16th November 2015

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,371

MONDAY, 16 NOVEMBER, 2015

www.tribuneonlineng.com

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PDP, Presidency trade words over Kogi poll Nigerian Tribune

@nigeriantribune

Nigerian Tribune

—P8

MASSOB blasts Father Mbaka over Biafra comment —P36

Paris attack: UK deploys special forces •First suicide bomber identified by his finger —P44

Jonathan's —P only error was not sacking Jega —Okupe —P36

Lagos bids HID Awolowo farewell

•Ambode, Tinubu, Jakande, Awoists, diplomats, others at her lying-in-state •Body arrives in Ibadan today —P7 s Photo s ge on pa ,47 ,6 2,3,4,5

2 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

Monday, 16 November, 2015

LYING-IN-STATE OF MAMA HID AWOLOWO AT PARK LANE, APAPA, LAGOS

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PHOTOS: ALABA IGBAROOLA & SYLVESTER OKORUWA

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1. Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo’s remains inside a glass casket in a police ceremonial Land Rover, at Awolowo House, Park Lane, Apapa, on Sunday.

2. Mrs Awolowo’s remains arriving at Park Lane residence of the Awolowos, on Sunday.

3. Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and Dr (Mrs) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, watching pall bearers.

4. From left, Mrs Olukemi Aderemi, Dr Awolowo Dosumu and Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran.

5. Mr Olusegun Awolowo welcoming Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle.

6. Representatives of titled chiefs honouring the remains of Chief (Mrs) Awolowo.

7. Representatives of titled chiefs leading the procession to Park Lane.

8. Members of Nigerian Association of Road Transport Owners (NARTO) at the event.

3 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

Monday, 16 November, 2015 PHOTOS: ALABA IGBAROOLA, SYLVESTER OKORUWA & D’TOYIN

LYING-IN-STATE AT PARK LANE, APAPA, LAGOS

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7 1. Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran (third right); Ambassador (Dr) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu (third left); Seyi Awolowo (left), Mrs Kemi Aderemi; Funke Awolowo, Mrs Funmi Adeyemi, representative of Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo, the Akarigbo of Remoland and representative of the Alakenne of Ikenne Remo, Oba Adeyinka Onakade.

4. Family members and representatives of Obas from Remoland.

2. The gold casket.

7. From left, Dr (Mrs) Funmi Ajose, Senator Anthony Adefuye and former Lagos State deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Sinatu Ojikutu.

3. The remains of Mama HID Awolowo being carried by pallbearers to Apapa Park Lane, Lagos.

5. Mrs Adeola Azeez and former deputy governor of Osun State, Chief (Mrs) Olusola Obada.

6. Change Group which volunteered to work at the event.

8. Chief (Mrs) Abba Folawiyo, Princess Yewande Onile-Ere and Dr (Mrs) Islamiyat Animashaun.

4 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

Monday, 16 November, 2015 PHOTOS: ALABA IGBAROOLA, & SYLVESTER OKORUWA

LYING-IN-STATE AT PARK LANE, APAPA, LAGOS

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1. From left, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran; Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu; Lagos State governor, Mr Akinwumi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle.

2. Consulate General of the United States of America, Mr F.John Bray (right) and Political/ Economic Section Chief, Mr Thomas Hines.

3. From left,Vicar Our Saviour’s Anglican Church , Ikenne-Remo; Dean, Cathedral Church of ST Paul Sagamu,Ven Oladele Enike, Venerable Emmanuel Adeguyi, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran; Ambassador (Dr) Tokunbo Dosunmu; Lagos State governor,Mr Akinwumi Ambode,his wife, Bolanle Ambode; grandchildren,Mr

Olumide Oyediran,Mrs Yemisi Subair; Mrs Kemi Aderemi and others.

4. From left,GOC Kaduna (retd) Major-General Joseph Shoboiki, Dr(Mrs) Jayne Shoboiki and Mr Sola Sodiya.

5. From left, Consular General of the United States of America,Mr F.John Bray (right); Mr Segun Awolowo; the Political/Economic Section Chief, Mr Thomas Hines.

6. From left, Mr Ladi Soyode; Mrs Yejide Badmus and her husband, Tunde.

7. From left, Funke Awolowo; Funmbi Adebayo Oduwole and Adetutu Ogunnoiki.

8. Ijaw Women Leadership Forum, led by Chief Mrs Patience Ngene Okosi.

5 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

Monday, 16 November, 2015 PHOTOS: ALABA IGBAROOLA & SYLVESTER OKORUWA

LYING-IN-STATE AT PARK LANE, APAPA, LAGOS

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1. From left, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran, Ambassador (Mrs) Tokunbo Dosumu, Dr Gbolahan Dosumu and Mrs Olubisi Osinbajo.

2. From left, Chief (Mrs) Yinka G.O.K Ajayi, Chief (Mrs) Christy Adebanjo and her husband, Chief Ayo Adebanjo.

3. From left, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, Senator Bola Tinubu and the Vice Presdient’s mother, Mrs Olubisi Osinbajo.

4. From left, former Lagos State deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Ojikutu, Ambassador

Tokunbo Dosumu and Senator Bola Tinubu.

5. Senator Bola Tinubu paying last respect to Mama.

6. From left, Dr (Mrs) Funmi Ajose, Senator Anthony Adefuye, former Lagos State deputy governor, Chief (Mrs) Ojikutu, Chief Adekunle Ojora and his wife, Ojuolape.

7. Former governor of Lagos State, Chief Lateef Jakande and his wife, Abimbola.

8. A cross-section of clergymen.

6 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

Monday, 16 November, 2015

LYING-IN-STATE OF MAMA HID AWOLOWO AT PARK LANE, APAPA, LAGOS

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PHOTOS: ALABA IGBAROOLA & SYLVESTER OKORUWA

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7 1. From left, President, the Apostolic Church Worldwide, Pastor Gabriel Olutola, Archbishop of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos Mainland Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Professor Adebayo Akinde, Dean Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and Bishop of Lagos, Most Reverend Dr E. Adebola Ademowo and the General Overseer, Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo.

2. From left, Alhaja Awolowo, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and Ambassador (Mrs) Tokunbo Dosumu.

3. From left, Toluwalase Subar, Mr Adekunle Awolowo, Mrs Christie Awolowo and Funmi

Adeyemi.

4. Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo and Barrister Segun Awolowo 5. Mr and Mrs Subair.

6. From left, Mrs Yejide Badmus, Mrs Yemisi Subair, Mrs Adeola Azeez and Mrs Kemi Aderemi.

7. Deacon Olu-Victor Oyinloye, Senior Pastor, Trinity House, Pastor Ighodalo; Chairman CAN Apapa, Apostle Dr. E.C Okwuonu and Reverend E.O Ogundipe.

8. Cross-section of students from Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, Lagos.

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HIDAwolowo(1915-2015)

Monday, 16 November, 2015

HID Awolowo’s burial activities begin in style Olayinka Olukoya - Abeokuta

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HE final journey of the chairman/ co-founder of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Chief Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo, began in grand style, on Sunday.

The burial activities started colourfully at her Ikenne residence as early as 7.00 a.m, when family members and wellwishers, gaily dressed, got ready for the journey to Lagos.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that a ceremonial police colour parade Land Rover Jeep, with Ogun State and coat of arms as its number plate, had been on ground at Ikenne since Saturday.

The children of the Yeye Oodua, Reverend (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran and Dr (Mrs) Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu,were on ground to ensure a hitchfree journey and successful take-off of the burial programmes.

Members of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and the officers of the Nigeria Police were also sighted.

At about 8.10 a.m, a short service was conducted by the priests from the Diocese of Remo (Anglican Communion), before the journey began.

Residents of Ikenne township trooped out, especially those attending Sunday services and Asalatu (Muslim prayers), to behold the ceremonial jeep prepared to convey the remains of Mama Awolowo.

Some were extremely excited, as they waved at the long convoy that passed through Yeye Oodua Street to Awolowo Avenue Road en route Lagos.

At about 10.35 a.m, Mama Awolowo, dressed

in a white lace material with gold damask as headgear and silver accessories to match, was brought out by pall bearers with funfare.

Also, an all-gold plated casket was wheeled out to the spectacle of those pres-

ent.

The atmosphere was frenzy, as the deceased’s children, family members and other well-wishers danced joyfully, celebrating Mama.

The pall bearers from TOS Funerals and their

band added spice, as they provided melodious tunes, most especially tracks from various records of Juju maestro, Chief Commander Ebenezer ObeyFabiyi, which Mama enjoyed most in her lifetime.

A long convoy made up of

Different staffs of office of the Akarigbo and the Paramount Ruler of Remoland, Oba Adeniyi Sonariwo, the Alakenne of Ikenne Remo, Oba Adeyinka Onakade and other notable traditional rulers across Remoland were on display.

...Tinubu, Ambode, Adebanjo, diplomats, others at her lying-in-state Bola Badmus - Lagos LAGOS State governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his wife, Bolanle, were among dignitaries, including diplomats, who arrived early on Sunday for the lying-in-state ceremony of the matriarch of Awolowo dynasty, Chief Hannah Dideolu Idowu Awolowo, which took place at the Park Lane, Apapa residence of the Awolowos.

National leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, also came in around 3.24 p.m. with a large entourage and was heralded amid dancing and drumming.

Other dignitaries present on the occasion included a chieftain of pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of Kingway International Christian Centre (KICC); former deputy governor of Osun State, Chief (Mrs) Olusola Obada; Major-General Joseph Shoboiki (retd) and wife, Jayne.

Also in attendance were Mrs Bisi Osinbajo, mother of the vice president, Professor Yemi Osinbajo; the Consul-General, Consulate of the United States of America, F. John Bray and the Political/Economic Section Chief, United States Consulate General, Thomas Hines; Chief Dipo Jimilehin, Prince Jide Adeniyi and Prince Gbolahan

Anafiu Elegusi.

Representatives of traditional rulers, including the Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Michael Adeniyi Sonariwo; the Elepe of Epe Sagamu, Oba Olawale Osiberu; the Alakenne of Ikenne, Oba Adeyinka Onakade; the Onitapa of Itapa, Oba Adesanya; the Alaperu of Iperu Remo, Oba Adeleke Idowu Basibo and the Aminisan OkoSagamu, Oba Mufutau Sanni Adeoye, were also at the lying-in-state.

Conducting the service, Venerable Oladele Enike; Vicar, Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo, who was joined by Venerable Emmanuel Adegbuyi; Dean, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Sagamu, said death was an inevitable end of any mortal, even as he thanked God for the kind of life Mama lived and the great legacy she left behind.

According to the cleric, who quoted from the Bible, said now that Mama had left this world with all the great attributes and testimonials ascribed to her by those whose lives she touched, she was certainly going to meet the Creator.

He prayed for the country, President Muhammadu Buhari, Governor Ambode, urging God to crown their efforts in making Nigeria and Lagos State great.

He also prayed for Mama’s children, grandchildren and great grandchil-

dren, saying they would overcome every evil machination against them and would not taste untimely death.

Governor Ambode, thereafter, filed past the remains of Mama Awolowo, followed by his wife, Bolanle.

Speaking with newsmen shortly after, Ambode, who said the late matriarch of Awolowo dynasty would be greatly missed, noted that the fact that Mama’s final journey home commenced from Lagos “signifies the fact that this is a huge loss to the whole of Lagosians.”

Besides, he said “the mere fact that also we were remembering Mama from Park Lane, Apapa, also showed that she had been a major bastion of commerce, trade and the whole development of Lagos State.

“For us, this is a Lagos loss, it is not even about Yoruba loss alone. So, coming here is just to show togetherness in all of us that we would remember Mama

The Life and Times of HID Awolowo,” on Wednesday, November 18.

The presentation will be held at the Awolowo’s residence, Ikenne-Remo, Ogun State, at 10.00 a.m.

An excerpts from the book read: “Obafemi (Awolowo’s) methodical, comprehensive and thoughtful planning and mobilisation of resources blended with Hannah’s calculated, determined, meticulous and patient shaping and projection of social capital in the struggle for influence and prestige.

“She also (had) a matchless capacity for recollection and detail, an intrinsic facility for identifying and understanding the social order of things and a unique aptitude for tracking loyalty and treachery.

“Therefore, within the first five years of their matrimony, it was already evident that theirs was a perfect harmony that blended.

For a few months short of 50 years, they were to enjoy a mutuality that melded so well as to become storied...”

The chief presenter on

for every good thing.”

Senator Tinubu said Nigeria had virtuous woman, a unifier and mother of all progressives in the country.

Also speaking, Chief Adebanjo, said Nigeria had lost in Yeye Oodu’a true evidence of a woman, who was devoted to a cause and served as pillar of support for her husband, alongside who she fought for the country’s independence.

Tinubu further described Mama as “a displinarian and an embodiment of great value that is envisaged in our society,” pointing out that the late matriarch’s commitment to her husband, Papa Obafemi Awolowo, was phenomenal.

Pastor Ashimolowo, in his own words, said there was need to celebrate the exit of Chief Awolowo, because of how she touched many lives during her lifetime.

According to him, “Awolowo family members have influenced many

lives during their lifetime. “They have touched many lives. If not for Papa Obafemi Awolowo, many people would not have been professors today. A lot of people, especially in the Western Region, benefitted immensely from Awolowo’s free education programme. We must celebrate Mama’s exit.”

Chief (Mrs) Obada said she came to pay her last respect to a woman she described as great, full of love and affection, as well as a light to the country.

Obada, who said her parents were like juniors to Mama and Papa when they were alive, further described Mama Awolowo as a great human being God created to bless Nigeria.

“She does not care where you come from really, she is totally not parochial.

She loves everybody and she was just a great human being God created to bless Nigeria and so, I wish her safe journey home,” she said.

Live with the fear of God, cleric charges Nigerians AT the service of songs for Chief (Mrs) Awolowo, the Archbishop of Lagos Province (Anglican Communion), Most Reverend Adebayo Akinde, charged people to live with fear of God and put their trust in God. Akinde, who took his sermon from the book of Ecclesiastes 7, urged people not to live their lives on earth as

HID’s biography for presentation Nov 18 ALL plans are now in place for the public presentation of the biography of Chief HID Awolowo, scheduled as part of activities for her burial programme.

One of the ambitions of the chairman of the African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, Chief (Mrs) Awolowo, while alive, was to publish a biography detailing her full history of life.

Therefore, in her honour, the invited public are, hereby, notified of the official presentation of the book, entitled: “In the Radiance of the Sage:

the ambulance, the Range Rover, cars covenying the children, family members, well-wishers and representatives of the Ogun State government, left for Park Lane, Apapa, for lying-instate and inter-denominational service.

the occasion is a former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, while the book reviewer is Professor Adigun Agbaje, former Deputy Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan.

The host governors are Senator Abiola Ajimobi, Oyo; Dr Ayodele Fayose, Ekiti; Mr Rauf Aregbesola, Osun; Dr Olusegun Mimiko, Ondo; Mr Akinwumi Ambode, Lagos; Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta and Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, Edo, while the chief host is the Ogun State governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun.

if there would not be a day of reckoning.

Pastor of Trinity House, Pastor Ituah Ighodalo, in his sermon, prayed for Nigeria and urged God to end insurgency and other crises bedevilling the country.

He prayed that Nigeria would continue to be in peace and unity, which, he said, the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and his wife fought for.

At the service, Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran and Ambassador (Dr) Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu read the first and second Bible reading respectively.

Students of Methodist Girls High School, Yaba, were joined by alumni of the school to give a special rendition at the service.

Present at the service were former deputy governor of Osun State, Chief (Mrs) Olusola Obada, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, former governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande and his wife; Hajia Binta-Fatima Tinubu, Mrs Abba Folawiyo and Chief Adekunle Ojora.

Others were Senator Munirudeen A. Muse, Professor Joseph Olufemi Adenubi, Dr Kehinde Dina, Senator Tony Adefuye, Dr Olukayode Eesuola, Professor Remi Anifowose, Chief John Odeyemi, the Obasewa of Ife; Dr (Mrs) Elizabeth Osinsanya, Dr (Mrs) Funmi Ajose, among others.

Presiding pastors at the event were Most Reverend Dr E. Adebola Ademowo, Dean Emiritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion and Bishop of Lagos; Pastor Gabriel O. Olutola, President, The Apostolic Church Worldwide; Most Reverend Akinde, Archbishop of Lagos and Bishop of Lagos Mainland Anglican Communion and Pastor Ighodalo.

Meanwhile, the corpse will leave for Ibadan today, for a commendation service at Methodist Church, Ibadan and lying-in-state at the Oke Bola residence of the Awolowos and the Tribune House, as part of activities marking the newspaper’s Founder’s Day and funeral rites.

news PDP, Presidency trade words over Kogi poll

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LeonUsigbeandJacobSegun Olatunji - Abuja

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HE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the presidency, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the Department of State Security (DSS) of hatching a plot to rig the forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kogi State in favour of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by it spokesman, Chief Olisa Metuh, the PDP maintained that it has uncovered clandestine meetings involving the three wherein the agencies were ordered to use official and unofficial means necessary to ensure victory for the APC in the November 21 Kogi governorship election.

The party has also urged President Muhammadu Buhari to shelve his planned Wednesday’s trip to Lokoja to endorse the APC candidate, Abubakar Audu, noting that endorsing him would amount to endorsing corruption.

The opposition party said: “We have incontrovertible records of separate

Monday, 16 November, 2015

meetings, late last week between the Presidency and the new INEC leadership as well as with some top security officers, which were coordinated by the Secretary to the Government of

the Federation (SGF), Babachir Lawal, who boasted that he has President Muhammadu Buhari’s orders to ensure that Kogi State is wrestled from the PDP by all means.

APC group faults call for Audu’s disqualification Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE North-Central Zone Coalition of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Groups, on Sunday, faulted the call for the disqualification of the governorship candidate of the party in Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu.

The group described the call for Audu’s disqualification over alleged N11 billion misappropriation as uncalled for.

The national leader of the coalition, Musa Otigba, who said this in Lokoja during the inauguration of the state committee leadership of the group, blamed the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the development.

He accused the ruling party of embarking on cheap propaganda aimed at discrediting the reputa-

tion already built by Audu, wondering why it took the party 12 years to bring up the allegation.

The group urged the electorate to take a critical look and evaluate the four-year tenure of Audu and the 12 years of the PDP governance in the state and make informed choice come November 21.

He said that the PDP had failed the people at all levels and could not come up with any reason good enough to convince the electorate to re-elect the party.

Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja GOVERNOR of Kogi State, Idris Wada, on Sunday, slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) over its desperation to capture the state at all cost with the use of security agencies to win the governorship election in the state.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Communications Manager, Mr Phrank Shaibu, said a national leader of the APC (names withheld), was behind the move in order to expand his political and economic fiefdom.

Shaibu said the twopronged plan involves using the state instrument to cow and conquer members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) before and on the day of election.

But the Director General of the Abubakar Audu Campaign Organisation, Comrade Isa Daniel, said the PDP was only crying wolf, saying that the APC, with its popularity, did not need to rig the election before winning.

Shaibu, however, said the rigging plan was hatched after Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, who attended the APC governorship rally in Okene reported back to the leaders of the party that

massive defeat was imminent in the poll scheduled for Saturday.

He alleged that 12,000 policemen and 3,000 soldiers are to be deployed to Kogi State to reinforce over 2,500 permanent and ad-hoc electoral personnel who had been detailed to deliver the APC candidate at all costs.

According to him, majority of the electoral personnel to be used for the poll are persons whose names were submitted to the Independent National Electoral

JacobSegunOlatunji—Abuja Ahead of the Saturday’s governorship election in Kogi State, a civil society organisation, Coalition of Civil Societies on Electoral Mat-

Commission (INEC) by the Abubakar Audu’s campaign organisation and others with confirmed bias for the APC. However, the DG of Audu campaign said the APC was popular among the people and had no cause to map out any rigging plan before wining the election.

Isah said, “Will any popular candidate rig election, you can only think of rigging when you know you are not popular. The APC is the party of the people of Kogi State, everybody wants us because we are parading a performer.”

PDP’ll win with 60% votes —Ogbeha Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE Director-General of the Wada/Awoniyi Campaign Organisation, Senator Tunde Ogbeha, on Sunday, said the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is confident of winning at least 60 per cent of the votes in the next governorship election in Kogi State.

Besides, he said the party had confidence in the new leadership of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conduct a free and fair election in the state.

Speaking with newsmen in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, Ogbeha said the

“We are aware that in another meeting also held in Abuja, the presidency directed summoned security officials to ensure that the forces are maximally used to intimidate the people with a view to pave the way for compromised INEC officials to manipulate the process, alter ballot figures and announce doctored results.

“To kick off the rigging process and underscore the desperation to take over Kogi State, the president himself is billed to be in the state on Wednesday to endorse the APC candidate, Alhaji Audu Abubakar, a man facing charges of corruption.

“It is to say the least, an embarrassing miscarriage of justice that the same president who rode to power on much publicised anti-corruption credentials, would not only superintend over plots to corrupt the electoral process, but

esanmi Salami, noted that the international community was keenly watching Buhari over the prosecution of his anti corruption programmes.

It, therefore, called on Buhari to choose between national interest and personal interest and steer clear of the Kogi election, adding that associating with and campaigning for the candidate of the APC, Abubakar Audu, amounts to double standard.

“It will be a mockery of President Buhari’s anti-corruption mantra if he attends the APC grand finale to endorse a party candidate who has been standing trial for monumental corrupt practices,” it said.

also endorse a man facing corruption charges as his governorship candidate.

“Whereas majority of Nigerians have seen through the cosmetic anti-corruption stance of the President Buhari-led APC government, the PDP wishes to state in the strongest possible terms that the people of Kogi State love their governor and are fully in support of his re-election bid. We, therefore, caution the president and the APC to watch their steps as their plots have not only been exposed, but will also be stiffly resisted by the people.

“In this regard, the new INEC Chairman, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, must note that his legacy is at stake and that the Kogi election is for him, an iron test. Professor Yakubu must immediately distance himself and the commission from this planned ‘coup’ against democracy or be ready to hold self responsible should there be any breakdown of law and order in the state during and after the elections.”

The PDP vowed that no amount of force, intimidation and manipulation can bend the will of the people of Kogi State in their preference for the PDP and Governor Idris Wada, and that they will not accept any result that do not reflect their wishes and aspirations at the poll.

The party called on all Nigerians and the international community to “note that our president does not believe in free and fair election, though himself being a huge beneficiary of same,” adding: “he has ordered the rigging of the November 21 governorship election in Kogi State, an ignoble planned overthrow of democracy, for which he is now leading in the front.”

When contacted, Special Adviser to the president on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told the Nigerian Tribune that Metuh was in his usual way of “sounding like a broken record.”

He added: “Hasn’t he said it before? He is a broken record. He keeps repeating the same thing. So, why should we join him in sounding like a broken record?”

the state between 1999 and 2003 should secure him victory in the poll.

