraudulent document because the preamble is false. This is because it says, ‘We the people of Nigeria’ and it also says, ‘We the people of the Federal Republic.’ Are we federal? So, all that we are saying about ourselves is false. Therefore, it is to rectify all these things and to bring us back to what we were at Independence. However, the beneficiaries of the lopsidedness from the North were saying that we wanted the Confab because we wanted to split the country; that we were looking for secession. And I said at that time, not to do the Confab is to disintegrate the country. It is with the Confab that we wanted to solve the Niger- Delta problem, all the injustices that were brought by the Army. The Confab is to make a peaceful change of the lopsidedness in the federation. I want you to quote me. I say and I want to repeat it, the Confab is to make a peaceful change of the lopsidedness in the federation, because if you make peaceful change impossible, you make violent change inevitable. That is what is happening in the Niger Delta; the people of the area want their autonomy. And at the Conference, we were able to convince them that if you want a better allocation, you don’t have to leave the country in violence, let’s sort it out. There is something good in unity. We convinced them and we agreed at an amiable condition. I still want Buhari to prove me wrong. Put it in a proper manner. I said Buhari cannot implement the resolution of the Confab and I gave the reason by saying that the beneficiaries of the lopsidedness in the constitution are people from the North. People don’t know this, but I don’t know why they don’t It was the military that created the number of states in the North because there was no yardstick. Nobody can tell me why there are more states in the North than in the South. It is the military that created the local governments more in the North than in the South, in an unjust manner. For example, the population of Lagos and Kano were almost identical. So, from kano, they created more local governments there

to about 74, with Lagos still having the same 20 local governments. It doesn’t stop there and what is the implication, because you are asking? They now base revenue sharing on the basis of local goivernments and the states, and you want me as a Yoruba man to say that is justice? People say where there is no equity, there is no justice. So, people even accused the Afenifere that we are for the PDP. I say I am not a PDP supporter. They also say Buhari will deal with corruption, but I believe all the two parties (APC and PDP) are corrupt. I am not defending anybody for corruption but the edge Jonathan has, in my own view, is this resolve to implement the recommendations of the Confab, which will stop the problem of corruption from the roots. How does it solve it? People must get clear about it because a lot of people are not educated about it. The source of corruption is the bags of money with the Federal Government. They have more money than states, so there is a lot of things the government can do. If it likes, it can give you more; if it likes, it will deprive you as (former President Olusegun) Obasanjo deprived Lagos State government of federal allocations to local governments. That is the power of the Federal Government under this constitution, and that was why I was saying at that time that no matter what you say, if you still say you want change under this constitution, the inequity we are talking about will continue because the man there has that power. That is why leaders of the APC can’t control or have any influence on Buhari on the way he made his appointments. It is the power under the constitution that he has. What of the National Assembly and the Judiciary, why can’t they provide checks and balances? They are the checks and balances. There are certain things he could do as president. The leaders of the APC have been telling you that all the appointments he has been making are within his powers, which he doesn’t have to take to the National Assembly. Unfortunately, all the people who are criticisng our own stance are just looking at it on the surface. For instance, what Afenifere and myself, said and are maintaining is that we are supporting Jonathan because of the Confab. Even Bola Tinubu, who was elected on the principle of Confab, said it was a diversion, forgetting that the provision of Confab removed a lot of avenues for corruption. The amount of money allocated to the centre has been reduced, the powers of the centre have been reduced; the number of local governments have been rationalized; no region has more states than the other. These are the things agreed upon at the Confab.

Adebanjo How do you see the war against corruption by the President so far? On his stand on corruption, I am 100 per cent in support of Buhari. Where I defer, I mean the caveat, is that the war against corruption should be holistic. There should be no discrimination; it should not be selective. Once that is done, Buhari is my man. And on the Confab, I have said it, if today Buhari promises to implement the recommendations, he is my candidate. This is because I know the implication is there: it will give peace to the country. It will address a lot of things you don’t know. There are minorities in the North, who don’t want to be grouped in the area they are in the North. We decided on that in the recommendations. We created more states. Many people think many of the current states are not viable. It is the peace that is missing; viability is a matter of execution. All this Gurara and other states we created in the Confab are as a result of the agitation of the people of the area. They were the people who were opposed to regionalisation; that they don’t want to be regionalised with the people they are together. That was why the Confab recommended

If you refer to my interview before the elections, I said the greatest mistake the Yoruba must not make is to vote for Buhari because I said that the Northerners had made up their minds that this is our turn and when we have it, we have it for keep.

that more states should be created in the regions; more powers should be given to the states, and that states that want to come together are free to do so. Majority didn’t appreciate the job the Confab did and I don’t know whether people knew what Jonathan even said. He had asked, what magic did you (delegates) do to pass 600 resolutions unanimously with almost 500 distinguished Nigerians? Nobody has disputed that and till today, none of those who are hesitant about implementing the Confab recommendations has pointed out one single item and said, no we don’t want it. Have you heard it? Unfortunately, the corruption mantra that is selling and many of Jonathan people that were corrupt really blindfolded the people in the country, no doubt. They were carried away by it and even at that time, I described the APC as a group of incompatibles. I still maintain it. It was not an opposition to govern; it was a gang up to remove Jonathan. All they were agreed upon in their alliance or unity or something was to get rid of Jonathan. After achieving their goal, there was no agreement on anything, because everybody had varying reasons for coming together. What united them most was to get rid of Jonathan. That is why ab initio, even before the National Assembly met, there was crisis. What caused the crisis in National Assembly are those questions that would have been settled long before the elections in a fairly democratic society. If you are fighting a war, you must show why you want to fight the war. You must know what you want to do at the war. I still want to reserve my criticism of the government because you said you have not got anything (programme) to do. They gave the lame excuse that the rot Jonathan left continues on pg34

politics&policy continued from pg33

was so much, and that you have to take your time. It means that for the past 16 years that you have been struggling to take over power, you have not known what is wrong with the country and your own solution to it. You demanded that the corruption war should be holistic. What informed such opinion? Not that there is any reason. The point is that when they say there is corruption in the country, no patriot or nationalist would deny that; it is an agreed thing. What I am saying, the caveat I am putting is that from the way he is going about it, he is going to be selective, which is not too good. For instance, Buhari is now saying he is having one account for the whole country. But, it was (former military President, General Ibrahim) Babangida, who started Dedicated Account, so that one can go away with it. He is now saying the NNPC is corrupt. Obasanjo was the Minister of Petroleum Resources for eight years. That one doesn’t need probe? These are the things that baffle me for a man who is coming out as holier than thou to clean the Augean stable. Cleaning the Augean stable should be irrespective of whose ox is gored. When he does that, he will have the cooperation and support of real patriots of the country. But the moment he is selective, the corruption war is going to have a question mark. The submission in certain quarters is that the government is slow in taking off as Buhari is yet to appoint ministers and set up other necessary structures of government. I have said that earlier that it only shows that they were not prepared for the government. They were only prepared to get rid of Jonathan. That was why I said it is taking a lot of time for them to settle down in government, and I said they should have known a lot of things that were wrong with the government. I can’t continue to repeat a lot of things that happened in the Action Group days. Before we came to power, for a whole year, we were meeting and formulating policy papers for each department of government. The moment we won the election in 1952, we went into action. It was not when we got into government that we started setting up committees to do A and B. The minister of education already knew what to do; the minister of health knew what to do; the minister of agriculture knew what to do; the minister of local government knew what to do. That is the way of a party that knows what it wants to do. That is the way I believe they should have behaved. How many years has Buhari been campaigning to take over government? So all the time he has been trying to take over government, he didn’t know what was wrong with the government and he doesn’t have the solution to it. It is when they now handed over to him that he knows what to do. Did he intend to go into government blindfolded? I don’t think that is good. Tinubu, immediate past governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, among other APC chieftains, must have sat Buhari down to know how he wanted to govern the country before they started promoting his candidature. Is it not possible that it is Buhari who have decided to do his own thing by sidelining the party? I don’t want to accuse you of not knowing the parameters of government. I have said all these things. I don’t want to discriminate and say X or Y. I am talking about their party. It is the party that sold Buhari. There were about three parties that came together and said the administration of Jonathan was rotten and that they must get rid of it

Monday, 14 September, 2015

‘How Buhari can get my support’ Akintola was anxious to work with them, but Chief Awolowo said they haven’t got a policy that tallied with ours. All the governments of the federation that had alliance, we were the first party to be consulted. We really turned them down because we were always asking, on what basis? All this is to show that well, whenever you form an alliance, there is a purpose; that you have agreed on a purpose. It is because these people have not agreed on a purpose that is causing the delay in Buhari announcing his government. The slow pace is due to the fcat that there was no agreement ab initio because there were different, vested interests coming together. They were not agreed on what to do. There was no agreed programme of the APC from all the parties forming it. Every party came in for different reasons. The only thing that united them was the resolve to get rid of Jonathan. So, when Jonathan left now, the various tendencies began to show and that is what is causing the problem. They said they are going to take their time to form the government but the Stock Exchange is shouting; investors cannot come because they don’t know the line of the economy because Buhari has not declared any programme. Even on the question of corruption, he has not laid down how he is going to solve it other than saying I am going to fight corruption. Anyway, I only hope all the criticisms and all the things I have said in this interview, Nigerians will sit down and analyse them and see where there have been an unjust criticism.

Adebanjo

As for his integrity, nobody is questioning that. But, the way he is performing now is questioning his integrity. For instance, when he talks of wiping out corruption, I believe Buhari is an incorruptible man, but I don’t agree that those who are surrounding him are incorruptible. This is because there is still the saying: show me your friend and will I tell you who you are. Buhari is clean but look at those people who are surrounding him, there is a question mark.

because they can do better. It is that conglomeration of people that must have sat down to know where and where they are going to do rectification. Some of us criticised them when they were coming together; that there was nothing you have in common with Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). That was the question we asked. If there was something common with them, it should mean that all the things they believed were wrong with the government were also what the CPC agreed. It should also be what the ANPP agreed before they now said let’s come together and fight. Then, that would be okay, let’s have consensus candidate. As I said, they were all agreed on getting rid of Jonathan. That is why these contradictions are there. Tinubu originally didn’t pretend that he

wanted Buhari so that he could be made the vice president until the idea of Muslim/ Muslim ticket was torpedoed. That was all the idea he had for looking for Buhari as president. It is not because of the interest of the country. And when that one couldn’t work, he attempted to put his wife. Are you not aware of that? During the First Republics, Tafawa Balewa invited the Action Group for an alliance and also in the Second Republic, Shehu Shagari invited the Unity Party of Nigeria for an alliance. Those of them in the parties will still remember till today. Chief Obafemi Awolowo had asked, on what basis? As a matter of fact, it was the basis of working with the Northern Peoples Congress (NPC) in the First Republic that caused the dispute between Chief Awolowo and S.L. Akintola.

As a statesman, are you looking forward to meeting with Buhari over the way he should go in moving the country forward? As far as I am concerned, I want to agree with them that they don’t want to be rushed. That is why I said I am not criticising them. All that I have stated are my fears and I I wish he should prove me wrong. I am not praying that he should prove me right. I am not saying I want to be in a position to say ‘look, Nigerians I told you so, no.’ I believe for that to happen, it won’t pay the country. So, I am saying that he should sit down seriously and analyse all these things we are talking for him to see where to put things right. As for his integrity, nobody is questioning that. But, the way he is performing now is questioning his integrity. For instance, when he talks of wiping out corruption, I believe Buhari is an incorruptible man, but I don’t agree that those who are surrounding him are incorruptible. This is because there is still the saying: show me your friend and will I tell you who you are. Buhari is clean but look at those people who are surrounding him, there is a question mark. People are still reacting to the declaration of assets by the President and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. What is your opinion on the matter? My humble reaction, as far as I am concerned, when people are talking of the Assets declaration of Osinbajo that he is a billionaire, I say well, a lawyer has a way of having tremendous money. They can’t question him at all. On a document, he can make between N10 and N20million. That is by virtue of our profession. Nobody will read any ill thing into it. As for the question of the wife, I agree that their wives should declare theirs too because you can do a lot of hiding in the account of your wife. It is very necessary. I won’t say more than that.

