14th December 2015 by Nigerian Tribune

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,391

MONDAY, 14 DECEMBER, 2015

EFCC arraigns Dasuki, others on fresh —P2 corruption charges today

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Project vehicles are for committee work —Senate

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STOCK MARKET: LAST WEEK TOP 5 GAINERS

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—P2

El-Zakzaky’s wife, deputy, 6 others killed

FULL REPORT ON PAGE 12

—P2

•Sect leader's whereabouts unknown •Soldiers destroy Shiite's headquarters •Threats by sect cannot be tolerated —Army

Bayelsa: No time limit to conduct supplementary election —INEC —P42

Electricity commission set to release new tariff —P10

Folawiyo Energy objects to DPR ban Mass choir singing Halleluyah Chorus during the service of nine lessons and Christmas Carol at the National Christian Centre, Abuja, on Sunday. PHOTO: NAN.

•Says it had no petroleum products in 3 months —P11

Looting allegations: PDP demands truth commission

•Wants Buhari to probe election spending by APC govs •Ex-ministers admitting sharing millions for 2015 election —FG •I did not collect N100m from Yuguda —Bode George —P4,15

news El-Zakzaky’s wife, deputy, 6 others killed 2

Monday, 14 December, 2015

•Sect leader's whereabouts unknown • Soldiers destroy Shiite's headquarters From Chris Agbambu and Muhammad Sabiu

OLDIERS, in the early hours of Sunday, invaded and destroyed the residence of Shiite spiritual leader, Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, at Gyallesu, Zaria, Kaduna State.

The invasion and the ensuing battle led to the death of wife of the spiritual leader, Hajiya Zainab and his second in command, Sheikh Muhammad Turi, while there were conflicting reports about the whereabouts of the leader, El-Zakzaky. A reliable source told

the Nigerian Tribune that the spiritual leader was hiding somewhere in a bunker built in the vicinity of his destroyed house. Another source revealed that the Shiite's leader was arrested by military personnel since Saturday night on Zaria/Jos Road while on his way to Pla-

teau. A spokesperson for the sect, Ibrahim Musa, in a press statement issued to the Nigerian Tribune, on Sunday, confirmed the killing of leading members of the Islamic movement and others by the soldiers. Others killed, according to him, were Dr Mustapha

I'm not too young to die at 73 —Adeboye Lanre Adewole -Lagos MILLIONS of worshippers, at the weekend grand finale of the annual Holy Ghost Congress of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), roared in disapproval as the General Overseer of the ministry, Pastor Enoch Adeboye, hinted at his possible passing. The one-week programme ended on Saturday, with a three-in-one service, comprising anointing, communion and impartation. Ministering on the transfer of anointing, Adeboye said he would not be too young at 73 to go back to his Creator. He would be 74 next March. He was explaining why the transferred anointing is always more potent than the index case, using Moses and Elijah as examples. Using the scripture, Adeboye added that where Moses, who got anointing fire directly from God failed, Joshua, who got his fire from Moses, succeeded. He also pointed out that while Elijah, who got his anointing directly from God performed only seven miracles, Elisha, who got his anointing from Elijah when God was taking him away, performed 14 miracles. Adeboye equally explained that the beneficiaries got the transferred anointing when their masters were about passing away. He said he would anoint his wife and other very senior pastors who, in turn, would anoint other pastors, from where the worshippers would experience their own anointing fire. After the explanation, he looked at the congregation and said “you may be wondering if I am about to go. Will it be too early for a 73-year-old man to die? If I go now, who will say it is too early?” At this point, the worshippers, who were at the beginning rejecting his passing in a murmur, roared their disapproval loudly from all the four corners of the new auditorium. Smiling, Adeboye added,

“I am not too young to die.” Again, the crowd disapproved with a din. He later calmed everyone down, saying “okay, it is not now (I’m not dying now),” to which the crowd roared a thunderous “amen.” The service at the 3kmby-3km new auditorium was the first ever. When completed, it would be the largest worship auditorium

in Africa. At the Sunday thanksgiving service for the successful completion of the congress, tagged “Floodgates of Heaven,” Adeboye also announced the birth of additional two babies Saturday midnight, bringing the total birth at the one-week programmed to 47 babies, 25 boys and 22 girls. In attendance at the Fri-

day Holy Ghost service were Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo and his wife, Dolapo; Governors Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos and his wife; wife of Kogi deputy governor, Speaker of Ekiti House of Assembly, Chief Justices of South Africa and Gambia, who are pastors in the ministry, among others.

Project vehicles are for committee work —Senate THE Senate, on Sunday, dismissed reports by an online medium that it purposed to purchase vehicles for the use of members. The upper chamber, however, said, the project vehicles to be purchased are meant for the execution of committee assignments. In a statement by its spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, the Senate said the automobiles are part of the necessities which the institution usually provide to committees, to enable them to function without depending on external bodies for oversight functions. “The vehicles are not meant for individual senators. They are purchased for the use of the committees. “For those who may want to find out what happened to the ones bought in the past, we cannot expect that

after four years, the vehicles will still be in the condition to effectively serve the present committees. “The best practice in government institutions and even private organisations is for official vehicles allocated to top officials after four years of use to be sold at the depreciated value,” Abdullahi stated. “We have been very frugal, responsive and responsible in our spending. We have also cut down on several expenses. However, there are certain expenses and purchases that are normal in government and any organisation generally. The legislature is not an exception,” he said. “With respect to the official vehicles of the Senate President, it should be noted that majority of the vehicles in his convoy are his personal vehicles, while

some of the vehicles that he inherited, including his official vehicles and the back up car, are so old that they are already developing faults and not fit for long journey. “We can recall that on several occasions, his official car broke down. “Three instances will suffice. On a visit to Nasarawa State for a wedding of the daughter of a colleague. Other occasions were at the National Mosque three weeks ago and at the Abuja airport. “The implication is that the vehicles in his official convoy are so old that they are already causing embarrassment for the Senate. The media should know that a man of his antecedent will not at this point be excited with purchase of new cars. His official cars are really long overdue for replacement,” the statement added.

Patronise Nigerian made vehicles, NAMA urges FG, NASS THE Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA) has asked the federal and state governments to support local assembly plants, through a strict policy of procuring their requirements from them. Reacting to media reports that the Senate is on the verge of buying various brands of imported (fully built) vehicles from importers, the management of NAMA made the appeal to the Federal Government, pleading for support to be able to sustain their operations under most challenging market conditions. “Thousands of jobs are at stake at these assembly

plants that have been commissioned by faithful investors over the past two years with large investments in plant and machinery, equipment and training on technical skills,” the management said. NAMA recalled that in September, the DirectorGeneral of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Aminu Jalal, gave his assurance that the administration of Muhammadu Buhari has reinstated its resolve to pursue the new automotive policy. Jalal said the president had repeatedly emphasised

the determination of government to diversify the economy through promotion, support and protection of the industrial sector. He underlined that the automotive sub-sector with sufficient capacity for mass employment was one of the major areas where the country had great potentials. Industry sources said more economical and efficient models like the 4X4 vehicles of Hyundai, Kia, Innoson, Nissan, Ford and others are being assembled in Nigeria, awaiting government and National Assembly patronage for their sustenance.

Sa’eed, Malam Ibrahim Usman and Sister Jummai Gilima. Also killed were Sayyid Aliyu; son of the leader of the movement, his wife, Malama Zeenat Ibraheem, and other members. The killings took place at three different locations – residence of the reverred leader of the movement at Gyallesu, the Husainiyya Bakiyatullah at the GRA and the Darur Rahma located on Zaria-Jos Road. Narrating how soldiers cordoned Gyallesu area, a housewife and neighbour of the Shiite leader, Mallama Hafsat Sani, told the Nigerian Tribune in a telephone interview that “since yesterday after the clash with soldiers, the entire area had been cordoned off. “We could not sleep at night because of the persistent gunshots and shouting Allah Akbar by members of the sect. Early this morning, smoke was oozing out from the house of the leader. The entire house had been set ablaze.” In addition, she said scores of dead bodies were seen on the streets. As of the time of filing this report, normalcy had returned to the city, but the source affirmed that soldiers were still seen mounting surveillance, with residence forced to remain indoors. Meanwhile, Governor Nasir el-Rufai has called for calm, adding that government was trying its best to control the situation. In a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna and

signed by his media aide, Mr Samuel Aruwan, the governor maintained that security had been beefed up in Zaria city and its environs. Reacting, the military, on Sunday, said the way the Shiite sect had, over the years, subjected ordinary citizens using public roads to untold hardship, delays, threats and disruption simply because they insist on using public space, irrespective of inconvenience and hardship on other law abiding citizens and motorists, could not be tolerated and must stop. It said the weekend’s clashes between detachments of the Nigerian Army, accompanying the Chief of Army Staff, LieutenantGeneral Tukur Buratai and followers of El-Zak-Zaky, suspected to be members of the Shiite Sect in Zaria, leading to loss of lives, was most unfortunate. In a statement, the military noted that the constitution guarantees the rights of any group of persons and Sheikh El Zakzaky’s followers to hold a peaceful march or procession unhindered, but it also guarantees other people’s rights of way on public highways. The statement noted that as soon as order was restored to the situation in Zaria city and its environs, the police would conduct an enquiry into the incident. It advised the public to go about their lawful business and report any suspicious persons or incidents to the police.

EFCC arraigns Dasuki, others on fresh corruption charges today THE Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has concluded plans to dock the embattled former National Security Adviser, (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), before an Abuja High Court today, on fresh charges bordering on alleged illegal diversion of public funds. The commission has already secured leave of court to compel Dasuki and eight others, including a former minister under President Goodluck Jonathan, to enter their plea before Justice Hussein Baba Yusuf of the FCT High Court sitting at Maitama. Others dragged before the court over their alleged complicity in a N10 billion fraud included the for-

mer Minister of Finance, Bashir Yuguda and a former Director of Finance in the Office of the NSA, Mr Shuaibu Salisu. Equally to be docked before the court are former governor of Sokoto State, Attahiru Bafarawa, ?Sagir Attahiru and a company the EFCC insisted was used to divert huge sums of money from the office of the NSA prior to the 2015 general election, Dahaltu Investment Limited. Others are the former Executive Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Aminu Baba-Kusa, as well as his companies, Acacia Holding Limited and Reliance Referral Hospital Limited.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

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Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Looting allegation: PDP demands truth commission

Jonathan’s minister admits sharing millions for 2015 elections —FG By Leon Usigbe, Jacob Segun Olatunji and Christian Okeke

HE national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called for the setting up of a Truth Commission as a platform for proper inquiry into corrupt activities of former officials of government and other politicians. The leading opposition party, which said in a statement in Abuja, on Sunday, that this was necessary in view of the manner the present administration was pursuing a “one-sided” prosecution of its war against corruption, noted that the commission should also enable the public to determine the true sources of wealth of Nigerians in public office. Signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the statement said: “In the light of the way and manner of this government’s selective prosecution of the war against corruption, the PDP challenges the government to set up a National Truth Commission wherein politicians and other Nigerians publicly discuss the true meaning of corrupt practice in our land. “This commission would also provide a platform for a proper public inquisition into the mind-boggling wealth of some Nigerians in public office. “Nigerians are quite eager to learn the business and investment tricks of past and present public officers in the APC fold, especially former governors, former ministers as well as their national leader, who suddenly acquired multi-billion investments and are now reputed to be the richest politicians in the country.” The party advised President Muhammadu Buhari to come clean on his true intention in the fight against corruption, saying that rather than beat about the bush, he should go straight for those he actually wanted. According to the statement, “Nevertheless, if indeed President Muhammadu Buhari in anyway whatsoever desires to probe his opponent in the presidential election, he should come out straight instead of going round in circles. “If indeed the government is interested in ending sleazes associated with campaign funds, the National Truth Commission will present an avenue for Nigerians to openly debate the issues therein with facts and figures.” While reiterating its support for “an honest, holistic and total war against corruption,” the PDP demanded the trial and prosecution

of all those involved, including those who may have returned ‘loots’ to the government. It, however, said that it was completely against any one-sided public trial and mob conviction of accused persons without following the age-long and worldwide legal process wherein all accused persons are presumed innocent until the contrary is lawfully proved. The party added: “We do not believe that mere investigation confers a guilt verdict on those concerned and the government should stop the brutal mob and public conviction of individuals and the transfer of the burden of proof of people being investigated. “We restate for emphasis that a media and public war against corruption is good, but it should not be limited to only those opposed to the president and the ruling party. “In fact, until top officials of the former government open up on the exact source of the funding, it remains premature to be accusing our party members of corrupt practices.” The PDP also admonished Buhari to expand his government’s investigation into corruption to specific areas under previous dispensations. It said: “Nevertheless, if

indeed the government’s investigation includes the expenditure of President Jonathan security votes from 2011, then it should be extended to a public inquisition on the following; the security votes of all past presidents and heads of state from 1984; the award of contracts by the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) from 1993 to 1999; the expenditure of our military purchases and expenditure during the Bakassi wars, the fight against militancy in the Niger Delta, military interventions in Liberia, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Somalia, Rwanda among others; the source of funding of the PDP and APC’s 2015 presidential campaigns; the contributions from APC controlled state governors for their presidential campaign and the beneficiaries thereof; and the allegation that people were made ministers just to cover up the slush fund that they provided to finance the APC presidential campaign. On the present media hype surrounding allegation and arrests, the PDP noted: “If truly this government has provided hundreds of millions of naira to columnists, media analysts and commentators as well as social media writers and bloggers to castigate, deni-

grate and embarrass the PDP and its leaders, then the PDP, being a party that is out of power and especially against the present hostility of the security agencies, will publicly approach the Truth Commission with revelations backed with evidence, facts and figures. “Finally, we state categorically that the PDP will no longer allow major beneficiaries of its 16 years in power, especially those with a lot of proven baggage to attempt to adorn sanctimonious apparel by castigating and denigrating a party on which platform they had the opportunity to serve.” Metuh advised President Buhari to also focus attention on the funds donated by serving APC governors to fund the party’s presidential campaign. Reacting to the claim by Federal Government that former government officials under the PDP were confessing and refunding money, he pointed out that state governments were asking for bailout because they squandered resources on electioneering and consequently, bankrupted their states. He demanded that the APC should tell Nigerians and the international community how it funded its electioneering campaign, alleging that all its governors donated various amounts of

I didn’t pocket constitution amendment funds —Ekweremadu By Taiwo Adisa and Ayodele Adesanmi

DEPUTY President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, said on Sunday that he did not pocket the sum of N8 billion contrary to allegations in the media. Ekweremadu, who stated this in a statement by his Media Adviser, Uche Anichukwu, said that the allegation was a figment of imagination of the reporters. He said that the story was part of an orchestrated smear campaign against his office, saying that he had earlier on September 29 alerted the nation of the planned smear campaign. The statement read in part: “It is easily recalled also that the office alerted that these elements are currently making desperate efforts, including scavenging through Senate accounts and committees he has ever served on, with the sole aim of misrepresenting information, maligning, and running him out of office by hook or crook or force him to resign from office as the Deputy President of the Senate.

“Therefore, even though these latest bogus allegations appear an institutional matter of the National Assembly, it is not surprising that the report is in content, deliberate manipulation, and body language, one directly targeted at the person and office of the Deputy President of the Senate. “The office wishes to state categorically that there was no “pocketing” of N8 billion by members of the Committee on Constitution Review in the seventh Senate chaired by Senator Ekweremadu. Such fathom pocketing of public funds is a figment of the peddlers and their paymasters. For emphasis, the Senate Committee on Constitution Review does not have any account domiciled with the Guarantee Trust Bank as alleged by the report. “For clarity, constitution amendment, as an expenditure item, is covered by the Appropriation Act of each year and disbursed by the appropriate bureaucracy of the National Assembly for the purpose it was appropriated in accordance with extant rules.

“The submission in the report that the lifespan of a parliamentary committee ends with the submission of its report, is not true and goes further to show that some political desperados, were at work. “It is equally imperative to state that members of the seventh National Assembly and the 36 state assemblies did not fail in their legislative duties towards the realisation of the fourth alteration of the 1999 Constitution. Members diligently and successfully piloted the most elaborate amendments to the 1999 Constitution through all the legislative due process. They were indeed amendments that held great promises for the nation’s democracy. “Therefore, the ambush and lynching of the 4th Alteration Bill by a conspiracy of divisive agenda and malevolent political forces through the withdrawal of an already given presidential assent cannot be described as failure on the part of the National Assembly. Doing so is tantamount to barking up the wrong tree.

money to the APC. Meanwhile, in a latest revelation, a minister under the immediate past dispensation has admitted to sharing N600 million to six chairmen of the Contact and Mobilization Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the last general election. The minister, whose name was not mentioned, also admitted to sending N300 million to an account given by a former PDP chairman, N200 million to a PDP governorship candidate and N100 million to a former PDP governor. This disclosure was made on Sunday by the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed who said that the revelation was just one case out of many, and a tip of the iceberg of what Nigerians will hear in the days ahead. In a statement, the minister noted that it was clear that if the PDP had won the last general election, the country’s economy would not have survived one more month, considering the battering it received under the immediate past administration. The minister stated that it was unconscionable that those who should show contrition and hunker down to avoid public opprobrium are the same ones pointing an accusing finger at the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration over poor state of the economy.

Alhaji Mohammed described the comments credited to the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, that businesses may collapse in the next six months because the Buhari administration has mismanaged the economy, as the clearest indication yet that the PDP and its leaders are still in denial about the massive body blows they inflicted on the Nigerian economy. “Senator Ekweremadu complained about the depreciation of the Naira without telling Nigerians who ‘dollarized’ the Nigerian economy by bribing many individuals and groups with dollars during the last elections, thus inflicting a knock-out punch on the local currency. He also failed to tell Nigerians which government presided over the frenzied mop-up of dollars, either for ‘arms gate’ or for slush fund purposes from the CBN to a point where it almost ran out of the hard currency,” he said. The minister said even though the Buhari administration met an economy that was in coma, it had refused to use that as an excuse for inaction, hence has been working hard on measures that will turn the economy around and greatly offer relief to Nigerians by lifting millions, not thousands, of people out of poverty through a massive social intervention policy.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

OFFICE OF THE NATIONAL SECURITY ADVISER FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

PUBLIC NOTICE

he Office of the National Security Adviser hereby calls on all companies who had contracts with, made supplies or rendered services to the said office to appear before the Contract Verification Committee sitting at its premises between 15-23 December 2015. They are to appear through accredited representatives of at least the status of a director and are requested to come along with the following: a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h.

Certificate of Incorporation. Particulars of directors Tax clearance certificate 2011 till date. Letter of award of contract Invoice for supplies or services. Evidence of payment so far/outstanding balance. Personal income tax clearance certificates of directors. Any other documents considered relevant to the contract. Signed PRINCIPAL GENERAL STAFF OFFICER Office of the National Security Adviser

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Lagosmetro Gov’s wife canvasses love for lessprivileged children Chukwuma Okparaocha AS part of her continued efforts to improve the lot of physically-challenged children and those in orphanage homes, the Lagos First Lady, Mrs Bolanle Ambode, has called on all Nigerians to reach out to them, especially in this yuletide season. She said this in Ikoyi during a Christmas party organised for orphans and underprivileged children by Development Africa, a nongovernmental organisation. Bolanle Ambode noted that children were precious gifts from God, regardless of whether they were challenged or lived in orphanage homes. “Children are special gifts from God. Though some may have physical or physiological challenges or may even take shelter in orphanage homes for no faults of theirs, they are nonetheless precious and are in important as the other children,” she said. Speaking further she said, “As a people, especially as privileged persons in the society, we owe it to these children, to lift their spirit and make them happy, not just at Christmas but at all times.” Bolanle, who thanked the orphanage homes and care givers in the state for their humanitarian roles, commended Development Africa for putting smiles on the faces of the less privileged children at this Christmas season. Speaking earlier, the country director of Development Africa, Mr Joshua Kempeneer, who noted that it was important to keep those children happy especially at this special season, thanked all corporate donors for helping the course of this category of children.

US Consulate-General to Nigeria, Mr. John Bray (third from left), President, Women Arise Initiative, Dr. Joe Okei-Odumakin (fourth from left), with Mr. Godwin Udoh (left) whose wife was killed by a police officer and Fatimah Abdulahi (right) and their children, all victims of gender-based violence during a seminar to mark World Human Rights Day held in Lagos, recently. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

99% of commercial bus drivers are hypertensive — Commissioner Bola Badmus

HE Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, has revealed that 99 per cent of commercial bus drivers, popularly called danfo drivers, are hypertensive, noting that the health challenge was as a result of the issues associated with traffic congestion such as pollution of the environment.

Mobereola said this at the first annual stakeholder’s forum organised by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA). The commissioner said the statistics came about two years ago after a survey carried out by the ministry. He, therefore, advocated the need for the residents to embrace water transportation. Also speaking at the forum, Governor Akinwunmi

Ambode, specifically identified water transportation as a major solution to traffic gridlock across Lagos metropolis, promising to develop the sector in the overall interest of the state. The governor pointed out that water transport mode was considered as a critical part of the transport system, adding that the government would develop it to international best practices. The governor also recalled

2 men charged to court for forgery Mariam Aremu TWO men, Olalekan Jikoji, 52, and Lateef Taoreed, 58, have been accused of leasing out a plot of land without the knowledge of the owner. According to the owner, one Lucky Ekaja, the accused persons prevented him from occupying the land in question. They were also accused of

fraudulently obtaining the sum of N700,000 from complainant promising him that they would help secure a title for the plot of land situated along Oketiri road, off Badore Road, Ajah. They were further accused of conspiracy among themselves by forging an official sales agreement receipt for the sum of N150,000, instead of N700,000 purported to

have been issued by Jikoji, Badore, Ajah Lagos chieftaincy family. The men, however, pleaded not guilty when they were arraigned before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. The presiding magistrate Mrs B.O Osusanmi granted them bail of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum. The matter was adjourned till February 17, 2016.

that the state was inundated with the challenge of traffic gridlock across the metropolis, adding that it was a sign that the prosperity of the state was ongoing. He further noted that Lagos just like other cities across the world was facing the challenge of rapid urbanisation and, therefore, the need to ensure provision of infrastructure that extended beyond the present generation. “In line with my administration’s vision to ensure a safe, secure and prosperous Lagos State, there is the need for the establishment of appropriate standards and regulations in line with international best practices towards the much needed implementation of water transport in Lagos. “These standards and regulations will be executed by the Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA) in terms of licensing, registration and enforcement of vessels plying the state’s waterways with a strict ad-

herence to compliance,” Governor Ambode said. The governor, while pledging the readiness of his administration to implement workable solutions to the many issues besetting the sector, charged stakeholders to come up with ideas on how to develop and maintain the waterways in line with best practices. He also urged existing and potential investors to increase patronage of water transport in Lagos. Managing Director of LASWA, Abisola Kamson, said there was the need for residents to embrace water transportation which she said was cheaper, safer and faster. Kamson, who listed the numerous economic and health benefits associated with water transportation, added that in line with Governor Ambode’s vision to develop other modes of transportation, LASWA had decided to come up with and enforce water regulations in line with international best practices.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Edited by

Lanre Adewole

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We wanted to give the gun to OPC, robbery suspect admits Olalekan Olabulo TWO suspected armed robbers, who were arrested by policemen in Agege have insisted that they wanted to hand over the gun found in their possession to members of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC). The suspects, Abdulazeez Amuda and Damilola Akinwande were a few days ago arrested by policemen attached to Elere divisional police station in Agege, who were responding to a distress call. The suspects confessed that the gun was found in their possession but they claimed that they found it on the ground after the owners had dropped it to evade police arrest. The state police boss, Fatai Owoseni who confirmed the arrest of the suspects to Lagos Metro and reiterated the commitment of the police to rid the state of criminals. The Lagos CP stated that the suspects were arrested after policemen responded to a distress call by residents of Agege that gunmen were on rampage. Abdukazeez Amuda while speaking with Lagos Metro admitted that the gun was found on him by policemen from Elere after he had been arrested and taken to the police station. A police source at Elere divisional police station told Lagos Metro that one of them hid the gun under his trousers. The police source said that the gun was, however, noticed at the station when the police were trying to search them before locking up.

One of the suspects Amuda said he went to Z Place in Agege with one Damilola to see one of his friends when he was arrested. “When we got there we were enjoying ourselves when Awawa Boys from Agege started fighting and the police people came. “When the boys were running away, one of them dropped his gun and I picked it but then police latter saw the gun with me,” he said. The other suspect Damilola Akinwande denied knowing anything about the recovered gun but admitted that he went to the venue of the arrest with Amuda.

LASG approves flyover for Ajah, Abule-Egba Ayomide Owonibi Odekanyin THE Lagos State Government says it has approved the construction of flyover bridges for two of the state’s high-density traffic zones, Ajah round about and Abule Egba junction. This was contained in a statement issued on Sunday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde. Ayorinde said that the two major projects were approved by the State Executive Council and had been duly awarded to contractors for a speedy commencement of work. He said that the projects would be completed within

16 months as part of Ambode’s ongoing road infrastructure projects across the state. He said that the construction of the reinforced concrete flyover and signalised intersection at Ajah round about would be undertaken simultaneously with the rehabilitation of Freedom Road in Lekki area of the state. The commissioner said that this was to reduce the heavy traffic being recorded at the Ajah round about and the Lekki-Ikoyi axis. Ayorinde said the Ajah flyover would have a solar-powered signalised intersection in order to greatly improve traffic.

He said that the upgrade of Freedom Road was expected to ease traffic considerably for vehicles using the Third Roundabout to connect Lekki through Admiralty Way. He said that the Ajah project would ease movement of residents and commuters on the Lagos Island and Ibeju Lekki areas. “The construction of the reinforced concrete dualcarriage flyover bridge at Abule Egba junction will equally bring joy and relief to millions of commuters that use the Lagos -Abeokuta Expressway on a daily basis when completed,” he said. Ayorinde said the Abule -Egba flyover would also

CONFECTIONERY and beverage company, Cadbury Nigeria, has reiterated its commitment towards the development of Lagos State through its various developmental initiatives. This was revealed recently during a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode by the

Couple arraigned for stealing rice, vegetable oil Olufunmi Fasinu A couple, Micheal and Modupe Owolabi, have been charged to court for stealing of 70 bags of rice valued at N658,000. They were also accused of stealing 908 25-litre gallons of vegetable oil valued at N5,811,200, property of one Raji Babatunde. They pleaded not guilty when they were charged before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court. The magistrate, Mrs B.O Osusanmi granted them bail of N200,000 and adjourned the case till February 17, 2016 for trial.

Man in court for injuring Chinese national Modupe Mosaku

Funny things commercial driver do on Lagos roads: How does the driver of this car see clearly to drive without having an accident? PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Cadbury assures Ambode on commitment to Lagos development Akin Adewakun

have signalised intersection under it to service Oko-Oba and other link roads within the axis. He said that the state government had also awarded contracts for the rehabilitation and upgrade of strategic arterial/inner roads in Epe Local Government Area of the state.

company’s management team led by the Managing Director Cadbury West Africa, Mr Roy Naaman. Expressing delight at the warm reception the company had enjoyed from the government and people of the state since opening its doors for business in the state, Naaman assured that the company would remain a responsible corporate citizen of the state.

Besides, the Cadbury boss stated the company would always partner with the state government in its employment-generation bid, while also participating in various developmental initiatives that would stimulate the socio-economic activities in the state. “We shall remain a responsible corporate citizen of the state and continue to

partner with the government through employment generation, participation in various developmental initiatives, contribution to the state treasury in different forms and stimulation of socio-economic activities in the state.” Responding, the state governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode described the company’s newly commissioned factory as good

news for the state economy and a boost to the state’s efforts at bringing investments to the state. “As a state, we have a duty to support Cadbury not just because you employ our citizens and the social responsibility activities you undertake, but to ensure we keep enjoying the quality and consistency your brands bring to our community,” he stated.

A 24-year-old man, Eze Samuel, has been charged before a magistrates’ court sitting for allegedly harming one Law Wingkwong, a Chinese national. The incident happened at Dura Park Company located at Awosika Street, Ikeja Industrial Estate. It was gathered that the accused persons injured Wingkwong by throwing a big stone at him and inflicted serious injury on his left eye. Samuel, however, pleaded not guilty when he was arraigned. The presiding magistrate, B.O Osusanmi granted him bail of N50,000 with two sureties, and adjourned the matter till February 29, 2016.

businessnews NERC to release new electricity tariff this week 10

he Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) at the weekend said that after duly considering the various individual electricity tariff submissions of the 11 electricity distribution companies (Discos) in Nigeria’s electricity market, the new tariffs will be ready and signed off for use this week. Though technical details of the new tariff structure have been finalized by the regula-

Monday, 14 December, 2015

tor, NERC said at a workshop in Abuja that a final regulatory meeting would be held in the week to conclude the process and then sign it off. Speaking, its Chairman , Dr. Sam Amadi, said the

regulator had held meetings with Discos to finalise on their respective tariff proposals. He said that the commission had gotten feedbacks from both government the Discos and would now con-

clude the process. He said : “We have gone to the Discos, gotten feedback, gone to government and gotten feedback. We have not finalised. In our view, we have basically done the crunching of numbers.

“It is not about tariff increase, it is also not about their financial outlaw. We have done the technical work, remaining the regulatory work. By next week, we should sign off on the new tariff.”

NIESV to set agenda for govt in 10 ‘key areas’ ChukwumaOkparaocha-Lagos

Housing experts have begun the process of setting agenda for the government at all levels through the specialisation of different areas relating to estate and housing management affairs. The experts, under the auspices of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV) Board of Faculty, have therefore said that through the establishment of the areas of specialisation, which are 10 in all, it will, among other things, help the government to deliver more housing units to the citizenry. This was made known by the Coordinator of the body, Mr Bolarinde Patuola-Ajayi, at a conference held with media men at Alahusa, last week. Speaking on the development, Mr Patunola-Ajayi said, “the estate surveyor and valuer profession is aware that due to the diversity of the profession and consistent introduction of new innovations into real estate practice across the globe, our members need to be specialised.” “This will enable us conform to global best practices. This, among other reasons, has continued to motivate the administration to break the complexity of the profession to faculties which will afford members the opportunity to concentrate more on the areas of comparative advantage. “Consequently, the practice of estate valuation is broadly divided into 10 areas of work called faculties which include plant and equipment; valuation and compensation; housing; estate agency; arbitration, conciliation and expert witness; environment; land information systems; property and facility management, and project management and development,” he added.

From left, President/Chairman, Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC), Prince Adedapo Adelegan; Lagos State Deputy Governor, Mrs Oluranti Adebule; Chairman of the Event, Mr. Fola Adeola OFR; and Coordinator, Directorate of Public Private Partnership, Ondo State Governor’s Office, Prince Adenekan OlateruOlagbegi representing the governor, during the inauguration dinner of the 14th president of the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce in Lagos, recently.