The group’s decision to support the APC candidate was reached after a stakeholders’ meeting.

Speaking after the meeting in Abuja, the group’s National Coordinator, Ibrahim Salihu, lamented that the

developmental strides in the state started sliding shortly after the tenure of Audu.

“It is worthy of note that the infrastructural developments achieved during the tenure of Abubakar Audu as governor of Kogi State started to decline shortly after he left office in 2003,” he said.”

Group raises the alarm over possible induced violence 72hrs to Kogi poll

Wada accuses APC of plan to rig You’re only crying wolf —APC

“We alert all to be aware of this planned ‘coup’, against democracy again, by the now ‘new Sherrif’, who though, being the biggest beneficiary of free and fair election in the history of Nigeria, is now out to corrupt the electoral system and destroy our democracy, all in the obsession to foist a one-party state in the country.

“Intelligence information available to us shows that at the meeting with the new INEC leadership under Professor Mahmood Yakubu, the commission was given orders regarding the posting of compromised personnel to strategic areas in the state to manipulate the card readers as well as the actual voting process in favour of the APC, with assurance of adequate protection by government security agencies, particularly the Directorate of State Services (DSS).

party had done everything that was necessary to ensure victory at the poll.

According to him, having gone through the entire 21 local government areas in the state for electioneering campaign, coupled with the level of reception by the people across the three senatorial districts, the PDP would coast home to victory.

He added that the performance of the state governor, Idris Wada, in the last three and half years, where solid foundation is being laid for the development of the state, would also help the party to win the election.

ters, has raised the alarm of possible “induced violence” 72 hours to the poll.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, the Executive Director of the society, Mr Mike Femi, while presenting a preliminary report of the society on the forthcoming gubernatorial election in the state, called on the security agencies to be on red alert in order to prevent those behind the evil plot

from carrying out their plan.

He revealed that the planned induced violence ahead of the poll was targeted towards prompting the deployment of military personnel and the operatives of the Directorate of State Services (DSS) by the Federal Government contrary to a court ruling which banned the deployment of the military for electoral duties anywhere in the country.

Kogi poll, litmus test for Buhari’s anti corruption stance —Group Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja THE National Anti-Corruption Vanguard, on Sunday, said the governorship election in Kogi State remained a litmus test for the anticorruption posture of the All Progressives Congress (APC) government led by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The group noted that the involvement of the president in the election would show whether he was serious about fighting corruption or only used the posture to get the votes of the electorates at the last presidential election.

A statement by the national chairman, Mr Pius Idakwoji and Secretary General, Ad-

Audu remains best candidate —Group Christian Okeke - Abuja AS the governorship election in Kogi State draws closer, a socio-cultural group, 301 Confluence Club, has described the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abubakar Audu, as one whose political antecedents while serving as governor of

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Monday, 16 November, 2015

I won’t attend FG’s meeting with govs on ‘fraudulent’ TSA —Fayose Sam Nwaoko-Ado Ekiti

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overnor Ayodele Fayose has described the Treasury Single Account (TSA) meeting called by the Federal Government with state governors as “a fraud” and has said that he will not attend the meeting.

Fayose explained in a statement made available to newsmen, on Sunday, that the Ekiti State government was “not interested in the TSA policy,” which he said was “a fraud against Nigeria and its people.”

The governor said; “From all intent and purposes, this TSA policy is aimed at recouping money spent on the last general elections by the APC, as well as raise money for future elections, especially the Kogi and Bayelsa States gubernatorial poll.

“It is also meant to enrich some individuals for doing virtually nothing

and that can be seen from the discovery of N25 billion that already accrued to just a single company in one month. How can the Federal Government justify a transaction in which a single company gets one per cent, amounting to N25 billion in one month?

Governor Fayose in a statement by his Special Assistant on Public Communications and New Me-

dia, Lere Olayinka alleged that “the Federal Government should rather remove the veil on the face of REMITA so that Nigerians can know the real owners.

“Therefore, what Nigerians are expecting from the Federal Government is explanation on the alleged N25 billion naira, scam associated with the operation of the TSA, instead of calling state governors to

a meeting that is aimed at imposing the TSA policy on the states.”

Maintaining that he will not attend the Federal Government’s meeting with State governors on the TSA, Governor Fayose said, “Ekiti State is entitled to its own policies and it is not under any obligation to accept Federal Government policies, especially the TSA that is already

robed in the garment of fraud.

“I therefore wish to state categorically that Ekiti State is not interested in the TSA policy and since the state is not interested, I, as the custodian of the popular mandate of the entire people of the state will not attend any meeting called by the Federal Government on the TSA,” he said.

Married woman dies in lover’s residence Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

TRAGEDY occurred last week when a married woman based in Lagos State identified as Damilola died at the residence of her lover in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

Damilola, who was 25 years old was said to have had a quarrel with her husband and left Lagos for Oye-Ekiti, where her inlaws reside.

According to a source, after spending some days with them, the young woman, left and travelled to Ifaki Ekiti to visit her mother and also spent some days there.

During her stay in Ifaki Ekiti, the deceased was said to have lied to her mother that she was going to Osogbo to attend a wedding ceremony of one of her friends.

However, she went to hibernate with her lover and after spending some days there she left to spend some days with another lover in the same town.

Trouble ensued when she started complaining of stomach ache which eventually led to her death even after being rushed to a private hospital.

A source at the Police Criminal Investigation Department (CID) informed Nigerian Tribune that relations of the deceased had travelled to Osogbo, last Thursday, to identify her remains.

Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose (middle), cutting his 55th birthday cake while being assisted by his wife, Feyisetan (second right). With them is the deputy governor, Dr Kolapo Olusola (right); his wife, Deaconess Janet (second left) and the Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Pastor Kola Oluwawole, during the birthday thanksgiving service held at Jibowu Hall, Government House, Ado Ekiti, on Sunday.

Prostitute flees as ‘customer’ dies after marathon sex Oluwole Ige-Osogbo

VIRTUALLY all the brothels located in Osogbo, capital of Osun State were deserted on Sunday following the mysterious death of a man, who patronised one of the prostitutes at a popular hotel known as Morak Brothel, at Ago Wande area of Osogbo.

The development, which caused apprehension, forced most of the prostitutes in other brothels including the notorious

Angle 90 to take to their heels, with a view to evade possible arrest by policemen.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that both managers of almost all other brothels and prostitutes in the hotels abandoned their duty posts as police commenced investigation into the death of the yet-to-be identified customer.

Credible source informed Nigerian Tribune that the unidentified man may have given up the ghost

due to exhaustion after a marathon sex with one of the prostitutes.

According to sources near the brothel, the exact time the incident occurred could not be ascertained, but many residents of the neighbourhood said they got hint of the death of the customer, when they observed that commercial sex workers occupying Morak Brothel building had deserted the place.

A shop owner at Ago Wande, who pleaded ano-

NYSC discovers 17 bank staff with fake certificate Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

THE National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) has discovered 17 staff of the Guarantee Trust Bank (GTB) with fake NYSC exemption certificates.

Four of the suspects were handed over to the police by the scheme for onward prosecution while others are to be arrested for prosecution.

Speaking to newsmen, during the handing over, in Abuja, the Director of Certification, NYSC, Alhaji Hudu Taura said the arrest was made possible through

the cooperation of their employers, who alerted the scheme for verification of their certificates.

“Some employers came to verify those certificates, specifically GTB sent certificates to be verified by us and in the course of that, we found 17 out of what they sent to be fake. So, we invited them to come with the original of that certificate.

“Only seven came and we took their statements.

We verified the certificates to be fake. They are not issued by the NYSC. They confessed to have gotten

them from other sources and they have stated the amount they paid to get that certificate.

“So, with their written statements, we will hand them over to the security agency for further necessary action,” Taura, who assured that the remaining 10 people and those on the run would soon be arrested further said that it had become necessary for the employers of labour to cross check with the NYSC to ascertain the genuineness of certificate submitted to them by applicants.

nymity and claimed to have witnessed the evacuation of the corpse, told the Nigerian Tribune that “I was in my shop late that Saturday and before I left, many vehicles were parked near the brothel, but that did not raise any concern” “When I resumed next morning, I noticed that the brothel was virtually empty. There was no sign of life there at all. The entrance door was closed, but door to the bar was slightly opened. Unknown to some of us, some of the occupants of the house confided in their friends about what happened before they ran away.

“Later around noon, policemen came and evacuated the body of the man.

We were told his wife was among those that came with the police when the corpse was evacuated but no one could identify the man. His car was also taken away by the people that came with the police.”

Confirming the incident, Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Kola Shodipo expressed the resolve of his command to unravel the mystery behind the sudden death.

Chief Ogeah’s father passes on DR Francis Uzoma Kwentua Ogeah, father of Chike Ogeah, immediate past Commissioner for Information, Delta State, has passed on.

Dr Ogeah, a distinguished medical doctor, philanthropist and community leader, died in Lagos, on Sunday, November 15, 2015, at 7.00 a.m.

The deceased was born in Asaba on November 11, 1927 to the late Obi Thomas Ogeah and Mrs Mgbonkwo Ogeah (née Obanyan) both of Asaba and was the last of eight children.

He had his secondary education at the Hope Waddel Secondary School Calabar and was trained as a medical doctor at the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin, Ireland, in 1958.

After his house job at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, he joined the civil service of the Western Region and subsequently Midwestern Region/ state.

He worked in Badagry, Sagamu, Ilaro, Warri, Ondo, Sapele, Uromi, Benin, Asaba and Auchi from where he retired from the civil service of Midwestern State in 1972 after the civil war.

He established the first the private hospital in Asaba, Chukwuweinke Memorial Hospital, in memory of his beloved brother and benefactor, Mr Chike Christopher Ogeah.

He married the late Titilola Henrietta Ogeah (née Fadipe) in 1958 and they The union was blessed with three children - Mrs Ada Akpata, principal of OsaDennis College, Asaba; Dr Ngozi Onyia, Managing Director of Paelon Memorial Clinic, Lagos and Chike Ogeah, Esq, vice chairman, Sahcol Aviation Handling Company, Lagos In recognition of his pivotal role in his family, he was named Ezinwanne by his kindred when he took the Ogbuesi title.

Chief Ogeah

Monday, 16 November, 2015 10 businessnews Daisi to SMEDAN laments neglect of SMEs by previous govts Kola chair South Gbola Subair-Abuja

D

IRECTOR General, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Alhaji Bature Umar Masari, has lamented that before now, previous governments had neglected the development of small and medium enterprises, which has not in any way benefited the people.

Alhaji Masari, who made this disclosure over the weekend in Abuja when a delegation from the Government of Cross River state led by the Special Adviser to the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade on interGovernmental Affairs, Mr. Chris Njah Mbu-Ogar came on a courtesy visit to the office of the Director General.

A statement issued by the Head, Public Communications Unit of the agency, Ibrahim Mohammed,

noted that Mr Ogar was in SMEDAN to discuss positive avenues on collaboration between the agency and the Cross River State government, particularly on the development and promotion of micro, small and medium scale enterprises in the state, because according to him, the state had been losing out on SMEDAN programmes.

Responding, Masari told the team that his organization had written to the Governor on partnership, stressing that the issue of partnership would go a long way to arrest un-

employment and poverty which he said had been rampant in the country. “I am glad that the governor is proactive to the people; he is leading because he has the desire to collaborate and implement his programme in manpower development, wiling and committed partner,” he said.

The DG explained that SMEDAN had partnership with so many states even before the last general elections and parade programmes like “The National Enterprise Development Programme

NEDEP” and the “One Local Government One Product (OLOP)” that focuses on products in each local government of the country.

He cited Oyo State as an example where the organization has been going round their local governments partnering and establishing small enterprises.

“States should borrow a leaf from Oyo State to improve on the enterprises of the people. We also want to avail this opportunity with Cross Rivers State government to develop the Industrial Development

Centre (IDC) in Ogoja as this would go a long way in developing MSMEs in the state,” he stated.

He told the team which also included Ms. Amina Arong, Special Adviser to the Cross Rivers State Governor on Presidency and National Assembly matters that clusters would be important for the people of the state willing to do business.

Cross River state has always been described as a state of hospitality, security friendly and conducive atmosphere for investors.

Server downturn disrupts cargo clearance at Tin-Can Island port

By Kehinde Adio

ALL arrangements to host distinguished business inclined Nigerians who had made a landmark in business world have been concluded for the southwest economic development symposium scheduled for November 18, 2015 at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan.

The President and Chief Executive Officer, Impact Business Radio (IBR) 92.5FM, gave this information at a press conference held recently heralding the said symposium.

According to him, all the gates that lead to the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan would be open to receive the invited quests from all walks of life for the symposium to be chaired by Basorun Kola Daisi, a renowned business guru in Nigeria and abroad.

LCCI commends Glo’s giant strides

Tola Adenubi-lagos

THERE was skeletal cargo clearance at the Tin-Can Island Port for the most part of last week due to server disruption. This is even as agents pointed accusing fingers at MTN over its recent battle with the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) over a N1.04 trillion fine.

According to investigations, many of the cargoes billed for clearance by the Tin-Can commands of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) last week were delayed due to breakdown of internet server connection.

Further finding revealed that the firm handling NCS Single Window Portal, Webb Fontaine could not be blamed for the server disruption as the fault was due to alleged MTN’s migration from fibre optic to waves.

According to the image maker of the PTML Command of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), Steve Okomah, the server breakdown was due to a migration of internet services from fibre optic to waves.

“We were told that our service provider, which is MTN, is migrating from fibre optic to waves, and that was why many of the cargoes could not be cleared for the most part of last week. But things have improved as work has commenced since Thursday and Friday of last week.”

West economic development symposium

From left, Manager, Tax Regulatory Servicess, Mr Ikechuchwu; Partner and Head, Tax Regulatory and People, Mr Victor Onyenkpa; Partner, Tax Regulatory and People, Ms Nike James and Head, Sales and Market, Mrs Nike Oyewolu, all of KPMG at a press Conference to herald the company’s forthcoming tax breakfast meeting and launch of tax Risk Management Survey at the company’s Head Office, Victoria Island, on Friday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

KPMG decries poor tax management by companies Olatunde Dodondawa-Lagos

A leading global network of professional firms providing Audit, Advisory and Tax services, KPMG, has decried poor tax management by companies in Nigeria.

The company said less than 20 per cent of companies registered in Nigerian considered tax as important and also noted that only 30 per cent of respondents reported tax has being strategic enough and

noteworthy of discussion at board room level.

Having identified these shortfalls and the fiscal challenges confronting Nigeria due to declining crude oil revenue which is the major source of revenue for the country, KPMG Nigeria conducted a survey on Tax Risk Management practices by companies in Nigeria. Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Lagos at the weekend, the Head, Sales & Markets, KPMG Nigeria, Nike Oye-

wolu, stated that the objectives of the survey were how companies can get tax right and developing taxfor-purpose d e p a r t ments.

According to her, “Due to changing regulatory and fiscal landscape in Nigeria, getting tax right has become a business imperative for companies. It is important to be able to ascertain with a reasonable degree of certainty the amount of tax cost arising from business operations,

Nigerian economy records 9.3% inflation Gbola Subair-Abuja

THE Nigerian economy has recorded 9.3 per cent inflation in October 2015 against the 9.4 per cent recorded in September of the same year.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI), an inflation measuring exercise conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) released on Sunday showed that the slower pace in October was as a result of lower increase in most divisions which contribute to the Headline index with the exceptions being Transport, and Rec-

reation and Culture divisions.

In the report, the Food sub-index increased by 10.1% during the month, from 10.2% recorded in September.

The Food sub-index was weighted upon as a result of a slower increase in the Bread and Cereals; Milk, Egg and Cheese; and Potatoes, Yams and other tuber groups, the latter which has increased at a slower pace for five consecutive months.

Also, increases in the “All Items less Farm Produce”

or Core sub-index eased for the second consecutive month in October.

The Core sub-index, weighted upon by slower increases in multiple divisions particularly in; Alcoholic Beverage, Tobacco and Kola; Clothing and Footwear; Housing Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels; and Furnishings & Household Equipment Maintenance divisions increased by 8.7% in October (yearon-year), 0.2% points lower from rates recorded in September.

so that proper budgeting and planning can be made for these costs.

Unexpected spikes in tax costs which arise from tax audits carried out by tax authorities significantly affect cash flows and business performance, often threatening the sustainability of businesses.

“Therefore, organizations need to be able to understand and manage tax risks just as all other aspects of enterprise and business risks facing their business, in order to enhance tax cost optimization, improve business performance and create shareholder value.”

Globally, tax authorities are beginning to give greater attention to how organisations manage their tax affairs and are demanding greater transparency in the tax compliance processes. In Nigeria, for instance, the tax authorities have implemented regulations that require greater disclosure and reporting of related-party transactions with the aim of reducing perceived profit-shifting and reduction in tax revenues.

THE President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello, has commended the next generation network, Globacom, for its love for people-oriented programmes and the affordability of its products and services. He said that this has earned the company the highest number of new GSM subscribers in 2015.

Alhaji Bello who stated this in his opening remark at the Globacom Special Day at the on going 29th Lagos International Trade Fair at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos said “the subscriber data on the Nigerian Communications Commission website for January to May this year indicate that Glo amassed a total of 2,263,346 new activations in the first five months of 2015 to raise its base from 28,219,089 active lines at the end of December 2014 to over 30 million subscribers at the end of May, 2015.”

He described the theme of the Fair “Enhancing value addition in the nonoil economy” as germane and designed to meet aspirations and interests of service providers like Globacom, foreign business partners and government delegates, adding that the aim was to draw attention to the need to diversify the Nigerian economy.

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businessnews

Monday, 16 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Anxiety as deadline for MTN N4.1trn fine expires today

By Bode Adewumi

M

ANY watchers in the telecommunications industry and the world over are awaiting the outcome of the imbroglio between the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and MTN Nigeria over the $5.2 billion (N4.1 trillion) the commission imposed on the telecoms operator in August for failing to deactivate unregistered SIMs and incomplete SIM card details on its network as the deadline expires today.

The commission had fixed today 16 November for MTN Nigeria to pay the fine or face stiffer penalties, which may include outright withdrawal of license among other sanctions.

Nigerians and indeed the whole world are interested in the resolution of the problem considering that the telecoms company has the largest subscribers on its

network and being a foreign company with its headquarters in South Africa.

Already, the impasse has caused major upset in South Africa as MTN Group’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Sifiso Dabengwa, resigned his appointment following the fine.

Non-Executive Chairman, Mr Phuthuma Nhleko, has since been appointed as Dabengwa’s successor.

Also, the company’s stock has fallen drastically on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange with trading in the

stock being on suspension.

South African parliament was also looking into the issue, a situation which may be degenerating into a diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa if care is not taken.

As of today, nothing new has been heard from either the NCC or MTN Group over the issue other than the earlier position of MTN as represented in the Group’s Nhleko who said the company would engage the NCC in talks.

Efforts made by our reporter to get an insight into the issue proved abortive as phone calls and text messages to the representatives of both MTN and NCC were not answered.

However, the new Minister of Communications Technology, Barrister Adebayo Shittu, while answering questions from reporters last week said Nigeria would not like MTN to “die”, an indication that the impasse may be resolved amicably.

But the Minister was eva-

sive on the outcome when asked to comment on the progress of the talks, he said there was “nothing before me”.

“If any new thing would happen, there must be initiative from concerned quarters,” he said. “It is up to MTN.” But commenting on the issue, Chief Deolu Ogunbanjo, President of the National Association of Telecommunications Subscribers (NATCOMS), said the fine was unnecessary and misplaced and that it

Ogun, NCRIB partner to enforce compulsory builder’s liability insurance Gbemi Soalja-Lagos

THE Ogun State government has said it is set to collaborate with the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) in the area of disaster management and enforcement of law on insurance of public buildings.

Mr Adewale Oshinowo, State Commissioner for Finance, disclosed this during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) to his office in Abeokuta recently.

Oshinowo said collaborating with insurance brokers who are the professionals in the area of risks management in case of unexpected circumstances would enable the state to concentrate its resources on other challenging sectors, thereby relieving the economy of the state.

He said that despite the dwindling economic situation in the country, the State government would continue to put in place every necessary palliative measure relieve its citizens.

“This is an awakening time to collaborate with each other when people appreciate a bail out in case of negative happenings so that they can have a second way out,” Oshinowo stated.

From left, Kehinde Olesin, Group Editor, Marketing World; Aramide Taiwo, Media Manager, FrieslandCampina WAMCO; Akin Naphtal, Group Executive Publisher, Marketing World and Dolapo Otegbayi, Marketing Manager, Peak, FrieslandCampina WAMCO, during the presentation of Iconic Brand of the Year Award to Peak Milk at the 5th Edition of Marketing World Magazine Awards at Oriental Hotel, Lekki, Lagos, on Saturday.

might not augur well for the country as it would send a wrong signal to investors, which, he said, might drive potential investors away.

He stated that this may slowed down the inflow of Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) into the country as investors may deem regulators as being reckless and abrasive.

Ogunbanjo stated in an interview with Nigerian Tribune that in the first instance, the operators were not to blame for the irregularities in the registration exercises which they carried out themselves but in the ones the NCC undertook in itself. He said it is therefore wrong for the NCC to now turn its venom on the operators for an exercise they did very well. Rather, Ogunbanjo said the NCC should have ordered the operators to compensate the subscribers with at least a credit worth of about N5, 000 each for the pains caused the subscribers and to encourage them to reregister their lines.

This was also the position of Engineer Lanre Banjo, the president, Association of Telecommunications Companies of Nigeria (ATCON), who posited that sanctions are meant to whip operators into line but that this must be done with caution so that it would not have negative effect on the industry.

CAC collaborates with FIRS to hasten company registration REGISTRAR-General, Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Alhaji Bello Mahmud, has said the commission is collaborating with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to integrate the e-stamping module into the company registration portal in its quest to ensure seamless registration processes of companies in the country.

Mahmud also reiterated that the aim of the com-

mission was to ensure that people would not have to physically visit the offices again for company registration, as it could be done online any time and day of the week.

He disclosed this in Lagos at a one-day sensitisation workshop jointly organised by the CAC and the Nigerian Bar Association on ‘Section on Business Law.’ Mahmud, represented

by the Director of Public Information, CAC, Mr Churchhill William, said the commission had also taken a giant step in providing a comfortable platform that would enable customers to pay every filling fee to the Treasury Single Account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) without difficulty and had ensured that any complaint arising from this filing regime was

Dangote Cement gives N300m cash to cutomers in new promo IN a bid to compensate and enrich its teeming customers across the country, Dangote Cement will from today, Monday November 16, 2015 commence its biggest promo that will benefit 3, 783 customers. The promo, which will be activated across the country will run for three months, with total benefits of N300 million to be shared among 3,783 customers.

Two prizes of one million naira each will be won daily for 90 days by 180 lucky winners for the duration of the promo while a whopping N30 million

will be won by a lucky winner every month.

