19th July 2016

NIGERIA’S MOST INFORMATIVE NEWSPAPER NO 16,548

TUESDAY, 19 JULY, 2016

www.tribuneonlineng.com

Inflation hit 16.5% in June —NBS

Nigerian Tribune

Melaye: Remi Tinubu seeks police •Marketers blame hike in kerosene, diesel, protection cooking gas prices on forex scarcity —Pp 11&12

—P34

@nigeriantribune

TribuneOnline

Nigerian Tribune

N150

FG owing varsities N623bn —ASUU —P37

Bola Ige: Excitement over re-opening of murder case

—P5

•Afenifere, Aregbesola, Adebanjo, Okurounmu, Adegboruwa, Ubani, others react Buhari, Mark, Nnamani, Masari meet —P4

Kogi reappoints Skye Bank as lead collector for IGR —P16

OAU crisis: FG directs varsity Senate to appoint acting VC —P34

Outgoing Managing Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Mr Habib Abdullahi (left), handing over to his successor, Mrs Hadiza Bala-Usman, at a ceremony, in Lagos, on Monday. PHOTO: NAN

Buhari decries slow pace of corruption trials —P6

Ex-Oyo NURTW boss, Auxiliary, jailed for 6yrs —P35

2

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

3

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

4 news

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

PDP crisis: I remain national chairman till 2018 —Sheriff Says scheduled August 17 Port-Harcourt convention illegal Jacob Segun Olatunji and Leon Usigbe - Abuja

T

HE claimant to the office of the national chairman of the crisis-ridden Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff, on Monday, declared that the crisis rocking the party would continue if the Senator Ahmed Makarfi-led National Caretaker Committee was not dissolved immediately, insisting that he remained the authentic national chairman of the party till 2018.

Senator Sheriff, who was speaking on Monday, when a delegation of Abia State chapter of the party paid him a solidarity visit in Abuja also dismissed the new national convention of the party fixed for August 17th this year by the Makarf-led National Caretaker Committee in PortHarcourt, Rivers State.

He stated that the proposed convention was illegal, urging members to stay away and await a new date for an authentic convention which would hold in Abuja under his leadership.

He pointed that any gathering in the name of PDP convention in Port Harcourt would be illegal, describing PDP as the party for all Nigerians, while stating that a few individuals would not be allowed to pocket the party.

Sheriff, flanked by Senator Hope Uzodimma, former governor of Imo State, Chief Ikedi Ohakim; Dr Cairo Ojuogboh; Deputy National Chairman, Chief Chris Uba; Chief Jimoh Ibrahim; Honourable Okey Nadozie; National Organising Secretary, among others, declared that he would remain the national chairman of the party till 2018 unless those decisions reached at the party’s

stakeholders’ reconciliation meeting were met.

Sheriff also stated that part of his condition to end the crisis was a fresh national convention that should be held in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, with a convention committee formed by 10 members apiece from his group and the Makarfi-led committee.

According to him, “Makarfi-led committee should

resign, it does not exist in the PDP constitution; what exists is the national chairman, which I am, nothing is like that. I remain the chairman until 2018. Some people want to make PDP their personal property. That will not happen; if you don’t stand on the truth, the end result will be destruction.”

While clarifying what transpired at the Taraba State Governor’s Lodge in

Abuja, Sheriff said it was true that he was approached for reconciliation by the PDP governors from the North-East, Darius Isiaku of Taraba State and Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State, which he accepted.

He further explained that his conditions for a unified party were based on the agreement reached at the reconciliation meeting under the chairmanship

of Bayelsa State governor, Honourable Seriake Dickson and Senator Ibrahim Mantu, a former Deputy Senate President, which advised the Caretaker Committee members to resign, but they refused.

According to him, “I am ready to find a lasting political solution to the crisis rocking the party without going through the courts.

We have cases at the ap-

President Muhammadu Buhari with former Senate President, Senator David Mark, at the State House, Abuja, on Monday.

Buhari in secret meeting with Mark, Masari, others Leon Usigbe - Abuja IN a move ostensibly meant to resolve the frosty executive-legislature relationship, President Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, met behind closed-doors with former Senate President, David Mark.

The meeting took place inside the president’s office.

Former Speaker of the

House of Representatives and governor of Katsina State, Aminu Masari, was also present in the president’s office at the time, but it was not clear whether he was part of the meeting.

Also present during the time of the meeting was the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang.

Mark, who was making his first ever open visit to the Presidential Villa since the inception of the present administration, arrived alone at about 2.55 p.m. and walked straight to the president’s office, venue of the meeting.

The Benue senator, elected on the Peoples Democratic Party’s platform, left the president’s office at about 3.35 p.m, but declined

to speak with State House correspondents when approached.

When asked what the meeting was about, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, told the Nigerian Tribune that it was a private audience.

Pressed on whether it was connected to the Executive/ Senate face-off, he insisted

Buhari committed to Fiscal Responsibility Act —Presidency Leon Usigbe - Abuja THE Presidency has assured that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, which came to power on the plank of anti-corruption and good governance, will fully comply with the provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and other extant laws as they relate to the submission of budget proposals of Federal Government agencies and corporations to the National Assembly.

According to his Senior

peal, while others are at the high courts; a new convention will take place in Abuja, as the party belongs all Nigerians, who are cardcarrying members.

“Sheriff is not the problem as it is being made to belief, some people only want to hijack the party which will never happen.

I am ready for total reconciliation, I have no hidden agenda,” he stated.

Sheriff agreed with the Abia delegation that it was widespread impunity that landed the party in its present predicament, assuring the delegation that their grievances alongside other states with similar problems would be addressed in due course.

Speaking earlier, spokesman of the Abia delegation, Honourable Emeka Osoagbaka, had noted that impunity and mediocrity reigned supreme in the party in the state, as a group of adventurers had hijacked the party before the intervention of Sheriff as the national chairman.

He expressed displeasure in the shoddy manner in which state congresses were organised, saying results were announced before mock congresses were held, adding that if it was not corrected, it might lead to mass defection any time from now.

Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, who spoke to newmen in Abuja, on Monday, the president had lived up to this commitment of accountability and transparency with the recent submission of the proposed budgets of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) and others.

He said: “The transmission of budgets for the MDAs to the National Assembly, particularly those

regarding the CBN and the NNPC behemoth is clearly unprecedented.

“The president is determined to make the budgeting process more transparent and participatory.

“It is all part of the re-engineering of the entire processes of governance for the benefit of ordinary citizens.”

The presidential spokesman affirmed that the Presidency had transmitted a letter to the National Assembly on the matter.

According to Garba, the president strongly believed

that good governance and transparency were integral to the nation’s progress and key to the Federal Government’s programme to revamp the economy.

He said by responding positively to the demand of the National Assembly that MDA budgets be laid before it for scrutiny, a demand he said was mostly ignored by past administrations, “President Buhari has, indeed, given a clear indication of his commitment to an open, transparent and people-oriented government for Nigerians.’’

The presidential spokesman added that the current administration had also demonstrated its respect for the parliament, as a principal arm of government in a constitutional democracy.

“Our hope and expectation is that the National Assembly, acting in the best interest of the nation, will allow the immediate operationalisation of the MDAs budgets, so that the momentum of growth of the economy which has begun to build up will be sustained,” Shehu said.

that it was a private audience, which he said the president was entitled to have.

He said: “When the president has a private audience, you don’t report it. It was a private audience.

“We released pictures from the private audience.

The president has a right to have private audience.

“All that I have told you is that it was a private audience.”

Senate President and his deputy, Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu, respectively, are presently being prosecuted for allegedly forging the Senate Rules with which they were elected into office.

But the lawmakers, who deny that charges, have blamed the Presidency for being behind their ordeal for political reasons.

The situation has led to a less-than-warm relationship between the two arms of government, with elements in the Senate allegedly threatening to initiate impeachment process against President Buhari.

5

news

Ige: Excitement over re-opening of murder case From Kunle Oderemi, Chris Agbambu, Olayinka Olukoya, Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare and Oluwole Ige

A

mixture of excitement and cautious optimism, on Monday, trailed indications that the Federal Government may have ordered the re-opening of the cases on the assassination of two leading politicians, Chief Bola Ige and Chief Aminasoari Dikibo, which occurred in 2001 and 2004 respectively.

Obviously overwhelmed by the report, eminent citizens, groups and professionals outlined some concrete steps that the authorities must take to gurantee justice over what many see as one of the most horrendous killings that astounded the world.

Some of the suggestions included need for scientific and professional investigation and prosecution this time around, as well as inclusion of other mysterious killings over the years and not classifying any one critical to give evidence on the cases as a sacred cow.

This came as the Presidency, on Monday, clarified its position on the reported directive to the acting Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, to reopen the murder cases.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said there was no such directive from President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said the reopening of the cases was the initiative of the new leadership of the police which, he said, was intent on acquiring credibility.

The presidential aide said in doing such work, the police leadership did not require a presidential directive.

Ige, a former Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, was assassinated in his Ibadan residence by assailants at about 9.00 p.m. on December 23, 2001, after he arrived Ibadan from Lagos at about 8.30 p.m.

Dikibo, a former national deputy chairman (SouthSouth) of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was said to have been ambushed and killed by assassins near Asaba, Delta State, on October 22, 2004.

Afenifere lauded the move to reopen the unresolved assassination of Ige and Dikibo and the need to bring the perpetrators to book.

The group, which stated this through its secretary-general, Chief Sehinde Arogbofa, in Akure, Ondo State, said the searchlight should not be limited to those two cases but should be extended to other political assassinations in the country.

According to Arogbofa, “It is not just Bola Ige alone but, we must go back to know who killed Dele Giwa, we must also know those who killed Pa Alfred Rewane and Alhaja Kudirat Abiola; all these are

more or less political killings and we must know those behind them and why, so as to guide against future occurrence.

“As regards Chief Bola Ige’s murder, I think well-meaning Nigerians will like to know who killed him, because his death is so shrouded with some mysteries and I know Nigerians will be interested to know people behind his murder,” he said.

A foremost nationalist and leading figure in Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, expressed delight over the move to revisit the matter.

Chief Adebanjo, however, expressed utter disgust that issue over the assassination of Ige had remained unresolved for years, hoping that the present administration would exhibit the courage, will and honesty necessary to ensuring justice this time round.

“It is a welcome development. Anyone suspected should be investigated. The murder of Ige happened when Obasanjo was the president of this country. The Federal Government must honestly pursue this case to a logical conclusion this time around,” Chief Adebanjo said.

Another senior citizen, Senator Femi Okurounmu, expressed delight, while advising the authorities to ensure due diligence in handling the issue.

He said all major actors during the period when the assassinations were carried out should be invited to assist in unravelling the riddle behind the incidents, in order to gurantee justice.

“I don’t know how many of the witnesses that are still alive. They should invite all the witnesses again and take their statements afresh. They should look at the reports of the judges who handled the case at the time. I recalled that one of them was fired.

They should also invite former President Obasanjo to tell us what he know about the death of his former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice,” he said.

Osun State governor, Mr Rauf Aregbesola, said with the move, justice would be served on the unresolved murder of the former Minister of Justice.

Speaking through his director, Bureau of Communications and Strategy, Mr Semiu Okanlawon, Aregbesola simply stated that “we appreciate the reopening of the case as we believe the cause of justice, maintenance of law and order as well as curbing impunity will be served.”

But the spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun, Mr Diran Odeyemi, maintained that the development showed that President Buhari was interested in the past so as to know the present and possibly prevent an ugly incident re-occurring in the future.

“We want to tell him that there is no way he can achieve a tangible result by limiting

the scope of the killing to Bola Ige and Dikibo alone. We would have expected him to go a little further and extend the re-opening of high profile murder cases to Odunayo Olagbaju, who was killed in Ile-Ife, Kudirat Abiola, who was killed in Lagos State, Rilwane and Chief M.K.O Abiola, who died in a mysterious circumstance while in detention.

“We would have appreciated it if Mr President had extended the re-opening of investigation into at least past 10 cases of high profile killings. He should not limit it to two cases,” he said.

Former deputy governor of Ogun State, Senator Adegbenga Kaka, said it was imperative to bring all those individuals behind the gruesome murders to book.

But he urged the Federal Government to reopen other similar cases of unresolved assassinations over the years in the interest of justice.

A former national publicity secretary of the National Democratic Coalition (NADECO), Chief Ayo Opadokun, however, said he could not react to the development until he had full information on the matter.

Also, Eyitayo Jegede (SAN) said that the power to reopen the case resided with the Attorney-General of the state where the case was being handled.

Jegede said the case could be revisited if there were fresh evidences to bring the culprits to book, noting that the “case has taken about

15 years but if there’s fresh evidence, they should bring it up, if there’s fresh evidence that would compel prosecution, the state Attorney-General would decide.”

On whether the re-opening of the cases could be an attempt to clampdown on the opposition, Jegede said “we are all witnesses to a lot of things happening in the country and each person has his or her own opinion.”

A constitutional lawyer, Mr Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said the move was desirable, adding, however, that the initiative should cover other unresolved mysterious killings in the country.

“Ordinarily, it should be great news to learn of the attempt by the acting IGP to re-open certain pending and unravelled murder cases.

“Legally, this is desirable, as time does not run against the state in the prosecution of offenders. However, the IGP should not limit his focus to these two cases or indeed only the prominent cases, but also extend it to all cases of mysterious deaths, especially deaths that do frequently occur in police custody,” he said.

A former NBA chairman, Ikeja branch, Mr Monday Onyekachi Ubani, also described the development as a good one, while he advised that cases of Dele Giwa and others should be added.

Meanwhile, indication emerged, on Monday, that all suspects arrested at the commencement of the investigation in 2002 may be re-arrested.

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

I didn’t go with police vehicles —Arase FORMER Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Solomon Arase, has denied taking away 24 police vehicles as alleged by his successor, Ibrahim Idris.

Arase, who said he had been in London, United Kingdom (UK), since a week after his disengagement for his son’s graduation, in a statement on Monday, said every information needed by his successor on vehicles bought by the police were in his handover notes.

He said all vehicles bought by the police under him were distributed to state commands and other appropriate units of the force, while denying getting any letter from Id-

ris since he had been in the UK. “I suspect there must be a disconnect somewhere because every information needed by my successor are provided in my handover notes. I’m also not aware that any letter was written to me because if there was any dropped in my house, someone would have alerted me.

“It’s unfortunate that this matter is being made a media issue because my successor has my telephone number and could have called me for any clarification or even sent me a text message rather than addressing the media on an issue well documented in my handover notes,” Arase said.

Nigeria’s oil resources skewed to enrich elite —Dogara Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel -Abuja SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, on Monday, alleged that the nation’s oil resources was skewed to enrich the elite.

To address the perceived gap, Dogara said the National Assembly would engage with stakeholders on contentious issues as it began work on the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The Speaker, who stated this at the National Stakeholders Summit on Petroleum Industry Reforms, organised by the House Committee on Petroleum, in Abuja, said the legislature was determined to draft a law for the industry that would be in the best interest of Nigerians.

According to him, “Nigeria is one of the richest petroleum regions of the world.

Paradoxically, it has never been able to maximise effectively its immense oil and gas potentials and the revenue accruing from it.

“The downstream operates in a state of almost continuous malfunction, and for years has been characterised by comatose refineries and an inefficient downstream.

“It operates under an in-

adequate legal framework, with an inefficient and poorly maintained pipeline network and depot system.

“The result is that Nigeria is both one of the world’s largest producers of crude oil and one of the world’s leading importers of petroleum products, a dependency that has enriched the elite at the expense of the increasingly impoverished masses.

“The downstream runs on a system of subsidies until recently and uniform pricing which has proved ineffective, in addition to being administered in a very opaque way.

“Shortages and inadequate supply have characterised the Nigerian downstream for over two decades and can be

described as an example of system failure.

“The upstream has not fared better either. Pipeline vandalism, large-scale environmental degradation and the world’s highest levels of crude oil theft have been constants for several years.

“Decades after the advent of Nigeria’s petroleum industry, problems which led to host community agitation remain unaddressed and highly politicised and the question of the extent to which revenues from the industry should be shared among the three tiers of government and the people remain, as do the content and limits of corporate social responsibility.

“These are all crucial issues

that should be addressed to guarantee and ensure a stable polity in Nigeria,” he said.

On the proposed PIB, Dogara said “the need to make consensus and lend a voice to long suppressed agitations in the drafting and consideration of petroleum industry bills informed our decision to organise this stakeholders’ summit.

“We are optimistic that this approach will provide the crucial platform to enable us to cross-pollinate ideas and ventilate our positions on certain contentious issues, regardless how vexed they may be. You can be rest assured that our work at the National Assembly is to do your good intention.”

Anxiety as abductors refuse to contact family of abducted Lagos monarch Olalekan Olabulo -Lagos ANXIETY has continued to grip residents of Iba community in Lagos, as the abductors of the monarch of the town, Oba Goriola Oseni, as of Monday evening, had not contacted the family.

There were also concern over the health of the injured wife of the monarch,

Kubutat, who reportedly underwent an operation to extract bullets from her body.

A source at the palace told Nigerian Tribune that “they (the abductors) were yet to get to us. Everybody is expecting their call.”

He also added that one of the children of the monarch, a military officer, had drafted soldiers in the area

to look for the traditional ruler.

The palace source also said “the case of Olori Kuburat is very serious. We are praying seriously for her to recover.

Only God can save us.”

He also added that “an operation was performed on her to remove the bullets from her body. Nobody can really say where the situation will lead to.”

6

news

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Buhari decries slow pace of corruption trials •We won’t strike out corruption cases anymore —CJN Sunday Ejkke-Abuja

P

RESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari, on Monday, decried the slow pace in the trial of corruption cases initiated by his administration, which were pending before the nation’s courts.

Buhari, who was speaking in Abuja, at the opening ceremony of a workshop organised by the Presidential Advisory

Committee Against Corruption, the National Judicial Institute, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the Commonwealth Secretariat, accused some judges of allowing lawyers to frustrate speedy determination of the corruption cases pending before them.

He said despite the application of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act of 2015 (ACJA), which encouraged speedy trial of

cases, “corruption cases filed by government are not progressing as speedily as they should.

“This certainly needs to change if we are to make success in our collective effort in the fight against corruption in the country,” he said and further explained that he had made the fight against corruption one of the top priorities of his administration to restore the economy and build a new Nigeria.

He said, in a bid to repositioning Nigeria’s economy, it was obligatory to swiftly tackle two ills; waste and corruption.

Decrying the delay in the prosecution of corruption cases, Buhari said, “I am worried that the expectation of the public is yet to be met by the judiciary with regard to the removal of delay and the toleration of delay tactics by lawyers.

He called on judicial officers to manifest integ-

President Muhammadu Buhari, flanked from left by the Chief Justice of Nigeria Justice (CJN), Mahmud Mohammed; Chairman, Presidential Advisory Committee against Corruption, Professor Itse Sagay; Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami; President, Comonwealth Judges and Magistrate Association, Justice John Vertes and the Administrator, National Judicial Institute (NJI), Justice R.P.I Bozimo, as President Buhari declares open the international workshop on Criminal Justice Administration Development Act (ACJA) 2015, at the National Judicial Institute, Abuja, on Monday.

AGF receives 8,000 criminal case files from police THE Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation has received 8,000 criminal case files from the police since the enactment of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation (AGF), Abubakar Malami, said this at the international workshop to examine the role of the judiciary in the fight against corruption in Abuja, on Monday.

Malami said the Act which prohibited policemen, who were non-lawyers from prosecuting criminal cases, had placed the responsibilities on the Department of Public Prosecution in his ministry.

To ensure effective prosecution of the cases, he said the ministry deployed additional counsels to the prosecution department and developed their professional capacity to handle the cases in a timely and efficient manner.

Malami said the ACJA had been rightly acknowledged as a revolutionary legislation that would facilitate the achievement of a humane and functional criminal justice system

founded on social justice and rule of law.

He stressed the need for the total understanding of its provisions by all relevant sectors, particularly the security agencies, investigative and prosecution authorities, the legal profession and the judiciary.

Malami, who is also Minister of Justice, also underscored the importance of ensuring that the law became a truly national legislation by the adoption of its reforms by all states.

He thanked the organisers of the workshop, saying it would serve as a catalyst

for the synergy needed in effective prosecution of corruption cases.

The Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, said corruption in Nigeria “is a complex problem that cannot be solved in isolation.’’

Mohammed said corruption could not be easily tackled without transparent and efficient justice system and the cooperation of necessary stakeholders.

He said the workshop was a clear indication of the support of the judiciary to the Federal Government’s efforts at tackling corruption in the country.

The chief justice said the bench was determined to ensure that corruption and economic sabotage cases were heard within the time stipulated by law and perpetrators brought to book.

Mohammed said the various divisions of courts had dedicated judges to hear and determine cases on economic crimes and corruption.

He solicited the support of all stakeholders in the justice sector, the prosecution, defence, the police and others, to play their respective roles and ensure that they obeyed all directives from the courts.

rity in the conduct of their official duties and tasked the judiciary to ensure that trial of criminal cases in the country were not delayed by unnecessary technicalities.

The president noted that with a virile, incorruptible and independent judiciary, “We will rid the country of corruption.

“A corrupt-free Nigeria is possible and I urge every arm of government to be the change agent in the fight against corruption in the country,” President Buhari added.

Speaking earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Mahmud Mohammed, has said judges will no longer throw away corruptionrelated cases for want of diligent prosecution by the Federal Government.

Justice Mohammed said the coming on board of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) 2015 had removed the issues of technicalities that had often stalled the trial of such high profile graft cases.

The CJN, however, urged all parties to proceedings to avail themselves of the innovations introduced by the Act, in order to ensure that delay became obsolete in courts.

Justice Mohammed, who identified corruption as a threat to the legitimacy of constitutional governance and democracy, however, observed that there was no single magical solution to tackling the problem and added that, “we must do our part and act now. Our actions must be concrete, ethical and time-bound to ensure an efficient and effective justice system.”

“I dare say that corruption cannot be easily tackled without transparent, efficient and speedy delivery of justice. Indeed, this is fundamental to our economic growth, development and national wellbeing. Hence, the growth of our democracy is under-

92% of Nigeria’s IDPs yet to be reached —Lawmaker •Calls for implementation of IDP policies Adetola Bademosi-Abuja

THE House Committee Chairman on Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the House of Representatives, Honourable Sani Zoro, has disclosed that 92 per cent out of the 2.5 million IDPs in Nigeria are still to be reached.

He blamed this on the inability of the government to identify their various locations.

Zoro made the disclo-

sure on Monday, at the commissioning of the skills acquisition centre at the IDP camp in Kuchingoro, Abuja, to commemorate the Nelson Mandela Day. The lawmaker, who stressed the need to promptly address the situation, pointed out that of all conventions, Nigeria as a society, had an obligation to protect all IDPs in the society.

While also calling on the Federal Government

to ensure the adoption of the IDP policy, he said this would serve as a road map for stakeholders, government and individuals in relation to IDPs. He noted that the policy had been developed since 2012, but yet to be adequately implemented.

He also sought the adoption of the Kampala Convention, which was the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Dis-

placed Persons in Africa.

The Kampala convention is a treaty of the African Union aimed at addressing issues on internal displacement caused by armed conflict, natural disasters and large-scale development projects in Africa.

On his part, the South African High Commissioner, Mr Mngunni Lulu reiterated his country’s readiness to partner the Nigerian government in its fight against terrorism.

pinned by the satisfactory resolution of our individual and collective differences through a proficient and virile justice system.”

The CJN noted that the workshop indicated the judiciary’s clear support for President Buhari’s historic efforts to rid Nigeria of the menace of corruption and its related offences and that the aim of the workshop was to stimulate necessary discourse on all pressing issues pertaining to the role that the judiciary played in curbing corruption in Nigeria, while drawing upon experiences and established best practices from other jurisdictions.

Gas explosion kills 3 in Edo Banji Aluko-Benin City

THREE persons have been confirmed dead in a Monday morning gas explosion that occurred in an apartment located at Agbor Road, in Benin, Edo State.

Some other people injured in the explosion have been taken to hospitals in Benin.

The incident, which occurred at 32, Osazuwa Street, Off Benin-Agbor Express road in IkpobaOkha Local Government Area of the state, was said to have been caused by an explosion of 5-kilogramme gas cylinder in a residential apartment.

A nearby apartment was said to have been engulfed by the fire that accompanied the explosion after occupants opened their door to know the cause of the explosion.

Among the deceased were two children, a two-year old child named Favour and Odion, who was aged 11.

Four families were said to have been affected by the gas explosion A teacher, who gave his name as Christian Unuame, said the owner of the cylinder that exploded was not resident in the apartments affected by the explosion.

She said: “The cylinder exploded after 7.00 a.m.

We took the cylinder outside and we warned everybody not to light matches.

“I went to the bathroom to take my bath, but some minutes later, fire engulfed the whole place. Nobody in the house uses gas to cook. It was somebody that kept the cylinder in my neighbour’s room.”

Victims of the fire accident were first admitted to a private hospital in the area before they were taken to a specialist hospital.