Bangladesh professor challenges Nigeria, bankers on 'bank for the poor' Chima Nwokoji-lagos

Not satisfied with the operational structures of traditional commercial banks not only in Nigeria but across the globe, a Bangladeshi social entrepreneur, banker and economist, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has challenged the Federal Government and bankers in the country to create a banking model that will lift the majority of its population out of poverty. In his contribution at a two-man panel discussion at the 2015 edition of Access

Conference, Yunus frowned on the idea of unemployment and said the poor had the greatest population and if they were allowed to express their great capability and capacity, the whole world would be so different. While calling for the establishment of a bank for the poor, the Bangladeshi professor described two kinds of banks and bankers in the world. According to him, “The one that you see around us everywhere is the bank for the rich. So the whole space that will occupy the bank for

the poor is empty; no microfinance bank. When you say there is a banking law, we miss the point. It is a banking law for the rich. There is no law to create bank for the poor. We often push issues relating to the poor to the non-governmental organisations and philanthropic organisations.” Regretting that most micro finance banks have missed their target, Yunus said the commercial banks target the rich, but Grameen Bank targets the poor. Commercial banks started from and built their offices in the city, while

Inflation rate hits 9.4% Gbola Subair-Abuja

After a brief respite in October, the rate of inflation inched higher in November 2015, increasing to 9.4 percent compared to 9.3 per cent recorded in October of the same year. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), a measure of Inflation report released Sunday in Abuja by the National Bureau of Statistics ( NBS), the rate was driven in part by higher prices within the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages division as well as increases in the Transportation division as a result of shortages in Premium Motor Sprit (PMS) coupled with the knock-on effect impacting transportation of people and goods across the country. In the report, food prices

as measured by the Food sub-index also increased at higher pace in November. The Food sub- index increased to 10.3% (year-onyear) during the month, 0.2% points from rates recorded in October while all major food groups which contribute to the Food subindex increased at a faster pace during the month with the exception of the Fruits group which has been trending lower since June of this year. “Increases in the “All Items less Farm Produce” or Core sub-index rose at the same rate for the second consecutive month at 8.7%, as rates have slowed or held steady for a quarter. The Core sub-index was weighted upon by slower increases in multiple divisions such as Clothing and Footwear; Housing Water, Electricity, Gas and Other

Fuels; and Furnishings & Household Equipment Maintenance amongst others.” the report indicated. On a month-on-month basis, the Headline Index as well as the Food and Core sub-indices all increased at a faster pace in November. The Headline Index in particular increased by 0.7%, 0.3% points higher from 0.4% in October. In the period under review, the Urban index grew at the same pace as recorded in October; at 9.4% (year-on-year) while the Rural index also edged higher from 9.2% in October to 9.3% in November. On a month-on-month basis, both the Urban and Rural indices increased at the same pace, both increasing at 0.7% in November, 0.3% points from 0.4% in October.

Grameen bank started from the rural areas, he said. The civil society leader who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for founding the Grameen Bank and pioneering the concepts of microcredit and microfinance further noted that in Bangladesh, the poor people were always encouraged to save, right from day one, adding that every borrower had savings in the bank, which they hoped would grow. Last year 2014 he disclosed, was a very interesting year. “Total loans we gave out were about $1.5 billion last year. The total balance of the deposits of the borrowers was nearly $2billion. I said look, you used to call these people who are borrowing from you borrowers. You should reformulate your businesses because you the bank are the borrower and they are the lenders. So, here is a misconception. It is a misconception because you have to depend on external sources,” Yunus said. According to him, the financial system should support people to do what they could and not be allowed to talk about unemployment. “You describe the world and say the people are unemployed. What does it mean to say unemployed? Is somebody sitting around not doing anything? Or somebody is denied doing anything? Not because I don’t want to do anything, but because I don’t get the opportunity to do anything.”

Amadi’s disclosure follows that of Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola who last week announced that NERC and the 11 Discos had been directed to meet and come up with what he described as a ‘fair market tariff’ Fashola had said that the new tariff was key to reliable electricity supply in the country and thus appealed to consumers to accommodate the incoming increase with some benefit of doubts on the government’s sincerity to enthrone a fair tariff regime in the sector. He pointed out that a good tariff system guarantees good power supply and drew close analogy to what happened in the country’s telecoms sector when it was privatised in 1999. Fashola stressed that the sector will eventually plateau to allow supply and tariffs gain commercial values. He had said: “Without a tariff system, there will be no power. A fair market tariff is expected to be announced by the regulator after meeting with the distribution companies. When the new tariff comes, please conserve light. We must pay for what we consumer whether we like it or not.” He also noted that the Discos must commit to certain key performance conditions in the area of providing prepaid meters; expansion of network, among others, in line with the proposed new tariff order. NERC also noted that the revenue shortfall that accumulated with its freezing of the Residential 2 (R2) class tariff earlier in the year when it approved a cost-reflective tariff in the Multi Year Tariff Order 2.1 (MYTO) would be incorporated in the new tariff to enable the operators recover their cost of supplies to consumers. One of its tariffs and rates officials, Aisha Mahmoud in her presentation disclosed this. She said: “We calculated the shortfall accruing to the freeze of the R2 and we incorporated it in the tariff because that’s part of the revenue of the operators and they have to recover it one way or the other.” “So, the Discos have now included it because we said it is their tariff. So, it is part of the tariff going forward,” Mahmoud added. Similarly, Amadi disclosed that the commission has would soon begin verification of accumulated debts owed to Discos by government’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as military and police barracks, amongst other security formations.

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Monday, 14 December, 2015

Folawiyo Energy objects to DPR ban

OLAWIYO Energy Limited (FEL) has firmly affirmed its innocence of any infraction of the regulations that guide the sales of petroleum products. The company said that it had not had its own products in storage for the past three months, during which it had only stored and distributed products for the NNPC, without any involvement in collecting payments from the companies taking the NNPC stock. A company spokesperson said that FEL has notified the appropriate authorities of these facts and had protested the unfair attempt to tarnish its corporate reputation. A statement signed by Adeshola Komolafe, Public Relations Consultant to FEL, said that: “Our attention has been drawn to a statement purportedly issued by the spokesperson of the DPR announcing sanctions on our company for allegedly “allowing Sahara Energy to use its depot to sell above the stipulated price.” “The management of Folawiyo Energy Limited (FEL) has affirmed that its operations conform to best practices and are not in breach of any regulations. FEL is not involved in any conduct that could either invite fines or be construed as selling fuel stocks above regulated prices. How can you sell product you don’t have? “FEL’s Apapa depot has not held commercial stock since 20 September 2015. Operations at the depot since that date have been purely about dispensing NNPC and other third party’s stock, which is done following clear procedures and without any involvement by the com-

pany in charging or collecting payment for the stock. FEL has acted merely as storage and throughput providers. “Therefore there is no

way that FEL would be involved in the unseemly practices that have been unfairly and baselessly alleged. If there is a case against any importer that

THE Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) has officially opened a workshop on orientation and employability training for its interns. With an objective of enabling interns to optimise their internship period by developing useful skills and positive work habits, as well as exposing participants to opportunities for life after internship, the GIS started as one of the social safety net interventions of the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P). Speaking at the event at the Royal Tropicana Hotel in Kano State recently, the Director of the GIS, Mr Peter Papka, through his rep-

Says it had no petroleum products in 3 months

is squarely between the DPR and that importer. It is beyond conception that the company could be held responsible for a policing/monitoring function

which it is neither able not equipped to do. “FEL cherishes its reputation for proper conduct and has through proper channels vehemently pro-

tested this unfortunate attempt to besmirch its name. We have always been partners in progress with the DPR and all agencies of government and strongly believe that the necessary corrections will be made.”

NIMN set to strengthen regional operations Akin Adewakun-Lagos

From left, General Managers, Mr Tope Fasaranti and Wunmi Ogunbiyi, Zenith Bank Plc; Executive Director, Ebenezar Onyeaqwu; Group Managing Director, Zenith Bank Plc, Mr Peter Amangbo and his wife, Chinyelu, during the 10th Annual Zenith Bank Plc Children and Youth Christmas Party held at the Bank’s Head Office, Victoria Island on Sunday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

Africa loses $148bn annually to corruption —AfDB DR Akinwumi Adesina, the President, African Development Bank (AfDB), has said Africa loses about 148 billion U.S. dollars annually due to corruption. Adesina, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Abuja, said corruption posed great challenge to development in Africa. He, however, said that corruption was not unique to Africa, but a global problem. ``Africa loses about 148 billion U.S. dollars a year because of corruption; Africa also loses 60 billion

U.S. dollars a year because of illegal capital flow. ``These are money that should be going into education, health, water and sanitation sectors; wherever you have massive corruption, development takes a back seat and slow things down. ``Transparency is the key; detecting corruption is important, but preventing corruption is also important, therefore it is in the interest of Africa to prevent corruption in order to boost economy and development across the continent,’’ Adesina said. Speaking on Sustainable Fund for Africa, Adesina

GIS begins empowerment scheme for interns By Doyin Adeoye

Nigerian Tribune

resentative, Mrs Adefemi Dorcas, said that “the GIS focuses on providing the unemployed and underemployed graduate youths with internship opportunities that would expose them to skills and experiences relevant to the current labour market and enhance their employability. “Many firms and graduates have joined since the inception of the scheme, and it has contributed immensely to the renewed growth of SMEs and cooperative societies, through increased competent and skilled manpower. 25,186 graduates have been deployed so far to the GIS, while 9,387 have exited the scheme and over 1,000 having secured jobs or started own businesses.

Records are still being compiled and result would certainly be good. Some of the graduates have even won YouWiN grants to expand businesses they set up using GIS stipends. “So as a government, we can boldly say that the purpose of setting up the Graduate Internship Scheme which is for them to acquire employability skills has been achieved. The orientation and employability training that is commencing today is meant primarily for the graduate interns. We have however, deliberately included partnering firms and organisations as part of governments’ commitment in contributing towards enhancement of their capacity in service effectiveness.”

said that it was an initiative of the United Nations, but hosted by AfDB. He said that it was an initiative that was used in the enhancement of renewable energy. Adesina said that Nigeria was benefiting from the initiative, adding that Nigeria can also access the fund for the renewable energy. He said that Nigeria has a huge energy challenge, adding that the bank would

be working closely with the government to tackle the challenge. Speaking on recent elections held in Africa, he said that Africa has done well in terms of peace, stability and democratisation. ``Without peace and stability we cannot have development, so the bank will continue to work with the Africa Union to ensure that our countries have peaceful and creditable elections.

NAGAFF to commence public hearing on corrupt customs officers Tola Adenubi-Lagos

THE National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF) will on Wednesday commence a public hearing on activities of corrupt customs officers at the nations seaports. This is even as the association has already handpicked Deputy Controller Saidu Aliu for investigations over claims that he has been involved in sharp practices at the Customs Processing Center (CPC) of the Tin-Can Island Ports in Lagos. According to a statement signed by NAGAFF’s National Chairman, Anti-Corruption & Transparency Unit, Increase Uche, the association has received several reports of extortion at the CPC which is headed by DC Saidu Aliu, the seating ASYCUDA Project Manager of the Tin-Can Custom Command. “It is in the public notice that since 2013 till date, freight forwarding agents

have been complaining of systemic corruption at the CPC under the leadership of DC Saidu Aliu. We have received allegation of corrupt practises at the CPC inside the Tin-Can Island Ports.

THE council of the National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN) has stated that one of its agendas in the next few years would be to strengthen its regional operations by further enhancing the status of its chapters. This, the council said, represents its way of deepening the institute’s membership drive outside Lagos, its traditional catchment area. Disclosing this at the institute’s annual marketing conference and AGM, held recently in Enugu, Enugu State, NIMN president, Mr Ganiyu Koledoye, stated that the institute’s decision to hold some of its key activities outside Lagos was in tune with the vision to further enhance the status of those regions and bonding them with people. He expressed delight that members from the nation’s academia were increasingly showing interests in the institute’s activities, as evident in the turn-out at the conference, noting that such participation from that sector would go a long way in bolstering the public confidence in the quality of training carried on by the institute. “I’m highly delighted that we are witnessing increasing interests from the nation’s tertiary institutions, as evident in the attendance that we are having here today.”

Nigerians unveil Swap Naija app for mobile networks By Victor Ogunyinka

TECHNOLOGY savvy Nigerians have created a mobile app, Swap Naija, to ease the use of airtime swap possible on all mobile telecommunication networks. The app was launched at the TEDxBodija conference, Le Chateau event centre, Bodija, Ibadan, Oyo State. The app, which was developed by Opeoluwa Aiyegbusi and Lawrence Oye Akinwale, was aimed at bringing convenience into the use of mobile

telecommunication in Nigeria. According to Opeoluwa Aiyegbusi, co-founder of the app, described the app as a mobile app, which makes airtime swap possible on the go in real-time and to all networks. “We at Swap Naija have long been uncomfortable with the fact that telecom subscribers could only transfer airtime within the same network. We set out to convert this constraint to convenience. We believe that when it gets difficult that is the best time to start-up.”

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Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

daily summary (equities) for FRIDAY, 11 december, 2015

Monday, 14 December, 2015

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Monday, 14 December, 2015

Aregbesola’s N50m for fireworks, Christmas decor a waste —PDP •Their claim illogical, ridiculous —Gov’s aide Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

SUN State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on Sunday described Governor Rauf Aregbesola’s alleged approval of N50 million for fireworks and Christmas decorations in some major towns of the state as “wasteful spending and misplacement of priority.” The PDP said since Governor Aregbesola-led administration came on board in 2010, it usually adorn strategic locations in Osogbo the state capital and some major towns with lightings, decorations and fireworks, during festive seasons. In a statement issued in Osogbo by the party’s director of media and publicity, Prince Diran Odeyemi, PDP claimed “spending as much as N50 million on fireworks and lightings, when workers in the state are being paid half salary with five months salary outstanding, “is absurd, a waste of scarce resources that suggests some people are hiding behind the project to steal public funds.” In a swift reaction, the

Corruption: Cleric tasks Muslims on uprightness By Oluyomi Fashakin

MUSLIMS has been urged to be upright in all their endeavours and by extension get the nation out of its corrupt state. The Missioner, AnsarUd-Deen Soiety (ADS) of Nigeria, Abuja Branch, Imam (Dr) Musa Olaofe, made the call during the golden jubilee celebration and merit award of OdoOna branch of the society, which held at Institute of Agricultural Research and Training (IAR&T), Ibadan at the weekend. According to him, Nigeria would not have gotten to its present state of corruption had all Islamic faithful been upright in time past. Speaking on the theme “Formation and Growth of Ansar-Ud-Deen, its contributions to socio-political development in Nigeria,” Olaofe said the nation would be a better place if rebellion is done away with; adding that unity and looking unto Allah other than financial gain should be paramount. Prior to the awards, the National President ADS of Nigeria, Alhaji Lateef Femi Okunnu charged the 30 awardees and members of the society on inter-branch relationship, which he said would better improve each branch.

director, Bureau of Communication and Strategy to Aregbesola, Mr Semiu Okanlawon described the claim of the PDP as illogical and ridiculous, arguing that how can Osun State government that banned the use of fireworks about four days ago, approve N50 million for it.” According to him, “the governor had in a statement stated that the state is banning the use of fireworks to stay on top of situ-

ation as it concerns security during the festive period and all times. The security situation in the country is enough reason for precautionary measures within the period and beyond.” However, the PDP statement further reads: “why would a sensitive governor at this critical period be planning to expend such a huge amount, that is only N5 million short of the net allocation of Osun State after deductions of all debts

for month of October, on fireworks. What are we celebrating in Osun?” The party advised that, “if truly no one would benefit from the contract sum, the government should immediately suspend the plan because what people in Osun State need at the moment is not Christmas decorations but their salary to buy food. “Obviously, Government House is not lacking food and other basic necessities. However, Mr Governor

should know majority of homes in Osun State can no longer afford three square meals. No thanks to capital flight, irregular payment of salaries, non payment for services rendered for government and poor patronage of local contractors by the present administration. In the light of these, Mr Aregbesola should give pay workers salary and not fireworks through which some people will milk the state,” the statement concluded.

Former Senate President, David Mark (left); his wife, Helen, and former Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Morro, during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Benue South Senatorial District Zone C meeting with Senator Mark, in Otukpo, Benue State, on Saturday. PHOTO: NAN

Rerun : I am confident of victory —Mark Taiwo Adisa-Abuja

FORMER Senate President David Mark at the weekend said that he is confident of winning the rerun election in Benue South, convincingly, anytime the electoral body fixes the election. Mark, who addressed his constituents in Otukpo, Benue State, at the weekend, asked them to rise to the challenge and defend their votes freely given to him on March 28, 2015 Senatorial election. He declared that the annulment of his election by the Benue Appeal Tribunal on account of disagreement in the date signed by the Returning Officer for no fault of his said that the decision of the court has thrown a huge challenge to his constituents, adding that they must come out en masse and demonstrate that they did not make any mistake in electing him on March 28. A statement by Mark’s Special Assistant on Media, Paul Mumeh, quoted the former Senate President as saying that the unfolding development is a call to the Idoma nation to rise and fight for their

liberty and freedom from external forces. The statement further quoted Mark as saying that rather than get dampened in spirit, the people should get strengthened and energised to go to the field and prove doubting Thomases wrong. According to him, at-

tempts to jump ship on account of the challenges at hand would amount to cowardice and bowing to the forces of evil. The statement quoted Mark as saying: “For me, this is a battle for our future and survival. I will continue to protect and de-

fend the interest of Idoma nation whether as a Senator or as an ordinary man. “What I will resist and will not accept is for outsiders to dictate to us who should or should not represent us, not in my lifetime. We must take our destiny in our hands.”

Residents bemoan BUA’s investment in Lafiaji Sugar company RESIDENTS of Lafiagi community in Edu Local Government Area of Kwara State have expressed concern over what they termed “the lifeless state of BUA sugar refinery,” formerly known as Lafiagi Sugar Company owned by the Federal Government. The residents appealed to the Federal Government to compel BUA to commence operations with immediate effect or revoke their ownership, in order to bring the company back to life. It will be recalled that the BUA group changed the name of the company to BUA Sugar refinery after successfully taking over the company and is already benefitting from the concessions the Federal Gov-

ernment has given to Sugar importers to encourage them produce locally. A retiree of Edu local government and a native of the community, Mr Saliu Musa in an interview recalled that during the days of the Lafiagi Sugar Company, no fewer than 500 residents were employed. “When the company was operational, older and younger ones no fewer than 500 were employed. The company was working very well then but since the take-over by the new management, they have sent the staff away and most of them have resorted to doing menial jobs,” he said. Kayode Buraimah, a youth leader in the area expressed utter disappointment that

BUA had not done anything to revive the company since it bought it over. “We were happy when the company was sold to BUA thinking it will be brought back to life. It’s unfortunate that since then, the Company just abandoned the Sugar refinery which is contrary to terms and conditions upon which the Federal Government sold the company.” He therefore urged the management to do everything within its means to ensure that Lafiagi Sugar Company is returned back to its glorious days so that it could offer more employment opportunities to the teeming youths of the area and thereby enhance the nation’s economic development.

FG set to develop cultural calendar to attract tourists Christian Okeke-Abuja

THE Federal Government through the Ministry of Information and Culture is set to partner with state governments to develop a National Cultural Calendar in order to ensure an all-year-round cultural fiesta that would be beneficial to the economy in terms of revenue earnings through tourism. Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed announced the plan on Saturday in Kaduna, where he attended the state’s first annual music festival. He said, although the country has rich festivals that will attract tourists to the country, the problem remains that people do not know which festival is holding, where and when. He said, “Today we have so many festivals in many parts of the country and one of the suggestions that I put on the table in my ministry is that we will liaise with states. One state will give us a list of 10 festivals in 10 cities and these 10 cities in each state will give us 360 cities and then with the five local governments in Abuja, we will have 365 festivals.”

Cleric harps on the need to do God’s will By Seyi Sokoya

CHRISTIANS have been reminded on the need to live righteous and holy lives irrespective of class and status in order to enable them make heaven when the final harvest of the earth will be made according to God’s word. The guest preacher, Special Apostle Michael Ajigbotoso, made this known at the 43rd Adult Harvest anniversary of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church a.k.a Ayo Ni O, Liberty district headquarters, Ibadan, on Sunday, adding, “It is time people began to cultivate the habit and be poised to do what will please God at all times heartily and with all substance. This will, no doubt, cause Him to do exceedingly more.” He, however, described harvest as the end product of a labour and that it is either one would laugh or cry depending on peoples preparation towards the labour, just as he noted that the only means one could attract abundant grace and blessings is to remain in God’s presence, listen and do His will.

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Monday, 14 December, 2015

MDGs: Nigeria failed 75% target on access to water —Minister •Says FG capable of generating 12,220MW from Hydro-power Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

IGERIA has failed to reach the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) target of 75 per cent for improved water supply coverage by the year 2015, the Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, an engineer said at the weekend. He also disclosed that despite execution of various water projects in the country, over five million Nigerians still lack access to improved drinking water sources. The Minister revealed this in Abuja, at a threeday ministerial retreat for all directors of the ministry, River Basins and other stakeholders in the water sector. Although, the implementation of the water supply programmes had brought

about an increased access to water supply from 58 per cent in 2010 to 69 per cent in 2015, he said the remaining 31 per cent should be considered. The Minister underscored the need to strive towards achieving 100 per cent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for improved access to water by 2030. ”The current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is desirous of uplifting the life of Nigerian citizens by improving the people’s socio-economic well being. Reports by the ministry indicated that implementation of water supply projects and

programmes have resulted in increased access to water supply from 58 per cent in year 2010 to 69 per cent in year 2015. “The impressive report which requires further verification still implies that about 31per cent or 52.7 million Nigerians are without access to improved drinking water sources. “Significantly, the trend reveals that Nigeria has failed to reach the MDG target of 75 per cent for improved water supply coverage by the year 2015. We need to change this trend to achieve the sustainable development goals (SDGs) of 100 per cent access to water supply to our citi-

zens by the year 2030,” he said. In his explanations, he said the Federal Government (FG) also, is determined to improve power generation with about 12,220megawatts from hydro-power. According to him, only 1,930MW of the hydropower potential has been developed from the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro dams. He said the hydro-power option will add up to the national grid; hence, boost power generation in the country. “The hydro-power therefore, presents a good potential in the nation’s overall energy mix and security. I

have noted that the Ministry has completed about 14 dams that have combined hydropower capacity of over 700MW yet to be utilised. I will ensure that we focus efforts to promptly utilise them. He said with reference to the 2013 water resources master plan, the country’s surface water resources is estimated at 340 billion cubic metres while the groundwater is put at 100 billion cubic meters. He maintained that Nigeria’s water resources can adequately support domestic, industrial, agricultural, hydro-power, transportation, recreation, among other purposes, if adequately harnessed.

ACEN honours Adeyemi, Consadem boss By Nurudeen Alimi

POLITICIAN and businessman, Mr Femi Babalola (Jogor), an engineer and friends under the aegis of Association of Consulting Engineering, Nigeria (ACEN), over the weekend, put together a luncheon in honour of one of its eminent icons, Mr Benjamin Adeyemi, an engineer, for what the association described as his immense contribution to the development of human capacity in engineering practice in Nigeria.. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune at Jogor Centre, Ibadan, venue of the luncheon, Babalola (Jogor), said:”We organised this luncheon to actually honour Adeyemi and he deserves all the honour. He is an icon in the industry, one of the first generation of Nigerian engineers and he has trained many of us and we have in return, trained so many too behind us. So we feel we should do this during his lifetime and that is why we are gathered here today.” In his remark, the honouree, Adeyemi, said: “I am surprised by this honour being given to me today. I thank the organisers for counting me worthy for this great honour. I must say that I appreciate their support, dedication and selflessness. I also thank God for Engineer Femi Babalola, I wish he had stayed with us at Consadem, but he left. I thank God for his life today. Once again, I thank the organisers of this luncheon for this honour bestowed on me.”

From left, Vice Chancellor, Kaduna State University, Professor William Barnabas Qurix; Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai; President Muhammadu Buhari and the president, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, during the second convocation ceremony and conferment of honourary degree on Dangote, in Kaduna.

HID Awolowo’s church, Sagamu, attains parish status Olayinka Olukoya-Abeokuta

THE Hannah Idowu Dideolu (HID) Awolowo Anglican Church, Ewuga, Sagamu, was on Sunday, officially pronounced a parish status in the Diocese of Remo (Anglican Communion). This was stated by the Diocesan Bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Fape, at the proclamation

of the church as a parish church and the induction of Reverend Michael Olusoji Odewole as the vicar of the church, at a service held at the church premises in Sagamu. The cleric noted that the church, built by the late matriarch of the Awolowo dynasty, which was consecrated in 2012, had become a reference point to other churches in the Diocese.

He expressed happiness that the church was built in HID’s lifetime and not in her memorial like the church she built in memory of her husband, named Obafemi Awolowo Memorial Anglican Church, Ikenne. Fape said, “The proclamation of this church to a parish church and the induction of Reverend Michael Olusoji Odewole, was part of the activities

I did not collect N100m from Yuguda — Bode George Bola Badmus- Lagos

FORMER deputy national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, on Sunday, said former Minister of State for Finance, Bashir Yuguda, never gave him N100 million, describing the claim as another blatant falsehood, mischievous and deliberately fraudulent, stripped of any iota of truth. George said this on Sunday in a statement he released to newsmen in reaction to a

report carried by an online media.’ The PDP chieftain, while saying that his attention was drawn to the report, further described it as “a depraved continuation of lynch mob journalism orchestrated by the media.” George, however, said the total amount the South West Zone mobilisation committee, which he headed during the last elections, received from Yuguda was just $30,000 that was less than N6 million, at that

time. According to George, Yuguda can never claim that he gave the committee N100 million. “The salient fact is that very early this year, long before the election period, the party set up Contact and Mobilisation Committee for each zone to reconcile various factions and ensure a firm unity of purpose within the zones before the election. I was elected as the chairman for the South West Zone.

lined up for the centenary celebration of Mama, but man proposes, God disposes. “This church was built in Mama’s lifetime and it will be so till eternity. Mama has contributed her own quota to the development of this church while the onus lies on us all to sustain its existence.” He urged members of the church to support the vicar in charge of the church and to abide by God’s rules in all their dealings. In her short remarks, Dr (Mrs) Olatokunbo AwolowoDosumu, seized the opportunity to appreciate the Bishop, priests and members of the Diocese for their support before and during the burial of Mama Awolowo. Awolowo-Dosumu, who spoke in the presence of the eldest child of the family, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran, promised the determination of the family to sustain the good legacies left behind by their parents.

OAU honours Adeboye, Adesina, Etsu-Nupe, others with doctorate degrees By Femi Ibirogba

THE management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile-Ife, at the weekend, honoured the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Pastor Adejare Adeboye and President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), Dr Akinwumi Adesina, among others, with honorary doctorate degrees for their contributions to the development of the nation in different walks of life. The newly appointed Chancellor of the university, the Etsu-Nupe and Emir of Bida, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar; Chief Oyekunle Alex-Duduyemi and Professor Jacob Kehinde Olupona, a renowned African scholar in Harvard University, USA, were all also conferred with honorary doctorate degrees. Pastor Adeboye, who was at the RCCG camp for the December Holy Ghost Congress of the church, accepted the honour and requested for a later date for the conferment, Vice Chancellor of OAU, Professor Bamitale Omole, said. Pastor Adeboye was honoured with Doctor of Science; the Etsu-Nupe with Doctor of Letters and Dr Adesina with Doctor of Science.

Group raises the alarm over increasing human rights abuses Biola Azeez-Ilorin

A human rights advocacy group, Committee for Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), has raised the alarm over increasing rate of human rights abuses in many parts of the country. Speaking at a one-day seminar on citizenship education rights and privileges in Ilorin, at the weekend, the legal adviser of CDHR in Kwara State, Mr Afolabi Gambari, said that many Nigerians are denied their rights especially as a result of corruption among government officials and law enforcement agents. “A situation where a superior officer in an establishment intimidates his/ her subordinates, where a lawyer needs to bribe prison official in order to be allowed to see a prisoner that needs help.”

Monday, 14 December, 2015

PROCLAMATION OF HID AWOLOWO CHURCH, EWUGA SAGAMU

Nigerian Tribune PHOTOS: D’TOYIN

Reverend Michael Olusoji Odewole performing the first duty as vicar, during the proclamation of HID Awolowo Anglican Church, Sagamu as parish and his induction as the new vicar of the church, held at Diocese of Remo Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Ewuga, Sagamu-Remo, on Sunday.

The Right Reverend (Dr) M. Olusina Fape, Bishop of Remo, praying for the new vicar and his wife.

Reverend Odewole with some bishops.

Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran (third right); Ambassador Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (second left); the Right Reverend (Dr) Olusina Fape (third left); new vicar, Reverend Michael Olusoji Odewole (second right); Mrs Toyin Fape, bishop’s wife (right) and Mrs Abosede Odewole, vicar’s wife.

Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran (second right); Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu (right); the vicar, Reverend Michael Olusoji Odewole and others, during thanksgiving.

Chief (Mrs) Mercy Owolana (right); Reverend Sina Adeniyi (middle) and Mr Sola Odumosu (left).

Mr Lanre Ogunlesi (SAN), Chancellor of the Diocese of Remo (right) and Mr Leke Solarin, Registrar, Diocese of Remo, with the vicar and his wife.

Group photograph with Bishop Fape.

INSIDE LAGOS

Monday, 14 December, 2015

pixmart

ALABA IGBAROOLA: 08155975474

SYLVESTER OKORUWA: 08115708541

Relative of Pass.ng awardee, Amaka Ani; founder, Pass.ng Platform, Samson Abioye; an outstanding student in 2015 UTME and Pass.ng Awardee, Joshua Ani, with Digital and PR Manager, Airtel Nigeria, Erhumu Bayagbo during the award presentation at the Pass.ng Excellence Awards 2015 held in Ikoyi, Lagos, on Friday.

From left,Coordinator, EldersForum, Island Club, Chief Augustine Ayo; Chairman Island Club, Mr Dipo Okpeseyi (S.A.N) and Past Vice Chairman,Island Club,Chief Samuel Jegede, during the Island Club Elders End of the Year Party held at Peacock Hall, Island Club on Wednesday.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. AkinwunmiAmbode (middle), Commissioner for Information & Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde (4th right) and his counterpart for Energy & Mineral Resources, Mr. OlawaleOluwo (4th left) in a group photograph with the newly inaugurated Lagos State Power Committee, during the inauguration at the Conference Hall, Lagos House, Ikeja, on Thursday.

From left: Managing Director, Oando Marketing, Mr Yemi Awobokun, former Minister For Communication Technology, Mrs Mobola Johnson, Incoming chairperson, First Bank Limited, Mrs Ibukun Awosika, Wife of Lagos State Governor, Mrs Bolanle Ambode and the Convener Fiesta of Flavours and CEOEventful Limited, Mrs. Yewande Zaccheaus, at the official opening ceremony of Fiesta of flavours, food and beverage fair held on Friday, in Lagos.