Explaining details of the promo, Dangote Group’s Chief Marketing Officer, Mr. Oare Ojeikere said: “To be part of the promo, all it requires is for the customer to buy a bag of cement and cut out the token at top right of bag. Five tokens will make one entry in the draw. Each entry of 5 tokens must be attached to a piece of paper with the participant’s name, phone number and address, placed in a sealed envelope and dropped off at a designated Drop Centre.”

He further revealed that

400 Dangote locations and all Access Bank branches nationwide, will function as Drop Centres for the entries.

treated with utmost dispatch.

He said the commission, as a regulator, was determined to promote business transactions in Nigeria through prompt registration of companies, processing of post-incorporation filings and providing other assistance as required under the Companies and Allied Matters Act, Cap C20, LEN, 2004, adding that any company, free of query, as a law is to be registered within 24 hours by the commission.

He said company owners could complain if they are not registered within the stipulated time, as he encourages the lawyers to use the commission’s office in Lagos to file their returns

instead of sending it to their Abuja office.

“As part of the reforms in the commission, the commission’s nodal offices in Enugu, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, Port Harcourt and Abuja have commenced start to finish registration of companies without the customers coming to our head office for certificates,” he added.

Deputy Director, Registrar-General’s Office, Alhaji Garba Abubakar, highlighted cases of forgeries and falsification of documents by lawyers, indiscriminate queries given by staffers and attitudes of staffers of the commission as challenges militating against the commission, which it was striving to address.

UN links internet with sustainable development Chima Nwokojji-Lagos

CONSENSUS at the closing 10th Internet Governance Forum (IGF) of the United Nations held in Brazil has underscored the contribution of Information Communications Technologies (ICTs) and the internet to the achievement of the recently adopted 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Develop-

ment, the body announced.

Goal 9 of the agenda sets an ambitious target to “significantly increase access to information and communications technology and strive to provide universal and affordable access to the internet in least developed countries by 2020.”

“In keeping with the IGF inclusiveness, this gathering in Joao Pessoa addressed both

opportunities and challenges under the following subthemes: Cyber security and Trust; Internet Economy; Inclusiveness and Diversity; Openness; Enhancing Multistakeholder Cooperation; Internet and Human Rights; Critical Internet Resources and Emerging Issues,” said UN Assistant Secretary-General Lenni Montiel in a press release.

12

news

Monday, 16 November, 2015

Oyo assembly to investigate LAUTECH CMD’s activities

By Wale Akinselure

C

HIEF Medical Director, Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, Professor Oladele Sijuwola, is set to be investigated for allegations of ineffective management, negligence of duty, poor staff welfare, and procurement of equipment.

Sijuwola had on Thursday, appeared before the Oyo House of Assembly sequel to the November 3 resolution of the House to investigate the purported morbid state and disrepair at LAUTECH, Ogbomoso.

Briefing the House, Sijuwola intimated of the purchase of equipment and improvement of the infrastructure of the hospital, specifically, the Accident and Emergency building.

He added that seven wards in the administration building had been opened; the issue of poor water supply was being addressed, with the near-completion of a dam, while he was negotiating with universities to train their resident doctors. Sijuwola however noted that the

Our cemeteries now refuse dump sites —Pastor Muhammad Sabiu - Kaduna The General Overseer of the Christ Evangelical Intercessory Fellowship Ministry Church, Kaduna, Pastor Yohanna Buru, has expressed worry over the condition of cemeteries in the country, saying it has become a refuse dump site and a place where people defecate.

He made this known in a statement issued to newsmen in Kaduna, at the weekend.

According to him, ‘majority of the cemeteries are not good looking, instead they look horrible with faeces and refuse littering the cemeteries.

“Our grave yards are not looking attractive due to I don’t care attitude of stakeholders, as many have turned the cemeteries into refuse ground and where people defecate.

‘Criminals and ritualists have also been sighted around cemeteries at night, removing vital organs of the deceased or performing one ritual or the other.

“We need to start cleaning our final home because when we grow old, God willing, we are going to be permanently laid in those grave yards,” Buru stressed.

institution faced a challenge of inadequate funding.

The grilling session however began with a poser when member representing Ogbomoso South, Honourable Olukayode Akande asked Sijuwola whether or not an institution devoid of efficient leadership and effective

management could realise its primary objectives.

Akande, mover of the motion, alleged that the CMD was last sighted in the hospital in October 2014, which he said might also be unconnected with alleged unstable health of Sijuwola.

He further accused the

CMD of abandoning staff welfare, non-transparency in procurement and noninstallation of several equipment in the hospital ranging from MRI equipment to CT scan, Dialysis machine, Ecno-Cardiograph, among other laboratory equipment.

In her contributions, mem-

ber representing Ogbomoso North Constituency, Honourable Wunmi Oladeji, warned against shrouding the investigations into the allegations in secrecy.

Aside from investigating the CMD, she added that the procurement consultant be investigated.

From left, Prelate of Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr Samuel Uche; Archbishop of Ibadan Diocese, Bishop Kehinde Stephen; acting Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Emilolorun Ayelari and the Chaplain, Chapel of the Resurrection, Very Reverend Timothy Olatunji, at the Foundation Day thanksgiving service of University of Ibadan, at the Chapel of the Resurrection, Ibadan, on Sunday.

Most crash victims at National Trauma Centre unable to pay —CMD Clement Idoko - Abuja THE Chief Medical Director of the National Hospital, Abuja, Dr J.A.F. Momoh, has disclosed that many lives have been saved by the National Trauma Centre provided by the Federal Government to take care of road crash victims.

He, however, lamented that most of the patients or their relatives were unable to pay the medical bills after treatment, saying this has posed great challenge to the hospital management.

He spoke on Saturday night, when he received the Corps Marshal and Chief Executive of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr Boboye Oyeyemi, who led other officers and men of the Corps on a Candle Light Procession, in honour of the road crash victims, as part of the programmes marking the 2015 Crash Victims Remembrance Day. The procession, which commenced at about 5.30p.m. on Saturday, from the National Planning Commission, terminated at the National Trauma Centre, arm of the National Hospital, Abuja, where the

candles were symbolically laid in respect of the dead.

Momoh, disclosed that the National Trauma Centre was established by the Federal Government for prompt treatment of road accident victims, in response to the situation in the past, where some hospitals refused to treat ac-

cident victims until money was paid.

He said: “At the trauma centre, we give treatment to the crash victims first and when they can be able to talk, we begin to ask for telephone numbers of their relations. But sometimes when they come, they will put their hands on the head

that they have no money.

That is one of the major challenges we are facing.”

He, however, urged the Federal Government to ensure that Insurance companies were alive to their responsibilities, saying most of the vehicles involved in accidents were duly insured.

I have no case with EFCC —Makurdi varsity VC JohnsonBabajide-Makurdi Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Professor Emmanuel Kucha, has declared that the allegation of N1.5 billion fraudulent act against him by a nongovernmental organisation was baseless and unfounded, stating that he had no case with Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The VC, who spoke with newsmen in his office, at the weekend, said that the allegations were laughable just as he submitted that all monies that accrued to the institution since he assumed office was nothing compared with what he was alleged to have mismanaged.

A Non Governmental Or-

ganisation, ‘Anti Corruption Initiative Nigeria,’ had in a letter addressed to the Pro chancellor titled, ‘Reported Fraudulent Management of University of Agriculture, Makurdi Finances,’ alleged among other things, that the VC had grossly mismanaged the institution.

Professor Kucha explained that the purported reports the NGO hinged its allegation on, was a query from the office of the auditor general of the federation which had been responded to and wondered how the report got to the public domain.

According to him, ‘what has been brandished around was a query from auditors which has been responded to more than two months ago and since then I have not received any-

thing whatsoever, but an NGO picked the query and blew it, one thing I know is that that report couldn’t have been released from the office of the auditor general, so I see it as the handiwork of the enemies of this institution.’

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor has said that Federal Government has reversed the Federal University of Health Sciences approved by immediate past administration in Otukpo, Benue State, to a college of medicine at the University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

Former president Goodluck Jonathan had approved the University of Sciences in Otukpo along with other Colleges of Education converted to university on the eve of his exit.

Ogun: Police arrest 8 secondary school students during cult initiation OlayinkaOlukoya-Abeokuta Eight secondary school students, suspected to be members of Black Scorpion cult group, have been arrested by the Police in Sagamu area of Ogun State.

The suspects were arrested by the Police, with the assistance of members of the Vigilance Services, during initiation, last Friday afternoon, at about 12p.m.

This was contained in a statement signed by the command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, who said that the students were caught in the act while trying to initiate a student of Remo Divisional High School, Kara, Sagamu.

Adejobi said the command had vowed to stem cultism and other criminal activities in the state, adding that the state police commissioner, CP Abdulmajid Ali, had equally directed the Department of Criminal Investigation and Intelligence to investigate and prosecute the matter.

Ebonyi gov retires all perm secs Governor Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has ordered the immediate retirement of all permanent secretaries in the state’s civil service.

This was contained in a statement signed by the governor’s Principal Secretary, Chief Clement Nweke, and made available to the media on Sunday, in Abakaliki.

According to the statement, only the Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Mrs Rose Nwokporo, was exempted from the retirement exercise.

“The affected officers are to complete all handover exercises in their respective ministries, boards and agencies before the close of work on Monday, November 16.

“All commissioners, heads of parastatals and agencies in the state, are to ensure total compliance to this directive,” the statement said.

In a related development, the Ebonyi government has debunked media report that Government House in Abakaliki was gutted by fire on Friday.

The is contained in a statement by Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Mr Emma Anya and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abakaliki, on Sunday.

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INSIDE LAGOS

Monday, 16 November, 2015

pixmart

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1. From left, Project Coordinator, Nigeria Model United Nations Society, Esther Ofulue; President, United Front Club 57, Chief Mojisola Oloyede; Regional Director, BEN TV Africa, Mr. Lanre Ijaola and Chairman, Governing Council, Nigeria United Nations Society, Mr. Chika Nwaozuzu during the opening ceremony of the 1st Lagos Regional Secondary Schools Model United Nation Conference held at Golden Tulip Hotel, Festac on Monday.

2. From right, President, Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Mr Chikwendu Edozien, presenting NAPE 2015 Aret Adams award to Executive Director, First Exploration and Petroleum Limited, Dr. Emmanuel Enu, while his wife Rita and Managing Director/ CEO, Niger Delta Petroleum Research Resource, Dr. Layi Fatona watch during the opening ceremony of NAPE 2015 International Conference and Exhibition at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, on Tuesday.

3. From left,Registrar, National Institute of Marketing of Nigerian (NIMN), Mr Sidney Ogodo; President and Chairman of Governing Council, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria,

ALABA IGBAROOLA: 08155975474

SYLVESTER OKORUWA: 08115708541

Mr Ganiyu Koledoye; outgoing Chairman, NIMN Electorial Committee, Mr Chidi Nwankpa; incoming Chairman, NIMN Electoral Committee, Mr Oladele Adeola and Committee member, Mr Michael Abisini during the inuaguration of NIMN Electorial Committee at NIMN Headguarters, CMD Road,Lagos, on Tuesday 4. From left, Council Member, Business Club Ikeja (BCI), Mrs Rafiat Onitiri; outgoing President Sulaiman Tell, Council Member, Mrs. Titi Bakare; President, Business Club Ikeja, Dr. Rotimi Oladele, during the 23rd Annual General Meeting of Business Club Ikeja Lagos on Monday.

5. Managing Director, FrieslandCampina WAMCO Nigeria, Mr Rahul Colaco, and the Lagos State governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, during a courtesy visit to the governor in Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja, Lagos on Monday.

6. From left, MD/CEO of Debod investment Ltd, Mr Bola Adekusibe; Group MD of KOFSOL Group, Mrs Kofo Olaosebikan; Director Social Economic and Labour Affaris of NECA, Mr Timothy Olawale and Presidential CEO of Business in Nigeria, Mr Gbenga X-ADEBIJA, during a KOFOSOL group press conference on Angel COVE and the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) at NECA Building, Alausa, Lagos, on Wednesday.

18 LETTERS TO THE

Monday, 16 November, 2015

editor

Letters to the editor should be sent to letterstribune@yahoo.com or by sms to 08055001747 or 08054005323.

It MUST be accompanied by the full name and address of the writer.

Towards tackling poverty from the root

T

HAT many Africans, including Nigerians live below poverty line is no news. What is news is the fact that many of our so-called leaders have over the years been impoverishing the masses

Message to my Igbo people FOR some time now, there have been agitations for a Biafra Republic in the South East.

This actually started when the Federal Government arrested a Director of the Radio Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Since then, it has been daily protests in the region.

However, I just want to say that despite the fact that the Igbo are claiming marginalisation, every other region is also facing one challenge or the other.

There is insurgency in the North East; Yoruba farmers are suffering from Fulani herdsmen invasion, so no one tribe can say everything is rosy.

Instead of pushing for secession, Igbo people should first unite; they must speak with one voice.

It is when this happens that they can present a unified agenda.

They are shouting marginalisation, but have they asked what was done with the positions they have occupied over the years?

An Igbo man is the immediate past Secretary to the Government of the Federation, but what was he able to achieve with that position?

Secession is not the solution now; rather, it is how to forge a common front to address the problems before the Igbo people. Who even says there won’t be challenges in the proposed Biafra Republic?

•Festus Odiko, Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

because of their insatiable appetite for material acquisition borne out of greed.

Many African countries like Guinea, Gabon, Senegal, Libya, Somalia, to mention but a few, are grappling with abject penury because their leaders do not have what it takes to birth ideas capable of driving peopleoriented projects that will positively impact on the fortune of the masses..

A former president of Nigeria was reported in the social media as being the richest president across sub-Saharan Africa, though many citizenry of same country where the president held sway for several years, still scavenge for leftovers on dumping ground. Is this not ironical?

It is sad to note that many rural dwellers in Nigeria live in abject poverty, as many of them,

according to report, live below $1 per day, thereby unable to afford daily meal, even as greater number of the rural populace still embrace selfmedication at a time people in developed nations hardly swallow a tablet without prescription by a pharmacist.

Of greater concern is the huge number of children of school age who loiter our streets at odd hours, hawking all manner of wares with a bid to cater for their parents’ welfare, and by extension help to sustain their livelihood.

A prompt reminder for us is that thrusting such unwarrantable responsibilities on children negates the United Nation’s stance against child abuse and the rights of children to free education. This is even outrageous and unsafe as these children are exposed to the evils that abound in the society, as

they may fall victim of sexual abuse or even abduction.

It is, therefore, high time we rose in unity to fight poverty to a standstill in Nigeria, given the fact that endowed re-

sources in our country are more than sufficient to cater for the many needs of the citizenry, particularly the upcoming generation, with a view to stemming the rising tide of social vice in Nigeria. A stitch in

time they say saves nine!

•Esther Ugwu, Department of Mass Communication, The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

Punishments: Teachers should be careful RECENTLY, pandemonium broke loose at a secondary school in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital after it was alleged that a teacher flogged a student to death.

According to reports, the student was said to have arrived late to school on that fateful day, and in a bid to punish him, the teacher had to flog him.

I don’t know the aftermath of this case, but I know that the teacher would be facing questioning by now.

We have had several in-

stances in which students have lost their lives while being flogged by teachers.

Impacting knowledge and discipline has gone beyond what it used to be in the olden days when students were beaten ‘mercilessly’ in order to make them imbibe good virtues.

In those days, students even saw teachers as god, and would dare not try any nonsense with them.

Today’s education system is now structured in a way in which students see their teachers as friends.

Educationists have argued that students learn best when they develop a wonderful relationship with their teachers.

Teachers in private schools have embraced this new system, but those in public schools still do things the old way.

As a result of this, I want to call on teachers in the country, particularly those in public schools, to be careful when they punish their students.

•Jimoh Mumin, jimohmumin@yahoo.com

Why education should be free PERMIT me to use this opportunity to call on the Federal Government, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, to make tertiary education free in all government institutions. This will enable everybody to have equal chance of having tertiary education.

The free education programme was what Chief Obafemi Awolowo used to develop the Western region when he was premier.

Today, it is so difficult to gain admission to public tertiary institutions, but the high tuition being charged by private universities is also beyond most families.

Some private universities charge as much as N1million per session, and this is even less than what some families earn per annum.

Government should come to the aid of poor people by making tertiary education free.

•Femi Idowu, Offa, Kwara State.

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editorial Nigerian airports and world ranking

Monday, 16 November, 2015

E

very year, SleepingInAirports, a website dedicated to the monitoring and collation of information on the experiences of international travellers around the world, publishes a ‘Best and Worst’ survey. Last month, the website published the outcome of the survey for 2015, which ranked the Port Harcourt International Airport, Nigeria, not only as “the worst in Africa and one of the worst in the world” but also one that “should win the title of most corrupt airport in the world.” The website’s description of the unwholesome atmosphere at the airport is worth quoting at length: “The terminal’s unpleasant and unhelpful staff help to earn it this trifecta of atrocious awards. With virtually no seating, broken air-conditioning and a tent for an Arrivals Hall, it was a struggle…to pass the minimum required amount of time here.”

Also last month, the CNN rated three Nigerian airports – Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos; Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja and PortHarcourt International Airport – as among the worst airports in the world. These ratings came as a surprise to many because over the past five years, a sum of N400 billion was appropriated for the remodeling of these and other airports in the country. This is apart from another $1 billion loan from the Chinese government for the same purpose.

It wasn’t all darkness and gloom though, as the report did note the good news that at the Prot Harcourt airport, “some areas of the terminal have been recently renovated, meaning that you can expect actual walls, floors and windows,” and concluded that “though it is a far cry from reasonable, improvements are being made.”

The positive concluding note notwithstanding, the survey has raised the hackles of members of the House of Representatives who, expressing shock, have demanded that the House Committee on Aviation under the chairmanship of Ms. Nkiruka Onyejeocha (Abia/PDP) investigate the utilisation of the $1billion loan.

For its part, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) under the directorship of Mr. Saleh Dunoma, has challenged the ranking, arguing that the sordid situation at the Port Harcourt airport is due to its ongoing renovation, and contending that the airport actually deserves praise for undergoing rehabilitation and conducting flight operations at the same time.

Part of the FAAN’s statement read: “Our stand is that

Nigerian Tribune

the said ranking was unfounded as it did not take cognisance of the fact that the airport terminal was still undergoing remodeling, Apart from the on-going remodeling of the existing domestic terminal, from which both international and local flight operations are conducted, construction work is also in progress at the site of the new international terminal, among other projects at the airport.”

While acknowledging the modest improvements made at several of the country’s airports in the recent past, we support the House of Representatives’ decision to investigate how the huge amount of money secured from the Chinese government has been spent, including the N400 billion appropriated for the remodeling of the airports over the past five years and why, in spite of such massive infusion of funds, the situation at majority of the country’s airports remains dire.

Though the argument is that one of the airports, the Port Harcourt International Airport is undergoing repairs, we contend that one should have no automatic effect on the other, and that indeed, no amount of remodeling justifies the conditions described in the survey by travellers who have had occasion to use the airport’s facilities. By extension it is noteworthy that the survey is not based only on infrastructures in airports, other indices such as conduct of airport staff, comfort of travellers and the like are factored into the ratings. Besides, why do such repairs have to be so protracted? And in any case, what has rehabilitation got to do with travellers’ complaints about corruption and being constantly needled for money by airport officials? The Managing Director may have been closer to the truth in his confession before the House Committee on Aviation to the effect that most of the facilities and equipment at the nation’s airports were virtually moribund.

The SleepingInAirports and CNN rankings should be a wakeup call for Nigeria as a nation; for as it is with the nation’s airports- domestic or international- so it is with her infrastructure at large. To take just one example which sums up the country’s overall cavalier attitude towards physical infrastructure and its maintenance: In Nigeria, road accidents claim 140 lives daily. This prohibitive toll, the highest in the world, owes in large part to the deplorable state of Nigerian roads.

We applaud the House of Representatives’ investigation, but only as a first step in a broader strategy that seeks to rectify a systemic problem.

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20

opinion

Monday, 16 November, 2015

Lasisi Olagunju

B

Lasgunju@yahoo.com (08111813053)

oth struggle to control your thought process. The only difference is that while one does it with seductive tears of regrets and failure, the other holds you by the throat, asking that you join the chorus of ourking-does-no-wrong. I call the first WW and the other HH. They rarely agree on any issue...

WW: Servants of Karraption fighter, very soon Nigerians will know the real you. Even when they set your father’s house on fire, you run to the mountain top to shout: Hail Hitler! You can fool the people for a while, not forever ...

HH: ( laughs) In your mouth? Nigerians already know you and your principals. Wailing Wailers; forever weeping over broken pots of honey...Tears can’t redeem you. You are lost forever...

WW: Who is lost between us: You who spent five months of the raining season searching for hoes and cutlasses to farm...This planting season is over already, we wait for the next season when you will remember there are no seeds to plant...Then you will blame Jonathan and his team...

HH: We won’t stop blaming him and his clueless team for their atrocities while here...They ate the yam seeds...They bled Nigeria to a coma and that is what this Sheriff in town is addressing. He will take his time to revive the dry bones of Nigeria...And, no amount of tears will stop him from recovering every kobo stolen by the lost tribe of PDP. They won’t come again...

WW: And does that recovery process include the REMITA scandal? N25billion in one day! Tell me which other regime achieved that feat since independence? All hail the king who is ever right. May more billions go to whoever is assisting us to fight Karraption...

HH: See your life, the REMITA stuff is actually a carry over from the Jonathan era. He signed the Treasury Single Account contract with that company...So, please, blame him again if there is an infraction...

WW: So, you now agree TSA is no longer your initiative?

Horrible cowards. But you guys rolled out the drums recently claiming your introduction of TSA had raked in N2.5trillion for the Federal Government. Now, with this your Jonathan talk again, would you say he was entirely clueless?

HH: If he did it right, you and I would have heard about it.

Or did you hear anything like TSA before Buhari?

WW: Oh! You mean Jonathan didn’t shout enough? I

Wailing Wailers vs Hailing Hailers

agree with you. You are original alariwo, Hailing Hailers.

You hail anything from the farting arse of your messiahs and rail at anything the other side does no matter how propeople...

HH: Pro-people? Are you people ever pro-people in anything you are capable of doing? Everything you did in your 16 years in power was pro-you and...pro-your concubines... shameless people.

WW: And you, because you are pro-people, you and your governors decided to pocket people’s salaries?

HH: Pocket whose salaries? You can’t pay what you don’t have. If you people ran Nigeria well before we came, we won’t have issues with paying salaries. Buhari said it all: Nigeria has been materially vandalised and morally sucked...

WW: And you call us Wailers...when you weep over real and imagined infractions of the past what do you think you are doing? Authentic Wailing Wailers! And the fuel queues are back...

HH: What queue? Bad wishers! PMB has already paid N413billion subsidies...so, hold your peace.

WW: Yes, I laughed when I read about that. I thought Buhari described subsidy as pure fraud and we agreed with him.. So, why did he pay?