Monday, 14 September, 2015

features

Editor: Bayo Alade featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0805 500 1747

Labour room experience:

The myth, the drama By Monica Taiwo

OY and Ejiro’s joy knew no bounds the day they learnt from the gynecologist who had been treating Joy for primary infertility that God has finally answered their prayers. As the case is with every pregnancy especially in this part of the world, the pregnant woman is not alone. It is natural for her husband, family, friends and even her colleagues at work to be concerned about her welfare and the unborn baby by trying to do whatever they could to make things easier for her. In the case of Daisy, who shared her first pregnancy experience with her friends, she was full of praises for her boss and her neighbours. It wasn’t that her husband abandoned her at this crucial period, to borrow her words, but for the couple, the advent of the pregnancy was double joy. They had waited on God for over four years after marriage. The month that she missed her period was the very month her husband was sent to America on a two-year course from his office. Her first three months, according to her, were tough but her neighbours and the boss in her office, though a man, made sure she had everything she wanted and he even exempted her from some duties. This is because her parents lived out of town and her husband’s parents were both late. Women have different stories to tell about their pregnancies, from the first trimester (first three months), till their Expected Delivery Date (EDD), which of course is another story entirely, due to individual differences. For some women each pregnancy comes with different symptoms and experiences. So what applies to and works for a woman might not work for another woman, even for the first and second pregnancies. Every woman and those surrounding her dreads the climax of the gestation period which is the onset of labour and the labour room experience. A lot of myths surround the labour room experience, depending on the woman’s cultural belief and sometimes religion. In modern days, though alien to our culture, women advocate for their husband’s presence while in labour. Women want their husbands close to them because their presence will give moral and psychological support, though some people believe that any man who witnesses the birth of his child and what his wife goes through during delivery will appreciate the woman better. Contrary to this view, however, is the traditionalists’ view

shared by a man who wants to be identified simply as Gbenga. He stated that it is very un-African for a man to be present when his wife is giving birth. According to him, there is no big deal about childbirth which could warrant the husband’s presence. “Civilisation and the white man’s medical attention have changed a lot of things. Our mothers, some of them even till date still deliver their babies without any help. They have been taught how to do that since when they were young and it comes easy for them. Again, the moment a woman starts by having her first child in her husband’s presence, it means she has given birth to all her children in his presence,” Gbenga stated. Some men however said they could be present at the labour room during their wives’ delivery and shared their experience, while some said they wouldn’t be found a hundred miles near the place. Diadem Ogwu, a respondent said he had no choice but to stay with his wife when she was in the labour room. “It was our first baby, the pregnancy was quite troublesome. She was in and out of the hospital for several weeks. In fact she had been on hospital admission for about two weeks before she went into labour, it was around mid-night and I was with her. “The pain in her eyes during every contraction was too much for me to bear. I was with her, but sincerely, I cannot describe the way I felt. In fact at a stage, I thought I was going to pass out. The midwife attending to her had to give me a seat. It was a harrowing experience for me, but on the long run, it was worth it. We are not even thinking of another baby now, but definitely, we have to have another one and I am ready to go all the way with her.” Ilesanmi Mike, another respondent said, “I couldn’t stay with her. Although I wished I could, but I don’t have the

I couldn’t stay with her. Although I wished I could, but I don’t have the heart for it. She fell into labour in the middle of the night.

heart for it. She fell into labour in the middle of the night. We couldn’t leave the house immediately because of where we lived. My wife is a very strong woman; she said she would hold on. I was so scared. More so, we have been told that she would have the baby through Cesarean Section because of certain medical complications; I kept praying that she would hang on till the wee hours of the morning when we could go out. “Fortunately, she did, but I left and started driving around town with no particular destination in mind. I was too scared to stay in the hospital with her. I went back when one of the nurses called me that she had delivered.” However, the question is, does hanging around the labour room really help? Retired matron and midwife, Mabel Ogunsanwo, said though she is not against a man staying with his wife, but one might eventually have to leave the woman in labour and nurse the man. “I cannot forget a situation that happened when the woman in labour insisted that her husband should stay with her. All was well until when the baby was about to come out. We all felt that the man was holding on fine and up till that moment, his presence helped his wife. But as soon as he saw the baby’s head, he started vomiting and the next thing was that he fainted. “Thank God I had enough hands to help me; it was a night labour case. I had to leave his wife in the hands of the junior nurses to take care of him. What if other complications occurred with the wife? He distabilised us and caused more trouble than good, so since that day, I personally do not encourage such,” she said. A gynaecologist, Dr Adeyinka Griffin, said there is no harm in the man staying with his wife in the labour room, but he has to be sure that he is strong enough. “We all erroneously refer to women as the weaker sex, but with my years of experience as a gynaecologist, I have come to respect them greatly. “No matter how low a woman’s pain threshold is, she would withstand the pains during each contraction. Though one cannot rule out a lot of drama during the spasm of pains, but they hold on well.” Different kinds of stories and myths surround the labour room experience; some say you must not cry, you don’t scream, you don’t curse your husband or anyone. Strictly, no swear words. But do women adhere to these? Some even say once they are done with this labour, they will never try such again, but they eventually go back to have more babies.

features

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Irewole Estate

Irewole Estate: Ekiti govt’s drive to make mortgage housing work By Gbenga Olaifa

NE of the duties of government is to ensure better living conditions for the citizens and that is done through the provision of basic amenities. One of such amenities is decent accommodation, which is ranked among the top three needs of human beings. It was in that light that the Ekiti State Government, through the Ekiti State Housing Corporation in 2009, built the Irewolede Housing Estate along Ilawe Road, Ado-Ekiti. However, while most Nigerians are quick to accuse leaders of corruption and impunity, the actions of those being led, on some occasions, expose them as hypocrites with wrong attitudes. It is not uncommon to see public utilities being vandalised thereby thwarting the noble intention of the government. For many of the occupants of the estate, some of whom have been residing there since 2009, the payment of the initial deposit of N100,000 was what they thought they needed to ‘inherit’ those government houses. Many refused to pay their monthly mortgage for years. Before the state government clamped down on them, they were defaulting to the tune of over N800 million. The state governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, had given them the grace to settle their outstanding obligations on or before August 5, 2015 and even asked his deputy, Dr Olusola Kolapo, to interface with them. To put an end to such acts of impunity, Ekiti State government had to wield the big stick recently when it descended on the defaulting occupants by sealing off the facility. On the appointed day, security operatives comprising the police and men of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as staff of the Housing Corporation,

besieged the estate at about 10 am and evicted the defaulters. When journalists visited the estate at about 2pm, security personnel were at the gate, while the staff of the Ekiti State Housing Corporation were screening the landlords and identifying those that defaulted and prevented them from gaining entry into the estate. Since we are in a civilian dispensation, and people have different political inclinations, some people were quick to read political meanings to the action taken by the state government. But curiously, some chieftains of the opposition All Progressives Congress such as the Senior Special Assistant on Internal Security to former Governor Kayode Fayemi, Deji Adesokan, who also has a house in the estate, were not affected. The reason: They have paid

Because Governor Fayose directed that Irewolede Housing Estate, Ado Ekiti be sealed off because of the allottees’ refusal to pay for the houses allocated to them, over N10 million was paid today alone!

up their mortgage obligations. The chairman of the Irewolede Estate Landlords’ Association, Mr Ayo Orebe, appealed to the governor to grant residents more time to be able to pay. He blamed the Federal Mortgage Bank for its refusal to disburse funds to banks, claiming that some of his members had subscribed to the bank, but it was not remitting same to the government. “Some of the landlords bought their houses through mortgage arrangement and outright purchase, which will last for a period of five and 10 years for the payment of the full money respectively. “My people are aware of their indebtedness and we have even confirmed to the government when the deputy governor met with us. But it will be difficult for us to pay this huge amount within a short spate of time. “But if proper arrangement is worked out, the government will get its money and it will at the same time be easy for us to pay. We shall be grateful if government could grant us this opportunity,” he pleaded. The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Idowu Adelusi, said out of 254 allocated houses in the estate, only 37 allottees had paid fully, adding that 217 allottees were yet to complete payment. “The total amount being owed by the allottees as at the time Governor Ayo Fayose assumed office was N904,635,556.57. Total amount recovered since Governor Fayose assumed office was N82 million. Some of the allottees have sold or rented out the houses allocated to them. “The allottees cut across political parties, as there are notable leaders of the PDP and APC among them. It is therefore not political. Over N800million is being owed by the allottees as at today. “Today alone, millions of naira was paid

by some of the allottees. The government is insisting that allottees who have declined to pay for the houses allocated to them must pay. Those who are not defaulting did not have their houses sealed. “Because Governor Fayose directed that Irewolede Housing Estate, Ado Ekiti be sealed off because of the allottees’ refusal to pay for the houses allocated to them, over N10 million was paid today alone! “One of the allottees paid N1million, another one paid N396,500, two others paid N324,000 and N225,000. Others made payments ranging from N45,000 to N70,000. In all, 27 allottees have made payments as at 2pm, making a total sum of N87,447,644.00 recovered as at 2pm today,” he said. However, Governor Fayose had to attend a peace parley called by the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe, and other community leaders to resolve the matter. It was the peace brokered by the monarch that led to the extension of the deadline given the landlords. They now have up to November 30, this year to pay up. “The governor considered the extension due to intervention by the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adeyemo Adejugbe, other traditional rulers and some prominent Ekiti indigenes who though condemned the lackadaisical attitude of the defaulting landlords, pleaded with the governor to give them more time to pay up. “The governor, however, showed compassion but warned against defaulting, stating that government will resume action against the defaulters by December 1. “Since the government action began, N13 million has been paid by some of the defaulters,” Adelusi said while giving an update on the issue. •Olaifa wrote this piece from AdoEkiti.

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news Arrest of 3 corps members for robbery mistaken identity —NYSC

Assemblies of God crisis: Northern leaders sue for peace

Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

Isaac Shobayo - Jos

he National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has described the arrest of three corps members by men of the Nigeria Police, on allegation of robbing a shop owner in Suleja, Niger State, as case of mistaken identity. In respect of this, it said

Pharmacists Council seals off 242 medicine shops in Kwara

Monday, 14 September, 2015

two of the accused corps members have been released while it is working on securing the release of the third corps member. The NYSC Director of Public Relations, Mrs Bose Aderibigbe, while making clarifications on the case, stated that their release was secured as a result of interventions from the Niger State government through the office of the Secretary to the Government and the Ministry of Youth Development.

She, in a statement stated that, “Without prejudice to the investigative duties of the appropriate law enforcement agency, we have it on good authority that preliminary findings had shown that the accusation against the trio was based only on circumstantial evidence. The NYSC, however, assured the public, particularly parents and guardians of corps members that no single corps member will be allowed to suffer

unduly, especially over cases of mistaken identity during the service year. She stated that the provisions of the NYSC ByeLaws are very clear on the involvement of corps members in criminal acts, though very unlikely, as their participation in the scheme does not confer immunity from prosecution. “We have, therefore, continued to sensitise members of the service corps on the need to be law-abiding and to shun acts capable

of soiling the image of the scheme and their families,” the statement read. The scheme further urged corps members serving in Suleja to go about their duties without fear of molestation, saying, “we have already intensified liaison with the Army, Police and other security agencies in the area as well as the Suleja Emirate Council who have all renewed their commitment to the protection of all corps members in the area.”