From left: groom parents, Mrs Muriel Graham Douglas, Chairman Soveirgn Insurance, Chief Ephraim Faloughi, Ambassador of Ireland,H.E(Dr) Bolere Ketebu and former Minister of Aviation,H.H Alabo Tonye Graham Douglas, during the wedding ceremony between former miss Oludamilola Olufunso Obada and Mr Owanari Bekinbo Graham Douglas, held at Our Saviour Church,Tawafa Balewa Square, Lagos.

From left: President Pediatric Association of Nigeria, Professor AdeniyiOlaru; Cluster Medical Lead, GlaxoSmithKline, Dr. Olakunle Oladehin; Wife of theSenate President & Founder, Wellbeing Foundation Africa, Her Excellency, Mrs Toyin Saraki; and, Representative of Country Manager, World Health Organisation, Dr Daniel Ali at the commemoration of the 2015 World Pneumonia Day, held recently.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 14 December, 2015

editor

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

Muzzling Nigeria’s social media?

AST week, Nigeria’s senators moved a bill designed to muzzle free speech on social media, one step closer to becoming law. The proposed law could affect an estimated 15 million plus Ni-

Let’s support Buhari I believe that whether the country is running or it is on its knees, it is making progress and the only thing it is lacking is the faith of Nigerians who are constantly slowing it down with their pessimistic attitude, as most believe that the country due to its present and past experiences cannot get to its peak. President Muhammadu Buhari has already started receiving ‘blows’ from several critics who believe that he should have miraculously changed the state of the country in seven months. Although President Buhari’s campaign may have been too sugary with a lot of change words, it should also be noted that the president kept emphasising on the fact that he needed patience, time, plus the support of Nigerians to succeed but it seems obvious that many have forgotten those remarks and presently, the best effort they could render is to throw stones of criticisms at the Commander-in-Chief. However, it is advisable that we should always exercise patience before we can achieve our dreams. It is apparent that all these countries we cite as examples are also going through lots of hardship, as Boko Haram is a blight in Nigeria, ISIS has also been a bane in Europe, Asia have also experienced several of natural disasters. So it is evident that everyone has one or two lacks. As a result, instead of raining criticisms on this administration, it is better we send it words of encouragement as it is not an easy job to govern a population of more than 180 million heterogeneous citizens •Shittu Sodeeq Solape, Dept of Mass Comm, The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

gerians who use the social media, not to mention the doubtless high numbers of Nigerians who send text messages. The draft bill to “Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other Matters Connected Therewith” specifically targets users of social and electronic media. It passed its second reading in Nigeria’s Senate on Tuesday, and is now due to go to committee, where it will be further studied. If passed into law, it will restrict freedom of expression and a free press, which are protected by Section 39 of Nigeria’s constitution. The draft bill, sponsored by Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, a member of President Muhammadu Buhari’s All People’s Congress party, seeks to criminalize two types of behaviour. First, it proposes a sentence of up to seven years in prison or a five million naira fine (US$25,000) for “anyone who intentionally propagates false information

that could threaten the security of the country or that is capable of inciting the general public against the government through electronic message.” Second, it seeks to criminalise anyone disseminating via text message, Twitter, WhatsApp, or any other form of social media an “abusive statement” intending to “set the public against any person and group of persons, an

institution of government or such other bodies established by law.” The penalty for this is up to two years in prison or a two million naira fine (about US$10,000), or both. The bill is riddled with problems. The vague term “abusive statement” is not defined and leaves a lot of room for subjective interpretation. Also, the proposed sanctions are excessively heavy. But most

troubling of all, the draft bill is simply unnecessary. The offences it seeks to criminalise already exist under Nigerian laws including those on treason, defamation, and libel. Nigeria’s lawmakers should focus on the critical issues facing the country, such as the Boko Haram insurgency in the NorthEast, communal violence, corruption, and impunity for crimes by Nigeria’s own

security forces, rather than trying to muzzle non-violent expressions of genuine dissent and criticism. To stay in line with international and African human rights standards, Nigeria should be moving to decriminalise defamation, not creating new similar crimes. •Mausi Segun, Lagos.

The many faces of slavery and imperialism THE world was recently taken aback by news of a London-based Nigerian doctor, Emmanuel Edet, and his wife who were found guilty of enslaving one Ofonime Sunday Inuk for 24 years. As pathetic as the case is, it is only one of many such cases, most of which never come to light. Ben Cooley touched on this when he revealed that Hope for Justice – the charity he heads – has lib-

erated more than 70 slaves this year alone. Education is supposed to liberate us and help us become more rational. However, as this revelation from the UK shows, education as we have it is apparently not enough. Now, it is easy to identify physical slavery and kick against it, but how do we deal with mental slavery? Unlike physical slavery where there is an op-

pressed and an oppressor, mental slavery is more of a wilful – or perhaps unconscious – subservience to a perceived superior entity. It’s a subtle reinvention of imperialism. Nigeria gained independence 55 years ago. But are we truly a sovereign state or simply an independent colony? Do we really have an identity independent of the West? I shake my head each

time I see helpless hustlers clad in suit and tie, sweating profusely in the hot tropical sun. Who says you can’t dress like a Wole Soyinka or an Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to attend a job interview? Who restricted native attires to Fridays? Think about it. We’re so “independent” that we even celebrate foreign holidays we know nothing about. As long as it is a US or UK thing, we jump on the bandwagon. Yes, some of these holidays are great; for example, Mothers’ Day, Fathers’ Day and Thanksgiving. But if we would like to adopt them, why don’t we come up with our own, instead of gate-crashing as it were? Having said that, the real issue is not about holidays. We seem to have a predilection for Western norms and culture over and above our time-tested values. That’s the real issue. Yes, we may need to improve some aspects of our culture and traditions but we cannot afford to discard them altogether. Yes, we may need to adopt some practices from the West but we should adapt them to suit our peculiar situation. To embrace Western culture in its entirety is to erode our values and deny our very essence. How well has that worked for us thus far? Isn’t it obvious that we need a change? •Philip Amiola, Lagos.

editorial

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

The ban on small generators

OR having wreaked a lot of havoc through multiple deaths from its emissions, the portable generator popularly known as “I better pass my neighbour” has been banished from the Nigerian market. The Customs spokesperson, Madugu Sani Jubrin, disclosed this recently in a chat with journalists, citing an order from the Federal Government. Jubrin, who also controls the customs Federal Operations Unit (Zone A) in Lagos, said inter alia “the smaller generators have been banned by the Federal Government because they cause pollution and destruction of our lungs and breathing system... but people are still interested in smuggling them in. That is why we intercepted them. If you go to the market, you still see them because people have imported them before the ban.” Since Jubrin’s revelation, the decision of the Federal Government to ban this generator has been trailed by controversy. While a section of the populace has condemned the ban, describing it as insensitive and wicked, especially against the backdrop of the current fuel crisis and epileptic power supply from the national grid, another section has supported the decision because of the generator’s health hazard. Health experts believe that these small generators’ emissions are dangerous to human health, causing cancer and cardiovascular complications. Many families had died overnight of poison from lethal fumes, after keeping generators inside their apartments. However, there are other people who think the decision to ban the generators is another ploy by government to intensify the agonies of the poor. Obviously, these generators have kept small businesses alive, particulalry with the unreliable and epileptic power supply by the electricity firms. As a result, the effect of the ban on such small businesses cannot be overemphasised, especially as it may eventually run the owners out of business. More relevant, however, is the fact that the Nigeria Customs Service does not have any good record of

any ban that did not eventually end up being an exercise in extortion. Curiously, both sides are valid, because those who support the ban on these small generators also have valid health reasons. We do not support the penchant which the government has for making policies or pronouncements that it has neither the will, nor the equipment to enforce or implement. For instance, how is the ban on the small generators to be implemented if the country’s borders are so notoriously porous? Will the ban be on new generators, or will it include the old ones? Will it now also be an offence to own an old small generator, even if it was purchased before the ban? If the reason behind the ban is as stated by Jubrin, does that mean that only the new generators can be dangerous and the old ones can still continue to be operated? How does the ban stop further deaths from the old generators that are still in use? Can the ban even help in creating awareness on how not to use the generators, thereby preventing deaths, if further importation cannot be stopped? We think it is futile to ban ‘I Better Pass My Neighbour’ generators, as the effects will be too predictable. Apart from making it more expensive, especially for the small business operators to survive, it will inadvertently create new offenders, as many poor Nigerians will run foul of the law. The other alternative is for the small business operators to team up to upgrade their infrastructure and power requirements through a cooperative approach by acquiring bigger generators. Even then, that may be too tasking if these small business operators find it difficult to reach that level of understanding among themselves. It is also quite absurd for a government that is yet to grapple with power supply to be so finicky about the specification of the generators that can be permitted. One thing is sure, it is easier to control the deaths from the small generators’ fumes than to enforce its outright ban. It is, however, important that users are educated on the generators’ limits and how not to use them. That, to us, is the way to go.

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opinion

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Lasisi Olagunju

Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has spent his first six months in office taxiing on the runway. We expect the take-off to be very soon, especially now that he has prepared his first budget proposal. Those of us who are passengers in his jumbo jet are helpless. We are stuck, our fate in the hands of this captain and his crew. We have been given some hints on what to see from the government in the new year. I am interested in certain contents of the budget proposal, especially transportation and education and, also in the rumoured plan to write off debts owed by state governments. I am interested in the proposal to reintroduce toll gates on federal roads. I said nice idea when Babatunde Fashola announced it. At least billionaire businessmen whose hundreds of trucks destroy the roads will pay something for (mis)using the roads. But there is a snag, may I quickly ask: Toll gates on which GOOD road? Or do you ask people to pay tolls on roads that are practically punishments for their users? Around me here, I am familiar with some federal roads on which no Buhari can ask anyone to pay a dime unless and until they are properly fixed. Do you ask commuters to pay toll on the present Lagos-Ibadan expressway? Or on Ibadan- Ilorin expressway that is taking eternity to fix? Or on the Ibadan-Ife-Ilesa-Akure expressway of death? Or on the embarrassment called Gbongan-Osogbo-Ilorin federal road? Or on Ilesa-Osogbo-Ogbomosho road of shame? Will Buhari and Fashola ask me to pay fees for punishing myself using Ekiti-Kabba-Obajana-Lokoja road of pains? Or the largely unsafe, uncompleted Lokoja-Abuja road like Lagosians do on the ever ongoing Lekki-Epe road? I am also interested in the N500billion proposal to feed school children across the country. The need to take hunger out of the worries of poor school children has always been there. Privileged people may not understand this. I do, and those who also went through what many of us went through at our various take-off points would support any initiative that will address this hunger-in-school problem which is real. The United Nations World Food Programme in its 2009 report estimated that 66 million primary school age children went hungry every day with 23 million hungry children in Africa alone. A 2013 World Bank report added that 80 per cent of the world’s hungry children were “concentrated within just 20 countries.” Nigeria is there. Another report noted that “75 million school per age children (55 percent of them girls) do not attend school, with 47 percent of them living in sub-Saharan Africa (Nigeria is also prominent here). Thus, the need to reduce hunger while

Buhari and Twenty Sixteen

increasing school enrollment in these children is evident, and school feeding programmes have been developed to target this multifaceted problem.” But I feel like asking Buhari if his crew members involved in this have told him he is not starting anything new. Did they tell him the Olusegun Obasanjo government started an elaborate pilot scheme covering 12 states in September 2005? UNICEF, on September 27, 2005 issued an elated statement proudly associating itself with the programme: As the new school year starts in Nigeria, the Ministry of Education chose a UNICEF-supported school to launch a major national programme, aimed at providing one meal per day to all pupils during schools days. The President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, kicked off the Home-grown School Feeding and Health Programme, at Science Primary School Kuje, near Abuja, on Monday 26 September, 2005. This new programme is expected to improve the nutritional status of school children, as well as increase their enrolment, retention and completion rate in primary schools, and therefore contribute to Nigeria Universal Basic Education Programme. In its pilot phase, the school feeding programme will benefit 2.5 million pupils in twelve different states of the Federation. Although about 25 million children are enrolled in schools in Nigeria, another 7.3 million children are out of schools, of whom

a majority are girls.” That was 10 years ago. Now, what happened? The Obasanjo government abandoned it shortly after its commencement. Why did that government run away from it after funding it for just a few months? Money. The result of that withdrawal of funding saw 11 out of the 12 pilot states pulling out, leaving only Osun State under Olagunsoye Oyinlola continuing the programme every school day for the next five years until November 2010 when that government left office. I was a core insider in that government and I knew that the cost was enormous and the strain on the finances of the poor state very excruciating. A measure of that fact was the expenditure of over N2.5billion between May 2006 and August 2009 on 130,000 pupils drawn from all the 1,320 public primary schools in Osun State. But it was worth the pains. That, perhaps, explains why the successor-government, after initially suspending the programme has continued with it with a new cognomen. But funding it is still a problem. And that is why I asked whether Buhari has been adequately briefed on what he is jumping into. Now, if the Obasanjo government at a time crude oil sold for an average $50.04 per barrel (and minimum wage at N7,500) could not sustain the programme, what is that different mode of funding that the broke Buhari government has evolved that will make this sustainable? The International Food Policy Institute has identified funding models of school feeding. The first relies mostly on external funding and implementation while the other draws its funds from national governments. If Buhari wants to get this done successfully in a sustainable manner, he should ask those pushing it to give him examples of countries that fund it wholly through government and have sustained it. He should also seek to be educated on how countries like Chile and India have managed to sustain it for over 40 years. He will find the answer located in Public-Private Partnership funding model. Whichever way Buhari wants to go on this and on whatever other programmes he has, he should do so now. The honeymoon is over and the year Twenty Sixteen won’t just be about moon sighting, it must come with jars of honey... Buhari still on the runway, taxiing six months after entering the cockpit rates him poorly as a change anchor. This plane has stayed too long on the tarmac warming the engine. We have long fastened our belts. And it can be just discomforting to remain seated while Captain Buhari and his crew members play piano in the pilot’s seat. They should take off now and let us see how far (and safely) they can take us.

FOI Act and the war against corruption By Calistus Igwe

I was invited to a workshop last week to review the level of progress in the compliance of government agencies to the Freedom of Information Act. It was a crucial opportunity for me to bring myself up to speed with some of the happenings within the civil society arena in Nigeria. As part of my preparations for the discussions, I had to read the Freedom of Information Act all over again. It is one legislation that will give you consolation about the amount of resources and sacrifices that were put into it. I recall the exchanges between respected civil society leaders and many politicians during the Obasanjo administration. It is gratifying that after 11 years of intense advocacy, reason triumphed and the bill was passed into an Act by the National Assembly which was later signed into law by President Goodluck Jonathan. The passage of the FoI remains a very commendable effort but one wonders why its implementation remains a daunting challenge. So far, only 60 out of hundreds of parastatals and government agencies have been able to set up compliance structures as prescribed by the law. Although some people argue that the FoI Act is too much of an idealistic legislation because of its civil society origin, but law is law. Rather than dwell on the idealism argument, I will rather wonder whether the drafters of the law took the Nigerian context into consideration. Some of these laws are uprooted from foreign jurisdictions and foisted on contexts like ours without adapting them accordingly. I will use a few instances to illustrate my argument as one tries to understand the law further and chart a way forward. First is that I consider the law as somewhat ambiguous. For instance, the objectives are “to make public records and information more freely available, provide public access to public records and information, protect public records and information to the extent that is consistent with public interest and protection of personal privacy, protect serving public officials from adverse consequences of disclosing certain kinds of information without authorisation and establish procedure for the achieve-

ment of the purposes and related matters.” Although the word, public, was mentioned more than 114 times throughout the text of the law, there was nowhere it was clarified. The assumption will probably be that everyone reading the law will have the same understanding of what public is. Odd! In a country where many private things are done under the cover of public interest, it would have been important to offer some explanation on what the law meant by the word, public. Even within the country there are slight differences between what is considered public or private. What is private in Yola may be private in Yenagoa. The demand for access to public information to be seen as a human right is great, but it will take a while. The target for public institutions to respond to the FoI requests within four days is excellent. However, in a situation where many agencies are not connected to the internet or their servers are perpetually down, what do you do? The whole idea of proactive public disclosures sounds very good, at least with the amendment of the Official Secrecy Act of 1911. Yet, the culture of secrecy prevails in the civil service. It is either as a result of ignorance or wilful negligence. It is either the bureaucrats are deliberately hiding the information or citizens are not yet aware of their rights. Very few government agencies have functional websites that are updated regularly. There are very few designated portals or platforms from where the public can obtain reliable information. Now, let us talk briefly about the relationship between an FoI regime and the war against corruption. The persistence of corruption despite the application of several remedies means that

proper diagnosis might not have been carried out. So before we rush to the discussion on the relationship between (anti)corruption and open society, let us try to find out the underlying causes of corruption in our country. No doubt, the strain of corruption in Nigeria is a peculiar one that inhibits growth. Many countries like us plagued with corruption have managed to continue to grow. A country like Indonesia has a thriving crude oil and palm oil industry amidst high level corruption. I do not need to over-emphasise the relationship between increased availability of information in the public domain and accountability. However, that relationship is not automatic. Transparent disclosure of information is necessary but not sufficient condition for accountability. With transparent action, citizens will be expected to demand accountability. Information therefore becomes tools and ammunition for advocacy with which citizens demand an accountability relationship from their leaders. A Freedom of Information regime will therefore only provide us with the information, the rest is in our handsthe citizens. The ability to use the information the right way is another important thing. Often, many people use the liberty of social media to use information wrongly. For the FoI and anti-corruption reforms to meet, there is a role for anti-corruption institutions. How many of them have so far established functional FoI units within their offices? Does the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Crimes Commission, the Code of Conduct Bureau, Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative disclosing information proactively? What is the integrity of the information obtained? Whose responsibility is it to bring the government agencies up to speed with proactive disclosure and build the capacity of citizens on productive advocacy? Whose responsibility is it to test the FoI law in its current state and find out what works and what does not and why? •Igwe, a public affairs analyst, lives in Lagos.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor

tribune

business

Sulaimon Olanrewaju

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

Hardship, economic crisis as calls for naira devaluation intensify Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

ANY economists have told non-economists that the strength of a country’s currency is determined by trade performance, capital inflows or an arbitrary number chosen by a central bank. Others further break it down by saying that if a country exports more than it imports, the demand for the exporting country’s currency and its exchange rate rise. Generally they say an exporting country would want all or some of its payments made to it in its local currency, which would increase the demand for its currency. But what happens to a country like Nigeria which trade performance revolves around a single product, crude oil, the supply and demand of which is determined by global forces outside its control? Little wonder then, the situation described above, where an arbitrary number is chosen (pegged) by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and supported by the Presidency, arises exists. Stretched a bit further, the country is headed towards a currency war and the symptoms are what happened to the naira on Friday. For the first time on Friday, the exchange rate used by Nigeria’s money-changers weakened below N250 per dollar as pressure built on the CBN to devalue the local currency and allow businesses more access to foreign-exchange. The black market or parallel rate fell to N253 per dollar from N246 on Thursday and N222 last month, according to Aminu Gwadabe, president of the Lagos-based Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON). That is 22 per cent weaker than the official rate used in the interbank market, which was N198.50 in Lagos but pegged at N197 by CBN as of Friday. “The CBN will say they don’t care about the parallel market, but investors are looking,» Gwadabe said, asking «Why will they bring in their money at N197 or N198 when the parallel rate is N250?” The official rate in Africa’s largest economy has been all but fixed at N198-N199 per dollar since March after the CBN restricted banks’ ability to buy dollars. In June, it stopped importers of about 41 items, including wheelbarrows and glass, from obtaining foreign exchange. Foreign investors have criticised Nigeria’s stance and sold bonds and stocks this year on expectation of a devaluation, which would cause losses on their hold-

The simple idea behind devaluation is that you make your import expensive but make your exports cheaper.... But the question we need to ask ourselves is ‘what do we produce and what do we export as a nation?

President Buhari ings in foreign currency. The naira’s fall in the parallel market came as the CBN restricts dollar supplies further to save its foreign reserves, which fell below $30 billion for the first time in four months on November 30. About 1,200 money changers, or 60 per cent of the total in Nigeria, were denied their weekly allocation of $30,000 from the CBN on Wednesday, according to Gwadabe. Whereas, on Friday, it refunded about N400 billion cash set aside by banks to buy dollars to them. This was attributed to the inability of some buyers to complete documentation, while market watchers insist there was no dollar to be supplied. The immediate aftermath of this is that ABCON has requested a “crucial”

meeting with the Abuja-based regulator on December 8 to address the issue, Gwadabe revealed, fearing that if CBN continued what it did last week, this week would be worse. Argument around devaluation In favour of devaluation, some experts have said that a devaluation or depreciation should work in the opposite direction, improving the trade balance, thanks to soaring exports and falling imports. They argue that in the case of Nigeria, the single commodity backing the naira has fallen and so, monetary authorities should devalue to reflect the true value of the naira vis-a-vis the oil that is backing it. The fact that the naira is under pressure was confirmed last Saturday by the Man-

aging Director of Financial Derivatives Company, Mr Bismark Rewane, who has been an advocate of subsidy removal and devaluation to reflect the true value of the local currency. According to him, “Naira is under serious pressure. We have the oil price at the lowest it has been in so many years. For the past 14 weeks now, it has been below $50 a barrel. That is a great strain on our fiscal, as well as external metrics.” Those against devaluation are concerned that imports have elasticity to price less than one (can›t do without imports) their values in local currency will grow instead of falling. Moreover, if the state, the citizens and/ or the enterprises have a debt denominated in a foreign currency, their principal and the interests to be paid rise because of the devaluation. They usually squeeze other expenditures and launch a recessionary impulse throughout the economy. Also, exchange rate devaluation leads to a situation where imported goods become more expensive both to the direct consumer and to domestic producer using them for further processing. In reaction to inflation (actual and feared), the CBN can raise the interest rates, thus sending a recessionary impulse. Similarly, a package of fiscal austerity (expenditure cuts and selective tax increase), freezing wages and privatising loss-generating public assets are someContinues pg22

tribunebusiness Import dependency: For how long will CBN control the exchange rate? 22

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Continued from pg21

times imposed after the currency crisis. However, the Director of Financial Market, CBN, Mr Emmanuel Ikeji, at the All Civil Society Economic Workshop, on the theme, ‘Understanding the Economic Implications of the New Policies and the Role of Civil Society in Policy Advocacy and Economic Development,’ re-emphasised the position of the apex bank on this matter. According to Ikeji: “The simple idea behind devaluation is that you make your import expensive but make your exports cheaper. The whole essence is that people can now produce because your export is cheaper. But the question we need to ask ourselves is ‘what do we produce and what do we export as a nation? “Our major export commodity which accounts for more than 80 per cent of our income is crude oil and where the crude oil price is determined, we don’t have a control over it. So, if we devalue, it has no impact directly on your major export, and what is supposed to be the non-oil export, we are not producing effectively.” It means that for the industry which is also import-dependent, they have to pay higher prices for those goods which will translate to higher inflation. The argument did not end there. A number of economic and financial analysts at an investment banking and research company, Afrinvest West Africa Limited, believe that no matter what position the CBN takes, the reality on ground is that it will devalue the naira in view of the proposed expansionary 2016 budget. Led by the head of Research, Mr Ayodeji Ebo, the analysts recalled that the Monetary Policy Committee decided to ease monetary policy, which would lead to an expansion in money supply by easing liquidity in the financial system and cutting the benchmark interest rate. This, they said, suggests the pre-eminence of the objective of boosting domestic credit growth over stabilising price level, agreeing though that there is an arranged stability of the exchange rate, «The realities of funding the 2016 budget may ultimately lead to devaluation before the second half of 2016 which may signal a turn of market sentiment.» According to Afrinvest, more realistic drivers of sentiment that may materialise in the short to medium term and garner investor confidence for equities include success of the economic team of President Buhari in articulating a Fiscal Plan to diversify the economy with emphasis on investment in key infrastructure (transport, power, support for SMEs, domestic agriculture and agro-based industries) by the administration, reduction in government overhead and removal of unproductive spending, such as subsidy. Why naira is seen as overvalued Industry sources also agree that the naira should be devalued because of huge demand for dollars currently waiting on the sidelines. They claim that orders have been waiting for weeks and are yet to be filled as CBN’s restrictions have hampered supply, making it more difficult to appropriately price the naira. Unconfirmed sources have put the demand to be between $1.5 billion and

Emefiele $2.5 billion and rising. It is believed that if this demand is met, it will impact negatively on the external reserves leaving the CBN with no other reason but to devalue the naira. This claim of short supply of dollars was coming at a period when Gross Foreign Exchange reserves slipped to $29.92 billion on November 30, the first time they have fallen below $30 billion since July 13. The foreign exchange reserves fell to $30.04 billion by November 26 from $30.10 billion the month before. Another reason to believe that naira is overvalued, according to the investors, has to do with the fiscal issues. The Federal Government has been encountering fiscal challenges since the global price of oil came crashing. Most states are in such fiscal mess now, owing staff salaries. They have even threatened to slash already low workers’ minimum wage from N18,000 or sack workers. Added to the above is the fact that CBN has since the New Year issued several policy directives that have placed restrictions on the demand and supply for dollar. Foreign Exchange (Forex) dealers believe this unprecedented move by the CBN has basically given the naira a false value which they feel cannot stand the full force of the effects of demand and supply on exchange rate. Analysts at Financial Derivatives Company Limited led by its ace economist, Mr Bismark Rewane, had observed some weeks ago that despite the 19 per cent year-on-year and 7 per cent year-to-date weakening, “the naira still has a long way to go to reach its possible fair value of N339 to the dollar. “Thus, the CBN will have to react by using up more of the reserves to support the currency or allow the currency to depreciate further,” said FDC analysts

The crisis Mr Buhari seeks to avert in the country is now fullblown with citizens struggling to survive a hellish situation.

Authorised dealers The authorised dealers are approved primary buyers of dollars from the CBN. They are dealers who have the authority to submit bids on behalf of the Bureau De Change (BDC) to the CBN for purchase of forex. Most commercial banks are registered authorised dealers with the CBN. The authorized dealer applies to CBN through the WDAS window on Mondays and Wednesdays for a maximum of US$2.0 million. The forex purchased by the authorised dealers is disbursed in cash and the BDCs in turn sell to end users for eligible transactions only, such eligible transactions include BTA at $5,000 per quarter and $20,000 per annum; PTA at $4,000 per quarter and $16,000 per annum; and others include mortgage monthly payment; school fees abroad; medical fees abroad; credit card payment; utility bills; and life assurance premium payment. Political stability and economic performance One question that kept agitating the mind of most analysts is whether the Ni-

gerian economy is strong and rich enough to sustain naira at the current level where it has been pegged. Going by the recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), there is still hope in the Nigerian economy. According to NBS, Nigeria’s economy expanded at a slightly faster pace in the third quarter as oil production increased. “The country recorded Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 2.84 per cent year-on-year in the third quarter, compared with 2.35 per cent in the second quarter,” latest report from the NBS has shown. But most Nigerians do not see any light at the end of the tunnel. Thus, social commentator, Adeola Akinremi, captured the state of the Nigerian economy thus: “The crisis Mr Buhari seeks to avert in the country is now full-blown with citizens struggling to survive a hellish situation. And with Christmas a few days away, it is debatable if Nigerians will have a Merry Christmas in this conundrum. Liquidity dry up, perennial power outage, Boko Haram insurgency, plunging petrodollar, fuel scarcity, weak currency and other national crisis are features that provided a rocky start for Nigeria’s new leader, Muhammadu Buhari, but six months after his second shot at the presidency of Africa’s biggest economy, the situation has gone from worse to worst for Nigerians. “The desperation to stabilise naira has made the country’s CBN impose currency restrictions that have scared off investors and caused economic recovery to linger. The starving businessmen of US dollars for their imports and the squeeze on domiciliary accounts maintained by many middle class in the country as a form of savings continue to dry out their hope for a better life that Buhari-led government professed,” Akinremi stated.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

+ entrepreneurship

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Ruth Olurounbi

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

Skye Bank targets SMEs in e-commerce with ‘YesMall’ IN order to help Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) find new markets for their goods, trade in the global arena and enhance their income, Skye Bank Plc has unveiled an online shop, ‘YesMall.’ The bank said this initiative is borne out of the realisation that many small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria do not have the wherewithal or the expertise to run an online shop thereby making it difficult for them to sell their goods. As the world economy becomes more and more interdependent and inter-connected, e-commerce has taken the front burner as the main vehicle of international trade. In this

new age of knowledge and digital economy, and the application of information and communication technology to boost trade among nations, the internet has become the gateway to the global e-commerce world of convenience, comfort, security and speed. Information and communication technology has made doing business very easy worldwide. The historical, “linear” business model, in which consumers shopped only in stores they could walk or drive to, in which manufacturers conducted business only via retailers, has been altered. The worldwide spread of Internet accessibility via smartphones is

driving the expansion of e-commerce that is changing the retailing landscape forever. Without any shred of doubt, e-commerce is already big business, and research shows it is shifting into a yet higher gear. Growth estimates suggest business-to-consumer (B2C) e-commerce sales worldwide will reach $1.5 trillion this year, a 20 percent increase over last year. In Nigeria, with the aid of the internet, the potential worth of e-commerce is estimated at $10 billion. This is a huge opportunity for discerning corporate organisations to explore and tap for growth. Continues on pg25

10 tips for running

a start-up

Equity vs debt:

How should entrepreneurs fund their business ventures?

URING the process of securing funding, entrepreneurs and business owners are not always aware of the pros and cons associated with asking for too much or too little finance for their business, or whether they should consider debt or equity to fund their business. This is according to Gerrie van Biljon, executive director at Business Partners, a risk financier for SMEs in South Africa, who says that entrepreneurs should be cautious of the amount of finance they apply for, as the wrong amount could jeopardise their business’ success.

He explains that while applying for too little funding may not satisfy the financial needs of the business, securing funding in excess of what is required will put additional pressure on the cash flow of the business. “This debt needs to be repaid to the lender, and the more debt the business is in, the higher the repayment will be.” There is also the risk of the business owner being tempted to utilise the additional funds for private use, says van Biljon. “Obtaining too much money could lead to the improper use of the additional funds suddenly becoming available to the business owner. This money is also very

likely to be spent on unnecessary items that will not necessarily improve the position of the business.” Van Biljon adds that asking for too much funding can also hinder an entrepreneur’s approval rate for finance. “Should an entrepreneur apply for an amount that the financier believes is unjustified, the possibility exists that the application will be rejected. This could be for a few reasons, such as the financier not being confident that the entrepreneur is familiar with his/ her financial position and the needs of the business, or that the applicant is not fully transparent on the proposed application

of funds.” The financial needs of a business stem from either its current position, or the proposed plans for the business, such as expansion, increasing capacity, acquisitions or capital to develop a new product range. “When applying for finance, an entrepreneur should be very clear on the position and strategy of the business as this will determine what type of funding is appropriate for the business. For example – is short or long-term finance more suitable or should the finance be in the form of debt or equity,” says van Biljon.