HH: Why wouldn’t he when he saw the people suffering

unnecessarily? You think he is as clueless as your man?

WW: He is definitely not clueless. He is just helpless...his friend, Pastor Bakare said so...Interesting people. Your refineries, are they still working as promised by you?

HH: Saboteurs!

WW: There is no sabotage anywhere! You simply allowed yourself to be conned by some smart dudes. Even, Obasanjo, your Navigator, warned against putting our money into the loss centres which the refineries have become...

HH: Obasanjo warned? When?

WW: See your life! You don’t read anything. You get your news only from BBC Hausa service? Obasanjo told Premium Times in a recent interview that the refineries are bottomless pits of waste... If you don’t mind, let me just quote him: “... Those refineries today – you won’t get them because they’ve become scrap.”

Premium Times: They recently said that they are working again…

Obasanjo: Who made them work? (laughs)...look, if they work for a week, that’s all you get...”

WW: So, what else do you have to say? Your senior has spoken... If the refineries work for a week, that is all you’ll get. Has he not been proved right?

HH: We have appointed our ministers...Could you see how well reasoned and balanced the portfolios were distributed? Unlike when the clueless one packed all the Grade A ministries into a basket and shipped them to his area in the creeks and to his Biafran brethren...

WW: Nice one. But did you notice that the new Defence minister is from the North?

HH: Yes, what is wrong with that?

WW: Did you also notice that the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence is also from the North?

HH: Yes. That is just a civil service posting...

WW: Can you recall too, that the National Security Adviser and the Chief of Army Staff are both from Borno State...

HH: Yes, so?

WW: Prisons, Immigration, Civil Defence are under Interior Ministry?

HH: Yes. WW: The new Interior Minister is a retired General from the North.

HH: Yes, it doesn’t matter. Getting the job done is it.

WW: Oh! I see....

A tribute to Yeye Oodua, Chief (Mrs) HID Awolowo

By Tola Adeniyi

The world joins the children of Chief Dr Mrs HID Awolowo the Yeye Oodua and the undisputed and indisputable Asiwaju Yoruba as they send forth their illustrious Matriarch on her journey in the Continuum on November 25.

Dr Dideolu Awolowo will be joining in spirit her late husband the African sage and one of the world’s most extraordinary leaders of the 20th Century Kiniwun Onibudo, Eru jeje, Agbolaya bi aara, Ina nla ti n da’to l’enu igbin, Olumoko the Avatar Chief Obafemi Awolowo on the very day she would have turned 100 years.

Chief Mrs Hannah Idowu Dideolu Awolowo passed on September 19 2015 shortly after concluding a meeting she held with members of her Centenary Birthday Celebrations Committee in her home at Ikenne Remo Ogun state of Nigeria.

Reputed for her brilliance, her great presence of mind, her business acumen, her political sagacity and remarkable leadership qualities, Chief Mrs Awolowo towered above many men in matters of courage and forbearance. Enterprising, engaging and ever elegant and quick witted Dideolu Awolowo was a great pillar in the Awolowo formidable dynasty.

Shortly after her post primary education in Lagos she settled into business in the footsteps of her mother Elizabeth Oyesile Adelana who was an outstanding business woman of her era. Got married in December 1937 she moved to Ibadan with her titanic husband as soon as harrowing change of fortune compelled the couple to change base.

At Ibadan her star started to shine. She began massive importation of textiles from Europe and was selling wholesale to several traders in Gbagi market, Ibadan and well beyond.

Within a few years she became a leader and central figure of the league of foremost traders in the region. She was very successful. So successful she was that when her husband had to travel to the UK [August 14, 1944] to pursue a life am-

bition of a degree in Law, the mantle of keeping the home front with all of its attendant responsibilities fell on her shoulders and she discharged them creditably. With three young children Segun, Tola and Wole on her lap and heavy with pregnancy and with a meagre Twenty Pounds Sterling left by her husband for the upkeep of the family she was still able to increase her business such that she was in position to send money to her student-husband abroad. While leading women in business, she was also leading both men and women in Church activities and assembled huge followership and partnerships in the service of the Lord.

She was side-by-side with her great husband in all his political adventures and could be regarded a political leader and veritable organizer in her own right.

She and her husband co-founded the Nigerian Tribune on November 16 1949, and as confirmed by her husband, there was no major decision taken on any issue without her robust input.

The Asiwaju mantle which her husband carried for 20 years since early1967 to 1987 fell on her laps the moment her husband passed on, yielding no room for a vacuum.

There were/are always many Yoruba socio-cultural political

associations with their leaders, chairmen, presidents and other mouth watering titles, but the presence of the Yeye Oodua loomed largest and she was without a doubt pivotal.

Each and every one of such leaders bowed their heads at Ikenne and accorded Mama HID the greatest reverence.

It must be emphasised that the steady stream of leaders including all Presidents flowing to Ikenne from 1987 up till now could not have been due to the presence of the building in Ikenne, or visits to eat Ikokore and Ebiripo, but mainly and substantially to pay homage to the leader of the Yoruba nation resident there. The regular presence of top most politicians from the North, East, South and West of the country at Ikenne was a confirmation, an affirmation and proof indisputable that there was a personage whose influence mattered in any and all affairs of the country Nigeria. Asiwaju Dideolu was that personality.

Chief Mrs Awolowo was not the only widow of a deceased political giant in the country. We have had Heads of state and of governments who had passed on. There must have been a compelling reason, an enduring factor that propelled leaders from all corners of Nigeria to go to HID Awolowo.

That propeller was HID’s distinguished leadership, her staying power, her political suaveness, her exemplary integrity, and her dexterity. For a renowned public figure of Mama’s stature to have lived for 100 years without any scandal associated with her name in a country of monumental scandals is a monumental achievement. HID lived a life worth emulating: a life of commitment and care as a mother, a life of unalloyed loyalty and faithfulness as a wife, a life of maximum industry as a business woman, a life of giving and sharing as a quiet philanthropist, a life of submission and faith as a devout Christian and a life of true and trusted leader and counsellor as the Asiwaju of her people.

•Chief Adeniyi, author of The Jewel (1983), the first authorised biography of HID Awolowo, sent this article via adetolaadeniyi@hotmail.com

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Monday, 16 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Group Business Editor

tribune

business

Sulaimon Olanrewaju

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

Maximising Nigeria’s agric comparative advantage as new minister assumes office FEMI IBIROGBA writes on core areas of the agricultural sector the new minister, Audu Ogbeh, should develop to diversify the economy, increase government revenue and create employment.

difference, experts said, is value addition, and Nigeria too must add value to cashew before export.

African Cashew Alliance (ACA) said over 344,000 new jobs and 75 million dollars additional revenue could come from the Nigeria’s cashew processing industry, if properly managed. Mr Sunil Dahiya, the ACA Business Development Manager, said this recently at the opening of a two day-workshop on ‘Cashew Business Competitiveness and Environmental Sustainability’ in Ilorin.

“The commercial production of cashew in Nigeria currently values approximately 160 million dollars and supports the livelihood of over one million people.

“Only about 20 per cent of the raw cashew nuts produced in the country were processed into kernels. An increase of 20 per cent within Nigeria’s processing industry can create more than 344,000 new jobs and generate over 75 million-dollar of additional revenue.

“Business competitiveness and environmental sustainability are crucial to the future success of the Nigerian cashew sector,” he said.

Mr Segun Awolowo, the Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC), said that cashew nut export was a significant contributor to Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings.

Awolowo, speaking through Chief William Ezeagu, the Deputy Director, Product Development Department of the council, also said the cashew industry had the potential to generate economic growth through wealth creation.

According to him, the potential of the commodity necessitated its inclusion among the National Strategic Export Products (NSEP) because of its foreign exchange earning potential.

Working with the NEPC, the new minister, therefore, should make efforts to encourage processing of cashew nuts by supporting existing facilities to expand operations and by encouraging new indigenous and foreign investors to maximize the opportunities presented by the cash crop. Land, tax holidays and facilitation of funds from the Bank of Agriculture and Bank of Industry can be used to attract and sustain investors into this aspect of cash-spinning crop.

A

S most Nigerian state governments struggle to pay salary arrears and find it difficult to execute ongoing projects, the Federal Government is battling with low revenue generation, increasing number of unemployed graduates and rapidly deteriorating infrastructure. The power sector is failing and manufacturing sector is almost dead, snowballing into a struggling economy whose currency and the capital market are heavily pressured and volatile.

One of the sources of the pressure on the economy has been rightly diagnosed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) resulting in its withdrawing the supply of foreign exchange for the importation of over 40 items which the country can produce, which are mostly agricultural.

Joining hundreds of others calling for economic diversification, Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Ibe Kachikwu, at the ongoing Lagos international trade fair, said Nigeria had to quickly diversify its economy to come out of the present economic quagmire.

Mr Alex Akinbo, former Country Manager of Solidaridad, an international organization promoting sustainable and pure cocoa production in Africa, is of the opinion that the meticulous review, and careful implementation of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government, which was initiated five years ago with the goals of making the country self-sufficient in food production by 2015 and end the N356 billion spent on importing rice annually, is the second leg to complement the restricted item.

Doing so, he said, would ensure allround development of the agricultural sector, which would lead to job creation, agricultural productivity, export and revenue to the government.

Major crops through which Nigeria used to generate huge revenue before and shortly after independence, including cocoa, cashew, maize, groundnut, experts said, could still be explored with improved varieties, technologies and value addition to create jobs for Nigerians and additional revenue for the government.

Cashew India earns more than 200 million dollars a year by exporting 40 to 50 thousand tonnes of cashew kernels and the country’s trade links are spread over 40 countries. Cashew is a craze in the United States which is by far the largest buyer.

President Buhari

Audu Ogbeh The other major purchasers are Japan, Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Singapore and countries in the Middle East.

In contrast, Nigeria, which was said

to be one of the largest world producers of cashew nuts, with a total production of 650,000 metric tonnes of cashew nut shell in 2010, makes about $160,000. The

Cocoa Mr Akin Olusuyi, Managing Director, Oluji Cocoa Products Ltd, an industrial cocoa processing plant in Ile-Oluji, Ondo State, said the cocoa sub-sector should be developed to “occupy the first position of being the largest cocoa producer in the world because Nigeria has land for cultivation and it could be grown in 22 states of the federation. Deliberate policies and Continues pg22

22

tribunebusiness

Monday, 16 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Audu Ogbeh: Making agric the catalyst of Nigerian economy Continued from pg21

encouragement, he said, are what the country needs to increase cocoa productivity in Nigeria.

“To this end, we must address the issues of old farmers and old plantations. Most farmers are over 60 years and youths are no longer interested, in reality. Is there any youth who wants to settle down at places where there is no power supply or internet facility? So there must be deliberate efforts to develop rural areas and attract young people to agribusiness. This is not only for cocoa, but also for all other cash crops.

“There are many rural areas where even motorcycles cannot reach. We must be pragmatic in our approach and the basic facilities that make people to stay in the cities must also be provided in the rural areas.

“The method of cultivation must be addressed. You cannot increase productivity in the 21st century with hoes and cutlasses. The government must acquire land, open it up and allocate to farmers, especially in the southwest where we have forests.

“Another thing to increase cocoa productivity is to move away from being producer and supplier of raw materials to Europe as we were doing 50 years ago. We must explore value chain by processing. We are producing between 200,000 and 300,000 tonnes of cocoa per annum and we export about 200,000 tonnes of it raw. And those exporting it are not even Nigerians. How can we develop this way?

“We must add value before we export. If the government addresses productivity, it must also address value addition and local consumption. Let us create industries around agriculture.

Dr Peter Aikpopodion, former Cocoa Value Chain coordinator for ATA and one of the breeders of early maturing cocoa varieties, also emphasized the role the cocoa industry could play in the economy considering the increasing value the product attracts in international markets.

Aikpopodion said: “With over 40 per cent drop in oil revenue, cocoa and other cash crops have big roles to play in the economy. Since we have comparative advantage in cocoa production, we need to increase its production by supporting farmers to do that.

“Two, it is very important to put in place a coordinating body to handle cocoa value chain activities.

“Third, the new minister of agriculture should also work with the minister of trade and investment as well as minister of finance to put in place this coordinating structure with the private sector participation. In fact, the private sector should take the leadership role while the government should set the rules. This is not just for cocoa, but also all other cash crops like cashew, palm, groundnut and others. The government should make concessionary funding available to this coordinating body for investment, say, from N100 to N200billion targeted at developing crops value chains.

“Fourth, we have to find a way of promoting local consumption of cocoa. Brazil used to be an exporter of cocoa, but after a policy to encourage local consumption, it now imports cocoa to supplement production. Brazil produces almost the same quantity with Nigeria, and it has overtaken Cameroun and it still imports because the local utilisation has been developed.

He concluded that “the government should support developmental efforts through research. Once we have all of these in place, small and medium industries will spring up around cocoa, producing chocolate and other cocoa-based products. This will create employment.”

Rice potential With N356 billion spent on importing rice annually, development of the economy could be fast-tracked with multiplier effect of balance of trade, employment generation and poverty alleviation if the fund is injected in paddy cultivation, harvesting, processing and marketing of locally produced rice.

Dr Francis Nwilene, Regional Coordinator and Representative, Africa Rice Centre, Ibadan, said “that the new minister is said to be interested in the agricultural transformation agenda of the past government is a good beginning. But he has to review the whole ATA programme; that is the first step.”

He advocated the fast-tracking of the programme and that the minister should look for its weaknesses, for instance, in the area of seeds supply chain. “The quality of rice seeds from seed companies is not what they call it,” he said, “there is an element of fraud in the seed supply

system, and that is why farmers are not buying. If farmers are ready to pay for fertilizer, why are they not ready to pay for rice seeds if the seeds are good? This must be checked.”

Nwilene also advised the new minister to assemble a formidable team of experts and technocrats who could deliver results with available resources, saying also that the angle of youth empowerment should be considered.

“The rice sector is segmented into production, processing and marketing. A lot of youths should be incorporated into all of these. We should develop each of those segments.”

In the area of value addition, Nwilene said encouraging local processors with cottage industry by facilitating cost-effective funding through the Bank of Agriculture and BoI would also boost their capacity.

“We have to support our own people who operate cottage processing mills. Yes, the integrated mills must come on board, but empowerment requires supporting cottage mills. Most of them now use de-stoners. They are now acquiring boilers and polishers so that their products are like the ones from integrated mills.

“For us, we believe that the cottage rice mills have the potential for job creation for local people, unlike integrated mills populated with foreign employees. If the integrated mills leave the country tomorrow, what happens? That is why we must create a balance by developing clusters of local cottage rice mills around the country,” the Africa Rice Centre-Nigeria boss said.

Maize Maize production is very crucial not only for direct human consumption, but also for industrial use and livestock feeds production. The crop is keenly competitive, causing scarcity at certain periods of the year. With the restriction on forex for this purpose, demand may outgrow production and this may lead to ripple effects of inflation.

Therefore, according to former chairman of the Poultry Association of Nigeria (PAN) in Oyo State, Mr John Olateru, the new minister should fashion out strategies for aggressive maize production; make provision for storage facilities at grain reserve centres to take care of demands off seasons and empower maize farmers with improved varieties, herbicides and fertiliser for greater productivity.

Country Manager, Pioneer Seeds Nigeria, Mr Olumide Ibikunle, advocated complete value chain activities, starting from high quality seeds, sustainability of empowerment scheme and post-harvest handling.

He suggested the creation of Agricultural Transformation Agenda Agency, as it is patterned in Ethiopia, which is going to be a national agency with consultants, reputable private corporate, where, he said, Pioneer Seeds plays a key role in the maize productivity by providing varieties with 10 tonnes per hectare of land.

This way, he said, ATA would transcend administrations like NAFDAC, SMEDAN and other agencies.

He said: “When we talk about productivity, we are talking of the land, storage, post-harvest handling and marketing. They have not done anything with the Agriculture Transformation Agenda this year. And it should go beyond an administration.

“In the Agriculture Transformation Programme in Ethiopia, they have the ministry of agriculture doing what they should do; regulation, enforcement providing conducive environment, and they now have an Agriculture Transformation Agenda Agency, where you have only consultants and technocrats developing programmes.

“Rural development,” he said, “must be part of the productivity. There is no agricultural development programme we want to do without thinking of roads. That agency transients every administration, it becomes a national agenda, it becomes a do or die for the country.”

Commodity boards A good number of stakeholders have expressed optimism that commodity boards will ensure stability of cash crops’ prices, even in times of gluts, saying inputs and credits could be facilitated by the boards, led by the private sector operators.

Former Ondo State Commissioner for Agriculture and now Deputy Governor, Alhaji Lasisi Oluboyo, had said the state government had put in place Akure Cocoa Commodity Exchange, which, he said, would buy at international prices from farmers as a marketing solution and impetus for more production and productivity of the cash crop in and around the state.

Infrastructure and extension services The country is lagging behind in agricultural infrastructure for production, processing and storage. Most farmers rely on rain-fed agriculture and a few irrigation facilities that are available are in state of disrepair. Rainfall is seasonal, scarce or unreliable and this causes crop failure, as experienced in some parts of the country in the last planting season between April and August this year.

Professor Damian Chikwendu, former National Coordinator of West Africa Agricultural Productivity Programmes (WAAPP), had earlier said ineffective extension service delivery was a significant contributor to the low productivity in agriculture in the country. To this end, he said, WAAPP had been on the forefront of reviving the extension services with private sector participation.

The minister, therefore, should advocate an articulate policy on infrastructure road map to really make agriculture commercial, industrial and sustainable by executing the agricultural equipment hiring scheme, and by building or facilitating emplacement of storage and processing facilities in each of the states of the federation based on comparative advantages and crop specialisation of each state.

23

Monday, 16 November, 2015

+ entrepreneurship

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Ruth Olurounbi

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

Energise your business idea with

Total Startupper challenge

By Ruth Olurounbi

W

HAT is an idea if it lacks the energy to take off, let alone come into fruition?

Because everyone, especially the corporate world, knows that startups need the energy to grow their businesses, Total Inc, a leading international oil and gas company, which ranks second worldwide in solar energy, is challenging young African entrepreneurs to enter into a contest that will refine and reshape their businesses, and lives as entrepreneurs.

The challenge, dubbed “Startupper of the year by Total”, aims to help entrepreneurs from Nigeria, Algeria, Angola, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Republic of Guinea, Republic of the Congo,

Reunion, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, and Zimbabwe to start and develop their businesses (which are less than two years old).

The entrepreneurs, who are not more than 35 years old, are expected to show the judges and jury the challenges that need to be tackled where they live and how their innovative projects will address these challenges.

Upon convincing the jury, Total promises that it will “support those of you who will inspire, create, invest, hire and produce, all to transform ‘your’ world.”

The company, which is aiming to help African start-ups get their business project off the ground or develop the businesses, said: “We’re interested in all your projects, regardless of the type of business or activity, as long as they share the characteristics common to creative start-ups: innovation, competitiveness, growth boosting and job creation.”

+

Our goal is to be pan-African — Oluwafemi Bankole, Big Cabal boss

—P24

3 ways grow your business on a budget —P24

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily — Zig Ziglar

Continues on pg32

24

25

+ entrepreneurship Monday, 16 November, 2015

Our goal is to be

7 ways desperate discounting can ruin your business Continues from last week

6. Reduces your bargaining power.

Setting a low standard makes it much harder to raise your prices as your business grows. Even if you make it clear that the lower price is “introductory” only, this is almost always ‘forgotten’ and getting people to pay higher prices once you go back to normal will be really tough.

pan-African

7. What happens if you are discounting products or services your existing customers have already paid full whack for?

I can tell you one thing for sure – when they find out they are not going to be happy bunnies. The likelihood is you’ll have to either give them a partial discount or risk losing them forever.

— Bankole, Big Cabal boss From left: Total E&P General Manager, Adewale Fayemi; Total Uganda, Managing Director, Florentin De-Loppinot, and Total Uganda, Human Resources and Administration Manager, Susan Nampala, at a press conference to launch the Total Startupper Challenge of the year at Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

How Total wants to empower start-ups Continues from pg23

Each winner of the “Startupper of the year by Total” challenge will receive individual coaching and on completion of the coaching, they will receive financial support for their project from the oil and gas giant.

Although there is no official statement from the company regarding how much has been earmarked for the winners of the challenge at the moment, analysts told Entrepreneurship+ that the financial support may likely reach the tune of several million of dollars.

On the completion of the pre-selection stage, the jury, which will include managers from national and international companies drawn from a wide variety of business sectors (banking, finance, industry, service, etc); representatives of public and semi-public organiza-

tions, and officials from institutions; 0fficials from national and international organisations and/ or recognised experts and analysts, jury will in each of the 34 countries, select up to 10 finalists of the best projects submitted. The finalists will then be invited to present their project orally to the jury, which will select up to three winners, the company said.

The company expects that interested participants in the challenge would submit their résumé, business plan, financing plan, partnership strategy, an executive summary, a marketing brochure, their company logo, their graphic standards, and/or a photo or video presentation, along with their applications.

Applications are expected to be clear, concise and efficient, demonstrating the applicant’s thoroughness, precision, knowledge and desire to be an entrepreneur.

“In each of the 34 countries, ‘Startupper of the year by Total’ jury will evaluate the innovativeness, boldness and originality of your project, along with its social and economic impact, feasibility, sustainability and potential in terms of growth, development and employment,” the company said.

Currently present in 44 countries across the world, with nearly 10,000 employees in Africa catering to two million customers a day, the energy giant believes it is in a great form to “energise” African entrepreneurs’ ideas!

“We are dedicated to helping fuel the dynamic growth that characterises Africa and have made the continent a core focus of our activities...” the company said, as it added that it was committed to ensuring that it activities create value and opportunity for all stakeholders in the continent.

Oluwafemi Bankole, founder, Big Cabal Media, is a lawyer-turned tech enthusiast. In this conversation with RUTH OLUROUNBI, he explains how his passion for the media is turning into a pan-African business empire.

I

’M going to start this conversation off by asking are ever going to experience a sequel to 2014 TechCabal Battlefied?

Yes, definitely. The maiden edition of Battlefield was a resounding success, and we had already secured the commitments we needed to make it happen again. Unfortunately, the postponement of Nigeria’s elections around our preferred date made it difficult to stick to the timetable. But Battlefield is firmly on the agenda, be assured.

And while we are still on the subject, is it true that the Battlefield was sort of a launch pad for TechCabal too?

Well, TechCabal did not participate in the competition, obviously.

However, the prize of 20,000 USD was the largest tech startup competition ticket on the continent at the time; so admittedly, it put us on the map.

Now, TechCabal is almost synonymous with Big Cabal.

Are there differences between the two or the two are one and the same?

TechCabal is a fully owned subsidiary of Big Cabal Media, an African media company. In addition to TechCabal, Big Cabal Media also owns Zikoko.com, a fun website that publishes entertaining and shareable content for African millenials.