Biola Azeez - Ilorin The Pharmacists Council of Nigeria (PCN) has sealed a total of 242 pharmacies and patent medicine shops in Kwara State for offences ranging from dispensing poisons without supervision of a pharmacist, poor storage conditions and non-renewal of mandatory certificates, among others. This is just as the National Association of Patent and Proprietary Medicine Dealers (NAPPMED) in the state protested against the raid led by Head of Enforcement of the council in Ilorin metropolis, Offa, Omu Aran, Oro and Ijagbo, describing it as witchunt. Speaking with journalists in Ilorin at the weekend, the deputy director and head of enforcement of the council, Stephen Esumobi, said many patent medicine shops in the state commenced operations without following laid down guidelines. Esumobi, who said that 14 pharmacies and 228 patent medicine shops were among 242 premises sealed by the council, added that many others failed to meet minimum requirement for storage and personnel, “thus exposing members of the public to the dangers of consuming medicines whose quality, safety and efficacy cannot be guaranteed.” “Anyone wishing to start a pharmacy shop is required to apply for location approval. This is because not every location is suitable for the sale of medicines. When the location is approved, the premises apply for facility inspection to ensure that the structure and personnel are adequate. But we discovered that many premises operate without following laid down guidelines in Kwara State,” he said.

AS the crisis rocking the Assemblies of God Church continues to rage without solution in sight, leaders of the church in the northern part of Nigeria have expressed concern over the crisis and appealed to those behind the development to exercise restraint and embrace dialogue. They noted that the Pentecostal Church has been propagating the gospel of Jesus Christ since it was established in 1934 and as such, should not allow anything capable of discouraging fellowship among believers. The crisis, which centred on who is the authentic General Superintendent of the church, has produced two factions, one led by Reverend Paul Emeka while the other is led by Reverend Chidi Okoroafor, a development which has equally polarised members.

SON confiscated substandard products worth N4bn in 2015 —Odumodu From left, Mr Oluwatoyin Sonoiki; Mrs Omotola Shokunbi; Mrs Biodun Igwe; Mrs Oyinlola Kongi and Mrs Tokunbo Ayodele, paying last respect to their late father, Oba Joseph Oluwole Sonoiki, the Lipa of Molipa Ijebu, at his grave site, at Molipa, on Saturday.

10 arrested making calls at the wheels in Delta Alphonsus Agborh - Asaba For making calls while at the wheels, over 10 persons have been arrested in Delta, the state Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corp (FRSC), Mr Rindom Kumven, has said. According to him, it proved difficult arresting offenders who make calls while driving as majority of them quickly dropped their phones and engaged in unwholesome arguments. Mr Kumven told the Nigerian Tribune in Asaba, at the weekend, that such violators of the rules engaged in arguments and were usually proved wrong after officials seized their phones and checked their last calls before they succumbed. The commander said the command would, as part of its strategies to reduce accidents caused by articulated vehicles parked at some locations, soon embark on dialogue with traditional

rulers of such communities to sensitise them on the dangers wrong parking on the road sides pose to other road users. Such places in Delta include Ubulu Okiti, Umunede along the Asaba-Benin highway, Uromi junction in Agbor and

Warri where auto crashes were rampant. On the speed limit for commercial and articulated vehicles, the commander disclosed that the implementation has started advising drivers to obtain the devices from authorised dealers.

He cautioned motorists to obey traffic rules with extra care during this ember months due to the huge volume of traffic, adding that FRSC would flag off its national road programme for the period on September 18 before states commence theirs.

Police arrest 2 OOU students, one other over cultism OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta The Police in Ogun State has arrested two students of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU) and a student of Lagos State Polytechnic (LASPOTECH), over allegation of cultism. In a statement made available to newsmen in Abeokuta, by the Command’s Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Olumuy-

iwa Adejobi, on Sunday, had it that the OOU students, 200 and 400 level students of Political Science and Geography Education respectively were arrested at different locations in Ago-Iwoye. The trio were reported to have confessed to be members of Alora Buccaneer and Eye Confraternity respectively. Adejobi said that the state Commissioner of Po-

lice, Abdulmajid Ali, has directed that the suspects should be investigated by the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence, Eleweran, Abeokuta and that the suspects should be charged to court upon completion of the investigation. The CP has vowed to go after any individual or group of people who may want to disrupt the peace of the state.

The Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, has said that the agency seized substandard products worth four billion naira since the beginning of the year. Odumodu made the disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Abuja, on Sunday, adding that in September, the agency seized substandard telephone sets worth N350 million. “In the last three days, we have confiscated over N350 million worth of telephone sets that are substandard. “If I add that to the number I have earlier, we have a number of about four billion naira this year alone. “I tell you that is not a thing of joy because all these products were imported, paid for with genuine dollars and would be destroyed and it is Nigerian money,’’ he said. Odumodu called for a law to jail people involved in the importation of substandard products into the country. According to him, the organisation now has a new act that confers additional power to prosecute offenders on it.

news

Moday, 14 September, 2015

Kogi polls: I’m committed to tripartite agreement — Audu •As APC constitutes campaign council Kolawole Daniel and Yinka Oladoyinbo

HE candidate of the All Progressives Congress in the Kogi State governorship election, Prince Audu Abubakar, has pledged his commitment to Kogi tripatrite agreement; the agreement is a power rotation deal among the constituent groups of Igala, Ebira and Okun that ring Kogi State. A statement from the Media Office of the aspirant on Sunday, traced the narrative of the forthcoming Kogi state gubernatorial election to power rotation and infrastructural development. “So I have told all Kogites that when we mutually met at one Engineer Sule’s house in Okene, in 1991, where the three groups-Igalas, Ebiras and Okuns, met and said to themselves that they believe in power rotation. “When God in his infinite mercy spoke to the former military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, to create Kogi State; therefore, we have destiny in our hands and it was only fair to allow Igala to have the first shot. For that, the reason adduced by late Chief Awoniyi was that the component that came from Benue State, that is, Igala, had never had the opportunity to produce the Governor but the second component from Kwara State comprising of Ebira and Okun had had the opportunity in late Adamu Attah who was a Second Republic Governor of Kwara

State. “Following that premise, it was agreed to give it to Igala. Further, after Igalas, it was agreed that the governorship seat should return to the other components – Okun and Ebira, which

should meet to determine the next to have the seat after Igala,” he said, adding that he was the first beneficiary of the agreement. Meanwhile, at the inauguration of the APC State Campaign Council which is

The governorship re-election bid of Governor Seriake Dickson yesterday got a boost as a coalition of political pressure groups under the auspices of Niger Delta Patriotic Coalition (NDPC), called on Bayelsans to endorse his candidacy without minding political affiliation. Speaking to newsmen in Abuja, the leader of the group, Pastor Godknows Okauru described Dickson as “the most performing Governor since the advent of democracy in the entire Niger Delta and Region as a result his performance is already speaking for him.” The coalition called on the people of Bayelsa to shun party affiliation and vote for a candidate who has a clear understanding of what governance entails, adding that having been a grassroots politician and transversed

Ajaokuta Steel Company is revived if voted into power, expressing his readiness to restore the lost glory of the state; debunking the insinuation that he was coming on revenge mission with his ambition.

From left, Theologian Bishop, African Church College of Theology, Right Reverend Dr Adesoji Adetubo; Archdeacon, Lagos West Missionary Diocese, Venerable Kayode Ilaju Williams; Diocesan Bishop, Lagos West Missionary Diocese, African Church, Right Reverend Dr Akin Ajayi; Deacon, Agofure Paul Ighoruemu and Diocesan Bishop of Ifako, African Church, Right Reverend Dr. Michael Adeyemi, during the ordination of Ighoruemu as Deacon and elevation Thanksgiving Service of Venerable Williams, held at African Church, Lagos West Missionary Diocese Cathedral, Ikorodu, Lagos, on Sunday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Kogi people tired of emperors, recycled leaders —APGA candidate Christian Okeke - Abuja CANDIDATE of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) for the November governorship election in Kogi State, Dr Umar Akwu Goodman, at the weekend, said the people of the state were already tired of recycled leaders and emper-

ors and would be voting for what he described as real change during the poll. He vowed that the era of dictatorship was gone in the state, insisting that the era when someone governing the state would have bank account that is fatter than that of the state was equally gone.

Group makes case for Dickson Collins Nnabuife - Lokoja

said to coordinate the campaign activities towards the forthcoming election, Audu said the party would roundly defeat the ruling party come November 21. Prince Audu has promised to ensure that the moribund

both the legislature and the executive in his political sojourn, Dickson is best fit for the job. According to NDPC, their resolution to support the present governor is borne out of the fact that he is more at home with the yearning and aspirations of the people. They also advised that not minding ethnic or political affiliation, the people should vote for a community leader whose life has been anchored on aggregation of views for public good. Speaking further, Pastor Godknows said it was right to allow Dickson continue with the good work he has been able to achieve in the state, as any attempt to replace him may truncate the projects which have made Bayelsa the talk of the Niger Delta And also set the state back so many years. While enumerating the governor’s strong points he said Dickson is “account-

able and transparent in the management of resources that have been allocated to him in recent times, with prudent management and application without waste, he had shown zero tolerance for corruption since assumption of office.”

Umar spoke after being unveiled at the party’s secretariat in Abuja. The unveiling was done by the National Chairman of the party, Dr Victor Oye. According to Umar, the people of the state would live to thank APGA for giving him to the state, going by the magnitude of developmental projects to be executed by his administration. “It is only APGA that can bring change to Kogi. The people there at other parties are corrupt and failed. We are tired of recycling same people; we are tired of emperors. APGA is out to save the state. “Situation in Kogi is as rotten as that of an egg which is

of no value to anybody; they have polluted Kogi. “I am ready to work and reposition the state. I am the real change. The other candidates are just being recycled; they are not changing anything but we are out to transform and move Kogi forward, there is no alternative for Kogi. I know what the problems of the people are; I am their servant. What I have offered to do is to serve the people that have given me so much,” he said. “My manifesto is all about development. We are going to hit the ground running. We don’t have 100 days to work; every day, there is going to be development,” he added.

Aspirant behind postponement of Kogi PDP primaries, group alleges THE National Chairman of Network for Change and Good Governance (NCGG), Comrade Ismaila Yusuf Atumeyi, has alleged that one of the governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Kogi State, has orchestrated the postponement of the party’s primaries in the state to favour his ambition. Speaking to newsmen in Lokoja at the weekend, Atumeyi, who berated the PDP NWC over the postpone-

ment of the primaries, asserted that the action was a sign of obvious weakness of the political strength of the said aspirant and his inability to win elections in a free and fair contest. “When the PDP organised ward and state congresses, this aspirant in question stayed back in Abuja. PDP organised delegate election, he stayed back in Abuja. His reason is simple; he hopes to get his way through unfair means.

“We are fully aware that Abuja-based Kogi politicians cum moneybags are the ones bankrolling this type of shenanigan at the National Secretariat of the PDP. These are politicians that have been wholly rejected by Kogites. Kogites are united against these charlatans. “God and the people of Kogi are well pleased with the incumbent Governor Idris Wada and he will overcome these spent forces”, the NCGG chairman said.

Kogi govt promises equitable distribution of amenities Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

THE Kogi State Government has restated its commitment to the equitable distribution of social amenities to the people of Mopa and other communities in the state to boost their social economic potential. The Deputy Governor of the state, Yomi Awoniyi, said this at the 2015 Mopa Day celebration and inauguration of Mopa Guest House second phase in Mopa. He said the present administration would continue to build on infrastructures like roads upgrade hospitals, water supply among others for the benefit of the people of the state. The deputy governor added that the befitting palace for the Elulu of Mopa would be given adequate attention by the Captain Idris Wada led administration, urging the people to support the governor’s re-election in the next governorship election.