+ entrepreneurship Monday, 14 December, 2015

How should entrepreneurs fund their business ventures? Continues from pg23

10 tips for running

a start-up

OSHUA Keller and Nick Matzorkis met anonymously on the Tyra Banks Show in 2006, performing live in a band together as “the world’s first Internet band.” Their band, The ClipBandits, had become one of the early YouTube sensations. What made their band unique was the members had never met in person, didn’t know each others’ names, nor even knew where each other lived. Their story was featured on ABC World News, Good Morning America, and countless other media outlets, prompting Tyra Banks to invite them and other bandmates onto her show to meet and perform together in person for the first time. After their first in-person meeting, Matzorkis, a seasoned serial entrepreneur, and Keller, who at the time was in the process of forming his first company, immediately hit it off. They began exploring opportunities for working together, and eventually started up Global Agora, a seed capital venture fund and holding company. This then led to their launching a group of companies that included Union Square Media digital advertising agency, and SUP ATX Paddle Boards. USM has since grown into an industry leader with offices in New York, Boston, Miami, Austin, and Los Angeles. SUP ATX triggered the stand up paddling global phenomenon and remains the leader in that space. Global Agora is currently forecasting revenues of nearly $100 million in 2016. Not bad for a couple of former YouTube stars. Here are 10 startup tips from Joshua and Nick--the firstfive are from Joshua, and the others are from Nick.

1. Keep it moving Never expect things to stay the same or always be perfect. The worst thing you can do is sit around and sulk. You can’t lose if you never give up. 2. Be a problem solver, never a complainer The difference between success and failure is working through challenges and obstacles. There will always be ups and down but continuing to do the same thing and not solving the root of the issue is like running with a weight vest and shackles. 3. Automate and replicate Whatever basic functions it takes to make your revenue stream try to automate as much

as you can. Try to take it out of individual hands to determine success or failure. While some functions and decisions require a human mind, others don’t, so identify which is which.

A cross section of participants at the GEC 2013 held in Rio de Janeiro. PHOTO: GEC

GEC 2016 goes to Medellín

4. Trust people who have earned it Not everyone will do things exactly how you do it, but when people have earned your trust you need to believe in them. Without an able support system of a trusted team, you will always be just another entrepreneur that is spinning too many plates and never take a step forward.

THE 2016 edition of the annual Global Entrepreneurship Congress (GEC), which began in March 2009 in Kansas City, is heading to Medellin, Colombia, South America. Medellín, which is ranked number 15 as one of the “best cities to do business in Latin America” according to 2010’s América Economía magazine, is probably tipped for the GEC 2016 for its business tourism and “lucrative and reliable investment.” According to information on the GEC

5. Build a business not a revenue stream While it’s very impressive to build a steady revenue stream you will never be worth much more than 1-2x time the net profit. When you build a business, you begin to expand and multiply to create value.

selected to the 2012 edition. The GEC has since moved to different cities since its inception, moving from Liverpool too Rio de Janeiro for the 2013 edition, where over 115 countries gathered to discuss high-impact entrepreneurship and innovation. The 2014 event was hosted by Moscow with over 150 countries represented and was awarded Best Business Event of 2014 from the Moscow Times. The fashion capital of Italy, Milan hosted the 2015 GEC, where Global Entrepreneurship Network was launched.

Skye Bank targets SMEs in e-commerce with ‘YesMall’

6. Find the right partners You want loyalty, integrity, and honor. Complimentary skill sets a must too, but without the previous three qualities, don’t even bother getting started.

Continues from pg23

7. Make a commitment Starting a company with a co-founder is a commitment like marriage--through sickness and in health. Expect to go through hell and back together. Know that you and your business partner(s) can take the heat. 8. Be ambitious All business partners must share an exceedingly high level of ambition. Success mandates a equilibrium on this front, with everyone pushing the business--and one another--to excel. 9. Don’t let accountants and attorneys dictate how to run your company Consider their perspectives and proceed accordingly. If they were so good at building companies, they’d be doing it themselves. 10. Have a strong vision Trust your instincts and don’t second guess yourself until proven wrong. No one else knows more about or will care more about your vision and your success than you and your partners. Don’t let anyone else steer you off track. This article first appeared on inc.com

website, the investment climate Colombia “has become quite favourable and has attracted more than 140 foreign investors who have expressed that, in Medellín, they have encountered a great deal of confidence and an elevated level of innovation and business.” Since the Global Entrepreneurship Congress started, the Congress has been hosted around the world, with Shanghai hosting the third GEC in 2011. Jonathan Ortmans, chairman of the GEC announced Liverpool as the host city

Bringing an investor into the business usually implies that equity will be introduced and that the investor will obtain a shareholding in the business. Van Biljon says that although this format of funding has the advantage of no fixed repayment terms, in the process the entrepreneur parts with a portion of ownership of their business. “When opting to go with this finance option, selecting an investor should be done with caution, and both parties should agree on what their expectations are.” He cautions businesses with high growth potential regarding taking more funding that what is required. “Investors may offer the entrepreneur more funding than what is required, which will result in the investor obtaining a larger shareholding in the business. Introducing this equity may be a very expensive exercise should the entrepreneur decide to buy the investors’ shares at a later stage, as this figure could be inflated due to the growth that the company has experienced.” He warns that although entrepreneurs may be tempted to spend any additional funds available, they need to understand the potentially dangerous long-term effects of utilising these funds, and instead carefully allocate funding to items that will grow the business. “During the process of establishing what type of funding is appropriate, professional advice is recommended as not all entrepreneurs are financially orientated or familiar with the financial principles. Sound, professional advice will guide and steer the entrepreneur to the most suited solution for their particular needs,” concludes van Biljon. •Culled from HowWeMadeItInAfrica

Mark Essien

Available statistics show that the e-commerce sector in Nigeria currently boasts of about 300, 000 online orders daily. Our desire at Skye Bank is to substantially grow these figures and make e-commerce the new trade highway in Nigeria. Internet enhances competition and also stimulates trade. The rise and subsequent growth of line shops in Nigeria can be attributed to the ease, convenience and the security associated with e-commerce. Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Skye Bank Plc, Mr Timothy Oguntayo, at the unveiling of YesMall in Lagos recently, described the online store as a unique bundle which offers the benefits of a product on the one hand and the opportunities of an online mall where our current and prospective SME and retail customers can buy and sell their products and services. As the name sounds, the Skye YesMall is an e-commerce platform which offers three primary and distinctive benefits, namely provision of convenience for our customers who seek cost-effective opportunities to make purchases online from

Timothy Oguntayo, GMD/CEO, Skye Bank

the comfort of their homes, and offering a unique opportunity for our SME customers to cross-sell. According to Oguntayo, the new online store, called YesMall, offers a unique experience for the bank’s current and prospective SME and retail customers who can now buy and sell their products and services from the comfort of their homes by

using electronic devices such as: phones, tablet, laptop, or desktop. They can also do their transactions by using the ATM machines nearest to them According to Oguntayo, the bank came up with the platform after noticing that some SME operators find it difficult to sell their goods as most of the finished goods end

up as items of inventory in the warehouses. Noting that e-commerce had gained recognition in both national and global trade, Oguntayo said the bank planned to facilitate the participation of Nigerian SME operators in the global e-commerce sales which is currently estimated at $1.5 trillion. In addition, he explained that the potential worth of e-commerce in Nigeria put at an estimated $10 billion per annum, offers a huge opportunity for discerning businesses to explore and tap into to grow their market share. “Available statistics show that the e-commerce sector in Nigeria currently boasts of about 300, 000 online orders daily. Our desire at Skye Bank is to substantially grow these figures and make e-commerce the new trade highway in Nigeria,” he said. The Skye Bank boss described the YesMall as an e-commerce platform which offers Nigerians cost-effective opportunities to buy and sell online from the comfort of their homes. The Mall will also provide opportunities for many Indigenous Entrepreneurs to showcase their products to a borderless market “The introduction of YesMall

is therefore a deliberate strategy to live the spirit of our mission statement which is using technology to drive innovation and enable consumer lifestyle”, he said. Executive Director, Technology and Service Delivery Channels, Mrs. Markie Idowu, described the Yesmall as an electronic market for showcasing locally made products and services of Nigerian small and medium scale enterprises. She maintained that Skye Bank has in the last one year provided free capacity building support to over 2500 entrepreneurs across the country who are also customers of the bank. Idowu said the YesMall initiative was a deliberate effort to provide SME owners with business expansion opportunities in a hassle-free manner. On payment arrangement, she said buyers could pay online, pay through any Skye Bank branch or pay at the point of delivery of goods. To ensure the success of this value adding service, Idowu enjoined the customers of the bank and noncustomers to take advantage of the opportunities in the Yes mall since physical barrier and distance are no longer impediments to opportunities.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

moneymarket Tough days ahead for BDCs as CBN gives strict guidelines ...Staff to have university degree

Emefiele, CBN governor

HERE seem to be difficult times ahead for operators of Bureau De Change (BDC) as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has in a bid to halt speculation on Naira, issued strict guidelines for that segment of the money market. Part of the guideline is that management staff and other senior officers of the BDC shall possess university degrees and experiences not below two years. Attached to a circular obtained from its website over the week, the apex bank stated in the guideline that qualifications and experiences of the Managing Director/CEO shall be first degree or its equivalent in any discipline with three (3) years post-graduation experience, while the minimum qualifications and experience shall be first degree or its equivalent in any discipline with two years post-graduation experience for the management and support staff. It went on to state categorically, that one of the management staff appointed above should be designated as compliance officer for the purpose of ensuring compliance with all regulatory guidelines and circulars. The CBN said it reserves the right to accept any other qualifications or experience that it may from time to time consider as adequate for a particular position in a BDC. “All appointments shall be in compliance with the requirements of Approved Person Regime and every BDC shall obtain prior

approval of the CBN before changing its location, organisational structure, directors or financial requirements, which may vary at the discretion of the CBN. Minimum paid-up share capital ( N35 million); non -refundable application fee (N100,000); non-refundable licensing fee ( N1 million); mandatory caution deposit (N35 million ); non -refundable annual licensing renewal fee; (N250,000 payable not later than 30 days after the end of each calendar year; non-refundable change of name fee (N100,000). The foreign currencies dealt in by a BDC shall be derived from private sources and such other sources which may include the CBN window as determined by the CBN from time to time for the purpose of funding Business Travel Allowance (BTA) and Personal Travel

Allowance (PTA). Any person/individual wishing to sell foreign currency above $10,000 or its equivalent to a BDC shall be required to disclose the source. “Transactions shall be on spot basis (immediate settlement). For the avoidance of doubt, forward transactions by BDCs are not allowed. The maximum amount per transaction for a BDC shall be determined from time to time by the CBN with respect to business and personal travel allowances,” it stated. The maximum amount currently for PTA and BTA per quarter is $4000 and $5000,respectively. Every Licenced BDC shall conspicuously display its buying and selling rates subject to a maximum spread of 3.5 per cent or as the CBN may determine from time to time.

Every Bureau De Change shall keep proper registers and other records of all its transactions for transparency and compliance with Anti Money Laundering Provisions, CBN guidelines, circulars or directives. Furthermore the circular stated, a machine list or receipts showing how the amount sold to or bought from a customer was arrived at, should be issued by the Bureau De Change. The apex bank wants all sales or purchases of foreign exchange to be properly documented and recorded as may be required by the CBN. Such documents should be arranged sequentially and be made available to CBN and other regulatory authorities on demand. “Purchases of foreign currencies by intending travelers shall be supported by their Bank Verification Number (BVN), validly issued and genuine travelling documents (ticket, passport, visa) and the sales receipt duly signed by the customer. The amount and date shall be endorsed on the passport. In such cases, a photocopy of the documents, forex endorsement page and sales receipt shall be filed in a sequential order by the BDC. It said that the stamp to be adopted by BDCs should contain the following details: FX sold, purpose, date and signature.

CBN Exchange Rates Date 12/11/2015

Currency Buying(NGN) Central(NGN) Selling(NGN) US DOLLAR 196 196.5 197 POUNDS STERLING 296.9204 297.6779 298.4353 EURO 215.0316 215.5802 216.1287 SWISS FRANC 198.5011 199.0075 199.5139 YEN 1.6138 1.6179 1.6221 CFA 0.3078 0.3178 0.3278 WAUA 271.969 272.6628 273.3566 YUAN/RENMINBI 30.3547 30.4326 30.5105 RIYAL 52.2416 52.3749 52.5081 DANISH KRONA 28.8151 28.8886 28.9621 SDR 272.8124 273.5084 274.2043

FGN Bonds Date of Auction 11/11/2015 11/11/2015 10/14/2015 10/14/2015 Security Type FGN Bonds FGN Bonds FGN Bonds FGN Bonds Tenor Maturing On 5 Year 10 Year 5 Year 10 Year 2/13/2020 3/14/2024 2/13/2020 3/14/2024 2/13/2020 3/14/2024 2/13/2020 3/14/2024 Amount Offered (N mn) 30 20 40 40 Subscriptions (N mn) 71.05 83.90 102.71 82.17 Tot. Successful (N mn) 30.00 20.00 40.00 40.00 Net Sales (N mn) Range of Bid Rates 7.0000 - 6.0000 - 12.0000 - 12.0000 15.5400 14.5000 16.0000 16.5000 Successful Bid Rates 7.0000 - 6.0000 - 12.0000 - 12.0000 10.2490 10.0100 13.1110 13.8700 Marginal Rate 10.249 10.01 13.111 13.87

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Chima Nwokoji

m:08032637535 e:chimatitus@yahoo.com

weeklyreview Money market: Rates to remain near zero After conducting an Open Market Operation (OMO) auction week before last, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) paused its mop-up activities last week, leaving liquidity at high levels. After hitting N1.0trillion penultimate week, liquidity in the Nigerian financial system stayed above N1.0trillion on the first two trading days last week. Consequently, money market rates -- Open Buy Back (OBB) and Overnight (O/N) -- stayed low, closing at 0.5 per cent and 0.9 per cent respectively while average Nigeria Interbank Offered Rate (NIBOR) closed at 8.8 per cent on Monday. System liquidity eased to N955.5billion on Wednesday, thus OBB and O/N rates rose marginally to 0.6 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively. On Thursday, against financial market dealers’ provisioning for the CBN’s weekly Foreign Exchange (FX) intervention, market liquidity declined significantly to N461.0billion. Nevertheless, rates recorded marginal changes to close at 0.7per cent for the OBB, 1.0 per cent for the O/N and 8.8 per cent for average NIBOR. Dealers said system liquidity further dropped on Friday (11/12/2015) as the settlement debits for the December DMO bond auction held same day. However, with 0.5per cent, OBB stayed flat week on Week (W-o-W) (OBB) while O/N rose 8 basis points (W-o-W) after closing 1.0 on Friday. As the system remains awash with liquidity, rates in the Treasury Bills (T-bills) market trended at lower levels last week. After closing at 6.1 per cent last Friday, average T-bills rate declined 2.2 per cent W-o-W to settle at 3.9 on Friday. Given the monetary authority’s stance to leave liquidity at high levels to promote real sector lending, dealers do not see rates rising far higher than current levels in the short to medium term. Foreign Exchange: Naira loses N5, foreign reserve down to $29.6 bn Foreign exchange illiquidity has been a major issue currently facing individuals and businesses in Nigeria as the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) kept its foreign exchange policy on a tight leash. Consequently, official exchange rate has remained within the range of N196.97/ US$1.00 and N197.00/US$1.00 since 21 July, 2015 till date. After opening at N197.00/US$1.00 on Monday, the official exchange rate depreciated 3kobo on Tuesday to settle at N196.97/US$1.00 and stayed at the same rate till the end of the week. Also, interbank market rate opened at N199.10/US$1.00 on Monday and equally declined 3kobo on Tuesday to stay at the same rate till the end of the week. Dealer from Afrinvest West Africa Limited observed that on the back of refusal of some Bureau De Change (BDC) operators to render returns to the CBN, a number of BDCs were excluded from this week’s intervention. As a result, the spread between the parallel market rate and the interbank widened further on Thursday to close at a high of N257.00/US$1.00. Thus representing a N5.00 depreciation from the N252.00/US$1.00 recorded on Wednesday. Naira’s weakening to a record low in unregulated trading on Friday was attributed to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s reduced amount of dollars made available to money changers.The black-market rate depreciated 5.8 percent to N260 per dollar compared with its level on Monday, according to Aminu Gwadabe, president of the Lagos-based Association of Bureau de Change Operators of Nigeria. That’s 24 percent weaker than the official rate of N198.52 per dollar as of 12:56 p.m. in Lagos. In a related development, the Nigerian external reserves slipped to a 5-month low of US$29.6billion during the week. Meanwhile, oil price outlook remains bleak with Brent crude falling below US$40.0p/b last week following the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Counties (OPEC’s) decision to defend its market share penultimate Friday. Consequently, Afrinvest maintained that devaluation remains imminent.

moneymarket

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Bankers committee to increase agric, SME lending to N300 bn in 2016 THE bankers’ committee, an umbrella body of Managing Directors of Deposit Money Banks and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have agreed to set a target of N300 billion in total lending to Small and Medium scale Enterprises (SMEs) and the agricultural sector of the Nigerian economy. This is aimed at supporting the effort of the Federal Government of Nigeria to diversify the economy away from oil. Addressing newsmen in Lagos at the end of the 2015 Bankers’ Committee retreat, governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr. Godwin Emefiele said: “Banks therefore set a target to boost agricultural lending not only to the SMEs, but also to large scale farming companies up to about N300 billion in 2016. “The banks also recognised that there is a need for a paradigm shift in the feeling that SMEs are endangered sector to lend money.” He added that the Bank Verification Number will assist in creating a pool of

GTBank to reward GTCrea8 customers with mini Cooper FOREMOST African Financial Institution; Guaranty Trust Bank plc held the 3rd edition of the GTCrea8 Mini Cooper giveaway with Hassan Jamiu Olawale from Kwara State University emerging as the proud owner of a Mini Cooper Car. The promo which was launched in 2013 provides a platform for the Bank to reward one lucky GTCrea8 customer with a brand new Mini Cooper car. The raffle draw for the Mini Cooper giveaway held on Wednesday, 9th of December, 2015, at the GTBank Head office in Lagos. Since the launch of the campaign, two lucky GTCrea8 customers have been rewarded with a brand new mini cooper car. In 2013, Shalom Wigwe Elisha – a 2nd year student of medicine at the University of Lagos became the very first recipient of the prestigious car. Maryam Adebiyi, a student of Lagos State Polytechnic was the next to win the car in 2014. In addition to the car giveaway, 90 undergraduates have been rewarded with scholarships worth 150,000 each over the last 3 years.

SME loans in the country and that there is a need to increase capacity building for identified SME operators in the areas of book keeping and managing business to made that sector more bankable. According to him, the retreat recorded impressive attendance by stakeholders in the Nigerian economy. Some of them are: the governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwumi Ambode; the Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbe; the Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola; Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amechi; Minister for Solid Minerals, Kayode Fayemi and the Minister for Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun, among others.

From left, Sales Manager, Dana Motors, Mr Olawale Jide; Head, Retail Banking Group, Skye Bank Plc, Nkolika Okoli and Chief Commercial Officer, Dana Motors, Mr Sandeep Malhotra, at a press briefing on the auto finance agreement between Skye Bank and Dana Motors in Lagos recently.

Lagos City Marathon: Access Bank sets pace for corporate sponsorship

S the Lagos State government intensifies preparation to put the city on the international athletics platform, Access Bank Plc has set the pace for corporate sponsorship of the first Lagos City Full Marathon which is billed to hold on February 6, 2016. Disclosing this in Lagos at the weekend, Executive

Director at Access Bank, Mr Victor Etuokwu said there is no better way to showcase the splendor and beauty of the state than sponsorship of the international Lagos City Marathon. To other corporate organisations, he said the sponsorship of such great event is a choice of individual entities, but Access Bank’s interest is in giving back to society, he

said at a press briefing over the weekend. “Marathon brings people from all walks of life together to a state and creates a platform on which the city is showcased. People see the vibrancy and the friendly nature of the city when they partake in a marathon. “While a business conference may bring in the people, marathon does more in

CBN to review N15 bn SWIFT collateral mandate for banks THE Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has promised that it will review the N15 billion collateral requirement from banks for SWIFT hosted service connection, for both domestic and international payment traffic. Currently, all settlement banks are required to have N15 billion as collateral pledged with CBN, irrespective of their volume of operations for the service being provided by the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT). This has led to a situation where some banks› activities are over-collaterised while some are under- collaterised. Revealing this at the CBN/ SWIFT executives interactive session in Lagos, Deputy Governor, Financial System Stability CBN, Alhaji Sulaiman Barau said the bank is planing to review the existing collateral regime to make it more efficient. “We are looking at a sys-

tem whereby before the end of next year, we come up with new collateral management system. So, we are going to move from defaulter based, to a survivor based,” he said. To enable it do that under the PSV2020, Barau explained, the CBN has set up four different boards, including the Real Time Gross Settlement System (RTGS), the mobile payment system and others, so that they will look at the whole gamut of collateral management and “come up with recommendations on how best to do this, what statistics is to be used, what per centage of transactions.” According to Barau who was represented by Dipo Fatokun, Director, Banking & Payments System Department, Central Bank of Nigeria, they are working on that, even as he remained optimistic that when the new collateral management system is implemented, it will be a big boost to pay-

ment system. Pursuant to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Payment System Vision 2020 (PSV2020), the apex bank had mandated use of the hosted service by the country’s banking community in order to strengthen the Nigerian financial market and ensure it meets global best practices for financial crime compliance. Vision 2020 calls for a “Nationally Utilised and Internationally Recognised” payments system and provides a robust platform to support Nigeria’s continued economic growth. “The importance of the payments system in any market economy cannot be over-emphasiSed. In particular, the link between the efficiency of the payments system, the effectiveness with which monetary policy is conducted, the soundness of the financial sector and, indeed, the overall performance of the economy is very strong,” he added.

showcasing a city. “This is why as a bank, we have decided to be part of it and also because the Athletic Federation of Nigeria and the International Association of Athletics Federation have endorsed it,” he said. The executive director added that the bank is in talks with other corporate organisations across all industries to partner with the bank and Lagos State government in hosting the event next year. The Special Adviser to the Lagos Sports Commission, Ayo Tinubu said the 42 kilometre international marathon, will have a grand price of $50,000. Top 10 marathoners in the world, he said, have sent in letters of interest to participate in the race which will run through major parts of the state. Speaking at the media briefing to unveil the marathon, he said there would be prizes for the first 10 marathoners who cross the finish line. Also, the first 20 Nigerians to cross the finish line will get prizes starting from N1 million. The marathon is billed to start from the National Stadium, through Ojota to link up with the Third Mainland Bridge, through Ikoyi to the Lekki Toll Gate to link Bonny Camp and end at the Eko Atlantic City. Tinubu noted that as the first full marathon to be run in the country, Access Bank and its partners are set to make it an interna-

tional event by ensuring that every little detail that should be done is done to make sure that it is the best in Africa. “It is going to be a marathon of international standard and part of what we have done to make it of international standard is to ensure that every single runner will have a tracker that will tell us where they are at every point in time.” The Lagos State governor has been very particular about sports and tourism and this marathon is a very good opportunity to showcase the state he stated. Meanwhile, the sophomore edition of the biggest innovative conference in Africa, Access Conference 2015 was held at the Eko Hotel Victoria Island Lagos, and it brought together entrepreneurs, politicians and CEOs from all over the globe. The conference put together by Access Bank, saw moguls across all spectrum: digital technology, broadcast, banking, governance, finance, new media and fashion, come together to have conversations about the imperative of innovation in a transformational world. “This conference should enable every one of us to ask the important question: “What If?” What if Nigeria’s literacy level was 100 per cent? “Innovation is no longer an option but an absolute necessity,” said Herbert Wigwe, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Access Bank during his opening address.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

capitalmarket

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba

m:08057336640 e:kehinde_07@yahoo.com

NSE: Investors lose N838.4m in one week Stories by Kehinde Akinseinde -Jayeoba - Lagos

NVESTORS on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), last week lost a sum of N838.44 million, as a turnover of 1.174 billion shares worth N13.846 billion in 13,870 deals were traded on the floor. This was in contrast to a total of 1.218 billion shares valued at N14.685 billion that exchanged hands last week in 13,495 deals. The Financial Services Industry (measured by volume) led the activity chart with 827.653 million shares valued at N5.108 billion traded in 8,266 deals; thus contributing 70.49 per cent and 36.89 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. The Natural Resources Industry followed with 147.047 million shares worth N73.740 million in 18 deals. The third place was occupied by the Consumer Goods Industry with a turnover of 88.348 million shares worth N4.428 billion in 2,518 deals. Multiverse Plc, Guinea Insurance Plc and Zenith International Bank Plc accounted for 397.435 million shares worth N1.869 billion in1,785 deals, contributing 33.85 per cent and 13.50 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively. Thus these three quoted companies traded in the top three equities. The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation, a major indicator of the Bourse, depreciated by 1.31 per cent to close the week at 27,269.71 and N9.376 trillion respectively, a not-so-impressive result according to analyst. Similarly, nine other Indices finished lower during the week, with the exception of the NSE Oil and Gas Index that rose by 0.09 per cent, while the NSE ASeM Index closed flat. Twenty-five equities appreciated in price during the week, lower than 28 equities of the preceding week. 37 equities depreciated in price, lower than 51 equities of the previous week, while 128 equities remained unchanged, higher than 111 equities recorded in the pre-

ceding week Specifically, Law Union and Rocks Insurance Nigeria Plc had 21.82 per cent increase as it gained 12 kobo to close at 67 kobo per share by Friday. Learn Africa Plc moved 18.18 per cent forward dur-

ing the week, closing at 78 kobo per share after adding 12 kobo during the five-day trade on the Bourse. Eterna Plc followed suit with a 17.76 per cent gain to close at N1.79 kobo per share, while Flour Mills Nigeria Plc appreci-

care Plc also depreciated by 9.76 per cent, losing 29 kobo to close at N2.68 kobo per share. Unity Bank Plc led the laggards on the Financial Sector during the week with a 9.46 per cent depreciation to close at 67 kobo per share on Friday. Tiger Branded Consumer Goods Plc continued its losing spree after the change of name from Dangote Sugar Plc weeks ago. It lost 12 Kobo from the N1.27 Kobo it began trading with on Monday, representing 9.45 per cent decline.

Diamond Bank appoints non-executive director

From left, former President, Institute of Directors (IOD), Femi Ekundayo; President, IOD, Yemi Akeju and chairman, Keystone Bank Limited, Moyo Ajekigbe, during the annual IOD 2015 Dinner/Award, where Ajekigbe received Director Development Award at Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, recently.

Risk aversion hits global equities as oil extends rout By Agency Reports GLOBAL financial markets have turned gloomy as the countdown to the Federal Reserve’s probable interest-rate increase sparked a selloff among riskier assets, from equities to commodities and highyield debt. According to the Sydney Morning Herald at the weekend, United States’ stocks tumbled to a twomonth low, while shares in developing nations extended the longest slump since June amid speculation higher US rates will trigger outflows. European stocks dropped to a two-month low and oil plunged below $US36 a barrel on track for its worst week since March. Industrial metals rose amid plans to cut back output. Treasuries rallied with the yen on haven demand.

“Companies that are leveraged to commodities are breaking lower and then you also have flows of funds into the Treasury market because people are buying Treasuries in anticipation of inflation,” said Dave Lutz, the Annapolis, Maryland-based head of exchange-traded funds trading for JonesTrading Institutional Services. “You have to double whammy in equities. That is going to be the big driver of the day.” Volatility has returned to global financial markets just days before the Fed is anticipated to raise rates for the first time in more than a decade. With commodity prices at a 16-year low adding to concern that weakness in China’s economy will spread, investors are seeking havens on speculation that the change in central-bank

Communication, key to building investors’ trust EFFECTIVE communication has been attributed, among other things, to be a major driver of the economy as it helps build trust between investors and shareholder. Victoria Ferrer, the region advisor of the Toastmasters International, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, recently explained that gaining adequate

ated by 7.17 per cent to close at N20.47 kobo per share. However, Honeywell Flour Mills Plc led laggards for the week as it shed 11.60 per cent from its share price for the week to close at N1.60 kobo per share. Fidson Health-

information on appropriate ways through which messages could be passed across had been beneficial to companies as it boost relationships. She added that in communication training, how to effectively resolve conflict had been a major part the club trained corporations on and how to become a better

person has been the nugget. “We impact core value for respect, integrity, service to members and dedication to excellence, which had been helpful in corporations.” Toastmaster is an international non-profit organisation dedicated to building leaders through communication.

policy will roil markets. Adding to investor anxiety Friday was news that Third Avenue Management took the unusual step of freezing withdrawals from a credit mutual fund. The Standard & Poor’s 500 Index slumped 1.7 per cent at 12.34pm in New York, with losses extending in afternoon trading to put the index at its lowest level since October 15. gauge is headed for a weekly slide of more than 3.6 per cent. That’s the most since November 13, when signs of slowing growth from China to Europe rekindled concern that weakness could spread to America. “Certainly, you’ve got the commodity price declines that continue and that’s leading to the stresses in the credit markets and when you see these stresses in the credit markets, equities usually suffer,” said Sean Lynch, cohead of global equity strategy for Wells Fargo Investment Institute. “You don’t have as much margin of safety so when you have some of these surprises to the markets, sometimes equities give a little back.” The Chicago Board Options Volatility Index jumped 26 per cent to 24.31, headed for a weekly surge of 64 per cent, the most since August. The VIX trades at its highest level since September.

DIAMOND Bank Plc has appointed Mr Damian Dolland as a Non-Executive Director. In a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) to the exchange on Friday, the bank approved the appointment during the Board of Directors’ meeting held on October 24. Diamond Bank noted that Mr Dolland’s appointment has been approved by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and same would be up for ratification by the shareholders at the next annual general meeting of the company. Mr Dolland is a managing partner in Fidelis Advisory Partners, Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was responsible for client management, business development, transaction execution and management of day to day operations and staff. He previously held a position as Managing Director, Head of Investment Banking: Sub-Saharan Africa, J.P. Morgan between 2010 and 2012. His career spans over 19 years in the Investment banking sector. Damian Dolland is also the founder and director of Darisami International Consultancy, based in Port Louis, Mauritius, where he is involved in financial advisory and investments focused on Sub-Saharan Africa and the Caribbean, specialising in mergers and acquisition, debt and equity financing and real estate. He holds a B.Sc (Hons) in Biomedical and Electrical Engineering with Distinction-Cum Laude; he has a Minor in Chemistry from Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. However, the Diamond Bank noted that Mr Dolland would function in a non-executive capacity and his appointment is subject to shareholders’ ratification at the Annual General Meeting.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

labour tra of change has global acknowledgement to approve its creation as a full- fledge ministry. The senior citizens believe that if created, the ministry will cater adequately for the welfare of pensioners, old people and senior citizens throughout Nigeria as it is practised in developed countries of the world. Afolayan also called for the retention and strengthening of National Pension Commission (PENCOM) and Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), to operate seamlessly under the proposed new ministry.