Moving on, you’ve done some collaborative work with different organisations, the most recent being WeChat. I’d like to know how this journey started – for you. I understand you studied Law? How it started? I’ve always wanted

to be in media. I just wasn’t quite sure how. So even while I was studying law, I spent most of my time shooting video, designing graphics for print and learning web design. I began to blog when I got to Law School, and just before my Bar Finals in late 2010, I wandered into a Lagos tech event called BarCamp.

It was there I first became aware of what tech startups were, and they fascinated me. I began to write about the ones in Nigeria. And so it began...

How quickly do you suppose Big Cabal would take over Africa’s tech media space, because you’re obviously on the journey to?

The goal is certainly to be pan-African, and every day brings us closer to that. Our coverage on TechCabal already spans East, West and South of Africa, where we are beginning to put boots on the ground.

While in Nairobi, Kenya, I noticed your fascination with business models and Nigeria’s economic development. As an entrepreneur in Nigeria, do you have a business model you think will help the country run well?

Indeed, I am very curious about what African countries can learn from each other’s journeys of development, and each time I visit a new country, I am keenly observing the things that work and the things that don’t and trying to figure out or ask why. As to the question of whether I have a business model that will help the country run well...well, I’m not Nigeria’s CEO. That’s the president of the Federal Republic. But if Big Cabal Media succeeds, it is obviously one among many successes of private enterprise that our country

Bankole needs to ensure that it achieves its full potential.

Let’s go back to the WeChat Collaboration, Africabeta.

Should we expect a sequel to this one, and quickly too?

Yes!

I understand you’re branching into Kenya. Congratulations. Why Kenya though? Are there any future expansions we should look forward to?

Our coverage is already pan-African, but during a casual visit to

Nairobi in April, it became obvious to us that we needed to be physically present in the regions that we cover. Maybe we chose Nairobi to expand to first, because I love it.

I have even seriously considered moving there.

Are you guilty of desperate discounting?

When the hotel got started, I really wanted things to get started. This made me accept unfair prices - prices that the business could not afford.

Like the old me, if you are guilty of giving desperate discounts, going forward you can change things. You have two options: One, you can either lower the price permanently; and maybe get people who originally objected to your offering to pay (reactive); or, two, you can work harder to raise the value perception of your service to match the price you’re asking (proactive).

3 ways to grow your business on a budget

By Ruth Olurounbi MANY start-ups have a challenge in common - money. As you know, money is the oil on which the engine of your business runs, and grows. Money helps you develop usable products, advertise and make revenues from the business.

Developing a product or service is as good as the number of people who know of its existence. Today, therefore, I want to share simple tips that will help you maximize your company’s budget, as well as its growth.

Partnerships Remember the old saying that goes “if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together”? That’s what partnerships does. By seeking out companies that provide complementary services/products to you, you could find a way to go farther, together.

For instance, you could partner with a digital media company by

providing something they would need in exchange for a service that you require. At the end of the day, it is a win win situation.

Have friends in the media I cannot overemphasise this point, really. Having spent about a decade in Nigeria’s media industry, I can tell you this, having a friend or two in the industry will help you a great deal. The indispensable advice these media experts give you can, in the long run, help your business grow faster than you would have imagined. For instance, if I were to advise a small business owner on ad placements, I’d suggest they place smaller ads frequently as against blowing their ad budget once. As you know, ads are costly and placing them just once is hardly enough to get the sales you need. So instead of buying a space for an X amount, try breaking the same amount down into 10 places and see how it goes.

Ask your customers to mar-

ket your products/services Word of mouth strategy is one of the most effective strategies to get sales, you know this already. Some of your customers probably are doing this already too. You could politely ask them to go a step further by submitting a short (two minutes)

video on your website, writing a testimonial or help share links with their friends. Note that you have to give them an incentive to keep doing this, therefore, you may want to create a system to rewards them with freebies and occasional promotional discounts.

I will suggest the latter option.

Price objections are in a lot of cases value objections. If someone objects to your price, yet they have the means to pay, then it’s not the price they’re objecting to rather, it’s that they don’t think your offering is WORTH the price you’re asking.

Here are a few other ways I have discovered to win the hearts of customers: 1. Provide an ‘experience’.

2. Be attentive.

3. Give special recognition.

4. Personalise.

5. Reward spontaneously.

6. Add value in some other way.

Rather than trying buy your customers’ loyalties, show your clientele the appreciation they deserve, they will love you for it!

Orioke, a banker turned entrepreneur, sent this in from Osun State.

Ideas rule the business world

By George Emmanuel THE most expensive drive of the business world is idea, being actualised with maximised opportunity. Arguably, money is not the priority to conceiving a business idea.

William J. Cameron says “Money never start an idea; it is the idea that starts the money.” Every persons in the society possesses entrepreneurial skill but they ironically pose unproductive, because of erroneous and otiose mind – set towards it; thinking that no business can work out successfully without money.

Often, many people would say “if I get enough money, I would think of what business” Show me a successful business enterprise and I will tell you the driver, which is Idea.

The world market is larger enough and competitively perfect for prospective and respective entrepreneurs to find a good business idea by scanning the markets, environments and societies and identifying problem that needed to be solved by a particular product or service. This may lead to an idea of starting a new product, brands of a product, unique services, opening of a new market concept, discovering a fresh method of using a specific raw material, it can also be to reorganize or repackage an existing business.

Continues next week

26

Nigerian Tribune

Monday, 16 November, 2015

moneymarket

anchor Chima Nwokoji

m:08032637535 e:chimatitus@yahoo.com

NDIC warns against patronage of ‘wonder banks’ Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

T

HE Nigeria Deposit Insurance Cooperation (NDIC) has again advised members of the public to stop patronising illegal fund managers, also known as ‘wonder banks’ who offer extra-ordinary interest rates on deposits or investments, only to disappear after collecting huge sums of deposits from their unsuspecting victims.

These illegal fund managers, the corporation noted, are not licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and as such, are not under the NDIC insurance cover, whereby in the event of failure, depositors get a maximum claim of N500,000 as is done with licensed banks.

Speaking at the NDIC’s special day at the Lagos international trade fair on Saturday, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim said the advice became necessary in view of the continued existence of these illegal operators in different forms, and styles in various parts of the country.

Treasury Bills Maturity Date

Discount

11-Feb-16

1.10

1.10

Change % -0.46

05-May-16

4.88

4.99

0.37

20-Oct-16

5.24

5.51

0.37

0.85 0.85 4.63 4.73 0.37 ▲ 4.99 5.23 0.37 ▲

NIFEX November 13, 2015

Bid Offer Change (%) Spot($/N) 199.0000 199.1000 0.00

NIBOR November 13, 2015 Tenor O/N 1M 3M 6M

Rate (%) 0.9850 12.4741 14.2050 15.8370

Change (%) 0.04 -0.12 -0.16 -0.33

NITTY November 13, 2015 Tenor 1M 2M 3M 6M 9M 12M

Rate (%) 2.0443 2.2139 3.5642 5.5112 6.2787 6.3814

Change (%) -0.15 -1.12 -1.22 1.09 0.25 0.07

Government Securities Auction Date

11/11/2015

Security Type

FGN Bond

Tenor

5 Year

Auction No

11-11-2015-5 Year

Auction

Primary Market

Maturity Date

2/13/2020

Total Subscription

71.05

Total Successful

30

Range Bid

7.0000 - 15.5400

Successful Bid Rates 7.0000 - 10.2490 Description

Maginal

Rate

10.249

True Yield

0

Amount Offered (mn)

30

He stressed that many people often approach the corporation to seek redress after falling victims to these illegal fund managers.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the corporation wishes to make it categorically clear that only depositors of banking institutions that are licensed to collect deposits by the CBN, Deposit Money Banks, Microfinance Banks, Primary

Mortgage Banks and Non -Interest/ Islamic Banks are under the NDIC insurance over,” Ibrahim stated.

Reiterating the slogan “millions of depositors protected, billions of naira paid out,” Ibrahim who was represented by the Director of Assets Management Department, NDIC, Alhaji Bashiru Umaru, the corporation’s boss reminded participants at the event that

NDIC’s 24-hour help desk is still operational.

The NDIC help desk with a toll-free telephone line was established to address depositors’ complaints.

The corporation therefore enjoins depositors and the general public to continue to avail themselves of the opportunity provided by the NDIC help desk.

Similarly, president of the Lagos Chamber of Com-

From left, Regional Business Executive, Commercial Banking, North Central, Sterling Bank Plc, Mr Mahmud Abdulkarim; immediate past Vice Chancellor, Benue State University, Professor Charity Angya; Benue State Commissioner, Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Simon Tersoo Kpelai, and Vice Chancellor, Benue State University, Professor Msugh Kembe, at the commissioning access control system and co-branded cards for students of Benue State University by Sterling Bank Plc, recently.

CBN Rates as at 13/11/2015 Currency US DOLLAR POUNDS STERLING EURO SWISS FRANC YEN CFA WAUA YUAN/RENMINBI RIYAL

Buying(NGN) 196 298.3316

Central(NGN) 196.5 299.0927

Selling(NGN) 197 299.8537

211.484 195.6674 1.5984 0.3013 269.7934 30.749

212.0235 196.1665 1.6025 0.3113 270.4817 30.8279

212.563 196.6657 1.6066 0.3213 271.1699 30.9068

52.2625

52.3958

52.5291

DANISH KRONA SDR

28.3384 270.4996

28.4107 271.1897

28.483 271.8797

FGN Bonds Date of Auction Security Type Tenor Maturing On 2/13/2020 2/13/2020 3/14/2024 3/14/2024 2/13/2020 2/13/2020 7/18/2034 7/18/2034 Amount Offered (N mn) Subscriptions (N mn) Tot. Successful (N mn) Net Sales (N mn)

10/14/2015 FGN Bonds 204.7868 5 Year 180 10 Year 180 5 Year 82227 20 Year

10/14/2015 FGN Bonds 205.4112 170.7672 1.4001 0.3028 240.1376 26.7946 15000 4161

9/16/2015 FGN Bonds 206.0355 171.2862 1.4044 0.3128 240.8675 26.8765 5000 2740

9/16/2015 FGN Bonds

17019 40 102.71 40.00

4161 40 82.17 40.00

2740 40 67.10 20.00

30 54.11 25.00

Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate

12.0000 - 16.0000 12.0000 - 13.1110 13.111

12.0000 - 16.5000 12.0000 - 13.8700 13.87

13.5000 - 20.0000 13.5000 - 15.9500 15.95

14.5000 - 20.0000 14.5000 - 15.9700 15.97

1155 1155

CBN Bills Date of Auction Security Type Tenor Maturing On 11/13/2003 2/20/2003 11/21/2002 9/19/2002 Amount Offered (N mn) Subscriptions (N mn) Tot. Successful (N mn) Net Sales (N mn) Range of Bid Rates Successful Bid Rates Marginal Rate

5/15/2003 CBN Certificate 204.7868 91 180 180 180 26.7127 82227 37767

2/25/2002 CBN Certificate 205.4112 170.7672 1.4001 0.3028 240.1376 26.7946 15000 4161

11/26/2001 CBN Certificate 206.0355 171.2862 1.4044 0.3128 240.8675 26.8765 5000 2740

17019

4161

2740

0

20.5

20.5

9/24/2001 CBN Certificate

1155 1155

19.5

merce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello, congratulated the NDIC Managing Director, Alhaji Ibrahim on his giant strides at the corporation over the years.

According to Bello, the NDIC had in no small measure contributed to the

deepening of trust in Nigeria’s banking system and overall financial system stability, adding that the NDIC had a core mandate of depositor protection and to pursue this mandate, an effective judicial process is critical.

weeklyreview Money Market Review/ outlook THE market remained awash with liquidity all through the week which is in line with the trend that has been observed in recent time, consequent on the fact that mop up activities by the apex bank have been suspended for the past two months. Given the level of liquidity in the system, the Money market rates reached new year-lows during the week.

On the first day of the week, liquidity level opened above N800 billion, Open Buy Back (OBB) and Overnight (O/N) rates settled at 0.7 per cent and 1.0 per cent respectively.

On Tuesday, liquidity level remained above the N800billion mark despite the provision for the special Foreign Exchange (FX) intervention slated for Thursday. However, Money market rates slid to a year low of 0.5 per cent for the OBB and 1.0 per cent for the O/N rate.

Dealers at an investment banking and research company, Afrinvest West Africa Limited said that opening liquidity balance on Wednesday contracted to N500 billion which “we believe is connected to the placement of funds by DMBs for the Bond auction which took place on the same day.”

Consequently the OBB marginally rose 13 basis points (bps) to 0.6 per cent while the O/N rate remained flat at 1.0per cent. On Thursday, an Open Market Operation (OMO) maturity worth N179.6billion hit the system, this increased the available levels of liquidity and resulted in a decline in the OBB rate to 0.5 per cent while the O/N still remained flat at 1.0per cent.

At the close of the week, money market rates settled at 0.7per cent for the OBB and 1.0 per cent for the O/N rate resulting in 6bps and 8bps week on week (W-o-W) decline in average money market rates to 0.6 per cent (OBB) and 1.0 per cent (O/N).

Foreign Exchange Market Review/Outlook Activities in the forex market all through last week mirrored activities from the week before. On Monday, the naira appreciated 2kobo to N196.98/ US $1.0 and this was maintained till Thursday when the naira depreciated 2 kobo to N197.00 / US$ 1.00 and the CBN also held its currency auction.

Dealers at Afrinvest posit that the marginal changes being noticed in the value of the naira can be attributed to some administrative measures taken by the CBN prior to official FX interventions on Thursdays.

Similarly, at the Interbank market, the naira appreciated 2kobo on Monday to trade at N199.08/US $1.00 and this was sustained till Thursday when the local currency depreciated by the exact same amount to N199.08/US $1.00.

Analysis of activities in the forwards market shows traders are pricing the naira within the range of N225.00 and N230.00 (1-year forward) as naira is still believed not to be trading at its true value.

Bond Market Review/ Outlook On Monday, Barclays announced that the Nigerian Sovereign debt would be removed from its emerging local currency government bond benchmark index from February 1, 2016.

However, dealers believes that if the performance of the market last week was anything to go by, it is safe to say that investors still remain bullish on the Nigerian fixed income market despite the announcement, given that majority of the players in the market are domestic investors’.

The suspension of OMO auction by the CBN has also buoyed liquidity level of banks which has doused the effects of foreign investors exiting the market.

moneymarket Oil prices: Banks to double provisions for performing loans 27

Stories by Chima Nwokoji -Lagos

N

IGERIA’S central bank has ordered commercial lenders to double provisions on performing loans to two per cent to build adequate protection against unexpected losses.

General provisions on performing loans had been fixed at one per cent before the new regulation, said the circular which came into effect on Wednesday.

Reuters reported that the regulator in a circular on Friday noted that economic challenges in Africa’s top oil producer have been mounting after a plunge in oil prices cost the government vital revenues from crude sales, weakening the naira currency and slashing economic growth.

“In recent times, the adverse macro-economic environment has been a source of concern in the financial sector,” the central bank said.

The regulator said in the circular that “fiscal and monetary authorities are deploying remedial policy measures to ameliorate these challenges.”

The central bank has been injecting cash into the money market since September in a bid to ease liquidity and reverse declining growth in Africa’s

Monday, 16 November, 2015

biggest economy, which has suffered as oil prices fell sharply since mid-2014.

However, some lenders seem to be using the funds to invest in bonds rather than lending to households

and businesses in a bid to avoid a build up of bad loans.

Analysts say the new rule will affect dividend payouts as lenders prepare to adopt stricter international

requirements. Adesoji Solanke, banking analyst at Renaissance Capital, expects more capital strain for FBN Holdings, Skye Bank and Ecobank Nigeria.

Stanbic IBTC on Monday

doubled its non-performing loan ratio to 8.8 percent and cut its 2015 forecast for loan growth to 3 per cent from 10 percent due to slowing economic activities on businesses.

Diamond Bank holds training for MSMEs stakeholders of Diamondxpress training workshop, said it will continue the exercise which it started in 2011.

Head, MSME and Agency banking, Diamond Bank, Chidimma Lawanson, said: “Physically, we have im-

pacted more than 16, 000 small businesses across the country through this seminar.

“This is the 62nd edition and we have been doing it since 2011. The feedback has also been tremendous.

Access Bank hosts anti-fraud forum for bank officers STAKEHOLDERS involved in anti-fraud functions in various banks will gather for an anti-fraud forum on November 19, 2015 to be hosted by Access Bank Plc. The theme of the forum is “Fraud Management: The need for a Harmonised Approach.”

A statement from the bank’s Corporate Communications and Public Relations department said the forum is an initiative of Access Bank to engage stakeholders on how to proactively solve the industry’s fraud challenges.

It will also provide an opportunity for anti-fraud officers of banks to further interact on ways this menace can be curbed by their joint collaboration.

Representatives from Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Inspector General of Police, Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC), Akintola Williams Deloitte House, Ernst & Young, KPMG and NIBSS are expected to at-

ABCON worried about activities of Travelex in forex market

From left, Vice Chancellor, Abia State University, Professor Ogwo Ogwo; Chairman, Body of Fellows, National Institute of Marketing of Nigeria (NIMN), Dr Ify Uraih and Registrar, NIMN, Mr Sidney Ogodo, during the NIMN Marketing Educators Conference at the University of Calabar, recently.

A leading retail bank, Diamond Bank Plc, has reiterated its commitment to capacity building in the Micro, Small and Medium-scale Enterprises (MSMEs).

In pursuit of this objective, the bank in its 62nd edition

tend the forum with other participants from various banks.

According to the Chief Internal Auditor, of Access Bank, Mr Yinka Tiamiyu, “The Anti-Fraud forum is

another way Access Bank demonstrates its commitment to go the extra mile towards using collaboration in fraud prevention.”

Available records show that fraud cases in the na-

tion’s financial services industry grew astronomically by 183 per cent as total number of reported cases increased from a total of 3,786 in 2013 to 10,612 in 2014 financial year.

Sterling Bank commissions access control card for Benue varsity IN a determined effort to reposition the nation’s education system in line with its One Education initiatives, Sterling Bank Plc at the weekend, commissioned a co-branded verve /identity card which will serve as access control system and identity management solution for staff and students of the Benue State University Makurdi.

It will also serve as payment debit card for fee payments, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) withdrawals and online transactions.

Speaking at the launch held in Makurdi, the Benue State Capital, the Bank’s Executive Director; Commercial and Institution Banking,

Mr Lanre Adesanya assured that the Bank will continue to expand its frontiers in education finance and partner any institution in the provision of adequate facilities in furtherance of its core purpose of enriching lives.

Mr Adesanya who was represented by the Bank’s Group Head, Strategy & Communications, Mr Shina Atilola explains how the card works: “The card serves as a ‘combo’ e-solution for the staff and students. It serves as the primary form of identification within and outside the campus environment for students and staff of the university. The high quality of the card prevents ease of forgery outside

of the authorised system; helps tighten security in the school as access is granted to only authorised individuals.”

Mr Atilola reiterated the Bank’s commitment to offering ingenious solutions to the Education sector via its One Education platform with the provision of Edu-tablets, financial literacy materials and training amongst others.

The Benue State Governor Chief Samuel Ortom who was represented by the Commissioner for Trade and Investment Dr. Simon Tersoo Kpelai, commended Sterling Bank for its collaboration with the university and for its contributions to the growth of the education sector in the country.

Nigerian Tribune

More so, we also get SME owners to go online and watch some of these seminars. And we take this across the six geopolitical zones of the country.”

Speaking on theme of this edition, which is: ‘Global Best Practices In Human Resources,’ she said: “We call this training one of the non-financial benefits and services that we give to the Micro Small and Medium Enterprises, MSME sector.

It is a capacity building offering to help them grow their businesses.

“Today we talked about global best practices in human resource management.

Many of the MSMEs struggle with human resource issues regarding who to employ. For instance, do they have to employ their family members because they think it is cheap and at the end of the day, may cause them issues since you cannot fire them if they are not doing so well? So we brought consultants who have done well in their own businesses to teach them how to structure their own businesses better.”

Also speaking, Managing Director/Publisher of Castle Lifestyle magazine, Dipo Davies, in a keynote address, tasked the participants to develop formal systems and processes if they must grow sustainable large businesses.

THE Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has expressed deep concern over the activities of foreign owned Travelex Worlwide in Nigeria.

At a press briefing held at its head office in Lagos, ABCON noted with concern that as a wholesale supply of forex and importer of forex into the country, the intention of Travelex is to take over the retail segment of the foreign exchange market, where BDCs operate.

ABCON’s Acting President, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe, said the utterances of Travelex officials at a recent press conference were deliberately crafted to create the impression that other Bureau De Change (BDC) operators are against the use of BVN for forex transactions, while the company is in support of the policy.

“This is a company that is also registered as a BDC operator. So you can see that we are talking about a company that is having a conflict of interest. You supply the dollar. You distribute the dollar and you retail the dollar,” Gwadabe lamented.

Skye Bank, travel agencies partner on travel finance IN its determination to make vacation and other forms of travel pleasant, affordable and easy, Skye Bank Plc has gone into partnership with some leading travel agencies by providing travel financing.

At the unveiling of the partnership in Lagos on Friday, Skye Bank’s Head of Retail Banking Group, Nkolika Okoli said the bank would provide financing for the customers to be able to buy their tickets and/or travel packages in good time to enjoy reduced fares.

According to her, the bank would provide 80 per cent of the travel cost while the intending traveller will provide just 20 per cent of the total travel cost at a minimal interest rate. The customer can then repay the loan over a maximum tenor of 12 months.

Explaining the rationale for the special partnership, Okoli said because most people who travel in Nigeria are salary earners and small business owners in the middle income segment, they are wont to save up for their travel over a long period of time so end up buying their tickets two or three weeks to the date of travel.

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capitalmarket

Nigerian Tribune

anchor Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba

m:08057336640 e:kehinde_07@yahoo.com

NSE: Investors increase turnover by N6.061bn Stories By Kehinde Akinseinde-Jayeoba -Lagos

A

turnover of 2.064 billion shares worth N23.397 billion in 14,992 deals were traded by investors on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in contrast to a total of 1.949 billion shares valued at N17.336 billion that exchanged hands in 15,762 deals in the penultimate week.

Despite poor third quarter performance of most quoted companies, turnover, last week, experienced slight increase as against predictions by analysts that the Nigerian Bourse would make positive change, even as the Federal Government announced the long awaited portfolios of ministers.

The Financial Services Industry, measured by volume, led the activity chart with 1.484 billion shares valued at N14.555 billion traded in 8,406 deals, thus contributing 71.90 per cent and 62.21 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value respectively.

The Oil and Gas Industry followed with 324.106 million shares worth N1.839 billion in 1,680 deals, while the third place was occupied by the Conglomerates Industry with a turnover of 97.566 million shares worth N225.662 million in 938 deals.