Youths back Wada/Awoniyi ticket Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

AS the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), elect its governorship candidate today, the National Youth Vanguard of the party in Kogi West Senatorial District has thrown its weight behind the return of the State Governor, Idris Wada for a second term. The group said it was supporting the Wada/Awoniyi ticket in order to allow the governor to consolidate on the achievements he had recorded in the last three and half years in office According to a statement by the coordinator of the group, Olayemi Jerry and the Assistant Secretary, David Awe, there was the need for the PDP to resolve the crisis surrounding the primary election and ensure that a candidate is allowed to emerge democratically. The statement read, “We in the PDP Youth Vanguard have been following recent events in our great party as it relates to the election of the flag bearer for the November, 21, 2015 election and as loyal party members, we are forced to speak, particularly to avoid a situation where the party will become an easy prey for the opposition.”

news Mecca tragedy: 4 Gombe pilgrims missing, 1 injured

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Kaduna pilgrim among victims Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna

OUR female pilgrims from Gombe State have been declared missing following Friday’s crane crash at the Holy Ka’aba Mosque in Mecca where 107 people died. One other female pilgrim got injured during the incident. The state Amirul-Hajj, Alhaji Abdullahi Mai-Kano, disclosed this while sympathising with the state pilgrims in Mecca over the mishap, on Sunday. Mai-Kano said that the four pilgrims were from Akko, Dukku and Nafada local government areas of the state. He said the other faithful sustained injury in her head, but had been treated and discharged. He said the four pilgrims were declared missing after a thorough verification and bed checking in the three houses accommodating the state pilgrims. Meanwhile, a member of the Kaduna State Task Force on the 2015 Hajj, Alhaji Saidu Adamu, has revealed that a Kaduna State pilgrim was among the 107 people that died in Saudi Arabia last Friday. In a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna on Sunday, Adamu who is also the Head of Media said the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) identified the deceased as Alhaji Adamu Shuaibu Kargi who hailed from Kubau Local Government Area. The member, who was a former Commissioner of Information, prayed to Allah to grant all the victims Aljana Firdausi and their families the fortitude to bear the loss. He disclosed that the late Adamu’s family had already been notified of the tragedy. In a related development, Ogun State Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board has affirmed that no pilgrim from the state was affected in the crash. The Amir-ul-hajj of the state, Alhaji Rasheed Raji, made the confirmation in an interactive session with the pilgrims and board members in Saudi Arabia to ascertain that no pilgrim from the state was involved in the tragedy. Alhaji Raji said though the tragedy was unexpected and uncalled for, it was painful that it happened and prayed for forgiveness of sins of the departed

souls. He said all Ogun State pilgrims observing hajj this year were hale and hearty, noting that medical experts were fully on ground to take care of them. Alhaji Raji, who is also the Baba Adini of Egbaland, urged the people of the state not to panic, as packages that would guarantee improved welfare of the pilgrims had been put in place by the state government. In a related development, the Chairman of the state Muslim Pilgrims’ Welfare Board, Dr Ishaq Yusuf, has

urged pilgrims from the state to carry out their hajj rites/assignments with the fear of Allah and teachings of Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W). Addressing the pilgrims in Mecca, Dr Yusuf warned them to shun all act of vices and immorality that could turn down their positive rewards for the hajj and put the state in shame when reported. In an interview, the Olu of Itori, Oba Abdulfatai Akamo, who is also one of the pilgrims from the state, while commenting on the

tragedy, advised pilgrims from the state not to allow the shock of the incident to dampen their spirit. He urged the people of the state to continue to support the pilgrims in praying for the unity, stability and tranquillity in the state and the country at large. Meanwhile, the third batch of the pilgrims from the state, last Saturday, visited historical places in Mecca as part of activities lined up for the hajj exercise. It will be recalled that the tragedy occurred last Friday during a heavy rainfall

which was preceded by a storm, after pilgrims had performed the Asr (late afternoon) prayer around 4:00p.m. (2:00p.m. Nigerian time). Eyewitness said one of the construction cranes was hit by a thunder storm during the rainfall and it fell on one of the pillars around the Ka’abba where thousands of pilgrims were performing Tawaf (circumambulation) rites. According to reports, 107 pilgrims died while 238 sustained various degrees of injuries.

Osun lawmaker urges Buhari on fight against corruption President Muhammadu Buhari has been urged to initiate a national blue print on fighting corruption, and establish a means of ensuring international standard in executing government business. Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, a member of Osun State House of Assembly, made the charge shortly after the end of a capacity building workshop on Transparency and Accountability for members of Houses of Assembly of states in the South-West geo-political zone, organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, the president should establish a transparency charter that would re-awaken value and promote compliance with the established protocols of doing government business such as due process that has been abandoned by MDAs and most states government.

Army reopens classes for pupils, students in Madagali From left, Provost, Anti-Corruption Academy of Nigeria (ACAN), Professor Sola Akinrinade; Chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr Ekpo Nta and the member representing Obokun state constituency in Osun State House of Assembly, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye;, during a workshop in Abuja, recently.

Fayose showing zeal to re-position education in Ekiti —Afe Babalola Wema Bank boss lauds him for connecting with masses THE founder of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti (ABUAD), Chief Afe Babalola, has said that Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, has and is showing the zeal to re-position education in the state and restore its lost glory. The renowned lawyer, who commented on the Education Summit organised by the state government, said a similar one organised during Fayose’s first term, really improved the standard of education in the state and catapulted it to be among the best in the country. In a press release in AdoEkiti yesterday by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr Idowu Adelusi, Chief Afe Babalola recalled that the governor organised a summit 12 years ago which yielded fruits as shown by the performance of students from the state

in public examinations. On why he is throwing his weight behind the governor and the summit, the legal luminary said: “He’s a man of action. I love him because he’s a realistic man. He’s dynamic, fearless and when he says yes it is yes, when he says no it is no. He is energetic and you need an energetic person to carry out anything you want to do. “If you care to watch the television recently, particularly what Mrs Adeyemo showed us, you would agree with me that the 2003 summit was a success, the follow up was a success and Governor Fayose’s administration during the period was a success,” he said. The ABUAD founder also charged parents and guardians to be ready to sacrifice whatever it would take to give their wards quality

education and to note that government alone cannot do everything, as citizens must offer their support. Meanwhile, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Wema Bank Plc, Mr Segun Oloketuyi, has described the administration of Governor Ayo Fayose as one which connects well with the masses, saying the step has endeared the administration to the people. Speaking during a visit to Fayose at the Governor’s Office, Ado-Ekiti, at the weekend, Oloketuyi also said that the government of Fayose was a listening one, thereby being able to know what the people need. He said the bank was interested in discussing areas of collaboration with the state. “Among the areas we are looking forward to collabo-

rate with your administration are agriculture which is a major sector in the state and small and mediumsized enterprises (SMEs). Governor Fayose, in his remarks, lauded Wema Bank for its intervention programmes particularly in the South-West geo-political zone, noting that the efforts of the bank at providing a conducive atmosphere for a better society were being felt. He expressed the readiness of his government to partner with the bank for the benefit of the people of the state. Fayose reiterated the commitment of his government to the welfare of the people, saying he would continue to ensure that workers’ salaries are paid regularly, while developmental projects would not be made to suffer.

FOLLOWING the taking over of all territories overrun by the Boko Haram insurgents and the restoration of peace, the Nigerian Army has re-opened primary and secondary school classes for the returnees. Speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Madagali on Saturday, Lt. Col Chibueze Agbuabo, the Commanding Officer, 143 Rangers Battalion, said that the officers had voluntarily opened classes for the pupils and students. “Now that normalcy has been restored in the area and the communities have resumed their daily activities, the Army has opened the hitherto shut classes where pupils and students are being taught,” Agbaubo said. According to the battalion commander, the development is to ensure that the young ones are not idle, even as all government and private schools in the areas are still under lock and key. He said that the development was also to help the students fill up the gap they had lost during the invasion by the insurgents.

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Monday, 14 September, 2015

How Agagu earned Ondo oil-producing recognition —Olumilua Akin Adewakun - Lagos

ormer governor of old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua, has narrated how Dr Olusegun Agagu, as his then deputy governor, used his professional skills, diligence and hardwork to get the state recognised as an oil producing state during their tenure in the state between January 1992 and November 1993 Olumilua, who made this disclosure in Lagos, on Sunday, at the second memorial lecture in honour of the late former governor and Ministter of Aviation, stated that though, the state was known to be an oil-producing state then, it was not earning its deserved revenue for this status from the Federal Government, because it had not got the required recognition from the centre. ‘We knew we were oil producing state, we had been struggling, but we wouldn’t know how to locate the oil. I saddled him with the responsibility of doing this, but the brickwall we met was that those that should have assisted us, said the instrument to locate the oil was not working. ‘Interestingly, it was a time preparations were in top gear to welcome the head of the interim government then, Chief Ernest Shonekan, whom other states were not ready to touch with the longest spoon, into the state. Because Segun was a geolo-

gist, we were able to surmount that obstacle and got the needed recognition from the centre as an oilproducing state, which the state now enjoys today,’ he said. While describing the former governor as hardworking and unwavering in his commitment to his

goal, Olumilua, however, counsel Nigerians to always look beyond the realms of the physical, while choosing their leaders. ‘A lot of spirituality is always involved while choosing a leader, that is why sometimes, the brightest people may not necessarily be the best politicians.

PEACE is set to return to the folds of the Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Ibadan depot, following the ratification of peace accord on Tuesday, at the end of an emergency general meeting of the union. IPMAN, according to a communique issued at the end of the meeting, which was jointly signed by its officers in Ibadan/Ibarapa, Oke-Ogun , Ife-Ijesha, Osun and Oyo/Ogbomoso zones. The congress agreed that the NNPC Ibadan Depot, belongs mainly to Oyo and Osun states respectively and other adjoining states and that Alhaji Raheem Rasaq Taiwo, is the only elected chairman. They also agreed that “the house recognised the aggrieved members and wish that they join IPMAN fold to resolve the lingering crisis and that an election was held at IPMAN secretariat on February 4, conducted by IPMAN zonal and national executives and wit-

Gambari, said that if the country is to realise its full potential, Nigerians must jettison the habit of abdicating their responsibilities to government. He also extolled the former governor for his positive role in the development of the nation’s political landscape.

From left, former governor of Ekiti State, Dr Kayode Fayemi; former governor of old Ondo State, Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua; former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande; Mrs Olufunke Agagu; Mrs Bola Obasanjo; former governor of Osun State, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; former military governor of old Western State, Admiral Akin Aduwo (retd) and a former governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, during the second memorial lecture, in honour of the late governor of Ondo State, Dr Olusegun Agagu, organised by Olusegun Agagu Foundation, at Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Sunday. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Cattle rustling allegation, attempt to tarnish my image —Useni Isaac Shobayo - Jos Piqued by the allegation of lackadaisical posture of the senator representing Plateau South senatorial district, in the Senate, Jeremiah Useni and the para-

mount ruler of Tarok, General Domkat Bali (retd), toward cattle rustling in southern part of the state, Senator Useni said the accusation was a delibrate attempt by Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Associa-

IPMAN broker peace on election By Tunde Ogunesan

Good governance is a grace, that is why I believe a good leader must always strive to ensure that he puts in his place, a successor that would continue with his legacy,’ he said. The guest speaker on occasion and former United Nations-Secretary General, Professor Ibrahim

nessed by the Oyo State Police and SSS and if they fail to agree and abide by the said election result, fresh election be held in line with the practice of IPMAN in Ibadan Depot.” It was also observed that “no form of harmonisation of positions will bring lasting peace other than to have a fresh election”, hence, the decision that “election be conducted at a date to be chosen and venue wherein, the representatives of the house of assemblies from Oyo and Osun will serve as observers.” For fair representation, they concluded that an undertaken be signed before the conduct of the election, warning “that the outcome will be binding on all parties involved” adding that “all security agencies should be invited to witness the conduct of the election such as the police, SSS and the NCDSC.” On allocation, it was submitted “that all forms of discretionary allocation be stopped forthwith, at the NNPC Ibadan Depot. IP-

MAN monthly allocation chart followed strictly and be made public” while adding that “henceforth, IPMAN constitutional levy for local, bridging and transfer be resuscitated immediately at all loading (NNPC and Private) depots.”

tion of Nigeria (MACBAN), to smear his image and that of the traditional ruler. MACBAN president for North Central, Danladi Chiroma, had earlier this month, accused Senator Useni and the Ponzhi Tarok, of looking the other way, while their tribesmen rustle cattle belonging to Fulani herdsmen. However, a statement issued by Senator Useni’s head of media office, Abubakar Yusuf, on Sunday, said the claim by the North Central chairman of MACBAN, was intended

to smear the good name of the Senator and Ponzhi Tarok, in the stealing of the cattle. The statement added that, “for MACBAN chairman to have just come up to tell a story tarnishing the good names of Senator Useni and the Ponzhi Tarok, we see it as an attempt of giving a false information aimed at damaging the hard-earned reputation of the duo, a misrepresentation of facts and further create hatred, distrust and suspicion among the peace loving people of the zone.”