2015 Pensioners Day:

Plight of Nigerian pensioners and demand for better condition Nigerian pensioners marked the 2015 Pensioners Day last Friday at the Labour House, Abuja. SOJI-EZE FAGBEMI, who was at the event organized by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) looks at the plights of the old people and their demands from the government of President Muhammadu Buhari.

IGERIAN pensioners, under the auspices of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), celebrated the 2015 Pensioners Day in a very pathetic condition and state of mind, characterised by the usual unpaid pensions, over-deduction from the meagre pensions many of them are being paid, rigours of yet another biometric and verification exercise as well as non-payment of outstanding arrears. From across the states of the federation, the pensioners gathered at the Labour House, Abuja to celebrate a day many of them believed would have been better celebrated if successive government had in the past given the pensioners their deserved place in the country. Despite their many plights and pitiable conditions, they said the day was worth celebrating because as old as they are, they are still alive. The NUP President, Dr Abel Afolayan, in his address described it as a very important gathering in the life of the union. “I first and foremost give glory to God Almighty that has spared our lives and made it possible for us to see the 2015 pensioners’ day. It is an established fact that between the last pensioners’ day and the 2015 pensioners’ day some officers and members of the union have passed on to the great beyond,” he said. Giving the importance of the day, Afolayan said the celebration would be effectively used to articulate the desires, aspirations, expectations and problems of the entire Nigeria civil and paramilitary pensioners and to also effectively draw the attention of the relevant stakeholders superintending the administration of pensions in Nigeria and indeed the entire nation to the plight of pensioners. Without doubt, the event also affords the union to present its charter of demands to the three-tiers of government to enable them come up with aggressive policies that would address the challenges

Buhari of the pensioners and their deplorable state of affairs. It was also used to bring to the fore the current challenges facing the Nigerian pensioners and their requests for government intervention on the way forward. The pensioners lamented the non-payment of the 42 months arrears of the 53.4 per cent pension increase, which was “arbitrarily and wrongly” reduced to 33 per cent. Afolayan explained that the outstanding 33 per cent arrears of pension was as a result of increase in workers’ wages. He explained further that there were deductions of a total of 20 per cent representing tax, housing and health schemes which were only supposed to be deducted from workers wages, but not from pensions. “These deductions were not, in any way, applicable to our members. We do not pay tax as pension is tax free, we are not subjected to Contributory Pension payment, neither are we part of National Housing and/or Health payment scheme. Therefore our rightful entitlement should be 53.4 per cent. “But even as at now the 33 per cent approved for our members are in arrears by about 42 months. We would like to implore the Buhari administration to help

us return this pension increase to 53.4% and pay the total outstanding arrears of the increase and in fact all arrears of pension and unpaid gratuity,” he said. He regretted that even when they were assured by top government officials of the former President Jonathan’s government that the payment would be captured in the 2015 budget; “to our greatest surprise, when the 2015 appropriation act was approved, the payment of these arrears was not included.” The NUP president also revealed that there was a backlog of arrears of retirement benefits owed pensioners by various governments all over the country. Describing this as regrettable, he pointed out that up till now the Federal Government and some states are owing pensioners several months and in some cases, years of arrears of pension and unpaid gratuity and death benefits due to families of deceased pensioners. Afolayan appealed to the Federal Government to direct the appropriate relevant government agencies charged with the responsibility to pay these entitlements to do so without further delay. Sections 173 sub-section (3) and 210 sub-section (3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), stipulate that pension should

be reviewed every five years or whenever wages of workers are reviewed whichever comes earlier. However, the NUP has accused the Federal Governments of not complying with these constitutional provisions. Afolayan said despite the union’s unrelenting effort to ensure compliance and enforcement of these sections, all the past governments at the federal and state levels have neglected implementing these constitutional provisions as and when due. He reminded the government that pensioners are due for another pension increase in the year 2015 as the last increase was made in 2010. He said the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) is again embarking on biometric exercise in order to ascertain the number of genuine pensioners for easy payment of their entitlements. Already, he said the exercise is currently ongoing, starting with the North-West and SouthEast which will terminate on the 12th December, 2015. Dates for other zones would be announced by the management of PTAD at an appropriate time. The NUP demanded the creation of Ministry of Pension and Senior Citizens Affairs and called on President Buhari whose man-

On the outstanding pension liabilities of the defunct Nigeria Airways Pensioners, Afolayan said: “The case of this class of pensioners is most pathetic. While the expatriate retirees of the defunct airline have been fully given their 25 years pay-off pension as agreed, Nigerian retirees were given 5 years pay-off entitlement. “Among the so-called expatriates are retirees from West African countries such as Ghana, Togo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, and so on. We refuse to believe that it is a crime to be Nigerians retired from defunct Airline owned by Nigeria. We want the balance of 20 years to be paid to these pensioners immediately.” He made case for the Delta Steel Company pensioners, saying that the company was folded up without paying the affected retirees, who since then have continue to languish in pain till today for non-payment of their retirement entitlement after the company’s liquidation. “Another problem compounding our members agonising situation which we would like to plead with the Buhari administration to look into passionately is the Federal Government’s failure to pay regularly their five per cent counterpart fund into the local government pension fund which was started as prescribed by government but stopped sometimes ago without any just cause whatsoever. “We are pleading with the Federal government to direct for strict compliance with this counterpart funding by the 3 tiers of government. “Our next humble request has to do with harmonization of old and new pension rates. We have discovered to our dismay that the various harmonization exercises carried out in the past have not been properly done. There are still cases of wide gaps between pensions of officers of the same rank who retired at different times but the same statutory retirement age at the same statutorily-defined number of service years. “We humbly request that necessary machinery be set in motion Continues on pg30

labour Obayan promises to expand NDE scope of coverage, create more jobs 30

Monday, 14 December, 2015

To hold employment summit, register unemployed Stories by Soji-Eze Fagbemi - Abuja

HE new Director-General (Acting), National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Mr Olakunle Obayan, has promised to expand the scope of the directorate and create new jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerian youths. Obayan made the promise when he formally took over from Mallam Abubakar Mohammed, even as he assured his former boss that he would take off fully from where he stopped. “I will pursue the goals of the directorate and expand its sope of operation,” Obayan said as he took over the mantle of leadership. “Tenaciously, we are going to pursue the employment generation activities of the NDE. We are going to expand the scope of our coverage. We have new schemes, and these new schemes, when they come on board, they are going to take care of the social safety nets. “We have so many programmes that have been designed to improve our service delivery. We are going to start with a national registration of the unemployed. We are going to do that fully so that we have a good idea of how many of them are around. We have some but we are going to improve on the information that we have in our database,” he said. On the challenges of funding, he explained that the NDE will be going into Private-Public- Partnership (PPP) to suppressing the pressure of funds, saying that government alone cannot provide all the needed funds and jobs. He added that “right now, we are going into PPP so that we can extend the mileage of our funds. There are several collaborations we are getting into because that is the only way. Government does not have all that money

Labour Minister, Chris Ngige right now. And actually job creation and employment generation should not be solely for government. Private sector should come on board,” he said. In addition to the registration of the unemployed persons, he said the NDE will be holding, he said NDE will be holding a stakeholder summit on employment, adding that “that is one of the reasons we are planning the stakeholders forum where the private sector will actually know how and where they can participate. These people we are training, they are not only going to work for government. Some of them will work in the private sector. We are

going to bring them on board so that we can fight this monster called corruption.” At the hand-over event which took place at the Boardroom Of the NDE, Mallam Abubakar, who spent eight years as the director general of the NDE, described Obayan and the team of leadership he was leaving behind as intelligent, resourceful and loyal officers. “I want to say with all sense of humility and gratitude to Almighty God that 26 years and nine months in job creation and working in the midst of intelligent, resourceful and loyal officers had been quite fulfilling. Within those years, especially the last eight years, there had been low and high moments,” Abubakar said. He acknowledged the unquantifiable ingenuity, support and hard work of the executive management and staff, which he attributed to the modest achievements recorded over the years. In his hand over note, Abubakar said the directorate is in collaboration with states and local governments, World Bank, Bank of Agriculture (NERFUND), Bank of Industry (BoI) National Planning Commission (NPC), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and other related outfits. Abubakar spoke on the planned National Stakeholders Summit on employment creation, which is at the top stage and charged Obayan to make a success of it as a way of helping the President Muhammadu Buhari’s new administration to addressing the huge unemployment problem the country. “Let everyone, from drivers to directors; maintain the honour and pledge of the director to always work with passions, innovation, courage and loyalty as you continue to contribute towards reducing unemployment to tolerable levels,” he charged.

NASU demands 26% budgetary allocation to education THE Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institution (NASU) has demanded 26 per cent budgetary allocation to education to address the issue of poor funding and infrastructural decay in the education sector. In its resolutions after its 6th Quadrennial Delegates’ Conference in Abuja, the union appealed to both the federal and state governments to increase their funding of Educational and Allied Institutions to conform to the 26 per cent recommended by UNESCO. Besides, NASU called on TETFUND to

extend its intervention funds to Research Institutes which hitherto enjoyed the services of the defunct Education Trust Fund (ETF) by virtue of the fact that they are also tertiary institutions. NASU regretted that the funding of the health and education sectors has assumed a crisis situation, necessitating incessant strikes in the sector in the recent past. It, however, acknowledged the efforts of governments at addressing the decay of infrastructure in the education sector in recent years through the establishment

of TETFUND and other interventions of the Federal Government such as the needs assessment committees. But the union stated that these efforts are in partial fulfilment of the fundamental objectives and directive principles of state policy relating to education as contained in Chapter II, Section 18, of the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended 2011). It lamented the noticeable decline in the standard of education which is attributable to poor funding, leading to the dearth of quality human resources in the sector.

Nigerian Tribune

NAAT demands payment of N440bn intervention funds THE National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT) has demanded the immediate release of the N440 billion two years intervention funds promised by the Federal Government in an agreement signed with the university based unions. The N440 billion, according to the National President of NAAT, Sani Suleiman, is meant for the year 2014 and 2015 tranche. “Unfortunately, only N200 billion for 2013 was released and disbursed. Today we are in 2015 which is coming to an end and soon will come 2016. The implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) is yet to receive funds for 2014 and 2015 totally N440 billion. “May I therefore call on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgent national education interest release the 2014 and 2015 funds to the IMC for immediate disbursement to Nigerian public universities.” Speaking at the 3rd NAAT National Delegates’ Conference, held in Abuja, Sani said the pledge made by the Federal Government to revitalize the university system through the intervention fund from 2013 through 2018 has not been redeemed. He stated that out of the N1.3 trillion pledged, only N200 billion was released in 2013. He explained that the N220 billion tranche per annum since 2014 had not been released to the universities. In his own address, the NLC President, Comrade Ayuba Wabba said the NAAT delegates’ conference is holding at a point that the nation can be said to be in a state of flux. Wabba, who was represented by the NLC Deputy President, Peters Adeyemi said: “it is our hope that the 2016 budget would lay the foundation for future successes in a number of sectors of our national life. For this union (NAAT), the change your members would expect will be in improved funding that will lay a solid foundation for technological advancement. “We do not need to over-stress the impact and relevance of technology to any nation’s growth and development in all its ramifications – social, cultural, political, economic and industrial terms.” On the issue of perennial fuel scarcity, he called on the government to take strigent and far-reaching punitive measures against those hoarding the product. “We call on the government not to allow itself to be blackmailed into doing the bidding of the vested interests in the downstream sector, whose sole purpose is greed and more profits at the expense of the welfare and wellbeing of the people.

Plight of Nigerian pensioners and demand for better condition Continued from pg29

and fool-proof methodology be put in place to avoid some retired officers being shortchanged during various harmonization exercises. We are passionately looking forward to this anomaly being corrected.” To resolve this issue, the pensioners asked for a national minimum pension for all Nigerian pensioners nationwide as it is applicable to the national minimum wage, saying that the situation now where different starting or minimum pensions are paid should be corrected. He regretted that many pensioners still receive monthly pensions that are below N10,000.0 adding that this can only be corrected through a minimum pension.

“In order to make life easier for pensioners, we respectfully request that pensions should be tied to first line charge. This will enable early payment of pensions before payment of workers’ wages as a mark of honour and respect for the senior citizens,” Afolayan said. Also speaking on the plight of pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), he stated that most retirees under the scheme have not been able to access their monthly pensions since July 2014 and no gratuity was approved for them after they have served for 35 years. He pleaded that this category of pensioners deserves to be paid without further delay as they are wallowing in pain and penury. Also, Afolayan called for the appointment of pensioners into government positions;

demanded free medical treatment for aged pensioners and called on President Buhari to make provision for pensioners\old people’s homes where they can relax as they wish and neutralize the boredom always associated with life after retirement. As senior citizens who have served the nation meritoriously, the NUP also requested that some slots be reserved for the deserving members of the union during the annual merit awards. Also speaking at the event, the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige said the present administration was committed to the welfare of pensioners and their entitlement. Ngige, who was represented by the Assistant Chief Labour, Mrs Hauwa Abubakar,

said that government would from 2016 implement programmes that would positively affect the lives of vulnerable citizens in the country. The minister said that “my ministry will work with the union to see how best to assist them in ensuring that their plights are reduced to the barest minimum.” The Chairman, Senate Committee on Establishment of Public Matter, Senator Emmanuel Paulker, said the National Assembly was aware of the challenges faced by the pensioners in the country. He added that “the primary challenge is having a reliable system for payment of pensioners; our pension system is not yet developed. The system is plagued with factors that make it unreliable.”

Monday, 14 December, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 taiadis@yahoo.com

Why PDP will die naturally —APC national vice chairman National vice chairman (South – South) of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Hilliard Eta, in this interview with ANTHONY UBONG, bares his mind on the amalgam of promises made be the APC before the election, the media, frequent foreign trips by Cross Rivers State governor, Professor Ben Ayade, among other issues.

er by Secondus to the people of North-East is a very difficult for the PDP. Impunity has become their culture. Secondus is not supposed to be the PDP national chairman and he knows it. It was zoned to the North-East. Why is Secondus sitting there? Is this the kind of person that will inspire people to come and defend the PDP? There are only two kinds of people that are in the PDP: those who over-looted this country and so, they are living in the comfort of the loot; and those who are given to foolish thoughts of ethnic sentiments. Those are the kind of people that are populating the PDP.

OME people are accusing the administration of President Buhari of being vindictive and that it does not care about the welfare of Nigerians. How will you react to the claim as a stalwart of the APC? There are different scenarios about being in power and being in government. We are in government, but largely in power and we have refused to use some of the powers that we essentially have as the governing party. The reason is because of the penchant of our President to embrace the rule of law, which is good. But we have taken it too far, because if you go to the social media platform, especially opposition print media and even electronic media, you see a position taken by the PDP that is akin to a situation where we are still in contest. We are not in contest. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is Muhammadu Buhari; it is not Jonathan, and we are not in contest anymore. The President has won election. But if you go through many media platforms, it seems we are still in elections. We are not in elections. Very soon, we will start pounding the table because there are certain publications that are libelous and defamatory to our party. We cannot feel that because we have freedom of speech, anything goes. I don’t think the APC government is vindictive; what we trying to do is to make people feel the consequences of their actions; to make them see reasons why they should be accountable to the people. We have designed programmes, which will cater for the welfare of Nigerians and very soon, they will begin to yield fruits. The APCadministration has also been accused of deliberately working to ensure that the PDP goes extinct and by implication making the country a one-party state? Nobody is going to kill the PDP; the party will die naturally. The reason is that the PDP has no relevance on the lives of Nigerians. Don’t fool yourself; the PDP will die a natural death. There are no redeemable features about the PDP or the superintendence of the party. There is nobody of principle to inspire Nigerians within the party. As Nige-

Eta

There are only two kinds of people that are in the PDP: those who over-looted this country and so, they are living in the comfort of the loot; and those who are given to foolish thoughts of ethnic sentiments. Those are the kind of people that are populating the PDP.

rians move forward, they can move forward without the PDP. The party is dying not because we want them to die; they are dying because it is a natural thing to happen. When you have such a dubious, demonic and devilish organisation, the only way is to pray. Some people have been asking me about the difference between APC and PDP. The difference is that there is no Buhari in PDP, there is no Bisi Akande in PDP; there is no John Odigie-Oyegun in PDP; there is no Babatunde Fashola in PDP; there is no Adams Oshiomhole in PDP; there is no Nasir el-Ruffai in PDP. Bring one person out in

PD. Who are the leading lights of the PDP? Is it Secondus? Is this the kind of people that are going to inspire Nigerians to leave Buhari to come and dine with them? It is not our intention that we have a one-party state. We know that as we move as Nigerians, just as the APC merged and became an opposition party, there will be an opposition party to APC but certainly not the PDP, except they can find that individual that can bring something different and extraordinary, because the members that are around cannot reform themselves. Even the simplest thing to hand over pow-

The Buhari administration is also said to be reneging on the APC promise to Nigerians during the electioneering campaigns. How would you react to this? A lot of people in this country have not done us the right service and I have accused the Fourth Estate of the realm before and I would accuse you again. You have refused to read our manifesto. It is pasted on our website and it is there in print, please read it. The President when he was campaigning said he was going to implement the manifesto of the party. When the National Assembly said they were not going to allow us the N5000 monthly payment to the most vulnerable Nigerians, they were going against the dictates of our manifesto and when the current Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed was still our spokesperson of course, he came out the very next day to say that it is lie; that we must do as we said we were going to do. Why have we not started implementing these things six months after taking over power? We need a lot of resources to push through this effort. The country had been stolen dry and we need to block loopholes, and we have done that. We are beginning to keep some money and some people need to return our money so that we would be able to plough into these lofty ideas. A lot of people think that it is impossible for Nigeria to do these kinds of things, I laugh because I do know that we have enough resources to do this. Go and find out how much money was one the former female ministers and others stole. Put all of these together, how much money was stolen in the six years of the last administration and then multiply it by the current exchange rate, you will now find out whether it is possible for us to give this N5000 to vulnerable Nigerians. When they come on pages of newspapers and on television, they just mock us. They believe we are all illiterates; that we cannot read and write. We do know that if the loopholes are blocked, we will have enough money to implement our manifesto. A manifesto is an intention; we may not in four years implement 100 per cent of our intention but, we will make effort, honest effort. The PDP, on the other hand, constituted themselves into an incidental government. continues pg32

politics&policy

Monday, 14 December, 2015

‘Where Ayade is getting things wrong’ that he should succeed. But he is making it difficult. It is just like a boy who has been given a toy and he is playing around with it junketing to Belgium, from Belgium to Frankford to New York to Japan, to Australia all in the name of sourcing for investors. Where are the investors now? Maybe, that is the modern governance in the words of John Okon the PDP chairman.

continues from pg31

Ayade that just came wanted to go to the Senate but former Governor Liyel Imoke sold the ticket to him. So, he doesn’t even have a blueprint, a vision for Cross River. Therefore, the moment he came into office, he thought that he could gamble with us; gamble with our intelligence- superhighway, deep seaport, rice city, international airport in Ogoja, that is how they are. No plan; they will just wake up, if they have a fever in the night they will come out and be abusing themselves at our expense. Read our manifesto from page one to the last page, it is about empowerment of youths, because we know that the Nigerian population comprise of 65 per cent youths and if we do not take care of these youths we are sitting on a gunpowder, the day they will take up arms, the day the entire Nigerians youths would say indeed enough is enough, even some of us who have been fighting on their behalf they will not be able to recognize us. So, we have programmes of empowerment; programmes for creation of jobs; programme for creation of wealth only if you read our manifesto. Let’s talk about Cross River State vis-à-vis the 260 km super highway project of the governor, Professor Ayade. Do you see the prospect, considering the poor financial position of the state? This is about the fourth time I am giving my prospective about the super highway and in fact, the signature projects of the governor. I feel my positions had been killed due to non-reportage by the press. I have never hidden my position on this. However, for the umpteenth time, I must say that you would read the opinion of the state chairman of PDP, Mr John Okon on me, in which he claimed I do not know the nuances of modern governance. He said it does not matter whether the governor junkets from one capital to the other, or from one country to the other. I question the so-called signature projects. I want a conversation on this project. We cannot have a soliloquy, where the governor is talking to himself. We need a conversation with the governor because if he says that this thing or that thing is good for us, we should all see that it’s really good for us. We either agree or disagree with him because, being a governor, does not make all his thinking good for us. We must make input to any project or proposal because it’s for all of us. The signature projects have increased from three to five now. I have just heard of the Rice City; the deep sea port in Bakassi; the garment factory; the super highway from Calabar to Obudu, and now an International Airport in Ogoja. My question always is, what is the financial status of the state? How do we fare financially? Then, we can now think of the plan. You cannot plan in an atmosphere of confusion. This is the same government that is making so many bogus proposals and at the same time telling Cross Riverians that he is paying the salary of state workers from his personal pocket. One, we need to first of all know the state of finance of Cross River. Secondly, the Super Highway would have been then greatest thing that would happen to Cross River if it can be actualized. It would be a fantastic movement from Bakassi to Obudu. But by calculation, the project is estimated at beyond N750 billion to build such a highway. I want my governor, our governor to explain how he will come by such fortune. The second is the proposed deep sea port in Bakas-

Eta

The fact that I belong to the same party with the President, does not mean that I am a zombie to accept everything he says. No. I am a Cross Riverian and I am on ground here. They are not. Therefore, I must not mimic what my president says.

si. Why do we need another sea port when there is an unused sea port lying in Calabar. It doesn’t make sense to me. What make sense to me is the existing shallow waters that can be dredged to become deep sea port. We are not reinventing the will. It is not happening for the first time in Cross River. That is why they have awarded contract twice in Cross River for the dredging of the shallow sea port in the last 16 years. What has become of that contract? They owe a duty to explain to Cross Riverians the position of that contract. The governor should tell us what has become of those contracts. The people who were contracted to dredge the shallow water, have they done it? Have we paid them? What is the level of this contract rather than coming to say he wants to dredge another one? Thirdly, garment factory. Well, it is possible to pack a few tailors and few sewing machines and have garment factory. Is it not against what John Okon said about modern governance? In modern governance, government doesn’t do business, mind you. But create the enabling environment for private individuals or so to do business. Maybe, they want to sew clothes for carnival dancers. If Ayade is serious about governance, it’s these rice, palm and cocoa that he should use to change the fortunes of Cross River. The state has enough palm trees, rice that can feed Nigeria, Cocoa that can boost the economy of the state. Cross River is the second largest producers of Cocoa in Nigeria. So he should add value to these things to improve on our exports etc. we need to ex-

port in a better form than what we do now. The Thailand has smaller land compared to CRS, yet they feed us with their rice. The wetland between Cross River and Akwa Ibom is large enough to do massive rice production. But, he is not looking into such direction. Let him come and explain to us, let’s have conversations on what is practicable. If his policy is to sit down, bring out plans that will be beneficial to the people, it makes sense to me than all these. Now, he is talking of international Airport in Ogoja when even the existing Calabar Airport life started bubbling not too long ago. What is the disposable income in Ogoja for you to now think of an International Airport there? What the 2.8 million Cross Riverians need most is greater attention/concerns to their immediate welfare, need for empowerment, education, conducive atmosphere to do their businesses. When it’s time for an airport in Ogoja, everybody would see need for such airport. But as we speak, that is not the priority of an Ogoja man for now. The Ogoja man may romanticise with the idea of an airport. But let’s see how many people in Ogoja will be able to pay N24, 000 or N27, 000 to Abuja or Lagos as Arik Airline charges. Is that the basic need of an Ogoja man? I don’t think so. I have been accused of being a timid man; a man who lives in the cave, etc, a man that is not familiar with modern governances. I need to be educated by the government of today. I need to be educated. The failure of Ayade is failure of Cross River. I cannot be happy to see Cross River fail. Regardless of our party affiliation, my prayer is

The governor is believed to have travelled 26 times outside the country in six months to woo investors to develop Cross River. What’s your opinion on this? Everybody alive today is an investor. You invest your time in your work, in family, marriage, even the game you play. There are certain parametres that allow for an investment. People don’t invest in the void. A research conducted a few years ago for states to do business ranked Cross River as one of the poorest in terms of ease for investment. We ranked 24 or so. That is very important to investors. Another attraction is the infrastructure. If we get necessary infrastructure, investors can get any information that he requires or comparative advantage as an investor. He must not travel to places before attracting investors. It is not new to hear that governors are junketing from one country to another to look for investors. His Predecessor, Liyel Imoke did all that, I have not seen any investors that came. The investors will not come because comparatively Cross River does not have what it takes yet. He himself need to invest his time, his intellect and his capacity and competence here in Cross River, Create enabling environment for investors. He does not need to be junketing here and there in the name of looking for investors. If he needs investors from China, he must not go to China before they come here. If an investor knows that putting his factory in Calabar will give him greater returns on his investment, he will come. He doesn’t need to be travelling up and down. The reason why they will not come is because the enabling environment is not created yet. So let the governor sit down and create the conducive environment for business to thrive here. That is what we need. Let him come back; sit down in that office and work. He wanted to be governor. He is now governor. Let him sit down and work. Look at the picture of US President Barrack Obama after eight years of real work, there is no black hair on his head again because of hard work. Governance is not a joke. What we have been experiencing in Cross River in the last six months has been a joke. Let him come back and face the reality of governance and get serious. President Buhari gave his total support to the signature projects, especially the super highway. Don’t you think your position is a contrast to that of the President? The fact that I belong to the same party with the President, does not mean that I am a zombie to accept everything he says. No. I am a Cross Riverian and I am on ground here. They are not. Therefore, I must not mimic what my president says. I am not that kind of human being. This is my own perspective. It’s not the perspective of the President, Vice President or the party, but mine. Because I am in the same party with my President, I cannot disagree with him? I disagree with him on this signature project vehemently. The funds are just not there, except there is a magic wand to come by such fortune.

33 politics&policy

Ishaku

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Danjuma

Wukari as the hotbed of Taraba politics SYLVANUS VIASHIMA, gives an insight into issues that have made Wukari a veritable battle ground for political contests in Taraba State

OR students and scholars of history and indeed all lovers of history, Wukari is definitely a very familiar name. Situated in the Southern part of the North-Eastern state of Taraba, the town got its fame as the home to the Sceptre of power of the ancient Kwararafa dynasty, the first civilisation in Nigeria before the Uthman Danfodio Revolution of 1804. The Jukun people, who predominantly occupied the Kingdom then, were reputed for their heroic prowess and ability to dethrone oppressive kings to install more tolerable kings for justice and fairness. But now, Wukari is predominantly occupied by the Jukun, Tiv and Fulani people, who are mostly farmers and herders. The community is under the leadership of the Aku-Uka (first class chief of the Jukun nation and leader of the traditional rulers in the state) with a council of kingmakers and traditional council comprising chiefs from different areas. The ancient city that became the commercial hub of Taraba State with bustling businesses owned by investors from across the country, has experienced devastating crises in more recent times, precipitated by religious and ethnic differences leading to heavy loss of lives and property. The ugly trend that has rendered the area academically backward: infrastructure-wise deficient; economically weak; socially dull, and politically almost incapacitated prompted one of the most prominent sons of the

state, Lieutenant General Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (retd) to embark on an campaign aimed at promoting peace and formal education among the people. Since the return to democracy in 1999, majority of the citizens of the Wukari kingdom (now local government), have aligned themselves with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as the party has won all elections in the council area. The area also boasts of such major power brokers as Chief David Sabo Kente of DSK Foundation; Josiah Sabo Kente (former Speaker of the state House of Assembly); Honourable Joel Ikyenya (former Minister of Labour and Productivity); Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas (former governor of Delta and Kwara states), among other eminent citizens. Kente narrowly missed the governorship seat because of the activities of a powerful godfather who favoured incumbent Darius Ishaku. Though both Kente and Ishaku are from

the same Southern district of the state, Ishaku is from Takum, where a former top military barss, General Danjuama hails from. The ‘injustice’ that Kente suffered ( he was unanimously chosen by the Southern Taraba Assembly as the consensus candidate before his name was substituted), forced him to dump the PDP for the Social democratic Party (SDP) to contest the last governorship election. But, he lost even in his hometown, Wukari. This has further widened the political gap in the area making it more vulnerable to strife as the various political interests are bound to clash at one point or the other obviously. The most recent incident was when the governorship election petition tribunal nullified the election of Governor Darius Ishaku of the PDP and ordered the swearing in the the candidate of the APC Senator Aisha Alhassan Jumai. The PDP supporters clashed with their APC counterparts leading to the deaths of more than 40 persons, with many

I have a single message for you. It is high time you shunned violence and embraced education. It is time you shunned violence and embraced peace. It is time you shunned violence and embraced development.

others injured. In the face of all these challenges, the economic and educational activities in Wukari are at the lowest ebb. It is estimated that more than 20,000 lives and several homes have been lost to violence in Wukari town alone in recent times, while the incessant conflicts have led to the exodus of businessmen from the area. Some commercial banks and fuel stations have closed down alongside hotels and schools that were either destroyed or forced to shut down. Chukwudi Anthony, a business who now operates in Jalingo told Nigerian Tribune that he was compared to leave Wukari for Jalingo because of the incessant crises. “I really prefer to do my business in Wukari town because the place is by far better than Jalingo, the state capital. The only problem in Wukari is the frequent outbreak of violence. It is either the PDP against the APC, or Muslims against Christians, or sometimes it is the Fulanis against farmers,” he said. The Taraba State Police Command has also identified Wukari as a major flashpoint for security watch. At an interactive session with journalists in Jalingo, the state Police Commissioner, Shaba Alkali said: “Wukari is a very strategic place not just in the state but in the entire North-East and the constant security challenges there have called for closed vigilance, not only on the part of the police, but all security operatives and indeed, the entire people.” the police chief xplained that his command was doing everything possible to ensure lasting peace in the area by deploying both uniformed and plain-cloth officers to the area. continues I pg34

34 politicscommentary

Monday, 14 December, 2015

After the Kogi election B y D ayo T homas

IFE writes lousy scripts and dispenses rewards in ironic doses. The echoes of these words reiterated profoundly in various shapes and forms in the recent governorship election in Kogi State. The act of fate greatly manifested in the entire election that the whole state will not forget in a hurry. It has loudly established a fact that of all the factors that determine leadership anywhere in the world, the act of God seems the most potent. Though, instructive and dramatic, the almighty God finally had its way in the final outcome. The pronouncement by the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) that the election was inconclusive, coupled with the sudden death of the governorship candidate of the APC, Prince Abubakar Audu, combined to further heighten the already tensed political atmosphere in the state. But wisdom, rationality and legality have prevailed over emotions and political considerations. All the contestants for the exalted office were eminently qualified and the final endorsement of Alhaji Yahaya Bello by the party, to me, does not in any way diminish or subsumed the status of other contestants. It merely suggests that we submitted to the Supreme will of God; that we are united and possess the capacity to resolve our challenges and differences amicably. Aside the God’s factor that was glaringly in favour of Bello from the timing and the way our leader, Audu was called to eternity by the almighty, the most legal thing to do at the time was to endorse Bello since he was the runner up to Prince Audu at the primary. Since no one can be sworn in as governor without passing through the primary

election. We are aware of the many issues the choice of Bello have generated, especially from the supporters of our brother Honourable James Abiodun Fakeke , but we must move beyond the contradictions as a family and face the future together as one big family. The choice of Bello was collective and no primordial sentiment like religion was considered as it is being rumoured. The APC believe in justice and fair play, and these are some of the values we promote and strive to transmit to governance and the entire society. Justice, unity, peaceable legality were the driving forces behind the party’s response to that constitutional lacuna and its effects. Since the constitution did not anticipate what happened, our leaders responded to it realistically and adequately. As loyal and dedicated members of the APC, we must trust the judgment of our leaders and be faithful to our course. The choice of Yahaya was also in response to the decisions of the delegates and up till now, there has not been any allegation of manipulation at the primary election. All the members were screened by our party and Audu came first while Yahaya was the runner up . The first and the second were duly elected by the 3,458 delegates. The party was guided by their choices and decisions of the delegates and with their decision come the realistic endorsement of Bello after the demise of Audu. In any contest as competitive and difficult as this, there must be a winner and this is not an exception to the general rule. We don’t want the camp of Faleke to see this as a defeat or sign of weaknesses. They must also not feel disappointed, but we must move beyond forward and work together to get our state moving.