Trading in the top equities were Access Bank Plc, Guaranty Trust

Bank Plc and Beco Petroleum Plc., measured by volume, accounting for 1.034 billion shares worth N10.907 billion in 1,954 deals, contributing 50.11 per cent and 46.62 per cent to the total equity turnover volume and value

respectively.

The NSE All-Share Index and Market Capitalisation depreciated by 1.14 per cent to close at 28,841.67 and N9.915 trillion respectively, last week. Also, all other Indices finished lower with

exception of NSE Insurance and NSE Lotus Islamic Index that chalked up by 0.93 per cent and 0.17 per cent respectively, while NSE ASeM Index closed flat.

29 equities appreciated in price during the week under review,

SEC holds 3Q 2015 capital market committee meeting

From left, Group Executive Director, Dangote Industries Limited, Knut Ulvmoen; President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Alhaji Ismail Aderemi Bello; Vice President and Chairman, Membership Committee, Lagos Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Babatunde Ruwase and Executive Director, Stakeholder Management and Corporate Communications, Mr Ahmed Mansur, displaying Dang-Q Seasoning and Salt, Dangote Salt products at Dangote Pavilion during the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair.

Institute tasks stockbrokers on further training STOCKBROKERS have been advised to embrace additional and needed knowledge to enhance their duty of handling portfolios of their clients.

Dr Isaac Dada, the President and Council Chairman of the Portfolio Management Institute of Nigeria (Chartered), said the level of professionalism and knowledge applied when managing the portfolio of clients determine how much gain would be recorded.

Dr Dada, while speaking with the Nigerian Tribune during the institute’s visit to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), noted that there was the need for stockbrokers and investment bankers to seek more knowledge in order to promote the Nigerian Stock Exchange as thriving portfolio reflects on the market.

While explaining the function of the institute, Dr Dada said the institute provides the needed education and training to be a success portfolio manager.

“Education in the sense that we provide syllabus for training in portfolio management which leads to exams for different cadres and continuous

higher than 24 equities of the preceding week. 38 equities depreciated in price, lower than 43 equities of the preceding week, while 123 equities remained unchanged, same as 123 equities recorded in the preceding week.

training in form of seminars and workshops where people can rub heads together,” he said, while noting that in additions to courses organised by the Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS), portfolio management was specifically meant for the area of business to balance the portfolio.

He, however, decried the belief

that without any proper structured training, portfolio could be managed successfully; noting that the aftermath of the 2009 fall of capital market was due to improper management of portfolio.

“If you balance your portfolio where we have fixed income investment, stock, property,

bonds, among others, if one is going down, the other will maintain that portfolio, you cannot fold up,” he said, noting that the investment advisers organisation that survived the 2009 capital market crash were those who balanced their portfolio properly, knowing when to go in and exit the market.

SEC reminds CMOs to maintain valid fidelity bonds THE Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has urged all capital market operators (CMO) to comply with the minimum requirement for registration, with a reminder that it was required to constantly maintain a valid Fidelity Bond/Professional Indemnity policy in strict compliance with Rule 27 of the Commission’s Rules and regulations.

The commission stressed that non-compliance to requirements as a CMO was a violation of the (ISA) No. 29, 2007.

The notice through the commissions’ website and signed by the commissions’ management also reminded CMOs that they are re-

quired to maintain a Fidelity Bond/ Professional Indemnity Policy that has a validity period from 1st January to 31st December of each year.

“Operators that have submitted bonds that will expire before December 31, 2016 should extend their policy to expire on 31st December, 2016 and the validity period of 1st January to 31st December should be maintained subsequently.

“Furthermore, in view of the recent compliance with the Minimum Capital Requirement by CMOs, Operators are directed to immediately ensure that the level of insurance cover is in line with the new minimum paid-up capital

for their registered functions.

The commission noted that its rules “do not provide any window period where CMOs could be permitted to operate without a valid fidelity bond and as such, operating in the Capital Market without a valid fidelity bond is a contravention of the Investment and Securities Act (ISA) No. 29, 2007 and the SEC Rules & Regulations pursuant to the Act, which is sanctionable accordingly.”

The commission, therefore, warned that strict adherence to the policy was important as it would not accept any fidelity bond which does not conform to the above mentioned standard.

SECURITIES and Exchange Commission (SEC) will host the third quarter 2015 Capital Market Committee (CMC) meeting in Lagos on Wednesday, November 25.

According to SEC, the meeting will be held in the Intercontinental Hotel, Victoria Island Lagos and scheduled to start by 10 am Those who have been invited to attend the expanded session are Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all registered capital market firms, that is Broker Dealer, Capital Market Solicitors, Custodians, Fund Managers, Issuing Houses, Rating Agencies, Registrars, Reporting Accountants, Trustees, and Consultants.

Others are Chief Executive Officers of The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), The Financial Markets Dealers Quotations (FMDQ), Africa Exchange Holdings (AFEX), Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX), Central Securities Clearing System (CSCS), and Chartered Institute of Stockbrokers (CIS).

Also, a member from each observer group from Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Debt Management Office (DMO), Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN), Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Investment and Securities Tribunal (IST), Nigerian Investment Promotion Council (NIPC), National Insurance Commission (NICOM), National Pension Commission (Pencom), Financial Services Regulation Coordinating Committee (FSRCC) have been invited to attend.

Also, Chairmen of the Senate and House Committees on capital market are expected to partake in the meeting.

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Monday, 16 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

labour Labour ministry set for strategic employment generation, social security scheme Ngige assumes as labour minister, Ocholi, state Stories By Soji-Eze Fagbemi- Abuja

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here is a strong indication that the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment has been designated to play a very strategic and critical role in the employment creation and social security provision of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

Under its change mantra, and as part of its campaign promises, the All Progressive Congress (APC) and President Buhari had promised to create huge employment yearly and pay unemployed persons N5,000 each monthly.

The new Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Nwabueze Chris Ngige, has along this line resumed at the ministry with a promise that the present government will tackle frontally and resolve the issue of high unemployment in the country.

Ngige resumed with the Minister of State for Labour Barr. James Ocholi (SAN), to a rousing welcome from the staff and management of the Labour Ministry. They both assured that the government will put in place policies, structures and programmes that would allow other sectors of the economy in the area of employment creation.

It was the first time the ministry, considered as one of the worst and badly funded ministries, will have two ministers, a substantive minister and a minister of state.

The President Muhammadu Buhari’s Government has also recently changed the name of the ministry from the Ministry of Labour and Productivity to Ministry of Labour and Employment.

This, according to stakeholders in labour

Dr Chris Ngige, Labour Minister industry, is an indication that the Buhari Government placed premium on labour ministry, and the minitry is about to play strategic roles in employment creation and social securuty scheme of this government.

Judging from the statements of the new ministers while addressing the management and staff of the ministry, the thinking of the stakeholders might not be far from the truth.

According to Ngige, under the new administration, the ministry will be at the fore front of the battle against the menace of unemployment in Nigeria.

He said: “We will be at the fore-front of the battle to stop the scourge of unemployment in the country. We must as a people put on our thinking caps so that we can chart the way forward for employment generation.”

However, the minister emphasized that government alone cannot provide everybody with employment, but will create the needed enabling environment for all other sectors to thrive.

Ngige said the Ministry of Labour and Employment is part of the engineering that will pave ways for the private sector to generate jobs through developmental focused labour laws among others.

Speaking further, the minister affirmed zero tolerance for leakages and corrupt practices in the country “We are the catalyst, the change agent of the change era; if we block leakages in our systems the country will be better for it as resources will be made available for economic growth of the nation.” He said Also in his remarks, the Minister of State, Barr. James Ocholi (SAN), expressed confidence in the expertise of the management and staff of the ministry which he believes is in line with the change mantra of the present administration The Permanent Secretary, Dr Clement Illoh, who received the ministers, assured them of the full co-operation of the management and staff of the ministry, including all its agencies toward actualisation of their mandates.

NLC sets agenda for Ngige, Ocholi

Demands stronger regulations, wants workers’ welfare improvement The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has set agenda for the new ministers in charge of Labour Ministry, Chief Chris Ngige, who is the Minister of Labour and James Ocholi, the Minister of State.

Both ministers resumed at the ministry after their swearing in and allocation of portfolios last week by President Muhammadu Buhari.

President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said there are enormous challenges in industrial relations environment that needs to be addressed.

According to him, the issue of casualisation and outsourcing of services has rendered a lot of workers to work under very terrible conditions.

The NLC president said: “Most workers in Nigeria don’t have access to decent work environment and occupational safety. For us, that is very critical. In every economy, the working conditions have to be well regulated.

“During the Decent Work Day, some of the working condition we saw in Lagos were

so terrible. We visited a chemical company where majority of the workers had one form of deformity or the other. For some, their organs cannot even perform. This is because occupational health and safety is not in place. In most cases, these workers are casuals. Which means, once you are deformed the employer can just sack you.

“There was a pathetic case of a worker who lost his sight, and what his employer did was just gave him N20, 000 and asked him to leave. In fact, we had to ask our lawyers to institute a legal case against the company on his behalf. He is a casual worker.

“This is the predication in our environment; because of the fact that the labour market has been saturated and youths are desperately looking for jobs and so many people take advantage of them, especially in factories.

“So these are workers that needed our help and the government must come out with stronger regulations to be able to regulate

the work environment.”

Wabba cited the case of Ikorodu fire incidence, where workers lost their lives in a fire incident because occupational and safety rules were not adhered to.

“Till date, the families of the workers have not been compensated. Those are issues that are very critical. So for us, this should be a priority for the incoming minister of labour. Labour inspectors must be doing their work. And they must be up-to-date.”

He stated that the era where there will be no labour inspectors and factories will just cage workers under terrible conditions and try to exploit them should be in the past On the welfare of workers, Wabba said: “We are aware that the economy is in bad condition. In fact we were told few days ago after the FAAC meeting that there was a state that went home with only N20 million because they have so borrowed that after the loan deductions, they went home with N26 million.

“I am not sure that money will be able to pay the salaries of even the government house. So we are really in for some economic challenge. But workers should not be used as scapegoats. Workers are not the problem. Workers if properly utilized will provide solutions. Therefore, our point is that no worker should lose his job due to the economic challenge.

“So whoever is coming as minister of labour must have the initiative to drive the process of putting the issue on the table, discussing them and finding solutions to them. We can’t continue to sit on a keg of gun powder without really resolving and addressing the issue and moving forward.”

“In every challenge, there must be a way out. And labour has been working to try and look at solutions to some of these problems.

We can’t continue to over-rely on petroleum because globally, the price of petroleum has continued to dwindled. What is needed now is for us to diversify our economy.”

labour PENGASSAN laments state of oil industry at NEC meeting 30

Monday, 16 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Lists challenges to tackle Stories By Soji-Eze Fagbemi- Abuja

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he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), rose from its critical National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja and lamented the state of the nation, especially in the oil and gas industry.

Specifically, on the national scale, the union regretted the state of insecurity in the country, high electricity tariffs, dilapidated infrastructure, unemloyment and sustainable human development, non -payment of salaries and Naira devaluation.

The meeting discussed the issue of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), job security/ flunctuating crude oil prices, expatriate quota/Nigeria oil and gas content development Act, gas masterplan implementation, crude oil supply to refineries and the perennial fuel queue/payment of subsidy.

President of PENGASSAN, Francis Olabode Johnson bemoans the level of decay in infrastructural facilities, particularly the poor state of roads in the country, with no effort on the part of various governments at all levels to repair the roads.

He called on various governments to embark on urgent repair of roads in their domain to stop carnage and loss of lives and propertes on the roads.

Johnson, who said the union aligns with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) agenda of using employment to create wealth, eradicate poverty and reduce crimes; called on the government to put in place sustainable plans to create wealth and jobs.

He called on the government and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to stem the wave of redaundancy in the oil and gas industry especially by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) due to slide in crude oil prices.

“This sad trend further compounds the already bloated labour market in the country,” he said, adding, “we have resolved to resist the growing redundancy tendency in the industry under the guise of the effects of dop in global oil prices.”

The PENGASSAN president stressed

President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of Petroleum Resources the need to review the granting expatriate work permit into Nigeria to make it more transparent, adding that its compliance also needs to be monitored.

According to him: “Any expert that is coming to Nigeria must add value and be ready to respect the understudy clause as well as train Nigerians. We are advocating for the establishment of a special stakeholders’ committee comprising of the Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Department of

Petroleum Resources (DPR), the Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Labour and Employment and the unions to recommend and approve expatriates permit to check expatriate quota abuse. We are also calling on the government to exert appropriate sanction against any defaulting employer.

“The issue of NOGICD should not be limited to the name or material components of jobs alone but should be on increasing the number of Nigerian em-

ployees and transfer of knowledge, especially those on top managment positions.”

Johnson called on the government to consider implementation of the Gas Masterplan and harness gas flated to develop the power sector and domestic utilisation.

He demanded that the government should evolve the needed political will to end gas flaring and reduce human and environmental degradation now.

He, however, commended the efforts of the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari in putting back the refineries on stream to boost local refining; and the promise by the new minister of state to provide provide whatever it takes for the refineries to meet the nation’s local demand.

Johnson urged the government to ensure that the refineries adhere to prompt and periodic Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the plants.

“We demand that adequate authority and financial autonomy be granted to refineries’ managements to boost operational effectiveness. In this wise, we urge the government to provide adequate funding for refineries’ operations just as promised by the minister of state during his visit to the plants,” he said.

To end the perennial fuel scarcity, he emphasized PENGASSAN belief in local refineries and called for well-coordinated measures with timeline to achieve self-sufficiency in local refining as a means of proffering acceptable steps to end fuel subsidy.

Johnson called on the government to be practical towards the implementation of the Guidelines on Contract and Casual Staffing in the Oil and Gas Industry so as to ensure that Managements treat all employees equally, irrespective of whether they are casual, contract or permanent employment system.

While stressing the need for managements to implement th decent work agenda, the PENGASSAN president said it was very imperative for them to work as a team to enable them tackle most of the industry and labour relations challenges confronting them as a trade union and citizens of the country.

NLC demands probe of N25bn TSA consultancy deal The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), on Thursday, called on President Mohammadu Buhari to probe the alleged N25 billion consultancy fee on the Single Treasury Account (TSA).

NLC President Ayuba Wabba said President Buhari should clarify the issue and clear air on the issue.

He was speaking during a public lecture on: “Cost of governance with the special focus on the National Assembly.”

According to him, it is only the probing of the alleged deal that would retain the public confidence on the anti-corruption mantra of the present administration.

On assumption of office as the President of Nigeria on May 29, 2015, President Buhari had directed that all Ministry Departments and Agencies (MDAs) should maintain a single account to enable the government track its expenses with a view to checking corruption.

However, the TSA system was plagued by controversy as Remita, an e-collection agent

was said to allegedly collect N25 billion in a day from the Federal Government as one per cent of funds earned through the process.

The revelation has triggered a chain of reactions from the general public and has also prompted the Senate to direct the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and the Federal Ministry of Finance to suspend further implementation of the policy of TSA. Wabba, who frowned on the scandal trailing the TSA, said the N25 billion allegedly paid to the consultancy firm could have been ploughed back into the system to develop the economy.

He said: “We want to call on President Mohammadu Buhari to look into the alleged deal. The money said to have been paid to the consultancy firm could have been used to develop the economy. The change we want is to have food on our tables, not money in the hands of a few.”

On the significance of the lecture which was delivered by the Lead Director, Centre

for Social Justice, Barrister Eze Onyekpere, the NLC boss noted that it was meant to interrogate policies of government with a view to offering useful suggestions for rapid socio-economic development.

According to him, the twin issues affecting the nation’s economy are lack of good governance and corruption, adding that the country will continue to grapple with development issues until the two are gotten right.

He, however, noted that, in addressing that, government must ensure fairness and equity.

In his presentation, Onyekpere, highlighted in graphic details, how emoluments payable to the Nigerian legislators must be reviewed downward.

The civil rights activist who drew example from other nations like South Africa, United States and other jurisdictions, alleged undue connivance between the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and fiscal Commission(RMAFC) and members of National Assembly in fixing their salaries and emoluments.

NLC President, Ayuba Wabba

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Monday, 16 November, 2015 Group Politics Editor Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 tai_adis@yahoo.com

Mimiko

Secondus

Rebranding: How far can PDP go?

LEON USIGBE reports on the special national conference organised by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), as it seeks a quick way to return to power.

party’s founding members, past and present leadership, serving and former elected officers under the party and ordinary members.

It would appear that the organisers of the event underestimated the interest party members had in the conference and so, neglected to provide a much bigger venue for

HE ruling All Progressives Congress (PDP) does not spare a chance to portray the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as dead but if there is any evidence that this assertion is far from the truth, it is in the former ruling party’s special National Conference convened in Abuja on last Thursday with the theme: PDP and sustainable democratic ideals in Nigeria to forge a viable way forward towards a return to power in 2019 after a crushing defeat by the APC. ThisDay Dome, the venue of the meeting, was filled to capacity with the

Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the PDP as a credible alternative, having seen that the APC does not have the capacity to drive development or the temperament to sustain the unity of a multi-ethnic Nigeria.

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the attendees. But all those who managed to get in despite the tight screening process, showed high level of enthusiasm, faith and conviction in the quick return to power by the opposition which still prides itself as the largest political party in the country.

There was dancing, singing and gyrating

especially among the throng of women at the occasion. The party was keen to show that it remains largely intact in spite of its fall from grace to grass and amply demonstrated this by calling out, for the whole nation to see, it’s serving and past governors, it’s serving and former members of the National Assembly, leadership of the state assemblies it controls among others. They came out in great numbers.

The character demonstrated was a far cry from the party members’ disposition soon after the election loss when there was despondency, blame game and mass defection. On that day, members were bold, energised by the seeming inability of the APC to hit the ground running. This was the theme that ran through the rallying speeches delivered by most of the speakers.

The acting national chairman of the party, continues pg32

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politics&policy

Akpabio

Monday, 16 November, 2015

Ekweremadu

Ogor

Charting a way to 2019 continued from pg31

Prince Uche Secondus, led the way, pounding President Muhammadu and his APC for their failure to deliver on their promises to the electorate. He pointed out that Nigerians are eagerly waiting for the PDP as a credible alternative, having seen that the APC does not have the capacity to drive development or the temperament to sustain the unity of a multi-ethnic Nigeria. He told the party faithful that the APC is more interested in scuttling the rights of opposition members rather than focusing on strengthening the economy and infrastructure development.

He highlighted perceived APC’s interferences in the judicial processes which he said had led to the unjustifiable judgments at the lower courts in the Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Taraba states post-election petitions; the virtual degeneration of Nigeria into a police state exemplified in the invasion of AkwaIbom government house by security agents and the flagrant abuse of the fundamental rights of members of the opposition as well as the obvious selective implementation of the ordinarily well received anti-corruption fight.

Secondus warned: “APC must put a stop to these indiscretions in the interest of the survival of our hard-won democracy. Enough is enough! Let it be clear that the people of Nigeria and PDP members would stand resolutely against any attempt to constrain our cherished freedoms under the rule of law.”

Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, put aside his camaraderie with APC members in the upper chamber to take a dig at the party for its perceived complete lack of direction since assuming power. He argued that while a party may ride to power on the wings of propaganda, it takes more than propaganda to govern well and retain goodwill. Ekweremadu averred that the APC won by promising much more than they could deliver, hoping to deliver less. “Unfortunately, the chicken has come home to roost sooner than anticipated. No campaign

promise, I repeat, no promise made by the present APC administration has been kept.”

He went further to give a breakdown of the ruling party’s perceived failures and put the questions to his audience who responded with responding “no.” Said Ekweremadu: “They promised to scale up the exchange rate of our currency to a Naira to one US Dollar, have they kept this promise? They promised to bring back the Chibok girls in three months. Have they brought back the Chibok girls? They promised to pay N5, 000 to 25 million unemployed youths. Have they paid a kobo to any youth? They promised free meals to our children in the schools.

Have they given any? They recently promised to end the Boko Haram insurgency in December 2015. We earnestly hope and pray that this particular promise is kept in the overall interest of our nation.”

Among others who spoke in same vein were the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum, Olusegun Mimiko; acting chairman of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the PDP, Dr Haliru Bello Mohammed; Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio and House Minority Leader, Leo Ogor before different resource persons delivered papers on theme of the conference. In the end, the participants resolved to condemn what they observed as the descent into authoritarianism by the APC Federal Government, the diminishing quality of governance under “the increasingly fascist APC regime.” It resolved that PDP at all levels shall continue

to ensure credible, robust and issue-based opposition, while promoting harmonious relationship among all people and ensuring that citizens’ confidence in democracy does not wane.

A communique issued at he end of the meeting signed by the National Secretary of the party, Professor Wale Oladipo, condemned in strongest terms “the growing authoritarianism of the APC-led Federal Government which has been characterised by gross violation of human rights, constitutional infractions, invasion of a governor’s lodge and private homes, deliberate interference and instigation of crisis in the legislature, arm-twisting of the judiciary, undermining of democratic institutions like INEC, nepotism in appointments, abuse of power and clamp down on opposition elements.”

The PDP called on the international community to note the “growing impunity, abuse of power, constitution infractions, violation of human rights, selective war against corruption, clamp down on the opposition, divisiveness and overall high-handedness; tendencies that pose great threat to our democracy and unity as a nation.”

The conference resolved to denounce “the prevailing selective application in the fight against corruption targeted at opposition elements and perceived opponents of the regime, while APC members with corruption charges are being rewarded with ministerial positions and other juicy appointments

PDP at all levels shall continue to ensure credible, robust and issue-based opposition, while promoting harmonious relationship among all people and ensuring that citizens’ confidence in democracy does not wane.

as well as APC tickets in the forthcoming governorship elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states.” It also noted the sudden decline in the economy and quality of life of Nigerians, occasioned by what it said was the lack of direction of the APC government, in addition to the growing tension and rancour in the polity as direct consequences of the divisive tendencies of the present administration.

The communique further showed that the conference “vehemently rejected the current manipulation of the judiciary and security forces by the APC-led Federal Government in its desperate bid to subvert the sovereign will of the people and forcefully take over states genuinely won by the PDP in the last general elections and ultimately impose a one-party state in Nigeria.”

It “charged the new INEC leadership to assert the independence of the electoral body, resist all external influences and ensure free, fair and credible electoral process in Kogi and Bayelsa states and other future elections, as the PDP will not accept any results that do not reflect the true wishes and aspirations of the people, particularly in Kogi and Bayelsa states.”

Conscious of the imperative of a quick PDP rebound, the conference called for the immediate implementation of the recommendations of the PDP post-Election Review Committee Report, especially those relating to zoning, internal democracy, e-registration and the restructuring of the party at all levels with a view to giving the Party back to the rightful owners - the people. It resolved to further expand the inclusion and the role of youths in the party programmes and policies, and take steps to guarantee representation in Party organs, develop roadmap for vibrant youth participation and support concession for electoral contests.