Group charges lawmakers on electorate By Aderibigbe Adedoyin Executive Director of Centre for Constitutional Governance, Oyo State constituency, Dr Adewale Balogun, has charged legislators in the state to bridge the gap between them and the electorate. This charge was made at a press conference tagged “Enhancing representative democracy”, at Apata area of Ibadan, where he stressed that this will enable citizens access better services. “There is a gap in the relationship between the legislators and their constituents, which is responsible for the low return rate of legislator

to the House of Assembly. If the legislators use their constituency offices effectively and built a cordial relationship with their constituents, it will enable citizens to access better services and lead to mproved livelihood, thus, building confidence on representation and deepening democracy,” he said. He advised representatives to maintain close contact with the electorate through constituency offices, consult the people on the needs and the issues they wish to be addressed, not forgeting to report back to the electorate, decisions taken by the House of As-

sembly. While speaking at the conference, Balogun stated that very few people knows where the constituency offices of their representatives are located, while many have no idea who their representatives are and stressed that election is not all about campaign and voting, but effective representation. Speaking in the same vein, programme officer, Mrs Juliana Iregbu, said that a constituency office should be located in a low rent building, a busy area to make it accessible, which should comprise at least, three rooms.

Ugwuanyi laments lack of modern hospitals in S/East Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, has expressed concern over lack of modern and well-equipped hospitals that would meet the health care needs of the people in the South East zone. Underscoring the need for modern health care facilities in the zone, the governor noted that when the diagnostic centre project embarked upon by the state government is completed, it will reduce the current craving of the people of the zone for medical attention outside the country. Governor Ugwuanyi, said this when the management team of Star Deep Water Petroleum Limited, a Chevron oil company and Agbami co-ventures, paid him a visit at the Government House, Enugu. He appealed to the group to come to the aid of the area by establishing a befitting hospital in the zone to promote health care delivery.

Kano partners PAN on training of youths Kola Oyelere - Kano KANO State government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), with Peugeot Automobile Nigeria (PAN),to train 100 youths on automobile work, saying the state would establish a mechanic village where automobiles would be repaired. The village would also accommodate panel beating, welding and essentials of mechanical engineering, among others The state governor, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, said this on Sunday, during the departure of 100 youths to PAN learning centre, Kaduna, for an intensive automobile training programme. According to him, the move is part of his administration’s commitment to build capacities of the youth for self -reliance and to galvanise them to drive socio – economic development of the state. The state Commissioner for Information, Youth, Sports and Culture, Malam Muhammad Garba, said that the training programme is the first of its kind in Kano, taking into cognisance the duration of the programme, the skills to be acquired and the reputation of the training institution.

Monday, 14 September, 2015

2 suspected terrorists linked to Boko Haram charged with acid attack on British teenagers Two suspected terrorists with links to Islamic extremists Boko Haram have appeared in court accused of throwing acid at two British teenage girls holidaying in Zanzibar. With help from Scotland Yard and Interpol, two members of the Uamsho or ‘Awakening,’ group were arrested and charged by local authorities. North Londoners Kirstie Trup and Katie Gee, both 18 at the time, were left with severe burns after a stranger on a bicycle threw acid over the two of them in 2013. In the weeks following, the pair, who were visiting the east African island to help underprivileged children - were praised for their hu-

manitarian aims. Abdulrahman Kinana, a prominent ruling Zanzibar politician, has now claimed two suspected terrorists have been arrested and charged, MailOnline reported. In a blog post for U.S. political website The Hill, he wrote: ‘Assisted by investigators from the British police at New Scotland Yard and Interpol, the Tanzanian authorities later arrested for the crime members of Uamsho or “Awakening.” Describing them as an ‘Islamic terrorist group with known links to Boko Haram’ which had previously targeted foreigners and Christians, he added the two men ‘have now been charged in court.’

Kirstie Trup, pictured left, and Katie Gee, both 18, from Hampstead, north London, were walking to a restaurant in Zanzibar when two men on a bicycle threw acid at them.

Libyan parties reach consensus on main elements to end crisis The United Nations envoy, Bernardino Leon, said early Sunday that the Libyan parties have reached a consensus on the main elements to end the country’s crisis. He told reporters in the Moroccan city of Skhirat, where the new round of Libyan political dialogue has been ongoing since Thursday, the UN facilitation is going to distribute the text of the final agreement to the parties later on Sunday, Xinhua reported. “We believe that this text will receive the total support of the parties and will be voted by the two parties, the House of Representatives and the GNC (General Na-

tional Congress), and will be endorsed by the rest of the participants in the coming days,” he added. Leon hailed the parties involvement during this round of talks, saying that “it is a very important day for the Libyans because their representatives have worked with political will, with flexibility with generosity to reach this agreement.” As for the agenda till the September 20 deadline, he pointed out that the GNC negotiating team will leave to Tripoli for 48 hours to submit the text and bring with them the names of their candidates for the national unity government.

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Left-winger, Corbyn elected to lead Britain’s Labor Party

eremy Corbyn, a veteran left-winger who professes an admiration for Karl Marx, was elected leader of Britain’s opposition Labor Party on Saturday, a victory that may make a British EU exit more likely and that one former Labor prime minister said could leave the party unelectable. Corbyn’s triumph was greeted by cheers from supporters at Labor Party headquarters and hailed by radicals across Europe, Reuters said. The outcome opened up the prospect of deep internal divisions, with some skeptics fearing he would

repel voters by pushing such radical policies as unilateral nuclear disarmament, nationalization and wealth taxes. Corbyn, 66, who was considered an unlikely winner when he entered the leadership contest, said in his acceptance speech: “Things can and they will change.” He won 59.5 percent of votes cast, a far larger victory margin than anyone had envisaged. “I say thank you in advance to us all working together to achieve great victories — not just electorally for Labor, but emotionally for the whole of our society, to show we don’t have to be

unequal, it doesn’t have to be unfair, poverty isn’t inevitable,” he said. Corbyn’s victory reflects growing support for leftwing movements across Europe, with Syriza winning Greek elections in January and Spain’s anti-austerity Podemos party performing well in opinion polls. Both parties welcomed the news. “The election of Corbyn to the Labor leadership ... is a signif-

icant boost to the pan-European front against austerity and sends a message of hope to European peoples,” Syriza said in a statement.

Jeremy Corbyn smiles as he leaves the stage after he was announced as the new leader of the Labor Party in London, on Saturday. PHOTO: REUTERS.

Al Qaeda chief urges lone wolf attacks, militant unity Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahri called on young Muslim men in the United States and other Western countries to carry out attacks inside there and urged greater unity between militants. “I call on all Muslims who can harm the countries of the crusader coalition not to

hesitate. We must now focus on moving the war to the heart of the homes and cities of the crusader West and specifically America,” he said in an audio recording posted online on Sunday, referring to nations making up the Western-led coalition in Iraq and Syria.

He suggested Muslim youth in the West take the Tsarnaev and Kouachi brothers, who carried out the Boston marathon bombings and Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris respectively, and others as examples to follow, Reuters said. It was not clear when the

A photo of Al Qaeda’s new leader, Egyptian Ayman alZawahri, is seen in this still image taken from a video released on Saturday. PHOTO: REUTERS.

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recording was made but references to former Taliban leader Mullah Mohamed Omar as being alive suggest it is at least two months old. Omar’s death was announced by Afghanistan’s government in late July. Zawahri reiterated his position on Islamic State, repeating what he said in a recording posted on Wednesday that he viewed the group’s claim to be a caliphate as illegitimate but would join them in fighting Western and secular forces in Iraq and Syria. Former Egyptian doctor Zawahri urged unity between Islamist militant factions in Syria and Iraq, where a Western-led coalition is bombing Islamic State targets, but recognized it would be difficult. He called for the formation of an independent sharia court to settle disputes.

Murdered South African Catholic takes step to sainthood A South African school principal, bludgeoned to death 25 years ago for refusing to take part in a witchcraft-related ritual, was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church on Sunday, moving him a step closer to sainthood.

Benedict Daswa, who was murdered by his fellow villagers in 1990, was named the country’s first home-grown martyr at the ceremony broadcast live on television. “While his executioners were killing him, Benedict was on his knees praying,” a

Catholic priest said during the ceremony in northern Limpopo province. A letter from Pope Francis, read out by his envoy Cardinal Angelo Amato, declared Daswa would join the ranks of “The Blessed”, for his “heroic witness to the gos-

Jerusalem’s al-Aqsa mosque sees Israeli-Palestinian clashes Israeli police clashed with Palestinian youths after entering the al-Aqsa mosque complex in East Jerusalem. Police say they entered the site “to prevent riots”. They were reported to have used tear gas and stun grenades, and were attacked with rocks and fireworks.

Similar clashes took place at the end of July. Al-Aqsa is one of Islam’s holiest sites and is in the Temple Mount/ Haram al-Sharif site also revered by Jews. The holy compound is a source of religious and political tension between Israel and the Palestin-

ians. It is a frequent flashpoint for violence. The clashes come hours before the start of the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah. Police were quoted in the Israeli media as saying the Palestinian youths who had barricaded themselves into the mosque were

planning disruption to prevent Jews visiting the site. Security forces launched a surprise raid at around 06:45 (03:45 GMT) in the hope of opening the site as planned, Haaretz newspaper reports.

pel, even to the shedding of blood”. Daswa was killed after he refused to join villagers in consulting a traditional sorcerer about a lightning strike that burnt down several huts in Tshitanini, more than 500 km northeast of Johannesburg.

Witnesses said a number of Palestinians were injured in the clashes, though this was denied by the Israeli police.

foreig naffairs

Monday, 14 September, 2015

10 killed, 14 injured in twin suicide bomb blasts in Cameroon

Ten people were killed and 14 others injured in twin suicide bomb blasts which took place in Kolofata, a town neighbouring Nigeria in Cameroon’s Far-North Region, on Sunday morning, military sources told Xinhua on phone. It is suspected Nigerian Islamic sect Boko Haram is behind the attacks. “The attackers are two boys between 14-16 years old. This is the preliminary information I received, but needs to be further confirmed,” Cameroonian Communication

Minister Issa Tchiroma Bakary told Xinhua. According to local sources, one of the two attacks took place in Latin Quarter in Kolofata where a lot of Nigerian refugees who ran away from Boko Haram attacks are living there. The second attack took place in a main market of the town. Twin suicide bomb blasts happened on Sept. 3 in Kerawa, another town in Far-North Region along the border with Nigerian, leaving more than 40 people killed and over 100 injured.

Clashes, militant bombing, kill 9 in southeast Turkey Kurdish militants killed two police officers in a car bomb attack on a checkpoint in southeast Turkey on Sunday, as authorities imposed a curfew in the region’s largest city Diyarbakir where clashes broke out, security sources said. Turkish forces backed up by helicopters and commandos shelled a mountainous area where the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) fighters had fled after the checkpoint attack in Sirnak province, killing six of them, the sources added.

A police officer was reported killed in another confrontation. Hundreds of militants and more than 100 police and soldiers have died since a ceasefire collapsed in July, shattering a peace process launched in 2012. It is the worst violence Turkey has seen in two decades. The Diyarbakir governor’s office said it had placed the central historic Sur district under a round-the-clock curfew. Security sources said seven police officers were wounded in clashes there.