7

Nigerian Tribune

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Lagosmetro

Edited By

Lanre Adewole

olanreade@yahoo.com

0811 695 4647

Alade market is a ghetto, unfit for megacity —Govt Says relocation irrevocable Bola Badmus

ENL/ Terminal Dockworkers protesting at Nigerian Port Authority (NPA) head office, Marina, due to failure of the authority to pay them their entitlements, on Monday.

Boy stabs friend to death during street soccer Olalekan Olabulo

T

HE Lagos State Police Command is on the trail of a boy, who stabbed an opponent to death during a football match in Okota area of the state.

Michael Tango, 18, was reportedly, on Monday afternoon, stabbed in the hand

by Kayode Babayanju, dur-

ing the match. He was said to have died on the way to the hospital, where he was rushed to by neighbours, who saw him bleeding.

It was gathered that Babayanju and Michael were two of the footballers, playing along Oseni Laide Street in Okota area of the state, when a misunderstanding happened amongst them.

The misunderstanding re-

portedly resulted in a clash between the deceased and his killer, who allegedly broke a bottle and stabbed Michael.

A resident of the area, Ifeanyi, while speaking with Lagos Metro said, “it happened around 3:00p.m.

The death is still a surprise to all of us. Michael might have died as a result of loss of blood as he died on the

way to the hospital. He was not taken to the hospital on time.”

The image maker in charge of the state police command command, Dolapo Badmos, while confirming the incident to Lagos Metro, stated that, “the corpse had been deposited at the Isolo General Hospital, while efforts were on to arrest the fleeing suspect.”

THE Lagos State government has declared on Monday that relocation of the popular Alade Market to a new site is irreversible, tagging it unfit for the state’s mega city status.

Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Muslim Folami, made this declaration when he met with stakeholders of the market at the Government Secretariat, Alausa in Ikeja, Lagos.

This was just as the concessionaire of Alade Market, The Master Reality International Concepts Limited (MRICL), assured that the market, which traders began to relocate into a week earlier, was safe and ready for business.

The commissioner lamented the state of the structure in the old Alade Market, describing it as obsolete and unbefitting of a megacity like Lagos.

Folami, who noted he had visited the new site where traders were already relocating, said the place was well built with modern facilities to enhance the megacity status of Lagos, adding that: “we don’t need a ghetto (old Alade Market) in a megacity. Those traders

who are still recalcitrant, that is their problem.”

The commissioner commended the traders who had already relocated to the new site, urging them to maintain peace as the state government was ready to support them.

Speaking at the press briefing, the GMD of MRICL, Mr Omotola, said the construction of the market was done with adequate consideration for the security, safety and comfortability of both the marketers and their customers.

“This is a N6.9 billion partnership project. We gave the shop owners six years notice despite that the Local Government has been on the issue of relocating the market for over 20 years.

In this facility, we have 504 shops, meanwhile the mandate is to build 300 shops, but we extended it. We have 350KVA generator and another 150KVA generator.

We built 20 toilets and 200 key-clamps.”

The MRICL boss said that those still agitating for one thing or the other were not the real traders in Alade Market, adding that, in the last two weeks, real traders who had paid for their shops had been moving into the new market peacefully.

Kidnapping: Lagos places security agencies on red alert •Partners FG, Ogun State on border patrol •Declares zero tolerance for noise pollution Bola Badmus THE Lagos State Government on Monday assured residents of the state that it was working hard in conjunction with security agencies to address the recent cases of kidnapping and armed robberies in some parts of the state, just as it disclosed that security intelligence has revealed useful leads towards identifying the syndicates and their accomplices.

In a statement issued by the Secretary to the State Government, Mr Tunji Bello, the State Government noted that, “We would like to inform Lagosians that we are saddened by the recent cases of kidnappings that appear not to be unrelenting. We are working together with both

Federal Government and Ogun State Government in particular in the volatile areas that have been identified. We will spare no effort in bringing every criminal gang to book,” the SSG said.

While sympathising with the families of victims in Iba and Ikorodu, the Secretary to the State Government urged residents of the state to go about their normal businesses without any fear or panic as government has placed security personnel on red alert throughout the state in a bid to checkmate this menace.

He advised Lagosians to be very vigilant and security conscious as intelligence reports have shown that most of these heinous crimes are perpetrated through re-

calcitrant elements who have infiltrated the state and are carrying out this act in conjunction with friends, family members or close associates of the victims.

Bello reiterated the commitment and capacity of the Ambode administration to go after and suppress any act of crime and criminality in any part of the State, urging residents to take advantage of the state’s toll free lines: 112 and 767 to report any case of crime or unusual/ suspicious movement or strange faces in their neighbourhood to security agencies.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State governor has restated the government’s resolve to enforce relevant regulations on noise pollution in the state, vowing that no individ-

ual or corporate organisation would be spared in government’s renewed onslaught against defaulters.

Governor Ambode made the remarks when the MTN Foundation distributed 250

hearing aid devices to beneficiaries in the state, including children less than one year old.

Ambode, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Primary Health,

Dr Femi Onanuga, urged the 250 beneficiaries of the MTN Foundation Hearing Aid support project in the state to join the crusade of campaign against noise pollution in the society.

Surety docked as accused person flees Opeyemi Owoaseye A 52-year-old woman, Elizabeth Ayanyemi has been arraigned before an Ebute Meta court last Wednesday for allegedly making attempt to pervert the course of justice.

The suspect had reportedly perverted the cause of justice by aiding the escape of one Tajudeen Ayanyemi.

Ayanyemi was said to have stood as a surety for one Adewale Adegbite who was reportedly involved in a case

of obtaining and fraudulent conversion.

Elizabeth reportedly undertook to produce the said Tajudeen to the police at the State Department of Criminal Investigation (SDCI), Yaba.

She was also accused of taking on bail, Tajudeen, who stood surety to Adewale Adegbite Ojo. Our correspondent gathered that the defendant promised to produce him at the state criminal department, Yaba

Lagos on May 2nd and any other date as his presence may be required by the police until the case against him is finally disposed off or forfeited.

The suspect reportedly failed to pay the sum of N2, 415,740 to the Lagos State government as the undertaking. The defendant, however, was accused of breaching the undertaking and having failed to produce the suspect, Tajudeen.

The case was adjourned till September 22, 2016.

news

8

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Buhari to inaugurate Abuja-Kaduna rail line July 26 Tyavzua Saanyol - Abuja

P

RESIDENT Muhammed Buhari will on July 26 inaugurate Abu-

ja–Kaduna rail project, marking an end to the test running phase which has been ongoing for about a month to ascertain the readiness of the project for

public usage.

Minister of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja while receiving the Ministerial Committee re-

port on NIMASA Restructuring and Reformation.

He stated that, “the president has approved July 26 as the date for the inauguration” adding that, “from

that day on passengers will have to pay money before boarding to go to Kaduna from Abuja or come to Abuja from Kaduna by rail.”

It will be recalled that the

APC’s 200,000 jobs promise won’t lure Edo people —Ize-Iyamu Taiwo Adisa - Abuja GOVERNORSHIP candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the September election in Edo State, Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, said on Monday that the promise of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Godwin Obaseki, to create 200,000 jobs if elected cannot lure the people of Edo state to vote

for the party.

Ize-Iyamu, in a statement by the Media Unit of his campaign organisation, said that APC’s antipeople policies instituted

by Obaseki when he served as head of the state’s Economic Team under Governor Adams Oshiomhole was responsible for the major economic mess the state found itself.

According to the statement, “the good people of Edo State would not be

deceived into voting for the APC again after suffering untold hardships under the outgoing government of Adams Oshiomhole.”

He stated that the policies of the APC-led government had impoverished the youths, escalating the state of unemployment and under-employment.

The statement read in part: “When Governor Adams Oshiomhole assumed office in 2008 — with APC

governorship candidate, Mr Godwin Obaseki as the Head of Economic Team, he promised to create 100,000 jobs in each year of his administration, meaning that 800,000 new jobs would have been created over eight years.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo north senatorial zone, on Monday, said the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors’ campaign visit to Benin City

Face-off with FG: Group expresses support for Fayose A religious group, the Muslim Vanguard, has expressed support for Ekiti State governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose, in his crusade to be the voice of the opposition in the country that has drawn the anger of the Federal Government.

The group, in a statement in Ado-Ekiti, on Monday and signed by Yusuf Rasak Adesanjo, Coordinator and Ahmed Lamidi, Secretary, said it is also supporting the governor with prayers, noting that opposition must not be gagged if democracy would thrive.

One person, not 12 died in Ibadan road accident —FRSC

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), on Monday, said one person died in the accident that occurred at Boluwaji in Ibadan on Sunday evening, contrary to media reports that 12 people were roasted to death.

The spokesperson of FRSC, Oyo State command, Mr Seun Onijala, said that only the driver of the Toyota Hiace, with registration number: LAGOS XL 485 MUS was “trapped and was burnt beyond recognition.”

Apart from the driver, other occupants of the bus, according to Onijala, escaped, adding that detailed investigation into the incident would reveal the cause of the accident.

The FRSC also said the leadership of NURTW had been invited for a meeting with a view to getting to the root of the matter.

The Muslim Vanguard also faulted the muchtouted fight against corruption by the Federal Government, saying it was selective and targeted at the opposition.

“We discovered that the fight against corruption by the Federal Government is very selective and aimed at silencing the opposition.

We condemn it in its entirety because opposition is an ingredient of democracy.

“We identify with you in this trying time. All the evil plans of your enemies to get at you shall fall the way the wall of Jericho fell, as written in the Holy Book,” the group said.

The Muslim Vanguard also prayed that Governor

Fayose would successfully complete his tenure and hand over to another Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led government in 2018.

The group affirmed its loyalty and support for the governor, adding that it would continue to pray for the success of the administration.

FEDERAL MINISTRY OF EDUCATION QUEEN'S COLLEGE, LAGOS. INVITATION TO TENDER FOR THE 2016 CAPITAL PROJECTS registration with relevant professional bodies.

1.0 INTRODUCTION Verifiable evidence of registration with Financial The Queen's College, Yaba, Lagos State was Reporting Council of Nigeria. appropriated funds in the 2016 Budget and the College A sworn affidavit confirming that all information wishes to use the funds for the execution of its presented and attached are true and correct, that Programmes/Projects. Accordingly, the College the company is not in receivership, insolvent or hereby invites interested and qualified Contractors for bankrupt and none of its Directors was ever the procurement of the following under listed Works convicted by any court of law or staff of the Federal and Goods.

Ministry of Education (FME) or BPP. CATEGORY A: CAPITAL PROJECTS (WORKS)

Veritable evidence on non-refundable tender fee of S/N LOT NO PROJECT DESCRIPTION N25,000.00 1.

W1 Renovation of 1 no Block Physics Laboratory 2.

W2 Construction of drainage system within the college 3.0 COLLECTION OF TENDER DOCUMENTS Tender documents are obtainable form the Secretary, 1.2 CATEGORY B: CAPITAL PROJECTS (GOODS) School Tenders Board, Office of the Vice Principal S/NO LOT NO PROJECT DESCRIPTION (Special Duties), Queen's College, Yaba-Lagos from 1 G1 Purchase of Utility vehicle Tuesday 19th July 2016 on the presentation of a copy of 2 G2 Purchase of 3 Nos 100KVA Generator the original receipt of payment of a non- refundable Tender Fee of N25,000.00 (Twenty Five Thousand Naira ) 2.0 ELEGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS Interested Contractors are required to submit the per lot payable at any bank via TSA/REMITA Account Number 051702610100 to QUEEN'S COLLEGE. following documents:

Verifiable evidence of certificate of registration with 4.0 BID SUBMISSION Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC).

Completed Technical and Financial Bids should be

Verifiable evidence of Tax Clearance Certificate in submitted in two different sealed envelopes and the last three years (2013, 2014 and 2015). labelled “Technical Bid” and Financial Bid” respectively

Verifiable evidence of current Pension Commission with the company name indicated at the back of the (Pencom) Compliance clearance certificate (2016). envelop. The two envelopes should be enclosed in a

Verifiable evidence of current Industrial Training larger envelope and marked (Technical and Financial) Fund Certificate (ITF) (2016). and addressed to: The Secretary, School Tenders Board,

Verifiable evidence of Compliance with Registration Queen's College, Yaba-Lagos. The envelope should be with National Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF). duly marked “Category/Lot No……/Technical or

Verifiable evidence of registration with the Bureau Financial on the Top Right Hand Corner. The Bids should of Public Procurement (BPP) Federal contractors, be dropped in the Tender Box at the Office of Principal consultants and suppliers Database in the form of Queen's College Yaba – Lagos not later than 12noon current Interim Registration Report (IRR).

Tuesday 30th August 2016.

Verifiable evidence of financial support from a reputable Bank.

5.0 CLOSING DATE

Verifiable evidence of letters of award and job Technical and Financial bids submission is not later than completion certificates of previous experience in six (6) weeks from the date of the publication, that is on similar job(s) at least three (3) in the last five years. or before 12noon Tuesday 30th August, 2016. Bids will

Verifiable evidence of construction equipment with be opened thereafter same day at Queen's College, proof of ownership or lease agreement.

Yaba

Verifiable evidence of company profile and Signed technical qualification of key personnel with Management

has no positive impact on the lives of the people of Edo State.

The PDP Senatorial Chairman, Mr Segun Saiki who spoke through the Akoko-Edo publicity secretary, Mr Kayode Alabi, at a rally in Igarra, said the APC governors’ visit had no positive impact on the people. He said local government workers have not been paid their salaries for seven months, saying “nothing is working in Edo State. If the aim of their visit was to contribute funds for the payment of local government workers, it would have been better.”

CHANGE OF NAME I formerly Balogun Niyi now BALOGUN YUSUF OLANIYI. All former documents remain valid.

General public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

I formerly Folake Arinlade Durodola now CHRISTY FOLAKE DURODOLA. All former documents remain valid. General public take note.

minister said some weeks ago that government would purchase more locomotives and coaches to accommodate the large turnout of passengers patronising Abuja-Kaduna rail route.

He revealed that the number of passengers boarding Abuja-Kaduna rail are more than the capacity of the coaches.

According to him, “currently from what we have seen, the number of passengers boarding the rail outnumber the number of coaches available. We have about four coaches that have the capacity to carry about 380 persons, but right now, more than 380 persons have been boarding those coaches,” Amaechi revealed.

“Since we hit the ground running, people are boarding to go to Kaduna free in the test running of the project. We will start collecting money the day President Muhammadu Buari inaugurates the project,” he concluded.

9

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

10

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

11

businessnews

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Inflation hit 16.5% in June —NBS

BOI harps on commodity based industrialisation

•Projected to reach 17% in July •Prices of imported goods rising fast

D

Sanya Adejokun-Abuja

ESPITE the economic downturn leading to Federal and states governments being unable to finance development projects, states being unable to pay salaries and private companies laying off staff in droves, inflation continues its upward movement, rising to 15.6 percent in June.

The last time inflation was this high was 2004 when it went as high as almost 23 percent.

But it appears that the trend will be sustained especially with recent decision of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to allow market forces determine value of the naira, which has pushed official exchange rate from N199/ US$ about one month ago to N292/US$ by the close of transaction last Friday.

Inflation rate for this month has been projected to hit 17 per cent but may overshoot that target with increasing scarcity of naira.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), which released its June 2016 data on Monday morning, explained that this is the fifth consecutive month that consumer price index (CPI) which measures inflation has maintained its upward movement as it continue to record relatively strong increases.

It said imported commodities are responsible for the fast rate of inflation.

NBS said the June figure was 0.9 per cent points higher from rates recorded in May (15.6 per cent).

It blamed increases in the energy sector for the rise but explained that the increase was weighed upon by a slower increase in three divisions; recreation and culture, restaurant and hotels, and miscellaneous goods and services.

“Year on year, energy prices, imported items and related products continue to be persistent drivers of the Core sub-index. The Core index increased by 16.2 per cent in June, up by approximately 1.2 per cent points from rates recorded in May (15.1 per cent).

“During the month, the highest increases were seen in the Electricity, Liquid Fuel (kerosene), Furniture and Furnishings, Passenger Transport by Road, and Fuels and Lubricants

for Personal Transport Equipment.”

Petroleum product importers and marketers are currently lobbying for government to remove the N145 cap imposed by Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).

While imported foods continue to increase at a faster pace, the Food sub index on the aggregate increased, albeit at a slower

pace in June relative to May. The index increased by 15.3 per cent (year on year) in June up by 0.4 per cent points from rates recorded in May. The index was weighted upon by a slower increase in the Vegetables and “Sugar, jam, honey, chocolate and confectionery” groups.

NBS said month-onmonth, the Headline index has moved in a sideways

fashion since February, the first month of a pronounced increase in rates this year. Specifically, in June, the index increased by 1.7 per cent, lower by roughly 100 basis points from rates recorded in May. The report noted that the Headline Index is made up of the Core Index and Farm Produce items. As. Processed Foods are included in both the Core and Food

sub-indices, this implies that these sub-indices are not mutually-exclusive.

Year on year, both the Urban and Rural indices increased albeit at a faster pace in June. The Urban index rose by roughly 100 basis points from 17.1 per cent in May to 18.1 per cent in June, while the Rural Index increased by 0.7 per cent points from 14.3 per cent in May to 15.1 per cent in June.

From left: Divisional Head, Large Scale Enterprise, Joseph Babatunde; Executive Director, Corporate and Commercial Services, Jonathan Tobin; Executive Director, Micro Enterprise and Financial Inclusion, Mrs Toyin Adeniji, and Acting Managing Director/CEO, Waheed Olagunju, all of Bank of Industry during the 2016 Bank of Industry Media Parley in Lagos on Saturday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA

Kogi govt re-appoints Skye Bank as lead collecting bank for state IGR, services LESS than a week after Lagos State Government directed all its agencies and ministries to increase business relationship with Skye Bank, another state of the federation, Kogi State has re-appointed the bank as its lead collecting bank for the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and services.

The news of the re-appointment of Skye Bank was contained in a letter signed by the State’s Accountant General, Momoh Jibrin and addressed to the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Bank, Tokunbo Abiru.

Dated July 18, with reference number KSG/ TRY/2/S.07/VOL.II/20, the four paragraph letter titled: Re-appointment as Lead Collecting bank for Kogi State Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) and Services, lauded the track record of the bank in meeting its obligations and responsibilities which informed the decision of the State government to re-appoint the lender,

even as it promised continued patronage of Bank by the state.

“We wish to inform you of the State Government’s decision to re-appoint your bank as lead collecting bank for the Kogi State IGR and services. Please accept the assurance of the state government’s high-

est regards and continued patronage,” the letter read in part.

It will be recalled that Lagos State Government had last week commended the bank’s management wherein the state promised to partner the financial Institution on business development, mandating

all ministries and agencies in the state to continue to transact business with the bank.

The Lagos State Government had expressed its confidence on the Board and management and leadership of Skye Bank noting that the bank is safe and in good financial health.

Unilever records 1,178% increase in profit for H1:2016 KehindeAkinseinde-JayeobaLagos

UNILEVER Nigeria Plc’s has posted a turnover and Profit after Tax of N32.28 billion and N1.094 billion respectively with improvements across board for its half year 2016 result.

In its recently released financial result, the company showed consistency in performance over the last two quarters demonstrates the company’s strong resilience in a challenging operating environment.

Profit after tax for the full year increased by 1,178 per cent from N86 million in

H1 2015 to N1.09 billion in H1 2016, while 12 per cent growth in turnover from N28.72 billion in H1 2015 to N32.28 billion in H1 2016.

Cost of sales increased by 16 per cent to N22 billion for the period ended 30 June 2016 from N19 billion recorded in the corresponding period in 2015.

Net finance costs reduced by 54 per cent to N0.67billion for the six months ended June 30, 2016 compared to N1.47 billion reported for the corresponding period in 2015.

H1 2016 results show that net finance cost as a function of operating profit im-

proved significantly to 31 per cent (H1 2015: 94 per cent), reflecting sustained improvements in cash management.

Trading conditions remained difficult in the second quarter of 2016 with prevailing tight consumer wallets and rising costs.

However, Unilever Nigeria has continued to optimise its planning capabilities and demonstrate resilience in navigating the difficult operating terrain. H1 performance has been delivered in the midst of multiple challenges including foreign exchange devaluation amongst others.

Gbemi Solaja-Lagos

TO fulfil industrial potential and achieve sustainable growth in the country, the acting Managing Director, Bank of Industry, Waheed Olagunju, has emphasised the need to maximise the country’s commodities by adding value to natural resources and capitalising on its population.

Olagunju, at a media parley themed “Sustaining Nigeria’s Industrial Sector Growth through Impactful Partnerships,” over the weekend in Lagos, regretted that ignorance about the potentials of raw materials among Nigerians was a major setback.

According to him, “there is need to add value to our resources as 774 local governments have raw materials where we have comparative advantage.”

To this effect, the Executive Director, Corporate services, Jonathan Tobin, in his presentation entitled “De -risking agric financing: a case study of NIRSAL”, urged rice producing states rice producing states to boost rice production.

According to him, the ABP, which domesticated rice production in Kebbi State with 78000 farmers on the scheme, was now full blown.

He, however, regretted that out of the 14 state governors of rice producing states for consultations invited by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), before the take off on the ABP, only Kebbi State showed interest.

According to him, if the governors participate, the local demand would be met and cost of purchasing rice would decrease significantly.

The bank plans to expand the scheme to other 14 states starting from Ebonyi, Cross River, Anambra and northern states among others, he added.

Additionally, the scheme is also encouraging local production in rice, wheat, fish, and livestock In her own paper, the Executive Director, financial inclusion, Mrs Toyin Adeniji, explained that the Government Enterprise Empowerment Programme (GEEP) would ensure that people at the lower pyramid have access to loans directly without any need for intermediaries.

According to her, it is a targeted financial inclusion and empowerment programme to deliver maximum impact and scale to the economically underrepresented groups in the country.

12

businessnews

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Marketers blame hike in kerosene, diesel, cooking gas •As Nigerians groan prices on forex scarcity Olatunde Dodondawa-Lagos

T

HERE are strong indications that unfavorable foreign exchange regime may have caused marketers to stop importation of Household Kerosene which has resulted into product scarcity and Nigerians are groaning over the rising prices of these petroleum products which have continued to soar high amid economic hardship.

Investigations by the Nigerian Tribune on Monday revealed that petroleum products that are very relevant to the masses like the household kerosene and Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) called diesel are now selling for above N250 per litre while Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) otherwise called cooking gas is selling for N3,500 per 12.5kg cylinder.

Executive Secretary, Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association (DAPPMA), Olufemi Adewole, blamed scarcity of foreign exchange for the hike in pump price of petroleum products, while chatting with the Nigerian Tribune via telephone interview.

According to him, “the reasons for the hike in price could be attributed to scarcity of foreign exchange. Marketers find it extremely difficult to import kerosene due to huge gap between the official exchange rate and the parallel market rates. For instance, a dollar is selling at N285 at the floating market while it is selling at N360 to a dollar at parallel market.

“The perfect alternatives the country has are the re-

fineries. But our inability to refine kerosene locally also contributes to the hike. It’s not as if marketers are not importing, but it is not in sufficient quantity. Marketers that bring in products will have to recoup their investment.”

In his opinion, the Public Relations Officer, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Western Zone, Alhaji Abdul Lateef Jaiyeola, argued that “because diesel has been deregulated, value of Naira in exchange to a dollar will translate to hike in pump price of diesel. On

the other hand, scarcity of foreign exchange has discouraged marketers to import kerosene while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which has been importing kerosene for marketers has also stopped importing the product.

“They rely on kerosene from refineries, mainly Warri and Port Harcourt refineries. But recent attacks on the pipelines and other oil installations have reduced output from the refineries. Another important factor that is responsible for increase in pump

foreign exchange has discouraged marketers from importing kerosene.”

The Corporate Affairs Manager, NIPCo Plc, Taofeek Lawal, argued that many marketers no longer import kerosene, saying “most of the oil marketers import diesel and petrol; they are not importing kerosene now because they believe that it will not sell fast. This is why the price is on the high side because the demand is now more than the supply.”

On the hike in price of cooking gas, efforts to speak with the Executive

From left, President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI), Dr. Nike Akande; Vice President, Mr. Varkey Verghese and Head, Branding and Communication, Sterling Bank Plc, Chimaobi Nwaokoma, at the Sterling Bank-sponsored Inauguration of the Medical, Pharmaceutical and Allied Services Group in Lagos.

New NPA MD strives for improved revenue generation

By Ruth Olurounbi

THE Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority, Hadiza Bala Usman, has said that under her leadership, the Nigerian

Port Authority (NPA) will strive for enhanced operating efficiencies to facilitate improved revenue generation and inflows into the national treasury.

Usman, who recently

UBA, MasterCard announce Pan African partnership UNITED Bank for Africa (UBA) and MasterCard have announced a partnership which will see UBA act as the issuer for MasterCard in 18 new markets in Africa. The partnership which came into effect in the second quarter of 2016 will see UBA issue MasterCard credit, debit and prepaid cards across these markets.

The partnership will also focus on increased payments infrastructure across Africa, including the roll out of point-of-sale and mobile-point-of-sale technology, to ensure merchants are able to accept the cards when introduced into these markets.