Bello We believe that the death of our leader, Audu is still fresh in our memory and we must not be seen to be fighting over the governorship seat in a manner that is bereft of morals. Governance is about service and we must be contented with whatever role that God has assigned to us. We set out to elect a governor that would be a reflection of the genuine and collective expectation of our people. It was an opportunity for the people again to showcase their genuine patriotism and modest contributions to the greatness of our dear state; a state that has greatly suffered dearth of quality leadership and governance. The election in Kogi has come and gone, and the people have spoken very clearly and we must respect their wishes. No election in the world has ever been perfect, and

the Kogi election was not an exception. Many have felt aggrieved, and they have the right to be, but must pursue their grievances within the confines of the law. The election and future elections will continue to enrich our history and cultural heritage until we become a civilisation. I am particularly humbled by the final outcome of the whole process. It is something that calls for a deeper reflection. We must be more determined and willing to partner with Bello to bring about the change we need in Kogi. Whatever the approaches to the victory and whatever our differences, we are fellow Kogites. It was a friendly match and no winner no vanquished. Some, especially the Aufu/Faleke camp had wished the outcome had been different and favourable. Man proposes but God disposes. The road had been very difficult from the outset with 22 candidates from 22 parties. There were many tricks, lies, propaganda, unfounded stories, unguided press statements, blackmails and drawback, as well as many others that were bereft of things expected in a modern campaign in a bid to outsmart one another; still God had His way. God has once again proven that political adventurism is not always correlated with wealth, propaganda, personal egoism, tripping and myopic megalomania. It is all about God. In every contest, there must be a winner. This election was not an exception to the general rule. Let no one therefore see this defeat as a sign of weaknesses. Sometimes defeat can even go as far as victory. It is also natural for many in the other camp to feel some disappointment. we must move beyond it and work together to get our state moving again . •Thomas, a journalist, writes from Lokoja

The desperate search for peace continues from pg33

Politics as an issue Politics is a major causative factor for the conflicts. There is also the problem of ethno-religious sentiment. Fulani herdsmen often clash with the locals, with catastrophic consequences. The incessant crises have brought untold hardship to the people of the state and Wukari specifically in the area of education. The state governor, DIshaku described the state as “one of the most backward in the country academically that is in dire need of rescue before a total collapse.” The establishment of a federal university in Wukari was aimed at bringing education closer to the people and to serve as an incentive for the locals. Established in 2011, the institution has developed infrastructure to an enviable status. Sadly, the same cannot be said of its academic impact on the lives of the people of Wukari. It was at the university that the senior citizen, General T Y Danjuma took his campaign to the people on a day the entire state literally assembled at the Convocation Square of the school for the presentation University Service Excellence Awards. He told the people that Wukari was a great city and that the university was capable of turning around the academic, economic, social and cultural fortunes of the people. So, he said it was up to them to decide either to embrace or discard the limitless opportunities. “I have a single message for you. It is high time you shun violence and embrace education. It is time you shun violence and

embrace peace. It is time you shun violence and embrace development. The university offers great opportunities and that informs the decision of some of us to contribute towards the growth of the institution. It is up to you to decide if you would take advantage of these or continue fighting and killing one another. Let me however remind you that while we are busy fighting and killing one another over very frivolous reasons, we would be missing on something more important: our future and our heritage,” he stated. Danjuma’s sermon indeed had a positive impact on the people, as they said it gave them the opportunity to have a rethink on crucial issues affecting Wukari. For instance, Yakubu Suleiman said as a youth, he was deeply touched by the message.”I always know that there is a problem with us, especially because of the crises, but this is the first time someone is actually opening our eyes to the full implications of the problem threatening our collective heritage. I have decided to personally take

the campaign to all the youths that I can contact because we are the ones always at the receiving end. If we all go to school, we willd be too busy with our studies to have time for fighting and that will help us,” he said. One of the students James Adi also claimed: “Politicians sometimes cause these problems and the youths, who are mostly idle, are quick to be dragged into violence and just because they believe they don’t have anything to lose.” He said the university community offered ample opportunities for youths to be gainfully engaged by way of marketing wares in the school and its surrounding, as well as getting involved in construction works. The insecurity in the state and Wukari specifically has been a source of serious worry to all concerned citizens for some time. The Ishaku administration has made the fight against insecurity his top most priority from inception with the slogan, “Give me peace and I will give you development,” which he echoes at every public

Politicians sometimes cause these problems and the youths, who are mostly idle, are quick to be dragged into violence and just because they believe they don’t have anything to lose.

occasion. As part of the government’s intervention, traditional rulers in the volatile areas have been given a marching order by the governor to ensure an end to the crisis in their domains. The government has also initiated discussions with religious and community leaders in a bid to finding lasting solutions to the issue. So far, some measure of success has been recorded through the various initiatives but, many stakeholders said the ugly incidents of November 8 and 9 clearly underscored the need for campaign initiated by Danjuma. According to an elder and prominent politician in the state, Mr John Ali, the initiative will augment the efforts of the governor at identifying the root cause of the problem with the aim of addressing it squarely. He alleged that the “divisive lines drawn by selfish politicians along religious and tribal lines” had “made a deep impression of distrust in the hearts of the people.” On his part, the vice chancellor of the university, Professor Geoffrey Okogbaa declared that peace was paramount for a conducive learning environment. He stressed: “If there is peace, students are able to learn with focused concentration. That makes peace a basic prerequisite for any meaningful learning experience.” Meanwhile, the traditional ruler of Wukari, His Royal Majesty, Aku-Uka, Dr. Anyu Shekarau Angyu Masa-Ibi, Kuvyon ll is partnering with religious and other categories of leaders in his chiefdom and the neighboring Benue state to create and sustain mutual understanding and trust in his domain.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

features

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

Kano school fire:

Our classmates’ deaths were avoidable —Survivors

The razed Alhaji Sani Ahmed hostel of the Government Girls’ College, Jogana, Kano. INSET: One of the survivors being visited by the Kano State government officials at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital, Kano. Kola Oyelere - Kano

OR students of Government Girls College, Jogana, Kano, November 29, 2015 would remain the darkest spot in the history of their institution. According to reports, the students, in their hundreds, had retired for the night after the usual day’s work. The quiet ambiance of the night was ruptured when a tearful outburst emanated from one part of the students’ hostel. A part of the hostel had gone up in flames and the fire had started to spread. There was a frightening frenzy and a stampede followed. Before the fire could be brought under control, seven students had lost their lives while many others had sustained various degrees of burns. The students’ accommodation referred to as Alhaji Sani Ahmed Hostel was said to have the capacity of housing about 200 students prior to the sad occurrence. The hostel was completely razed. The Government Girls College is one of the oldest boarding schools in Kano. Situated at Jogana area in Gezawa local government

area, the secondary school is a 30-minute drive from the state capital. In an interaction with survivors who preferred anonymity, Nigerian Tribune gathered that the death of the students was avoidable. One of the school’s members of staff stated that “The sad incident occurred around 8.20 p.m. that day. All the students had gone to their various hostels and were ready to settle for the night. There was no electricity supply that night. Anybody who was around knew that there was total darkness. There was no prep. So it was largely quiet. All the hotels were quiet. All of a sudden, we heard a loud noise, it was a cry for help. The noise came from the direction of the Alhaji Sani Yero Ahmed hostel. Students started screaming. The silence of the school environment that night had been lost. Since it was a girls-only school, we felt that rapists had come into the school. The girls started running for dear lives. Such thought however gave way to a more disturbing discovery. We saw smoke from the hostel. It was then that we discovered that we were in for a big-

ger problem. “As we rushed to find the cause of the fire and to find possible ways to put it out, we were confronted with a growing stampede. The students ran and it was painful to observe that it is dangerous to encounter a stampede in darkness. In the darkness, we heard them shout as they tried to escape.” ‘Stampede caused the death of the students’ Another member of staff told Nigerian Tribune that “the students that lost their lives in that incident would have been alive if there was no stampeded. They were all struggling to come out of the hostel. It was very difficult as they all tried to escape.” ‘The school needs God’s intervention’ Nigerian Tribune, after a visit to the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital in the state capital where the wounded survivors are recuperating, gathered that it would take a while before they would make a full recovery.

In an interaction, a resident of Jogana, Muhammed Aliu, stated that the fire incident was the fourth that would happen in the school. “Something drastic must be done to stop this. This is the fourth time that this would happen. I strongly believe that the school authorities ought to seek the face of God. They need God’s intervention,” he said. For another residence who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the inferno could not have been as a result of natural occurrences. According to him, “This particular disaster was perpetrated by evil spirits. The school recorded three previous fire incidents but none of them claimed any life. This one is the most devastating. The power of darkness is in operation and the authorities must wake up and get themselves together. This is disturbing and we are sad especially for the dead students, the wounded and the parents of all of them.” Speaking on the disaster, the state deputy governor, Prof. Hafiz Abubakar, who douContinues on pg36

features

Monday, 14 December, 2015 The high density section of Ebony Vaults and Garden

Why we make the cemetery a beautiful place —Harrison

HAT are the types of vaults that you have here? We have different types of vaults here, ranging from low, high, medium density to special vaults. The Ebony Vault and Garden comes with a one stop shop funeral plan to meet the arrangements of all classes of people. The low, high, medium density to special vault density at this cemetery could be likened to people staying in Ajegunle, Victoria Island, Surulere and Ikoyi. We have streetlights at night. There is constant security. We have closed-circuit television everywhere. We are not just concerned about burying people here, but burying people in style. What we have is less than a thousand vaults here, and you can see in the middle there is enough space, which gives room for expansion. We are particular about making the families of the dead feel comfortable when they come to pay respect to their dead ones. We want a cemetery of their dream and a place with a touch of class. How do you get burial deals?

For the funeral director, Ebony Funeral Services, Mr Dehinde Harrison, burying the dead goes beyond the ordinary. His expertise in the business began to grow when he was at Atan cemetery in Yaba, Lagos. Years later, he opened up a grand property in Ikoyi christened Ebony Vaults and Garden, where the dead are buried in style and colour in state-of-the-art facilities. ’WALE OLAPADE brings excerpts of an interaction with him.

We don’t bid for them. We get them on merit. Apart from providing burial plans, we provide counseling for the bereaved after the burial. It is a total package. I must mention that we provide services based on the budget of each individual. Is the funeral business in Nigeria going radically evolving? There are so many ways the business has changed. As a funeral director, I have travelled to every state in Nigeria. I worked with many companies in Kwara State and after my engineering career I travelled to Europe and discovered that their funeral business is different from what we have. In developed countries, those who venture into the funeral business do it with expertise; they sit and discuss with families of the deceased on the plan and type of burial packages they can afford. That is exactly what we are doing. We make burials very stressfree for the families of the deceased. All you need do is get in touch with us and then we discuss and provide all that is needed based on what you can afford.

What are the challenges that you are confronted with? We are feeling the heat. But if you don’t have challenges you can’t become relevant in life. You need ups and downs, and if you overcome them you are a conqueror. We pay quite some amount of money in terms of duty when importing some of our products like caskets. We produce local caskets here and we are faced with the cost and transportation of timber. The foreign exchange that was N150 to a dollar has increased to over N250 and the caskets we import are also affected by the rise in foreign exchange. What is your staff strength? We have about 150 members of staff including casuals. We have a branch in Abuja. How do you handle special burial rites? We design caskets for Muslims. Mostly, the Muslims come here, pray and then take the body for burial. It does not put any pressure on the people because we don’t just go there and start

digging unless the person would want to be buried in a private place of choice. Has this job shaped your life? The business has made me understand that life is very precious and I really appreciate life a lot because one minute you are here and the next minute the fellow is no longer around. It can happen to somebody around you, then, definitely it can happen to you. If you really think deep, you will know that life is very precious and when something is precious, you just need to appreciate and make value out it. It makes me value people that are still alive not the dead. How do you define your passion for the job? The passion that I have for this job brings out innovation in carrying out various tasks and in satisfying my clients. It is our innovation that stands us out among our peers. If you have passion for what you do, it would seem as if you are doing the magical. Why must somebody see a cemetery as a beautiful thing? Is he crazy? That is the passion I have.

I am too confused, perplexed to talk —Principal Continued from pg35

bles as the state commissioner for education also visited the school, said that “We are mourning. It is sad. We equally condole with the parents of the dead students. We believe that such disasters would be better handled next time. Things of this nature call for more sober relationships. Let us join all the affected people and hope that those who survived make full recovery.” In his message, the state governor, Abdul-

lahi Umar Gandunje, said the state “has lost potential future leaders. But there is nothing that we can do. We send our prayers to the families of the dead. For those who survived and are being treated in the hospital, we will foot their hospital bills. Also the state commissioner for information, Muhammed Garba, while condoling the parents of the affected students said that the state government would continue to accord all necessary assistance towards enhancing the standard of education in the state.

In her reaction to the pathetic incident, the principal of the school, Hajia Gambo, said she was too confused and perplexed to talk. “I have been instructed not to speak to the press over this. I have already filed in my report to the appropriate authorities. I am too perplexed to talk,” she said. The state commissioner of police, Mohammed Musa Katsina said parents of the dead victims have collected the corpses of their children from the school. A rather sad Katsina said it was painful for

the parents of the deceased to have lost their children at such age, just as he prayed that God would give them the fortitude to bear the losses. According to him, “You are all aware that the outbreak resulted in the loss of lives. I am moved and I stand in solidarity with the good people of Kano State in this moment of grief. I console the state government, parents of these students and other people of Kano. We are all together in this. We pray that this does not happen anymore.”

37 news

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Police arrest suspected killers of Rivers DPO Kill 4 kidnappers, 1 robber, rescue 1 kidnapped victim Dapo Falade - Port Harcourt

IVERS State Police Command has disclosed that it has arrested two notorious robbers said to have confessed to being involved in series of robberies and kidnappings in Port Harcourt and its environs. The arrested suspects included those said to have

Kashamu backs Buhari’s anti-corruption fight

Leon Usigbe -Abuja

From left, Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekweremadu; wife of the senator representing Delta North, Mrs Judity Nwaoboshi; Senator Peter Nwaoboshi; Bishop Michael Odogwu Elue of Issele Ukwu Diocese; Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki and the Delta State governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, with priests, during a thanksgiving mass to mark the election victory of Senator Nwaoboshi, at the St Augustine Catholic Church, Ibusa, on Sunday.

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has assured that revival of industries will get priority in his administration once he is through with the preparation of the 2016 budget. He gave the assurance during a dinner he hosted in honour of the visiting Alumni Association of the Indian Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, in Abuja, on Saturday night. Buhari, who received part of his own military training in the institution, said very soon, “we will sit down to see how we can rehabilitate industries. We will do this in order to clear the problem of unemployment.” He decried a situation in which 60 per cent of the the country’s 64 per cent youth population was unemployed, noting that “this is extremely dangerous for our country.” The president explained that the insecurity in the North-East, abduction for ransom in the South and the sabotage of the oil industry in the Delta region had one connection or the other with poverty and unemployment. “We are meeting after the budget to see how to revive industry and secure the economy,” he further assured.

Nigeria failed to achieve 2015 MDGs on health issues —HEFRON

NGO advocates amendments of the 2010 Electoral Act

been involved in the murder, a fortnight ago, of the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of the Rumuokoro Police Division, the late CSP Cliff Igwegbe. This was just as the police command announced that it killed four suspected kidnappers, one suspected robber and also rescued a kidnap victim. The late Igwegbe was murdered while two other policemen sustained minor injuries when his killers ambushed and opened fire on

them when they responded to a distress call. The law enforcement agency made this known in a statement signed and issued by its spokesman, DSP Muhammad Ahmad, in Port Harcourt, on Sunday. According to the statement, the leader of the group that killed the late CSP Igwegbe, Clever Idaminabor (27), was killed while two others, Prince Essien (30) and Hosanna Nse (23), were arrested in a shootout that ensued when police-

men raided their hideout at Location Road, Ada George, Port Harcourt. Items recovered from the suspects were two AK 47 rifles, one assault rifle, 119 rounds of live ammunition and seven magazines. “Similarly, following a distress call received on Saturday, at about 4.00 a.m from a patriotic Nigerian that kidnappers broke into the house of one Ken Livinus at Rukpokwu and whisked him away in his Toyota Lexus jeep, a team of policemen

quickly responded and pursued the fleeing kidnappers who were heading towards Aluu/Airport Road and engaged them. “The confrontation led to the safe rescue of the victim, while four unidentified kidnappers were fatally wounded. “The victim’s vehicle and a Golf Volkswagen car belonging to the kidnappers, three locally made pistols and 12 cartridges were recovered after the rescue operation,” the statement read.

Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta VICE chairman of the Senate Committee on States and Local Government Administration, Senator Buruji Kashamu, has thrown his weight behind the anticorruption fight of President Muhammadu Buhari, geared towards sanitising all sectors of the country. Kashamu said this while fielding questions from newsmen, shortly after a reception organised by the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in his honour, with a member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Adesegun Adekoya and members of the Ogun State Assembly, over their victories at the Court of Appeal, held at Omo Ilu Transformation Hall, Ijebu-Igbo, on Saturday. The lawmaker representing Ogun East Senatorial district in the upper chamber, contended that patriotic Nigerians, irrespective of political affliations must support the move by the current Buhari administration to stem the tide of corruption in Nigeria.

Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta A non-government organisation, Health Reform Foundation (HEFRON), said Nigeria has failed to achieve all health-related targets for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

which ends by 2015. The foundation also said that the standard of basic health practices in the country was ranked among the poorest in sub-Saharan Africa. This was disclosed by the state chairman of HEFRON, Alhaji Fatai Salami, during a press conference,

at the weekend, in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, to mark the 2015 Universal Health Coverage Day. Salami noted that inaccessibility of women and children who are the vulnerable population to basic health services, characterised the poor health status

Be change agents, cleric charges journalists By Tunde Ogunesan NIGERIAN Journalists have been charged to be objective in their profession and be change agents in the country’s drive towards taking its rightful place among the comity of nations. This charge was made by the minister in charge of Cook Memorial Baptist Church, Oja’ba, Ibadan, Reverend (Dr) Isaac Awoniyi, during the thanksgiving service held in the church to mark the end of 2015 Press Week of the union. Dr Awoniyi in his message entitled: “Journalist as a change agent”, said Ni-

Revival of industries my priority —Buhari

gerian media practitioners are vital to the development of the country, saying “journalists should know that their job transcend ordinary profession but that of causative agents of development to their country at all times. “For any nation to experience and enjoy positive change, it needs the inputs of change agents. A change agent is a person or an institution concerned about bringing positive developments to the society. Journalists, by training are change agents. It could therefore be inferred that if Nigeria would be a better

place to live in or take her rightful place in the comity of nations, the inputs of journalists cannot be underestimated. “And to achieve the target and ensure that journalists in their respective calling must be truthful and sincere to their callings and the country. They must also refuse to be corrupted, be objective in their reporting and must be courageous enough to expose scandals, corruptions. “In those days, journalists were ahead in exposing evil deeds in our society, hence they must continue to see themselves as image of the

nation and vehemently oppose societal evils and continue to improve on their knowledge as the world changes. “I want to charge you the more that Nigerians are looking forward to you to first be a change agent professionally, so that the change message will be better preached as you do your job,” Awoniyi said. In his remark, the chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo State council, Comrade Gbenga Opadotun thanked the leadership of the church for giving them the opportunity to worship in their sanctuary.

of the country. He added that government at all levels must make concerted efforts, towards achieving universal health reform, submitting that Nigerians would be denied the right to quality healthcare and protection from unnecessary financial risks if the barriers were not addressed by government and policy makers. He also urged all the 36 state governors in the country, to implement the provisions of the 2014 National Health Act. “We urge government to provide necessary financial and technical resources for the full implementation of the key provisions of the 2014 National Health Act and reorganise the Nigerian health system to become more patient-centred. “Guarantee the allocation and prompt release of the one per cent of the consolidated revenue of the federation account for the smooth take-off of the basic healthcare provision fund in 2016,” he said.

Adamu Amadu - Dutse ALLIANCE for Credible Election in Nigeria, a nongovernment organisation, has advocated the establishment of a special court that would prosecute election violators through reform of the 2010 Electoral Act. Speaking to the members of the Jigawa State Assembly, during an advocacy visit, the acting secretary of the group, Dr Mma Odi, on Sunday, on the floor of the House in Dutse, called for amendment of the process of the appointment of the chairmen of the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) in the 36 states. Dr Odi explained that their organisation is moving for the sustainability of credible elections which everyone believed as being the bedrock of democracy. According to her “reforming the 2010 electoral act would cover all the spaces and clear the lapses in the electoral act, before the next elections in the country.”

38 news

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Buhari after me, sets to annul my victory at Supreme Court —Fayose •Warns of consequences Bola Badmus - Lagos

KITI State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, on Sunday, alerted of plot by the Federal Government headed by President Muhammadu Buhari, to reverse his election victory at the Supreme Court using phantom military panel report, which accused the military personnel of rigging the last June 21, 2014 in his favour. The governor, who also alerted that he was fully aware that the Buhari government was after him,

however, warned that any attempt to tamper with the stability of the government of the state, which he said was the legitimate product of last year’s June poll as expressed through free, fair, peaceful and credible exercise, would amount to injustice to people of Ekiti and would be resisted. According to Fayose, who addressed a press conference at his private home in Lagos, on Sunday, what the Federal Government is trying to do is to cause the Supreme Court to review its judgment in respect of Ekiti poll, declaring that such an exercise was not

known to law. The governor maintained that the Supreme Court had already decided on all the issues raised by the APC in Ekiti, in spite of the fact that its candidate, former Governor Kayode Fayemi, had long conceded defeat, pointing out that everything was decided in his favour. “The military panel over last year governorship election in Ekiti State is a hatchet job. They have a target, but we are waiting for them. They are after me but I’m prepared for them. I am the governor of Ekiti State, I have history, I have record.

Corruption: Judges are no saints —Kwara CJ Biola Azeez - Ilorin AGAINST allegation of corruption in the judiciary in the country, the Chief Judge (CJ) of Kwara State, Justice Suleiman Kawu, has admitted that judges are not saints and that as human beings they are fallible. Speaking at this year’s dinner/award night organised by the Ilorin branch of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) at the weekend, Justice Kawu, who said there were few bad eggs in the profession urged lawyers in Nigeria to muster the needed courage in the fight against corruption in the judiciary. Justice Kawu added that based on the symbiotic working relationship between lawyers and judges, the former have the unique opportunity, moral and ethical responsibility “to expose the few bad eggs in our midst.” The jurist, who said that performance of judges was usually influenced by conduct of lawyers, added that, “My comment is on the impression being created in the media that the Nigerian judiciary is abysmally corrupt. I must admit that judges are not saints and that as human beings they are fallible which is why we have some few bad eggs in our midst. “This fact, however, is not sufficient ground for a sweeping and indiscriminate and sometimes criminally reckless castigation and condemnation of judges and the Nigerian judiciary as an institution. “I say it loudly and without any apology that Nigeria is blessed with some of the best judges in the world and that Nigerian judiciary as an

institution has always risen to the occasion in sanctioning erring judges and court officials whenever their misconduct is brought to the attention of the authority. “Some of us are worried and concerned that the loud and increasing waves of unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against judiciary

is creating negative impression about judges and eroding public confidence in the judiciary as an institution designed to enthrone the rule of law. This situation, if left unchecked, poses the danger of unwittingly advertising rule of force and anarchy as an alternative to the rule of law.”

Any attempt to invade my state will meet our resistance. “The day Buhari singles me out, his government will crumble. They have attempted to impeach me, they didn’t succeed, they disturbed my swearing-in ceremony and they failed. They now set up a military panel to upturn what the Supreme Court had decided in my favour. We are waiting for them,” he said. This was just as he also recalled that the international community and the US government also acknowledged the Ekiti poll exercise to be free and fair, recommending such for future polls in the country, including the 2015 general election. “Any attempt to rob the people of Ekiti State of their mandate will lead to chain of events, the end of which no one could accurately predict,” he warned. “We, therefore, urge everyone to accept the fact that the Ekiti State June 21, 2014 election was concluded legally and morally,” the governor said.

Speaking further, Fayose, who recalled his opposition to President Buhari in the last elections, said he had no regret or felt sorry for his actions, declaring that those that promoted him as President would soon regret their action. Fayose berated the Buhari-led government for not been able to make any meaningful change since assumption of power about seven months ago, saying

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people were already tagging the President as “Baba- goslow.” The governor said that rather than the spate of corruption reducing under his regime, the menace was getting higher by the day, urging Nigerians to prepare for the worse next year. The governor further warned: “There are 16 things that will happen in the country in 2016. I am going to publish it.”

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news

Monday, 14 December, 2015

NEPC committed to training of exporters —Awolowo

To create 344,000 jobs through cashew production From Hakeem Gbadamosi and Tunde Ogunesan

he Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), has restated its commitment towards training of exporters and other stakeholders in the sector on the basics of legal requirements in the bid to create alternatives to oil and gas business internationally. The Executive Director/ Chief Executive Officer, of NEPC, Mr Olusegun Awolowo, disclosed this during a day workshop in Akure, Ondo State capital, by the council for exporters in the country Awolowo, who was represented by the Legal Adviser/ Board Secretary of NEPC, Ezra Yakusak, said the council has initiated special projects across the country which are targeted towards diversifying the nation’s economy in order not to rely on oil and gas again. According to him, NEPC has embarked on massive sensitisation campaigns and capacity building of exporters in a bid to build a firm and human resources that can penetrate the foreign market, saying the agency was established to promote the export of non-oil products. He said: “The workshop is meant for the exporters to know the rules and regulations in exporting their goods. This workshop would cover salient issues like making an export offer, legal aspects of export contract and essentials of export contracts,” he said. The executive director stated that no fewer than 13 national strategic export products have been initiated and

identified by the agency to replace oil and gas He grouped the 13 products under three major sectors, namely: Agro- industry, which has palm oil, cocoa, cashew, sugar and rice. The mining related products have cement, iron ore, auto parts/cars and aluminium and the third: oil and gas industrial products having petroleum products, fertiliser /urea, petrochemical and methanol. He disclosed that the workshop was conceived to assist the exporters and prospective exporters who have difficulties in coming to terms with the different

procedures and terminologies associated with negotiating an export contract. He said the workshop intended to deal with core issues in export contract. “Henceforth, the NEPC will specifically promote those 13 products mentioned earlier to the world. Although, we are not neglecting other products that are also of exportable value “In fact, the process has already commenced with cashew. Nigeria ,for the first, time joined the Cashew Alliance, a policy making body for cashew exporters in Africa.

Earlier, the Akure zonal director of the council, Muhammad Salami, his welcome address, said the reason the agency organised the event is to bring exporters and legal experts together to interact for the benefit of export sub-sector. Meanwhile, the zonal controller, NEPC, Mr George Enyiekpon, has revealed that the agency would create no fewer than 344,000 new Jobs through its cashew project “One State One Product Initiative”. Enyiekpon made this known during a workshop titled “train the trainer cashew”, organised in Ibadan

From left, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Chief Audu Ogbeh; Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele and the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr Kayode Fayemi, at the Bankers' Committee Retreat in Lagos, on Friday.

Nigeria is a multi-religious society — Wike Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has declared that Nigeria is a multi-religious and pluralistic society , which guarantees religious liberties and the freedom of

every citizen to practice the religion of his or her choice. Governor Wike said that though, people belong to different religions, all religions afford people the op-

portunity to seek salvation. Speaking at the African Regional Seminar of Eckankar in Port Harcourt, on Sunday, Governor Wike, who was represented by

Exercise caution on Sagamu-Ore road, FRSC tells motorists THE Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), has warned motorists plying the Sagamu-Ore Expressway, during the Christmas period to exercise utmost caution when approaching certain bridges and river intersections on the route. Isah Seidu, the FRSC unit commander, in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, gave the warning on Sunday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on the dangers prevalent on the highway. Seidu said about 420 lives had been lost between 2012 and now till date due to the recklessness and speeding of drivers, who lost control and plunged into the rivers after veering off the roads. According to him, the fatality involving vehicles that plunged into rivers was normally on the high side as rescue efforts for victims becomes hindered by the ter-

and tagged: “Maximising the potentials of cashew from the farm gate to the market”. The workshop, which came to an end in Ibadan, was held in collaboration with the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. According to Enyiekpon, the workshop was aimed at educating and showcasing best practices in cashew value chain for the farmers, agricultural extension agents, processors and exporters. He said: “cashew is one of the 13 national products chosen by Nigeria to drive the non -oil export sector.

rain and restricted logistics. “As we prepare for the end of the year road movement, we want to appeal to motorists to exercise extreme caution, while plying the Sagamu-Ore Expressway, especially the following spots: “Ososa River bridges I, II and III at Odogbolu Local

Government Area of Ogun State; Arun and Omo Rivers bridges I and II at J4 area, Ogbere in Ijebu-East Local Government Area. “These bridges have become dangerous for the past three years due to their weakened guard railings which are no longer efficient in prevent-

ing vehicles from plunging into the rivers below. “Recently, on October 15, we lost five passengers aboard an 18-seater commercial bus, heading for Ondo State, when their vehicle crashed into Omo River, taking the command four days to recover the dead bodies.