Kenya police hunting for terror suspect in coastal region A manhunt have launched for a terror suspect who evaded a police dragnet on Sunday in the coastal county of Mombasa in a security operation. Mombasa County CID commander Henry Ondiek confirmed that more than 30 heavily armed police officers from the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit and Serious Crime Unit raided the suspect Farid Omar Awadh’s house in the wee hours of Sunday morning, but missed him. “We are still looking for him and we are aware that

he is back in the country, the manhunt will continue,” Ondiek said in Mombasa. Ondiek also said that the suspect is believed to have returned from Somalia and was due to carry out attacks on unspecified locations in the tourism resorts in the region, Xinhua reported. A senior National Intelligence Service officer involved in the operation told Xinhua that Awadh was under police radar over alleged recruiting and funding of terrorism activities.

Migrant crisis: Munich at limit as thousands more arrive

he huge influx of migrants into southern Germany has continued unabated, with the Munich authorities now saying 13,000 arrived on Saturday. But the city authorities have again warned they are at “the limit” when it comes to coping with the numbers. “We have reached the upper limit of our capacity,” a police spokesman said, as frantic efforts were under way to accommodate the new arrivals. Record numbers have also been crossing from Serbia into Hungary. More than 4,000 people walked across the border with Serbia - the most so far in one day - just as the authorities in Hungary were completing preparations to seal the frontier. Europe as a whole is struggling to deal with an enormous influx of people, mostly from Syria but also Afghanistan, Eritrea and other countries, fleeing violence and poverty. Munich, in Germany’s southern state of Bavaria, has been the main entry point for those entering the country in search of a bet-

Some migrants spent the night in Munich station. ter life, but the city says it is having difficulty finding accommodation for them. As well as the 13,000 who arrived on Saturday, another 1,400 arrived in Munich on Sunday morning, police said. “We lack 1,000 to 5,000 places,” Munich Mayor Dieter Reiter told the Sueddeutsche Zeitung (in German). The authorities are considering using a sports venue from the 1972 Olympics,

the Olympiahalle, as a temporary shelter. Mr Reiter also repeated his call for other German regions to take in more migrants. Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel has defended the decision to let in large numbers of refugees, saying she was “convinced it was right”. A steady stream of migrants is travelling from Greece, through Macedonia, Serbia and Hungary, to Austria and Germany. Many crossed the sea in little more than play boats from Turkey to several Greek islands. Officials estimate that 175,000 people have crossed from Serbia into Hungary so far this year. Hungary is aiming to complete a four-metre-high (13ft) fence along the border with Serbia by 15 September, when tougher measures, including arresting illegal immigrants, come into force.

Russia vows military support for Syria Russia will continue its military support of Syria, including sending personnel to the embattled country, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted as saying by Russian news agencies. “There were military supplies, they are ongoing and they will continue. They are inevitably accompanied by Russian specialists, who help to adjust the equipment, to train Syrian personnel how to use these weaponry,” Lavrov said on Sunday. Moscow has come under increased international pressure in recent days over what Washington and Gulf states said is a Russian military build-up in Syria, where the Kremlin has been supporting President Bashar al-Assad in a four and-a-half-year war. Lavrov also said that Russian

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President Vladimir Putin, who is travelling to New York for the UN General Assembly meeting later this month, plans to address the assembly on the topics of Syria, the conflict in Ukraine, the state of the global economy and sanctions against Russia. “He (Putin) will touch specific aspects, such as Syria, the Ukraine crisis. All these crises arise from systemic problems regarding attempts to freeze the process of forming polycentric world,” Lavrov said.

The foreign ministers of Russia, Germany, France and Ukraine met on Saturday evening.

The United States and its allies oppose Assad, whose government has been fighting an array of armed groups including the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) Moscow said its military assistance to the Syrian army is in line with international law, and that Russian servicemen, including military experts, have been present inside Syria for many years, including before the start of the war.

Tanzania Electoral Commission warns parties ahead of elections The chairman of the National Electoral Commission of Tanzania has warned politicians to desist from soliciting votes at places of worship during their campaigns ahead of the upcoming October 25 general election.

This, after opposition party Chadema presidential candidate and former prime minister Edward Lowassa came under criticism after he was accused of campaigning at a church where he reportedly called on the Christian congregation to vote for him.

Officials of the ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) says Lowassa violated a pact signed by all political parties by campaigning at the church. They called on the electoral commission to punish the opposition party for undermining the accord, VOA re-

Police search for shopkeeper in Indian restaurant blast Indian police are searching for the owner of a shop which they say had illegally stored explosives that triggered a blast, killing 90 people. Most of those who died were at a neighbouring restaurant in Petlawad in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Police earlier thought a faulty gas cylinder in the restaurant was to blame, but now say the blast was caused by illegally stored mining explosives. The restaurant was packed with

workers and schoolchildren eating breakfast. Several dozen people were injured. The shopkeeper, named as Rajendra Kasawa, had a licence for explosives for digging wells, construction and mining, district police official Seema Alava told AFP news agency. But he had stored them “in an unauthorised way in a residential area” and was being sought on suspicion of culpable homicide.

ported. Electoral Commission Chairman Justice Damien Lubuva says there would be consequences if politicians are found guilty of engaging in ethnic and religious pronouncements to win votes at places of worship.

Cuba to free 3,522 prisoners ahead of Pope Francis’ visit next week

People gather around the site of an explosion at a restaurant in Jhabua district in central India, on Saturday.

Cuba has pardoned 3,522 common prisoners in what it called a humanitarian gesture ahead of next week’s visit by Pope Francis. The move on Friday echoes similar actions the Communist-led country took ahead of two previous papal visits, MailOnline reported. Cuba said they would be released within three days in what would be among the largest mass

releases of prisoners since the 1959 revolution that brought Fidel Castro to power. Cuba freed 3,600 political prisoners at once in 1978. This time, however, there appeared to be no political prisoners among those pardoned. The Communist-led country, which officially denies it has political prisoners, said those convicted of crimes against state security would not be pardoned.

Monday, 14 September, 2015

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Leadership crisis hits Igala community in Kaduna muhammad sabiu-kaduna

Igala community in Kaduna has condemned the formation of a new faction within its rank. In a statement signed by its outgoing president, Chief Achimi Ogbole, and the Chairman, Caretaker Committee, Jacob Aguda, the new body is an attempt by some selfish individuals to create disunity among Igala people in the state.

The statement noted that the faction had already gone ahead to inaugurate a new leadership under questionable circumstances. The statement read in part: “The attention of Igala community in Kaduna State has been drawn to the activities of a non-existent body under the community’s constitution who called itself “Forum of Local Govern-

ment/Area Chairmen Association. “The body comprises selfish individuals who are bent on causing disunity among Igala people in Kaduna. One of the questionable activities of this group is the purported inauguration of a new leadership

of Igala Community. Whereas the caretaker committee charged with this responsibility has just concluded its assignment and the inauguration of the new excutive of Igala Community in Kaduna is coming up this Saturday,” the statement stated.

The statement also said the same group is setting up a kangaroo elders forum in order to obtain favour or legitimacy for their activities. “The community is, therefore, calling on the elders and other members of the community as well as the general

public to ignore the activities of the this group,” the statement said. However, it advised members of the group to retrace their steps back to the mainstream Igala community and to attend the inauguration of the legitimate elected officials.

Ikeja Electric partners community leaders to check energy theft The management of Ikeja Electric (IE), Lagos, on Thursday, said it was partnering with community leaders in its area of jurisdiction to check energy theft. Mr Pekun Adeyanju, Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs, made the disclosure to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. Adeyanju said that more than 28 per cent of the company’s energy was stolen by unknown elements. He said the company was meeting with stakeholders in various communities within the zone to sensitise them on the evil of energy theft. “The company has started educating consumers through their community leaders on the evil of energy theft. ‘We are making them to realise that they are the ones paying for all those who engage in illegal connection. “Consumers who connect their lines illegally within an area are the people contributing to outrageous billing because the company bills according to energy consumed monthly in an area. “This is the best time to expose them so that they will start paying for what they are consuming. “We have created a forum for them to come and report illegal connections in their communities with the promise that we will protect their identities,’’ the spokesman said. Adeyanju also said that Ikeja Electric would soon check its equipment to know the number of old transformers and bad

conductors contributing to energy loss. He said the equipment check would enable the company to verify overload and cables that needed replacement. Adeyanju said that they were aware of load shedding in many communities within the zone and the need for transformer upgrading. He said that the company would, after its comprehensive equipment check, effect change or upgrade most of the transformers.

Alhaja Sakirat Inakoju (left), receiving a cheque from the Chairman, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Lagos State, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede. With them are the Manager, Road Accident Health Insurance Scheme (RAHIS), Mr Abiodun Agoro and other members of the NURTW, during the donation of N600,000 to the families of the deceased at the NURTW’s office in Abule-Egba, Lagos, at the weekend.

NURTW gives N.6m to families of deceased passengers by gbenga olumide

The Lagos State council of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), has donated N600, 000 to four families, whose members died in a road accident on La-

gos-Ibadan Expressway, on August 11, 2014. The bereaved families were presented with N150,000 each. The Road Accident Health Insurance Scheme (RAHIS) of the NURTW is designed to assist road

accident victims by providing first aid treatment and giving financial assistance to families of victims in the event of death. Those who lost their lives in the August 11 road crash were Mrs Ajadi Fatima Abiodun,

Mr Popoola Kamoru Oladipupo, Mrs Adeleke Eunice Eniola and the driver, Mr Moruf Adeleke. The deceased were travelling from Lagos to Ibadan in a commercial bus with registration No:

Akure-Owena Lions Club marks dignity week Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

Members of Akure Owena Lions Club have donated food items and toiletries to underprivileged children in Green Pastures and Home initiatives, in Oba Ile Estate, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State. Speaking during the presentation, the President of the club, Henry Ojagbohunmi, said the gesture was part of the club’s effort to put smile on the faces of the underprivileged and to mark the Lions Children Dig-

nity Week. Ojagbohunmi said the club never knew the home existed in the community and assured the management of the home that the club would visit frequently to donate items to support the efforts of the management. While commending the management of the home for taking care of the children, the president said showing love to the underprivileged would reduce crime and criminal activities. In her response, the founder of the home, Mrs Comfort Williams,

lauded the gesture of the club and called on other individuals and groups to emulate the club. Williams said the Green Pastures and Home Initiatives was established to show the children love and give them a sense of belonging in the society. She said the home was established about two years ago in Akure, while the branch in Kano had been in existence since 2000, adding that the Lions Club was the first organisation to donate to the home since its establishment in Akure. Williams said, “we

came to Akure some two years ago. We call it home and not orphanage because we don’t want the children to be stigmatised as motherless babies. “We show them love and care for them as our own. We send them to schools and pay their school fees. “I want to thank the Akure-Owena Lions club for this gesture of love and I pray God will bless you in thousand folds. We look forward to more assistance from you and other spirited individuals and groups to better the lives of these children.”

KSF 237 XG. Presenting cheques to representatives of the families, the chairman of the union in Lagos State, Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede, consoled the families over the death of their loved ones and advised them to make judicious use of the money. Also speaking, the manager of the insurance scheme in Lagos, Mr Abiodun Agoro, advised drivers to partake in the scheme to enable them benefit in case of any eventuality. According to him,”nobody prays for accident, but it is a misfortune that can happen to anybody. “To avoid being totally down, RAHIS provides immediate relief to victims by taking them to the hosiptal and in case of death, the family (ies) of the deceased is empowered with a token.”

communitynews

Monday, 14 September, 2015

IGR: Kwara gov seeks traditional rulers’ assistance biola azeez-ilorin

KWARA State governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has called on traditional rulers to help in mobilising their people to fulfill their civil obligation of paying tax. Governor Ahmed made the call during the presentation of Second Class Staff of Office to the Oloota of Odo Owa, Oba Joshua Adegbuyi Ademola Anyeloye II, in OdoOwa, Oke-Ero Local Government Area of the state. The governor said it was imperative that key stakeholders like the traditional rulers assisted the newly established Kwara State Internal Revenue Service in ensuring that the people of the state key into the increased revenue generation drive by paying all dues, taxes, levies and commissions. “No society can develop and thrive without a robust system for collecting, managing and utilising tax for collective benefit. “Consequently, increasing our Internally Generated Revenue is the only way to reduce our dependence on the unstable federal allocation. “We also need to raise the necessary funds for infrastructural development and to empower our

people, especially youths. “I call on you to be at the forefront of our drive to raise revenue to build higher quality schools, more hospitals, better roads, ensure more reliable electricity and create an environment for the enhancement of our people’s prosperity,” the governor said. Governor Ahmed reiterated his call for constitutional role for traditional rulers a respected institution for grass roots mobilisation, cohesion, socioeconomic and political development. The Oloota of OdoOwa, in his acceptance speech, promised to join hands with the state government in ensuring the success of its new revenue drive.