MasterCard and UBA are

price of kerosene is that it is being diverted into aviation fuel. Liberalization of foreign exchange rate has resulted into expensive imported Jet-A1 fuel otherwise called aviation fuel.

And because kerosene can be re-processed into aviation fuel, many marketers may have been diverting the product.”

The National Controller, Operations, Mike Osatuyi, said due to inability of some marketers to settle their debt obligations to foreign suppliers, “many of them have stopped supplying us. And scarcity of

partnering across the 19 African countries in which UBA currently operates: Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Chad, Cote D’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Gabon, Guinea, GuineaBissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

“As the needs of our customers change, we are adapting through strategic innovations and partnerships to provide them with excellent and convenient services. Through these strategic partnerships, we are able to accelerate the drive for financial inclu-

sion and economic well being across the African continent,” said Kennedy Uzoka, Group Managing Director-Designate, UBA plc.

Division President for Sub-Saharan Africa, MasterCard, Daniel Monehin says; “this focus on infrastructure and the roll out of easy-to-access solutions is a key part of driving financial inclusion and a move away from cash in these markets. MasterCard’s continued innovation in the payments space coupled with UBA’s extensive pan-African network will mean the introduction of increased competition and a stronger financial sector in these regions.

became the NPA managing director, said this at the handover ceremony to the new management team in Lagos on Monday, in which she was officially handed the reins of the port.

According to her, since the national ports are critical artery of the economy, operators henceforth “will deliver port services at the standards that our businesses deserve in the 21st century in supporting President Buhari’s administration agenda of economic diversity.”

Usman promised that under the new management, the NPA would “strive for enhanced operating efficiencies to facilitate improved revenue generation and inflows into the national treasury.

“Today, I assume with humility the responsibility of leading the NPA team. As you all know, the country expects much from us all.

We will listen to our customers, importers, exporters and other agencies working in the ports to improve on our service delivery to the nation, anything less than world-class services is sim-

ply not acceptable; attaining such heights is a mission to which I am certain we can all subscribe to.”

She said that as a team leader, she was on board to add her efforts to the port works “so that we can collectively achieve results for our industry. We must work as a team, pursuing common goals with professionalism and diligence.

“We shall prioritise investment in primary equipment and infrastructure and services committed to by NPA in the concession agreements to hasten clearance of imports and exports from the ports. As we collaborate in the best traditions of public service, I believe that with commitment and diligence our hard work can position NPA as a model agency.”

To function as effective regulators, she charged all workers at the NPA commit to the highest standards of performance and cohesion, while asking that the team members “uphold the most diligent work ethic, in our individual beats as well as in the collective undertakings required to achieve results.”

Secretary, National Association of LPG Marketers (NALPGAM), Bassey Essien, proved abortive as calls out across to his line were not answered.

On his part, the SouthWest Chairman of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Tokunbo Korodo, urged the Federal Government to make a clear policy on kerosene.

“The government has deregulated diesel and petrol, but it is yet to make clear policy on kerosene. This has made the product to be sold for as high as N240 per litre in most filling stations. Most of the filling stations, especially NNPC mega stations in Lagos do not have the product, thereby forcing masses to buy from road side marketers,” he said.

He argued that kerosene has not been deregulated based on the Federal Government policy on the product.

“Part of the excuse given to us was because of the hostility in the Niger Delta which has reduced the capacity of the refineries.

The increase in the price of kerosene has also triggered up price of gas which is now between N4,000 and N4,300.

“Kerosene is the only product that is accessible to rural and urban women and government needs to explain to us why the product is more expensive than diesel and petrol now.

For kerosene to be sold for more than N200 at pump price is uncalled for and government should look inward and address it urgently,” he said.

However, a source in the LPG sub-sector who preferred anonymity stated that the price should have gone down following intervention of the PPMC. According to him, “before now, all LPG from NLNG was being diverted to one terminal owned by NAVGAS. But the intervention of the government through the PPMC has ensured that LPG is being discharged in other terminal like NIPCo terminal and others.”

He argued that Nigerians will soon witness decline on price of cooking gas.

In a chat with the Nigerian Tribune, a trader, Bolanle Oladosu, said the price of kerosene has become unbearable. She argued that in her area, a four-litre keg of kerosene is being sold at N1400. “I have been forced to switch to cooking gas because a 3-kg cylinder costs me N1000 to fill and will last me as much as kerosene would do,” she said.

13

editorial

T

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

IDPs: Robbing people in misery

HE quest by some public officials for filthy lucre knows no bounds. All avenues to cheat, defraud and appropriate the patrimony of their fellow compatriots are usually exploited with uncanny passion and sadly, a normal expectation of exercise of moral restraint in obvious cases that are akin to inhumanity is, apparently, a tall order. That perhaps is one way to capture the very disturbing allegation of monumental fraud being perpetrated by public officials whose responsibility it is to administer relief materials to the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in the North-East.

As a consequence, the mortality rate in the camps is intolerably high. Acutely malnourished children, a very common sight, exemplify the degree of starvation in the camps. This unfortunate development belies the commendable efforts of the Federal Government, the affected state governments, and some non-governmental organisations and development partners who have donated billions of naira to ensure that the IDPs have some level of comfort away from their homes.

However, it is one thing to provide relief materials; it is quite another for the materials to reach the intended end users.

Complaint of public officials converting items meant for the IDPs to their personal use was rampant but things came to a head with the alleged disappearance of 71 trailer loads of rice and grains allocated to Adamawa IDPs by the Federal Government recently. The 71 trailers reportedly arrived in the state and they were received in an elaborate ceremony reportedly graced by the state deputy governor, Mr Martins Babale. But that was the end of the good news as substantial portions of the grains vanished to the thin air shortly after the ceremony.

For instance, Madagali Local Council, the area worst-hit by the insurgency in Adamawa, was reportedly allocated two trailers loaded with 600 bags of 50kg rice per trailer but Honorable Emmanuel Tsamdu, a member of the state House of Assembly from that constituency, claimed that only 250 bags of rice was distributed. Tsamdu’s claim was reportedly corroborated by Bello Ichadi, the district head of Guluk, headquarters of Madagali Council, but with the more disturbing revelation that the 250 bags of rice were marked 50kg but each of the bags actually weighed 25kg. The implication is that IDPs in Madagali Local Council received 250 bags of 25Kg rice instead of 1,200 bags of 50kg rice meant for them! The balance is yet to be accounted for by the

official administrators of the materials. This is reportedly the sad fate of a huge quantity of relief materials including medicaments sent to the IDP camps across the North-East.

Recently, an international humanitarian organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) raised the alarm about a catastrophic humanitarian emergency in Bornu State, where many children were dying of starvation. A rapid nutritional screening of about 800 children at Bama Hospital IDP camp reportedly carried out by MSF revealed that 19 per cent were suffering from severe acute malnutrition, the deadliest form of malnutrition. Ironically, much effort and enormous resources had been committed to avert this turn of events.

But the alleged activities of some unscrupulous and greedy government officials have caused such effort and huge resource deployment to pale into insignificance. It is so bad that some IDPs are urging the donor agencies to monitor the distribution of items they bring before exiting the area.

It is difficult to fathom how the mind of some Nigerians work and how inhuman they can get, so much so that they have no qualms profiting from the misery of their fellow human beings. Some of the IDPs who are being robbed have lost their loved ones; they are only lucky to still be alive. The artisans among them can hardly practice their trades and farmers have missed several productive farming seasons, so the question of creating their own wealth does not arise.

They live on handouts which many of them are not proud of, but they have no choice. They do not talk of buying cars or building houses, yet some unconscionable public officials are stealing materials donated by government and public spirited individuals, foreign countries and international organisations just to enable them to survive. This is the height of callousness, criminality and unimaginable breach of ethical and moral boundaries. It is unacceptable and must be resisted with vehemence.

Government’s commitment of resources and its goodwill in attracting relief materials from donor organisations to the IDPs are positive developments. However, it should go further to show very keen interest in what goes on, including the administration of relief materials in the various camps.

The case of the missing 71 trailers of rice in Adamawa should be thoroughly investigated, and the thieves identified and brought to book. Official measures should be crafted to rein in the tendency by some desperate public officials to engage in corrupt activities, the circumstances and the dire consequences of their ignoble actions notwithstanding.

AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS OF NIGERIA PLC Founders: Chief Obafemi Awolowo GCFR, SAN (1909 - 1987)

Chief (Dr) H.I.D Awolowo CON (1915 - 2015)

Chairman Rev. (Mrs) Omotola Oyediran Co-Chairman Dr. Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief Edward Dickson Controller (Business Development) Fola Oke Chief Accountant Oluremi Olufisayo, ACA

Ibadan Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08077227269; 08034135733 Lagos Office (Advert Hot Lines): 08055333067; 08033013177 South South Regional Office: No. 50 Ikwerre Rd., Mile 1, Diobu, P/Harcourt, Rivers State

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

GOT NEWS?

Abuja Office: Suites G2. 05-07, PEB04 Plaza, Plot 2027, Dalaba Street, Beside NAPTIP Headquarters, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja Advert Hot Lines: 08033199716; 08078891797 Kaduna Office: AN 20, Lagos Street, by Keffi Rd., Kaduna.

Ikeja Marketing Office.

Block C, First Floor, Motorways centre, Opp., 7up Alausa, Ikeja.

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

14 LETTERS TO THE

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

editor

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

Of Brexit and Nigeria’s democracy

A

LTHOUGH the British people have voted in a referendum to leave the European Union (EU), and a new Brexitlooking government has taken over, the petition of four million citizens urging the government to have a rethink has been sent to parliament.

While the petition may not be enough to force another referendum, it definitely reveals the democratic rights of British citizens to voice their views against a democratic exercise, which was the referendum.

The United Kingdom now has a new leader, in person of Theresa May, and with the fact that those who have gained strong positions in her government are those who supported the country to leave the EU, then it shows that the new government is seriously pushing for a Brexit.

Whatever the UK government decides at the end of the day, it is important for the Nigerian government to also look at how to satisfy the yearnings of its citizens.

Denying the people of how they want to be gov-

erned is only pushing our evil days forward, as the people will never back-off from such demands.

Have we ever thought it wise that 46 years after the civil war ended, the Igbo people have resurrected the Biafra spirit.

This means that government can only suppress the yearnings of a people for some time, but cannot kill it completely.

The options before government are in two parts

— first, it is either the government allows for restructuring, which will give the regions more control.

This can be done in how the United Kingdom is structured. Here, there is England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and despite these home nations being one, they operate different economies, as well as other sectors like health, education, police, sports, among others.

However, they are united

by the central government, under the leadership of the prime minister; they are also united by the monarch and in the area of defence.

If Nigeria follows this political structure, then there will be competition among the geo-political zones and in no time, the country will truly be the giant of Africa.

The other option before government is for it to allow a referendum on whether citizens of certain sections want to remain

part of the Nigerian nation.

I doubt it if this will be the better option to follow and as a result, the Federal Government can allow for a political restructuring of the country. It can put this in motion first by studying the drafts of the national conference held by the immediate past administration of Dr Goodluck Jonathan.

•Dr Ken Uturu, Asaba, Delta State.

mostly involved in this.

When we feel we can attack our fellow countrymen based on their views, ethnicity or religion at will on social media, then it will unconsciously develop into our consciousness and we will begin to hate them in real life.

Nigeria is a country that has a lot of potentials and the youth hold the key for a brighter future; it is, how-

ever, unfortunate that politicians have succeeded in dividing us. If this current trend is not reversed, then the future of the country looks bleak.

It is high time we looked at the positive sides of those who are of different ethnic and religious backgrounds to us, thereby appreciating them. Through diversity, we can build a

better Nigeria of the future.

One thing I know for sure is that it is not a mistake that we found ourselves in the same country and as a result, we should use this to our advantage.

Why are govs not conducting LG elections STATE governors have almost ruined the functions of the third tier of government, which is the local government. They have extended their powers to the local government level, thereby denying citizens the opportunity to elect their representatives at the grassroot level.

Today, governors determine what goes to the local governments despite the fact that the council areas have their allocations from the Federal Government.

It is undemocratic for state governors to be usurping the functions of local government chairmen through their proxies, who they appoint in order to have total control. In some local government areas today, the appointed council chairmen cannot undertake meaningful projects without the approval of the state government, and this is a great disservice to the tenets of democracy.

Citizens who practice politics at the local level have, as a result, seen democratic rights taken away from them since they cannot stand for election or elect candidates of their choice.

If we are, therefore, to sustain democracy in the country, a thriving local government system must be functional, that is, one where democratic rules are followed.

Consequently, it is necessary that the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) take over the conduct of elections into local governments, or that the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC) be empowered to conduct elections into local government for a term of three years without the influence of state governments.

•Bamidele Bayode, Osogbo, Osun State.

Nigeria needs unity to prosper FOR some time now, I have been noticing a trend on social media about how divided Nigerians are along ethnic and religious lines. To be sure of what I am saying, Nigerians should visit news websites and click on important national news; then after reading, they should take time to read the comments of contributors and they will notice how divided Ni-

gerians are.

When a story reports the negative activities of some people who belong to a particular tribe, commentators who belong to other tribes will not even address the issue at stake, rather they will descend on the tribe of the accused, describing them in unprintable names. The same also happens when somebody of a certain religious

inclination commits an offence. As a sociologist and lawyer, I have seen that this is one of the first steps through which a country can be divided, that is, when people in the same country become suspicious of their fellow citizens who are from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.

The most painful part of this is that the youth, who are Nigeria’s future, are

•Yetunde Soares, Surulere, Lagos.

15

opinion

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Avarice, the hamartia of Africa’s giant

M

day, the hero is falling, plummeting from heights of reverence due to the ferocious thieving of these ‘lootsters’, in whose hands the fortune of the country snoozed. Today, the future of posterity has been mortgaged by the extravagance and recklessness of elder countrymen who were supposed to secure it. Albeit, they simply secured those of their generations unborn with public fund! Today, a fertile maiden, once upon a time robust, has been ravaged into a sickly kwashiorkor-stricken child. We need not look any further for the reason for this appalling transformation. Our answers lay, naked in the ostentatious lifestyle of public office holders. Their grandeur, opulence at the expense of the citizenry whom they were called upon to serve, or so we thought!

My heart has been fraught with grief since the emergence of certain facts – I turn on the TV and I see millions and millions of naira in dollars. I read the paper and incomprehensible figures of more millions throw my non-mathematic brain into entropy. So, I begin to ask the screen and the paper why, like a raging lunatic. One person, an 18 million dollars mansion with reported furnishings of two million dollars and a bullet-proof gym!

This same person was allegedly in possession of jewellery worth 2 million dollars until they were confisticated and was until a year ago, a minister of the Federal Republic of our dear country. This ex-minister was alleged to have adorned her wrist with a watch worth 185 million naira!

All of this was allegedly acquired with public funds – your

with Vera Onana

veraonana@gmail.com 08052663362 money, my money, our children’s money!

In this column, last year, I wrote the piece ‘Diezani: a Cornucopia of Taints, Controversies’. In that article, I delved into the murky waters of her misdemeanors as a highly influential public office holder in the GEJ administration. Harrowingly, I was completely benighted of the extent to which those hideous voracious activities had vapourised the green leafy parts of our dear country’s economy. However, I am more saddened, piqued and tossed into indignation by her rebuttal.

“When did it become a crime to own a property in Nigeria? When did it become a crime for a woman of my status to have in her possession, jewelry? Jewelry, which women all across the world, including the woman selling tomatoes in Bodija market, have in abundance in their closets,” said Diezani, former Minister of Petroleum Resources.

For Pete’s sake ex-Minister, I live in Ibadan but I am yet to meet a tomato seller in Bodija market that wears a watch worth 185 million of hard currency. I would love if you can send me their addresses so I can do an elaborate feature on the lavish living of Bodija tomato sellers; I bet it will win an award!

She talked about her status as an ex-minster of a third world country as if she were the leader of the free world. I feel obliged to state that even President Barack Obama of the United States of America is retiring into a five million dollar house. Talking about status? Go compare!

Unfortunately for Nigeria, people like this are as ubiquitous as the sand grains in a sea shore in every sector of the nation.

What do you say about the state governor that buys private jets, the local government chairman that owns a fleet of choice cars, the security chief that owns homes in Beverly hills’, the university vice chancellor that builds houses worth millions, the young graduate that wants to drive a range rover and wears a Movado bold watch on a salary that is barely over a hundred thousand? We have come to a precarious place and my faith is running dry.

Our leaders have set the pace with exemplary thieving and looting, God knows what this generation and posterity will accomplish for this congenital greed thickens yet.

,—

Y My heart sinks into deeper melancholy and mystical perturbation swallows up my spirit like a landslide every time I ruminate over the current economic status of our dear country. Caustic hunger, sweeps through streets, grilling life out of the average Nigerian. His superior, inflation, struts in the marketplaces, enclosing transactions in his daunting quagmire. The state worker is deprived of the solace of sleep for as the world quiets at night falls, the shrieking of the fiends of several debts and lack, takes over his mind. The federal worker is agitated as uncertainty sweeps through his room and hovers over his bed, what if the next salary alert doesn’t show up? The greatest dilemma of them all, however, is that which besieges the private sector worker. For even in the face of delayed salaries, he knows in his heart that he is only but a cost in the hand of the owner and can be cut loose at anytime – petrifying job insecurity.

How did our dear country degrade so? How did this economic impasse befall us? Once, we were a strong country.

So strong that the rulers of the world acknowledged us as the giants of our continent – Africa! Alas, that giant has disappeared like fumes from a conjurer’s boiler and has been substituted with a bony hag sans a tinge of succulent flesh. The fat cow our ancestors bequeathed us has been so savagely milked that the teats on her udder have been retracted… she lays, bereft of flesh, not even useful for meat and awaits death. Who did this to her?

The answers we seek are not conundrums. Though in our outrageous sanctimoniousness, we lament of spiritual attacks on our economy and summon heavenly chariots of fire to come to our rescue. I would snicker at such hypocrisy and guffaw at such blatant naivety! For the answers lie right in front of us and are as simple as the life of a sloth. This horde of economic decay, galloping right towards an irrevocable state of putrefaction, if not timely intercepted, was brought upon us by the people we anointed. Yes, the demons we endorsed. The blood suckers we campaigned for. The greedy swine we gave free pass into national halls of fame. The ravens we allowed to fly over open vaults of cash and the baboons we gave codes to strong rooms fraught with precious stones. To-

veracity

Economy: In support of CBN gov, Godwin Emefiele

By Onyekachi Emmanuel READING severally through the article by the veteran economist, Henry Boyo in two national newspapers of Monday, 11th July, 2016, entitled ‘Economy: Kaleidoscope of recent media reports’ I failed to understand the import of the endeavour or the message he tried pushing to the public. Or is it that he is changing his style of attack on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), or running dry of ideas? Mr. Boyo has carved a niche for himself with his acerbic proses on the managers (past and present) of the apex bank. I have had to argue with people on several occasions over many of his articles and commentaries in both print and electronic media that, if his economic prescriptions are that potent and valuable, governments, past and present, would have rolled out red carpet, begging him to help turn the fortunes of Nigeria around. Even the Bretton Woods Institutions and other multilateral financial institutions would have found him most valuable.

Every week in the last 17 years, Boyo churns out articles rubbishing any policy of the CBN or its managers. This is not to say that patriotic citizens should not pull the ear of their government when going off the track, but there are decent ways through which this could be achieved without turning out to be a nuisance. Even if his ideas are sympathetic to, or he is a collaborator of the neocolonial agents – local or foreign, it is high time he turned a new leaf by joining hands with the government of the day and the CBN in their efforts to wake up the comatose economy. More so that, he had laboured vainly propounding impracticable idealistic proposals since I started to follow his articles shortly after Chief Joseph Sanusi was appointed the CBN Governor during Chief Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as a civilian president through HRH Sanusi Lamidi Sanusi,

the former governor of the Bank. He is yet to sheath his sword.

He became so virulent in his attack on the Bank’s policies shortly after the present governor, Godwin Emefiele assumed office, for no fathomable reason. He was not sparing on the barred 41 items from access to forex. He has severally accused the CBN of distortional monopoly of the dollar supply and serial naira devaluation, not to mention CBN inability to rein-in excess liquidity in the system. Though I agree with him that serial devaluation will not help the economy at this moment, diversification of the economy as currently spearheaded by the CBN will make the economy to be more competitive internationally, and that is what Nigeria needs now.

This is not to say that Mr. Boyo’s commentaries are valueless, but certainly unpatriotic. There is more dignified route through which he can have the ears of the economic managers rather than trading them at the market place for reasons best known to him. May I ask the veteran economist if there has not been any economic gain since the forex restriction on 41 items? The results are quite glaring, particularly the CBN’s Anchor Borrowers’ Programme on rice farming in Kebbi State, not to mention other rewarding interventions by the Bank in critical sectors of the economy.

Has the Naira not been adequately protected? The recent flexible forex regime was a well thought-out policy unveiled by the CBN at its last Monetary Policy Committee meeting, mainly for the benefit of the economy. The policy which has been sever-

ally applauded by the IMF, notable financial experts, industrialists and real sector practitioners except Mr. Boyo has been described as one of the best policies the economy needs now to get back on its feet. If Boyo’s intention was to be academic, the extracts picked from several publications quoted from should have been taken out as a whole, not by picking what suits his manipulative intention. Those published negative extracts are counterproductive to the desire of the CBN. Mr. Boyo as a veteran is expected to help the CBN promote and drive the new forex regime through educative articles not ones that will further scare away foreign investors. Even in the articles in question, he failed to convey any meaningful message than that the CBN is taking Nigerians on another ride of empty promises. What does Mr. Henry Boyo want?

The problem with the economy was not caused by Mr. Emefiele. It was only a pity that the man was appointed when the economy was challenged. Mr. Boyo should also note that Emefiele, on assuming office, came with a vision he encapsulated in a-10 point agenda never done in the history of Nigeria central banking. He has battled to ensure that interest rates remain low and inflation at single digits. Emefiele is not responsible for the militancy in the Niger Delta that has disrupted oil production.

Mr. Boyo, a respected elder from the Niger Delta region is expected to go home and talk to the renegades destroying the economic fortunes of Nigeria.

Consequently, Mr. Boyo is thus advised to start threading dignified path and join every well-meaning Nigerian to support government’s effort to resuscitate the economy. President Muhammadu Buhari and Godwin Emefiele cannot do it all alone, no matter their strong will; they can only succeed with the support and patriotism of every Nigerian, including the respected Mr. Boyo.

•Emmanuel is of Delta State University.

16

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

agriculture Egg production: Agro firms pledge support for Tuns Farms Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

OPERATORS in the agricultural sector in Nigeria have expressed their commitment to support Tuns Farms Nigeria Limited in its role as consultant and manager to the Federal Government on the National Egg Production (NEGPRO) scheme. The latest agricultural industry operators to back the scheme are Livestock Feeds PLC and Turner Wright Limited.

In a message to the management of Tuns Farms Limited, Managing Director of Livestock Feeds PLC, Modupe Asanmo, referred to NEGPRO as a “laudable programme which we believe will transform the poultry industry in Nigeria and will indeed enable the industry to fully achieve its potential as a major source of revenue and employment generation for the country.”

According to her, Livestock Feeds Plc, a subsidiary of UAC Nigeria Plc and currently the only commercial feed milling company quoted on the Nigerian Stock Exchange, would support Tuns Farms Limited to ensure that the NEGPRO scheme succeeds in every part of the nation.

“Livestock Feeds Plc operates two owned plants which are strategically located in Ikeja and Aba with a joint production capacity of 23mt/ hour, while a Toll milling arrangement with Grand Cereals Limited takes care of our operations in the North and Onitsha axis (Edo, Delta, Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi), making us available and visible pan Nigeria, she said.

In a similar development, Turner Wright Limited, a leading producer of animal health and animal nutrition products in Nigeria, has sent a solidarity message to Tuns Farms Limited following the company’s appointment by the Federal Government as a consultant and manager of the NEGPRO scheme.

Dr Tunde Waheed Lawal, Managing Director of Turner Wright Limited, noted that his company is ready to put its wealth of experience in the animal health and nutrition subsector at the disposal of Tuns Farms to ensure the successful implementation of NEGPRO scheme. Tuner Wright Limited had, in 2006, established the first indigenous pharmaceutical manufacturing plant in Nigeria dedicated to veterinary pharmaceuticals.

‘FG needs to localise fish feed production’ Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

A

fish farmer, Akinlami Aduragbemi, has called on the Federal Government to assist local industries in order to localise the production of fish feed in the country.

He also said that localising fish feed production

would boost fish production, create more jobs, helping the country retain some of it foreign exchange used in importing fish feed.

Speaking with the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja, Aduragbemi, who is also the CEO Zion-A Global, Nigeria, said that the prices of fish feed is increasing daily, making some fish farmers

to go out of business.

According to him, “for about a year now, the cost of fish feed in the market has been soaring, about two years ago, we used to buy about N3000 to N4000 per bag but as at today, it is between N7500 to N9000.