With the conference done and dusted, the PDP is now shifting its focus to its National Convention slated for March next year, and has already begun the process of mobilising its organs at all levels towards the exercise.

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news

Monday, 16 November, 2015

Jonathan’s only error was not sacking Jega —Okupe

F

ORMER spokesperson to ex-President Goodluck Jonathan, Doyin Okupe, on Sunday, reacted to claims

by Chairman of DAAR Communications (AIT), Chief Raymond Dokpesi, that the candidacy of Jonathan was

in error.

Okupe, who took to his Facebook page to react, affirmed that the decision by then ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pick his ex-boss was in order, stating, however, that the only error by the PDP ad-

ministration was its failure to sack the immediate-past Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, despite his alleged political leaning.

Okupe said: “The impression created in the media re-

MASSOB, IPOB blast Mbaka over comments on pro-Biafra agitation A faction of the Movement for the Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), at the weekend, lashed out on Enugu Catholic Priest, Reverend Fr. Ejike Mbaka, describing his comment on the struggle for Biafra as insensitive and unguided.

Mbaka had, during last Saturday sermon at his Adoration Ministry, condemned the recent agitation and protests for Biafra nation, describing the action as ‘evil.’

Apparently infuriated at the fiery clergyman’s comment, Director of Information, Factional MASSOB, Mr Uchenna Madu, regretted that Mbaka’s condemnation of Biafra struggle is, “selfish and shameful.

How can a revered Igbo clergyman descend so low

in making such a condemnable statement few days after President Buhari’s wife visited him.

“Mr President should be aware that no money given to Mbaka, persuasion, personal friendship with him can ever frustrate or diminish the rising status, consciousness and global reawakening/acceptance of

Biafra. A man who speaks with both sides of the mouth at a time is a hypocrite and is not worth to be trusted. The Igbo Christians, Catholics and even the Pope will prove Mbaka wrong. Many Igbo clergymen including the Catholic priests are not in support of Mbaka’s government paid anti-Biafran comment.”

cently that the candidacy of Goodluck Jonathan was an error is itself a grand fallacy which totally undermined the whole truth about the sanctity and correctness of the wisdom of the PDP National Executive Committee which made and ratified that decision.

“All over the world, when an incumbent signifies intention for a second term, it is customary that the established machinery of the party wholly backs and gratifies

state at a stakeholders meeting in Lagos on Sunday, Mimiko said contractors have been mobilised to ensure completion of the ObaIle-Airport dual carriageway within the next three months, adding that another road linking the recently opened Akure Shopping Mall, on the Secretariat-Igbatoro Road, is being dual-

vantage of the PDP presidential candidate.

“The third error of the PDP was to have fielded a good, God-fearing and patriotic man who in spite of his enormous power, the avalanche of deployable arsenal of war at his disposal, transformed himself to be the victim and refused to fight so that his countrymen may live and his nation survived. The situation in Burundi today is highly instructive.”

Shittu unites Oyo politicians, rallies support for Buhari

By Tunde Ogunesan

POLITICIANS of various persuasions in Oyo State were united last weekend by the Minister of Communications, Mr Adebayo Shittu, at a grand recep-

Mimiko to fix bad FG roads, claims N7bn debt THE Ondo State governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko, at the weekend promised to put up palliative measures to ease vehicular movement on the traumatic Akure-Ado Ekiti federal road, even as he mentioned that the state is being owed about N7billion expended on federal roads.

Commenting on the state of infrastructures in the

such intentions.

“If any error was made, it was firstly the failure of the PDP administration to sack the unfair and compromised electoral officer who was allowed to conduct the election in spite of his obvious and profuse partisanship.

“The second error was the inexplicable acquiescence of the PDP government to the use of the infamous card reader which was skilfully manipulated to the disad-

ised from the Iyeomo Plaza Road end of the capital city, through Parliament HotelArcade Road, to the Mall where the popular Shoprite store is also located.

Mimiko said already, the state’s Asphalt Company has completed the drainage building on the road and should commence Asphalt laying this week.

tion organised for him by committee of friends.

The ceremony, which was graced by the cream la cream of politicians in the state, was held in Ibadan.

Top politicians from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Accord, Labour and the All Progressives Congress (APC) and other political parties including Governor Abiola Ajimobi and his deputy, Chief Moses Adeyemo attended the reception.

Speaking at the occasion, Governor Ajimobi lauded President Buhari for appointing Shittu, describing the minister as his true friend.

The governor assured the

minister that the state government would work with him to bring democratic dividends to the state.

He urged members of the party to close ranks in order to lift it and the state to greater heights.

In his response, Shittu thanked the people of the state for their tremendous support and prayers over the years.

He assured that his ministry would revolutionise the telecoms sector and make it a cash cow for the country.

Shittu enjoined Nigerians of all political, social, economic shades to cooperate and avoid acts capable of causing crisis in the country.

news Ladoja files appeal notice, wants tribunal judgment set aside 37

By Dare Adekanmbi

A

ccord Party governorship candidate in the April 11 election in Oyo State, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, on Friday, filed an appeal against the judgment of the Justice Aliyu Mayaki-led Governorship Election Petition Tribunal.

Justice Mayaki had on October 27, dismissed Ladoja’s petition on the grounds that his principal witness, Mr Bimbo Adepoju, who presented a substantial part of evidence the petitioners hinged their case on is not an expert but a farmer and held that his testimonies could not be relied upon.

It will be recalled that Mayaki had earlier ruled in favour, of the petitioners during the pre-hearing stage, when the issue of Mr Bimbo Adepoju’s suitability to be a witness was raised by the respondents.

The tribunal had ruled that Adepoju was suitable to be a witness as the relevant laws did not state who or what manner of qualification a witness should possess.

Monday, 16 November, 2015

In the notice of appeal filed by Ladoja on Friday, the former governor of Oyo State is asking the Ap-

pellate Court to determine if the tribunal could overrule itself, among other prayers.

Ladoja, according to his media aide, Alhaji Lanre Latinwo, has enlisted the services of Chief Robert

From left, Speaker, Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly, Honourable Aniekqn Uko; Senate Minority Leader, Senator Godswill Akpabio; Senator Bassey Albert and the state chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Paul Ekpo, during a visit by the state lawmakers to Senator Akpabio, in Abuja, at the weekend.

Nigerian scholar solves 156-yr-old maths equation in Austria Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti A Nigerian scholar, Dr Enoch Opeyemi Oluwole, who teaches at the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE) ,has successfully resolved a 156-year-old Riemann Hypothesis, seen by scholars as “the most important problem in Math-

ematics.”

By providing a proof, Oluwole has thus, become the fourth egghead to resolve one of the seven Millennium Problems in Mathematics.

A statement in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital ,on Sunday, said the don’s presentation of the proof on November 11, 2015, during

the International Conference on Mathematics and Computer Science in Vienna, Austria “becomes more symbolic coming on the exact day and month 156 years after the problem was delivered by a German Mathematician in 1859.”

The Riemann Zeta Hypothesis is one of the seven

Acf youths angry with FG over Dasuki’s ordeal MuhammadSabiu-Kaduna The youth wing of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has expressed concern over the continued occupation of the Abuja home of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd), by the operatives of the Department of State Security (DSS).

Addressing newsmen in Kaduna, at the weekend, the national president of the forum, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said the act amount to ‘impunity’ on the part of the Federal Government.

Shettima threatened to mobilise Nigerians against what he described as the President Muhammadu Buhari’s dictatorial tendency, if not quickly checked.

The ACF youth leader called on the Federal Government to respect the ruling of a Federal High Court on the matter and immediately ask the operatives of the DSS to vacate the former NSA’s home.

He said, “We are saddened by the handling of the case of the former NSA because so many gaps can be seen in all the attempts to justify why such a high profile Nigerian should be treated the way he has been treated by

Clarke whom he described as being versed in constitutional law to join hands with his team of lawyers.

this country. This is the first time an intelligence service official would be so treated.

“Indeed, a recent court order granted the man the permit to go for medical attention, only for the DSS to overrule it.

"There is no convincing justification why the DSS should ignore an order granted by a court of competent jurisdiction.

“On no account should the former NSA’s right as protected by a court in the land be trampled upon. This is

taking us back to the dark days of military dictatorship and it is unfortunate.

“It is sad that the DSS offered explanation to its actions against Dasuki only when public outcry became louder.

“This Gestapo style is unacceptable under a democratic atmosphere. We view the action of the DSS with shock and surprise, considering the fact that rule of law is a pillar of any meaningful change. It will be suicidal to allow Nigeria to drift into a

one-party state.

“Much as President Buhari in particular and the administration in general, would want to sanction anyone for any wrongdoing, it should be seen to doing so in a civilised manner, free of any tendency towards partisanship.

“Even if it is a coincidence, the continuous arrest of people from one and the same political party is a bad coincidence that creates a wrong impression," he said.

...women group vows to drag FG, DSS to A political pressure group of women in Sokoto State under the aegis of the association of Sokoto State Women in Politics (SSAWP), has vowed to take the Federal Government and the Department of State Service (DSS), to court in order to compel them to allow for the freedom of former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Sambo Dasuki (retd).

Hajiya Kulu Abdullahi Rabah, the national co-ordinator of the association stated this in Sokoto, while addressing women group in her office.

Hajiya Kulu said Dasuki was legally allowed to travel by a competent court of law that granted him leave to travel abroad for medical treatment. Therefore, it is wrong for the operatives of DSS to disrupt his peace and confine him into house arrest without following same due process and rule of law.

This action of the DSS has shown that President Muhammadu Buhari's fight against injustice is selective and DSS are becoming tool of intimidation against those who are believed to be in opposition or perceived enemies of the cur-

rent government without respect of law of the land,” she said.

While condemning the DSS action on the encroachment of Dasuki's fundamental rights, she promised to lead other women in the state to demand justice against such action.

“For every and any mistake made by the DSS, President Buhari should be held responsible and must account for this before the Almighty Allah, as he promised to protect every citizen of this country without political affiliation, affection or ill-will,” she said.

millennium problems set forth by the Clay Mathematics Institute with a million Dollar reward for each solved problem for the past 16 years.

“Dr Enoch first investigated and then established the claims of Riemann. He went on to consider and to correct the misconceptions that were communicated by Mathematicians in the past generations, thus paving the way for his solutions and proofs to be established.

“He also showed how other problems of this kind can be formulated and obtained the matrix that Hilbert and Poly predicted will give these undiscovered solutions. He revealed how these solutions are applicable in cryptography, quantum information science and in quantum computers,” the statement explained.

Three of the problems had been solved and the prizes given to the winners. This makes it the fourth to be solved of all the seven problems.

The Kogi State-born scholar had, before now, worked on mathematical models and structures for generating electricity from sound, thunder and Oceanic bodies.

The Mathematician previously designed a prototype of a silo for peasant farmers and also discovered a scientific technique for detecting and tracking someone on an evil mission.

Oluwole has succeeded in inventing methods by which oil pipelines can be protected from vandalism and he is currently working on Mathematical approaches to climate change.

Panel on civil unrest at Lekki free trade zone begins sitting YejideGbenga-Ogundare The panel of inquiry put in place to investigate the causes for the civil disturbances that erupted in the Lekki free trade zone on October 12, will today commence sitting.

The five -man tribunal of inquiry which was constituted by the Lagos State government over the civil disturbance, was sworn in on October 22, by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode.

Ambode, while inaugurating the tribunal at the Lagos House, Alausa, said it had become necessary to investigate the remote cause of the unrest with a view to forestalling future recurrence.

The terms of reference of the tribunal include, to find the remote and immediate causes of the disturbance and to inquire into all incidental matters that might have led to the said public disorder.

Other references are to proffer solution that will forestall a reoccurrence of such public disorder in the area and other parts of the state and made necessary recommendations, among others.

The inaugural sitting of the tribunal under the chairmanship of Justice Adesuyi Olateru-Olagbegi, is scheduled for this morning at the law Reform Commission, Ikeja, at 10am.

Ogboru heads for Appeal Court over tribunal judgment EbenezerAdurokiya-Warri Labour Party (LP) and its governorship candidate in the April 11 governorship election in Delta State, Chief Great Ogboru, have headed for the Court of Appeal in Benin to challenge the verdict of the Justice N.U. Gummi-led Governorship Election Tribunal which upheld the victory of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP.) It will be recalled that the Justice Gummi-led Governorship Election Tribunal on October 26, upheld the election of Senator Ifeanyi Okowa as governor of Delta State.

But Ogboru and his party are now challenging the decision of the tribunal containing adverse determination against the petitioner and the tribunal’s failure to determine some issues submitted by the petitioner.

38 CHANGE OF NAME

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I, Abdulsemiu Abdulakeem am the same person as Abdulsemiu Abdulyekini. Henceforth, I want to be known and addressed as ABDULSEMIU ABDULAKEEM. All former documents remain valid.

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I, Hassan Muslim Adebayo am the same person as Sanni Muslim Adebayo now wish to be known and addressed as HASSAN MUSLIM ADEBAYO. All former documents bearing Sanni Muslim Adebayo and Hassan Muslim Adebayo remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Ayoola Victoria Omolara now MRS. FALADE VICTORIA OMOLARA. All former documents remain valid.

Oyo State Local Government Service Commission and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Gbolahan Nihinlola Iyabo now MRS OKANLAWON NIHINLOLA IYABO. All former documents remain valid. Oyo State Teaching Service Commission and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adenipekun Rachel Oluwaseun now MRS ODETOLA RACHEL OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ezekiel Oluwaseun Babalola now PASTOR BABALOLA EZEKIEL OLUWAMUYIDE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Baderinwa Sadiat Adebunmi now MRS. OGUNGBADE SADIAT ADEBUNMI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Balogun Ajara now RASAKI AJARAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Liadi Mujidat now MRS OLUWASESIN OLUWASEEKE MARY. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Afolabi Elizabeth Oluwatoyin now MRS JOB ELIZABETH OLUWATOYIN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Chenemi Veronica Daniel Matthew now MRS CHENEMI VERONICA ACHEMU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Saheed Fatimah Aderonke now MRS. AKEEM FATIMAH ADERONKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Olawale Abass Ayodeji now ADEWALE ABASS AYODEJI. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank, Access Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Moyinwin Olufunke Abiodun now MRS. OYEDEMI OLUWAFUNKE ABIODUN. All former documents remain valid. Customary Court of Appeal, Osogbo, Osun State and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Emmanuel Issac Sunday now KEFAS PETER. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Nuhu Aminchi Faith now SAMAILA YAKUB. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Woleola Mutiyat now MRS OWABOYE MUTIYAT TENIOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Olaore Foluke Deborah now MRS. AMOS FOLUKE DEBORAH. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Mr Ajayi Benjamin Adefisayo now MR. AJAYI BASHIR ADEBIODUN. All former documents remain valid. Skye Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Adejumo Yinka Samuel now ADEAYO SAMUEL YINKA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Nwankwo Mary now MRS. GODWIN FLORENCE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Miss Alao Victoria Motunrayo now MRS. AKINTIMEHIN VICTORIA MOTUNRAYO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss OgunfowokanBadejo Janet Oluwaseun now MRS. MAKINDE JANET OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Kalejaye Olayinka Abisola now MRS. ODEWADE OLAYINKA ABISOLA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Grace Otsanya Sunday now MRS. OGENYI GRACE OTSANYA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Mr. Abimbola Ismaila Olowokere now MR TIAMIYU ISMAILA. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly Yaknan Nansok now FREEDOM MOSES. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc, Stanbic Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ajayi Bola now MRS. ADARA BOLA CHRISTIANA. All former documents remain valid.

Diamond Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ejiro Okorare now MRS. EJIRO OBIRENFOJU. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Inogbode Moses and Inagbode Moses now AZEBEOKHA MOSES. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ojo Samuel Kure Ajalojuona now OJO SAMUEL KURE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Omale Odike Michael now IGOMU MATTHIAS ODIKE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Ogunlade Lucia Omodunbi now MRS. GBADAMOSI LUCIA OMODUNBI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Useen Aminat Olakeu am the same person bearing Useeni Aminat Abolore now wish to be known and addressed as USEEN AMINAT OLAKEU. All former documents remains valid. First Bank Plc., Access Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Jimoh Fasilat Titilope now MRS. LAWAL FASILAT TITILOPE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, Ganiyu Folarin Mutiu am the same person bearing GANIYU-ADENIJI FOLARIN MUTIU. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Durojaye Iyabode Abosede now MRS. OLAFIRANYE IYABODE ABOSEDE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Christian Okwoli now MR. CHRISTIAN WILFRED OGBOJI. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Awolade Adeola Abolanle now MISS AWOLADE ADEOLA OLUWATOLA ABOLANLE. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

ESO: I, formerly Miss Eso Funmilola Olayinka now MRS. ABEREOLA FUNMILOLA OLAYINKA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oladejo Abosede Folasade now MRS. AKINBO ABOSEDE FOLASADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Ode Joy Temisanren now TEMISANREN JOY AGHOGHO. All former documents remain valid.

General public please take note.

I, formerly Miss Ibraheem Ganiyat Adenike now MRS. GANIYAT ADENIKE OLAGUNJU. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Ikeh Ikponmwosa Ifueko now MISS OGBEIWI IKPONMWOSA IFUEKO. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Adeoti Bukola Sherifat now MRS. ADEBUKOLA IBIRONKE OGUNDEJI. All former documents remain valid.

NYSC and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Jessica Adaobi Odig now MRS. JESSICA ODIGS YORKE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Kareem Adewumi Nurudeen now MR. KAREEM NURUDEEN ADEWUMI BAYO. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Miss Hammed Mercy Omoshalewa now MRS. OKAZA MERCY OMOSHALEWA. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Thikan Nice Enaikpor am the same person as Godwin Perewari,Thikan Enaikpor Perewari Thikan Enaikpor Nice, now wish to be called and addressed as THIKAN NICE ENAIKPOR. All former documents remains valid. General public take note

CHANGE OF NAME

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

I, formerly Abdsalami, Hadi Alabi now SULAIMON, HADI ALABI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Mrs. Oladeji Mary Folasade now MRS. JAYEOLA OLUFUNKE FOLASADE NORAH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Wale Blessing Osato now MRS ADEYINKA BLESSING OSATUA. All former documents remain valid. Access Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Aremu Sanya Seun now AREMU GABRIEL OLUWASEUN. All former documents remain valid.

EcoBank Plc., and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adabale Olanike Elizabeth now MRS. OLUWOLE OLANIKE ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Nwatuchukwu Christian Nwatuchukwu now MR. CHUKWU IKENNA CHRISTIAN. All former documents remain valid. UBA and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ifagbade Ifayemisi Amosun now IFAGBADE AMOLE AMOSUN. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Helen Okon now HELEN OKERE. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Oke Oluwakemi Oke now MRS. ODEKU OLUWAKEMI OKE. All former documents remain valid. NYSC and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Ozurigbo Anayo now wish to be known and addressed as KANDU ANAYO. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank of Nigeria Plc., and general public take note.

I, formerly Mr. Olasupo Samson Alawe now MR. OLASUPO SAMSON AYODEJI. All former documents remain valid.

Zenith Bank and general public take note.

I, formerly Adewale Dayo Zacheus now ADEWALE DAYO MERCY. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

I, formerly Miss Obinuga Adesola Olufunmi Temitope now MRS OLABOADE ADESOLA OLUFUNMI TEMITOPE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CONFIRMATION OF NAME

I, Grace Ebunoluwa Osiako am the same person as Grace Ebunoluwa Oloye Osiako. Now I wish to be known, called and addressed as GRACE EBUNOLUWA OLOYE OSIAKO. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Adesoji Florence Faramade now MRS. ELUGOKE FLORENCE FARAMADE. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Stephen Thaddeus now THADDEUS YOUMENE STEPHEN. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Oguntola Olutundun Elizabeth now MRS. SAMUEL OLUTUNDUN ELIZABETH. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Oladimeji Taiwo Ayomiku Esther now OGUNTOYINBO AYOMIKU TAIWO ESTHER. All former documents remain valid. GT Bank and general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I, formerly Miss Busari Oluwatoyin Amudat now MRS. LAWAL OLUWATOYIN AMUDAT. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

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Monday, 16 November, 2015

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Monday, 16 November, 2015

42

news

Monday, 16 November, 2015

Nigerian Tribune

Ekiti LG polls will hold, Fayose insists Sam Nwaoko- Ado Ekiti

Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State has stated that a boycott of the coming local government elections in the state by opposition political parties would not stop the state from doing what’s necessary at that level of government.

Governor Fayose, who spoke on Sunday, at an interdenominational service to mark his 55th birthday, stressed the need for the country to have “a virile and functional local government system,” and reiterated the determination of his administration to conduct local government election in the state.

He said: “Not everybody can come to Ado-Ekiti to see the governor, but people at local level can readily relate with council bosses. Moreover, the state cannot do all things, it is the local government that will complement that.

“We are therefore committed to a virile local government system and we are going to hold local government elections in this state by December 19 this year by the grace of God. “If it is only one political party that is ready to take part in the poll, no problem.

Boycotting election has never been used to annul elections in the country.”

The state’s Independent

No more impunity in police, IG warns Chris Agbambu – Abuja

Following complaints by members of the public on professional misconducts of police officers, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has warned that such absence of ethical standards would no longer be tolerated.

He lamented that the issues have been of serious concern to successive leadership of the force.

Arase, who spoke at the launch of critical components of modern policing in Abuja, noted that the issue of professional misconduct has constituted sources of civil litigations against the police.

According to him, it was often a source of worry as to why the force, constitutionally empowered to protect lives and property of citizens, would become uncivil to the same citizens by their actions.

The IGP stated that the leadership was convinced that it was high time the force broke away from the past.

Electoral Commission (EKSIEC) had slated the elections for December 19, 2015, while nomination forms have been sold to interested candidates for councillorship and chairmanship positions.

The opposition All Progressives Congress

(APC) in the state did not buy the nomination forms, while it has also gone to court to challenge the composition of the EKSIEC, claiming that members of the electoral body were cardcarrying members of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Buhari has constituted team of technocrats as ministers —Hon Lasun Yusuf Oluwole Ige- Osogbo

Deputy Speaker, The House of Representatives, Honourable Sulaiman Lasun Yussuf, over the weekend, commended President Muhammadu Buhari over the choice of his ministers, saying he had constituted a team of technocrats.

He made the commendation during an interview at the 23rd Ilobu Day celebration in Ilobu, Irepodun Local Government Area of Osun State.

Describing the team of Buhari’s cabinet as the best ever in the democratic history of Nigeria, Yussuf said the President had made a right choice of combining wider brains of erudite scholars of various disciplines to head the nation’s ministries.

According to Yussuf, “I have been in Nigeria quite a number of years and I have never witnessed a painstakingly and meticulously selected team of technocrats as ministers like that of the Buhari’s cabinet.”

“For the first time in the history of Nigeria,

government is putting together a team of technocrats who have been tested and entrusted as ministers, there is no doubt that truly, they are symbols of true ‘change’.