Residents of Rumuowoji community, taking part in the free medical treatment organised by the Church of God Seventh Day. PHOTO: UDUAKABASI PATRICK

Araromi-Obu commends Mimiko for plan to upgrade health centre hakeem gbadamosi-akure

RESIDENTS of AraromiObu in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have commended the state governor for promising to upgrade the Comprehensive Health Centre in the community to a general hospital before the end of

September. Speaking on behalf of the community, Senator Omololu Meroyi, said the upgrade of the hospital would go a long way in addressing the health challenges of the people of the area. Meroyi, however, called on the state government to

help in restoring electricity in the area saying that the area had been in darkness for a very long time. He further called on the state governor, to establish a technical vocational institute in the area for the benefit of the unemployed. Also speaking, a commu-

NDE trains 80 women in bead, wire works in Niger adelowo oladipo-minna

NO fewer than 80 women from across Niger State are presently undergoing training in bead making and wire works under the women employment scheme of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Niger State office. According to the state coordinator of NDE, Mr Abdullahi Mohammed, the training was set up for women in parts of the state to teach them how to make several items from beads such as bangles, ear rings, neck lace, attachment to shoes and bags among others. At the training centre in Minna, on Thursday, the coordinator advised participants to attach importance to the knowledge being imparted to them, adding that technical know-how is vital to every production. “And it is the technical know-how that NDE will provide free of charge. Right now, we have 80 participants undergoing

the skill acquisition programme which is part of our mandate to train people to be self employed in order to reduce unemployment and poverty in our society. “If we are able to provide training, we would have done enough by taking care of trainers fees and logistics for organising such a training. Participants are also fed during the training that lasts for at least one week because it is possible to learn the trade within one week. But if one week is not adequate, thereafter there would be negotiation with the trainers who are locally sourced,” he said.” According to Mohammed, some of the participants were also being considered for youths special trainning as being handled by the Directorate like plumbing, hair dressing, computer, GSM, satellite and electrical installations, among others. Also speaking, the Director-General of NDE, Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, who was represented by Miss Uyo Okpanachi,

stated that if participants become masters of their trades after the skill acquisition scheme, they were capable of attaining economic independence from their respective families. “When they acquire the skills, they will develop themselves, generate income for their families and become relevant, independent because as the saying goes, if you train a woman you have trained the nation.’’ Meanwhile one of the participants, 17-yearold Sekinat Salihu, said in a brief interview with Community News that she was participating in the programme with a view to starting the business as soon as the programe is completed. Sekinat, a school certificate holder seeking admission into the university, said she was learning how to make beads so that she would not be idle, adding that even after her university education, she would still continue with the business.

Another participant, Miss Ramatu Abdullahi said: “I am here for the training after which I will earn a living as well as take care of my family. When I get home, I will beg my father to give me a quarter of his salary as my initial capital to construct different types of beads for sale.”

nity leader, Alhaji Agboola Ibrahim, commended the governor for the fulfillment of his electoral promises, noting that the present government in the state had touched many lives. He said, “we appreciate the governor for being a listening person. Many projects have been put in place here. They include the construction of mega school, markets community hall and the provision of motorised boreholes. Agboola, however, called on the state government to help farmers from the area by providing them with modern equipment in order to encourage farming noting that most people in the area are farmers. The governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, who announced the plan to upgrade the health centre during a town hall meeting with the people of

the area, said arrangements had been concluded to fasttrack the effective take-off of the hospital. The governor, however, enjoined the people to pay their tax and collect the Kaadi Igbe Ayo (Residency Card) in order to enjoy the social facilities provided by government. He also charged the management of Rubber Estate Limited, which is situated in the community to contribute to the development of the area through its Corporate Social Responsibility. Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner for Information, Kayode Akinmade, assured the people of the area that the present administration in the state would provide quality leadership and bring the dividends of democracy to the doorsteps of the people.

Free medical: Rivers community commends church uduakabasi patrick-port harcourt

RESIDENTS of Rumuowoji in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area of Rivers State, have commended the Church of God Seventh Day for carrying out a one-day free medical care in the community. Some of the beneficiaries, who spoke to Community News, said they never believed it was true when they first heard about the free medical

care programme, but decided to give it a trial. An elderly man, Friday Omedu, said he had the challenge of sleeplessness, body weakness and eye problem but was sure that all that would be a thing of the past because he had been diagnosed and given drugs. Another beneficiary, Joy Uchendu, who appreciated the church for the gesture, maintained that she had never been part of anything that goes for free, but expressed the

belief that with the attention she got, she was going to be alright. Also speaking to Community News, the National Youth Leader of the church, Mr. Joseph Nwokoma, said the exercise was part of the social responsibility of the church to the community. “We have been in this community for a long time and this time, we just felt we should do something different and not just praying and preaching to the people,” he said.

tribunesport

Monday, 14, September, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Floyd Mayweather (left) during his fight with Berto

LMC fines 3SC, Sunshine Stars N.5m each By Nurudeen Alimi

HE League Management Company (LMC), has sanctioned Shooting Stars Sports Club of Ibadan and its Globacom Premier League counterpart, Sunshine Stars Football Club of Akure for their role in a postmatch trouble which occured at the Lekan Salami Stadium, Ibadan, venue of the Week 28 Globacom Premier League clash between the two teams of which it described as unsportsmanlike. According to a statement by the LMC on its official twitter handle @LMCNPFL: “Shooting Stars and Sunshine Stars have been fined N500,000 each for their general conduct capable of bringing the Globacom Premier League to disrepute.” It further held: “Shooting Stars are charged for the conduct of their supporters capable of bringing the Globacom Premier League to disrepute. “Sunshine Stars have also been charged for the failure of their players and officials to show due respect to the decisions of the match officials in the game against Shooting Stars.” The LMC stated that the two clubs are to either accept the decisions or elect to appeal to the LMC within 48 hours.

The LMC also informed that Sunshine Stars player, Dayo Ojo, was fined N50,000 for shoving a ball boy during the match. Sunshine Stars skipper, Sunday Abe, seems to have gotten more than what he bargained for as he was slammed with six-match ban for head-butting and kicking the referee during the game. Both Sunshine Stars players, Dayo Ojo and Sunday Abe, also have 48 hours to appeal or accept the decisions. After the game last week, Sunshine Stars of Akure claimed they were held hostage at the Lekan Salami Stadium in Ibadan minutes after losing 1-2 to Shooting Stars. After being tied at 1-1 with eight minutes left on the clock, the Oluyole Warriors were awarded a late penalty, their third in the match which was converted by Tope Orelope to secure the 2-1 victory for the Ibadan-based team. Tribunesport recalls that this is not the first time the League Management Company (LMC) will sanction 3SC after issues with Sunshine Stars as it indicted Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC), and fined it N3m and also deducted three points from its already accrued points for abandoning the match against Sunshine Stars in Akure on Sunday, September 8, 2013.

Mayweather quits boxing after beating Berto FLOYD Mayweather Jr. signed off from professional boxing as he had planned on Saturday, going out unbeaten and on his own terms as ‘The Best Ever’ after improving his career record to 49-0. After a stellar 19-year run that produced world titles in five weight divisions and earnings in excess of $800 million, Mayweather bade farewell to

the ring with a clinical display to earn a unanimous decision over fellow American Andre Berto. “I had a game plan from the very beginning,” Mayweather, 38, said of his career during a lengthy news conference after retaining his WBC and WBA welterweight titles in the MGM Grand Garden Arena. “I always knew what I wanted to do -- be outspoken, be one of

a kind. To be in the sport for 19 years and to be world champion 18 years, I’ve had a remarkable career. “If you put them (opponents) in front of me, we see what they can do. It’s all about that IQ. I’m 10 steps ahead of any fighter. I take whatever is your best attribute and take that away from you, make you do what you don’t want to do.”

Sports veterans celebrate Dejo Fayemi at 80 By Nurudeen Alimi NIGERIAN ex-internationals under the aegis of the Association of International and National Sports Veterans, last on Wednesday stormed the Ibadan residence of one of Nigerian football legends, Dejo Fayemi, to celebrate his 80th birthday with him. Speaking during the brief but colourful ceremony, the Chairman of the Association, Dr Felix Owolabi (MON), said: “We are here to celebrate one of our elders who have

done one of the greatest things for this country. I remember in my secondary school days when Chief Ebenezer Obey released that record, “Ma se ri talenti re mo’le” meaning: ‘do not bury your talent’, that was when I got to know who Dejo Fayemi was. “I never knew I was going to have a personal contact with him, To God be the glory I came to Ibadan from the northern part of the country, knew him, worked under him. I am happy today that as the chairman of sports veterans, I

Enyimba maintains Glo league top spot SIX-TIME champions Enyimba International maintained their four-point lead in the Globacom Premier League with a 2-0 win over Dolphins FC on Sunday. Andrew Abalogu opened the scoring for Enyimba via a super header from close range. Ifeanyi Anaemena scored the Elephant’s second to effectively strike the final nail into the Dolphins’ coffin. Kufre Ebong netted the Wolves’ opening goal on the stroke of half time while Osadiaye Joseph made it 2-0 in the second half. Stanley Dimgba added the coupe de grace late on as the Wolves finished with a flourish. Wolves now have 51 points from

29 matches. In Akure, Sunshine Stars lost valuable ground in the title race as they lost 2-3 to Nasarawa United at the Akure Township Stadium to stay on the coattails of leaders Enyimba and second-placed Warri Wolves. Okiki Afolabi got the scoring under way quite early as he headed home inside the first 60 seconds of the contest. Thomas Zenke however equalised for visitors in a game which produced five stunning goals. Sunshine Stars had a chance to retake the lead midway into the second half but Tunde Adeniji missed a golden opportunity from the penalty spot.

am among those who came to celebrate this man who had given all in all to assist this country as far as football is concerned.” Owolabi, however stressed that: “Not all sports veterans will be celebrated as we are celebrating Pa Fayemi today due to their negative records of which will not be proper for me to go into details on a day like this. By and large, We give glory to God for the life of Pa Fayemi and we pray that God grant him long life to celebrate more birthdays on earth”. Also, the initiator of the Association of International and National Sports Veterans and immediate past Special Adviser to the Oyo State governor on sports, Chief Waheed Ekun said:” Pa Fayemi has done well for Nigeria in his chosen field. So we need to celebrate him and make him happy on a day like this and this will also serves as an encouragement to others who will like to follow his footsteps.” Fayemi, while responding said: “Nothing is as good as seeing people around you when you are old. It is not easy to be alone, what you have done today did not make me feel the absence of my late wife that much. I thank you for the gift and I pray that God will continue to bless you, on behalf of my family, I say a big thank you.”

47 tribunesport OTUNLA Baliqis undoubtedly, is one of the heroines of the ongoing 11th All Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville. She set the record of becoming the first athlete to win three gold medals for Team Nigeria at Brazzavile 2015. The amiable weightlifter in this interview with Tribunesport’s NIYI ALEBIOSU at the Athletes Games Village speaks on her exploits and how she abandoned education for sport.

Monday, 14 September, 2015

Brazzavile 2015:

My family never believed I could win a medal —Three-gold winner, Otunla Baliqis when we were to go to Denmark but the trip was aborted without any genuine reasons, it was then I decided to quit football. Fortunately, I met one man at the National Stadium in Lagos who said I will be good at weightlifting and I was wondering how can I when I do not have prior knowledge or any form of training but he said I could do it. The person is Mr Ismaila Yusuf. I told him I do not have the power to lift and he said it was not about power but technics and when I gave it a trial in 2008.