“One of the reasons is the negative change as far as

the exchange rate is concerned, most of the feeds are imported and I think is time the government look forward to localising the production of fish feed in the country.

“Localising fish feed production will benefit the economy in a lot of ways, firstly we will retain a lot of foreign exchange, it will im-

prove our balance of payment. Localising fish feed production will also create jobs and the products used for fish feed production are all found in Nigeria.”

He revealed that his company is currently working on drawing international partners to invest in fish feed production in the country.

Cattle Ranches: FG inaugurates NSCDC special security unit Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

THE Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has inaugurated the Committee for the Creation and Training of a Special Unit of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) officers to provide security for host communities of the proposed FG cattle ranches and protect the agricultural investments of the scheme.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh expressed satisfaction on the prompt response of the Minister of Internal Affairs towards addressing the national challenge in the area of agriculture, stating that “we now want to create cattle ranches, bringing our cattle together in manageable conditions where we can finally solve the conflicts be-

tween herdsmen and crop farmers within the shortest period in Nigeria.

“We are hoping that in the process, the Civil Defence Corps will create a special unit of officers, adequately trained and equipped to protect the communities, agricultural investments against rustlers and prevent cows from leaving the ranches. Beyond oil, we need agriculture as an investment. Grasses, water and vet services will be pro-

vided in the ranches and no herdsman will have any excuse to roam. If they do that, then they are breaking the law.

“We will harvest high quality milk and beef for local consumption and hides and skin for export. I urge the Committee to discuss this issue seriously and work out the modalities. We need to tell the world that if we invest or invite foreign investors to Nigeria, their investment is secured. The

President is committed to the success of this and the need to end this violence.”

In his remarks, Minister of Internal Affairs, Lt. Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazzau said: “I responded very quickly to this request because it bothers on the responsibility of our ministry to secure lives and properties of Nigerians and protect our agricultural investments. This duty is directly connected to the ease of doing business and we want

17

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

For enquiries, contact:

08116954637, 08039521408

N2bn agro dealers bribery allegation untrue —GESAAN Collins Nnabuife - Abuja

THE Growth Enhancement Scheme Agro Dealers Association of Nigeria (GESAAN) has described the recent N2 billion bribery levelled against the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Audu Ogbeh as cruel and untrue.

The association also urged the minister to take legal actions in order to unravel those behind the allegation.

It will be recalled that recently, there was an allegation that the Ogbeh was bribed N2 billion from the outstanding N37 billion for Agro dealers for the farm inputs the supplied during the last administration.

During a press conference in Abuja, the National Chairman of GESAAN, Kabiru Fara said “this cruel allegation against the minister of agriculture was totally untrue and unfortunate.”

He said: “We totally condemn that allegation of the unknown person, he has

also done similar allegation in the past, sometime last year, the same unknown person condemned this association which he claimed to be a member.

“We urge the minister and the ministry to take legal

Kabiru Fara, Chairman, GESAAN

Post-harvest loss prevention tech targets 60,000 African farmers

By Ruth Olurounbi

A 36-month project to scale up the use of technologies across Sub-Saharan Africa to aid reduction of post harvest grain losses would benefit thousands of smallholders farmers on the continent, the Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), has said.

The project, which will help drive known solutions in prevention of post harvest losses, could benefit millions of farmers on the long term, the agency said. In the short term, though, the innovations have the ability to directly benefit the lives of

committee to encourage investors to come to Nigeria. We are solidly behind the ranching programme and will provide adequate support to the ministry of agriculture to succeed.”

The committee, headed

by Noah Auta, Director, Joint Services, Ministry of Internal Affairs is expected to deliberate on the operational modalities of the special unit and submit its recommendation within the shortest possible time.

at least 10,000 smallholder farmers and up to 60,000 by 2020, according to the agency.

The project, financed by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) and implemented by the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the Canadian $2.889 million (USD 2.155 million) support applied research to bring effective, field-tested innovations for reducing post-harvest loss of soybeans and cowpeas to thousands of smallholder farmers in Mozambique and Burkina Faso, the agency said in a statement.

Globally, one-third of food produced for human consumption is lost or wasted, the equivalent of 1.3 billion tons of food per year. Research shows that the majority of post harvest losses occur after grains have been harvested, but before they reach the consumer, in Sub -Saharan Africa – home to over 230 million people suffering from chronic undernourishment.

Research shows that currently, about 30 per cent of the grains produced on the continent is lost due to inadequate post-harvest management, lack of structured markets, inadequate storage, and limited processing capacity.

action to make sure that the person is known and let him come out his facts, as far as we are concerned, some of our members have started receiving payments, some have even received full payment while some are waiting for balance payment.”

Fara expressed delight that the government, through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has agreed to pay up the outstanding payments of agro-dealers in the last Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme which they inherited from the past government.

“We are really thankful that the position of the Ministry of Agriculture on our outstanding payment even though the present administration inherited the liability, they agreed to pay the liability, in fact they have started paying the liability.

“We hope that the balance payment will be made soon and we want to encourage the minister on the planned programme with the ministry of Agriculture, to please let him not be discouraged with whatever was said on the newspaper.

“Whatever insinuation somebody is making from any quarter, he should come out with his facts because what we saw on the newspaper, they don’t look mature, whoever made those assertion has not planned his work well,” he added.

Also, a member of the Board of Trustees of GESAAN, Akinlola Martins said “this association is not part of the so called malicious publication; we as an association have been previously attacked by this supposed writer of this publication, claiming that we are fraudulent, even accusing one of the ministry official.

This administration have tried to alleviate our suffering by paying part if our indebtedness though they inherited it, but they took a bold a step to move the country forward to help our association.”

In another development, the National Chairman of GESAAN, called on the government to look into the activities of the local manufacturers of urea.

He said that the unavailability of urea in the market has made the prices of fertilizer to skyrocket, thereby increasing the prices of food items in the market.

Nothing is as satisfactory as farming —Adeleke Olusola Adeleke, a graduate of Mass Communication is the Head of Ridge and Furrow Agroconcept, headquartered at Iyemero Ekiti in Ekiti State, with branches at Joga Orile, Ogun State and Shonga, Kwara State. In this interview with YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, he speaks on commercial farming, the gains, challenges and sundry issues. Excerpts:

AT a time when many graduates prefer white collar jobs, what influenced you a mass communication graduate to engage in farming?

Farming is my first love. I love farming passionately, right from the beginning of my life. As a child, I do spend my vacation with my Grandpa and this went on throughout my Primary school, we were all the time in the farm, there is no lack of food, whenever I needed money, Grandpa always had money that was generated from selling of Cocoa, Cashew seeds, Yam etc. Then I thought within me that I will love to be a farmer when I grow up, also my father practices farming in spite of the fact that he was a teacher. We always had surplus food in the house and whenever we need money for our provision, we can sell maize, yam etc to get what we want. So I am convinced that whatever I become in life, I will practice agriculture compulsorily.

When did you start farming as a business and how old is your farm?

Like I told you, I knew about farming from my childhood but I started as a real and practicing commercial farmer 15 years ago.

What produce do you plant?

I plant cassava, maize, soya beans, vegetables, plantain and banana.

What challenges do you face as a farmer?

The challenges associated with commercial farming in Nigeria are numerous; climatic conditions, climatic changes, increase in the price of materials like herbicides and fertilizers, lack of funds and support from government, Fulani Cattle invasions among many others.

How do you manage those challenges?

I am coping because everybody needs to eat; those challenges are just a challenge not a problem. On the climatic changes, right timing of planting and natural irrigation of the farm, on the issue of finance, personal savings has been a tremendous help and one need to start small and begin to expand as the income is gradually swelling. On the increase in price of farming materials, we have resolved to propagate organic fertilizer and organic herbicides.

Out of the produce on your farm, which generates the highest profit?

All of them, the profitability depends on the experience one has on agronomic practices adopted in managing the farm.

Can one become a millionaire through farming in Nigeria?

Yes of course, if one cannot make a million, how much do you think a tractor will cost you?

How big is your farm (land mass) and where is it located?

The farms are not in one location, they are scattered around the south west of the country and in Kwara state.

But altogether I have around 300 acres.

How much capital goes into getting a farm of that size?

Like I said earlier, starting small pays better unless one is able to secure a loan from a bank, I can’t give a precise sum but it runs into millions of naira.

Given a chance to change your decision, would you still choose farming?

What else can satisfy like farming? Nothing! Waking up in the morning to eat fresh vegetable and pounded yam with fresh fish. Where else can I get that enjoyment?

Are you in partnership with anyone?

Yes, I have a cluster of farmers forming a cooperative, having the same goals and objective.

18

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016 With Tommy Adegbite 0811 695 4631 tommyabijo@yahoo.com

The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi (left) with Chief Abiola Ogundokun, after the foundation laying ceremony of Iwo East Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Olomowewe, Iwo, Osun State, recently. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

From left, member, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Segun Ajanaku; Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Leye Oyebade; Chairman, Governing Council, Ibadan City Polytechnic, Mr Amos Ajanaku and others, during a one-day working visit to Ibadan City Polytechnic, Alakia Isebo, Ibadan, recently.

Governor Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State (middle), during the traditional marriage of Mr Nduese Ebong and Miss Rebecca Okpoho, at Ikot Akpaden, Ibiono Ibom Local Government Area of the state, on Saturday.

Mr Gbenga Adefaye of Vanguard Newspapers (left), welcoming Prince Tunji Ogunwusi, chairman, Primewaterview Holdings, to the venue of groundbreaking of Journalists Estate at Baren, Ogun State. Wih them in the middle is Mr Dele Agekameh, Director, Primewaterview Holdings. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

From left, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN), his wife; the Olugbo of Ugboland, Oba Fredrick Obateru Akinruntan and his Olori, Iyabode, at the wedding ceremony between Temitope Olanipekun and Ademola Adesina, in Lagos.

From left, Iyalode Alaba Lawson, first National Deputy President, NACCIMA; Mrs Adesola Adebutu, newly-elected President, OGUNCCIMA, Otunba Toyin Taiwo, immediate past president, OGUNCCIMA and Asiwaju Onafowokan, at the inauguration of new executive and 32nd Annual General Meeting of Ogun Chambers of Commerce and Industry, held in Sagamu.

From left, Secretary, Borno Elders Forum, Dr Bulama Mali Gubio; Group Managing Director, Arco Group, Mr Alfred Okoigun and the Secretary to Borno State Government, Mr Usman Jidda Shuwa, during a condolence visit to the family of Shettima Ali Munguno, the late former Commissioner of Petroleum and Power, by Arco Group team, led by Mr Okoigun, in Maiduguri, on Friday.

Bike men on parade during the kick-off of Spectranet, in Ibadan, Oyo State, by the CEO, Mr David Venn. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE.

For bookings, contact ’Laolu Afolabi on 08054681741 or Tommy Adegbite on 08116954631

19

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Taiwo Adisa - 08072000046 Group Politics Editor tai_adis@yahoo.com

Saraki

Dogara

The uproar over proposed immunity for NASS leaders

KOLAWOLE DANIELS brings some intrigues trailing the ongoing moves by members of the National Assembly to expand the scope of beneficiaries of the immunity clause in the Nigerian Constitution.

M

EMBERS of the present National Assembly set the agenda for the current debate over their controversial agenda on immunity for the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives. While some of the principal officers have been tongue in the cheek on the issues, others have been unequivocal in their position for the inclusion of the leaders to be beneficiaries in the immunity clause in the Nigerian Constitution, notwithstanding the existing traditional parliamentary immunity granted lawmakers.

The controversial move by the lawmakers to broaden the coverage of such immunity came amidst other contentious issues like constituency projects, pension for members and purchase of vehicles that have put the National Assembly on the spot lately. It will be recalled that some senators demanded immunity and life pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly after their tenure in office. The demand came to the fore at a two-day retreat tagged, Towards Ensuring Governance Accountability in Nigerian federalism, on Constitution Review, organised by the Senate Ad-Hoc Committee on Constitution Review held in Lagos. Under the proposal, such

presiding officers as the President of the Senate, deputy President of Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and deputy Speaker are to benefit from the arrangement, with the lawmakers saying the presiding officers in the legislature ought to enjoy immunity since the execu-

The constitution, as we have it today, guarantees protection for the executive. We have to include immunity for the National Assembly because legislators need protection to work

tive and judiciary were enjoying it. The deputy President of the Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, who is chairman, Senate Ad hoc Committee on the Review of 1999 Constitution, spoke in favour of the proposal for pension.

He said, “This has nothing to do with an individual. It is about the institution. Let us not politicise it. Nobody elected the Chief Justice of Nigeria but he enjoys pension.

But if we cheapen our own institution, so be it. Let us not make this a personal thing.” Senator Stella Oduah support the argument, saying, “The executive enjoys it. Let us stand by our leaders. They should enjoy this benefit. They act on behalf of us. They are equal to the executive and judiciary and should therefore enjoy the same benefit.”

On pension, Senator Ahmed Yerima stressed: “Governors, who spend just four years enjoy it, so presiding officers should enjoy it too.’ However, Leader of the Senate, Senator Ali Ndume, spoke against the proposal because the case of the state governors and their deputies was different as they were elected by the public.“But we elect our principal officers; to me, I believe that the benefits of the office of the Senate President and other principal officContinues on pg 20

20 politics&policy

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

A divided House Continued from pg 19

ers are too much. They are just one among equals. I am against any excessive privileges given to the senate president or the speaker. All of us were elected. If we are doing anything, it should be for all members of the National Assembly,” Ndume said.

His position was supported by Senator Oluremi Tinubu. According to her, “Principal Officers drive fleet of cars and they have other entitlements. They should not earn extra money when they leave office.In the last (8th) assembly, we in the minority tried to raise our voice against it. You are first, second and third among equals. Some of us do not even have cars but principal officers have so many. I think we should drop that idea,” she said.

But on immunity for principal officers, no fewer than 21 lawmakers voted in favour of it, while 15 voted against it. Justifying his support for the proposal, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Kabiru Gaya, said the essence of immunity was to guard some public office holders against any form of distraction while discharging their duties. He said, “There are three tiers of government and only two arms enjoy immunity. See what is happening to the President of the Senate now (Bukola Saraki, who is standing trial at the Code of Conduct Tribunal for alleged false declaration of assets).

We are not saying the case in court should be stopped. But even yesterday, we read in the papers that there is a fresh case of forgery of Senate Standing Rule against the presiding officers and some other persons and all is to destabilise us.’’

Ndume explained that such immunity should be limited to civil offences committed by the officers.“For criminal issues (offences), there should be no immunity, but for civil offences, there should be immunity. Whoever it is that is involved in a criminal matter should be prosecuted,’’ he noted. Senator Godswill Akpabio proposed that all National Assembly members and state Houses of Assembly members should have immunity. He said elected officers, who were saddled with the responsibility of ensuring good governance, should be allowed to carry out their functions without any form of interference. His words: “I propose that all principal officers of the House of Assembly, House of Representatives and Senate, should enjoy immunity like the executive. So, all parliamentarians who have criminal cases can be invested but they should serve their punishment after office.”

However, the Deputy Senate Leader, Bala Ibn N’Allah, sounded a note of warning.

He said the public might misconstrue the proposal for immunity for the legislature to mean that they were arrogating so much power to themselves. Accordingly, he proposed a different option, which is expunging immunity clause from the constitution.

“Let us remove immunity from everyone and let there be balance. If you give immunity to everybody, a legislator may rape a lady and wait to finish his tenure before being prosecuted because he has immunity,” he said.

Matters arising in the House During the constitutional review exercise carried out by the 7th Assembly of the House, there was a move by the lawmakers to strip the President, vice president, Governors and their deputies of the immunity they enjoy under the 1999 Constitution as amended. Section 308 deals with immunity clause. Subsection (2) (a) states that “No civil or criminal proceedings shall be instituted or continued against a person to whom this section applies during his period of office.”

Malami

Ndume

Ogor

Section (b) states that, “a person to whom this section applies shall not be arrested or imprisoned during that period either in pursuance of the process of any court or otherwise; and Section (c) also states that, no process of any court requiring or compelling the appearance of a person to whom this section applies, shall be applied for or issued: Provided that in ascertaining whether any period of limitation has expired for the purposes of any proceedings against a person to whom this section applies, no account shall be taken of his period of office.

Section(2) The provisions of subsection (1) of this section shall not apply to civil proceedings against a person to whom this section applies in his official capacity or to civil or criminal proceedings in which such a person is only a nominal party.

While that amendment by the House to have the immunity clause in the constitution scaled through at the National Assembly, former President Goodluck Jonathan refused to assent the review of the constitution, citing some grey areas in the amendment. The action of the former President practically announced the end of the amendment. The introduction of the new amendment to Section 308 of the constitution through a bill last Tuesday by the proponent, the Minority Leader, Honourable Leo Ogor, almost led to free for all in the House, as most members who are from the All Progressives Congress, APC kicked against the amendment. According to the proposed amendment, the beneficiaries are to include presiding officers of the National Assembly and state Houses of Assembly.

Leading debate, Honourable Ogor said

that, “Section 308 (3) of the Principal Act is altered by adding the words Senate President, Speaker, Deputy Senate President, Deputy Speaker, immediately after the word, Vice-President, and also to include Speaker of a State House of Assembly, Deputy Speaker of a State House of Assembly immediately after the word, Deputy Governor.” According to him, the legislature needed as much protection as the executive arm of government, noting that presiding officers should be shielded from prosecution for the period they occupied their seats for the sole purpose of protecting the legislature in a democracy. He also alluded to the current travail of the Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Senator Ekweremadu saying that, “We can see what is happening in the Senate and particularly, what the Senate President is facing”.

Supporting the amendment to the section 308 of the constitution, Chairman, House Committee on Ethics/Privileges, Honourable Nicholas Ossai maintained that, “The constitution, as we have it today, guarantees protection for the executive. We have to include immunity for the National Assembly because legislators need protection to work:” But members of the APC led by its Leader in the House, Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila kicked against the amendment, saying that the timing of the proposed amendment was wrong and as well as the integrity of the National Assembly.

He stated that Nigerians were averse to immunity for National Assembly presiding officers, as the legislative arm of government existed to serve the interest of Nige-

rians at all times. He noted: “Nigerians do not support this bill because of the timing.

The assumption will be that we are making this amendment because of what is happening in the Senate.”

Following the arguments among the lawmakers over the issue, proceedings of the House were halted, as both the cChairman, House Committee on Appropriation, Honourable Abdulmumin Jibrin, and Honourable Aliyu Madaki, kicked against the amendment scaling Second Reading, claiming that, the integrity of the National Assembly was at stake. Thus, the Speaker, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, of the House offered that the bill should be referred to the Ad hoc Committee on Constitution Review to dissect it and determine the faith of the amendment. He explained that his decision to send the bill to the Ad hoc Committee was in line with the provisions of Order 8 (98) of the Standing Orders of the House.

He said: “In that committee, we have all the experts. They will debate the bill and even choose to kill it there. They may not even return thre bill to the House. This is not like we are going to pass this amendment today.”

Though, the bill was passed on to the ad hoc Committee chaired by Deputy Speaker, Honourable Yusuf Lasun, the decision was viewed by some political watchers as a move to shield its principal officers from prosecution, in view of what is happening to the leadership of the Senate, and as well stifle the anti- corruption war of the present administration.

But, the spokesman of the House, Honourable Abdulrazak Namdas, faulted such claim, saying there was no iota of truth in such claim. He noted that the proposed amendment was in line with the need to ensure good governance in the polity. He explained that it would require an amendment of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) before the proposal to allow presiding officers of both the national and state House of Assembly immunity from prosecution to become operational. He also said that both the Senate President Senator Saraki, Speaker, Honourable Dogara, and other presiding officers of the legislative arm could not be beneficiaries of the proposed amendment since it could not take a retroactive action.

Nigerians do not support this bill because of the timing. The assumption will be that we are making this amendment because of what is happening in the Senate

21

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016 Editor: Kehinde Oyetimi featuresdesk@yahoo.com 0811 184 5048

features

The late Pa Ajanaku Adetayo

The late Madam Oyesola Adetayo

Incredible

How 116 yr-old man, 84 yr-old wife died same day F

By Adewale Oshodi

OR those who don’t believe in true love, the lives of late Pa Ajanaku Adetayo and late Madam Oyesola Adetayo of Isara-Remo, Ogun State, offer a glimpse into what real love is, for after several decades of marriage, they bade the world farewell on the same day, with just two hours apart.

After being ill for just five days, Pa Adetayo, who was 116 years old, finally gave up the ghost around 11am on Monday, June 13, 2016, and while everybody was rushing up and down the family house in IsaraRemo, in realisation that Papa had transited, somebody thought it wise to check on Mama, who had been down with stroke for over three years, only for family members to get the greatest shock of their lives — Mama was also no longer responsive to happenings around her; she had also transited.

This event sent shocking waves throughout Isara-Remo, and till today, even the children of the dead can’t explain what happened.

Speaking on how the incident unfolded, the eldest daughter, Mrs Esther Adekunle, said her father had been ill for a couple of days, “and on the day he transited, I went to see him, and he asked me to help him make a cup of tea.

“I did as he instructed, and I helped him to sit well so he could take the tea; after taking the tea, I helped him back to his bed so that he could rest, and I went to the living room to meet with my sisters who were also around that morning.

“After a while, I felt I needed to check on him, and I went to his room, but by this time, he was sleeping, facing the wall.

“I was not comfortable with this sleeping position, although I was happy he was sleeping after taking the tea, I just needed to make sure that he was fine, and I tapped him, but there was no response.

“Then I began to feel uneasy, and started tapping him harder, and when he was not

Mrs Esther Adekunle

Mrs Kemi Ashiru

responding, I raised the alarm.

“Within a twinkle of an eye, everybody was in Papa’s room, and elderly men in the community who had also arrived confirmed it to us that Papa had transited.

“Although he was 116 years old, it is not easy to lose a loved one, and that was how everybody broke down in tears; we then began calling all the family members to intimate them of Papa’s transition,” Mrs Adekunle said.

How did the family discover Mama had also transited, another of the deceased’s daughters, Mrs Opeoluwa Taiwo, who had been taking care of their mother since she was down with stroke said, “while everybody was running helter-skelter after Papa had passed on, after about two hours, I just felt I needed to see Mama.

“While Papa was in his room, Mama was in hers; so in all the confusion, especially when people had started arriving the family house to pay us a condolence visit, I just felt I should go and check up on Mama.

“Mama had been down with stroke for three years now, and myself and my sisters had been taking care of her; in fact, she lost her hearing and speech capabilities as a result of the sickness, so when I felt the nudge to go and see her, one of my sisters even signalled to me not to let her know her husband had passed on.

“When I got to her room, I saw her asleep,

Mrs Opeoluwa Taiwo

and because of the way my sister shouted when she discovered Papa had died, I also felt I needed to confirm that everything was fine with Mama, and I tapped her, but there was no response; my heart skipped a bit and I tapped her harder, but when she was unresponsive, I raised the alarm.

“Everybody was shocked by what happened; we had never experienced such; for a couple to die on the same day; even who knows whether Mama and Papa died the same minute?,” Mrs Taiwo queried.

When asked if no one had told Mama about the death of her husband, which, thereafter,

Everybody was shocked by what happened; we had never experienced such; for a couple to die on the same day; even who knows whether Mama and Papa died the same minute?

Mr Adewale Odufoye affected her own health, another member of the family, Mrs Kemi Ashiru, confirmed it again that Mama had been down with stroke for the past three years.

Mr Adewale Odufoye is a son-in-law to the deceased; he said he was in class receiving lectures when his wife called to inform him that Papa had died.

However, while giving her opinion into what could have happened, Mrs Adekunle said the family is suspecting that their parents made a vow when they were about to get married.

“We are not really saying this is what happened, but we are just suspecting because we can’t understand how a couple would die on the same day, with just hours apart.”

Mrs Adekunle’s observation was also corroborated by Mrs Taiwo, who admitted that their parents loved each other so much while alive.

For Mr Odufoye, “Papa didn’t see me as a son-in-law, rather, he saw me as a son, and I am happy that I married into the family.

“There was a time he told me that despite the decades he had been with his wife, they still had their differences on several occasions, but patience, as well as the ability to respect the view of the other party contributed in no small measure to his long relationship with her,” Mr Odufoye said.

The couple had since been buried, with the celebrations fixed for early next year.

22

travelogue

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Shakespeare for breakfast and forever

By Bashorun J.K Randle

W

HILE the rest of Britain was agonising over whether to remain in the loveless and forlorn marriage with the European Union or exit after 43 years (Brexit), the retired partners of KPMG who are still awaiting their gratuity and pension voluntarily made their way to Stratford-on-Avon in order to refresh their joyous and elevating love affair with William Shakespeare who is undisputedly the greatest playwright, actor and poet of all time – not just in England but in the entire universe, not excluding outer space.

We were in this picturesque part of England to the celebrate 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. He was born on April 26, 1564 and died on April 23 1616. Hard to believe that considering his prolific writing and the vastness of his knowledge, he lived for only fifty-two years exactly. It was Shakespeare who coined the phrase “Forever and a day” which according to one of our erudite colleagues, Professor John Godwin means indefinitely. “Of course, for ever and a day is a dramatic construct with no literal meaning. For ever is (mathematically) forever. You cannot add or subtract a day from it.”