Ondo 2016: Next governor must come from Akoko North —Group HakeemGbadamosi-Akure A youth movement from the Northern senatorial district of Ondo State, Akoko Youths Advocacy for Good Governance ( AYAGG), at the weekend, said the next governor of the state must emerge from the district, irrespective of political affiliation. This was contained in a communique issued by the group and signed by its national coordinator, Mr Komolafe Oladimeji, and made available to newsmen,

describing their clamour is “not negotiable “ Oladimeji, who predicted failure for any political party that fails to present candidate from the northern senatorial district, said power must rotate to the North in order to fulfil the principle of rotation as laid down by the past leaders of the state. He stated that all the three zones had produced governors during the current dispensation, saying power should return to the North as the cycle of rotation has

come to an end. The group said “ the cycle of rotation has come to an end All the senatorial districts have had a chance to rule the state. It is time to commence a new cycle and the starting point should be from Ondo North senatorial district. “Any attempt to start the cycle in any other district will amount to injustice. That means Ondo North would have to wait for another 18 years before having the chance to rule the state again, having waited for 14 years."

the Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG), Chief Kenneth Kobani, urged adherents of different religions to promote peace and harmony for the stability of the world. He said : “While we may belong to different religious persuasions, but all religions give a person the same chance of salvation. As human beings, we are children of the Omnipotent God, who never discriminates. “The role of religion in shaping human civilisations is well known. As sources of belief, religion has not only been the foundation of universal human values; it has for centuries, helped to concretise the common bonds that tie humanity together." He said a lot of work needs to be done to defeat the forces of hatred, division and religious extremism. Wike said : “As the Governor of Rivers State, I want to assure that we will continue to advance the constitutional rights and freedom of all and ensure that people of faiths are welcomed, protected and respected in Rivers State."

Lagos NIS holds 2015 AGM THE senator representing Lagos East senatorial district in the National Assembly, Gbenga Ashafa, is expected to grace the 2015 annual general meeting and luncheon of the Lagos State branch of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors (NIS). The luncheon, tagged: "Lagos centre of excellence, yesterday, today and tomorrow: The roles of surveyors,” will hold on Wednesday, by 10pm, at the Anchor Events Place, Registration Close, off Agidingbi Road, Beside LTV 8 premises, Ikeja, Lagos. A statement jointly signed by the chairman of organising committee, on Friday, Mr A. C. O. Anobili and the secretary, Semiu Ayinde, disclosed that the former Lagos State Commissioner for Physical Planning, Toyin Ayinde, would serve as the guest speaker at the luncheon. According to the press statement, Ashafa, who is a former permanent secretary for Lagos State Lands Bureau, would serve as the special guest of honour at the event while the chairman of Lagos State branch of NIS, Hassan Elias,would be the chairman of the event.

FG tasks religious leaders on peace advocacy Adetola Bademosi - Abuja

THE Federal Government has tasked religious leaders across the country on constant advocacy for peace, especially among the youth as this is a prerequisite to achieving sustainable peace. It has also threw its weight behind a Bill for an Act, currently before the National Assembly to legalise the Peace Corps of Nigeria (PCN). The Minister of Youths and Sports, Mr Solomon Dalung, stated this on Sunday, when the corps' national commandant, Dr Dickson Akoh, led a delegation on a visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja. He said this will no doubt provide employment opportunities for the youth, encourage community services, hence, a platform on which future leaders are bred.

41 fortherecord

Monday, 14 December, 2015

The caliphate, the emir and Nigeria’s master race (II) By Femi Fani-Kayode

(Continued from yesterday) s it any wonder that my friend and brother Governor Nasir el-Rufai once warned the Nigerian military against what he considered to be their excesses in the fight against Boko Haram and told them that “anyone, whether soldier or otherwise, that kills a Fulani must consider it as a debt that will be repaid?” Is it any wonder that in 2001 some unscrupulous and irresponsible leaders in the core North invoked “political sharia” as a secret weapon in their attempt to discredit, destabilise and destroy President Olusegun Obasanjo, a southern Christian president? Is it any wonder that in 2001, President Muhammadu Buhari, a core northern Muslim, said “what is the business of Christians if we Muslims chop off our limbs in the name of Sharia?” and went further by saying that it is his intention and desire “to spread sharia all over the federation.” Is it any wonder that Governor Bello Masari of Katsina State said there was a link between Boko Haram and the Fulani militants/ herdsmen and that they both “kill people and rob them of their property?” Is it any wonder that virtually every single notable southern leader in our political history that has ever aligned with the North, including MKO Abiola, Ken Saro-Wiwa, Isaac Boro and many others, ended up secretly regretting it because, after all their noble efforts of regional and ethnic bridge-building, they ended up being cheated, insulted, marginalised, humiliated, maligned, misrepresented, used, dumped, jailed or killed? Worse still in the case of Saro-Wiwa, after he was hanged, acid was poured all over his body in order to remove all trace of him. Is it any wonder that Dr Junaid Mohammed,one of the leading apostles of northern hegemony, said that Nigerians should ‘’let the Biafrans go’’ and that ‘’they need Nigeria more than Nigeria needs them?’’ Is it any wonder that Chief Bola Ige of blessed memory once referred to the Fulani as “the Tutsis of Nigeria” and that Mohammed Yusuf, a leading core northern civil servant, once referred to the Tutsis as “the Fulani in diaspora?” Is it any wonder that virtually every single courageous, moderate, honest, liberal and truly progressive core northern leader, like Abubakar ‘Dangiwa’ Umar, Nuhu Ribadu, Kashim Ibrahim Imam, Halilu Akilu, Tanko Yakassai, Sule Lamido, Lawal Batagarawa and many others that sought to build bridges of peace and understanding with the South throughout his life and career, that insists on equity and fairness between the ethnic nationalities, that refuses to describe his tribe as the “master race,” that resists racial and religious bigotry, that deplores injustice and wickedness and that stands up against the excesses of his own leaders and people is persecuted, viewed with suspicion, misrepresented and not allowed to achieve his full potentials by the deeply conservative and reactionary leaders of the ultraconservative core North? The Bible tells us that “God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.” When the misguided and ultra-conservative leaders of an ethnic nationality in a multi-cultural and multi-ethnic state pride themselves on building an empire, enslaving others, occupying their land and holding on to power by consistently using violence, religion, subterfuge, lies, deceit, manipulation and the shedding of blood, a terrible price has to be paid. God is not mocked and neither does He sleep. He will ask the murderer, where is your brother Abel and He will tell him that “his blood cries out to me from the ground for vengeance.” For those that doubt the veracity of my earlier assertion that every single core northerner that has ever ruled this country has either died in office or removed from power and detained for a number of years, permit me to enlighten you.

Kindly note the fact that General Yakubu Gowon, General Ibrahim Babangida and General Abdulsalami Abubakar who were also heads of State of Nigeria and who were also from the North were not core northerners but Middle Belters. That is what set them apart and made the difference. We are talking about core northern leaders here and the bitter and tragic end that each and everyone of them suffered after being Head of State, President or Prime Minister. Consider the following. Sir Tafawa Balewa who was the Prime Minister of Nigeria from 1960 till 1966 was from the core North and he was killed whilst in office. General Murtala Muhammed who was Head of State of Nigeria from 1975 till 1976 was from the core North and he was killed whilst in office. Alhaji Shehu Shagari who was President of Nigeria from 1979 till 1983 was from the core North and he was removed by a military coup d’etat whilst in office after which he was detained for two years during which he almost went blind. General Muhammadu Buhari who was Head of State of Nigeria from 1983 till 1985 was from the core North and he was removed in a military coup d’etat whilst in office after which he was detained for four years. General Sani Abacha who was Head of State from 1994 till 1998 was from the core North and he died under mysterious circumstances whilst in office. Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua who was President from 2007 till 2010 was from the core North and he died under mysterious circumstances whilst in office. No-one deserves to be killed or to die in such mysterious circumstances and no-one deserves to suffer incarceration unlawfully. I am saddened by what each and everyone of these respected leaders suffered and by what they were forced to go through. I deplore murder, violence, bloodshed and the unconstitutional removal of democratically-elected Presidents and Prime Ministers. I do not relish what happened to any of them and neither do I endorse what befell them. However it is clear to me, as it ought to be clear to any discerning reader, that there is more to all this than meets the eye. It is not a coincidence. There is a clearly established pattern of sad and unfortunate events here that cannot be ignored or wished away and that must be critically examined. In short, there is clearly a bigger picture in all this and a concise message that many of us fail to appreciate, acknowledge or recognise. Today in Nigeria, God is asking Cain “where is your brother Abel” and this time, He must get an answer. Yet who precisely is Abel? The answer is simple and clear: Abel is Gideon Akaluka, the young man from Benue State who was dragged out of a Kano police station by a barbaric mob and whose head was cut off and placed on the end of a long pole for allegedly desecrating the Koran. Abel is the little Igbo girl who was ravaged by kwashikor and starved to death during the Nigerian civil war. Abel are the two young men that were shot to death in Enugu for marching against injustice, for demanding the release of their leader, Nnamdi Kanu and for calling for the establishment of Biafra. Abel is the pastor whose church was burnt down, whose family was butchered and who was crucified at the altar by an irate mob of terrorists and Islamic fundamentalists in Borno State. Abel is the Muslim girl who was stoned to death for falling in love with a Christian boy and attempting to marry him in Zamfara State. Abel is the woman that was hacked to death with her children and thrown down a well by a mob of Muslim fanatics in Jos. Abel is the Kataf man that was castrated and chopped into pieces, the southern Kaduna girl who was burnt alive and the Berom woman that was mutilated and raped to death by Fulani militants. Abel are the five young Igbo traders that were slaughtered in their shops for “not being able to recite the koran” at Madala Market in Niger State. Abel are the 105 brave young soldiers who were

attacked with chemical weapons by Boko Haram in Borno State and who our government has refused to acknowledge or honour in death. Abel are the 200 girls from Chibok, the 170 girls from Bam and the thousands of other young girls from all over the North who were abducted from their homes, schools and communities and who were raped, tortured, enslaved, maimed and murdered in cold blood by Boko Haram. Abel are the hundreds of thousands of Igbos that are always butchered whenever there is any conflict or dispute in the North. Abel are the 21 Shia Muslims who were blown to pieces in Kano by Boko Haram. Abel are the nine young Igbo martyrs that were shot to death by security forces during a peaceful IPOB march in Onitsha. Abel is the palm wine tapper who was cut to pieces in Delta State and the Royal Father that was hacked to death in Enugu by Fulani militants. Abel is the embattled community in Delta State who were forced to ban the Fulani militants and herdsmen from entering their land due to their consistent acts of rape, murder, terror and violence. Abel are the great souls that the leaders of the core North conspired to destroy by setting them up with trumped up and malicious criminal charges. These include Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was sent to prison for three years on the watch of Sir Tafawa Balewa and President Olusegun Obasanjo who was sent to prison for three years on the watch of General Sani Abacha. Abel is Colonel Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu who fought against the mass murder of his people, who protected his kith and kin from Cain’s genocide and who was driven into exile. Abel are the defenceless young Igbo boys and harmless old Igbo men that were rounded up in the town square in Asaba and executed by Nigerian troops. Abel are the 800 innocent souls, including 11 young youth corps members, that were butchered by President Buhari’s supporters in the core nNorth after he lost the presidential election in 2011. Abel are the 350 teachers that were killed by Boko Haram in Borno State. Abel is every single one of the hundreds of thousands of innocent souls that were killed in sectarian violence and ethnic pogroms in northern Nigeria over the last 55 years. Abel are the so-called wretched of the earth: the weak, the helpless, the voiceless and the downtrodden. Abel is the silent majority who have no voice to speak for themselves, who are not members of the so-called “master race,” who were not “born to rule” and who were cut short and sent to the great beyond before their time. For every nation and every evil seed comes a day of reckoning. In Nigeria, we are almost there. It is just a matter of time. Until then Cain, the rejected of the Lord, shall remain rejected and Abel’s innocent blood shall continue to speak against him and his seed. The Lord God of Hosts, the Ancient of Days and the God of All Flesh is speaking and He is saying “let my people go.” The question is whether Cain is listening. Before I conclude this piece, permit me to clarify one or two issues. It has been said that I am “anticore North and anti-Fulani,” yet nothing could be further from the truth. The only thing that I am “anti” is injustice and wickedness. I would like to remind readers that one-eighth of the blood that flows through my veins is Fulani and this derives from my maternal great grandmother who was a pure Fulani woman. I am very proud of that aspect of my ancestry and I am equally proud of my almost pure Yoruba bloodlines and heritage. I can hardly be described as a hater of the Fulani when I am partly Fulani myself. However if some believe that criticising the leadership of the Fulani and the atrocious and oftentimes irresponsible way that they have behaved over the last 55 years makes me “antiFulani,” then so be it. I would also like to remind my traducers that I was introduced into politics and given my

first political appointment in 1992 by a highly respected and much-loved elder statesman who happens to be from the core nNorth by the name of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, the Marafan Sokoto. Marafan is like a father to me and he is a man that I cherish. If I was “anti-Fulani” or “anti-core North,” this would not be the case and I would harbor no such affection for this great Nigerian. Again, I have defended my friend and brother, Colonel Sambo Dasuki, the former National Security Adviser (NSA) and resisted the ruthless persecution and misrepresentation that he has been subjected to by the Buhari-led administration as much as anyone else over the last few months. Dasuki is a Fulani and if I “hated” Fulanis I doubt that I would have bothered to do so. If I raise issues about the core North or the Fulani, it is because I believe that they can do far better and I am of the view that they need to do a lot of soul-searching about their role and purpose in a wider Nigeria. If this country is to remain one then the tendency in the core North that honestly believes that the Fulani were “born to rule” must retrace their steps and think again. This point has been eloquently enunciated by Mr Nnamdi Kanu’s IPOB, the OPC, MASSOB, Afenifere, the Yoruba Council of Elders, Ohaneze, the Ijaw National Congress, the Niger Delta militants and so many other ethnic nationalist and self-determination groups over the years and who can blame them? Like President Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America, 210 years ago, said “we prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery”. Again like President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana, the father of pan-Africanism, once proclaimed, “we reject the tranquility.” Again, like Reverend Martin Luther King, the father of civil rights and African-American liberation, once said “freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor: it must be demanded by the oppressed.” Again, like Mr Yinka Odumakin, the spokesman of Afenifere, said “methinks that it is Nigeria that is dead and that the quest for self-determination is very much alive.” The point is simple and clear: the days of “masters and slaves” or “horse and horse-rider” are long over in our nation. In today’s Nigeria every tribe, every ethnic nationality and every individual, no matter how big or small, must be treated with sensitivity, caution, dignity and respect and must be regarded as equals. If this fundamental principle is not respected and if we refuse to answer the “national question,” I have no doubt that eventually this country will hit the rocks and may break into two or more pieces. Those that choose to misrepresent, misconstrue and misunderstand me may continue to do so if it makes them feel any better. Regardless of what they say, I shall continue to stand up for the oppressed whether they be Christian or Muslim, northern or southern or whether they are Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Ijaw, Hausa, Edo, Isoko, Tiv, Idoma, Berom, Kanuri, Efik, Ibibio, Nupe, Shuwa Arab or anything else. As long as God gives me life and a strong voice, I shall continue to speak the truth, I shall continue to educate others about our nation’s history, I shall continue to resist injustice and oppose evil and I shall continue to treat my detractors with the contempt and disdain that they deserve. Some may hate me for writing this piece and they may seek to discredit and destroy me because of it. This is because the truth hurts and they cannot bear to hear it. Let me assure them that my covenant with the Lord will not allow them to achieve their evil plans for me or mine. No weapon fashioned against me shall prosper and every tongue that rises against me stands condemned. The blood of Jesus speaks for me. The Lord is my shield, my glory and the lifter of my head. He alone gives me utterance, knowledge, wisdom and understanding. He alone gives me courage and strength. He alone do I fear.

42 news

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Redeploy police officers accused of aiding political turmoil, Bayelsa politicians cry out By Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare

OLITICAL bigwigs in Bayelsa State including governorship aspirants from 11 registered political parties in the state have lent their voices to the call for

immediate redeployment of the Deputy Inspector General of Police, DIG Hashimu Argungun; the state Commissioner of Police, Nasiru Oki and other security operatives fingered in the electoral fraud and violence that marred the re-scheduled

governorship election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. The aspirants, under the aegis of United Governorship Forum for Credible Elections, at the weekend, in a statement signed by its Chairman, Chief Inko Namatede, stated

that the army, police and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) under the watchful eyes of these officers aided the rigging, killings and maiming of innocent Bayelsans by the leading opposition party, the All Progressives Congress

Stop telling lies over security lapses, PDP tells JTF THE Bayelsa Restoration Campaign Organisation (RCO) has tongue lashed the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) for exonerating itself from any complicity in the violence and malpractices which marred the recent election in Southern Ijaw

Local Government Area. The RCO, an arm of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which said the security agency could have done better to forestall the violence that led to the cancelation of the election, also rejected the position of the JTF on being neutral and

accused the security agency of colluding with others to rig the election. General Stevenson Olabanji, Commander, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, had at a news briefing in Yenagoa, regretted the violence during the election

We apprehended 17 suspects during Bayelsa poll —Military Brigadier-General Stephenson Olabanji, the Commander, 2 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, on Sunday, said the military apprehended 17 suspects for various election offences during the December 5 governorship election in the Bayelsa State. Olabanji also told newsmen in Yenagoa that the military played a support role to the police during the election. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalled that INEC cancelled the result for Southern Ijaw Local Government Area citing violence while declaring the governorship election inconclusive. The election in the council area was earlier shifted from December 5 to Decem-

ber 6 and it continued till the early hours of December 7 without a clear winner. Olabanji, however, said the election duty was coordinated through the “Operation Safe Conduct” outfit comprising all security agencies under his watch. The commander said that in spite of the presence of the troops and other security personnel, some thugs armed with dangerous weapons tried to disrupt the smooth process of the election. He said troops were deployed in all the eight local government areas of the state, adding that some areas like Southern Ijaw Local Government and Ekeremor were more volatile than others. “In Ekeremor Local Government Area, three youths

were apprehended with 30 PVCs suspected to be stolen from their original owners. “Similarly, on December 6, along Olugbobiri River, a speed boat carrying nine persons was intercepted carrying five AK47 riffles and some ammunition. “The suspects were duly handed over to the Nigeria police for further investigations.”

and claimed that the JTF made a number of arrests. According to him, Governor Seriake Dickson’s visit to Oporoma on election day fuelled violence in the area. But the RCO, in a statement on Sunday by its Director of Publicity, Jonathan Obuebite, blamed the JTF for the security lapse leading to loss of lives in Southern Ijaw. He noted that the JFT failed to heed to the advice by the governor and others to postpone the election on account of anticipated violence. He condemned the JTF for being partisan, stating that some of its officers worked with thugs loyal to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to undermine the entire electoral process in Southern Ijaw.

Probe military’s activities in Bayelsa election, Ekiti PDP tells Buhari Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

THE Ekiti State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has called on President Mohammadu Buhari to probe the military

on its alleged involvement in reported ballot snatching and violence that rendered Bayelsa State governorship election inconclusive. Ekiti PDP, in a statement by its Publicity Secretary,

Accept defeat, congratulate Dickson, Bayelsans tell Sylva FOLLOWING the victory that has been recorded by Governor Seriake Dickson in the Bayelsa State governorship election, there is intense pressure from Bayelsans and stakehold-

ers asking the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Chief Timipre Sylva, to accept defeat. Ward agents, who are among over 500 APC de-

fectors, who only last Saturday announced their decision to pitch tents with the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were among the latest making the call. They included Francis

PDP faults Sylva’s letter to INEC, says he can’t be governor THE Restoration Campaign Organisation (RCO), an organ of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Bayelsa State, has expressed dismay over a letter written by the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the December 5 election, Chief Timipre Sylva, to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), describing it as mischievous. The group urged Sylva to wake up to the reality that “he cannot be governor as the people have decided.” In the said letter copied to the Attorney-General of

he Federation and Minister of Justice, Sylva requested that results from the Southern Ijaw Local Government Area should be cancelled and he be declared winner. He reportedly told the commission to “in the interest of equity, fair-play and justice”, cancel the elections in Ekeremor and Sagbama council areas, wards 4 and 5 of Yenagoa and wards 8, 9 and 10 of Nembe council areas. The RCO, in a statement by its Director of Publicity, Jonathan Obuebite, said the letter was written against

(APC). Namatede stated that further participation of the affected officers in the proposed re-scheduled election would lead to a repeat of the ugly incident. The affected officers, according to the aspirants, conducted themselves in the most despicable manner through their unprofessional conduct by taking sides with the APC and, thereby allowing the reign of terror and giving opportunity to thugs and criminals loyal to the APC to have a field day. “In the spirit of fairness and as a factor of the appalling situation we saw in Southern Ijaw in particular, we hereby call on the military high command in Abuja to completely withdraw all soldiers deployed to provide security in that local government because they allegedly aided the hijack of electoral materials by thugs,” he said. The group also called for the immediate release of all the Corp members held hostage by thugs and militants loyal to the APC without further delay and the probe of recalcitrant INEC officials who were alleged to be involved in the dastardly act.

the will of the people. He said, “After carefully studying the letter, we have come to the conclusion that it was written with mischief and intended to put INEC in a position to subvert the will of the people as expressed in the December 5 election. “Why is Sylva in one breath saying INEC lacks powers to cancel an election and on the other hand requesting the cancellation of elections in Ekeremor and Sagbama council areas, ward 4 and 5 of Yenagoa and wards 8, 9 and 10 of Nembe council area?”

Asikpi from Ekeremor, Sinivie Rita–Southern Ijaw, Mike Okpolovie – Yenagoa, Jude Timi – Sagbama, Godwin Wilson – Ogbia and Zidougha Patrick from Nembe. They all unanimously urged Sylva to emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan, who chose the path of honour by conceding victory to President Muhammadu Buhari, even before the final results were announced to avoid an imminent chaos, mayhem and bloodbath. According to them, the situation presents the former governor with an opportunity to rewrite the political history of the state, because it will save the people of the risks associated with the conduct of the election, like the events of the 5th and 6th of December, 2015 in Southern Ijaw, where fellow Bayelsans had to kill their own brothers.

Jackson Adebayo, said a probe of the allegations against the military in the Bayelsa elections had become imperative “if the military panel set up on Ekiti and Osun states elections should not be taken as mere witch-hunt.” The party said it had been “vindicated that the military panel on Ekiti and Osun states was set up on sentimental interest rather than a guide to democratic practice in Nigeria with the alleged participation of the same military in the election materials-snatching, thumbprinting and killing of PDP members that marred the Bayesa State governorship election.” Adebayo said “President Buhari should prove to Nigerians his sincerity on free and fair elections by asking the military why its men aided the All Progressives Congress (APC) to rig election in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State.” He said “if the military could probe the Ekiti and Osun elections where there were no records of killing, ballot snatching or mass thumb-printing of ballot papers, then that of Bayelsa State should be handled by a military tribunal to probe the wanton destruction of lives allegedly by soldiers.”

Bayelsa: No time limit to conduct supplementary election —INEC THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has allayed the fears of election stakeholders over its delay to fix a date for the conduct of supplementary election in the disputed Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The commission said contrary to claims in some quarters, ?it actually has no time limit within which to conduct supplementary election where an election is declared inconclusive. The election in Southern Ijaw Local Government was cancelled for the second time on December 7 and there had been opinions that INEC has 14 days within which to conduct rerun in the area. But INEC Director, Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, said “there is nowhere in the Electoral Act or the 1999 Nigerian Constitution (as amended) that the commission was given a specific time limit within which to conduct a supplementary poll.”

Abia students drum up support for Orji Kalu Shola Adekola - Lagos

Ahead of the Abia North Senatorial rerun election, the candidature of the former governor of Abia State, Dr Orji Kalu of the Progressive Peoples Alliance (PPA), received a major boost following his adoption by the Confederation of Abia Students Worldwide (CASW), an umbrella body of students of Abia State origin. It will be recalled that Justice I. G. Mbaba of the Court of Appeal sitting in Owerri had last Thursday nullified the election of Mr Mao Ohuabunwa of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and ordered the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a fresh poll within 90 days. The group made the declaration during a solidarity visit to the Igbere country home of the former governor at the weekend. According to the President of CASW, Comrade Kelvin Ukonu, Kalu is a special human being created for a special purpose.

Monday, 14 December, 2015

foreig naffairs

08116954632 with seyi gesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

First women elected to local councils in Saudi Arabia At least four women have won seats in Saudi Arabia’s municipal polls, the country’s first-ever elections open to female voters and candidates, local reports said. Al Jazeera said the female candidates were elected to three councils, two in Ihsaa governorate and one each in Tobouk and Mecca, as votes were still being counted on Sunday. Salma bint Hizab al-Oteibi was elected to the council of Madrakah, a region in Mecca, the official SPA news agency reported, citing election commission president Osama al-Bar. Saturday’s municipal poll, which was hailed by many as historic, saw a turnout of about 25 per cent, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Riyadh Saad alSaadi reported. The fact that this was only the third time that Saudi citizens voted in an election meant that there was still little experience with the electoral process, Saadi said.

US urges citizens to leave Burundi after 87 killed in fresh violence

he United States government urged its citizens on Sunday to immediately leave Burundi after 87 people were killed in the capital Bujumbura, many reportedly shot dead execution-style. The State Department said it has ordered the departure of non-emergency personnel and dependents of US government employees from Burundi because of escalating violence linked to President Pierre Nkurunziza’s disputed third term. Violence was ignited on Friday after attacks by assailants on three army installations, Burundian officials said on Saturday. Army spokesman Colonel Gaspard Baratuza said eight security officers were among those killed during and after Friday’s assault. “The final toll of the attacks yesterday is 79 enemies killed, 45 captured and

Don’t let sadness win in these fearful times — Pope

Men carry away a body in the Nyakabiga neighbourhood of Bujumbura, Burundi on Saturday. INSET: Pierre Burundi Nkurunziza PHOTOS: AP.

97 weapons seized, and on our side eight soldiers and policemen were killed and 21 wounded,” Baratuza was quoted as saying by the AFP news agency. A climate of fear has engulfed Bujumbura, though the streets were reportedly calm on Sunday. “So far the violence has been political,” reported Al Jazeera’s Mohammed

Adow, adding it has sparked “fears that civil war in Burundi could be rekindled”. About 300,000 people were killed between 1993 and 2006 during the civil war. “There is a police operation that is continuing in the suburbs of the capital,” Adow said, explaining that young men have been the primary target.

An eyewitness told the Associated Press he counted 21 bodies with bullet wounds to the head in the Nyakabiga neighbourhood on Saturday morning. Some of the dead had their hands tied behind their backs. Police spokesman Pierre Nkurikiye said there were “no collateral victims” during Friday’s clashes.

Pope Francis called on humanity Sunday not to let sadness prevail because of the many forms of violence afflicting the world. The Associated Press said Francis cited no specific violent event in his homily in a Rome basilica, St. John in Lateran. But he said: “We can’t let ourselves be overcome by weariness. No form of sadness is allowed, even if we would have reason to, because of the many worries and multiple forms of violence which wound our humanity.” The ceremony was part of the special church Holy Year highlighting his emphasis on the importance of mercy and pardon. After opening a symbolic Holy Door in the ancient cathedral, Francis told the faithful that “God doesn’t love rigidity” but is tender. Francis, instead, wants the church to be characterized by forgiveness.

Brazilians protest to demand President Rousseff’s impeachment

Demonstrators burn a coffin that represent Brazil’s President Dilma Rousseff during a protest calling for her impeachment in front of the National Congress in Brasilia, Brazil, on Sunday. PHOTO: REUTERS.

Thousands of Brazilians took to the streets on Sunday to demand President Dilma Rousseff’s ouster in the first nationwide protests since formal impeachment proceedings began against the leftist leader, Reuters reported. A congressional committee is considering her impeachment for allegedly violating budget laws to increase spending during her 2014 re-election

campaign. But many Brazilians are more upset about a deepening recession and a corruption scandal that has ensnared many in her party. “We are tired. We want change. Out with this corrupt gang!” one activist shouted into a loudspeaker in the capital Brasilia, where police estimated a maximum 6,000 people were gathered in front of

otherNEWS

Congress, in the smallest of four main protests this year. Lower House Speaker Eduardo Cunha opened impeachment proceedings on Dec 2. Currently the opposition is not thought to have the votes to impeach Rousseff, who denies mishandling public accounts and has pledged to fight impeachment with all legal tools available in order to finish her second term.

Climate agreement could help turn the tide on global warming — US President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry hailed the newly passed international climate change agreement as a major achievement that could help turn the tide on global warming, but got a quick reminder that Re-

publicans will fight it all the way. Obama said the climate agreement made on Saturday night by almost 200 nations “can be a turning point for the world” and credited his administration for playing a key role. He and Kerry predicted it

would prompt widespread spending on clean energy and help stem carbon pollution blamed for global warming, The Associated Press said. “We’ve shown that the world has both the will and the ability to take on this challenge,” Obama said

from the White House. He said the climate agreement “offers the best chance we have to save the one planet we have.” “In short, this agreement will mean less of the carbon pollution that threatens our planet and more of the jobs and economic

growth driven by low-carbon investments,” Obama said. Obama said the world leaders meeting in Paris “met the moment” and that people can be more confident “the planet will be in better shape for the next generation.”

President Barack Obama

Russian warship fires warning shots near Turkish vessel Russian President Vladimir Putin

Russia’s defence ministry has said that one of its warships fired warning shots at a Turkish vessel in Aegean Sea on Sunday to avoid a collision. A ministry statement said the destroyer Smetlivy was unable to establish radio

contact with the approaching Turkish ship, which also failed to respond to visual signals and flares. When the vessel was 600 metres away, the destroyer fired with small arms and the Turkish vessel quickly changed course.

“The crew of the Russian patrol ship Smetlivy, which was located 22km from the Greek island of Lemnos in the northern part of the Aegean Sea avoided collision with a Turkish seiner,” the defence ministry told the AFP news agency.

Turkey’s military attache in Moscow has been summoned by the defence ministry over the incident. Tensions between Moscow and Ankara have been heightened since a Turkish jet downed a Russian bomber along the Syrian

border last month, killing one of the two pilots. Moscow has imposed a series of economic sanctions against Ankara after the incident, sparking the biggest crisis between the two countries since the Cold War.

communitynews

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Fijabi empowers 172 teachers

WRPC is marginalising us, Itsekiri communities cry out EbenezerAdurokiya-Warri Leaders of Ubeji, Ifie-Kporo, Aja-Etan and Ijala-Ikeren in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State have accused the management of Warri Refining and Petrol Chemical Company Ltd (WRPC) of marginalising their communities. According to the Itsekiri leaders, the communities have been denied of benefits that should accrue to them as host communities of the company. One of the leaders, Mr Clement Erewa, who spoke on behalf of others, made the grievance known at the weekend in Warri, Delta State. Erewa said: “The management, for more than a year now, has not awarded contract to any of the host communities and no developmental project is ongoing in the communities.” He also accused the company of not taking action to address polluted environment in the host communities. Erewa also stated that a collapsed bridge, is a major link to their communities, as well as the refining jetty, which collapsed over three years ago, had been left unattended to. This, he said, has caused untold hardship to members of the communities. The leaders, however, warned that members of the communities would embark on due process in pressing home their demands, instead of resorting to unlawful means. They advised WRPC to address the issues raised with a view to giving the host communities a sense of belonging. Meanwhile, a staff of the Public Relations Office of the company, who spoke anonymously, said the company was aware of the anomaly and was looking into the issue.