ONGRATULATIONS on your success. Thank you very much.

What does it portends to you coming into this championship for the first time and winning three gold medals the same day? Well I am extremely happy because as a first timer I never believed I could achieve such a great success. It was not on my mind to win a gold medal not to talk of three gold but when we started and I saw that I was doing well and I said to myself that I should go for it. Also it was not by my power but God’s. So when I made it, it was like a spirit came out of my body and I felt so, I am still alive that I still have the ability to do it. I’m happy to have made such an impact here. How did your family take the news back home when you told them? My family? hmmm, there is no sport person in my family and when I told them that I won they did not at first believe me. They asked if truly I won and I told them that I did. It was then they expressed gratitude to God that at last I was able to prove myself that it was truly I wanted to go back into sport because they are not totally in support at the beginning of my career. Is it that they are not supporting you? Not really, it’s because they do not understand sport or the importance of sport. They do not understand what it was all about. To them I was wasting my time, playing away my future that there are a lot of better things that I can do with my life rather than taking to sport. But with this success, they promised to celebrate it with me. How was the road to success like? Well, it was not easy. It was rough, terribly rough. Rough in the sense that you have to train very well and struggle to make a better performance because it is all about record in weightlifting and what you have in your shoulder. Though it was rough but I enjoyed it. Even if you have an injury but you believe you can achieve a good result, you will want to go ahead once you have trained so hard. If you are not into weightlifting, what would you have been doing? Yes, I was disturbed by my parents to go school and I started, but I later dropped out as a part-time student of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta. I put this memory behind because I love

weightlifting. Later I went for fashion designing yet, I still could not finish the training because of the love I have for this sport, but with what I have achieved now I can go back to school and even finish fashion designing. Cuts in, are you sure of going back to school? Yeah I am serious about it. I really wanted to further my education because will not want to be a liability to any man. Also one needs to plan for one’s life after sport. Again, I will get married one day and settle down to live with my husband and children. Even with the little knowledge I have gained in fashion designing, I can design my cloth myself. With education one will be respected, nobody will underrate you or look down on you. You will be respected and get good positions in the society. I have made up my mind that I will not allow anybody to look down on me because what you don’t know, you don’t know and people will rubbish you and I don’t want that to happen to me. Even though it is a bit delayed but

that does not mean I can’t go back to school because I have already promised myself higher education once I achieved success in weightlifting and now that I am getting there, I will fulfil the pledge. How did you embrace weightlifting? It was like a child’s play. It was not what I actually set out for. Then I used to play football but because of the way they treated us which I don’t like, apart from the stress associated with football, they won’t encourage us, at times you will be begging for assistance, you won’t get it and even if you think you will make the team, they dropped you. They will not pay allowance and

Cuts in, is he a coach? Yes he is a weightlifting coach. So it was when I started that I realised that I could do it. And on a particular day when I saw the way I developed with my muscles, I was so happy and it was then I made up my mind to go into weightlifting fully and before I knew what was happening, I was invited to the national team. After the invitation, I told myself this is where I belong that it pays better than team event where I was not recognised and appreciated. I was invited to the national team for the Youth Games and now I am at the top level of my career winning medals and not just ordinary medals but gold and three at a time. I’m really grateful to God and I am ready to do more for my country. Which of the events have you participated in before now? I was at the 2012 National Sports Festival and I won three gold medals in the 69kg. Also, I went for

the Olympic qualifier in Kenya and clinched three silver medals and before then, I was in Egypt in 2010 for the Youth Games qualifier where I also won three silver medals which was my first international tournament before the Kenya senior Olympic qualifier and this is the real thing that has happened to me, the big event. So the 2016 Olympic is your target? Why not? if invited I am always available and if my performance is okay for the Olympic by the grace of God I will be there to make the country proud as well as my family. I mean it’s all about records and performance. When do you hope to get married? As soon as possible. I was once in a relationship but it didn’t work out because my guy then was not comfortable with my calling. He complained too much about me travelling for competitions and said he was not going to cope. I leave everything in the hands of God because I do not have to rush into any relationship again. So, I need a man that will understand me, give me support and be by my side to celebrate my success and not the person who will not be able to cope with my calling again. He complained then that my involvement in weightlifting will affect my beauty but I told him I won’t change. Are you into any relationship now? Not at the moment. I remain focused and I will attribute my success here to my not being in any relationship because I have nobody disturbing me with calls. Somebody who will ask me when am I coming back home or what are you doing and stuff like that? I was able to concentrate but that does not mean I won’t consider marriage or go into relationship. In fact I want it and anything can happen at any time with God. Do you have anybody you look up to in weightlifting? Yes, the first person I saw when I started was Juliet Ekueboh a police officer with her height and the way she carried herself. Also, when I left Nigeria and met another senior colleague who is in the heavyweight category, Mariam Usman, she encouraged me to always go for the best. She is a very determined athlete and she is my role model. That she won silver does not mean she is not good, it was destined to be because she is a goal getter. It’s a game and we all came here to win but what happened has happened, she still deserve the honour. She inspires me a lot.

SIDELINES

NO 16,326

N150

MONDAY, 14 SEPTEMBER, 2015

UT because Yenagoa was not really my terminus, we decided to descend, on my prompting, as near-night approached, further into the interior. I was not ready to spend at least my first night in the capital. So we descended into the womb of the mangrove interior. My high government-officialhost would be highly busy the next day in the office taking care of some emergency challenges that had just reared their heads and tails on the day I entered Yenagoa. He commandeered two young pals, two young associates, to throttle me to Amassoma. I was unbelievably hungry. But my pilgrimage to the swamp meadows, to the mangrove meadows and islands and creeks, gave me luxuriant feelings that seemed to have injected into my craving drops, drops and drops of honey-dew. Yet before we reached the TombiaAmassoma junction off the Melford Okilo Road, I could see in their evening world, in their sun-set lives, what it really means to be core plebian citizens of Bayelsa. The legendary image of the Nigerian urban poor was written on the faces of street urchins, okada-riders, hawkers of wares, traders and sellers who lined the streets and displayed their different and varied articles/items blocking every-where, making it hard for vehicles to navigate through them. So Ojota, Oshodi, Ikorodu, Ojuelegba, Dugbe, Ring Road, Uselu, New Benin and other sundry places and extraordinary market jungles are not foreign to Yenagoa after all! But Yenagoa’s ever will remain extra-ordinarily awful in my lavish imagination. And let me anticipate you: Mine cannot be called a lobby’s imagination. Much as I desired to get some oranges or bananas and peanuts and walnuts to end my craving, there was no space good enough to park our vehicle, even for a split second, to enable us buy the little or much I needed. So we made our downward journey. As we got well past the troublesome market-place, descending onto the lowland meadows of the swamps, my keen eyes, even in very near night-fall, could see the rain-tendered dense thickets rich with flourishing flax more than good enough for one with a lyrical vision, mind and sensibility. My vision suddenly

Last week there was power outage at the National Assembly during a hearing on power situation in the country. In its defence the power ministry blamed NASS for failing to “put on its stand-by generator for an assignment of that magnitude.” But instead of blaming NASS shouldn’t the power ministry have felt sorry for failing to provide power supply at least for the duration of the hearing?

in&out with Tony Afejuku

08055213059

A journey to isolate Bayelsa (2) raced away to JP Clark, Gabriel Okara, Ebi Yeibo, and even to Tanure Ojaide as well. The first two are wonderfully tantalizing ancient Ijaw, Niger Delta poets. The third-named is a relatively new follower of the ancients. The lastnamed is Urhobo, a top echelon of our scintillating modern poets. The luxuriant flax created a new wonder upon and in my mind. I saw myself creating verses I was naming “Mangrove-pipits in Mangroveflex-land.” What a luxuriant place, what a luxuriant mangrove mismanaged by crooks and rogues and un-beautiful ones in government, power and authority! The stretch of land between Yenagoa and Amassoma evoked and re-evoked in my wondrous mind the following lines of Pablo Neruda, the more than great Chilean poet: “The green earth has yielded/to everything yellow, gold, harvests, farms, leaves, grain ….” This poet and the American fabulous essayist Momaday, already mentioned, competed in my lyrical mind for whose lines to receive prime attention as the earth of isolate Bayelsa unfolded before me. The clusters of trees and the seeming shadows that moved in their vicinity in an immensely incomparable way are recollections I am battling in vain to wean from my boiling blood that is remembering them and other recollections. The land, the mangroves, the animals there-in, the natural/national wealth there-in and the people who own them

This is a land of positive destiny being turned day by day into a fatally pillaged territory. have all been used by clowns controlling their fate. This is a land of positive destiny being turned day by day into a fatally pillaged territory by who but their own tiny people in political power turning them into godless and God-less people? When we eventually reached Amassoma we headed straight to Tee-Top Hotel where a room had since been reserved for me. It was a gem of a place in a sunless mangrove in a sunless world. Amassoma, the home of a former governor who nepotically placed the state university there, is a little bustling devilish swamptown. It is populated by okada-riders and monkey-bridges. It also seems to me to be a de-vitalized place since the governor who was the governor of the people indeed is no more there to devise patronages. This devilishly tiny mangrove-town is in every particular, as lawyers would put it to the inhabitants who own it, an unarguably

Tottenham sacks Adebayor

Adebayor

TOTTENHAM Hotspur have terminated the contract of outcast striker, Emmanuel Adebayor by mutual assent, the club announced on Sunday. “We can confirm that we have reached a mutual agreement with Emmanuel Adebayor which will see him released from his contract with the Club,” Spurs stated on their official website. “We wish Emmanuel well for the future.” Desperate to offload the 31-year-old this summer, with fellow Premier League outfits Aston Villa and West Ham United interested in his services, Tottenham had made a final attempt to terminate his contract on transfer’s deadline day. But the Togo international requested a

£5 million pay-off in full to depart as a free agent. Dropped from both Spurs’ Premier League and Europa League squads, Adebayor, who has also been axed from the Togo national team after failing to report for international duty with the Sparrow Hawks, ultimately agreed to move on. However, Tottenham have not disclosed the terms of the termination agreement. The former Arsenal and Manchester City’s frontman scored 18 goals in 47 Premier League appearances for Spurs since landing permanently at White Hart Lane in the summer of 2012, following a successful season on loan from City.

untidy place. Its picture still stares at me as that of a totally disheveled figure. Take a straight look at an unkempt man or woman, and you will see Amassoma, in all its university glory, as a swamp-space of inhabitants who seem not to have ever heard the famous saying: “Cleanliness is next to Godliness.” After checking into Tee-Top, I understand the best hotel in Amassoma, we screeched to near-by “Glamour Hotel” to drop my female companion. The place is the opposite of its name. But let me charitably call it an un-glamorous place. Its environment is typically and “replically” Amassoma: It is no less photographically so - despite its tranquil interior. We hurried out of there after she checked-in. Now we went in quest for food. We traversed strange latitudes and longitudes in tiny Amassoma for this purpose in vain. My hunger was dumbfounded. In order not to engender it an awful pain I went to bed in an awfully quiet manner. Truly, no where could be more isolate than this landscape of Bayelsa. How would I survive in this jungle in the next couple of days? Should I spring back to the landscape whence I came without completing my mission? My brother’s phone-call transported me from my reverie. “All I know be dis: Nor kpeme there.” This was all he said when he got my report as related above regarding my food-less day. Conclusion: next week.

RESULTS

Globacom Premier League Sharks

FC Ifeanyiubah 0

FC Taraba

Giwa FC

Enyimba

Dolphins

Lobi Stars

Wikki

Akwa Utd

Heartland

Rangers

Shooting Stars 1

Sunshine Stars 2

Nasarawa Utd 3

Kano Pillars

Abia Warriors 0

Wolves

Kwara Utd

Bayelsa Utd

El-Kanemi

English Premiership Sunderland

Tottenham

Leicester

Aston Villa

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. Ag. EDITOR: TINU AYANNIYI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 14/9/2015.