Anyway, we had a sumptuous breakfast at the exquisite Stratford Hotel which is located close to Union Square. It has been in existence since 1907. Hence, it has survived two World Wars (1914 to 1918; and 1939 to 1945). Our hostess Mrs. Jane Butterfield presented us with a huge plaque with the following inscription: “There is a tide in the affairs of men which, when taken at the flood, lead son to fortune/ Omitted, all the voyage of their life/Is bound in shallows and miseries/ On such a full sea are we afloat/And we must take the current when it serves/Or lose our ventures.”-Brutus.

After a hearty, full English breakfast, we were treated to a most fascinating and spellbinding reading of a selection of Shakespeare’s plays and poems accompanied by superlative professional actors and actresses who succeeded brilliantly in transporting us back to the era of the great playwright and poet. Ironically, the more valiantly they strove to capture the essence of Shakespeare and his mastery of imagery as well as conquest of the mismatch between fanciful imagination and harsh reality of history, the more they conjured strobes of heroism, wars, greed, romance, and adventure. It was a seamless catalogue of the triumph of virtue as exemplified by courage and determination over corrosive vice – betrayal, treachery and mendacity.

The sage remained a beguiling enigma and volatile mystery for both believers and non-believers. The recurring decimal remains unresolved – how could so much knowledge be bestowed to one single mind and brain? Where are we to draw the line between the court jester and the magician (or fortune teller)? We were captivated and lured into a trance. As we exited the Globe Theatre, we had a common resolve – to reconnect with William Shakespeare and the delightful memory of days gone by when we savoured our first acquaintance with the genius. Our hosts surpassed our expectations by presenting each one of us with a copy of The Complete Works Of William Shakespeare – book; tablets; CD and digital. They even offered to provide us with the Braille version of the products of a great mind and pen which four hundred years have neither diminished nor corrupted.

Timeless bliss and eternal gratitude were the main dishes on the menu.

Our next stop was lunch in Leamington Spa, just a short distance away, where our hosts Professor Cedric Henderson and his charming wife Ellen had invited some of their friends to join us. What turned out to be a huge surprise was that at such a short notice our hosts had been able to summon ladies and gentlemen who in one way or the other had connection with KPMG and Nigeria – going back almost 50 years. Mostly, their parents had served in the colonial civil service at a time when the government relied almost entirely on the accountancy firms to deliver excellent professional services at a reasonable fee without ever compromising their integrity, diligence or independence. In addition, the accountancy firms provided financial advice regarding the budget and the monitoring thereof.

They provided a formidable barrier against reckless government expenditure, fraud, treasury looting and brigandage. Hence, it was inevitable that auditors would be highly respected for their commitment to ensuring that prudent management of resources of the nation in the interest of the public prevailed over gangsterism and ruthlessness in the pursuit of personal interest. Back then what eventually became KPMG was known as Cassleton Elliott which started off in 1923 in Jos before moving to Marina House, 63, Marina Lagos in 1928. By sheer happenstance, their landlord was late Dr. J.K. Randle!!

•Shakespeare According to our hosts and the other guests, sleaze and corruption were almost unheard of, probably non-existent.

Even the mere hint of unscrupulousness or crookedness earned the culprit severe reprimand. For the expatriate offender the penalty was instant deportation on the first available ship – M.T. Aureol; M.T. Liverpool; etc, or by air on British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) back to Whitehall to face the full weight of the law – either an administrative enquiry or investigation by Scotland Yard followed by arraignment at the Old Bailey. What our hosts learnt from their parents (as well as first hand experience) was that under the right leadership , Nigerians were as honest, trustworthy and brilliant as their counterparts anywhere in the world – in medicine, engineering, architecture, accountancy and indeed the civil service. We were the pride of the black race and legitimate inheritors of an illustrious heritage.

According to our hosts whenever their parents were back in the United Kingdom on leave, they would go out of their way to cultivate Nigerian students who were studying there. They found a willing ally in the British Council whose representatives would quickly link them up with Nigerian students at nearby colleges and universities. Hence, it was not uncommon to find on the students’ notice board messages that read as follows: “English couple living in Esher, Surrey would welcome Nigerian students for tea on Sunday in their home. Please telephone Fred Marks on Esher 5357 to arrange pick up at the train station.” Another variant was: “The Methodist Church invites Nigerian students to tea and dance at the Methodist Hostel, Inverness Terrace, Bayswater, London at 4 p.m. on Saturday.” The complex puzzle was whether we were confronted with a case of reverse amnesia, selective memory or false recollection. At any rate what would have been an otherwise perfect day in the English countryside was ruined by “BREAKING NEWS” on BBC: It was relayed directly to us in the Dining Room: Front page headline: ThisDay newspaper of July 6, 2016: “Nigerian student stabbed to death in London. Fola Orebiyi was reportedly stabbed to death on Sunday in Notting Hill, London, by a gang of youths. According to the UK-based Evening Standard, Orebiyi was stabbed in a street clash close to Westbourne Grove just yards from the Portobello Arts Club. The 17-year-old was reportedly involved in a fight on a nearby estate with a gang of youths, who chased him into the busy road.

An anonymous teenager was quoted to have told the police: “I know what happened, he was protecting a friend

The sage remained a beguiling enigma and volatile mystery for both believers and non-believers.

over a silly beef which turned violent.” A teenager, who also pleaded anonymity, said Orebiyi was stabbed in the neck in front of shocked passersby and tourists. An eyewitness, Mark Gettleson said: “People saw him fall down and try to get to his feet again. Police and paramedics tried to resuscitate him for a long time. They did everything they could.” “It’s absolutely tragic another young man has died on our streets,” Gettleson added. Another witness, a mother of one, said she stood by and watched as the police tried to save the bleeding boy. She added that the ambulance wasted time in arriving at the scene.

She said: “It was traumatising. It took half an hour for the ambulance to arrive even though there are hospitals all around. I spoke to the person who called the police and he said it took them so long to get here. The police were all over him trying to resuscitate him. All I could see were his feet and lots of blood. I’m a mum, for me this is so sad. That’s someone’s child. That’s someone’s baby.”

This was followed by another breaking news on Independent Television (ITV) accompanied by the theme song: “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do” by Neil Sedaka.

Front page headline: The Nation newspaper June 26, 2016. “Nigeria’s break-up would be worse than syrian crisis – Us Ex-Rep. After a recent trip to Nigeria where he met with government officials and victims of the Boko Haram terror, Wolf said Nigeria had the largest increase of terrorist (caused) deaths than any other country in the world. “There’s 180 million people in Nigeria. There’s 3 million in Syria. If Nigeria unravels, imagine the impact on Europe and the world. It would be unbelievable,” Wolf, who is now a senior fellow at the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative, said this during his first public address following the group’s June 9 release of the official report of their trip at an event sponsored by the Ronald Reagan Lecture Series.

The Institute is asking the Obama administration to appoint a special envoy for Nigeria and neighbouring countries under assault from the terror group.

“According to the 2015 Global Terror Index, more than 51 percent of all global deaths attributed to terrorists were committed by Boko Haram,” Wolf said. Boko Haram, as you may very well know, has signed an agreement and pledged its allegiance to ISIS,” Wolf said. “Nigeria has had the largest increase of terrorist (caused) deaths than any other country in the world. Nine of the top 20 of the most fatal attacks in 2014 occurred in Nigeria. Of the deadliest terror organisations in the world, number one is Boko Haram.

Number two is ISIS. Keep in mind they’ve pledged their allegiance to ISIS and there’s a connection there with ISIS. Number three is al-Shabaab, which is in Somalia, and number four is a group that I’d only heard a little bit about and that’s the Fulani militant herdsmen. In essence, they’re the fourth most dangerous terrorist group in the world. So Nigeria, a country of 180 million has the first which has pledged allegiance to the second and they have the fourth deadliest terrorist group in the world,” Wolf pointed out. In April 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped over 200 teenaged girls from The Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, Borno State and “married” them off to the group’s jihadis. Despite worldwide media coverage of the kidnapping, only two of the kidnapped girls have been found.”

On the train journey back to London, we could not but reflect on Shakespeare’s sublime turn of phrase and majesty of language. At Euston Station, London, we were met by a top official from Number 10 Downing Street (The Prime Minister’s office / residence) who jolted us with the news: “Your President is here in London. We have warned him that when he returns to Nigeria, he will face a revolt and possibly impeachment by the Senate. It is going to be a drama of Shakespearean dimension. It is not so much As You Like It but more of As We Want It.” Then he added with a mischievous wink: “Our Prime Minister David Cameron (an Oxford graduate) is on his way out. He will be replaced by another Oxford graduate – Theresa May supported by yet another Oxford graduate, Boris Johnson as Foreign Minister. Indeed, the new Chancellor of the Exchequer (Minister of Finance), Philip Hammond studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at University College, Oxford. Oxford graduates are all over the place including the chap over there wearing the uniform of a porter!!”

As we went past the porter, he tipped his cap and with an unmistakable Oxford accent accosted us: “Sir, if you gentlemen would like to have Shakespeare for dinner, your table has been booked at the Savoy Hotel and paid for by KPMG”!!

Randle is a former president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and former chairman of KPMG Nigeria and Africa.

23 thesouth-west Tunde Busari 08127593530 Yejide Gbenga - Ogundare 08116706853 Tunde Ogunesan 08116954634

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

The

South-West Editor Wole Efunnuga

Got news for us; contact: southwesttribune@yahoo.co.uk or southwesttribune@gmail.com

How politics almost deprived me of becoming Alaafin

—Oba Lamidi Adeyemi

T

HE Alaafin of Oyo Empire, his imperial Majesty Oba (Dr.) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, is a monarch that possesses class, intelligence and wit in large quantities. He can also be described as an historian that is at home with the history and culture of the Yoruba race.

The Alaafin, fondly referred to as Alowo lodu bi iyere by his subjects, is unarguably one of Africa’s most influential traditional rulers. Born on 15th October, 1938, he was selected among other contestants to become a king in 1968 but the government of the day refused, consequently, he was not crowned until January 1971 and at the time of his coronation, he was an insurance clerk.

He contested with 10 other people for the position of the Alaafin in a keen competition that started in 1968 and did not end until 1970, around the time of the Nigerian Civil War. He was declared winner three times but the government initially rejected the ruling of the Oyomesi on all the three occasions.

The revered monarch is an accomplished boxer and still has his punching bag in the courtyard of the palace and he enjoys Amala (yam flour), Iyan (pounded yam), Abula soup and Ogi (pap).

Though he described himself as a liberal and a free mixer who was raised up in a strict Christian home and also went to a Catholic school, he is a practicing Muslim.

Inside

Continues on pg24

Yoruba businesses: Dying with their leaders?

—p25

24 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

I would have been a lawyer today —Alaafin The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba (Dr) Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, in an encounter with GBENGA OPADOTUN, recalled the intrigues that characterised his emergence as the Alaafin and how God lifted him. Excerpts:

K

Continues from pg23

ABIESI, how did your journey to the exalted seat of the Alafin of Oyo start?

The stool became vacant in 1968, following the exit of Oba Bello Gbadegesin who joined his ancestors after a 12-year reign. The late ruler hailed from Agunloye ruling house, thus, it was the turn of Adeyemi Alowolodu ruling house to produce the next occupant of the throne. That is the ruling house where I come from.

Was is it a smooth ride or you had reasons to slug it out with some other members of your ruling house?

It was not a smooth ride at all. Ten of us submitted applications to fill the vacant stool. There was a lot of political involvement then. All the applicants were expected to pass their applications through the head of the two ruling houses, Babayaji, who, in turn, was to submit them to the kingmakers (Oyomesi) without reservation. He has no right to add or deduct from the list.

How were you picked since ten of you submitted applications?

For your information, the Babayaji submitted only one name for reasons best known to him.

What happened thereafter?

There was an uproar and that arrangement was cancelled.

Did you now have to undergo another excercise?

This time, he submitted the names of all the candidates to the Oyomesi out of which they picked me as the Alaafin-elect.

So, that was the time you were taken to the confinement (Ipebi)?

No, the government at that time refused to give consent.

They claimed that they suspected foul play, so the Oyomesi was asked to meet the second time.

Did they vote or the oracle picked you?

They voted. When the Oyomesi met again, five of the kingmakers voted in support of Oba Adeyemi III, one voted for another candidate while the other kingmaker abstained.

Thus, the stage was set for Adeyemi Alowolodu ruling house to produce another Alaafin from their ruling house.

Were you subjected to any form of interrogation before the voting excercise commenced or they just went into voting session straight?

We were screened and asked questions. I must tell you that it was not an easy task. The Oyomesi asked each of the candidates in their conclave various questions. They asked us different questions. Specifically, they asked for my age, my nearness to the throne and whether my father had been an Alaafin before. I said my father, Oba Adeniran Adeyemi II, had been an Alaafin before and that it was the aspiration of any prince to ascend the throne when it is vacant.

What were some of the key things you told them that stood you out of other aspirants?

I told them in graphic details the list of Alaafins that had

reigned before in Oyo.I told them that right from school days, I had always had the quest to improve myself knowledge-wise as I believe that education is the best legacy one can acquire. I am of the opinion that if I have education, I will possess the skill to communicate effectively and will be reckoned with among my peers.

I was made to go through the rituals and sacrifices. I was made to go to the sacred shrine of my ancestors where I took oath that I will work day and night to develop, nurture and enhance the tradition and history of Oyo and Yoruba people.

Since you ascended the throne of your forefathers, how has your relationship with the people and other Obas been like?

I have tried everything within my capacity and ability to relate with the people without expecting anybody to praise me or or show appreciation for my activities night and days.

Despite that I will not renege in satisfying and meeting the aspirations of the Yoruba people if appointed the Alaafin.

I think I was able to convince them as I emerged the Alaafin–elect. I was made to go through the rituals and sacrifices. I was made to go to the sacred shrine of my ancestors where I took oath that I will work day and night to develop, nurture and enhance the tradition and history of Oyo and Yoruba people.

What would you have been doing today if you had not been selected out of the 10 candidates by the Oyomesi?

Based on my skills and mental capacity, I would have been a lawyer today.I see myself as a rable-rouser, an orator and a lover of the human race. Definitely, I will be a force to be reckoned with among the great people of the human race.

25 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Abiola, Odutola, Alata, others:

So that their businesses do not die with them

In times past, South West Nigeria was not only recognised as a seat of power but was legendary for diverse family conglomerates that had great promise of breaking into the world market. But this did not last, as one after the other, the companies have literally moribund especially after the demise of their founders. YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE explores the jinx behind local conglomerates and what puts them in that position after their founders are no more.

O

VER the years, the dwindling fortune of the South Western part of Nigeria had been a topic of discourse in many quarters, with many stakeholders expressing grave concern that the region has gradually become a shadow of itself as a trend setter in the country.

Indeed, there is a belief that the South West has lost a huge bargaining and survival tool through the loss of its various family business conglomerates. A school of thought expressed the belief that based on past antecedent, businesses in the South Western part of Nigeria have little chance of survival like businesses in other climes.

The argument of this school of thought is based on the fact that many businesses that were the pride of the region in times past appear to be fading into extinction, often after the death of the founder, as few survive for few years after the owner is gone.

Many reasons have been adduced for why a huge percentage of South West businesses crumble and almost die soon after the demise of their owners while experts have advocated the need to focus and emphasize the issue of entrepreneurial succession in the region.

Why do South West businesses die? Why is succession problem prevalent in the South West? What are the causes of the problems and its effects on businesses especially on family or one man businesses? These are few of the questions that had been asked in a bid to break the jinx of moribund business empires in the South West.

In the beginning In decades past, the south west region was a giant in the country, setting the pace for other zones to follow. It was home to many business empires and conglomerates found by men who became household names as a result of their foray into the business world. There were many manufacturing and business outfits that were a pride of the south west in that era.

Names like Chief Adeola Timothy Odutola, Chief MKO Abiola, Alhaji Yinka Folawiyo, Chief Omolade Okoya-Thomas, Henry Fajemirokun, Bank-Anthony, Hamzat Adebowale, Dehinde Fernadez, Chief Adebayo Amao Alata (JP) and Chief Israel Adebajo, were household names based on the business conglomerates they single handedly established and were a force to reckon with.

The businesses became big empires that gave the South West a pride of place in the country and opened doors for their owners even beyond the shores of the country and placing Nigeria as the giant of Africa in every way possible.

The owners of these businesses became big men that ruled the economy of not only the South West but the nation at large. Chief Adeola Odutola, the founder of Odutola Holding was an indigenous business man that called the shot in his days, with a holding that covered many sectors in the 50’s. He was indeed a business man that was a reference point in the country.

Another industrialist that made waves was Hamzat Adebowale, a retail specialist in years past. He was the founder of Adebowale Stores, a retail outlet in Lagos which later metamorphosed into a manufacturing company; Adebowale Electrical Industries Limited in 1975 when the first set of locally produced electronics by Adebowale was introduced into the market and branches opened in Ibadan and Kano.

A more recent business dynasty to become moribund is that of prominent industrialist and hero of democracy, Basorun MKO Abiola. In fact, many young people today only know Abiola by his political foray and the annulled election of June 12, 1993.

In his lifetime, Abiola was not just a rich man; he was an acclaimed industrialist and business mogul that had his hands in different sectors of the economy; publishing, aviation, education, manufacturing, communication, oil and gas, construction, exportation and agriculture to mention just a few.

His business ventures include Summit Oil, Concord Press, Concord Publishing Limited, Concord Airlines, Radio Communication of Nigeria (RCN), Abiola Bookshop, Abiola Farms and Wonder Loaf bakery to mention a few. These companies were well rooted and had wide spread tentacles; Abiola farms for instance was in every part of Nigeria.

Adeola Odutola neighbourhood shopping mall recently commissioned in Ibadan.

Odutola Tyres.

Oyo State Commissioner for Finance, Bimbo Adekanmbi

PHOTOS BY: Alolade Ganiyu, Yejide Gbenga-Ogundare and Peter Oyebanji.

Abiola Bookshop Another of such conglomerate was the Alata Group, Aroje in Ogbomoso founded by the late Babalaje of Ogbomosoland. The group consists of the Alata Flour Mill, Alata Sugar Company and the Alata Plastic. This company reigned and was very successful in its days before it packed up its operations.

Today At present however, these businesses have almost become a thing of the past as the only remnant are the abandoned structures and dilapidated buildings that once housed a thriving business. These enterprises no longer thrive or record huge success after their life cycle came to an abrupt end with the death of their owners.

A vivid example of this is the Abiola farm which was in its prime before the death of MKO Abiola. The farm according to history had acquired thousands of hectares of farmland across the country; a 2000 hectares farmland in Lafiaji, Kwara state for maize, rice and cowpea, a 5000 hectares farm on the Mambilla Plateau in Taraba state for sunflower, cowpea, maize and upland rice and a 100 hectares farmland in Etinan, Akwa Ibom for oil palm.

Others include a 25 000 tone silo to store maize at the Lafiaji farm and a 1000 hectares farmland in Egbado North, Ogun state for fish farming.

The dead, the comatose, the thriving businesses A great percentage of businesses that were the pride of the South West in times past are now moribund and part of the faded memories of the early days. Following the death of Basorun MKO Abiola, most of his business ventures ex-

Alata Flour Mills perienced a gradual death one after the other, his business empire at present is in shambles as most businesses ceased to exist after him.

The Concord Newspapers, one of Abiola’s most prominent businesses which was one of the best media outfits in Nigeria suffered a grave misfortune; fizzling out and rendering hundreds jobless. There is no more Concord Airlines, wonder loaf, Abiola Bookshop or Abiola farms.

The only legacy left to his credit is the June 12 mandate that made him a hero of democracy. The industries that were his hallmark are now relics that have little or no hope of being revived.

Also, all the companies under the Alata group founded by late Adebayo Amao Alata have packed up its operations. Almost none of the industries that thrived in the South West in yester years is existent today while those that exist are merely surviving in name with no real impact in the business community.

What went wrong?

Experts and stakeholders over the years have given various theories on why vibrant family businesses failed to live beyond their owners and often, they put the blame on the shoulders of the founders of the companies. The most common reason adduced for the failure of the businesses to survive for generations is that they do not operate under best laid down and acceptable international practices but is subjected to the whims and caprices of its proprietor who run the businesses like a family affair.

Continues on pg28

Nigerian Tribune Tuesday, 19 July, 2016 26 thesouth-west Ex-Fayose’s legislative aide, supporters defect to APC, say ‘APC not a cult’ We wish him good luck —PDP Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

T

HE only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the last Ekiti State House of Assembly, Mr. Samuel Ajinola Oyedele, has defected to the All Progressives Party (APC) in a ceremony held at his Omuo community in Ekiti East Local Government Area of the state.

Ajibola told the Nigerian Tribune in an interview that his choice to dump the PDP was because of the failure in the promises made by the leaders of the party in the state, especially Governor Ayodele Fayose, to the people of the during electioneering campaign.

He said: “I defected to APC because as a member of PDP, who was the last person with the PDP, we assumed during the electioneering campaign that Governor Fayose was a changed person but I want to say that he is not and my style of politics cannot work with his.

“I’m a realist who believes in fulfilling promises. 85 per cent of Ekiti civil servants are against the PDP now because the government has failed to pay salaries. We

are having a CEO instead of a governor, everything stops at his table instead of separation of powers. He has failed in all his political pledge and promises.

“Secondly, I cannot stand his attitude and the way he addresses issues. I weighed all my options and saw that the APC is best for me given the current political falsi-

ties.”

He said on the occasion of his formal defection at the Omuo garage, “we came out with about 500 supporters for the official defec-

tion, but many people that ought to have come out are still hanging in there in the party, saying they want to earn their reward for their labour in the party before

From left, Pro Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Dr Musa Umar Mustapha; former President Olusegun Obasanjo Vice Chancellor, University of Ibadan, Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka and Deputy VC (Academics), Professor Gbemisola Oke and the first Eminent persons Business Lecture, held at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Ibadan. PHOTO: TOMMY ADEGBITE

NCP remains Nigerian masses’ hope —Deputy chairman

By Tunde Busari

DEPUTY National Chairman, (South West) of National Conscience Party (NCP), Alhaji Waheed Lawal has stated that the party remains the only hope of Nigerian masses in face of what he called the current monetized politics in the country.

Lawal lamented the limitation of NCP and other parties, in terms of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) financial requirement, which he said, allowed moneybags to hijack the political space.

He argued that the N5 million nomination fee is an aid to corrupt politicians to manipulate the financially handicapped masses and

use them as tool to perpetrate fraud.

“Where does INEC expect smaller parties to raise such huge amount of money?

That is why we say the government through the INEC deliberately allowed same people who have milked the nation dry to dominate politics.

“But we are working towards sensitizing Nigerian masses on the need not to sell their birthright because of pot of porridge. And we will not relent on this effort as done by the late Gani Fawehinmi of blessed memory,” he said.

Asked on the justification of his acceptance of appointment as Senior Special Adviser on popular affairs in the

cabinet of an opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Lawal expressed no regret in his decision, insisting it was a call to serve his state as a renowned human right activist.

He pointed out that the Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola offered him the post in his wisdom to put the round peg in a round

THE All Progressives Congress (APC), Oyo State Chapter, has assured chairmanship and councillorship aspirants in the 33 local government councils in the state, that the forthcoming primaries to select its candidates for the local government election later in the year, will be transparent and acceptable to every member of the party.

The Director of Publication, Wasiu Sadare gave the assurance on Monday, saying that the party cannot

come out with any guideline for the primary now since the state Independent Electoral Committee (OYSIEC) is yet to release guidelines for the election.

However, he said the party is prepared to play the game by the rule as stipulated by the commission.

“If the party goes ahead and embark on a process now, it will be an exercise in futility because there is no specification yet and we are not ready to risk that as a party. However, several members of the party have been exercising their rights

will hold national convention and colloquium in memory of the late Fawehinmi on Thursday with three delegates expected from each state of the federation.

“Alhaji Balarabe Musa is the chairman of the colloquium and it’s going to be memorable and tell Nigerians that NCP is the still waxing stronger,” he stated.

Ondo Guber: Oke condemns mudslinging, lies within Ondo APC Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship aspirant in the 2012 governorship election and an aspirant of the All Progressives Congress in Ondo State, Chief

OYO LG election: APC assures members of transparent primaries

By Tunde Ogunesan

hole for easy administration of the state.

The chairman of Osun Civil Society Coalition, therefore, urged Nigerians to live beyond parochial politics which restricts appointments to members of the ruling party alone, saying such is detrimental to the development of the country.

Lawal disclosed that NCP

by expressing their interest, which is though, unofficial. At the appropriate time, those concerned will made it known to the party whenever the guideline is released.

“Everybody that shows interest will be given a fair chance to achieve their ambition according to the guideline of our party. There won’t be anointed candidate because the party will conduct primary elections across the state to fill the 351 councillors hip positions and 33 slots for the local government elections.

Olusola Oke has condemned the rate of mudslinging and lies trading within the party.