By Olawale Olaniyan

Some of the participants at the workshop organised by Honourable Saheed Fijabi for teachers in his constituency at the Fijabi Acquisition Centre, Molete, Ibadan, Oyo State. PHOTO: OLAWALE OLANIYAN

Monarch proclaims Ondo a city Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure

Communities in Ondo West Local Government Area of Ondo State, at the weekend, stood still as the traditional ruler, Oba Victor Kiladejo, proclaimed Ondo a city. proclamation, The which coincided with the 28th edition of the annual celebration of Ekimogun Day came five years after Oba Kiladejo unveiled the plan to launch the Ondo City Vision 2015. Speaking during the proclamation at the Ondo

township stadium, Oba Kiladejo stated that the idea in coming into reality 500 years after the Osemawe dynasty. The monarch commended the contributions of sons and daughters of Ondo both at home and in the diaspora, towards making the dream a reality. Oba Kiladjo further noted that Ondo deserved to be accorded the status of a city following many developmental projects which had been put in

El-Rosa organises diabetes awareness for Agege community naza okoli-lagos

El-Rosa Project, a nonprofit organisation, in conjunction with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, recently organised a diabetes awareness campaign and free medical tests for Oyewole Community at Agege, Lagos. Tagged: “Walk for Diabetes and Environmental Cleanliness,” the awareness walk began at Decross Gospel Mission,

Oyewole, and terminated at Mulero Bus Stop, Iyana-Ipaja. Free medical tests and counselling were conducted by medical personnel at the premises of Decross Gospel Mission, where about 100 people participated. Speaking at the event, the 19-year-old founder of the Project, Miss Nifesola Obey-Fabiyi, said she was supported by her family and the Lagos State Min-

Ilemona community lauds Ahmed on appointment Ilemona Descendants’ Progressive Association (IDPA), a socio-cultural organisation of indigenes of Ilemona in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State, has applauded Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on his recent political appointment. In a statement signed by the association’s chairman and secretary, Alhaji Raheem Alalade and Pastor Adekunle

place by communities and the state government. He listed the projects to include universities, a medical village, dualised roads, mega schools, radio stations, a cultural heritage museum among others. The monarch disclosed that Ondo Kingdom Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture had been established, noting that efforts were at an advanced stage to link it with the Chambers of Commerce in the

Owolabi respectively, the association said the governor had appointed people of proven integrity. The association said it was particularly delighted on the appointment of a son of the community, Mr Muideen Alalade as the new Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development. IDPA, which described the appointment of Alalade, as well deserved

considering his contributions to the development of Ilemona, thanked notable personalities like the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; the Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki; Senator Rafiu Ibrahim; the Chairman APC, Oyun Local Government Area, Alhaji Tijani Olaegbe and the Chairman of Oyun Local Government Area, Alhaji Adebayo Alao Eleku.

istry of Environment. “I fell ill early this year,” she said. “I had meningitis – an illness that has to do with the spinal cord, and I was in the hospital for about six months. I realised that there are so many people who are going through so many different illnesses. “So, I decided that when I come out, I will start an organisation that would raise awareness, and help people to learn how they can prevent some of these illnesses. Diabetes is a common illness,” she said. “I have family members who have diabetes. So I felt it would be a good start-off point to start. “The Lagos State government supported us. Decross Gospel Mission also supported us. We also have individuals who contributed money and other resources. The medical personnel you see there are all volunteers.” Obey-Fabiyi said the campaign, which would be done monthly, would take care of a different illness each time.

United States of America and the United Kingdom. The traditional ruler commended the state governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko and other notable indigenes of the town for their contributions towards the completion of the Ondo City proclamation project, noting that the governor, an indigene of Ondo, was very supportive during the process of the proclamation. He said, “ in many of my speeches recently, I have drawn attention to the fact that 2015 is the year of Ondo City Vision, the object of which is to proclaim and designate Ondo City, so that our community can be addressed as Ondo City.” The state governor, in his remarks, said Ondo was long overdue to be transformed into a city, considering its large population and modern infrastructural facilities. Mimiko, however, reiterated his administration’s readiness to continue to partner with communities in the state in respect of the provision of basic amenities that would help in improving the lives of the people. He called on the people of the city to be security conscious by being their brother’s keeper and fulfill their civic responsibility by paying their taxes. Earlier in his address, the chairman of Ondo Development Committee, Chief Noah Fadayomi, described the proclamation of Ondo city by the Osemawe as a turning point in the history of the ancient town.

A member of the House of Representatives, Honourable Saheed Fijabi, has organised a twoweek computer programme for basic school teachers in his constituency in Oyo State towards improving their productivity. The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) programme tagged: ‘Computer Training for Teachers in Ibadan South West Federal Constituency’ began on Monday at Fijabi Acquisition Centre, Ibadan. Speaking at the opening session of the programme, Fijabi, who represents Ibadan South-West/ North-West Federal Constituency, said it was in fulfilment of one of his electioneering promises. He stated that the aim of the workshop, which is being attended by no fewer than 172 teachers, is to provide basic (primary) school teachers with ICT knowledge which they would impart to their pupils in class. “Some of our teachers lack knowledge about computer and that is why we are organising this twoweek computer training for them. They are expected to impart the knowledge to their pupils. It is also expected that it would help them in their career,” Fijabi said. Speaking with Community News, the coordinator of the programme, Mr Rabiu Ayodele, lauded the lawmmaker for his decision to invest in the education of pupils as well as their tutors. “This programme is not for teachers alone because headmasters and mistresses are also involved. I believe that at the end of the programme, all the participants would have a better knowledge about ICT,” Ayodele said. One of the participants, Alhaja Toyin Ayilara, lauded Fijabi for the programme, saying, she has gained a lot even on the opening day. She expressed optimism that she would have more knowledge about computer at the end of the pro-

communitynews

Monday, 14 December, 2015

‘Rural development, solution to Nigeria’s challenges’ Olayinka Olukoya-Abeokuta

he Chairman, House Committee on Rural Development in the House of Representatives, Honourable Oladipupo Adebutu, had identified rural and agricultural development as solution to some of the challenges plaguing the country. He said this shortly after his installation as Otunba Nawoola of Odogbolu in Odogbolu Local Govern-

ment Area of Ogun State, recently. The ceremony also witnessed the conferment of the chieftaincy title of Yeye Otunba Nawoola, on his wife, Chief (Mrs) Adenike Adebutu. Adebutu, who represents Remo Federal Constituency comprising Sagamu,Ikenne and Remo North Local Government areas, maintained that the way forward for the country was for government to provide

basic needs for rural areas which, according to him, would reduce urban drift and poverty. The lawmaker said, “I believe in rural development. It is the future of our country. Once we can provide basic needs for rural areas, you will find out that urban drift will reduce and poverty will be alleviated. “When urban drift is reduced, we will now know what to do about the places that have been

overstretched. There is no gainsaying about it. This is the way forward for Nigeria. We must improve our arrangements for agriculture and rural development. Once we can do this, everything else will come to us.” He admonished Nigerians to embrace peace as against war and terrorism, saying he had become an advocate of “one united Nigeria” in view of the situation in nations like Syria, Iraq, among others.

A portion of College Crescent, off Oke-Ado/Molete Road, Ibadan, Oyo State, turned dump site. Photo: JOHN BOLARINWA

He described the situation in these countries as unthinkable, submitting

Odu embarks on road grading biola azeez-ilorin

The home branch of Offa Descendants Union (ODU), a socio-cultural organisation of indigenes of Offa town in Offa Local Government Area of Kwara State, has embarked on the grading of some deplorable roads in the town. Community News gathered that the roads already graded include Amuyo-Tipper Garage, Ita Erin- Alubata and AdelekeBintin Laye Road, while the grading of Ikotun Road, Muu Road and others are expected to commence next week. Speaking during the kick-off of the road grading exercise, the newly elected chairman of the home branch of ODU, Alhaji Fasasi Balogun, said the motive was to complement the state government’s efforts in road rehabilitation and reduce hardship faced by commuters. The ODU leader, who said good roads would enhance the socio-economic development of Offa community, added that the new executive committee of the union contributed money among themselves to realise the project. Alhaji Balogun also said

Idanre agog as preparations hots up for Mare festival The entire hilly Idanre Community in Ondo state and its environs have been agog following heightened preparations towards the hosting of the 2015 edition of the annual Mare festival due for the December 18 and 19. Activities lined up for the event include cultural display at the Idanre Hill Resort among other sporting and cultural activities. Artisans, motorcycle riders and students within the community and its environs have fully mobilised to make the festival a remarkable one as evident in the ancient town during the visit of Mare delegation to the town at the weekend. According to the Commissioner for Information, Mr Kayode Akinmade, who led other members to visit the event venues after which a courtesy visit was made to the Owa of Idanre, Oba Fredrick Aroloye; the Aladelokun of Alade,

Oba Olusegun Akinbola; Oba Atosin of Itosin, Oba Awosoye Ogunlowo and other stakeholders, the development is sequel to the decision of the state government to domesticate the annual festival in order to develop local talents as a result of which competitions to identify talented musical acts and mountain climbers are on the table. He said the Director-General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), Sally Mbanefo and Nolly- wood acts would be actively involved in the festival, adding that this year’s event will bring a new experience. He said tourists to this year’s edition of the festival will have a new story to share because, according to him, the hills environment which now has an improved golf course and Habitat to accommodate tourists among other innovations has become of world standard where tourists all over the world

have been visiting to their delight. He said producer and singer of hit song, Angel Of My Life, Paul Play Dairo and highly rated International female talking drummer and singer, Aralola among other acts have been lined up to perform

on December 19 to round off the programme. The commissioner explained that local musicians, cultural troupes, and local security outfits would be involved during the festival and thus solicited the cooperation of the community in the area of security.

Other members of the delegation include Education, Transport, Environment, and Community Development Ministries’ Commissioners, Mr Jide Adejuyigbe, Mr Nicholas Tofowomo, Chief Sola Ebiseni and Mrs Simi Akindele Odumbaku.

Benue gov’s wife donates wheelchairs to the physically challenged johnson babajide-makurdi

Wife of Benue State governor, Mrs. Eunice Ortom, has donated 50 wheelchairs and 740 units of walking support (clutches) to physically challenged persons in the state. Mrs Ortom stated that the wheelchairs and clutches were the state’s share of aids from the Federal Government and Japan for to physically challenged. Mrs Ortom made the donation during this year’s celebration of the World Disability Day at

the Government House in Makurdi, the Benue State capital. According to her, “Today, 50 wheelchairs and 740 units of walking support have been distributed to physically challenged persons in the state. This is the product of the agreement between the government of Nigeria and Japan.” While appreciating her husband for the assistance extended to people with disability in the state, Mrs Ortom reiterated her husband’s administration’s commitment to the principle of transparency, accountability, good gov-

that dialogue should always be employed in conflict situations.

ernance and commitment to the needs of the underprivileged and vulnerable members of the society. On his part, Governor Samuel Ortom stressed the need to support persons with disability to achieve their potential, adding that their rights should be protected. The governor also promised to repair the dilapidated rehabilitation centre. The governor, on the occasion, also appointed Mr Charly Sati as Special Assistant on People with Special Needs having been nominated by other physically challenged persons.

that the union would embark on measures to improve health services, power supply, security and employment drive after the completion of the road project. He appealed to residents of communities where the roads had been graded to maintain them by constructing drainage to make the roads durable. Meanwhile, clearing of bushes inside and outside the Specialist Hospital in Offa, sponsored by the ODU home branch, had begun. The ODU chairman, who said that about 20 subcommittees had been set up with the aim of developing the ancient town, called on the people of the area to make peace, love, unity and patriotism their watchwords. He also commended wealthy individuals and groups in Offa for their contributions to the development of the area, urging other people to emulate them.

Bauchi records 80% coverage in immunisation The Bauchi State government said it recorded 80 per cent success during a five-day immunisation exercise against measles, which covered 1.6 million children. The Director, Disease Control and Immunisation, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (PHCDA), Dr Fauti Ahmed, said this on Sunday, in Bauchi. Ahmed disclosed that over 5,000 doses of vaccines were administered on children between nine and 59 months within the period. He said that the agency deployed 1,615 teams of medical experts and set up 2,454 posts in the state during the exercise. The posts, he said, were set up in hospitals, primary health care centres, palace of traditional rulers and other designated places. Ahmed said each team comprised two medical experts, two vaccinators and a recorder, as well as town criers. He recalled that the exercise was organised by the Federal Government to close the gap that might have been created by routine immunisation.

Monday, 14 November, 2015 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

Ogbeche ends goal drought at Dutch club F ORMER Super Eagles striker, Bartholomew Ogbeche, returned to the business of scoring goals for his Dutch Eredivise side Cambuur when he scored a brace in a 3-1 win over NEC Nijmegen. Ogbeche thus ended two months without a goal as his last goal was on October 17 in a 1-1 home draw with AZ Alkmaar. The former Middlesborough striker opened the scoring in the 20th minute to give his side a 1-0 lead on Saturday. He doubled the lead in the 49th minute to restore the lead at 2-1. He has now scored seven goals in 13 games. Cambuur are 17th on the league table with 10 points Ogbeche from 16 games.

Smokin Hills Golf Resort hosts maiden Royal Golf Tournament

SMOKIN Hills Golf Resort, Ilaramokin, Ondo state plans to host the first edition of Royal Golf Tournament for Traditional rulers in March 24th to 28th, 2016 According to Prince Bayo Aderinto, Marketing and Promotions Manager, the event is in line with the vision of Chief Michael Ade.Ojo OON, Founder of the resort & Elizade Nigera Ltd, to use golf as veritable tool for national unity and development. He confirmed that the sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence Saad Abubakar IV has accepted to be the Royal guest of Honour, while HRM Oba Samuel Adewole, Alara of Ilara Mokin and Ajero of Ijero would be the Royal hosts. Top golfing traditional rulers expected at the occasion are: HRM Oba Michael Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okukenu II (Alake of Egba Land), HRM Alh. Najib Hussin Adamu (Emir of Kazaure, Jigawa State), HRM Alh. Muhammadu Nuhu Sanusi (Emir of Dutse, Jigawa State), HRM Alh. Zubairu Mai Gwari

(Emir of Birnin Gwari, Kaduna), HRM Alh. Auwal Ibrahim (Emir of Suleja),HRM Alh. Adamu Maje Haruna (Emir of Hadejia, Jigawa State) Also expected to partake in the Royal Tournament include HRH Dr Patrick Acholonu, the

Igwe of Orlu, King Alfred Diette Spiff - The Amanyanabo of Twon Bras, the Obi of Onitsha, HRH Alfred Achebe, Ugo Obi Ralph Ekezie, HRM Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi the Ooni of Ife, Eze G.C. Adikwu of Imo state among many others.

Glo hails Dream Team’s AFCON glory AFRICA’S leading corporate supporter of football, Globacom, has congratulated the Nigeria U-23 team for winning the African U-23 Nations Cup in Dakar, Senegal on Saturday. The Samson Siasia-coached team defeated Algeria 2-1 in the highly technical game to emerge the African champion after enduring a shaky start in the quadrennial tournament. “We are delighted that the Dream Team overcame all ad-

Sprite Triple Slam rocks celebrity basketball face-off SPRITE Triple Slam took over the sidelines of the Faceoff Celebrity Basketball event, organized by Playcentre Nigeria which held at the Landmark Events Centre, Lagos recently. The star-studded event featured A-list Nigerian musicians including, Paul Okoye of Psquare; Rhythm & Blues crooner, Darey Art-Alade; Mavin’s crew henchman, Dr. Sid and Afro Hip-hop star, Sound Sultan, who teamed up to compete against one of Nigeria’s leading basketball teams, the Lagos Islanders.

Other celebrities in attendance included Vector tha Viper, D’ Prince, Chidinma, Ikechukwu, Beat Fm’s Jimmie, N6 of Cool Fm, Praiz, Vixen, Ace, JJC, Saeon, Push X, Sarz, Flexx, Tee Billz, Sweet J of Harlem Globe trotters. While celebrities turned up the court inside the Hall, Sprite was the headline celebrity off the court as it engaged attendees with its popular Sprite Triple Slam activation. The engagement saw consumers showing off their skills in basketball, rap and dance moves

before the main event officially kicked off. Speaking about the event, singer-song writer and recording artiste, Sound Sultan, who had participated in the first edition of the Sprite Triple Slam event in 1998 said that, “Through Sprite Triple Slam, Sprite is effectively propping up the local Basketball League by providing a platform for the discovery of new talents. I am passionate about the game and it is gratifying to know that it is receiving the support of The Coca-Cola Company.”

versities to triumph over Algeria, thereby adding to the sports laurels won by Nigeria in the outgoing year,” Globacom said in a statement in Lagos on Sunday. “We particularly commend the entire Nigerian team for taking the criticisms that greeted their initial poor performance in their stride and re-dedicated themselves to making Nigeria proud,” the statement added. The company said that as the nation’s next generation network, “we encourage this crop of creative footballers to go and conquer the world in football at the Olympic Games holding in Brazil, and thereafter make the national team the Dream Team that Nigeria is yearning for.” The telecommunications company commended Nigerians for their support for the team which it described as the vital tonic, even as it also commended the efforts of Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and the Sports Ministry in ensuring ultimate success for the team. “We look forward to a good outing in Brazil as the Dream Team begins preparation for the 2017 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro,” the statement further said.

47 tribunesport

Monday, 14 December, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

“Why I established Hassabarry Golf Resort’ BY TUNDE OGUNESAN THE decision to establish Hassabarry Golf Resort Saki was born out of the fact to bring sporting fun to the door step of the people of Oke-Ogun area, Oyo State. This was disclosed by the President of the Golf resort, Chief Isaac Ishola, in his welcome speech during the commissioning of the golf course recently. According to him, the land which was converted to golf course was initially acquired for farming purposes. He said “I used to plant maize on this land now converted to a Golf course. I have no regret for using the land for this purpose because I am always happy by making other people happy.” The Deputy Governor of Oyo State Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, who represented the Governor of Oyo State, Senator Abiola Ajimobi, on at the occasion described the facilitator and president of Hassabarry Golf Resort Chief Ishola as an illustrious son of Oke-Ogun area who is “selfless and dedicated to

the development of the area.” He pledged to support the Golf Resort by buying one of the holes just like Professor Dibu Ojerinde who bought the first hole. He also charged other indigenes of Oke-Ogun to emulate Chief Ishola and contribute their own quota towards the development of the area. Meanwhile, 35 Professionals and 80 amateur golfers participated in a two day event to mark the commissioning of the resort. While announcing the winners during the presentation of trophies, the secretary, professional Golfers Association of Nigeria Mr. Jide Bolaji noted that the Golf resort can compete favourably with any standard golf course in Nigeria. The vice president of Saki Parapo (The Community Development Association of Saki Indigenes) Chief Samuel Aderogba Onifade described the founder of Hassabarry Golf Resort as a grassroots person who is interested in the development of his town and Oke-Ogun area as a whole.

Winners of the maiden tournament include Yusuf Sunday from Ado Ekiti In Best net men cat 2 (H/cap 6-12) was with Net 139, David Gabriel from Minna Cantonment Golf Club in the Best Gross men cat 1 (H/ cap 0-5) with Gross 152, Balogun Michael from Ikoyi Club 1938 in the best gross pross category with gross 147 while Egbeleke Ifeoluwa won the most enthusiasm Golfers in Hassabarry Golf Resort Prize at the occasion.

From left: Deputy Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon Musa Wasiu, president, Hassabary Golf Resort, Saki, Chief Isaac Ishola, Deputy Governor of the state, Otunba Moses Adeyemo and Vice president, Saki Parapo, Saki, Chief Samuel Onifade, at the commissioning of the club, in Saki.

Dream Team players get $12,000 each BY NURUDEEN ALIMI MEMBERS of the victorious Nigeria’s U-23 team, Dream Team VI got $4,000 each for their efforts after they beat Algeria 2-1 to clinch the 2015 AFCON title in Dakar, Senegal, on Saturday night which brings to a total of $12,000 paid to each player, while Coach Samson Siasia was paid double this amount. “We have been paid our winning bonus for the final,” a player confirmed to Africanfootball.com

on Sunday morning. A further breakdown showed the team was paid the Naira equivalent of $4,000-a-player for the final win, $3,000-a-man for the semi-final win over hosts Senegal, $2,000-aman for the opening-day win over Mali, and $1,000 for the draws with Egypt and Algeria. They were also paid $100 per day for the 10 days they trained in The Gambia prior to this championship, which amounted to $1,000. Meanwhile, The team will arrive in the country today, officials have an-

nounced. Nigeria as well as Algeria and South Africa will now represent Africa at next year’s Rio Olympics. In the meantime, the team’s three foreign-based

professionals – skipper Azubuike Okechukwu (Turkey), Junior Ajayi (Tunisia) and Taiwo Awoniyi (Germany) – already returned to their bases immediately after Saturday’s final.

...As Shittu lauds team MINISTER of communications, Adebayo Shittu has praised the nation’s under 23 team for winning the african championship in Senegal over the weekend. Shittu in a statement by his media assistant on social and online media, Toyese Oladejo described

the victory as a vivid testimony of the resilence and doggedness of Nigerian youths. The minister advised that the youths as future leaders should embrace good virtues and desist from acts capable of negatively affecting their lives.

Oyo cyclists shine at Saddle Challenge 2015 BY GANIYU SALMAN

O fewer than five cyclists from Oyo State made the podium at the just-ended national cycling competition tagged ‘Saddle Challenge Lagos 2015’ held at the National Stadium, Lagos. The event which was organised by FT Cycle Care in conjunction with the Nigeria Cycling Federation (NCF), was attended by cyclists from 11 states across the federation. Ajibade Quadri of Oyo State gallantly clinched the silver medal after finishing the 120.3km race behind Tena Igbudu of Rivers State who finished in a time of 3 hours, 22 minutes 18 seconds, while Abaka Kurotimi of Delta State settled for the bronze medal. Glory Odiase of Rivers State won in the women’s category as she returned in a time of two hours and 15 minutes, while Obiaderi Iroh of Delta State and Rita Addo of Rivers State finished the 80.2km race in second and third positions respectively. In the men’s veteran category, Akinola Oluwaseyi of Oyo State, clinched the silver medal after the 80.1km race won by Philip Iniobong of Rivers State, while Akeem Oye of Nasarawa State grabbed the bronze medal. Ewiwilem Comfort of Delta State won the gold in the women’s veteran class as Joy Nwachuckwu of Rivers State settled for the silver medal in the 40.1 km race. In the cadet category, Oyo State clinched all the available medals as Adeogbo Abiola won the gold with Akinola Tobi coming second, while Bello Al-Amin of Bright Future Cycling Club picked up the bronze medal. Speaking with Tribunesport, the coordinator of Bright Future Cycling, Club, Mr Kolapo Aminu said the competition was an eye opener for his budding cyclists. “We came to this competition basically to expose our cyclists and prepare them for future championships. So, our main objective of participation has been fully achieved because we are going back home with fond memories on the part of our juvenile cyclists. “That we medals is an added impetus and morale boost-

er that we can achieve more in the near future with consistent training. It is a kind of reward system for these kiddies who train even after returning from school at least thrice a week aside from the weekend training programme. “In fact, some of our cyclists also competed with the professionals to cover 120.3km and we were satisfied with their performance. “Bello Bamidele (13), a JSS Three student of Atanda International High School, Ibadan; Asiribo Olawale, God’s Blessing Comprehensive College, Ibadan; Johnson Timileyin (16); Okoye Amarachi (13), St. Louis College, Mokola, Ibadan; Zakariyyau Farouq (13), Sacred Heart College, Ibadan; Odebiyi Azeez (14) and Odebiyi Abideen (12) both of the Government College, Ibadan and Oni Christian of Josabig College, Ibadan covered 80km successfully and their presence even added glamour to the competition meant for

Members of Bright Future Cycling Club after their race in Lagos.

the professionals. So, this is a good beginning for us because this is the first time they had the opportunity to go out of the state to compete,” Aminu told Tribunesport. He appealed to parents and school proprietors in Oyo State and the country at large to encourage their pupils and students participate in sports. “It is not only football that everybody will love, parents should identify talent in every child and let him go for the most suitable sport. For instance, Bello Al-Amin who won the bronze is a JSS One student of ECWA Model College, Ibadan, while Abiodun Ajagbe (9), Olaosun Dimeji (9), Okiki Kongi (12) and Dunsi Ajayi (12) all of God’s Blessing Comprehensive College, Ibadan, made us proud as well,” Aminu stated. He disclosed that arrangements are being intensified to organise a three-day training tour of Abeokuta for his cyclists later this month to enable them to gain more exposure.

SIDELINES

NO 16,391

N150

MONDAY, 14 DECEMBER, 2015

ANY of us in this country are very hard-hearted - no doubt about this thought/remark about many of us. And many people among many of us know that when we are in government or in any position of authority or of power we are doubly hardhearted; that is certain, in fact, that is doubly certain. But there are some of us who are always moved by the pains those who are not in government or in authority or in power endure. The pains the masses of persons suffer at the hands of especially those they assumed would not betray their trust and faith in them are innumerable. Indeed, from one presidency to another especially since the Chief Olusegun Obasanjo presidency up to now it has been a movement from one disappointment to the other. It is hard to pin-point one pre-occupation of any of our presidents that did not end up decimating the aspirations of the masses of Nigerians – despite the pre-presidential elections’ promises and vows that graced the pompous pronounciamentos of this or that presidential pre-occupationist and publicist. There is no presidential regime that has not committed acts of brutality against the Nigerian people. And the brutality has been observed to take several shapes, forms and colours. Of particular significance is the economic brutality the people have suffered over time from one president to another. The colour of the brutality has seriously disfigured us despite the prayer of the masses that this brutality would one day end up destroying itself and its presidential creator(s). But it seems that the more the masses pray, the more the brutality changes its shape, form and colour. Did Nigeria make an unfortunate mistake by replacing the British parliamentary system with the American type of presidential government? Perhaps we should direct the question spontaneously or un-spontaneously to the “evil genius” who rammed the presidential system into our polity fully knowing who we are as Nigerians. I believe that no political arguments can make up for the set-backs that have been our lot since our polity has become a presidential one where one man from time to time “terrorises” us with his whims and caprices that have steadily discomposed us.

After 40 years of being together, the Senate is making a move to separate Traffic Wardens from the police. According to the sponsor of the bill, under the police, traffic wardens faced lots of discriminations, while traffic chaos which they were meant to clear has become a permanent feature on our roads. But even if Traffic Wardens stand separate, will public perception change?

in&out with Tony Afejuku

08055213059

Note to Buhari’s presidencinologists Clearly, the presidencinologists about us will always rise to the defence of the system with their response of political perspectives which will end up with all their contradictory postures causing more impediments for the people. Obviously, this presidency the majority of the masses of people thought highly of, at least on account of the perceived positively strong character of President Muhammadu Buhari, has in just six months become so excessive in its unleashing of economic brutality and violence against the people. Indeed, the people cannot believe what is happening before their very eyes. The presidential posture of Muhammadu Buhari has discombobulated the people. So it is not surprising that everybody, safe for the current presidencinologists, has discommended this regime – in just six months. The people voted for positive changes in their economic, political, cultural, moral, health and educational fortunes. But Buhari’s style has thoroughly discommoded them. And we cannot but ask: Who are Buhari’s advisers? Who and who constitute his thorough-bred presidencinologists? Who are his political discographers, so to put it? Who are his political discographers who have our president’s ears and who compose for him the political gramophone records he plays for us in an age of classical discs of change that is change – devoid of violence against the people? If the presidencinologists did not or pretended not to know it, let me tell them now

President Buhari must let us know now that our hopes on him were not misapplied hopes. as follows: lack of employment for all our teeming school leavers or all qualified Nigerians is violence against us all; lack of petrol, or the buying of petrol at prohibitive prices is violence against the people; lack of regular electricity to run our industries, offices and homes is violence against the nation; the president’s failure or inability to exorcise Boko Haram or IPOB (Indigenous People of Biafra) or any senseless rebellious group from our land is violence against our cherished country; failure or inability to govern us impartially or un-ethnically is violence against the masses of Nigerians; failure to give us the economic wherewithal that will put rice, amala, tuwo, garri, usin, akpu, isiewu, bottled or sachet water on the table is violence against the people; failure or inability to give us motor-able roads is violence against our hopes and wishes; fail-

ure of government or entrepreneurs to pay workers their wages as and due is violence the people; failure of government and entrepreneurs to pay workers living wages is violence against the living and the unborn; failure of government to give Nigerians solid, sound, qualitative education is violence against Nigerians; failure to bring all corrupt persons in government, past or present, without discrimination, to book is violence against all our cherished values. I can go on and on. For now President Buhari and his presidencinologists should hear us loud and clear that Nigerians are not happy with the president’s current presidential colour. We must not flatter the president with flowery tales and “pompous pronouncements” or bombastic compositions in speeches or writing in the names of those in Buhari’s presidential corridors. The president must change in order to avoid any kind or shape or colour of spontaneous or un-spontaneous violence or reaction that is inspired by the violence of dejected and disappointed people determined enough to thwack and thwart the current presidential brutality the people never bargained for. President Buhari must let us know now that our hopes on him were not misapplied hopes. He must change and give us the change he promised us now - whether or not his presidencinologists say aye! He must spurn his presidencinologists – now. I hope they are listening well – or as Professor Jerry Gana – remember him? - would say, listening presidentially well.

Buhari hails Dream Team FROM LEON USIGBE- ABUJA

Buhari

PRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari has extolled the winning spirit of Nigeria’s Under-23 team who defeated their Algerian counterparts on Saturday to emerge the champions of Africa at the U-23 Africa Cup of Nations held in Senegal. According to a statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to the President, Garba Shehu, in Abuja on Sunday, President Buhari noted with delight that this was the first time that Nigeria at-

tained this soccer glory in this portunity for the first time. particular category. The statement further said It quoted the president as the Buhari administration saying that “the boys have would give them every support worked incredibly and admi- and active encouragement to rably so hard to to bring na- excel in the future. While noting that governtional glory to Nigeria, adding that their tenacity and the pas- ment would always reward sion to excel were factors that hard work and excellence, propelled the Under 23 team Buhari advised the Under 23 team to sustain the standard to victory.” It said the president was they have attained. proud of these “talented and determined young Nigerians” EPL RESULTS for winning laurels for the Aston Villa 0 Arsenal 2 country, and breaking the re- Liverpool 2 West Brom 2 cord of giving Nigeria that op- Tottenham 1 Newcastle 2

Printed and Published by the African Newspapers of Nigeria PLC, Imalefalafia Street, Oke-Ado, Ibadan. E mail: editornigeriantribune@yahoo.com Website: www.tribuneonlineng.com MANAGING DIRECTOR / EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: EDWARD DICKSON. EDITOR: DEBO ABDULAI. All Correspondence to P.O. Box 78, Ibadan. ISSN 2712. ABC Member of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 14/12/2015.