“President Muhamadu Buhari has truly shown to Nigerians his high level of competency, proficiency, transparency and honesty, with the combination of calibre of people who made up his cabinet because they are people of unquestionable character, people of high profile and undoubted integrity and accountability.

“We already have a team that is going to implement the real change that the current government of All Progressives Congress brought to Nigeria and Nigerians.”

“This is a period of genuine change’ where government will be able to aggregate its revenue in a manner that will show what we actually are as a nation because what we have been having with the past government, was that we have never been made to know our worth as an autonomous nation.

Osun won’t scrap any tertiary institution –Dep Gov GOVERNMENT of Osun State has again debunked the rumours of the alleged plan to scrap some of the tertiary institutions in the state.

The deputy governor, Mrs Titilayo Laoye-Tomori, stated this recently, while briefing members of the State House of Assembly Committee on Education over the development in the education sector.

She said the government has advised the institutions to harmonise some of the courses in the state owned tertiary institutions to avoid duplication of courses and ensure that graduates of the institutions acquire appropriate skills that can make them self sustaining after their education.

“The government

has directed the forum of Chairmen of the Governing Board of the institutions to review their programmes and come up with a Position Paper on how to make our students job creators instead of job seekers after graduation.

We want our Polytechnics to run courses that would meet the need of the nation and make the graduates self reliant.

“Towards this end, the government has directed all the tertiary institutions to devote 50 per cent of their admission quota to their main programmes, 25 per cent should be devoted to Remedial Programmes to cater for the teeming youths that could not gain admission to any tertiary institution.

news Probe corruption, rot in NTI, facilitators urge FG, ICPC 43

Clement Idoko-Abuja

S

OME lecturers, otherwise known as Facilitators at the National Teachers Institute (NTI), Kaduna, has urged President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently institute probe into the management of the institute over alleged “corruption and deep rot” in the system.

They also asked the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), to invite the Director-General of NTI, Aminu Ladan Sharehu for questioning over underhand dealings.

The aggrieved lecturers told the Nigerian Tribune, at the weekend in Abuja, that the DG had allegedly diverted monies meant for the payment of facilitators to his private use, resulting in backlog of arrears of facilitators’ fees, project supervision and teaching practice fees.

According to them, the project supervision fee, that

Monday, 16 November, 2015

each postgraduate student is charged N10,000.00 and paid at the point of entry, had been paid to the supervisors for the last academic session with fresh project supervision already commenced.

“We have commenced the project supervision for 2015.

The project supervision fee for last year has not been paid to us. The project supervision fee we are talking about was for 2014 academic session that the students have since graduated.

“This money runs into millions of naira collected from

students nationwide. On the average, each supervisor, oversees project works of about 50 students. The irony is that students had paid for the project supervision at the point of entry, a year ago,” the facilitators said.

Efforts to speak with the NTI DG proved abortive, but the Public Relations Officer of the Institute, Mr Abdullahi Jubrin, when contacted, said the Treasury Single Account (TSA) introduced by the Federal Government was responsible for the delay in payment of entitlements to the facilitators.

The Facilitators, further disclosed that their Facilitators’ fees for the First Semester contact with students had not been paid, adding that the second semester was already coming to an end without hope for the settlement.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the facilitators were shortchanged by the NTI management in the payment of Facilitators’ fees for last academic year (2014), which was paid this year.

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the institute, Abdullahi Jubrin, responding to some of the

allegations in an electronic mail explained that the delay sometimes in payment to Facilitators was when the management had to wait for the central database.

“Data for the payment of the 2014 project was received about two months ago from the state office and preparation and arrangement for the payment have already been made and approved by the management but was slowed down by the issue of Treasury Single Account (TSA) otherwise the payment would have been effected long ago,” he said.

FUTA holds convocation Saturday Hakeem Gbadamosi-Akure THE Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) has disclosed that about 4,332 students of the institution will graduate, during the 27th convocation ceremony of the school, noting that a total of 6088 students of the institution will be awarded various certificates during the forthcoming convocation ceremony of the school.

The chairman of the ceremonials committee of the convocation, Professor James Okunlola, who made the disclosure during a press briefing heralding the ceremony, said the university would confer honorary doctorate degree in Management Technology on former vice president, Dr Alex Ekwueme and the Emir of Bauchi, His Royal Highness, Dr Rilwan Suleiman Adamu the university Chancellor.

Okunlola while giving a breakdown of the graduands, said 2675 would be awarded with bachelors degree, 875 with PostGraduate Diploma, 709 with master’s degree and seven Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D) degree.

He explained further that about 28 students bagged First Class from the various departments of the institution, while 807 graduated with Second Class Upper, 1329 with Second Class Lower while 429 finished with Third Class.

From left, Ondo State Head of Service, Mr Toyin Akinkuotu; Chaplain, Reverend Fr. Valentine Omolakin; Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), Professor Adebiyi Daramola, his wife, Cecilia, during the 27th convocation ceremony of FUTA, at St Albert Chapel of Faith, on Sunday.

Lagos to complete Okokomaiko-Marina light rail 2016 Akin Adewakun - Lagos LAGOS State governor, Akinwumi Ambode has assured residents of the state of its government’s resolve to complete and deliver the light rail mass transit system from Okokomaiko to Marina in December next year.

The Governor, who gave this assurance at the closing ceremony of the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair on Sunday, said the rail project was not geared towards improving the transportation situation within the state alone, but also to facilitate business by ensuring free movement of people and goods across the state.

He also stated that the state government had stepped up security in the state by ensuring that various security agencies in the state were well-equipped to enhance their capacities to protect all residents and businesses in the state.

This was just as he added that the state government would constantly engage the Organised Private Sector (OPS), through the La-

gos State Corporate Assembly under which the issues and challenges faced by the business community would be solved in the best interest of the stakeholders.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG),Tunji Bello, noted that while the Nigerian economy had been identified as one of the emerging markets in Africa, Lagos State holds the

key to the country’s emergence as a major trade and investment destination.

He said that the state with a population of 21 million people, accounted for over 65 per cent of the nation’s non-oil Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and over 60 per cent of the country’s value added manufacturing.

“Lagos is the industrial, financial, telecommunications, transportation and

commercial hub of the country occupying a strategic position in the nation’s economic development,” he said.

Akinwumi, who also harped on the desire of the investors for a business friendly environment, said that the state had demonstrated the will and commitment to address the concerns in a bid to enhance the global competitiveness of the nation’s economy.

Melinda Gates, Michelle Obama, Dabiri-Erewa, Ezekwesili listed among most influential women OBY Ezekwesili, former education minister and a coordinator of the #BringBackOurGirls campaign and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, a three-term member of the House of Representatives, have been listed among the top 250 most influential women in the world.

The list of influential women, as provided by Richtopia.com, also included wife of the United States President, Michelle Obama; a presidential can-

didate of the US and wife of a former president, Hilary Clinton; Oprah Winfrey, Melinda Gates, JK Rowling, among others.

The list is an automatic algorithm based on social media influence. Richtopia.com takes into account various metrics from Twitter, Facebook, Wikipedia, Youtube, LinkedIn and Instagram.

Reacting to the list, Ezekwesili, through her Twitter handle @obyezeks,

thanked Richtopia.com for a job well done.

Dabiri-Erewa, a renowned journalist and philanthropist, was happy and surprised over her nomination.

Speaking through her Twitter handle, @abikedabiri, said “thank you all for your kind words. Honoured to be so listed.” #BringBackOurGirls chief campaigner was praised for raising awareness about the abducted Chibok girls.

Foundation, NACTOMORAS commences ‘ember’ months programme AS part of its policies to eradicate the increasing rate of road accidents and immoralities among riders, a non-governmental organisation, Globastorm Safety Foundation (GSAFO) in collaboration with the National Commercial Tricycle/Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NACTOMORAS) has commenced an enlightenment workshop across states of the federation themed: “Road Accident, Drug Abuse and Safety Measures”.

The President/Chief Executive Officer of GSAFO, Mr Olumuyiwa Babalola emphasised the need to sensitise NACTOMORAS being the largest employer of labour with over 9.2million members in Nigeria, exposure to the nitty gritty of safety measures to avoid road accidents during the ‘ember’ months.

Babalola made this disclosure while speaking with journalists during the workshop organised by the group, at Adebisi Omoyinni Hall, Ayetoro in Abeokuta, Ogun State, recently where almost 3,000 participants took part in the programme.

Former CAC Worldwide president charged for certificate forgery FORMER president of the Christ Apostolic Church(CAC) Worldwide, Pastor Elijah Howard Oluseye, was on Thursday, charged before Magistrates’ Court 5 sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan, Oyo State, presided over by Mr Taiwo Oladiran, over a five-count charge bordering on forgery of the church’s certificate.

Legal counsel to the pastor, Mr J.O Famoyebi, said the accused was absent in the court, due to an exparte injunction filed before Hon. Justice Ayo Emmanuel of the Federal High Court in Ibadan, to withdraw an application filed by a faction of the church, the Supreme Council of Christ Apostolic Church.

Famoyebi told the court that the accused pastor would appear on the next adjourned date, December 23.

44

Monday, 16 November, 2015

foreig naffairs

08116954632 with seyi gesinde foreignn ewseditor@gmail.com

Paris attacks... Paris attacks... Paris attacks... Paris attacks... Paris attacks...Paris attacks... Paris attacks...

First suicide bomber, Ismael Omar, identified by his finger

Ahmed Almuhamed, 25, whose Syrian passport was found on the body of a suicide bomber. PHOTO: MAIL ONLINE.

F

RENCH officials have identified one of the seven assailants responsible for Friday’s terrorist attacks that killed at least 129 people in Paris, Omar Ismail Mostefai, a French citizen known to police for his ties to Islamist radicals.

The 29-year old Mostefai, from Courcouronnes, south of Paris, was identified from a severed finger found at the scene of the worst massacre, carried out at the Bataclan concert hall just north of Paris, where 89 people died. Mostefai was one of three men who detonated suicide belts.

The wave of shootings and bombings occurred at several sites in the French capital. Of the 350 people wounded, dozens are said to be in critical condition.

Three teams of assailants launched the co-ordinated attacks and were believed to have

Belgium detains 7 , says 2 of the assailants lived in Brussels

used two cars registered in Belgium, Paris prosecutor François Molins said Saturday.

Mostefai, of Algerian descent, according to CBC News was flagged by authorities five years ago for having links to Islamist radicals. Officials say he also had a history of petty crime.

Authorities are trying to determine who helped the seven attackers, who are all dead.

A French judicial official says seven people have been detained for questioning, including a brother of Mostefai.

No one answered the door Sunday morning at the brother’s home in the French town of Bondoufle, outside of Paris, but neighbour Eric Pudal said roughly 20 heavily armed police swooped in on the home Saturday evening.

Pudal said he was startled by the arrest, describing the family, which recently welcomed a baby daughter, as “very nice, very sociable.”

Pudal said he had never met the reported suicide bomber and had never heard him being discussed

by his neighbours.

ISIS has claimed it was behind the attacks at the concert hall, at restaurants and bars, and outside France’s Stade de France.

A French judicial official says a Seat car with suspected links to the attacks has been found by police in Montreuil, a suburb six kilometres east of Paris.

The official could not confirm if this was the same black Seat linked to the gun attacks on the Le Carillon bar and the Le Petit Cambodge restaurant in Rue Alibert in the city’s 10th district.

President Barack Obama (centre), talks with Russia’s President Vladimir Putin (backing camera), as they arrive for a group photo with other leaders for the G-20 Summit in Antalya, Turkey, on Sunday.

PHOTO: AP.

US, allies to boost fight against IS, Obama says at G20 summit UNITED States President Barack Obama vowed on Sunday to step up efforts to eliminate the Islamic State group in Syria and prevent it from carrying out attacks like those in Paris, while European leaders urged Russia to focus its military efforts on the radical Islamists.

Speaking at a G20 leaders summit in Turkey, Obama, according to CBCNews described the killings in Paris claimed by ISIS as an “at-

tack on the civilised world” and said the United States would work with France to hunt down those responsible.

The two-day summit brings world leaders just 500 kilometres from Syria, where a 4½-year conflict has transformed ISIS into a global security threat and spawned Europe’s largest migration flows since the Second World War. “Traditionally the G20 has been a

forum primarily to discuss economic issues facing the globe ... (but) the sky has been darkened by the horrific attacks that took place in Paris just a day and a half ago,” Obama said in a statement after meeting Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.

“The United States and its allies will redouble efforts to find a peaceful solution in Syria and prevent Islamic State militants from perpetrating attacks like those in Paris.”

Police on patrol at the Eurostar terminal at London’s St Pancras station PHOTO: PA.

UK deploys special forces amid fears Britain could be next target

SPECIAL forces have been deployed to back British police after Paris attacks that killed 129 people, British newspapers reported on Sunday, as part of a wider boost in security measures amid fears that Britain could be next target of Islamic State atack.

Interior minister Theresa May did not deny the reports, telling the BBC that “arrangements” had been made to give the police military support where necessary.

Unsourced British media reports said special forces were dressed in plain clothes and supporting police at busy public locations, including train and metro stations, shopping centres and popular entertainment districts.

“There are tried and tested arrangements in place to give military support,” Home Secretary Theresa May told the BBC when asked about the veracity of the reports.

“I don’t comment on the particulars of any deployments that are made, but we have arrangements in place where necessary for the police to have military support.”

On Saturday, Mark Rowley, the National Police Chiefs’ Council lead for counter-terrorism, said that policing at ports had been strengthened.

“People may notice some changes at events at big cities across the country,” he added.

A Belgian official has said that seven people have been detained in Belgium linked to the Paris attacks that left 129 people dead and more than 300 wounded.

The official, who spoke to The Associated Press in Brussels by phone, said two of the seven attackers who died in Paris on Friday night were CO-ORDINATED attacks on anywhere, including Canada, ex- difficult to guard against suicide security barriers and use of force. bombs and shooting rampages at You have to depend on good inFrench men living in Brussels, one civilian targets like the deadly perts warn.

Wesley Wark, a security expert cafes, sporting events and enter- telligence and analysis and proof them in the neighbourhood of St. assaults in Paris are a “jihadist fantasy” because they stoke maxi- and professor at the University tainment venues. portionate responses to known Jans Molenbeek.

“You can’t harden them through threats,” he told CBC News.

As the investigation continues, mum fear and can be executed of Ottawa, said it is inherently an unidentified French police official has been quoted as saying three Kalashnikovs have been found inside a Seat car that was THE suicide vests used by All seven of the militants don in 2005 where the “Suicide vests require a used in the attacks.

Friday’s attackers in Par- wore identical explosive bombers’ explosives were munitions specialist. To Two cars are known to be involved is, a first in France, were vests and did not hesitate stored in backpacks, AFP make a reliable and effecin the attacks that left 129 people made by a highly skilled to blow themselves up, a said Friday’s attackers used tive explosive is not somedead and over 350 wounded: a Volkprofessional who could worrying change of tac- the sort of suicide vests thing anyone can do,” a swagen Polo parked at the Bataclan still be at large in Europe, tic for jihadists targeting normally associated with former French intelligence concert hall and the Seat where the French President Francois intelligence and security France. bombings in the Middle chief told AFP, speaking on arms were found Sunday. experts said.

Unlike the attacks in Lon- East. condition of anonymity.

Hollande

Paris-style IS attacks could hit Canada, expert warns

Paris suicide vests mark change of tactics and new threat

45

Monday, 16 November, 2015

46

Monday, 16 November, 2015

47 CHIEF (MRS) HID AWOLOWO (1915-2015)

Monday, 16 November, 2015 PHOTOS: ALABA IGBAROOLA, & SYLVESTER OKORUWA

LYING-IN-STATE AT PARK LANE, APAPA, LAGOS

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7 1. From left, Mrs Kemi Aderemi, Ambassador (Dr) Tokunbo Dosumu; President, Ijaw Women Leadership Forum, Chief Mrs Patience Ngene Okosi and Reverend (Mrs) Tola Oyediran.

2. From right, Reverend (Mrs) Oyediran, Mr Olumide Oyediran; Ambassador (Dr) Awolowo Dosumu, Mrs Kemi Aderemi and others.

3. Former chairman, FERMA, Jide Adeniji and Chief Dipo Jimilehin.

4. From left, Mr Adedeji Ademola; Mr Wole Adewunmi; Mr Oyediran and Mr Rotimi

Vaughan.

5. Cross section of guests on the occasion.

6. From left, Vice President’s mother, Mrs Olubisi Osinbajo and Mrs Ayotola Ayodeji.

7. From left, Vicar, Our Saviour’s Anglican Church, Ikenne-Remo, Venerable Oladele Enike; Dean, Cathedral Church of St Paul, Sagamu, Venerable Emmanuel Adeguyi and Chief Ezekiel KSC. 8. Prince Gbolahan Lawal and Prince Anofiu Elegbusi.

SIDELINES

NO 16, 371

W

MONDAY, 16 NOVEMBER, 2015

HEREVER you are today, my dear compatriots brace up for your time of momentous destiny. It is five months or so now since our country experienced a new political emotion – or so we thought. Yes, or so we thought because what we thought seems to be no longer what we thought.

The air here now is bracing, but what it is bracing is not freshening. There is hardly anywhere in our country that Nigerians are not groaning with severe pains that are more than severe pains. Everywhere from Warri to Maiduguri – or from Sapele to Sokoto, or from Calabar to Kano, or from Port Harcourt to Potiskum – there is gushing and crushing hunger that is more than gushing and crushing hunger.

As I am writing this, and as you are reading this, reports are pouring in that in Kano City there have been different kinds of protests mainly on account of the hunger-pangs people, especially the talakawas, are experiencing. The vocabulary and syntax they employ in their protests and marches are those that make us aware of the would-be mass struggle there and elsewhere in the land. So far, I hear, many rich Kano Alhajis and controllers of power there are working on the stomachs of the hungry masses of people by giving and cooking for them meals almost on daily basis. How long the moaning and poverty of the talakawas will be pacified so that they don’t resort to what the controllers of power don’t want them to resort to will be seen in no distant time.

But PMB must change his current mood and give us the change that is the change.

I am more than convinced that the slow tempo of our new presidency is more than a source of concern for groaning Nigerians.

The unexpected slow tempo of the Buhari presidency lies at the origin of the new revolutionary thought in the East of the Igbos.

Right now I must implore PMB to change gear in order to prevent others of similar emotions and inclinations from organizing tactical rebellious and revolutionary allianc-

N150

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Letter to groaning Nigerians es. Hunger is one instrument and weapon of causing chaos.

I believe that this presidency will groan and groan as Nigerians are currently groaning and groaning if the president does not quickly, urgently and sharply stem and stop the groaning consciousness of the masses. I am sure the presidency does not realize that the marketers of petrol have studied almost perfectly PMB’s five months’ style of his presidential current, and got set, ready to distract him and us all from his pre-election myths. I am reasoning that the current fuel problem in the land is the origin of our new socio-economic pains. Clearly, there seems to be no point of departure from our previous pains. But the pre-presidential election solidarity of the people with PMB seems to be drastically falling short of what it was.

Our legislators are also not helping matters. They are struggling among themselves for juicy committees when the masses of Nigerians are barely surviving. All of them combined understand one philosophy – which forms the basis of their singular selfish, political emotions that can compel us to the streets of rebellious and revolutionary campaign. They better realize now and now that their greed can lead us sooner than later to Freedom Park. They should not allow their singular greed to blind them against

We hope that PMB is now fully ready to rule and govern Nigeria our wishes for a just, equitable, transparent, misery-less society that is comparable to the best, modern and progressive society anywhere. We groaning Nigerians, we fellow compatriots who lack luxury and the grand style of life and of living are comrades-inarms who shall face the same enemy causing us adversities in our own country.

I speak for all those who will no longer close their eyes and stop their ears against the impoverishment and misery of our masses of people. We must protest against and stop the political, cultural and economic debasement of all our people and peoples.

The change we want must be the change we want. This change is the change we all internally-colonized people and peoples were promised before the last presidential election. Those who promised us must keep their promise to us, and cease to appear to us as shadows that appeared and still ap-

Dream Team players, officials escape plane crash NIGERIA U23 team escaped plane crash on their way to Gambia on Sunday morning towards perfecting strategies for the African U23 Championship billed for Senegal.

The Dream Team VI opted for the west African country after their trip to Morocco

was cancelled owing to visa issues.

Goal gathered through one of the team’s officials as of time of writing this report that the pilot of the Arik Airline made and emergency landing in Accra, Ghana due to technical fault of the aircraft.

“Thank God for his goodness and his

mercies we escaped plane crash on our way to Gambia, the pilot had to make an emergency landing in Accra we are still in Accra,” a senior official of the team told Goal after the incident.

The team has safely landed in the Gambia.

World Cup qualifier: FIFA rejects venue change by Nigeria WORLD football governing body FIFA has turned down a request by Nigeria for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier against Swaziland to be moved from Port Harcourt to Abuja.

The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), demanded the match be moved to Abuja for “logistical reasons”, but FIFA said the application was not received within the

mandatory 10 days allowed for such a request.

“The request failed because it was done within the 10-day window allowed for such a request,” an official disclosed.

The southern Nigerian oil city of Port Harcourt has hosted Nigeria’s home games this year.

Minnows Swaziland held star-studded Nigeria to a goalless draw in the first leg of the 2018 World Cup qualifier in Lobambo and the return clash is slated tomorrow afternoon in Port Harcourt.

The overall winners of this match-up will advance to the group stage of the qualifying series for Russia 2018.

pear to deceive us. Or are they ready to become our new adversaries in our country they vowed to change for the better and for our common good? Alas, they must always remember that their promise and vow are promise and vow that cannot be broken and which they must not attempt to break. They must be prudent and do what they must do rightly to buoy up our spirits.

After all PMB has inaugurated his cabinet of ministers. No state in the federation is short-changed after all said and done before the inauguration. There is no minister-less minister after all. There is no minister without a ministry after all.

We hope that PMB is now fully ready to rule and govern Nigeria in such a way that the bearers of rebellious and revolutionary thought and action are kept at bay. Why not - if the change that is the change we yearned (and still yearn) for stops us from groaning?

As I am giving thought to this subject without sentiments, I cannot but acknowledge Jean Genet (1910-1986), French dramatist, novelist, poet and political essayist with whom I share passionate affinity relating to unsentimental outrage against political deception and impunity of the ruling class.

Last line: Watch out for “Prophetic offerings for President Buhari.

RESULTS

Globacom Premier League Rangers 3 Bayelsa Utd

1

Sunshine Stars 0 Enyimba

0

Kwara Utd

2 Ifeanyi Ubah

0

Heartland

2 Elkanemi

1

Abia Warriors 1 Sharks

0

Akwa Utd

0

1 Lobi stars

Wikki Tourist 2 Kano Pillars

0

Shooting Stars 2 Dolphins

2

Nasarawa Utd 2 Giwa

0

Warri Wolves vs FC Taraba (pp)

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. 16/11/2015.