Oke who described the development as a wicked propaganda being employed by some aspirants of the party said some aspirants were desperately seeking the nod of the leaders of the party to win the primary election at all costs.

Oke, during a media chat, said indulging fruitlessly in name dropping with unproductive intent to confuse the delegates will affect the chances of the party in the election.

He said “ as the desperation increases, lies and wicked propaganda have also increased in equal proportion.

Many of these lies go as far as employing services of paid writers, slanted desk features on the pages of newspapers and obscure online publications daring the venom of truth.

Chief Oke said he was aware

of the rumour in the story that he was being sponsored and that he was planning to defect to another party because the leaders of the APC from Lagos had anointed a particular aspirant from Ondo North.

Chief Oke said he would not have responded to the publication because it lacked substance.”

He, however, noted that the action contradicts the position of APC and the assurance from the party leaders of being committed to winning the state for the party during the November poll.

On the rumour that there was a political war between some of the national leaders of the party because of 2019 election, Oke said “the rumour is another barbaric conjecture deployed to carve believability for the story.

This conjecture is not only wicked, it is cancerous to the system of politics of our nation and the entire polity at large.”

leaving.”

On his chances of realising his political dreams in the APC, he said “the reality is that I don’t see APC as a cult the people are saying about,” and explained that “it is a conglomeration of different political parties and the different ideas coalesce to bring about the promises of the party.”

He said he had “found that it is still the same dynamism that one needs to succeed in politics, the political party notwithstanding” and that “if you marshall your ideas properly, you get good results.”

Reacting to losing a prominent, grassroots member, the secretary of PDP in Ekiti State, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, wished Ajibola good luck in his new political party, saying “if that’s where he would find peace, we wish him goo luck.”

Adebayo, while reacting to his allegations of the party’s failed promises and lack of separation of powers, said “such allegations from someone who worked hard for the party’s victory and was given an appointment in the government, is a misnomer and we would take it as a rumour.”

According to Adebayo, “as far we are concerned, he left because of paucity of funds that has been an issue with the state government and it’s various organs, because that was the lone reason he cited in the letter of resignation he wrote.”

Ajibola had resigned his appointment in Fayose’s government as the Special Assistant on Parliamentary Affairs on May 31, 2016 and cited poor remuneration as his reason for resigning from the government.

In the resignation letter dated May 29, 2016, Ajibola had said: “As SAPA, the governor pays me N220,000 and I’m a grassroots politician which the Governor himself knows what it means. Also I have one of my children currently serving and two others in the university. How do I cope? My constituency is also of high hope that they have a son in the Fayose cabinet.”

In the letterhead submitted to the Secretary to the State Government, Mrs. Modupe Alade, Ajibola had said: “Sir, within my personal conviction, I am satisfied that I have in all honesty and utmost loyalty served the PDP, the people of EKiti and government in general. Therefore, am premising my resignation on some basic developmental issues and the economic situation in the state which I cannot continue to pretend over.”

27 thesouth-west

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Nigerian Tribune

Ondo Guber: We deserve the governorship slot —Ose LG PDP

A

Hakeem Gbadamosi - Akure

HEAD of the November 26, 2016 governorship election in Ondo State, a group within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ose Movement Forum (OMF) has called on the leadership of the party in the state to zone the governorship slot of the party to the Northern senatorial districts of the state.

The Movement who stated this in a communique issued by the member of the group after its meetings in Idogun in Ose local government area of the state, said that for equity, justice and fair play Ondo North senatorial district should produce the next governor.

The group specifically said the governorship slot should be conceded to aspirants from Ose local government saying the area has been marginalized in terms of elective posts since the return of this present political dispensation in 1999.

In the communiqué signed

by Thompson Aiyegunle and Hon. Victor Olotu, Chairman and Secretary of the group respectively, the group said “for equity, justice and fair-play, we

stand and add our voices to the call that it is the turn of Ondo North Senatorial district to produce the next Governor of Ondo State

especially from Ose Local Government.

“This is on the grounds that the local government had obviously been margin-

sults, Ose had consistently and steadfastly delivered for PDP, yet Ose had never been considered in history even within the Senatorial

district for any of the five top positions which include, Governor, Deputy Governor, Speaker, Chief Judge and SSG within the political equation of the state “We therefore resolved to produce a credible candidate from Ose to fly the Party’s flag for the continuation of the laudable achievements of our leader and governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko.”

Ekiti PDP Chairman:

Saraki’s, others’ experiences, lesson for PDP defectors Sam Nwaoko - Ado Ekiti

Ondo State Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko [left]; Olugbo Of Ugboland, Oba Obateru Akinruntan and Olori Iyabode Akinruntan at the wedding between Temitope Olanipekun and Ademola Adesina, in Lagos, at the weekend.

Fresh PDP national convention ’ll resolve factionalisation in states —Ajao

all become fifty percent poorer in the last one year.

His words, “the actions are contrary to the laws of the land and are capable of jeopardizing the spirit and tenets of our hard won democracy” Honourable Adebutu while assuring Governor

Fayose of the support of well -meaning Nigerians, especially members of the Peoples Democratic Party in Ogun State in this trying period, expressed his strong believe that this injustice before the law of the land and God shall not stand.

convention slated for August in Port Harcourt would resolve emergence of factions at states’ level of the party.

He said with the ongoing peace moves and mending of fences, hope of restoring unity and cohesion in PDP was becoming stronger, expressing optimism that the PDP would put its house in order ahead of 2019 general elections.

Ajao, who spoke during an interview with the Nigerian Tribune contended the peace moves would have multiplying positive effects

By Tunde Ogunesan

for members of NSCDC at Morayo, Bodija also in Ward 12, 50 KVA Transformer at Adeyi in Ward 10, another, 50 KVA Transformer at Ikolaba in Ward 5, Motorized borehole at Ashi also in ward 5 and another and Motorised borehole at Atenda in ward 4. .

He said, “aside from already commissioned projects within the last one year after my re-election in 2015 as a member of the green chamber, I have sponsored many bills.

“These include; a bill for an act to amend the national Population Commission Act, a bill for an act to amend the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (NPC), A bill for an act to amend the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria for the creation of state and effective community Policing, A bill for an act to provide for the registration of orphanage homes, Bills underway/bills awaiting first

reading:A bill for an act to establish office of the surgeon general of the federation, A bill for an act to control the use of drones in Nigeria, A bill for an act to provide for warranty on products.”

Awoleye further added that “all these and others which I did not mention here are in line with my campaign promises to our people that I will at all times consolidate on my past achievements to inventively contribute to issues of national importance, empowerment of our members and attraction of people-oriented projects.”

He told the people and his party that he is more refreshed to bring home more dividends of democracy as promised.

Some of the items distributed at the ceremony included 80 grinding machines, 80 sewing machines, 60 deep freezers, 70 motorcycles and donation of cash rewards to 250 members of Ibadan North federal constituency.

Oluwole Ige - Osogbo

THE secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Osun State, Prince

Bola Ajao, on Sunday said the peace moves at the national level of the party and the proposed fresh national

Freezing of Fayose’s accounts is a siege on democracy —Adebutu HONOURABLE Oladipupo Adebutu, Member, House of Representatives has described the freezing of the personal accounts of the Governor of Ekiti State, Dr. Peter Ayodele Fayose with Zenith Bank by operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) as an abridgement of democratic norms, ethos an practice as seen all over the world.

Adebutu, who is representing the Ikenne/Sagamu/Remo North Federal Constituency told newsmen that the EFCC, by its action, is laying a siege on democracy and this is a dangerous attempt to muscle voices of dissent and in essence kill the opposition in the nation’s democracy.

According to him, “The EFFC’s action should be condemned by all lovers of democracy as it portends grave danger to the survival of democratic rule in the country. This is a siege on democracy and ultimately our civil liberties.

He further lamented the unfortunate descent into which our democratic experience is being plunged under this dispensation.

Where for the first time in decades Hunger is the norm. This continued charade only seeks to distract from the fact that we have

alized in the political affairs of the state since the return to democracy in 1999 even when, by proof of statement of all past election re-

I ’ll serve my constituents more –APC Lawmaker

THE lawmaker representing Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Honourable Abiodun Awoleye recently told his constituents that he is more committed to serve them.

Speaking at the commissioning of the projects and distribution of empowerment tools, donation of cash rewards to constituents and reception of decampees from other political parties into the fold of All Progressives Congress (APC) at Housing Estate Field Bodija Ibadan, Honourable Awoleye said the projects are part of his promises to consolidate on his past achievements during his re-election campaign in 2015.

Some of the projects include; a Model Public toilet at Oke-Oloro in Ward 2, Model Heath Centre at Mokola in Ward 9, Extension of the Aduloju Heath Centre Bodija in Ward 12, Security Post

on the fortune of the party at the state level.

It would be recalled that the polarisation of the PDP’s leadership at the national level had culminated in the emergence of both Alhaji Ahmed Markafi and Senator Alimodu Sherrif as the national chairman of the party, adevelopment which creates two factions of the party in several states of the federation.

However, baring his mind on the fresh national convention of the party, scheduled to hold in Rivers State on August 17, 2016, the Osun State secretary of the PDP said “this coming national convention would open vista of hope and stronger unity for our great party”.

According to Ajao, “everybody in Nigeria must have observed that the PDP has a robust internal mechanism for resolving whatever crisis. It has happened a number of times. As a political family that was formed by carrying everybody along, that was an underlining factor that binds everybody together. I can assure you that with all sincerity that it is a family affair that would be amicably resolved”.

“The new convention that is slated for August is another disposition to ensure that we come out stronger and start afresh as one family that we are. With this renewed reconciliatory moves, I can say that it portends high hope, good health for the PDP family at the state and national levels”, he asserted.

THE Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ekiti State, Mr. Gboyega Oguntuase, has said that the current attempts by the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government to jail the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, should serve as a lesson to other members of PDP, who may still be nursing the ambition of joining the APC. Oguntuase noted during an interaction with newsmen in Ado Ekiti, that it was imperative for those still nursing the ambition of undermining the PDP and then dump the party, to be aware of the what he said was the current persecution being suffered by the party’s bigwigs that had earlier defected to and funded the APC. He said: “Senator Bukola Saraki and others sacrificed everything for and invested money and materials heavily in, the APC after dumping the PDP to join APC to advance the course of the party. But all the APC wants for him now is that he should go to jail. This should serve as enough lesson to our members. Their future is not protected in APC. “But as far as we are concerned, we are not shaken by these defections, because they will soon come back. We shall salvage them.

We shall continue to engage them, because we now have a “Ministry of Reconciliation” which preaches the gospel of peace all the times.

“It is not a sin for anyone to hold a dissenting opinion , but it should be within the ambit of the constitution of the party. The governor of Ondo State, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, called it an act of indiscipline but we call it rebellion here.”

According to him, “it is no longer profitable to leave a democratic party like the PDP and defect to the APC,” a party he said was “too sectional and discriminative to accommodate defectors.”

Nigerian Tribune Tuesday, 19 July, 2016 28 thesouth-west Lack of succession plan, bane of family conglomerates —Experts Continues from pg25 Another reason adduced for failure of family businesses is the failure to put a proper succession plan or make arrangements for takeover in management and the unwillingness of the proprietors to write a will. The argument is that the tradition and culture of the South West people makes it a spiritual thing to think about the inevitability of death and prepare for the eventuality. So when such people die, the crisis that erupts over sharing of their assets end up harming the businesses.

And in the rare situation that a will exists, the family and children can still initiate legal proceedings to contest it and cause a stagnation and eventual death of the business. This is a frequent occurrence when the proprietor of the business is a polygamist or have children outside the home. In this circumstance, each child and mother fight for what he can get and do not consider the survival of such business venture as important.

The culture of the South West people that encourages communal living and puts the responsibilities of so many family members and dependents on one individual is another reason given. As when the proprietor dies, these dependants expect to continue to draw from the same purse without thought of the effect it will have on the business.

The greed of some people that end managing the company after the demise of its owner is another cause of family business packing up. These set of people just see it as an opportunity to cheat others and as such pilfer funds from the company without considering the survival of the company.

One other reason given by experts is that most owners take the wrong business decision of holding onto the business and shunning all opportunities to grow and expand to meet current challenges and be in tune with development policies.

One of the former staff of MKO Abiola’s publishing Limited that spoke to Nigerian Tribune on a condition of anonymity stated that the greatest mistake made by the industrialist and many like him is maintaining sole ownership of his business venture.

How one man businesses can survive One of the recipes for success of one man businesses as given by experts is the grooming of a successor while the owner is around. The caveat to this system is that the successor being groomed must be made to earn his position by working his way up from the lowest rung of the ladder to the top.

Another aspect raised is the issue of training and grooming. This focuses on the need to create an interest in likely successors from an early age as it is important for them to start participating in the business even when they are still in school, this, it is argued will bestow on them a sense of responsibility and passion for the job ahead.

Barrister Olusayo Adeleye, the Principal Partner of RedJade Solicitors told Nigerian Tribune that parents need to introduce their children to the family business early in life and also ensure they are groomed in every aspect of the business.

“It is a normal trend for parents to put their children in charge of their businesses but such a business can only thrive if the child had been groomed to take up the responsibility; this grooming involves introducing them early into the business, giving them responsibilities that their brain could take, sending them for training to learn the best practices internationally.

“The chances of survival is high when there is appropriate training but parents should note that any child that will be put in charge should learn all the aspects of the business from the last rung of the ladder up, this is what will prepare such a child. In case a parent just believes that his child is a graduate and should automatically take over the management of the business without the required grooming, he has set the pace for the business to crash.

“Pushing a green horn that doesn’t understand a business to the environment and terrain as well as the prevailing operating system of the locale in which the business is domiciled is a recipe for failure,” Adeleye concluded.

Another recipe for success raised is that successors must be made to learn the ropes from global brands and learn the procedure and principles of corporate governance by understudying brands that have survived generations.

One major recipe raised aside from that of having a good succession plan is that of getting listed on the stock exchange. According to Mr. Boniface Okezie of the Progressive Shareholders Association of Nigeria not long ago, the best guarantee a business has is to be listed on the stock

exchange as this takes it out of the family’s control and professionalism becomes the order of the day.

Making it work Experts have argued that it is possible to make family owned businesses a successful legacy that will survive generations and overcome any perceived threat by being on top of their games in the area of idea, management and finance.

For this to happen, Bode Olumilua, a business management consultant stated that a proprietor that wants his business to thrive after him and survive generations must have a good succession plan that will not only be realistic after he is gone but will stand the test of time.

“For a business to survive after its owner there must be a clear succession plan that will be fool proof. Such a plan must articulate the vision, ideologies and leadership structure that cannot be overruled by anyone and also make guidelines for grooming of a successor.

Summing it up, an economist, Professor Deola Adenikinju stated that the main problem faced by the South West companies is that of governance and management, adding that the governance structure of those empires did not make room for the implementation of a good succession plan. He said the system used in running the companies also encourages inefficiency and ineffectiveness because people are put in position not because they are qualified but because they belong to one arm of the family or the other “As long as you allow those kinds of things to be the dominant factor then, you discover that it becomes difficult for you to have people who will be able to sustain the family business. The second factor is that some of those owners aside the structure of their company also have no succession plan that would even in their lifetime allow those that will take over from them to have gone through the various segments of the business.

“In their lifetime, they should have groomed a successor that would have moved round every segment of the business so that after the owner is gone, he would be able to manage the business effectively. You just bring people in and make them head of strategic units of the business without an idea of what they can do. Then there is intra and inter fighting among the deceased’s family that will not allow for good governance of those business,” Prof. Adenikinju said.

He added that “in developed countries these days, you allow outsiders that have the knowledge to run the business; you don’t recruit a family member just because he is family.

A great percentage of businesses that were the pride of the South West in times past are now moribund and part of the faded memories of the early days.

You involve an outsider that has the required qualification, this allows for competence, productivity, and professionalism. This allows the business to be run like a business and not just a family affair.

“The business is done in a transparent manner. Also, these days globally, people are invited to buy shares to diversify the link. This gives the business a better chance of survival and longetivity. When you throw a business open rather than hold onto it 100 per cent, you make it a corporate entity that can survive market challenges and family issues. Appointment should be on merit and not on family relations; this creates a clear demarcation and cuts the excesses of family members thereby giving the business a better survival chance,” he concluded.

Children to the rescue Nigerian Tribune investigations however revealed that some family businesses will soon be resuscitated as children of the founders are working to ensure that the dead bones rise again.

Honourable Segun Adebayo, a former member of the Oyo state House of assembly and a son of the founder of the Alata Group told Nigerian Tribune that work is on to ensure that his father’s company is resuscitated, adding that the result of the efforts will soon be seen by all.

Another source explained that the fist son of late MKO Abiola, Kola, is also trying to resuscitate the Abiola farms, adding that serious work is on to ensure that investors are brought in to build a formidable business.

Conversation with Alhaji Moshood Odutola Hello Hello, good afternoon sir Who is this?

My name is Yejide from Nigerian Tribune. I want to speak with Alhaji Moshood Odutola sir Speaking Sir, we are doing a story on South West business empires and as the person in charge of Jimoh Odutola Estates, I want to ask about the condition of the estate and what you do presently.

We don’t do anything again, we don’t produce anything again Are you not the one in charge of Odutola College and 33?

Jimoh Odutola has nothing to do with 33 Beer, Jimoh Odutola is J.O. 33 Beer has nothing to do with us, 33 is now Heinekein.

So the company produces nothing again?

J.O Odutola does not produce anything again. We have closed down.

Efforts were also made to reach Professor Olurin who is said to be in charge of Estates, Odutola College and 33 Beer but she said she was resting and couldn’t be interviewed as at press time.

29

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

30

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

31

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

IN LOVING MEMORY Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,So are the children of one’s youth. Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them; They shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate. PSALM 127: 3-5

In Loving Memory of

Chief (Hon.) Johnson Olasupo

FATOLA

JANUARY 10, 1920 - JULY 19, 1996 Member, Christian League Society, St. Peters’ Anglican Church, Aremo Ibadan.

Member, House of Representative 1979 - 1983 Community Leader, Akinyele Local Government, Oyo State.

FONDLY REMEMBERED BY CHILDREN:

Lere & Funke Adepoju | Remi & Bisi Osuntogun | Kayode & Wumi Fatola | Yemi & Toyin Fatola Ayo & Dayo Fatola | Grandchildren & Great Grandchildren

32

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

news Legislature requires competent research, training institutions —Saraki

33

Ayodele Adesanmi-Abuja with

T

agency report

HE SENATE President, Dr Bukola Saraki, on Monday, disclosed that the legislature required a competent research and training institution to be successful in the discharge of its duties.

Saraki, who spoke at the second matriculation ceremony of the National Institute of Legislative Studies (NILS), Abuja, affiliated with University of Benin Postgraduate Studies, said “this event, with all of its traditions and ceremony, is a time to celebrate the Legislature and the National Institute for Legislative Studies.

“It is a time to renew our commitment to excellence in law making and the strengthening of democratic governance.

“The postgraduate programmes of the Institute seeks to imbue staff of the National Assembly with the requisite skills needed to

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

shape and direct national policy.

“This is critical and indeed essential if legislators are to benefit from timely, digestible and accurate outputs,’’ he said.

He informed that the programme presented legislators and other stakeholders a unique and cost-effective opportunity to build their capacities in relevant areas without spending much time away from their work.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, decried that the dearth of legislative aides with high-level technical capacity had hampered robust legislative debates in Nigeria.

Dogara said for legislators to perform their representative, legislative and oversight functions effectively, they ought to be adequately equipped to plan their work schedule.

He added that the legislative arm of government required increased resource competence to keep the

government accountable for its actions.

According to him, the work of legislators was often enabled by the institutional structures and support provided by the legislature.

“Key in this regard is the quality and numbers of administrative and parliamentary personnel.

“Like most of the emerging parliaments in Africa, the National Assembly requires better equipped and resourced aides with the requisite competencies and expertise, in order to

compete favourably with parliaments in established democracies.

“In Nigeria, the legislature needs reliable information to understand the choices, decisions and policies of the Executive Branch,’’ he said.

The Director-General of the Institute, Dr Ladi Hamalai, said as part of the institute’s mandate, plans were in place to expand the programme to accommodate more students at different levels.

She said: “We are trying to expand the certificate pro-

grammes of the institute.

We are currently working to provide accreditation for Diploma programmes for staff of the National Assembly.

“In fact, this institute is the first institution to be given at a go, both National Diploma(ND) and Higher National Diploma(HND) at the same time.”

The high point of the event was the award of fellowships of NILS to former President of the Senate, Senator David Mark; Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu and four others

She stressed that educating the executive on legislative matters would enable them to understand the functions of the legislature.

On the institute’s effort at improving the quality of programmes, the DirectorGeneral said the institute was collaborating with relevant agencies abroad to ensure that students were adequately equipped.

She appreciated the National Assembly and other stakeholders for their support and contributions towards the actualisation of the programme.

Why we can’t pay staff salaries in full —UNIABUJA Clement Idoko-Abuja

THE Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Michael Adikwu, has said the university is unable to pay full salaries to the staff as a result of the shortfall in the monthly allocation to the institution.

He disclosed that the university has had monthly shortfall of allocation of about N58 million.

Adikwu spoke with newmen on Monday, as part of activities marking the second-year anniversary of his administration as the vice chancellor of the university.

He disclosed that allocation used to be N366 million, saying what the university was getting now was N308 million, which the vice chancellor said was not enough to pay all the workers fully.

He, however, explained

that it was a nationwide problem as a result of the drastic fall in government’s revenue, which all the staff had been duly informed.

He added that the Federal Government had promised to calculate the shortfall and pay.

The vice chancellor, who disclosed that the medical programme of the university would soon get accredited, said the institution had sailed through two legs of the accreditation by different bodies and left with the final one to be done next year.

Adikwu noted that what he was trying to do was to build a research culture at the university, saying it was unfortunate that universities in Nigeria had not been responsive to the challenges of the nation because of the inadequate attention paid to the development of research.

From left, Senator Usman Bayero Nafada; Senate President/Chairman, NILS Governing Council, Dr Bukola Saraki; immediate past Senate President, Senator David Mark; Speaker, House of Representatives/Alternate Chairman of NILS Governing Council, Honourable Yakubu Dogara; former Deputy Speaker, Honourable Emeka Ihedioha; Vice Chancellor of the University of Benin, Professor Faraday Orumwense and the Director -General of NILS, Dr Ladi Hamalai, during the NILS/ UNIBEN matriculation and Fellowship Investiture ceremony, in Abuja, on Monday.

Court shifts hearing of Dasuki, Saraki’s appeal to October Sunday Ejike-Abuja

THE Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on Monday, shifted hearing of the appeal by the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Colonel Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (retd) challenging his continuous trial over alleged unlawful possession of firearms and money laundering till after

the annual vacation of the court.

The appeal, slated for hearing on Monday, was not heard as the five member-panel of justices, headed by Justice Abdul Aboki, ordered the Federal Government to file and serve a fresh brief of argument in response to the appellant’s brief that was regularised on Monday.

Unlawful dismissal: Court to hear Nwokoro’s N5bn suit against army, others Thursday Sunday Ejike-Abuja

THE National Industrial Court (NIC), on Monday, adjourned the N5 billion suit filed by Major General Ijioma Nwokoro challenging his illegal retirement from the Nigerian Army to Thursday for hearing.

Major General Nwokoro had instituted the suit against Nigerian Army, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of Army Staff after he was compulsorily

retired from the service via a letter dated June 9, 2016.

He is claiming the sum of N1 billion as general damages for unlawful and illegal retirement, stating that the letter, issued by the Army Council, entitled “Compulsory Retirement Officer Major General Ijioma Nwokoro IJIOMA (N/8304),” had caused him and his family embarrassment and ridicule as the reasons for the retirement had linked him to an offence he did not commit

neither was he interrogated by the probe committee on arms purchase.

When the matter came up on Monday before Justice E Esowe of the National Industrial Court in Abuja, the applicant counsel, Benson Igbanoi, who held brief for Chief Mike Ozekhome, told the court that some of the defendants had not been served with the applicant’s brief.

He sought a short adjournment to enable him to serve the defendants

and Justice Esowe consequently adjourned the matter till Thursday,July 21, 2016.

Major General Nwokoro is among the 20 senior military officers that were compulsorily retired last month. He has asked the court to award him the sum of N5 billion as general damages for the unlawful and illegal retirement as he has not committed any offence for which he can be sanctioned or retired compulsorily.

Justice Aboki said a day for hearing of the appeal would be communicated to the parties in the matter as soon as the court comes back from its yearly vacation in September.

The former NSA had appealed against the ruling of Justice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Abuja, who dismissed his application seeking to halt his trial.

Dasuki, in his application, had asked the court to stop the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from investigating him due to an alleged disregard for the court order granting him bail.

Ademola had, in his ruling, said what Dasuki ought to have done was to file contempt charge against the Federal Government for violating the bail granted him by the court.

The judge said the court could not grant Dasuki’s motion seeking

to halt his trial on the ground of disobedience to bail order by the Federal Government.

In a related development, the appellate court also adjourned hearing of the appeal brought before it by Senate President Bukola Saraki, challenging the decision of the Code of Conduct Tribunal (CCT) to entertain the false assets declaration charge preferred against him by the Federal Government.

When the matter came up on Monday, Saraki’s lead counsel, Chief Kanu Agabi, asked the court to adjourn hearing of the appeal till after the annual vacation of the court.

Efforts by the prosecution counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, to make the fivemember justices of the appellate court to hear the appeal on Monday proved abortive, as the court overruled his objection and slated October 6, 2016 to hear the appeal.

34 news

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Senator Tinubu calls for police protection Ayodele Adesanmi and Christian Okeke-Abuja SENATOR Oluremi Tinubu, on Monday, requested for police protection alleg-

ing that Senator Dino Melaye is threatening her life.

Mrs Tinubu, representing Lagos Central Senatorial District in the Senate, had altercation with Sena-

tor Melaye, representing Kogi West Senatorial zone, last Tuesday, during Senate’s closed-door session, a development that had generated reactions from dif-

ferent quarters since then.

Tinubu, who is the wife of the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, in a letter to the acting

Representative of the Lagos State governor, Commissioner for Women Affairs & Poverty Alleviation (WAPA), Honourable Lola Akande (left), addressing the Concern Group, during their protest over the verbal attack by Senator Dino Melaye on Senator Oluremi Tinubu to the Governor’s Office, Ikeja, on Monday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

249 suspected Boko Haram terrorists, accomplices regain freedom Chris Agbambu - Abuja

A

BOUT 249 cleared suspected Boko Haram terrorists and accomplices were released by the Joint Interrogation as approved by the Chief of Army Staff in Maiduguri.

This was contained in a statement issued and signed by the acting Director, Army Public Relations, Colonel Sani Usman, a copy of which was made available to the Nigerian Tribune in Abuja.

Those cleared and released, according to the statement were 169 males, 46 women and 34 children.

Breakdown further showed that 203 of them were from 18 local government areas of Borno State, while 44 were from other states, as follows: Adamawa (two), Jigawa (two), Lagos (one), Oyo (one) and Yobe (38). However, two of them were from the Republic of Cameroon.

The released persons were handed over to the Borno State government through the Commissioner for Local Government by the acting General Officer Commanding 7 Division, Brigadier-General Victor Ezugwu. The two foreigners were, however, handed over to the Borno State command of the Nigerian Immigration Service.

In his remarks, the commissioner advised the released detainees to remain law-abiding and go about their lawful businesses.

Each of them was given a token of N3,000 each.

Meanwhile, the troops of 101 Battalion, 7 Division Garrison on foot patrol alongside some elements of Civilian JTF, intercepted a suspected male suicide bomber at Sabon Gari Jidari.

The suspect carrying primed Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) concealed in a blue stabiliser casing gave his name as Yusuf Tasiu.

He was dispossessed of

the explosives while the Nigeria Police Explosive Ordnance Devices expert safely detonated it.

The suicide bomber is currently being interrogated.

Inspector-General of Police, entitled: “Request for police protection” said, “in view of Senator Melaye’s antecedent, particularly in the House of Representatives, where a brawl led to the death of a member.”

She added that “I have decided not to ignore his threat to my life” insisting that “therefore, I am compelled to urge you to use your good office to provide me with adequate security.”

The legislator narrated that “during the proceedings of the Senate on Tuesday, July 14, I had cause to contribute to a mater of national importance. Apparently dissatisfied with my contributions, Senator Melaye threw caution to the winds, resorting to vulgar abuse on my person and intention to assault.

“It was the timely intervention of a number of colleagues which prevented Senator Melaye from unleashing physical attack on me. However, as the leadership of the Senate did not call him to order in the circumstance, he proceeded to threaten my life without any provocation whatsoever.”

Meanwhile a civil rights movement, Committee for the Defence of Women’s Rights (CDWR) has alleged that Senator Tinubu, had concluded plans to sponsor protest against

Crisis: FG directs OAU Senate to appoint acting VC Clement Idoko - Abuja THE Federal Government has directed the Senate of Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) to immediately appoint an acting vice chancellor for the institution.

This was as it directed the reopening of all offices in the institution for normal administrative and academic activities.

Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, made the position of the president known on the crisis rocking the institution.

By this directive, President Buhari has revoked the appointment of the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Ayobami Salami, as the new vice chancellor.

It will be recalled that the authorities of the university, in June, shut the campus indefinitely, following protests by workers over the appointment of Salami as the new vice chancellor by the governing council.

Registrar of the university, Dotun Awoyemo, had noted that the university was shut indefinitely for the safety of students and staff,

as a result of the crisis that engulfed the institution following the appointment of the vice chancellor.

Workers of the university under the aegis of Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) and Non-Academic Staff of Universities (NASU) of OAU had begun their protests and strike since June 6, after taking the university authorities to court over the appointment of Salami as the new vice chancellor.

However, NUC Executive Secretary, in a terse state-

ment on Monday, said: “President directs Senate of OAU to appoint acting vice chancellor.

“President directs reopening of all offices in OAU for normal administrative and academic activities.”

Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Mr Abiodun Olanrewaju told Nigerian Tribune on Monday that “what really happened is that the Federal Government announced the dissolution of the governing

council and also instructed that the processes that may lead to the appointment of a substantive vice chancellor be put on hold, pending the determination of the court case; and the follow-up to that is what the Federal Government did today by telling us that the Senate of the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, should immediately recommend a qualified person for appointment as an acting vice chancellor for the university. That is where we are now.”

Gunmen kill first-class traditional ruler in Plateau Isaac Shobayo -Jos TRAGEDY struck in Plateau State, on Monday, following brutal killing of a first-class traditional ruler, the Saf Ron Kulere and the chairman, Bokkos Traditional Council, Lazarus Agai, by some unknown gunmen.

Nigerian Tribune learnt that the traditional ruler was ambushed in his village, Sha, shortly after returning from a visit to a neighbouring community.

He was accosted by armed men, who shot him at close

range before they bolted.

A source close to the community told the Nigerian Tribune that Bokkos Local Government Area of Plateau State had been under a siege and threat of invasion by some foreign Fulani herdsmen, who often invaded the council area for nefarious activities and cattle rustling at gunpoint.

Member representing Bokkos Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Sunday Muchen and other sources in the local government council have confirmed the incident.

Media officer of Special Task Force (STF) in charge of security in the state, Captain Ikedichi Iweha, who confirmed the incident to Nigerian Tribune, said the traditional ruler was ambushed by gunmen and killed at about 5.00 p.m. on Monday.

He added that men of the STF ‘Operation Safe Haven’ have swung into action to fish out the perpetrators of the dastardly act.

He implored people of the community to be law-abiding while security men fish out the perpetrators.

Senator Melaye.

The organisation, in a statement in Abuja, through its National President, Professor Taibat Majekodunmi, alleged that already “the protesters have booked for 300 rooms in some hotels in Abuja. Why did she not organise a protest against the hardship of Nigerian women and widows?

“Mrs Tinubu has not protested against the skyrocketed price of tomatoes in the market. In the same vein, kerosene is now over N200 per litre and she did not organise any protest to that effect.

“Mrs Tinubu should emulate the likes of Margaret Thatcher, Indira Ghandhi, Benazir Bhutto and our own dear Dora Akunyili.”

Meanwhile, the Legislative Advocacy Coalition on Violence Against Women (LACVAW) and other key women groups and coalitions in the country have given an indication to hold a rally on Wednesday, on threats of physical assault and use of sexuallydemeaning language by Senator Melaye against Senator Tinubu at the recent closed-door session of the Senate.

Nigerian Tribune exclusively gathered from the group that the rally was necessitated to prevent the legitimisation of impunity on gender-based violence, particularly given the fact that up till now, there has been no official statement from the leadership of the Senate or its Ethics Committee.

It was gathered that the rally would be championed

by LACVAW and is expected to be led by Hajia Saldatu Mahgi and Dr Abiola Akiode.

According to the information gathered, the protest would kick off at the Fountain Square and proceed to the National Assembly.

At the National Assembly, the groups which are more than 10 in number, are to make strong statement against what they perceived as negative actions against women, particularly by the Senate.

They would express dissatisfaction against the recent defeat of a bill which targeted to raise the equality stake of women in the society.

The groups, it was gathered, would submit a petition to the leadership of the National Assembly and would demand for an action against Senator Melaye.

The rally, which would be used to show solidarity for Senator Tinubu in particular and womenfolk in general, is coming barely 48 hours after similar protest held in Lagos.

35

news

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

Ex-Oyo NURTW boss, Auxiliary, sentenced to 6yrs imprisonment

By Tunde Ogunesan

F

ORMER factional Chairman of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oyo State, Alhaji Lamidi Mukaila, a.k.a. Auxiliary and four other accused persons, were on Monday, convicted and sentenced to six years imprisonment by an Oyo State High Court for their involvement in a crisis that claimed lives of some innocent people in Ibadan, in March 2014.

Alhaji Mukaila and other members of the union, Saheed Kareem, Abu Kareem, Kazeem Kayode and Taiwo Tijani had been standing trial for the mayhem at Iwo Road interchange, Ibadan.

Among the victims was one Adekunle Oladipupo, who was studying medicine at a university in the North at the time of his untimely death.

He was first arraigned at the state Magistrate’s Court, Iyaganku on two counts charge before the case was transferred to the state High court.

Yesterday at the High court, counsel to the accused persons, Mr Olalekan Ojo, said his clients would appeal the judgment, adding that since the court had acquitted and discharged them of murder and attempted murder, the conspiracy for which they were convicted did not exist.

While delivering judgment on the case, Justice Eni Esan, said the accused persons were charged with a three-count charge of conspiracy, murder and

attempted murder.

Justice Esan further noted that the prosecution witness, one Akeem Agbaje, in his evidence told the court he was beside Adekunle Oladipupo on the said day when the accused persons, with others at large, stormed the motor park in a Peugeot 604 belonging to Alhaji Mukaila and two other Micra cars, shooting

sporadically.

The witness went further that it was during the shooting that bullet hit the deceased who died immediately, adding that he too, sustained serious injuries.

Justice Esan also said during cross examination, that the PW 1 told the court that although the incident occurred around 9:45p.m., he was able to identify the

through vehicle head light, the charge could not stand because it was already late in the night.

The court ruled that since the first accused person admitted that he owned guns and the accused were caught in a car with rounds of bullet, they were guilty of conspiracy and sentenced to six years imprisonment each.

From left, Manager, Sahara Foundation, Babatomiwa Adesida; Executive Director and Co-Founder, Sahara Group, Tonye Cole; Director, United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Fund, (UNSDG-F ) Paloma Duran;Vice-PresidentYemi Osinbajo and Josef Roca of the Roca Brothers (World Renowned Chefs), during a meeting withVice President Osinbajo at his office in Abuja.

Private institutions, critical stakeholders in human capital development—Don

By Tolu Olamiriki

PRIVATE institutions in the state are critical stakeholders in the area of human capital development.

Oyo State Commissioner for Eduation, Science and Technology, Professor Joseph Adeniyi Olowofela,

made the observation during the 2016 graduation ceremony of Bodija International College, Ibadan, adding that the vision and mission of the founder of the institution, Mrs Helen Aina Eso, was worthy of emulation.

Professor Olowofela

Ogun appoints 136 principals, VPs, others TO ensure effective school administration, the Ogun State government has appointed another set of 51 principals, 84 vice principals and a zonal secretary.

With these appointments, the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration had so far appointed 284 principals and 656 vice principals since inception.

Speaking at the induction ceremony, held at the Abeokuta Grammar School, in Abeokuta, Chairman of the state Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Chief Olabosipo Ogunsan, said the appointments were done in line with the state’s standard template, based on seniority, merit and year of certification, which the commission was not ready to compromise.

The TESCOM boss also assured that the commission would continuously improve on the welfare of both teaching and non-teaching staff in public secondary schools in the state, while it would also not hesitate to punish the indolent and uncommitted teachers.

accused persons with the help of head lights of the cars that lit up the place.

The judge said he was not convinced that the witness could identify the accused persons using the head lights.

On the allegations of attempted murder, the judge held that since the argument of the PW 1 had failed by identifying the accused

In his address, Permanent Secretary of the commission, Mrs Olabisi Akinnuga, said that government would continue to reward excellent performance and promote com-

petence among teachers, adding that the commission ensured fairness and equity during the screening and short-listing of the new appointees, in accordance with laid down guidelines.

averred that the state government had already inaugurated a committee on the labour crisis in the state, adding that the crisis would soon end and urged the students of the institution to brace up so as to be able to meet global economic competition as well as have self-discipline as talents alone could not guarantee academic excellence and achievements.

“As human beings, we are adorned with many rights and privileges. One fundamental right which supercedes the others is the right to education. Educa-

Muhideen Ayede succeeds late father

By Tunde Ogunesan

THE first son and heir of Sheikh Ibraheem Ayede dynasty, Khalifa Muhideen Ibraheem Ayede, was at the weekend handed over to the Chief Imam of Ibadan, Sheikh Abdul Ganiy Agbotomokekere, at the eighth day fidau prayer held for the late Islamic cleric.

Khalifa Ayede was handed over to the chief Imam of Ibadan by Sheikh Musa Esinniobiwa, at the event attended by notable Islamic clerics at the Lekan Salami Sports Complex, Adamasingba, Ibadan.

Muhideen Ibraheem Ayede now takes over the operation of his late father’s organisation.

Sheikh Ibrahim Ayede Al Fulany Al Ilorinis died last week Saturday at his Orogun residence, Ibadan, while his remains had since been buried on the same day at his Odota residence, Ilorin, Kwara State.

Meanwhile, Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola Aji-

mobi, has described the demise of Sheikh Ibrahim as a great loss to the state.

The governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Olalekan Alli, said he felt a great sense of personal loss of the late Islamic cleric and a devoted Muslim.

tion liberates us and gives us the opportunity to lead dignified lives,” he said.

Earlier, in his valedictory lecture, on the occasion, the president, negotiation and conflict management group, Mr Idehinde Aina, had admonished the graduating students to shun materialism and move with the right type of friends, adding that character and ideas played crucial role in the life of human beings.

While urging them to plan well to achieve life goals, he said that planning increases efficiency and accelerates achievements and also urged them to be innovative, adding that innovation was an issue of the 21st century.

He urged parents to take proper care of their children as parenting requires a lot of sacrifice as well as have genuine commitment to work so as to be able to bring their children up properly.

Proprietor pleads with stakeholders on education in Oyo THE proprietor of Shafaudeen Group of Schools, Wakajaiye, Ibadan, Professor Sabit Ariyo Olagoke, has appealed to stakeholders in education in Oyo State, who have been at loggerheads in recent time, to see the need to accept the intervention of traditional rulers calling for truce on their conflict.

Olagoke made the appeal on Monday, in a press statement where he commended

the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji and other concerned citizens for their appeal to the state government, labour leaders and workers on the impasse.

He appealed to the state government to passionately consider the payment of about three months out of the salary arrears to enable teachers go back to class-

rooms, adding “the interest of our children should be seriously considered on this imbroglio.”

“With all sense of patriotism and humility, I feel that this is time to go to our core values. The Alaafin Of Oyo and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and other prominent leaders have intervened on the matter and spoken to all the parties. They should be respected, he said.

Capacity building critical to good governance —Ogun Speaker

By Gbenga Olumide SPEAKER of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Honourable Suraju Adekunbi, has said that effective human capacity building remains a veritable means of promoting good governance and enhancing quality service delivery to the people.

Adekunbi, who made the submission while declaring open a two-day training programme entitled: “State parliaments-The roles of parliaments in security and economic development,” charged his colleagues to take advantage of ensuring effective legislative framework to further develop their constituencies.

Honourable Adekunbi, represented by his deputy, Honourable Olakunle Oluomo, described the programme as one of the means of building the capacity of assembly members to achieve quality representation in their legislative business.

The Speaker, in a release signed by the Head of Information of the assembly, Mr Lawal Jamiu, said the training would assist lawmakers to clarify their roles and responsibilities in the democratic process and foster collaboration between the executive and legislative branches with the electorate, while promoting peace and conflict resolution in all their activities.

Sack: Debasco berates Olubena’s reaction AN All Progressives Congress chieftain, Chief Babatunde Onakoya (Debasco), has condemned the reaction of sacked Commissioner IV in the Ogun State civil service, Mr Oluwole Olubena that some agents of the state government were after his life.

Onakoya berated Olubena’s reaction, saying it was tantamount to painting the state as one where life and property were not secure, which was contrary to what Governor Ibikunle Amosun has achieved in the past five years as chief executive.

“I was shocked by Olubena’s reaction, especially the aspect that his life was being threatened by agents of government. We all know that Governor Amosun has been doing his best in terms of security.

“It is on record that this state is one of the most peaceful and secured in the country as there has been no record of any politically-motivated murder in the state in recent time.

Nobody is being witchhunted,’’ Onakoya said.

36

news

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

We know Nigeria’s problem but... — Lasun Says nation’s oil sector needs overhaul Jacob Segun Olatunji and Kolawole Daniel - Abuja

T

HE Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Lasun Yusuf, on Monday, said politicians in the country know the problem of Nigeria, but that the peculiar structure of the system requires collective efforts to tackle it.

This was just as he called for the overhaul of the na-

tion’s oil sector for optimal performance.

The Deputy Speaker, who spoke at a stakeholders’ technical roundtable themed: “Perennial Petroleum Products Scarcity in Nigeria: Causes, Prospect and Sustainable Solution”.

According to him, “Because of my position in Nigeria today, I want to let you know that some of us that are there, we know the prob-

lem of Nigeria, and how to go about it, but the system is structured in a manner that it will be very difficult except we do it collectively.”

Speaking further, he said, “Oil was found in Nigeria in 1956 and we started commercial exploitation in 1958, and yet we are still talking about fuel scarcity, PIB and the rest of them. If you go into history, people have been talking about oil indus-

try in the last 58 years.”

He, however, advised Nigerians to join hands together to see to the development of the country, saying, “let’s all go back to our respective professions and try to impact positively on Nigeria, how we can develop Nigeria. We talk too much in Nigeria.”

Lasun also stated, “the problem in Nigeria is not because we have oil, but we have decided on our own by

act of omission or commission not to know the nittygritty of what it takes to explore the natural resource in a manner that would benefit the public.”

While calling for overhaul of the nation’s oil sector, he said, “I remember in the Seventh assembly I belonged to a committee, public service matters. We were trying to find out what were the issues, the (Nigeria) customs (service) are here that’s why I want to make this example.

“One of the questions that was asked the representative of the customs on that day, was whether they are aware of the amount of oil taken out of Nigerian shores every day, the answer was no,” he said.

Ex-President Jonathan now vindicated —Osun PDP chairman

By Tunde Busari

From left, United States Deputy Chief of Mission, Maria Brewer; Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh and the Mission Director, United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Michael Harvey, at the launch of private sector partnerships on agriculture in Nigeria, at the United States Embassy, Abuja, on Monday.

US launches fresh $2m support for Nigeria’s agric scheme From Christian Okeke and Victor Ogunyinka THE United States Government, through the US Agency for International Development (USAID), on Monday, launched two new partnerships valued at $2 million with local agribusinesses to assist in boosting agricultural programme in Nigeria.

The $2 million two-year partnership targets to achieve increased access to smart tractors, improved seeds and profitable markets for over 45,000 smallholder farmers across seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). It is to execute the programme through Babban Gona and Hello Tractor firms.

Speaking at the launch of the programme at the US Embassy, the Deputy Chief of Mission, Maria Brewer, described the partnership as a co-investment in public goods.

She noted that innovation and entrepreneurship hold the key to unlocking Nigeria’s agriculture potential while the US government will continue to provide support in that direction.

The envoy stated that under the “Feed the future initiative”, the USAID partners with the private sector to support small-

holder farmers in Nigeria.

Through the partnerships, she noted that USAID addresses development and business challenges by increasing access to improved agricultural inputs and mechanisation, better quality technical advisory services and expanding market opportunities for smallholder farmers.

According to her, the US

government was pleased to host the launch, which she observed would accelerate production, improve processing and increase firms’ marketing capabilities.

Brewer further observed that Nigeria was one of the most innovative, dynamic, and entrepreneurial countries in the world and that the US government was proud to partner with the private sec-

tor for the good of the Nigerian agriculture sector.

“Together, we are creating a new model of development.

This model includes working with international organisations, civil society, local governments, researchers and the private sector. In turn, these partnerships help feed a growing population with access to fewer natural resources.

Delay in payment of workers’ salaries will end soon —Kwara govt Biola Azeez - Ilorin GOVERNOR Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara State has said that the delay in the payment of salaries of teachers and local government workers in the state will soon be a thing of the past.

Speaking at the presentation of First Class Staff of Office to eight newly upgraded traditional rulers in the state on Monday, Governor Ahmed hinged the optimism on the ongoing verification of staff, reform of Internal Revenue Generation (IGR) mechanism as well as the proposed takeover of Junior Secondary education funding.

The governor, who

said his administration was not unaware of the pains, the delay in the payment of salaries has caused many, cautioned politicians against inciting statements and misinformation against the government.

“These immoral and unpatriotic attempts to gain political relevance from the plight of workers affected by the huge drop in allocation to all tiers of government in the country, must be condemned and resisted by all stakeholders, including traditional rulers.

“As your governor, I am not unaware of the hardship faced by basic education teachers and other local government work-

ers over the unfortunate delay in the payment of salaries. I feel their pains and will do everything within my power to bring the crisis to an end,” he said.

He charged the traditional rulers in the state to “educate members of their communities on the current economic situation in the country and measures the state government has put in place to remedy the situation”, he said.

Governor Ahmed also urged the traditional rulers, as custodians of tradition and culture, to continue to support the state government in order to ensure prosperity of Kwara people.

THE current situation in the country is said to have vindicated former president Goodluck Jonathan’s administration which opened doors of opportunities to Nigerians.

The Chairman of Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Honourable Wole Adagunodo, said the hardship which Nigerians are passing through is needless if President Muhammadu Buhari’s government has been sensitive to the people’s welfare.

Adagunodo said former president Jonathan was a victim of unfair crucifixion during his six-year tenure, adding that Jonathan remains hero of democracy, for voluntarily conceding defeat and ensuring hitchfree transition of power to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC).

The PDP chairman maintained that a good number of policies Jonathan government formulated were difficult to ignore because of their relevance to solving the nation’s problem.

Adagunodo added that Nigerians should rather show gratitude to the former president instead of condemning him, stressing that save for Jonathan’s love for the unity of the country, Nigeria would have been plunged into what he called unimaginable chaos.

“In African politics, it is rare to see what president Jonathan did. We were all living witness to what happened in Cote de Ivore and some other countries where incumbent presidents refused to accept result and damned its consequence,” he said.

Oshiomhole appoints LG Auditor-General

EDO State governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has approved the appointment of Mr Henry Ikhile as the Auditor-General (Local Government) in the state.

In an appointment letter signed by the Head of Service, Mrs. Gladys Idahor, the appointment takes effect from June 1, 2016.

Until his new appointment, Mr Ikhile who joined the state public service in 1982, was a Director, Office of the Auditor-General (Local Government).

A 1989 Graduate of Accounting of the University of Benin, Mr Ikhile is a certified member of the association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN).

He is native of Eme-Ora in Owan West Local Government Area of the state, and married with six children.

National Teachers’ Institute matriculates new students THE National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), has formally inducted and matriculated successful candidates admitted into its 2015/2016 academic session.

The ceremony, which was held simultaneously in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), involved a total of 40,736 students cutting across three academic programmes of the institute.

14,807 students were admitted into the institute’s Postgraduate Diploma in Education programmes (PGDE), 19,878 into the Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE) programmes, while the Bachelor’s Degree programme, has 6,051 students Before the matriculation ceremony, the institute had organised a sensitisation, orientation and induction programme for the new students nationwide.

Addressing the new intakes admitted in Kaduna State, the Director-General and Chief Executive of NTI, Dr Aminu Sharehu, charged the matriculating students to take their studies seriously.

He stressed the role of effective study skills to distance learners, saying the Open and Distance Education (ODE) system of education which the institute operates, was marked by partial separation of teachers from students.

37

news

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

FG owes varsities N623bn —ASUU

•Demands immediate release, payment of salaries, pension to douse tension •Rejects cancellation of Post-UTME Soji-Eze Fagbemi and Clement Idoko - Abuja

T

HE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) declared on Monday that the Federal Government must immediately release a whooping sum of N623.2 billion it owes universities to forestall disruption of academic activities in varsities across the country.

Besides, the association warned that the government must quickly address the shortfall in salaries leading to payment of fractions of staff salaries in universities and non-payment of salaries of staff in staff primary schools since December 2015.

Addressing a world press conference at the Labour House, Abuja, ASUU President, Comrade Biodun Ogunyemi, said the Federal Government owed the universities a total sum of N128.2 billion under the Earned Academic Allowances in line with the agreement reached under the 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement and the subsequent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) reached with the government in 2013.

He also pointed out that the government owed the universities the arrears of N495 billion as at the first quarter of 2016 in respect of the Needs Assessment Fund for Revitalisation of Public Universities.

Comrade Ogunyemi said: “Our union is seriously worried about a number of issues emanating from the 2009 Agreement and subsequently, the 2013 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Federal Government which have remained unaddressed. The major ones are.... the Earned Academic Allowance (EAA) and funding of universities.

“The 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement Implementation Committee (IMC) had submitted a report of the outstanding balance of N65,833,047,372.24 (2009-2013) plus N62,417,645,224.23 (2014-2016), amounting to an unpaid balance of N128,250,692,596.42. This was in line with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Federal Government and ASUU while resolving the crisis of June-November, 2013.

Government has not added or paid a kobo beyond the initial N30 billion paid university staff as part of EAA in 2013, a clear breach of the MoU. “Funding of universities, based on the FGN-ASUU Memorandum of Understanding of November 2013, government was in arrears of N495 billion as at first

quarter of 2016 in respect of Needs Assessment Fund for Revitalisation of Public Universities.”

He regretted that as at the moment, all Nigerian universities are in a state of serious crisis which is becoming worse by the day, adding that beginning from December 2015, almost all public universities begin to experience a drastic reduction in their personnel cost.

According to him “although, the Federal Government promised that it would not relent in implementing the MoU and will also gradually work towards that 26 per cent budgetary allocation recommended

by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), this promise has not been translated into action.

Rather, budgetary allocation to education dropped from 12% to 11% and 8% in 2014, 2015 and 2016 respectively.”

The ASUU president warned that the issues of staff salaries and pension must be addressed immediately without further delay; adding “there are two key issues that must be addressed to douse tension in our universities today. These are shortfall in salaries leading to payment of fractions of staff salaries in universities from December 2015 and

the non-payment of salaries of staff in staff primary schools since December 2015 contrary to provisions of 2009 FGN-ASUU Agreement.”

ASUU also expressed worries over the issue of pension.

ASUU president said that the issues raised with the government on pension over the years were yet to be resolved.

Comrade Ogunyemi equally lamented the antics of state governments on the under-funding of public universities.

He pointed out that while the state governors, citing the example of Edo and Ekiti states, failed to release

funds for the running of the universities they met on ground they were busy establishing new universities.

He regretted that the state governors have turned establishing state university to constituency project.

In a related development, ASUU has kicked against the cancellation of Post Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (Post-UTME) conducted by universities in the country.

ASUU President, Comrade Ogunyemi, who spoke at a news conference in Abuja, said the cancellation of the Post-UTME by the Federal Government portends serious danger for the quality of education in the country.

From left, bride’s parents, Chief and Mrs Wole Olanipekun; the groom, Demola Adesina; the bride, former Miss Temitope Olanipekun and the groom’s parents, Mr and Mrs Dele Adesina, during the wedding held at Our Saviour Anglican Church, TBS, Lagos, on Saturday. PHOTO: SYLVESTER OKORUWA.

FG cancels second NECO test for unity schools Clement Idoko - Abuja

THE Federal Government has cancelled the second test, otherwise known as National Common Entrance screening test, conducted by the National Examination Council (NECO) for admission into Federal Government Colleges.

The cancellation is with effect from 2017/2018 academic year.

Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, announced the cancellation of the screening in a statement, on Monday, in Abuja, by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Ben Bem Goong.

Adamu, while justifying the cancellation said that the second test conducted by the same NECO after the main national entrance examination was unnecessary and an additional financial burden on parents/guardians.

The minister said the era of multiple examinations

attracting prohibitive fees could not be accommodated by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, especially against the backdrop of government’s determination to increase access to education as a platform for breaking

the cycle of poverty.

He, therefore, directed NECO to strengthen its examination processes with a view to achieving a quality and credible National Common Entrance Examination for admission into unity schools at the first test.

According to the minister, whatever inputs that are needed to be made into the first examination must be done, adding that “multiple examinations do not necessarily translate into the admission of quality pupils in our secondary schools.”

Bello orders Kogi varsity reopened Yinka Oladoyinbo - Lokoja

AFTERMATH of the protest embarked upon by the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) last week over the closure of the Kogi State University, Anyigba, the state governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, on Monday directed the Vice Chancellor of the institution, Professor Mohammed Abdukadir, to reopen the school immediately for academic activities.

The directive came three months after the members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) of the institution

embarked on strike.

The governor, who said this at a meeting with heads of tertiary institutions in the state, said having met the major demands of the lecturers, they were expected to return to classes.

He said his government would continue to prioritise education, urging the different heads of tertiary institutions in the state to deepen the culture of patriotism among their staff members.

According to the governor, the implementation of the Treasury Single Account (TSA) would soon commence in the state,

stating that public accountability would remain the hallmark of his administration.

He said having paid six months salaries in just six months into his tenure, his government should be trusted by the lecturers.

The governor promised to look into cases of overtaxation of lecturers in the past, saying cases of unjust taxation would be redressed as the approval on subject matter which was handed over to him was for tax waiver.

He directed full scale audit of all tertiary institutions in the state.

Nigerian Tribune

FG has invested over N1bn in Katsina Ala COE —Provost Johnson Babajide - Makurdi

OVER one billion naira has been invested into the College of Education, Katsina Ala, by the Federal Government in the past two years through the intervention of Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund).

Provost, Benue State College of Education, Katsina Ala, Dr Orkpe Nder, disclosed this to newsmen in his office, stating that the intervention of the Federal Government through the board had improved facilities in the institution.

Dr Orkpe who boasted that the institution can conveniently rub shoulder with other world-class institution, however, called on the Federal Government to take over the institution.

The provost lauded the intervention of TETfund in recent times and explained that about 95 per cent of the infrastructural facilities on the campus were funded by the board.

According to him, “this institution has enjoyed tremendously the contributions of TETFund in the past two years. Over N1billion has been allocated to this institution as TETFund intervention which has improved basic amenities on the campus.”

Federal University Otuoke to introduce 16 new academic programmes THE Federal University, Otuoke, in Bayelsa State, is to introduce 16 new academic programmes in addition to the 12 existing ones from the next academic session.

Its Vice Chancellor, Professor Seth Jaja, disclosed this on Monday during an interactive session with the students of the institution.

The VC said that the National Universities Commission (NUC) gave its approval to the university to commence the new programmes in the Faculties of Engineering, Management Sciences, Sciences and Education. .Jaja also said that the institution would admit 2,500 students in the next academic session to fill the spaces that the new programmes would create.

He added that the institution was making efforts to create an enabling environment to accommodate the new students.

38 communitynews Community drags Alawe to court over chieftaincy title sam nwaoko-ado-ekiti TWO indigenes of Ilawe Ekiti, headquarters of Ekiti South-West Local Government Area of Ekiti State, have dragged the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, before an Ekiti State High Court over the Olomodulawe chieftaincy title of the town.

The claimants in the suit, Pa Bakare Agbaje and Mr. Agbaje Saliu, who sued for themselves and on behalf of their family are demanding the removal of Idowu Ibiowotosi (first defendant) as the Olomodulawe.

Also sued are Chief Gbenga Agbona, Kayode Balogun, Joseph Akiri, who are second to fourth defendants.

The claimants averred that the process for the nomination and installation of Ibiowotosi contravened the native law, the custom and the applicable chiefs law.

In a second further amended statement of claim, the claimants averred that Olomodulawe chieftaincy title exclusively belonged to three branches: Gbadamosi, Fatimehin and Fajemisin.

They averred that prior to the purported installation and appointment of the first defendant, the last two Olomodulawes were from Gbadamosi and Fatimehin branches.

They claimed it was “the turn of Fajemisin branch of claimants family to produce a candidate to fill the stool.”

The claimants stated that Ibiowotosi “is not a member of their family and as such not eligible for the chieftaincy title.

“The first defendant wrongfully and illegally held himself out to be appointed as Olomodulawe without ensuring that the prior written approval of the prescribed authority had been obtained before his purported appointment.”

The claimants prayed for an order of perpetual injunction restraining Ibiowotosi from parading himself as the Olomodulawe of Oke-Emo Quarters in Ilawe-Ekiti.

But contrary to claims by the claimants, the defendants said the Olomodulawe family was made up of eight branches: Ibiowotisi, Faje, Apelona, Saribi, Fajemisin, Fatimehin, Gbadamosi and Ola. Besides, they contended that the stool was not rotated among the branches of the family.

“Any male descendant

from the aforesaid eight branches of the family is entitled to contest for and be installed with the Olomodulawe Chieftaincy title whenever it is vacant.

This was confirmed by the first claimant and other members of the family at various times.

“Chief Gbadamosi Olomodulawe and Chief Zaccheaus Fatimehin were not appointed and installed as Olomodulawe on the basis of rotation among the branches of the family, rather they were both installed appointed and installed as Olomodulawe on the basis of being male children and having contested for the said chieftaincy title.”

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016

From left, Deputy Chairman, Apapa/Iganmu Local Council Development Area, Mr Caleb Awolola; beneficiaries of Honourable Olumuyiwa Jimoh Foundation scholarship, Baliqees Razaq, Afolayan Faris and Rachael Olabanji, at the official announcement of the scholarship by the Deputy Majority Leader of Lagos State House of Assembly, Honourable Olumuyiwa Jimoh, representing Apapa Constituency II, in Lagos, recently. Photo: Sylvester Okoruwa.

Ogoga/Olukere chieftaincy crisis: Ekiti monarchs wade in sam nwaoko-ado-ekiti

T

HE Ekiti State Council of Obas has waded into the chieftaincy crisis in Ikere by starting a fact-finding process in the controversy surrounding the Ogoga and Olukere chieftaincy stools.

The traditional council chaired by the Ologotun of Ogotun-Ekiti, Oba Sam-

uel Oyebade, has began a process of interaction with the two warring factions to prevent what many have seen as “a looming anarchy in the town.”

The committee, comprising 16 leading royal fathers in Ekiti fondly called Pelupelu, according to the council, has commenced interaction with the factions starting from the Olukere

of Ikere, Oba Ganiyu Adesoyin.

The Olukere and the current Ogoga, Oba Adejimi Adu, a first class traditional ruler in the state, had been embroiled in a conflict over the status of Olukere in the history of Ikere community.

While the Olukere had maintained that he is a monarch, citing historical

Ogun Assembly set to pass bill against land speculators by gbenga olumide

OGUN State House of Assembly is set to check the illegal activities of land grabbers and speculators otherwise known as “Omo Onile” through a bill for the Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Properties Law, 2016.

The bill, which had scaled through the second reading at the plenary, when passed into law, will curb the nefarious activities of land speculators who often dispossess people of their landed properties.

Opening debate on the bill: H.B. No. 03/206 entitled: “A bill for a law to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties in Ogun State and for connected purposes,” the sponsor of the bill, Honourable Olakunle Oluomo, stressed the need to urgently check the unlawful actions of the land swindlers, who had been violently dispossessing people of their landed properties.

While other members threw their weight behind the speedy passage of the bill, they described the activities of the land grabbers as inimical to the peace and security of the state as innocent people were being maimed and killed.

They described the bill as people-oriented which was long overdue, adding that land swindlers had been a menace and security threat to the society as their activities had escalated in recent times.

Making his ruling, the Speaker, Honourable Suraju Adekunbi, lauded his colleagues for their contribution and thereafter transferred the bill to the joint House Committees on Lands and Housing, Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions for further legislative actions.

In a related development, Honourable Adekunbi, has urged the people of Elere and Onigbedu in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state to remain law-abiding, peaceful and forward their petitions

against land speculators to the state assembly.

He gave the advice while receiving a delegation from communities led by a community leader, Jimoh Fadipe, who came to present a petition against land grabbers in the communities which, according to him, had caused breach of peace in the area.

evidences, the Ogoga had insisted that the Olukere is a priest in the community.

The interaction was conducted behind closed doors in the chambers of the council located within the old governor’s office in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital.

When he emerged from the chambers, the Olukere said he had “confidence in the ability of the traditional rulers to do justice to my case.”

Oba Obasoyin insisted that he remained “the founder and recognised king in the town contrary to a position canvassed by the Ogoga that he remains a mere chief priest.”

Olukere said he had stated his own side of the historical antecedents of Ikere-Ekiti in line with intelligence report compiled

by C.O. Weir on Ikere town in 1933, where he said it was explicitly stated that he was a recognised crowned tradi-

tional ruler and founder of the town.

“I have told the traditional rulers how I founded Ikere kingdom and how I accommodated Ogoga, who came from Agama, a village close to Akure in Ondo State.

“Ogoga called himself a prince from Benin City and if this is the case, let him tell the whole world who his father was in Benin dynasty.

History doesn’t lie, except you are trying to pad it. When you stand on the truth, nothing will make you waver and this is what is happening at the moment.

“In Yoruba land, Olu is an Oba anywhere with staff of office and Ikere can’t be an exception.

Again, intelligence report is the most powerful document in any historical issue and that is what I rest my case on before the traditional rulers, who are also the owners of the land,” he said.

Delta communities commend gov over roads rehabilitation alphonsus agborh-asaba

RESIDENTS of Alegbo, Okoribi and Ugbolokposo communities in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State have commended the state governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa, for the rehabilitation of key roads in their communities.

The residents expressed their appreciation to the state government for coming to their aid by fixing the once inaccessible roads which, for years caused agonising traffic gridlock, damaged vehicles and provided opportunities for armed robbers to rob hapless motorists.

A resident of Alegbo, Mrs. Veronica Oboroh, expressed happiness that Alegbo Road was chosen, pointing out that the bad state of the road had negatively affected small scale businesses in the area due to poor patronage, and expressed hope that economic activities in the area would improve as a result of the rehabilitation.

In his remarks, a septuagenarian from Ugbolokposo, Pa David Otomewo, while thanking government for extending the dividends of democracy to his community, advised the Direct Labour Agency,

to “make road rehabilitation a regular activity to make roads last longer.”

Motorists, who commented expressed joy at the development, stating that it would help elongate the life span of their cars and reduce the cost of vehicle maintenance.

“The beauty of democracy is when the populace benefits and directly feels the impact of good governance such as the provision of social amenities and other infrastructure. The presence of this makes the people happy with any government in power,” he said

39

Tuesday, 19 July, 2016 Editor: Ganiyu Salman tribunesporteditor@yahoo.com 08053789060

We have sponsor to pay Le Guen, others

Super Eagles’Kelechi Iheanacho (right) tackles an Egyptian player during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier. Nigeria lost the 2017 AFCON ticket to Egypt.

Keshi

—Pinnick

Friends in South Africa plan memorial service for Keshi A memorial service in honour of the late Nigeria captain, Stephen Keshi has been fixed for Saturday, July 23 at Kempton Park, Johannesburg, South Africa.

The former Super Eagles coach died on June 8 in Benin City, Edo State during a brief illness.

The event being organised under the auspices of the “Friends of Keshi” will precede the official state funeral in Nigeria on July 29.

Former Nigeria goalkeeper and spokesman of the “Friends of Keshi”, Idah Peterside told Supersport.com that “ We are determined to honour Keshi to provide a platform for fans, Nigerians and other legends who cannot make the trip to the state Funeral in Nigeria an opportunity to honour the “Big Boss”.

“Keshi won the Africa Cup of Nations 2013 here in South Africa and has a lot of friends and fans here,” Peterside, a former Udoji and BCC Lions

Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja

goalkeeper said adding that, some of the leading football figures will be in attendance to honour Keshi, who once coached Togo and Mali. “ We are in touch with Neil Tovey, Kalusha Bwalya, and a host of legends who will grace and speak at the service,” the former Moroka Swallows of South Africa goalkeeper stated.

EPL intensity, quite marvellous —Musa

By Olawale Olaniyan With Agency Report

L

EICESTER City’s record signing, Ahmed Musa, has said his sensational move to the English Premier League side has given his career a boost.

The Nigeria international who moved to the King

Power Stadium for £16.5 million (19.7 million euros) from CSKA Moscow earlier this month said he has been stunned by the work ethics of the Foxes during the preseason training.

“When I started my first session I was thinking ‘wow’,” said Musa.

“Because I have never seen that in Russia -– but now

I am getting used to it. The intensity here is quite different from Russia. Here it is a little bit harder, in Russia they are more laid back.

“I think it is the most difficult thing, but I think that is the secret behind Leicester’s success.

“Everyone is focused and everyone is happy with each other. That’s the biggest se-

Rio Olympics: Adamu begs Buhari to release

funds for Team Nigeria THE former Director-General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr Amos Adamu, has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently release the needed funds to the Rio Olympics-bound Team Nigeria, through the sports ministry.

The Games get underway on August 5 in Brazil.

Adamu noted that, the presidency should put aside the long wait for the Sports Ministry to retire the N2.9 billion released for the 2015 All Africa Games and the Rio 2016 camping, and do the needful by speedily releasing the N2billion to execute the Olympic Games proper.

“Time is running out fast and there is no time to start pressing the sports

ministry to retire funds earlier released last year. The truth of the matter is that there is no way the former DG of the Sports Commission, Alhassan Yakmut, wouldn’t have retired the funds he collected before being posted to another Ministry.

“But at the moment, that is not the pressing issue, but for the Team Nigeria members to get to the venue of the Olympics early enough so as to participate in some friendlies that would go a long way in preparing the athletes and coaches for the challenges of the Olympics, since Team Nigeria didn’t embark on a comprehensive foreign training tour,” he stated.

The former FIFA and CAF executive committee member, stated that the is-

sue of N2.9 billion will be revisited after the Rio Olympics, but the Team Nigeria’s good performance at the Games is what should be the priority of the Federal Government now.

“The president should also remember that the Team Nigeria athletes strived hard to qualify for the Olympics and they deserve a fair chance to compete for honours at the Rio Olympics,” Adamu noted.

He added that those suggesting that the number of athletes for the Games should be reduced, are only calling for bigger troubles for Nigerian sports as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would come down heavily on the country with sanctions that would cost a lot of foreign exchange to offset.

cret – if you’re all happy with each other you can achieve a lot.”

The 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) winner, stated that he is looking forward to having a robust partnership with the Foxes leading striker, Jamie Vardie.

“I think I am like Jamie Vardy. I have speed, I like to work hard, we are similar in lots of things.

“Am I faster? I can’t say yet, I have never played with him. But I am looking forward to finding out!

“I’m looking forward to playing with Vardy. I like his style. I think we can work perfectly together.

“I think this is the right time for me to join Leicester. Last season, they were going after the title.

“This time we are starting afresh -– that’s why I chose to join them this season.

“I’m from Nigeria and all Nigerian players would like to play in the Premier League. I think this will be a good league for me,” said Musa who played at the 2010 and 2014 World Cup finals.

THE President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr Amaju Pinnick, has disclosed that the NFF has secured a partnership with a company which has agreed to foot the bill of the Super Eagles foreign coach, Paul Le Guen as well as four others to work with him.

“We want to make sure that we pick only the best, the best that could qualify us to the World Cup. The first thing that we did was to make sure that we got a partner that will pay the entitlements of all the coaches, not just whoever is selected, all the coaches.

“We sent a request for about five coaches and that request was granted, but the company feels very strongly that we should keep everything private.

At the appropriate time, the company, through their own medium will come and tell the world what they are doing for Nigerian football.

“Accommodation is part of the request we sent to the sponsor. There are so many things you will see in due course. There are a lot of things; all these are very sensitive issues but we feel they are better kept secret.

“Right from our oustre from the last Africa Cup of Nation (AFCON), we started work. Whatever we are doing now, we are trying to avoid all kinds of mistakes, we have not paid, we’ve paid,” Pinnick said.

Meanwhile, Pinnick informed that NFF was making efforts to settle the outstanding salaries of national team coaches being owed, submitting that as soon as funds were available they would be paid.

“We are also making efforts to pay all the coaches that we are owing. We want to get the funds from our sponsors who have shown signs that they want to meet some of their obligations.

Then we will go ahead and pay them and offset some of our debts,” he said.

SIDELINES

NO 16,548

TUESDAY, 19 JULY, 2016

N150

The fight between Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Remi Tinubu is entering a new dimension with Tinubu seeking police protection against alleged threat to life and Melaye flying to Lagos to walk majestically in Tinubu’s neighbourhood, claiming no one could stop him from doing so. Nigerians are worried of what many now see as a show of shame in the class of people who are supposed to be “Distinguished Senators” of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

NFF names Le Guen as Eagles head coach

Ronaldo, Bale, Messi battle for Europe gong

Lists Yusuf, Amapakabo, Agu as assistants

Saliu Gbadamosi-Abuja And Nurudeen Alimi

T

HE technical and development committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Monday eventually named Frenchman Paul Le Guen as the Super Eagles technical adviser to lead the team in the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.

Addressing sports writers shortly after the meeting of the committee at the NFF Glass House in Abuja, the spokesman of the committee, Mr Paul Bassey, informed that the committee settled for Le Guen and advised the executive committee of the football body for approval.

According to the chairman of Akwa United FC of Uyo, the committee also picked Eagles’ interim coach, Salisu Yusuf and Rangers of Enugu coach, Imama Amapakabo as the assistants to the former Cameroon coach.

He added that Alloy Agu would continue his role in the Super Eagles as the team’s goalkeeper’s trainer.

Bassey, however, added that the appointments made

by the committee were subject to the acceptance of the terms of contract by the respective appointees.

There were widespread speculations that Le Guen, who once coached the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon, was the choice of the NFF as the new Super Eagles coach after Sunday Oliseh resigned from the job in February .

Meanwhile, Bassey also revealed the choice of Bitrus Bewarang as the new NFF Technical Director. His selection followed the death of the former Super Eagles coach, Shuaibu Amodu, who held the position until he died in May. Bassey further disclosed that the technical and development committee had decided that Nduka Ugbade should be restored to U-17 team, the Golden Eaglets to assist Manu Garba.

Meanwhile, ex-international, Felix Owolabi, has lauded the appointment of Le Guen, a former Oman coach.

“I support the chioce of Le Guen for the Eagles job.

Le Guen

He knows much about African football. Incidentally, he once coached the Cameroonian national team and qualify them for the 2010 World Cup. Beside, Nigeria needs a coach that has the charisma

and who has credibility. But the only area I am not happy about is why did the NFF drag the appointment for so long?

“By and large, I support this decision because

whether we like it or not, this development will make players invited to camp to be serious-minded and be focused,” Owolabi, 1980 AFCON winner said.

Rio Olympics: Team Nigeria funds will be ready tomorrow —DG Budget THE Ministry of Youth and Sports will receive its budgetary allocation for the Rio Olympics by tomorrow (Wednesday).

The Director General, Budget Office of the federation, Mr Ben Akabueze gave the assurance on Monday at a meeting he held with the House committee on Sports, Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Account-

General of the federation and the Nigeria Olympic Committee at the House of Representatives, National Assembly, Abuja.

The Deputy Chairman, House committee on Sports, Honourable Anayo Nnebe had enquired why funds budgeted for the Rio 2016 were yet to be released barely three weeks to the opening ceremony.

“The committee resolved to invite the Minister of Finance, the Director-General Budget, the Accountant General of the federation, the Minister of Y o ut h a n d Sp o r t s D e v e l o p me n t , t h e P e r m a n e n t Se c r e t a r y a n d t h e P r e s i de n t N i g e r i a O l y mp i c C o mmi t t e e be c a us e N i g e r i a n s a r e wo r r i ed that up till

now, funds have not been released for the Olympics. The implication is that almost every part of preparations for the games is on hold. We can’t prepare without funds.

Releasing funds just a few days to the games will not be good enough to prepare the athletes for the games,” Nnebe said.

In his response, Aka-

bueze stated that his office had a budgetary allocation of N600m for the Rio Olympics. N415.6m was for preparations of the Olympic and Paralympic Games and an allocation of N184.6m to the Nigeria Olympic Committee to facilitate the games proper out of which the ministry had sought the release of N503, 977,710m.

Cristiano PORTUGAL’S Ronaldo and Real Madrid team-mate, Gareth Bale headlined a 10-man shortlist announced on Monday for the UEFA Best Player in Europe Award.

Seven of the top 10 play in Spain, with four Real Madrid stars and only two from FC Barcelona, while veteran Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon is Serie A’s only representative.

Ronaldo struck the winning spot-kick as Real claimed an 11th Champions League title, beating city rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties in May, before leading his country to Euro 2016 glory.

Fellow Portugal and Real team-mate Pepe also features on the shortlist along with Wales star Bale, who steered his country to the semi-finals of the European Championship in their first appearance at a major finals since 1958.

Ronaldo is favourite to win the award for a second time, after scooping the honours in 2013-14, which would see him draw level with Barcelona’s Lionel Messi.

Atletico striker Antoine Griezmann was also nominated after his six goals at Euro 2016 earned him the player of the tournament and the Golden Boot, only for France to fall short against Portugal in the final.

Messi was one of two Barcelona players to make the list along with Luis Suarez, while Bayern Munich duo Manuel Neuer and Thomas Mueller, Juventus goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon and Real midfielder Toni Kroos were also included.

The players were selected by journalists from each of Uefa’s 55 members associations who will vote for a second time on August 5 to determine the three finalists.

The winner of the award will be announced in Monaco on August 25 when the draw for the Champions League group stage is made.

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. 19/7/2016.